Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-14
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= TUESDAY MORNING, july IA, 1929.

VVV~V
a TUESDAY MORNING, july "a, 1929.
Memorial If the People Of .augusia to the ConreniiOn
The last Staunton Spectator contains a Memorial
(which all Editors in Virginia requested to pub
lish,l purporting TO from the people of Au-
gusta, addressed 10 the Convention, and claiming
the attention ofthat body to the existing slavery of
i.agroes in State, and constitutional pro-
vision for system of emancipation"
The memorial valves m examination ofslavcry in
the abstract connected with considerations of
religion and humanity" and confines itself to view
ing the question, us one of political ''wisdom and
safety" We are glad, as the people of Augusta
have deemed it their duty to press this momentous
subject on the deliberations Of the Convention that
their memorial has discarded the appeals of sckly
and offcious philanthropy, and Renamed from press
ing into Its service all arguments connected with
hgion. We are suspicious Of the sincerity of the
first and convinced ofhe napplicabilfy of the last
Ofthe prudence or the expedency of mngling the
question of the gradual abolition slavery in Virginia
with the other and many subjects of grave import,
which will come under the delibe!ation of the Con-
vention we entertain some doubts, and we should
have preferred the motion have from ano her
quarter tThe people ofAugusta however, are slave
holders to considerable extent and huve an undoubt
ed right to have their wishes actively represented
before the Convention. We hope our lowland bre.
thren will not bctray the morbid sensblty on this
occasion, which they have often manifested when
there the rcmotest auson TO the same subject
But few who admit, if there cln indeed be found
single individual deny, that slavery brings down
curse upon the land where il exists The possibility
Of gradually abolishing it without detrmeRt to the
rights or interests ofindviduas and'of devsing some
scheme which while it devolves posterity the OBJ
hgation makes 1t also their interest and points out
TO them the means to consummate it, is surely wor-
thy OF enquiry IT lllusory, it is illusion der to
the patriot, who the firest region of the earth
scorched and bighted by the curse of slavery and
people to whom have been given the highest char
acteristics, chained down by 10 perpetual nferiori
" ana retrocess1on never Was there, probably
never will there be again, such an opportuni,v of
testing the Practcabty of this ardent hope of every
generous mind Ifwisdom devise or experience
suggest the means of accomplishing it, however re-
mote the day ofdeiverance, that wisdom and cxner
ence are to be found in the Virginia Convention
With them al all events, the rights of property will
be sacred and Il there is to fear that the
work is too great and hopeless even FOR the wisdom
of that body to achieve there be no lust grounds
for alarm in their considering the subject Though
we have often dwclt the thought, we should Ger.
tainy never have been the first stir the subject of
gradual abrogation of slavery as one upon which the
Convention ought to deberate but as IL has been
stirred and will be pressed upon their notice. and as
Its importance transcends the many other inn
portant questions destined to come under considers
tion we trust will be met by the slave holding pub
iic with dispassonak caluness. We trust that de-
magog"es viii not abuse the credulity of the less
informed, by assuming, as they have on more than
one occasion falsely assumed, that an extensive
scheme was foot annu slavery at the expense of
private right and inAame the passions at SO critical
moment, for the base purpose of advancing their per-
sonal popularity.
1t was said in his life time, that Mr. Jefferson was
engaged in maturing plan of gradual abolition. If
SO, we presume that his forthcoming works will
present it IN time for the consideration of the Con
yention.
From the Stanton Spectator
MEMORIAL,
To tho Honorable Convention Of Tirnin 10 be held in