Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-10-25
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
To Caius Gracious:

YOU have rot iemd-AlSrUed at " hat You deem
an approaching vii, you have remembered that
indiscree, efforts 10 do good may be mischevous;
but have forgotten that an indiscreet opposition
10 such efforts, may be equally You have,
wthou. sufficient enquiry, attacked a man, who. IT
he has lent such a name and such an influence as
his TO a work that shall result in the consequent
ces YOU apprehend, will (besides having much to
lose) have much to answer Tor to his country
You have attacked Society which commenced
its labours under the high encouragement OF an al
most unanimous resolution OF the Virginia Legisa-
ture, and whose progress has been sanctioned by
the appreciation of patriots and statesmen OF I'M
questioned discernment
Had YOU applied Tor information and eNpiana-
tion and suggested your fears, even TO the respect
ed Individual whom you have denounced, or 10 any
of those who have been engaged in the operations
of this Society, YOU would, hope, (for am dis
posed TO think you fair and candid have found
yourself relieved from your apprehensions, and
would have acknowledged that this difficult and
delicate subject was, at least sale in their hands,
You would have seen fill cause to separate them
from the rash and incorporate projectors with
whom you have uniustly associated them; and
would have deemed II no small advantage, II the
influence and example OF this Society could nave
formed " q nucleus,' around which, the . dtsoF-
Rerly and dsafected had gathered instead OF
rushing upon the doubtful and dangerous adven-
lures of which YOU complain. Whether the justin
cation am now attempting, will .hord you this
relief; wheeler, having committed yourself upon
the question, both with your neighbours and the
public, the pride of opinion" will be too strong
for it, | cannot determine fear from an obserya-
ton in your letter, that the Society has incurred
your dspleasure, not more by any inconsistency In
ils course, than by having commenced II, and
that when shall have repealed the charge OF devla-
ton from It's original purpose, the purpose Itself
will be the subject of attack, containing " vice
inherent in it's nature,' leading 10 all the mischies
you have imagined.
This purpose, 10 which the Society labours
were declared to be - exclusively directed" is the
removal of the free coloured people of the United
States to the Coast of Africa, with their con-
sent.''
Is this purpose so inherently vicious in its ma
ture, so calculated % excite extraordinary poti-
cal movements" TO affect :" the proceedings of the
Federal and State Legislatures upon subjects of the
most alarming and dangerous character''-'' to
throw the whole country in flame, whose ravages
would extend itsefinto every walk of Society, our
fields and our kitchens Or is it one which may
be fairly; faithfully and safely prosecuted?
This question might leave be settled by au-
thority. The legislators of Virginia no such
dangerous tendency in 1t, when they recommended
it, nor afterwards when they removed the injunction
of secrecy, under which they had considered and
decided it. The man you have named, and many
Others, distinguished alike for prudence and for psf
riotism; Southern men, interested deeply, every
way, in tho question; who present and par
ties in the formation OF the Society, saw no such
dangcrs Doubts of success were felt aud express
ed by many, but that it was measure to give
alarm 10 the slave-holder, was imagined by none
The fact is, that the only alarm it gave was TO
the Observation-Disclosures. The shareholders were the
only FIRST friends of the Society the aboliliouists
its only enemies. they saw nothing of this ''inhe-
rent vice. lille YOU consider it necessarily
fraught with danger TO the say e-holder they take
1t for selhsh scheme 10 make slavery sale and
profitable, and deem il fatal TO Ike slave. The ma
ture ola purpose, capable of such opposite nscon-
structlons, must lie III the safe middle course be-
tween such errors, and be innocent. If you have
examined THE subject you ought, and consulted
the publications of the period TO which allude,
you will acknowledge he correctness of what
state.
contend, then, that the original design of the IN
stution was, at least, harmess-thst it might be
prosecuted ndought to have been prosecul ed with
out mischief But ] will do more--l will prove
that for nearly years it has been so prosecuted
And this brings me TO consider, what's at present
your main ground OF aCcusation--the inconsistency
of the Society in departing from their original de-
sign.
And now, Sir, must insist that we discuss this
matter fairly and closely Ii will not do TO charge
upon the Society, without the shadow of proof
every tnilb Lldt has ever disturbed you upon TINS
subject, from the debates in Congress and in State
Legislatures, down 10 the supposed whispers of
supposed emssaries and sub agents
You must have seen the Society through a strange
medium of alarm, to have imagined that the Mis-
souri, Question arose at their bidding, that the Lee
gslatures of Connecticut and Ohio were excited bv
their influence, and Messrs. King aud Tucker NOV
ed by their nstigatiobs. Believe me, you are
wholly wrong in these suspicious The Missouri
Question came upon you from the North, where
we bad scarcely friend: and | cannot recolect
single member or friend of the Society who was
not with you on the question. AS to Messrs.
King and Tucker | do not believe that either of
them has ever had any intercourse with the Society,
or even approves fits views.
Your reasons for charging these matters to our
account, singular the charge.
You say they occurred since the formation Of the
Society and that Congress had never dared TO dis
cuss such matters before. This admit, and only
say we could not help it, and promise that never
hereafter shall Congress discuss any such matters,
with our leave
And you also say, that " these movements ovv-
ed their origin 10 the counienance and support which
our Society Is giving such doctrines" Aud this
1 deny, and call upon you TO say where and when
the Society gave any counienance and support to
the doctrines Of the Missouri Question, or the mo
lions of Messrs. King and Tucker? But am really
almost ashamed TO be thought serious in thinking
you serious, in attributing these great political
movements to so inadequate a cause. / cannot
however, fobear to state that the Society has pre-
sented, on different occasions three or four memo
rails to Congress, and one to the Legislatures of
Maryland and Virginia; and in these, should pre-
sumo, it any where, wonld be found the incendiary
doctrines with which you charge us, yet, in these
you have found nothing; and are yourself forced 10
admit that you do not sustain tins part of your case
with such definite and precise proof, has been
sdduced 10 shew the rapid encroachments OF the