Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-08-15
mia, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST Is. 1897

vacancies
p".ty uue Tue picture so admirably dsgned by MIR.
uhe' OF Tue laoors of tie great Howard: $50 dive in
10 The depths of dungeons; TO PLUNGE into the .fec.
.n VI "oSPi'ais' 10 survey the mansions of sorrow
~ P"'H 10 take the gauge and dimensions OF misery
depression and contempt; to remember the frpo;en
W attend TO The neglected. To visit the forsaken and
10 compute and coi!ae the dstresses of all men il, all
countries" But never, til our own time conlJ il
''u OF me philanthropst, without ageera ton, in
MS concluding words, Ibis plan was VOYAGE of dis.
eo,ery' RECOMMENDATION of charity" for the bene-
globe "
Yet this is not an age of enthusiasm Far from il:
100 large part Of the talent tue age is devoted 60
o'ca.urc' 10 ridicu!e and searching sarcasm; and,
""d Is more loo large part OK the good and
ooo learning OF the day is in The hands of those who
iook Tor Tie udicrou part of every plan; by much too
large 10 permit the public mind be heated with en-
NECESSARY zeal eren in the best cause, or to uphold
o ppe ume' any grave farce. 1t is not the age
vi enthusiasm; and happily il is not: it is the age Of
p'actical reason; of great moral truths rclly cs,ab
sneo oy coof Prreticm experiment.; tie age which has
human nature from the apprehension that any
Oh me oanetui institutions societ, are scaled and
lated on us by own mbeciii,y by pruocs too
winch must satisfy the most pod,ng, the most deter
mined enemies of novelty. Enthusiasm is not ft tn he
trusted with any great beneicent scheme, unsteady
oh'd ana unolScf lminatng as II is. The most anXi
GUS zeaot Is little wise who would not rather trust his
cherished plans 10 that of dcy oton TO principle
so naturally rising up IN this age; Which, tempered BY
pruaeucc and restrained by fear OF the clarnc of ali
sid'y, Justly alleged. takes IFS course can collect
cd, and, Ike the cloud of the poet 'lnoveh al,uee
ther, ii II move at alp Public opinion when thus
informed. IS truly the voice CT God Need add il
is irresistible!
Ii is wears since the idea of coou;zpn t,e
Tree blacks IN the L. 3 originated anonn us and as
propose to address myself 10 on wholly as Vrpinans
a'i haIPy 10 he able in the outset, congratulate
o" state on The part she has borne in tie benevolent
scheme for the fuicrance of which we are asso;at,d
state, thei, that the plan originated in the Virginia
nIe'aure' aoo0t twenty five years ago. and that Mr..
MONROE, then governor at the request of the Iegisa
tefe' opened correspondence with Mr. Jefferson the
lresde' OF the u States, consulting him on the best
'""e OF procuring an asylum In distant country
Tor our tree blacks. MIR. J. proposed either TO OBJ
ain ednnttancc for them into the British COLONY OF Sierra
leone, ten belonging 20 private company or into
some OF the Portuguese settlements in S. America -
l'"'h OF these plans however, failed. The Legislature
notwithstanding his with pcrsev crance which shows
no" great their zeal was, three several times tho, in
secret sessions, passed resolutions favour of renewed
f%eH'ons until finally in 1876 the Governor was once
more, by public resolution desired 10 address the Pre-
Saeh on tins head, and and represenla-
tues were requested TO lend ali their talents TO lis adj
Fancement.
"Ifesoiecd- tat The Executive be requested TO cor
respond with the President of The u. States for the
purpose OF obtaining Territory upon the coast of
AFRICA or ut some other place, not within aBy of the
estates or Territorial Governments of the o. States
IT" serve as an ay um for such persons OF colour are
nov Tree, aud may desire the same and for those who
"Hiay hereafter be emancpaed, within this Commons
wealth. and the Senators and Representatives of this
estate IN the Congress Of the C. States, be requested
ito exert their best efforts aid the President of the
50 States in the attainment OF the above object: PRO
''c?dcd, That no contract arrangement resDcc,iuo
such Territory, shall be obligatory on this Common
i"wcaith, until ratified by the Legisiaturcn
THIS resolution passed the House of Delegates with
bbut mne dissenting voices out of LAG, and the Senate
with but dlssenter. Tho resolution was AT iba
4 time declared by member OF Congress from yiron,a
10 be truly the voice and feeling OF Virginia; the plan
h9 therefore iRtINIAN, and attn proud of it. trust re
shall not he among The first to desert long nut
MTed and fast maturing plan, when il has gained the
cooperation Of other than Yrgnlans surely no, for
that lie who speaks il. defence of an obiec,
so long desired by Virginia, and now put within orr
reach, may expect 10 be heard one vino is fbe
advocate OF suspicious plan OlCiousy devised for n,
by strangers, with the prccnce that is for our aooJ
but as the advocate of a favorte scheme which we
shou!d be sorry to find abandon, and should
feel disGraced If we abandon it without cause
\ The American Colonization Society established in
1916, at Washington, grew naturally cut OF the scir
ted efforts Of the Virginia Legislature and merits t,c
THANKS OF Virginia 10" having done all that in effect
hyct done in fuftherance OF her object this soce-
W, then as the representative OF opinions clearly
and 80 ZeaIousy set in motion by Virginia, that am
ready here to attempt to vindcae and 10 uphold Ist.
" hat IFS objects, and Cd, what c means Of ever
attaining them? The object OF The Parent Society is
declared 10 be The removal, with their consent of
the free people Of colour in the L. States, and such
pcrsons by the laws of the several may be set
free, TO settlement in Africa. Such is the only d.
itCt FHIpOSc VI HG 'oOC'c'y SHCO WlOe scope,
its only eud. IL Abolition Society," it addresses
yet arguments TO master, and disayo,ys with hDr
ror the idea Of Offering temptations 10 any slave III
denies the design of attempting emancpatioD either
partial generals it Denies with us, that the General
Government have any power 10 cmapcipate: and de-
ciaicS that The States have exclusively the right
guiaie The Whole subject OF slavery. TIE scope of
tho Society IS large enough, but II IN wise ming.
led or confouudcd with the broad sweeping views of
few fanatics III America, who would urge TO the
sudden and total abolition ofsayerv. Are the avow cd
! and true objects Of the society desrablc2 And as
these objects two, let consider them apart
TO the actual Tree people Of colour and next TO those
who may be bt Teaer free with Jelercucc 10 the
society Is there any one who has regarded for mo
ment the deploTablc condition of The liberated Africans
in Virginia who desires to retain them in our borders
will look no farther when seek for the most degra
ded the most abandoned race the earth. but rest nv
eye on tbls people How came they thus? Alas if IS
'1c ,re who having first crushed all cheerful hope of
good all taste for praise paid 10 virtue BY making them
slaves, have completed the work by throwing them ont
- hoo