Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-06
RICHMOND, JAN. 6.
FOR THE EMO UIRER,

General reflections upon the principle of SLAVE
LABoUR, and the actual condition of Slaves
IN prgtnid, compared tcifh the actual condi.
t,on OF the free idb0rers of other countries,
particularly of that part of Great Britain,
called England Also. soith the actual con-
d'tion Of SLAVES in Il fica-. Hear the other
party 90
In regard to the principle of slave labour, in
Virginia, the writer would pr emise, that the prnci-
pie OF slave abour at this time, in Virginia. il
matter OF necessity, not of choice; that it was o.
rlsnally introduced, against the will of our FORE
fathers, by their cruel task-masers. Their souIs.
therefore, rest clear of that sin, as ought our own
consciences.
Let us. then, take due care to avoid the COM
mission OF two other SINS either of which, with
due reverence be it spoken would be much greater,
II the magnitude Of the sin be measured by the
,masnIude OF it's evil consequences-to wit:
Emancipating the slaves now here, and permit
ting them to remain here, colonising them. or
planting any colony, whatever in Africa. The
principle OF slave labour, matter Of choice. is
directly incompatible with the writer's political
principles, as manifested in every political act os
his whole life, connected with that subject They
always have consisted, and still cons ST, in leaving
with man, to be exercised by him, in his indiyi-
al character, the whole OF his natural rights which
can be enjoyed in that state, compatible with the
state OF government; and in granting to govern
ment the smallest possible portion Of those rights.
purposes. As matter of necessity, the writer il
disposed to make the best of The principle of slave
labour, unhappily introduced, and difused amongst
u.s. 1t should be recollecied, however tina, all the
evils OF this world are relative, not positive AZ
ter having bestowed much reflection upon this ex
remely delicate subject, the writer is happv to-
that he hnds material alienation 10 his feelings
In relation to 1t, arising from a comparative view
OF the actual condition Of slaves in Virginia, with
the actual condition of free laborers, SO called
IN every other country in The world particularly in,
Great Britain. This alienation is conider,blv in
creased, by extending the comparison to the actual
condition OF the Africans, originally removed 10
TINS country, before their removal from their own:
and the present condition of their pusterity NOW in
Africa, with the posterity of those removed here
In referring to the condition of slaves in VIRGINIA
exclusively the writer does not mean to intimate
that the condition OF slaves here, is better than
In any other portion of the U S. so far from II.
ne believes II to be better, generally, in tbs west
ern states than In Virginia; but his object for Sc
,ectinS virginia SIMPLY is TO speak of facts within
MS own observation, or from the information of
Others Immediately around him. 1t must be admir-
ted that iabour, in some form, is Indispensable to
the comfortable existence Vi man. There is how
ever, diversity IN It's modificaions If all eo
vernmenis were free and just, and would. as u,
duty bound, project each aborer in the free use
VI the proceeds oil his own labour, without forci-
" tor public use without just compensation, moth
Ing could be more horrible and destructive than
the introduction OF slave labour in such communi
ies but as all governments heretofore devised are
despoc and unJu-t, and take the proceeds of la
oour rom the iaboTer and give them to another,
VINO does not iabour tor them, the modification OF
iaoour IN regard 10 the principle of willing mr. re-
iuctant, nond or Tree, becomes less important, The
power OF taking the proceeds Of the abour of one
man, ana giving them 10 another, seems to be con-
sdered by the present admnslr OF the genera,
government, the summum bonum of governmental
power They seem 10 think, if it be stripped of
that power, 1t will thereby become stunned of all
as fascinating glitter, yet this power is the essence
OF modern despotisn. In all governments which
usurp this power, il is matter of very little i'm
portance, whether the labourer be called free mr.
BOND, Tree man or slave; for actual slave he mus,
be, Whatever nomenclature be affixed TO him TIE
great injury done TO individual man, consists j.,
taking from him the proceeds of his Iabouy. not
IN the application of them. That is. rea,iyelv
OF very little importance to him. The writer p,o
poses to illustrate this position, by a compar;sor
between the actual condition of slave in yirs;-
MA, ana the Tree labourer in that part of Great
Britain, called England, and the writer ,b;,L. :,
will be seen, that the nominal slave in Virginia ;s
more an actual free man, than the nominal frse
laoourer IN England, whilst the nominal free Ia
bourer there, is more an actual slave than ia tho
nominal slave here Labour is coerced from The
slave in Virginia, by corporal punishment. BAD
enough that for the poor slave Labor from the free
iabourer, In England, is coerced by the horrors Of
starvation and pauperism. Worse for the noor
Tree lsbourer there! Let il be asked, which node
OF coercion is the worst? which affords the mos,
despo,ic, terrific sanction? Can the insgina,;on
conceive Of more terrible, and effec,uaI sanc,;on
Tor enforcing labour than the horrors of starvation
or pauperism No sanction could impose a st,onoe,
obligation to obedience and submission: accordin,
ly, the free labourer in England is much more sub.
servien to his master in England than is the sIav.
labourer IN Virginia, to his master here In E,a
land, all the proceeds OF the labourer are ,akeo
from him by law, whilst he remains subject N ali
the responsibilities the law. In Virginia. Wills,
the master is permitted to take all the proceeds os
the laoour OF his slave, the slave himself /, ex
empied from all the responsibilities of the Ia,y.
except Tor the commission of crimes-No far,be,
no taxes TO pay, no inexorable sheriffs 10 tai.
rom hin his last pttsnce. The slave in Vjrginia
is generally furnished by bis master with more oS
'he best bread IN the world for Iabourers, than he
can eat; some meat, fruits, vegetables, fowls of his
own raising al his masters costs, and eeos n
sbnndance he is also allowed to tend little n,,ch
which affords him comforts and Injuries r.r,;s.'
lar hnery in dress, in which negroes take deIgh,
In England, the free lsboureT has not food of 90.
kind, beyond bare subsistence, whilst much 49,.
isbour, when wanted, is coerced from him H.
from the slave in Virginia In Enelaud with b.,
little difference In the amount Of its ponnIa,;os
with that oil the u. s., there are nearly AZ ,usa
paupers, technically SO called, as there are s.,,
III the whole u. >. There are besidea ,,;i,,r-
oil miserable poor free laboufers, al this ,o,,aa,
without comfortable subsistence in The r,;,,.s
plenty OF breadsuHs. Witness the cries 80.