Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-12-10
70 the Editors az the Enauirer.


GENTLEMEN A friend of Csius Gracious
woud beg leave to make his acknowledgements to
the " Member of the American Colonization Soci-
ety." whose Pickering light has lately beamed up
on the pdbc, through the medium of your paper :
and 10 inform him, that when he becomes less e0ui-
cocai, in the expression of his own, and his soci-
ety's views upon our slave population than is dis
closed by his late communication, Gracious NAV
deem it misapplication of his time to bestow an
him some notice At present, it seems TO be pug
zie with the best I0its of the land, to discover
whether he is really an advocate, or not, of the
abolition principle, which his society is now engaged
ia asserting.
If | have not mistaken the general scope of the
remarks oil Gracious, II IS matter Of perfect in
difference in his view of the subject, whether the
principle OF abolition Is TO be considered as fun
gus, which has fastened itself upon the society |;
formed and concreted OF the elements of disaffec-
lion, since its first foundation or whether il be
covert principle, which has at all times lurlked in
Its bosom, and been cherished Z" under the rose
In either event. its mischievous effects ought equally
TO be exposed and deprecated. But lest this
" Member OF the American Colonization Society,"
should cherish the belief, that the silence of Graz
chus and his friends, resulted from their being con
WINGED by him / will venture to suggest for his
better consideration few passing remarks, which
may possibly lead him to more correct view. of
what ne aedges TO be the Z" main ground of accu-
sation the inconsistency Of the society in depart
ing IRON their original desgn:' But yviich Crac-
chus himself, and every attentive reader must cun-
slider, very subordinate point to the discussion.
Let us, however, indulge the worthy " Member
ior moment in his own choice of objections
Gracious after taking enlarged view in his COM
inunlcaIlons to the Auxiliary Society OF Powbstsn.
for the purpose of shelving the impolicy and dan
ser oil the scheme IN his closing adIfes. to judge
Washington stated, that he believed he should
have but little difficulty in proving TO the sati.f,c-
ton OF all unprejndiced minds that the original
Objects oil the association had been changed. and
that views and objects now in contemplation.
which formed no part Of their original purpose"
The expression oflhis opinion, imposed upon him
duty OF two-iold character lst 10 prove by re-
ference TO the most authentic documents of the so
ciety, and the public declarations of it's founders n,
me time, what were its original objects. And
2dly TO shew by the declarations and acts of lie
society and The opinions and practices of their ac
knowledged agents throughout the countrv ,yha, are
ITS ute,cs and objects nOD. This he has no ,onh,
done to the satisfaction of all but the yortbv
" Member" and bis associates But AZ he IL sr,Ii
scepiical, let him examine the Constitution of ,bs
Society, which OF all other documents ought 10
contain the declaration Of so important priecinle
1t 1t had beeI designed to adopt IT, Yet in this In
strument not an intimston even. il IN be fou,d
OF such sentiment No, not even epenf,eaI or
consequential abolition LET him advert too. IN
the style Of the Association, which in societies are