The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-09-22


nj an. II II prove otherwise, on II tar trial,
lie minority must aud will peaceaby acqui-
esce. "IfRpHe must fall, we are innocent"
having performed. II the hest Of our ability,
aud intending II continue 10 do so, the duty
which our vocation seemed 10 impose on US.
SLAVERY.
The bare name of Slavery, if not the thing
itself, IL sulh Gent 10 make the American peo-
pie, who boast, with 50 much reason, OF their
liberty, anxious 10 get rid OF it. That the
condition of tint olass OF our population
Which is subject to il, is not understood by
the people OF the North, is fact All their
dolelnl Jeremiads when uttered in relation
Ia the treatment of our slaves, are misaPplied,
and, 10 those acquainted with the subject,
perfectly ridiculous. Their inaginaions seem
Away. to associate with the term siare, the
id of tesk-nas,ers and racks and chains
10 hqe, cruelty in all is Shape, and forms -
But, in relation to Southern slaves, the fact is
otherwise. With very few exceptions, they
are well clothed aid we'll fed, and, after they
have performed moderate days labor Qrom
which their masters arc not exempt are II,
free and unfe'trained IN their actions as any
sci of men whatever. Their condition i,
equally as good a..lhat of the poorer Gins, of
whites, and, niue times out OF ten, we venture
Ia assert, they would not make an exchange,
We observe it stated, too in late No. of the
(London) g" European Magazine" in an arti-
Gle contrasting the conditions Of the English
aborer and American slave that Of the latter
IS decidedly preferred. What, then, IS the
mighty evil OF which our northern philauthro-
p.sts complain Why are their sympathies
80 often and so powerfully excited on sub
jet which imntdtdtely affects them not, and
Which, by its continuance, though it may add
mite To human injustice md national inpo-
Icy, adds nothing 10 The sum OF human mise
Try Ii the condtio9 of this part oil our 20.
pnlaton is as good as that of the poorer class
of whites (andsit is as often better as worse
why do they 50 oieionsly intermediate Is
il the mere name they abhoro "A rose, by
We do not wish 10 be understood AS objecting
10 The removal OF The cause OF complaint, nor
TO be considered rs viewing the subject with
indifference. Ii there be one portion Of this
Union more than another interested in wip
ing from its character the foul stain which The
avarice aud cnpdity of others have attached
TO it, il is that section in which slavery exists.
Let not our northern brethren deceive them
selves into the erroneous belief that the blacks
are source of nnmngled profit to the south
and TINT their holders are 10th 10 part With
hem on this account, The few advantages
derived from their labor are more than coun-
terbaanced By the host of evils they engem-
der Wherever they are, they corrupt the
manners and demoralize the character of the
people. These are evils Qaying aside those
oil mere porentous character, which pru-
dence torbds us to name, ) powerful enough
10 induce US not only 10 put our own shout
dersto the wheel, in the effort to rid ourselves
If them, but also 10 call on llercuIe, for aid
How can we accomplish the mighty work,
nnassisted II is Impossible. To shat power,
then, shall we Apply for aid ? To what other
but the national governments We repeat,
that MIR Kings resolution in relation TO this
subject, 50 much objected to, and SO little
understood, in its nature aud consequences,
,
IL the entering wedge of n great system, des.
tined To have more important aud more
rFaiseworthy influence ON our national pros.
prrity than any nostrum invented by cur le. !
gis!ative qaacks since the era of the revoIu
ton. twill, if carried into complete effect,
afford an instance at the same time Of pow.
erin! national resources and imposing moral
grandeur which the world has never vitae,
sed. A great and free people, acting in &C
cordanee with the principles upon which the .
fabric of their government was built. casting
from among them, by common consent, and !
ny n common impulse, class Of people " no /
had become almost incorporated into their
system, by long residence aud BY gradual as
slmilation 10 the manners Of their masters.
because II was wrong that they whom God
had created free should be shackled by their
tcliow-beihgs, would be indeed a sublime
sPecthe.e--a signal triumph of humanity and
justice over almost oyerpowering obstacles.
And shall this be only splendid dream
Will not this grand event be accomplished 4,
Shall not the United States give another ex.
ample to the world, equal to that she has al
ready given, of disinterested devotion 10 the
welfare OF mankind We may be too san.
suine Haea va think we ses in The impulse