Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-14

hey entitled 10 equal rights and privileges; and IN
his opinion ert,roly concur with them. But when,
Gentlemen Jude take to pronounce this to he mere
bstrlct principle which cau never be applied TO the
actual condition OF men, differ with them toto cato.
And hesitate not to affirm, that it is principle which
only can be, but which must be acted upon b. all
ncn what their condition in life may have BEEN
whether they have been in the enjoyment oit,er ma
tural rgis, ic in the degraded state of sla
very. whenever they are about TO form Constitution;
the government which they establish must
III The very nature OF irgs be hing more or less
than state ofdespotisnl. We hive been asked this
&c really correct principle and susceptible unvcr
sal application, why was It that tho slaves were OK
cludeI - our ancestors aud why do not propose
70 adm't 'Acn IS parties to The social conpae? rha
answer 90 this question Is easily given, and Is
ovinuS, that surprised should ever haze been
asHcI The answer :, that do not choose 20 Il.
or enter '2to an such coapGct with them. And is
got 'His sufficient answer?
y: . c5;",udc them, Tor precisely liz same rciso3E
that We would exclude foreigners Of every descrip
tion for The Same reasons that would refuse 10
extend the right Of citizenship to 81, inhabitants; Of
Foxes or OF CInada, OF 30 any Of Indians who
might ish 20 be gCtrcW circd part Of the cC.i,-
munly 10 which belong: namely, ifa, We do not
cd.0osc 10 grant their request And ne would not
cheese 10 grant such rGGuCs;. because we believe
they would not make good ;;zC-s. We 10 not pro
pose 70 atNi, or Slaves as nt tics to The social com
pact, because we believe tina, tav would not make
good citizens, or because arc prciui:sci against
their colour: o. yoI peas', bscaus,: think pro-
per to disregard tSHir natural rights and tu hult
HEM - slavery. that NAV reap the benefit o
their latour Au it is perfectly :fn:,ater7al what
the reason Tor eNcuilug them may be, iii be sa
iici IL 10 induce rs 10 do y excluding FOREIGN
c.s hoer e., or ilaGh W. 90 mUt interfere with t,le
natural rights hui leavc then! at 4oJTy form any
sort Of govcTrnont they please for themselves. The
mistake Is IN Srpposn, that Tie principle if true is
ono which must III IT'S appcT:ion, be extended TO all
toNhom, ii cl he extended, whereas !. is one wict
may or may not, Gc extended. 10 embrace any
p0rCIcuar class OF people Us nav seen, best 10
|: hose 'Rho about - cSt.tl!sh government: L1
which must be cNotiIcd all whom il is intended
saii become parties 10 The compact, members oil
the community |; Is c+ilcnt that such was Che IN.
Outstanding which ancestors had Of this pri!le
Gad o! It's application NJ lie time when orr Bill OF
Rights and Constitution were c:iablisl.ed n, them
they excluded foreigners rom the endowment of MI
the rights and privileges Of citizenship in thjs S}atc
Indians aI.oSrAer, 6, they excluded the NEG les
gethcr ana The for excluding t, later yye-,
stronger ti-an those tor excluding Ike former n!
those however. who W5!e admitted as members n
the community atni' Ted upon terms Of perfect
equality Lex Us suppose the agents of the British
government, with view induce ,Aer,, TO return 70
Their allegiance To the British Crown TO have adj
dressed them in Ian ruugc like this s.You hpye do
CARED tHat al mon are b. nature equally free and
independent, and that the MINORITY of the 1ieopl1
have ST undubtable and unu!icaable rCIt ro olter
reform, or aboiiai! government ut their pleasure; and
We have strong party amongst tie white reoplr ir
TINS State who are IN favor Of abolishinr the Gov.
efnOcn' winch you have estabshcdWhch added % the
whole number of Indians and negroes in the State
twho are also IN our favnurl VIII make majority
wh'cn according to your own principles. has rich
! 20 change the Government at it's pleasure. we
therefore demand that you submit; to the will ofthis
majority, and give up the power which YOU are M
longer entitled to hold" What are We to sunposf
would have been their reply to such deman;3-
| Would they not have said, these Indians and ne
groos constitute TO pnrt OF the community for whose
advantage this Government was formed. and conse
quenty nave no right to express any oDinion unor
the subject; and although admit their nattira
r'Eht* ore eai to our own yet they ha vino been
permitted to become parties to the coynnacf frorr
which we derive our authority, they can have M
voice N chang'ng Oh destroying it. And they nigh
we'll have added s'tiicse ac.Tfces yvho-, I'm g.,
so totally unified By tter habits, and want of al
TIC morta! virtues 10 enjoy the blessings of Iiiart,
ana OF free Government have no lust carse Of com
Pia! against any one for placing them in their pre-
eehsdegr"dcd condition, except is against your owl
Aing VINO sent them amongst US, and conrel'ed lis
to receive them, contrary TO our own nclinations.
winch Is one OF the grievances complained of in tho
preamble to our Constitution"
having expressed my belief that our slaves are bv
nature equally rs free and independent as o!rseIs or
IN other words, that they are by nature entitled to
equal rlghs Gprvlieges it may not be mprorar ill.,
"hoEid MAKE one or two remarks, which thci1rh tbcv
Ha'e no l'nledase bearing upon The question before
us may serve TO prevent any nisnppreheusinn of M,
sentiments upon subject Of such vital ir,-orfo,!
TO this State as that Of slavery. give il fhen Nc
my deliberate opinion, that although our slavos aro
by nature, entitled 10 equal rights with the rs
human race, end although its should be both orr in
teres and our duty to send them ont from amongst
us, II any practicable scheme would be cd e.
e9eting that object that yet all questions 49, ~.
th9lr rights, are questions between them and our.
selves exclusively It IS moreover nv opinion FIAT
the necessity of the does not furnish sniff.
cent excuse for our retaining them in servitp5, M
nope 1t does) that we are answerable far onr -
lice towards them "n!y to our own consencas md f.
the Great God ofa!l; and that no FOREIGN pcor,I ~
power have right in any manner, under any Cir
cum taIces' or under any Pretorce, to Interfere be-
OF exclusive right upon this SUBJECT, that ftl,e nao
ty oftha people cfYirginla or OF tboir renrsgo2ta
iVes were 10 determine 10 reduce all The free neGroa
amongst US to state ofsIGvery, although the pToDo
yet should regard myself a traiior to INV con,t5r
Il H'd not resist bycI the means in nv power ar;y
attempt which MINT be lnc1,. ON 10 - -