Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-12-03

clfui Than ChrIst-more humane. NOR G
pions, more conscientious, more moral,
than the Apostles Let them bew are J.
Let them not consider their erring hui
man'iy as better guide than their reli.
gi"h Protesting To be wise, LEI them
not become fools !I23)
] do not introduce these quotations
from The OLD Testament aud the New,
with view To Justify slavery. Whether
they do justify u or not, le, every reader
decide Tor hi.nseli. But there Is one
result which confidently anticipate. In
the judgment Of every man who is, or
pretends To he a christian, these quota
tons will be at least sufficient 10 eXemp,
people who hold as slaves, those whom
they found slaves, aud WHO lament Thai
they do hold them, from the curses and
bitter denunciatioDs which have been of
late hcaped upon their heads. Nor have
discussed the question concerning the
legitimacy oil slavery on principles of Ma
tural law. have barely referred TO the
opinions OF others: of men. OF whom some
were distinguished as we'll for their Diety
as their learning. have hazarded no
opinion OF my own. am participation
i'll that crime "wiil which no. measures
are to BIZ kept :" but though thus put
hors la To-" | will venture merely to
ask the philanllropist 10 descend Tor "a
moment 10 the earth, 10 look into the
condition OF Africa and China, as il re-
ally exists, and then TO decide whether. i'm
some cases at least. the substitution of
slavery Tor death may not be authorized,
on principles OF Tie purest aud most en-
llghiened humanity. (24.) Ofthese ques.
lions have absiained from the discus
sion. l thought il sufficient for nv pur-
pose 10 exhibit transient view Of doc
trlnes and principles which hitherto have
claimed aud possessed some influence "A
moug men. The real question With Us
is-can the state OF things of which YOU
so boldly complain, be changed? have
already said tina, il cannot, | repeat
that 1t cannot. 1t is very easy 10 declaim :;
II Is very amusing 10 be eloquent; and il
Is certainly very pleasant, as well as
poliiic, to be humane, especially when il
COSTS nothing, and procures for us dis,
iInciion as well as protit.-But what is
sport to done maybe death, literally death,
to thousands Of others. This sport,
then, Is worse than foolish and he
who at this day, and in this roun-
Try, IN speaking OF slavery talks of stains.
without shelving how they can be effaced
OF crimes, without showing how ihey can
U
shelving how IL can be avoided does a
wrong, which il is liberal to impu,e 10
inlbeclliy of intellect. Gentlemen, hi,
remark Is moi made for you YOU know
mol our situation: you know but little of
our constitution and our laws, and are
therefore only liable 10 the impulatien O!
temeri'y, IN SPEAKING on a snbiecI which
you do not undersiaud.-Hcarm me then
Tor moment, while explain 10 YOU the
reason OF my attlrmation-ihat no scheme
OF emancipation can, IN the present state
OF thugs, be realized. Slaves, by our
laws, are property /: and therefore, on the
principles Of our constitution, cannot be
sci Tree by legislative act. The proper
~ OF citizen cannot be taken from him
without an equivalent and even then
only for public use. Emancipation. there
fore, must be the act OF the individual
owners. In this way il has commenced
aud already there is deep conviction.
founded on woelul experience, OF The
enormous evils which il must produce.
In Georgia the privilege is taken away.
he other states must follow the exam
pie, or strictly enforce The condition, wi Iich
requires their departure from the country.
simultaneous movement OH this subject
from so many thousands of owners, cam
not be expected : and if it were 10 take
place, The country would exhibit nothing
Dut one vide scene OF misery and death.
(25.)
Before take leave of this part of the
SUBJECT, you will permit me 10 suggest TO
yon that one of the laws of South Caro-
Ina, referred to by you, ou2hf not TO have
excited IN your minds the Indignation
which you have thought proper 10 expre IS.
The murderer of slave, YOU say, IS liza.
bic only 10 pecuniary penalty. Such
certainly was the law of The state and
may be the iaw now. But, when YOU re-
collect the code from which the principle
was taken, you will perhaps cOncede that
you ought TO have been less precipiiaie in
your condemnation, and less acrimonious
IN expressing il. The provision relating
10 the killing of slave, in that code
which all christians call the law of God.
ought 10 have occurred TO you... II
man smiie his servant with his rod. and
lie die under his hand, he shall be surely
punished; Notwithstanding, if he conii-
nue. day or two, he shall not be Du
nished, for he is his money" (2e) am
very sensible that the morality of the bl.
bic IS not pure enough for The humane
people OF the present day but, as The
act under consideration was passed In the
year l74O, before the term OF the assleD-
10 contract had expired, which contract
regarded slaves as money, The people of
South Carolina will be- excused for not
being wiser or better than The bible, and
those by whom their legislation was con
trolled.
In the year 1888. Immediately after the
war, This act was (Bot rendered per
Pefual" for il was not originally Il tenn
porary law, buD reeDacied, i'll general
law, intended TO embrace those laws only,
which The change in the government hae:
not superseded. But let it be conceded