Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-11-22

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dscncy and interest to the Virginia reader. As for
Inc project of aboshng slavery in tue District of CO.
lubia we are opposed to it. unless could co hand in
lrand With that impossible event Impossible ut this
ttme) elsewhere. Abolition in the District would in,
4lict injury upon others than it would confer nd
vantage upon those intended to be benefited Lot
the District await the course Of events and rho n,
sttres which may be preparing in the womb of time
and let northern friends observe unon tb;s ubo,
subject, the same discreet moderation that d;st;nc,
CO the languages and the views of the Journal Com,
nlercc.
hrons tie .ac,r YORK Jou,,snJ Of Cg,aa,,y.e y;, o.
,Nemade some casual and rather hastv remarks tho
other Day relative to the project of petitonur Con
greS5 Tor the abolition of slay i'll the Dist rrt of c.
Iumpia III the course OF which alluded 20 the tone
OF an article commencing the project in a sprted M
per just commenced at bennington, fVtl We b.I
,o disposition certainly to quarrel with one who is
lending SO much industry and ability tho eupport OF
good principles, and it only from anxctv to carr
what was tuvorltemcaSure both to him nndtous that
we were induced to express dissent from the spirit
OF HIS rentrkH Having lost his paper, we are unable
10 CRAFTY him by specifying his obnoxious eyprcsons.
but we thought and still think that he did not make
proper allowance for the nrdor OF southern climate
aud TOR the calouScs naturally incident TO the unfr
tUlatc rcluion subslsns. between the southern and
northern states Ill respect to slavery. Asfir ms effect
III MS own state wa concerned, he may have done the
best thing possible, hut the reception of rronos, ~.
this kind at the south and 1--WE NAV add It's ultimate
success depends principally upon the spirit in which
originated. For our part convinced that If
me 'avc-hong states refuse to Cooperate with us
III I'LL reasonable ana Just measures TO harrow t,n III;
M iSlon6 OF this evil, slavery IL will not no bc.,,sr
they are not fully sensible OF the policy of don !,
nut because they are pushed into resistance by ,nbc
coming language. An indignant tone they will never
!icar because they conscious they do not deserve
IL Ii any thing happens that looks like an at+er,nt
20 curry thch by Storm they very naturally betuke
themselves TO the defence, not merely of the consti
rrlt hIfp ,rD-,C ~
TINS we believe, has given rise 10 much of thc
less wrangng that has hitherto ACCOMPANIED the dis
cnsslon OF this subject a spirit of aniity and liberia
!lty Is evidently gaining ground in thr non ,,, ,I5
Ag statcs-they are beginning. to learn (which i t
INST step III this nacr that tie shareholders arc No,
20 DC accused or denounced as uhumrn or ur,rtur,1
u nc nFiyel INTO submission accordingly but il il
doubtful whether public sentiment III those states Inns
et arrived ut Just position. Ii the present s5vr ,ol
GERS were the original Importers OF slaves or f tL
slaves could be cmancipatcd without ruin to the conn
ny and misery to themselves uirnaut lan,ruorn md
sweeping measures would be in kecDinp. mt tho con
t-Neithcrthc their can Iirl,
DC SAID 10 nave originated saveryit was forced upon
them, and the northern states NAV thank tbnir
ta II was not forced upon them also Upon the nrrson,
Shareholders this evil has been crtailed and it now
Ners an extent OF territory COMPRISING half tho nnt
MT snGiI DC zone: \ on cannot colonies them If
20" would and to Get them free where they xrn ,cor
ne no act OF Immunity to them and ccruniy not or
ICY TO the government At the same time it is man;
s thnt emancipation in any shape would ruin the non
oSy OF their existence Is there then hope at al IN
the case? As far as Legislation is concerned thc-o s
very little Loglsla ion my, indeed. give the inishin
stroke of cbullition when other causes have rrdrnJ
me evil so tar as 10 render it practicable. Whether
mere are any such causes III existence or in operation
may be n question: though we cannot but look with
snnc confidence othesubdujng enterprise and spread
my numbers OF the white population OF the nou-sIave
holding stacS As this power expands if nrosscs ,,.
slow but sure effect upon the confines OF the slave
noldins states When 'c western forests have be-,
Cple setted ana TIC boundaries of the whe popu!a-
ton on that side become fixed. the expansion fr,r,
north to south viii DC more rapid and its effects moro
VISIBLE And when the population of these stafoe
PFoNlnates IN density TO that Ofthe old countries En-
gland tor instance, slave labor will be found uuorof
able at least IN the northern OF the slaveboldirr
states and as it becomes Improbable the number re
slaves viii decrease and their masters will part with
ilIeIn With less reluctance. As Il succcnd;nr etcn
the legislatures Of these states will find = r.
pohcy to decree the abolition of slavery at Some |
f!ture period aud the same power which v-rouoht |
ms change VIII still go on in lis march, aud slavery
WI retreat before 1t, till finally il will expire for cvc
-l4s to be sure is mostly hypothesis though it is not
without some Countenancc from what has aIrood,- /
i2ppened. The process Of abolition commenced IN
me nofn, and 1t has now reached the boundary Of
Maryland Thus far abolition is certain In Ma
and the question is pending, and the prospect is t9t
u WAi before many years be carried II is also nh,
%!iS' that Virginia docs not find that advantage in
slaVe-laoor that she did formerly, and If is not tno
uIloh to expect that she will also take p the ost;o
OF abolition, before the present century cypirce II
NAY be vain to look to this source for the tcrinaon
OF slavery, but really # there is 10 hope here We
at a loss where to look for it.
st the same time, while rely with s5Jne ronf
uence upo trs causes have -.i-ntiored We ,,oTJ
not discourage any reasonable effort to hasten the
result anticipated, but give it all the support in orr
power; That Congress has the power and the right
TO abolish slavery at softure period in the District
of Columbia we believe and We hope the trial viii
be made. We did not wish, however. to make a
rpoTnenous controversy" Of the affair for it is far
enough from cetln Il he proposal is made in pro-
nc cplthe-a any rae, let war be declared ON IN.
other side "t the question. Nor is it necessary 70
qPPoSc tina, mon who may be found in opposition to
ms proposal are 'unpruciplcd" 1ucn. S1cccssneoa
got be represented victory" nor failure as do
;.at; We are al cqrolly interested in da,noishino,
Tic fabric, and VIC may Us we'll 90 to work torntha1