Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-12-07


solemniy declaring that you will never
again open your lips as TO the dom este
concerns OF the people Of any nation of
the globe.
Bat lei us take more favorable view,
though by no means so likely 10 occur.
Let us suppose that the people of state,
where The black population is nearly e.
quail TO the while, foreseeing The mischief
already described, proceed al once 10 the
establishment OF such military arrange
meni as eXiingulshes all hope on the part
o. The black, OF obtaining any thing, but
by labor and Industry. This superstition
Is the most favorable for them that can
be made. They are free, and they know
that their subsistence depends on their
labor, and their happiness on their good
conduct. Does philanthropy ask more =?
There is, in such state of things, an
obvious aud most important circumstance,
the ELECTS Of which have never been duly
estimated. This, however, ought no, To
afford rlaiter of surprise, Philanthropy
disdains 10 calculate. Ii rushes forward
towards us object, trampling as il goes,
ON Tie best feelings Of the heart, the dear
Isl interests 81 society, The recorded pre-
Dept. of religion, ard the acknowledged
principles vi law, b fore i, has aslerfau-
al The real value OF the object thus i'm
petuously sought, and even whether The
nbJect thus sought DE- IN truth attaiDaS
bile.
The circumstance to which aIlude is
simply this The blacks when need are
blacks sili.-Ihey are negroes i'll spite
oi freedom.
In ancient Rune, when freedom was
conferred ON slave, he took his station
in society at once, according TO his man
ners and capacity. He became a Roman
citizen, without any mark of his former
strvIlude and degradation. He stood up
on footing with the great body of the
people, and was authorized 10 aspire 10 The
highest honoTs of the state. Sucl!, at
least, was the fact, al tile lime when The
pride o! Imperial Rome, carried as higl as
civil and nIi!iiary power could carry il,
bore so1he faint resemblance 10 the ride Of
ecclesiastical Rome, some centuries af-
forwards. (34)
How different is the case of the blacks.
they are poor aud spiyiileSs, because,
though free, they are black They con-
s!itute, and they must forever constitute,
and know. and feel that they constitute
nm inferior aud degraded cast. For con-
elusive evidence OF tie truth Of this opin-
ION, appeal 10 the actual condition oil The
Tree blacks III your country, as well as in
cur Own particularly in that par of our
own country where The denunuiation of
slavery Is expressed in The strongest
terms. THIS cannot be helped. Til. ma
ture OF nan cannot be changed philan-
shropy may deciaim il has dealained, is
now dec laInIng, and viii continue 10
decialm but the sentiment produc q by
difference of color viii be as etcruai ard
interchangeable a. Tie decree of the AL
iAigity by which THAT difference Was Or.
oalned IO this dispensa,iOn We must
all submit, and submit IN silence. II is
God who hath made us, aud not we our
selves " Snail the thing formed, say 10
hum wliich formed 1t, why hastihou made
me thus g
take il Tor granted, tncn, the eman-
clPated blacks are forever 10 constitute
this inferior aud degraded cast The only
plan oil emancipation THAT have ever
seen, and hich has been recently brought
out rom the obscurity INTO which il sunk
sooE a!ler lis exhibition, proposes 10 per-
petnaie their degradation 10y legal coer-
cion. They are 10 hold nu ofiics, 40 free
hold III Iands-lo keep 10 arms-to marry
only with blacks: not TO act as attorneys,
Jurors, witnesses, executors, or adninis-
traitors. They are 10 b: incapable of
making any will they cannot be trustees
OF lands, nor can any body be trustee
for them Such IS 10 be the condition of
HE blacks such is ihe sentence which
philanthropy iIseiflIas pronounced. Now,
panse ioT moment, aud see the condI-
ton 10 Which they are reduced They are
free, IL is true. They are under 10 imme-
diaIe personal control. Yes, they are free
TO choose a master. This is the head
and front of their freedom. 1t bath this
extent no more. They are poor; and
they must labor for subsistence. This is
all that they can ever obtain. ANY thing like
distinction is utterly beyond their reach,
even with equal physical endowments,
which they have not. Any ihing like
equality, even If otherwise atiainable, is
inierdicted. If then they become iDdo-
lent, as they are naturally disposed TO be,
| and want bread, who will supply them
u heedless, as they forever Will be, they
form matrimeBiaI connections, and have
| many cblldren--wbO sill prescribe for
| them when sick, feed them when hungry
or cloihe them vlIen'naked If iIiey are
lily treated. who is 10 protect them In
such state Of things, is it not manifest
That they have exchanged lie of COM
| paratiyc ease for the mere name of free
| dom, while, BY decree of the Almighty
| ihe guipii which separates them from The
whites, is as impossible as ever that
| they must become indolenl, careless. vi.
| ciOus, sunk IN their own esteem Degrad-
Ell by nature and by law, they pine away
their lives in hopeless detection, and feel
no desire 10 raise mp children TO BE- az
themselves. They anguish, decay, and,
III a few centuries OF wrctchedness aud
vice, they disappear. Such are tie tri.
umphs of philanthropy.
Gentlemen, did II ever occur 10 you
that the application oltopprobious epiihet,