The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-01-15

o3hic consequences oFthcIc icpar9tc 5cras.
prctume, fad Mr.. S. that no white man will
look forward with any complscency to that
condition OF fociety, in which the two races will
be blended together: when the diltnStions of
colour lhal be obliterated when, like the E.
gyPtians, we n,aIl exhibit dull and uniform
complexion. IF this Fate of fociety, then, is 70
dliagrecabc TO our feelings, fireiy we will not
encourage the policy, which is fitted to intro
duce it.
The next proportion regarded the two races
as dilsinet and as equal in their rights. But
there is no gentleman in this houfe, who is ig-
norant OF the number of the people of colour.
On the w. iide OF the mountain there is con.
iderabie dtparity between them but tie CEN
fus OF the Ealtern Diltria of Virginia would
de.nonifrate that there they were hyperion in
numbers. Should their number then be thus
extenhge, will they not produce men of talents
and ambition ? VIII not The mott bitter iealou-
lies then afiie between the two fpecies and
the mott violent coltcas for fuperiorty Does
not experience declare to US, that when two dit.
tina races OF men occupy the fame country,
that fuCh is the inevitable confeGucncc In the
volumes of hiftory perhaps there is not one cafe
preciieiy parallel to this imaginary condition {:
perhaps there is NOT folitary cafe, where two
claifcs of men with different hair, different CO.
lonr, and different temperament, have inhabited
the fame country, and enjoyed equal privilege
es. But there is one analogous example, which
he might borrow from the hifory of Spain
When that country was divided among the Spa
! niards and the Moors, it exhibited two races of
| men, almof as much difinguiihed from each
other by their colour, their living and religion
as the two fpeces would hereafter appear in
| this country. And what was the confequence?
| Their conteits did not end for centuries and
then they ended by the expuhon of one of them
from Spain. Such would be the fate of our
| own country, if the two fpeces were placed on
an equal footing. Each would be continually
| thriving for power and fuperiority and one OF
them would finally BIZ driven from the country.
or completely exti-pated. This confequcntly,
is fyhem, which no friend of his country can
| regard with appreciation.
But cannot they remain difin6t, and vet une-
quail in their rights This would not be more
| Fortunate ituaton. The gentleman who was
latf up, obferved, that if they were once free,
they would not be ftruggIing for the acouiiton
of perfect freedom But that gentleman is
| mitaken in the fact. Give them lcis liberty s.
they will finally demand the mot perfect e0ua-
lity. Ifthat eentleman had directed his attcn-
| ton to the hiftory of modern times, he would
have perceived the fallacy of his ftatement. Let
him turn to St. Domingo and he will find the
disturbances of that iil-fated iRand, ariGne, not
from the naveS alone, but from the people of
colour, contending requsl rights. CHere Mr.
s. read feverai extracts from an hiftorical work
to prove his luminous pcdtion.) Il will then
be found that the unfortunate disturbances of
ST. Domingo have originated with the 5s35ie of
| colour, and that they afterwards invited The
llaves by their perfuafons and incicrd them by
| their example, to examine their own condition,
and alpire TO the privileges OF freemeu. II is
an incontrovertibie maxim, that man will never
be contented with the lefIer liberty when he
has futfcient intelligence TO perceive, and DOW
er enough to demand the greater. Except the
cafe Of ST. Domingo, it would be difficult to
find another analogous cafe OF acquired liberty,
combined with inferior rights. The hiftory of
| the Jews under the Roman Empire will, howe
yer, fupply us with iimilar deductions. Niere
| Mr.. S. read extracts from the Roman HiRorv
to prove that the Jews, unde the reign of the
Emperor Adria0, wee SOas.Tnaiiy iO.hcntine
! new infurreGioEs.)
Review then thefe three conditions of fociety,
and let any candid man declare that either of
them is TO be preferred to the prefent fyftem.
If then we reject with adherence, every idea
OF blended and homogeneous race; if we re-
gard with horror the continual and aggravated
evils arling from dftiDct md emanciDated ma
lion: What cc:c!;;iGiofi is inevitably forced up
on us? Or does our condition allow us but one
choice? Does it not feem neceGary to the
peace of our country, that they fhould be re-
tanned in their prefent ftuaton? Now they
are deprived the right of locomotion, of the
opportunities of combining, and the powers Of
the mind. They are, ands itgrieves me to fay,
they ought to be. What lhould we fay of
man who having his mortal foe bound at his
feet, tetts him once more ut liberty, and plants
a ftietto in his hard. We might indeed COM
mend his generofty, but who is there that
would not condemn his want of prudence !?
Shall make the application to the prcfent fub-
ject Or fhall we then encounter this hoft of
evils for the fear of giving up this glorious
right of emancip ton % He therefore declared,
MIR. S. faid, that the public Iateiy requires the
prefervation of our prefent condition, and the
adoPtion of every expedient which may tend
to preicrvc it: and the prefent bill is obyiouny
productive of this effect.
There was another point of view, in which
the public infeyeR ieemed to require its adopti-
on. 1t was the duty of the government 10
maintain the frenSth of the nation. But its
ftrength conflts in numbers and in wealth. And
what efc6t has emancipation upon each of
thefc? II leAcus the relative number of its de-
tenders by increafing the number Of it's enemies.
And it eilcns the wealth of the government by
diminution of its revenue. 1t is hatcd in
Judge fuckers Enay that in 1899 there were
about 5000 people of colour. BY our lait CEN
fus, there were about 10000; & in future times,
the numbers will be proportionay augmented. |
Hl...r HI II