Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-05-22

proportion of save-labourers, governed oy
few lndoIent propretors and overseers, nothing
less than large standing army VIII keep the
slaves in subsection, and prevent the most cara,
mitous consequences. And can 1t De expected
that the free states will, under such circumstan.
ces: consent that the treasures OF the nation, ana
the blood Of their citizens, shall be iaVlshed 10
supper, state Of things which the people OIL
the South ill not now even Hit hnger 10 pre-,
vent? In stating these views, we trust IL VIII
be remembered by our lelow-cllizens, that we,
too, are citizens of slave-holding District ana
that our interests are in some measure lden.i-
fed with those Of the southern states"
would not desire the sudden emancipation OF
all The slaves,-it would, perhaps, be the great
es, calamity that could befal both them and US;
but we contend that the dangers oil the present
system are increasingly alarming Something
mus, be done to prevent the bursting Of that
dark cloud which now overhangs our beloved
country, and he who shall discover sale con-
duc,or for the electric spark of liberty which
lies concealed in lis bosom, will deserve more
gratitude from his country, than that which mas
rewarded the labours Of Franklin.
Nor are the political evils Of slavery confined
to the depreciation it occasions in the phYIcai
strength and pecuniary resources OF our
coun,ry:-i,s demoralizing influence tends
greatly to weaken our attachment 10 re-
publican government. One OF our poii'ica'
maxims is that all power emanates from the
people and that all government ought TO be
exercised for the benefit OF the governed
The youth Of our southern and middle States
are educated in a community where these truths
are openly acknowledged, but practically disre-
parded. II would be an Insult 10 their under
standings to say that the blacks are not part
of the people, or that the arbitrary power as
sumed over the slaves is exercised Solely Tor
their good.
What deep rooted attachment to liberal
government, can we expect from those who IN
childhood are accustomed 10 domineer over
their fellow creatures? or what stability can we
hope for free institutions whose first principles
are thus counteracted in the minds OF the PEG:
pie?
Some Of these views are SO forcibly illus,ra
ted in Jefftrson's Notes on Virginia, that we
will conclude this number with an extract from
,ha, able work, whose high authority, we trust,
will be disputed by none.
"Thcre must" he says, "doubtless be an un-
happy influence on the manners of our people
produced by the existence of slavery among US.
The whole commerce between master and slave
is perpetual exercise of the most boisterous
passions the most unremitung despolism on
The one part, * degrading submissions on the
other Our children see this, and learn 10 iml-
tate it,-for man is an initiative animal. This
quality is the germ of all education in him.
From his cradle 10 his grave he is learning 20
do what he sees Others do. If parent could
find no motive either in his philanthropy or his
r. ,.,,ir fhn ipfn
passion towards his slave, it should always be
sufficient one that his child is present. But &C.
nerally it is not sufficient. The parent storms,
the child looks on, catches the lineaments oil
wrath. nuts on the same airs in the circle OF
smaller slaves, gives loose to the worst oil his
nassions. and thus nursed, educated and dali
L. exercised in tyranny, cannot but be stamp
ed bv it with odous peculiari;ies. The man
must be- prodigy who can retain ms manners
and morals undepraved by such circumstances.
And with VIVA, execralon should the statesman
be loaded, who, permitting one half OF the cill-
zens thus to ,rample on the rights Of the other,
transform those into despols, and these into
enemies; destroys the morals OF the one part,
and the amor-patric Of the other For II
slave can have a country in this world, II must
be any other in preference TO that in which he
u porn 10 i've anu ldbO' ipl aNc'hNt1 ." "''>''
he mus, lock up the faculties OF his nature, con-
tribute as far as depends on his individual en-
deavors to the evanishmen, of the human race,
or cr,tai his own miserable condition on the
endless generations proceeding from him
With the morals Of the people their industry Is
also destroyed; for in warm climate no man
will labor for himself who can make another
labor for him. This is so true, that OIL the pro-
prierors Of slaves very small proportion IN
deed are even seen 10 labor. And can the lber'
ties Of nation be thought secure when we nave
removed their only firm basis-a conviction IN
the minds Of the people that these loer.ies are
the gift Of God-that they are not 10 be 'loia-
Ted but With his wrath Indeed lremb!e lor
ny country when reflect that God is just: mat
his Justice cannot sleep forever: that consider
ing numbers, nature and natural means only,
rev olution of the heel Of fortune, an exchange
Of situation is among possible events; that II
may become probable by supernatural interier-
ence! The Almighty has no attribute winch
can take sides with us in such contest But
il is impossible to be temperate, and TO pursue
this subject through the various considerations
Of policy, Of morals, OF history natural and ci,
vii. We must be conlen,ed to hope they VIII
Il. Il