Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-11-14

this opinion entirely concur with them. But when
gentlemen undertake. TO pronounce this to DO mere
abstract principle which never be- applied TO tho
actual condition of men, differ with them toto cgio
And hesitate not TO Affirm that il principle which
only can be. but which be acted upon by oil
men, whatever their condition in life may have been
whether they have been in the enjoyment ofthcr no
tura rights, held en- the most degraded state of sla
very. whenever they about to form Constitution;
otherwise, the government which they establish must
IN the very nature of things be nothing more CT less
thana state ofdespotis. We have been asked If this
be- really correct principle, and susceptible of unvcr
sal application, why it that the slaves were ex-
cluded by our ancestors, and why do not propose
TO admit them parties to the social compact? The
answer to this question is easily given, and Is
obvious, thnt om surprised its iould have been
asked The answer is thct do not choose to TO:
or enter iuto any such compact with them. And is
not this sufficient answer?
We exclude thea, for precisely the same reasons
that we would exclude foreigners OF every dcscrip.
tlon for tho same reasons that would refuse 10
extend the right OF citizenship the inhabitants of
iexcs, or of Canada, or to any of Indians who
might wish to be acknowledged part tthc COM
munity TO which we belong: nauiclv TINT do not
ci.ooss To grant their request Aud would not
choose TO grant sucha request. because we believe
they would not make good citizens. We DO not pro
pose to admit our slaves parties to the social com
pact, because NC believe that they would not make
good citizens, or because prcjudSed against
their colour c: if you please, because we think pro-
per To disregard their natural rights, and hold
/ them II slavery. that we iaay reap the benefit o
their labour. And II is perfectly/immatcrial what
the reason for excluding them may be- If it be suf
hcicnt To induce tn do BY excluding foreign
crs howe a., or lniaus, do interfere with the
natural rights; but leave them at liberty form any
sort 81: government they please for themselves. The
IL sake IS IN supposnS ;ha the principle, it true, is
Which must in its application, be extended to oil
to whom II bc extended, whereas, Il is one w!ic!
!nay, or mug not. b. extended, TO embrace any
particular class ofpeople may best To
81
winch must be extended TO al WHOM it is Intended
sl!al! become parties to the compact; members O.
the community. II is evident. that such was the un.
Outstanding which ancestors had OF this principle,
scC OF ITS application NJ the tnlc when Bill OF
Rights and Constitution were established by them.
Thcy excluded foreigners from the enjoyment OF all
tie rights and privileges of citizenship III this State,
except upon certain conditions: they excluded the
Indians aocci!cr, they excluded the negroes alto
gctEe., and the Tor excluding the latter were
stronger than those i6- excluding The former All
those, however. who were admitted IS members OF
the community. were admitted upon terms of perice
equality. Let Us suppose the agents OF the British
Government: with view 20 induce jLen 20 return 10
their sileigancc - the British Crown, 20 have adj
dressed them in language Ike this. You have de-
carcd, that al nle arc By nature equally free and
independent, and ,'.at the majority of The people
have undubtable and unahenablc right 10 alter,
reform, or abolish Government at their pleasures and
we have strong party amongst the white people IN
this State who are in favor Of aboshing the Gov
eminent which you have esablshedwhich added 10 the
whole number of Indians and negroes in the State
(whO are also IN our tavour,) will make majority;
winch, according to your own principles. has RICH
to change the Government at its pleasure. We
therefore demand that you submit TO the will ofthis
majority, and give up the power which YOU are no
longer entitled to hold" What are VIC TO suppose
would have been their reply to such a demand.-
Would they not have said, these Indians and nc
grocs constitute part of the community for whose
advantage this Government was formed, and conse-
Quently have no right to express any opinion upon
the subject; and although we admit their natural
-ghts IRE equal tn ye: they not ha wing been
permitted to become parties 10 the compact from
which derive authority, they can have no
voice IN changing destroying II. And they NIGHT
we'll have added, ''these negroes whom YOU see
so totally untitled by their t5abiis, and want Of all
the mortal virtues, to enjoy the blessings of liberty
and of free Government have Just cause OF com
plant against any ono for placing them in their pre-
sent5degraded condition. except aganst your own
King, who sent them amongst Us, and compelled us
to receive them. contrary to our own iicnations,
which Is one of the grievances complained of in the
preamble to Constitution"
Having expressedmy belief that our slaves are by
nature equally free and independent as oursevs or
III other words, that they are by nature entitled to
equal rlghs &prlvegcs, IL may not be improper Int
should make one or two remarks, which bou1h tbev
have no immediate bearing upon the question before
u.s. may serve TO prevent any misapprehenso of my
sentiments upon subject of such vital importance
TO tins State as that of slavery. I give then NO
my deliberate opinion, that although our slaves ar,
by nature entitled TO equal rights with the rest of the
human race, and although i'll should DO both our in
terest and our duty to send them ont from amongst
US IT any practicable scheme would be suggested for
efiecting that object; that yet, all questions az 10
their rights, are questions between them md orr
selves exclusively IL IS moreover my opinion, th:t
IT the necessity of the does not furnish suf-
Gent excuse for our retaining them in seryitude (as
hope II does) that we snswerabe for our inins
tee towards them, only to own con.icnccs and TO
the Great God ofall; and that foreign people or
power have right IN any manner, under any cir
cum'tnnces, or under any pfecnce, TO interfere be.
tween them and us. And so far do carry nv ideas
OF exclusive right upon this subject that irthc MAORI
~ ofthe people oiFirsinia or OF thor representa-
7es, were 10 determine u reduce nh the free ncrroes
amongst us to state ofsiaycry, although the pTopo
siton IN Itself would be most abhorren TO INV eelnps
yet should regard myself tiai,or to nv county
III did not resist by all the means IN nv power, INV
attempt which might be made, the partorany other
people 20 Interfere.
We have been asked, why it is gc exclude ,bc
women from all participation the formation of
ernmont If IL be true that all the human race possess
mr. -..-t.g