Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-02-24
Thc Constitutional Gg1aig.
Fon THE CONSTITUTIONAL wutG.

O..
Collaboration the facts exhibited and the expla-
nation, given i'll recent communication, you pre-
pared, hope to believe and acSuow dgc that neither
the paren, society Washington for coonzin the free
people of colour of the United States on the coast OF
Africa, the auxiliary of your county, has it either
i'll prospect design 10 interfere with your private pro-
perry Under existing circumstances, we hold ii 10 be
the duty well the light Of slave holders keep
their slaves in proper subordinaon. This is necessary
TO the Accomplishment of object in relation 10 the
free and the realizing OF our hope respecting the whole
coourcd population. different policy would Only
blast all hopes but prove injurious TO both classes
of coOurei people, and rIinous to country As
the door, however, shall be gradually and effect
ually opened for voluntary manuinssion and colonial
ton, under circumstances consistent with the happiness
and interests and rights of all the parties, it confident
ly believed aud expected that fellow citizens will
offer sacrifices the altar of tue public gODd-tha
they will readily Yield to the principles of civil liberty
AMI eternal juscc-to the claims OF humanity and hi
antho2y-to the interests of their persons and of their
country: whilst society will joyfny remove The
cxics Of involuntary scryitude to the land of their ia
thers
But before take leave Of this part of the subject
allow to say that we have not only carefully exclud
al slavery from all connexion with society, and made
the progress of voluntary manu;sson the boundary OF
our hopes bat from principle as well as from policy,
have scrupulousy, far practicable, avoid
ell the discussion of that delicate subject. This
guarded policy, however, strange it may appear die
lated by prudence and adopted expressly avoid the
evils which threatened BY interference with the
rights OF slave holders, and which deprecated as
sincerely ourselves opponents, made the
ground Of suspicious and slaudarous invecye Is
it truly wonderful that the Gracchi, and others of
the school, who denounce colonization societies
the ''ho beds ofinsurrecton and mischief and who
in their estimaton the only safe guards of the
it passing strange, sag that they should
be the first to drag thsdangcrous subject before the pub
lie? Surely it, in the discussion Of the delicate topics
connected with the colonization scheme mischief should
arise, the consequences will rest upon those who by
gross misrepresentation, have heedlessly created
ccssary and groundiess alarm Although VIC still!
unwilling, always have been, to say do any
thing the subject OF slavery, we have nevertheless
felt ourselves sacred!y bound thus to correct
Impressions to expose unfair misrepresentation, and
10 remove unlonnded prcjudices.
But 2tl.--As another ground OF objection the CO.
lonzaton society, it is seriously feared by many that
ihe removal Of the free negroes from this country TO
Africa, will render their slaves disconnected, lnsubor
.linate and less Notwithstanding TO the objection
all the weight which, in the estimation of the
tiInd, is entitled still it is capable ofdemonstra
ton, the established principle of choosing the less of
Two evils, that our society deserves and claims your pa
ronage. The evil 10 be sustained, on the one hand,
alleged in the objection, underlined reduction
the value of slaves Those to be renewed the other
hand, by the Of society, such the fol-
lowing, viz The Inconsistency between national
profession and conduct in the recognition of such
nongrei sort of liberty that which is enjoyed by the
free negroes. The accommodating debt which a nation,
have contracted by withholding from them those
unaenable rights which the laws both ofnature and Of
natures Cod have guaranteed TO them The intellectual
and moral degradation which is necessarily connected
with their present dependent situaton.'Thc democrat
izing influence which they exert on the lower classes of
the white population. The long train of serious ncon
venicnccs AID complicated crimes which daily
suitng from their intercourse with siayes-and, to
cnumeratc others, the danger which may be
ally apprehended al some future day, should their hos
iiv call into action the concentrated effort Of their
cJourcj brethren, in connexon with some external
fja. These some Of the evils which do exist and
which are daily becoming and more serious and
important in their character. Already do they present
an appalling aspect.-Now appeal TO yonr candour
aml good sense for DECISIONS there not inmea-
surable dispr0porton between the evil 10 be created
(cven admitting the objection to be valid) and the az
gregac of those To be removed, by the colonization
ciel! BY par0n'znG society, you choose the for
Iner--by withholding your patronage, you choose the
ag eGdte OF the latter these evils. In proportions then
the latter serious and important and COR
necei With lie vial interests Of the nation than tic
former, you bound OH acknowledged principles, to
yltruniZc society.
But The concession is altogether gratutous. There
Is neither ground for The fear, weight in The obec-
On the contrary, think, il may be easily proved
that the removal Of the free people Of colour would
render slaves better Contcntad easily govern
Cd, aud proport.onaJy yaIuable.-Iet US exa,n-
lac, for moment, the situation Of this anomalous class
Of populations and the tendency of their influence.
1t is well known that the free negroes numerous
j. dispersed through the country and possessed OF Just so
much liberty 20 have frequent and intimate inter
course with Tie slaves they desire, whilst interest
AMI feeling strongly incline both parties to keep up
dis intercourse. Both are cOnsttuonallv INDECENT
auI IN the habit oftraiiciDg. Here is prolific source
of irresistible temptations indulgence in azncss on
tie one haII AMI in theft, tho other. Thus the one
party oitea gets penny, and the other living, by
t-prOpOri1Caatc trade stolen prOpertv.--f
silcs ibc and prevalent foundations thus pre-
scaiCl 81 slaves this intercourse frequently leads &C
tie formation Of family connections between the tive
parties, which attended with additional evils. You
slaves IN cases, the gycs and children OF fret
The husbands and fathers Of free wives ant
children. Between such, there is Of course, coBstau
and most confidential intercourse. There is too in
f,r..f r. a. 1T
and as under other similar circumstances, the viii
inb'5e the opinions and preudiccs prefer the habits
and promote the interests Of his fatbcrthe father o
tie so0-tho husband Of the wife, &c. How then shal
estimate The effect OF this iniercourseoi these re
Iaonslps-of this ooDiuga influence on the principle
and feelings and hopes ofycuJ saYes' We know tina