Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-04
co GENERALIZATION
"a. lie ;tsditors Of tAe Richmond Enql.


o.en presented viii" the language and opinions
OF some Pice President of an institution whose
disturbed feelings on the subjec, oil slavery, and
the whole African race, are but the reflected ina
ges OF The society TO which he belongs" they would
learn perhaps with equal interest, that under
o'her Noman signature, they have a picture to
me Ie, OIL county court adv ocate, whose preten-
sions to anticipated favors, rest in degree
on Inc extravaganza of his constitutional opinions,
and on his ability TO minister TO the prejudices
Oh large proportion oil his fellow-countrymen
Out take II Tor granted that whatever OF interest
mas been iel In the discussion between Caius Grac-
chus and myself, has attached rather the subject
uiscussed, and the opinions maintained, than TO the
authority oi o1r names, or our .dignles; and ac-
cordingiy pass from personal aIluson, which
Wouia gladly have avoided, to a very brief notice
OF the last communication Of this open and devoted
advocate Of slavery.
The mode In which he has thought proper in
this communications, to treat the views of the
colonization Society, is neither new, nor ngeni-
Gus. It's prototype will be found in the speeches
and publications in Great Britain against The db0i
f'on OF tie slace tr@de. Against that glorious
enort oil the wIsest, and the e statesmen the
"oiid hau ever seen, the su0tlety OF professional
genius, the powers OF brilliant sarcasm, aud the
overwhelming influence OF tarefaced misrepresen
'ation were successfully essayed. The charges Of
wild ianaticism and religious enthusiasm, wele
\ . "6cN Win Tue zeal oil uSInOIlES
interest, and all the fury of diapponted ava
rice. The hopeless degradation OF Africa, lis in
cdpaci'y Tor Improvement, and its fitness only for
ini"'sterins TO The wants OF civilized men, were
presented In bold relief The dangers and The ex-
Pehse OF interference with the long established
usage OF the world, thrown in terrific array,
oe!ore the eyes OF calculating people; and even
justice and humanity ere most impiou,ly appeal
eu 10, not merely Tor The protection of property al
ready acquired, but Tor the perpetualion of traffic.
"ho'e SUBJECTS were human beings, and whose in
sE u'"eh's were force AID iiaud and perjury and
iapihe. But recurrence 10 Fundamental prn-
cipies was most carefully avoided. TAe arguments
drawn by the friends of abolition, from the acknov-
iedsed rights oil men, and from the molly precepts of
the christian faith were either stunned or dangerous
topics, or rldicued the suggestions of busy ana-
tlcisin Every obstacle was thrown in the way
Oh lair and candid investigation OF the cruclies
iaseparabe from the trade. And the great and last,
Ing Interests OF the nation were sought TO be hid
t!om the public view, by glit,ering exhibition of
the temporary Increase OF its revenue aud of the
rapid accumulation OF individual wealth
Ia the same spirit, and (with very little varia-
| tion) IN the same manner have the views of the
Colonization Society been treated by this modern
advocate OF domestic slavery. In communica-
ton protesting to be a full and Triumphant reply 10
all that has been urged In support of the society its
real objects have beea either totally or
4 -
! finite importance 10 the nation, OF removing a
conieSsesly injurious populations Las been kept en-
tIrely out OF view, and the public attention been
drawn to the exclusive contemplation of petty de-
tails, and OF those considerations OF religion and
| philanthropy, WHICH though entering into, and in
separately connected with the plans of the Colo
niZation Society, neither constitute the foundation
on which they rest, indispensable TO their
success. Bat details certain fields oil triumph
to county court ingenuity; and religion aud Dhilan-
thr"py are ever fruitful themes Of sarcasm and in
! yective, to the thoughtless and the licentious
Aware of this, and sensible Of the deep and pe-
neral conviction OF the public mind as 10 the evils
entaiied upon US by our free colored population,
Caius Gracious has most carefully avoided those
pow erd considerations of national interest which
call Tor their removal, and has directed the whole
force OF his WI and genius sometimes against Diff
cultles OF his own creation, and sometimes against
those less general and therefore less imposing areu
meDts whlchwere addressed exclusively to The hu-
name and generous feelings Of the nation. How
far he has succeeded, IN this insidious mode
of attack, will readily appear from very slight
examination of its most important points
| The charge of mischlevous enthusiasm, urged
with modesty and decorum, worthy of the SIGMA
ture under which it is exhibited, needs no other
reuaiion than is furnished by the deep and heart-
felt interest in the operations of the Colonization
Society, publicly manifested by such men as Chief
y
and Mr.. Crawford Before Caius Gracious can
hope 10 excite the suspicious or to arouse the in
| dignation OF his fellow citizens against men lii
these, lie must have established Tor himself a repu-
taton derived from some other source than the
conflicts OF county court. and extending beyondI
| ,he limits of a newspaper circulation when h..
shall have exhibited IN the councils of the state that
| profound practical wisdom, which we have a rjsLt
/ 10 anticipate from bis eloquent denunciations of
what he is pleased TO consider visionary enthusi
asm when he shall have succeeded in arres,iuo
q" the downward course" ofthe land of his nativity
and when he shall have demonstrated by its actual
| impros efDent, moral well physical the mani
| fold blessings OF domestic slavery thea and not
TIL ibon, may be hope 10 iransluse into the public
mind, some share OF " the oxecration and horror -
with which he is disposed to visit the opinions of
so large and so respectable a portion Of his fellow
citizens.
"A very moderate share Of reflection could not
have failed to diminish his confidence in the natu
raj propenses OF the negro, as an insurnountable
obstacle IN the way OF his removal and the recolec-
ton of few facts OF general notoriety, would have
reduced TO IFS proper dimensions. " that little mai
ter of consent" on which in the funess Of his zeal
he dwells with uchunceasing delight Human nature
| is the same IN every region and under every color
Heaven has implanted in solciiude for the
4 Improvement OF our condition, from which even
the acknowledged suggishness of The negro does
not entirely exempt him; and facts may be addu-
ced to shew, that " aversion to emigration" is
not powerful principle in his composition, as
to siife every other feeling Of his degraded nature
We surely archie last peoplein the world who ought
to anticipate difficulties from such source-tVe
who are living witnesses othe progressive ADVANCES
Of millions of freemen, sprung almost exclusively
| from the erngrsnts Of a single island We who