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

government anu Country, anu th2t we 100
might In like manner be excused To
hear, before condemnation, is am essen
llal duty, which even literary judges are
bound 10 perform.
You see that the defence hitherto made
IL entirely unconnected with the question
concerning the legitimacy of the state
%. slavery. We have excused ourselves
by showing That The introduction of sla'
very into. country Mas no, our act,
aud thai ITS continuance now is a matter
at necessity, and moi of choice: but, ia
the language OF the bar, we have ne, er
put IN The plea of justification. We have
never SAID, HAT, by the principles OF ma
iural law, or tile precepts Of revealed re-
liSion, slavery was legitimate state ol
human existence. But OF those principle,
aud precep's, as they are expOunded 10
us. II is now my duty TO avail myself
We have been denounced. before all the
nations Of the earth, as " the least and
lowestiu rank aud character :" as :" the
scourgers and murderers of slaves" be-
cause we tolerate slavery which we can
not rcmsvc. and which your government
has not attempted 10 remove. An ana
,hema has been issued, calculated 10 in-
Inrc and degrade us in the eyes of all
mankind, and, what is still worse, even
III ourowD. l cannot, therefore, without
being IN some degree accessory 10 the in
Jusaice which am eudeavoring to expose,
withou, being AN abetior 30 the calumny
OF which complain. without, in truth,
beiraying the cause in which have be-
come a voluntary advocate, pretermii any
point OF defence which law orreligion au-
thorizes me TO use. In this course OF
II Il.
ton That ] shall not do the smallest inju-
ry to tile people of color. The era of
fheIr emancipation will arrive whenever
the white people are convinced that the
scheme proposed is practicable, and that
1t VIII not, III lis progress or after its
completion, do more harm than good 10
HE blacks themselves. When that time
shall arrive, the constitutional difficulties
will be removed, and the plan proposed
VIII be adopted, provided il brings upon
the white people no other evil than that
arising from mere loss of property,
though this will be "A greater sacrifice than
ever was made. or required from any ia
ton of the earth. The era will arrive
then, and not before Ii ought not 10
arrive before Ia pursuing the course
now marked out, beg thaii may be un-
dersiooh, that | am nor giving-at least
IL rs moi my object 10 glye-my own OPT
mems. Iheg are OF no consequence what
ever. | only quote the law and the Cos,
pei as find them. if they shall render
the Jealous more cautious, more cOnsi
dcrate: the humane less indignant and
herce; and convince both that all wisdom.
ana Understanding. and virtue, are not
confined 10 themselves, but have been i'm
some degree possessed by other persons
at other times, and by other persons even
at This time, shall be content.
In relation TO the law of nature. which
rs nothing more than right reason and
justice, independent of municipal laws,
apniied 10 individuals, a very few words
Will he sufficient. The question has been
eddy Groiius, Pueendorf. Hobbies,
ana thelr successors, particularly Paley,
VINO, as well as Grotius, distinguish
ed blmselfi in The cause OF Chrislia
hi'y. IL Is the opinion Of these Iurisis
and divines, thai slavery may he justified
on principles of natural law. A little
volume would be required 10 cons prise all
'he reasoning on this subject. | content
myself, therefore, with bare statement
of llie fact, and with this remark. that
Gro,lns and his successors have been
invariably considered as orthodox ex.
FOUNDERS Oftse law ofnature and nations
Groiius himself has been regarded as tLe
legislator of Europe. His writings are
quoted in all forensic and DIPLOMATIC dis.
cusslon, with the highest respect, and his
name is never pronounced bni win vene.
ration. Yet Grotius, who justities sla-
very, IL upheld and supported by univer-
sal approbatIon, while we, who do not
\ IN al
greater evil, are loaded with the bitter
est execraiions. There is no Justice, nor
csndor, nor fair dealing, in such proce-
dure,O4)
There is another view Of this subject
winch merits the serious consideration of
all those who advocate the abolition of
slavery. This view will teach them at
once the propriety of avoiding epi,hets
and denuncIations which eloquencs i'm IFS
wrath scatiers abroad, without knowing,
perhaps without caring, on whom or what
they may fall.
OF The slavery which The Supreme Be-
ing has permitted, through all time. TO
exist, in Asia, and Africa, and, at this
very moment, IN great part Of Europe
also, say nothing. draw no inference
from u, III exienuation Of our " afrocious
CRIME" IN holding slaves, whose emanci-
paiIon wouid be ruiuous no less 10 them.
selves than 10 their owners. Nor will
avail myself of tue fact, that the patri.
arch Abraham. TO whom The Bible records
a promise from heaven, "ihat in his seed
Should all lie nations OF the earth be
blessed, was the proprietor at one time
u Three huIdred servants, all born i'm his
OWN house O5) nor of the fact, that his
son Isaac %as not deemed unworthy of
ne special favor Of the Supreme Being,
although he also had great Store of ser,
ants" All these things may be passed
w. The jewish code Of laws, proceeding
Is we are taught 10 believe, Immediately
rom God himself, authorizes slavery
mOnp his chnsen nennl,. mimic 81,