Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-10-10

please, tie caseof Virginia, the largest
of those states. Does she wish the ex-
tension Of SLAYER Let her known con-
duct decide.
While yet a 'olony of Great Britain,
she distinguished herself prc-emnently
! by noble, mgnanimous, and perso-
yeriug stand against it, and enumerated
its federation in he list of grievances, of
which she so brcbly and eloquentiy
complained against the mother country.
True to The principles she professed, she
was tic first state in the Union to set the
example deficient opposition to trail
&c in human flesh, SO disgraoeiul to our
country, and so abhorrent to the princi-
ples for which we ourselves contended,
by passing law to prohibit it by severe
penalties, as early as the year l778, in
which she has stedlastly persevered
from that time TO the present day; nor
has she ever, on any occasion, been less
prompt in assisting to interpose the
Shield Of federal authority to protect the
devoted sons of Africa from such ruth
less oppression.
Having thus, by the most unequivocal
acts, so demonstrated the sincerity Of her
professionalism this subject, rs to extort
the highest commenlatioa from die most
distinguished advocates Of the proposed
restriction and deploring, as she must
do, TIE evils Of slavery, v hat reason have
VIC to suppose that she is now disposed
to reIinqni.h tose principles, and aban-
don policy, which, to her honor, she
HIS, for such series oil years, pursued
with innexiblt perseverance, and the
wisdom ofwhih is daily more and more
developed No, sir, depend upon it,
Virginia know, too we'll what she owes
TO her own character ever TO descend
from the proudpre-eminence which she
has acquired upon this subject.
The rest Of the slavc-holdin6 states
have also given such proofs of their de-
eided hostility to the further introduction
of slavery among US, as to leave no
ground for even the affectation Of incre-
dulity upon the subject.
As, then, hose states, equally with
ourselves, are opposed to the further in
crease OF slaYery in the United States,
so, with them, as with US, the only sub
iect Of conuo. crsy which the proposed
restriction presents, relates exclusively
to the slaves that are now among them.
And can they have any motives for OPP
posing that restriction which are not tru
ly national, and strictly compatible with
the principles OF our confederation If
they had heretofore desired 10 increase
their political power, and asgrandize
themselves upon the basis OF slave
population, would they themselves have
voluntarily inhibited the importation of
slaves, and united in every means which
the wisdom of the national councils has
yet been able to devise, for its proven
tion? Were they now even ,enacious OF
that portion of political power which
they derive from the slavery that exists
among them, would they be the advo-
Gates Of a measure calculated to diminish
that power, by its tendency to abstract
from them, ard transfer TO different
and distant section ofthe Union, large
portion of their slaves? And let it be
remenb ered that, to impute to them a
desire merely 10 diminish the number of
their slaves, is to admit the most con-
elusive evidence Of their opposition to
the increase Of slavery, which is the
point have eDCeavored to maintain.
SO far, therefore, from those states be-
ing actGatcd by Tic motives which, for
particular purposes, have been attributed
10 them, ii must be evident that the plin-
ciplcs for which they contend are caIcu-
lated not only to diminish the power Of
their respective states, but TO promote
the abolition Of slavery itself; for, in
proportion as YOU permit the slaves now
among us 10 be dispersed, SO do YOU
diminish their relative numbers to the
white population in any one state, and to
that extent, at least, increase their chan
ces of emancipation, as is evinced by the
experience of Massachusetts, New York,
Pennsy lvania, Ncw-Jorsey, Delaware,
sc. and which is also conceded by the
supposiion that The prohibition of the
further admission of slaves into Missouri
would be favorable to the emancipation
Of those who are now there, which seems
to be favorite sentiment with q gentle
man OR. King, of Ncw-Yor&1 Of pre-
eminent talents, who has distinguished
himself b. his jealous and able support
eff the proposed restriction, and who adj
mits that disposition more favorable to
emancipation is gaining ground in the
states where slavery exists that the dis
proportionate increase Of free people Of
COLON car be accounted for upon 10 other