Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-02-20
RIoHNf oMD, FEB. 90.
FOR THE EMO UIRER.
To the author of Political Dispositions, puo


proach you, with the disiidence which become.
MN, before one apparently accustomed to direct
puohc opinion, it not grown old in the honorable
! toll of lesis lation.
10 you, who have doubtless pondered we'll the
OIL when you treat, in all their mo,nen Gus
""nes' IL may, perhaps, appear presumpuous to
i.es"on opinions. expressed apparently with con-
Hdence, that they not to be controyerted: vet
4 nope 10 be allowed, in the exercise of a privi-
'eSe awarded TO Tree discussion, and without refer
ence TO The frequent digresspns, in which YOU i'll
uuiSe, TO consider the main subject of your Essay
No. 1.
Admitting freely your premises, that 9. the
principle of slsve-labor at this time, in Virginia. Is
matter OF necessity, not of choice;" and that II
was originally introduced against the will OF our
'oieia'hers, cannot but admire the facility with
"mch you succumb to this necessity, and dis
posed TO aeqhiesce in ii. Repugnant as is this
principle TO your political opinions and acts, you
can yet submit with apparent satisfaction: nav.
4 you recommend perseverance, in the practice OF
slavery as 1t exists in. Virginia, because,
ISL AS matter OF pecessi,y, you are disposed 10
make the hes, " of lave labor" all evils in
'his world being relative not positive
"a. Your % feelings find material alienation
rom compsraiise view of the actual condition of
slaves In Virginia, with the actual condition of
reel ourers, 20 called, in eueyy other countru
an The toorid, particularly q. BRITAIN
ga. ms alienation Is 81 considerably increds-
ca by extending the comparison to the actual con
ui'ion OF the Africans before taken from their own
country and the present condition of their pos
teri now in Africa, with the pos,erity or those
WHO were removed bere.''
In pafticu!arizing The free Iabour of England
Tor your hrst comparison, you assume high ground:
anu were v uf opinion correct, it might GO far 10
reisrence 10 the well being OF our slaves, TO re
cohclie us TO state into which we have been so
eenwiiiingly foreel; and the alienation of your
i'm oh heiV
'he conclusion, that the relative evil OF the case
en'Heiy preponderates on the other side of the At
aht'c' and that there is positive evil in slavery
as II so happily exis's among us
your argument l understand TO be this:- The
condition OF slave in Virginia, though coerc.d
20 i"oou oy cofporeal punishment since he is
eu ana clothed, and projected By bis MASTER is SUI
perIor TO that OF abourer under The most free aud
enlightened European overumeni, who is i'm
peiied 10 exertion by the dreaded alternatives of
starvation or p"uperi-m; and therefore we should
wiiins'y perretuate slavery among US Glorious
discovery OF Soa OF Liberty, and an eng ened
Lessla or OF The Nineteenth Ceuuryu How will
"e ianri!ui encomias,s OF our political freedom he
astounded TO learn, that such are the abl
eVii' ne+f IS heir 10 in a civilized state and .o
'aiudoie the Doasied privileges OF Brion man
'au oe'ter De as the OK In hiss yoke, while he can
ou' nave plenty OF provende? I leave with Won
we iii erect oil The argument, that stare of bond
'se, howe'ei iniid, is pieie able to civil liberty
WIN All tue horrors OF taxes, shsriifs and Tho
necessity of providing for our wants. If This he
VI consonance with your political principles, they
h'sy Ie iauded by slaves, give me none of them,
Disguise thyte!f as thou wilt, still, slavery. tbou
art bitter draugh,."
Even II your comparison be correct, (Which
am lar from admi'ing,) | am convinced the senli
ment i'll find fey adheren,s tina, personal (r4cIo,
under any ordinary priyaioas, is not preferable TO
personal bondage under the most favorable circum-
s'snces; and that you would not SO decide in the
case OF your own Child and the argument. by mo
means esinces, that the slave in Virginia. or anv
where else, Is IN the best condition OF which he il
s'scep ioie' as IL regards either himself or his mas
Ter, nor that slavery is tolerable in itself or safe
IN its onsequences -
10 have made correct comparison between
Inc slave and the tree labourer it was not nee essa
y W nave crossed The ocean, AID TO visit cuun-
Try possessing crowded population, and borne
down by privileged orders and taxation; az we'll
might the haugh,y Turk console himself for The
oppressed Greek by depicting the horrors of AIge.
rine slavery. No. sir, faiTer view may be TAX
nearer nome. Compare The slaves in Virginia.
Whose condition readily allow to be more cor :
portable lhan In most par OF our country where
slavery obtains, with The iree-aboufers of anv
heiShoouTiDg state in which this anomaly is nm
hhowh, ana you may learn in the contrast the
diieTence between the freeman and the slave: for
there, think, are exhibited what your a,o,msn,
assumes do not exist; governments su,s,an,iallv
iree ahd just, which protect each labourer in
tHe iIee use OF the proceeds OF his own Iabour -
where indeed "Dotling would be considered more
hoTfbie and destructive than The introduction of
slave labor and unless you deny the Justice and
freedom OF our own government, your argument
recoIl- against itself, SINCE nothing but this al,
necessity, 10 which she has been doomed has tre .
vented Virginia, gifted as she is in natural adysn-
'ases beyond almost any Sister State, from enioy
ing inc same privileges, and from keeping pace
WIN the foremost In intellectual and physical inn
pfoyements; In population wealth and ii,luence-
Is any one insensIbe OF this: let him comnare
the States OF Virginia ard New York as they were
forty years ago, and as they are nov, and be will
peieeVe what we are, and what we might hay
vbeen, but Tor the paTalyzing influence of slavery
the stain and canker of our political and social re-
idtIons The comparison is too moujf,iog I'm
aweIl upon, oli not without .autaiy influence. If
we VIII be taught the lesson il CONVEYS
nut you say " the slaves in Virginia have all
comforts Tor all animal inJulgencies, with fewer
checks to population, than any other race of hu-
man beings known TO the writer" Admit the fact
the limited and degrading sense in which YOU
apply ~ mat their 'nduigencies extend 10 such as
are conssIen, with plain food, coarse raimeut
and shelter; all very conducive to health. the best
"i earthly blessings; yet you here conf ,e their
( comforts TO The supply of mere bodily wants and
ordinations, ~ which respects dsregardng their
rational nature, you say Itle more for them than
mag be truly said Of our horses.
Inc consequence Of this freedom from wan,
ana anxiety Is correctly stated BY YOU: ac
coTdinBy they Increase in population faster rbsn
'he Tee.iaOo'refs N any other country in the
world; Jastcr than their otDncrs" Appalling
truth. u IS This wi ich calls up The most fearful
aniicpsiions, in all who, with prudent forecast
| look 10 ~ ultimate consequences: and i, mn,