Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-06-15

they must Immediately be invested
with all and singular the privileges ana
immanities possessed by the whites;
nothing short of this will ever satisfy
them nay, I am confident in my own
mind that even this would NOT. and
the next step would be a contest for
pre-eminence, followed by civil CON.
motions, until one or the other gained
the mastery. Nature has put an irael-
lible mark upon them, which in a.
state of equality, they would ,ealously
endeavour 60 preserve, and the an;mn-
sites eneendered by civil broils, would
perPetuate. Now, sir, let me ask
you, are the citizens of Virginia pre-
pared to stake their lives, liberties aud
fortunes, in order'to comply with the
fanciful dictum of fanatical philoso-
pers and religionists For my own
part, sir, 1 am not ashamed to ayow
my political creeSin this particular
l dQ<not belevsfthat all men are by
nat,<e equal and equally entitled TO
freedom, sSS<pn the contrary from
long acqaaihtahce with negroes, and a
close obsefyance, of their natural en-.
dowmenE. propeAsities and general
character, am convinced in nv own
mind, that they are an inferior race of
human beings to the whites, and that
nature stamped mark on them To
distinguish them as such, and thar in
a state of servitude or slavery they
are precisely in the station which thew
were intended and qualified by nature
to Ill.-But, sir, whether this opinion
OF the inferior nature of negroes be
correct or only convenient, it does
not affect the present Question:.
Well, then, if we cannot emanci,ate
these people without endanger;no
any jeopardizinr, every thing dear
unavoidable which we now possess
and IT partial emancipation also prc.
ductive OF sinilar consequences. (Which
1t IS our indispensable and impe-;ona
duty to obviate and forever expopne,
--asd since the plan Of colonization
has been rejec'ed, the only feasible
plan which offers itself to our choice. is
TO reduce them all TO a state of slavery.
coehniog them solely to agricultural
pursuits, and adopting system of RI
gour compatible with existing circum.
stances. Whatever danger. sir. NAV
have been apprehended from the zeal
Eot heated rcligionists, in the execution
OF system of rigor as recommended
above, my opinion is tina: equal danger
IL not greater, may reasonably be anti.
clpated from fantastical Phiiosonber.
and therefore it would be necessary
20 make provision against the influence
OF both these orders of fanaticks.
:. But, sir, as an able jurist has very
justly observed, that g vain and nuca-
turA area those laws which are nor
fR2ded IN Publie'opinion,o it follows
.thavin 9fder to the success of any
Nea sases which may be deemed most
exPedlent to free us from the dancers
and horrors Of an insurrection OF lie
negroes at this time and To secure ms
against the possibility and even fear
OF It IN future, it will be first necassarv
to conciliate that public opinion IN
Iavor OF some specific system, Itis
therefore that l have used the :medi-
UNI OF your press, to Communicate TO
my fellow citizens this immethodicaI
sketch OF plan for their considerati.
on and appreciation, trusting that nj
least 1t may lead to sometime more
tation.
IMPULSE.