The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-10-08
EXTRACT
FROM JosEPH's MEMoRANDUMs, UNDER THE HEAD
OF SLAVERY.

--Faeas dJsenils Averni.
Ses "evosafe g'aanu, Enperajque ez,adere ad amsi,
Hoe efHi, bic labor 5a Virgil
Downward's the way, and rapid the deficient
That quick TO 1av'ry leads,
But to emerge TO noble freedom thence,
This the toll, and this the patriots labor needs.
When we review the hiifory and progrels of Viz
gnia for the att half century one is at lofs how
to reconcile the energy and fdom which e has diff
played IN many important fcenes, with the npoten-
ey that has weighed her down and the darkness that
has covered her in others. II is unuecrHarv and
perhaps III Tome initances it might be nvidous, 20
recapuate all that contributes the part the has borne
IN achieving and preerving the liberty ard welfare
OF the United States This much, however we
may venture pronounce, that in the correctness of
the policy which fhe has advocated, and the nexi-
Bile lrmnels with which fhe has purified it, from the
frlt dawn OF the liberty of thefe hates to its pre-
mir idian fplendor, fe has Tot been furpaed by apy
other member sf the union. But when we view
her IN the race OF individual PROPERTY, and confder
her natural hreugth and refources we fee her out
itripped to aiurprGng and dhgraceful dinance. Her
public roads unfit for the transportation of her pro-
duee her fyilem of legal practice en,anged with and
iaoorlns under the datory and abominable chicane-
ry OF EngGih jurhprudence the education of her
youth barbarouly neglected and domeHc favery
checking the ncreale of her white population, oppo-
ling alnolt infurmountsbe oblacles to the improve
nent of her agriculture and endangering every mo-
ment her peace and iafetyi I'D Thefe are among the
ills which fhe has long endured almolf without an
effort to remove them. While fhe was colony of
Great Britain, and during the ruggle for indepen-
dence, and the weak unlettled ate of things which
Immediately iece-ded it, uccefsful exertion to reme-
dy theie evils could not be expected. Blu, fince the
adoption ct the federal confitution fevcnteen years
VI aihoh uninterrupted peace and tranquility have
paiiea away, and what has Virginia donel Perhap.
1t may be anf.e erred, that fhe has kent watchful
eye over the federal government and has labored To
avert or 20 correa every meafure inooniiRent with
.he true iPrit and iEteref OF a republic which has
peen ProP"ed or adopted BY thofe who have con-
Quoted the administration. The writer of thefe me-
norahdums though he has had 10 flare in the(e
traniacions, among the !a of her ions who would
withhold from her the tribute of applaule which, in
TINS point Of view, fhe has 70 juily merired. But
more than four years have elapfed 6nce there
has oesnroom for even this apology, which was per
maps always inefficient execute the almot total
neglect OF her domeftic interefs for lnce our pre-
lent enlightened chief masiarate has prefded over
the federal government its administration has ben
eonfornable to the ttria asd orthodox principles of
ner own republican creed. And yet this golden pe-
rod too has been fuffered to pafs unimproved!
Inc greateit and mott alarming evils that have e.
yer Pretened themfeves for the confederation of Vr
gin'a 'ince the eaablilhment of her independence,
nave their origin IN her 6iaek population. That the
extence OF favery anongt us is an evil Of tbc fir
magnitude, is 70 readily and universally admired
that time would feem idly pent in attempting to prove
IL And yet If it is afked in what does the evil
eohiH' great majority, of the reheciing part
OF me community have other anfwer to give than
that " 1t is wrong that one man Gould hold another
III pondage The nnumerable deadly milchiefs in
ieParaeiy inherent in donelfic lavery, feem nsver
tn have occurred their minds or TO have made bur
plIept k,N
OF the efetts which daily feel from navery, and
o. IT'S probable future confequences, is proof that the
iuned does NOT receive tina: anxious and inceGan in.
Vei'igation which every will acknowledge to be
peculiarly due to its importance. AS an apology for
THIS iattenon TO the condition of our aves is FREE
qnentiy eontended, that the ills which they fufer and
iiihict are beyond the reach of human remedy, and
.nat the iupreme providence alone is competent tc
! adniniiter relief But to thofe who fit down ant
complain in this manner, it might be an apt and n e
rted reply, to repeat the fable of Hercules and ths
lazy waggoDer; for before we commit ourfeves r.
quiet deiPar, it is furely the ndifpeniabe and fefed
duty OF every lover of his country to exert to IN,
ntnioft all the power, he poHeGes, in deviGng ant
invetfigating every pofIible mean. of removing or al
| fevlating this Rupendous calamity.
| There was time when to the writer Of thele Me-
morandumsi was fource of pleaure to believe that
Tor ieverai years paf, the public opinion in Virginia
on TINS fubeet, had been gradually fubmitting to
revolution, which he then thought was demanded moi
only by humanity, but alfo by prudence. He Ieioie
ed TO anticipate period which feemed faa approach
ing, when other doors Of patton that, thoC,
that are now open, would be unlocked to this unhap
Py people, Through which they might advance, il
greater numbers, to the condition Of freemen Blu
careful attention to the arguments contained in We
ry able ipeech faid have been delivered in the hou
OF Delegates, at the lz felton, of our AGembly, IS
IN iuPport of bill to prohibit the emancipation o
fidves, had led him revifion of his former idea
and whes on this ubjea, and it is with Painful reuc
lance that he has been c7nrained to doubt their cor
rectneis. That thele arguments, and the conlidera
lions which they fuggeGed, have not wrought com
Pleat conviction in his mind, may, perhaps, b, OWN,
to the Partially wk,h we feel for long cherhed an,
iavorite opinions.
The Ingenious author Of that fpeech has daribu,s,
all the poiibe relations which may hereafter lubGs
between the whites and the blacks into fam clafe,
He fyb fuppofes that =" the two races may hereaf,e
be blended, and ali dlnaion of color and organize
ton completely loft" Objs6ting to this Rste o
things, he has appealed our feelings for the eone
quenees OF the 1" dull and uniform complexion" which
III that cafe, polerity would hereafter exhibit.
In ani~er to this objection, the enthufaaie adyo
cate OF emancipation might perhaps reply, that i
cafe oimportan this, deIicaey Of that kind de
leTyes not to be regarded, except when it may ferv
to bettay the name Of thofe who would make j, a,