Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-03

contains tIe Hp3NteSI mass oi mOrtal,y,
will make lie other kick The beam.
The peculiar nature OF this question
is such, that we no, only feel an indig
uani reluctance IN approaching II, bst
th. pain of wound inflicted bv the
hand of unkindness aud INJUSTICE, which
has riven us 10 the public discussion of
il. "Ii is an an,ieni settlement, and
faith and loponr STOOD pledged not TO
disturb 20 Why. then, has il been dis
turbed? This, indeed, is Of all inquiries.
The one which first. and most naturally
presents itself TO the mind, upon being
turned 10 the contemplation Of This sub
ject. For what purpose has this propo
si,iop. Ia prohibit slavery in Missouri,
and in all new states 10 he hereafter al.
mitted into the Union, been introduced
For whose benefit! This is a question 10
which, il propouuded by reason, Justice,
or humanity, il will puzzls the authors
aud advocates Of this scheme, 10 give a
satisfactory answer.
AS II is moi our intention 10 trouble
ourselves, or our readers, with any sys-
fematic order, or divisions, in the remarks
we shall make oil tins subject, we will
take occasion here, 10 notice an idea
which has been suggested from different
quarters, and lately by a gentleman on
The floor OF congress, for whose private
virtues, aud public patriotism, we enter
tain very sincere respect. This gentle,
man is reported as declaring his inicn>
ton 10 record his vote against suffer
ing the dark coud of calamity, which
now overshadows his country, TO roll on
beyond the peaceful shores of the M,ssis-
sippi." Mr.. King too.in his late coa,mu-
nicalion, deplores the prospect of" slave
<,( LII
over the boundle.s region beyond the
Mississippi" What is il, in reality. that
these gentlemen dcprecate? What are
the objects of their deep conc IN? Have
they transferred their tender humanity
from animate, TO inanimaic, objects? Is
II the forests, the prairies, The soil, from
St. Louis TO The Pacific, for whirh ,hey
feel this enthusiastic affection Or is il
commended that the permission of slavery
beyond the Mississippi, mus, necessarily
produce great and dcplorabe increase
OF the actual number of slaves that would
Otherwise exist in The United States. is
Tins consequence TO arise from mere
rapid natural increase, produced by The
improvement OF their means OF Subsis-
tence and comfort? Will philanthropy
have the courage TO use this argument?
Or Is /! supposed that by increasing the
demand for them, il will offer such in
ducements 10 foreign Importation. by the
practice of smuggling, as to make i'm
pOriant additions TO their numbers from
tl,at source The nations Of Europe, I'M
der whose flag this traffic is carried on,
are gradually relinquishing if. II is al
ready severely, and II necessary, may be
still more severely, prohibited, by the
laws of the United States and will the
aid OF the prOtessed wishes OF all parts
ot the Union for its suppression, and the
evident interest OF the old southern STATES
that II should be suppressed, (and the
Zeal OF colonization and emancipation
societies may be added, If necessary
our laws may be executed with such ri
gour. thai no increase, from this source
can be justly apprehended, sufficient TO
Induce The adoption of measure consi-
dered, by great and respectable part of
abe Union, as hostile TO their rights, IN
1eresf, and tranquility, and, as incousis.
ze' with the constitution of the United
States.
III wouid seem, from The arguments and
defamation used on This subject, as if il
were not from the migraiion," as il is
termed, OF these people across the Mis-
sissipPJ from the present states, nor
3rom their foreign Importation, nor from
The ordinary source of natural increase,
that this deplorable addition 10 human
slavery rs unprecedented. Ii would seem
as II II were feared that, should Missouri
be admitied into the Union with the right
10 hold slaves, the citizens, in order TO
populate the boundless regions ofthe west
with them, will cause them TO spring mp,
IN countless numbers, by casting stones
and sticks over their shoulders. Would
1T not be well to consider, whether il be
not more 10 be apprehended, that an uH-
constitutional, or what is believed to be an
Unconstitutional, interference with This
subJeet, may produce effects similar TO
Ah"se ascrlbed, in classic alleaory, 10 the
sowing oil The dragons teeihe Have these
gentlemen no feeling for, or no respect
5or The feelings of. the present slave
holding STATES? Or is il their wish, in en-
Heavourlng 10 prevent this dark cloud"
from rolling on 10 The west, that il should
increase and condense around our heads,
III II literally becomes f" "A darkness that
may ne teit 6 But perhaps they may be
Sansuine, or absurd enough TO saw, that
fins will not be The effect OF their mea
Sure;-tilat, i'm their wisdom, they will
md means to proven: such copse-
quence. Do they, in their enthusiasm,
expect to be endued with The power Of
performing miracles Do they expect TO
De able, AT the head of these people,
without the bloody visitation to their
masters houses. OF a Passover md a SpoiL-
ing. To conduct them To the shore of the
Atlantic, and cause lis wild waves TO re-
TIRE 10 the right hand and 10 the left, tina,
fbey may go over, on dry land, and take
ptaceable possession Of The West India
Islands Nv have seen something like
this. OF we understand il rightly, } sug-
gesied by Mr.. King, who, Wien speak.
ing OF our vicinity 10 the European colov
mes 40 These islands sau. 0cnlnnies ,.hnse