Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-11-30

solemn expression of the feelings of this
nation Oh this interesting subject, Their
VAS no parade, no ostcniaiiOn of human
~. We sent no political missionaries
abroad 10 boast OF our virtues, or 10 rouse
the slumbering humanity Of others. We
made no treaties, in which we held up TO
the view of mankind our greatness and
humanity" and proved that we were
engaged in the pious and holy effort to
| make others as humane as ourselves.
Neither did we manifest any sordd APP
| preheBsions that other nations might
monopolize the trade we meant 10 allure.
| II IN this we did mol exhibit our wis
dom and our virtue" we al least Showed
| some knowledge Of The subject, and
some respect for The characters and
feelings oi others. We knew The Difficult
ties and embarrassments always attending
important changes, and we left il 10
hiierua'ions, I'm their wisdom and virtue,
toJudge for themselves, as we had iudged
for ourselves. Satisfied with having wash-
ed our own hands of This iniquity, we
tired neither fiattery, nor persuasion, nor
money, 60 induce others 10 follow our
example, and thus cuHuingly secure for
ourselves all The glory Of the abolition.
Adhering 10 The determination 10 abide
by the criterion of national character
which you have SD justly chosen, will
take leave 10 stale another important fac,
which occurred-mark, genIlemen-whiIc
Tie American people were yet without "A
rival, and pursued, will! solitary fidelity,
The course WHICH their refecting and eau
IONS, and therefore real, humanity, pre-
scr'bed. For, permit me here TO remark
10 you that the humanity which feels
only, and is always eloquent because il
f.nI md 81,
eloquent, is not the sentiment bv which
nation or man should be guided. That
| only is real humanity which reflects,
celebrates, calculates, reasons; moves
| towards lis object with cautious steps and
| slow; rejecting every scheme by which
The mass OF human misery may be aug
ment"d, or ny which great and certain
! EVIL IS 10 he encountered for The sake of a
| distant or contingent good. In humanity
| on this sort there can be no mixture oil
folly, hypocrisy, vanity, ambition, or
| 4" "a 'c'sm bu, with The former all these
Instantly amalgamaie.
| The fact alluded 10 is this By an &C;
| OF Congress, passed as early as March,
! 1894, period at which the ewes of almost
| all mankind were riveited on the san.
| culinary horrors exhibited in France. ci-
items OF the United States, and all per
sons resident therein, were prohibited
| from fitting out vessels in The u. States,
Tor the purpose OF carrying on traffic in
slaves to any foreign country, or from!
one foreign country 10 another
By supplemental act, passed in NAV
1900, citizens and residents of the United
! States were prohibited, under heavy ne
nalties. from holding any interest in yes
sells employed abroad in The slave trade
frey we're also prohibited from serving
on board such vessels and by the same
act, the vessels described in the act OF
1894, were made liable TO seizure by
any commissioned vessel of the United
| States.
You have already been appraised that
on the LIST January, 1903, the power oi
| Congress to prohibit the Importation OF
slaves into tbose parts of the u. States
| where such importation was vet tolerated
became complete. Why a day so distant
had been selected, it is not in INV power
10 explain. As The principle of the pro.
/ bibitlon appears TO have commanded
universal assent, IT is probable that z
much shorter period would have beer
readily agreed to. However this NAV be
file Congress of the United Siales thought
II their duty not TO lose one single mo
ment and, on The ID March, 1907, law
TO take effect on The Isl day of January
1903, was passed, prohibiting the impor
taiIOn of slaves within the limits and
jurisdiction Of The United States. Thi.
law, being duly promulgated, went into
operation, practically, as well as theore
iicaliy, on The appointed day.
Thus II appears that The governn emf O
the United States also has done all thai
ii had power 10 do.
Ii ought further to be stated, that, at q
very early period after the revolution, the
slave trade was, in fact, prohibited as tC
all the states north and east of Marylan
III consequence Of their having adopted
some plan OF emancipation plan easil,
| effected where the number OF The slaves
was so small, and where experience haC
proved that The climate did not suit them
| But, ~ the southern states, where IN,
number vas great, and that number ha(
NATURALLY and rapidly increased, the diff
Guilty was believed 10 be insurmouniable
The difficulty is insUrmountable and, Il
my apprehension, II Is perfectly clear Ina
there is no plan that can he adopied whicl
| Will not produce a wider waste of ruiz
than could be viewed with composure
even by the enthusiast whose evil genius
might bFiugSit on our heads. Rely upOi
n, AZ sn unquesjionabie truth, that il j.
not Al itis moment in The power Of Lumai
wisdom 10 devise plan for the gradua
abolition 0fslavery which does not requir
ior lis completion degree of virtue, PHI
los9phy, and moderation, among boil
whites and blacks, which IL would be fol
~ tO anticipate. have never seen ye
but one (G) plan, and that required on,
criminal liberation, for a time, Of an iilici
traibC," aud by others il was alleged TO b
" calculated to prevent voluntary aud beucfi
cial euiigrations TO America" NJ this perio,
tie clergy. the statesmen, and even the Re