Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-07-17

u
Richmond. IN October, 1923.
Seeing that the People Of this Commonwealth
have deemed il necessary TO reform our EXIST
ing Constitution Of Government, to supply Its
defects. and 10 remove number OF evils which
we're thought to press heavily upon the com,
muni,y:-We the subscribers, inhabitants OF
Augusta county cannot but congratulate our
selves and the public on the selection oil SO many
of our highly distinguished citizens Tor the per-
formance Of these solemn and interesting duties.
Distinguished as you have been Tor gravity,
prudence, and wisdom, we cheeriuiiy accord
to you our confidence, in the important and ar
duous station to which you are called, aud trust
tina, you will Employ your wisdom and prudence
in that wsy which will rebound most 10 OUT
common welfare.
There have been many topics Of reform an
,icipssd and discussed among The people. we
| do not mean 20 NEEDLE with any ofthem, or 10
express any opinion on their merits Our pull
pose is respectfully TO call your attention to an
| other subject, which we regard as OF paramount
importance; end respecting which, II no hing De
done, we apprehend ina, your other taoors must
prove comparatively nugatory. We ask your
| attention the existing slavery OF the neg oe'
in our Siae, and 10 some constitutional proNs'
ion for a system Of emancipation.
| II )
will give alarm to our eastern brethren, who
are slave holders OF larger scale than we OF
the west; and that they are even already alarmed
at the anticipated power Of the west To impose
unlimited taxes on this species Of property. 10
this latter objection we answer, that we are VII
| ling 10 see you provide any requisite guaranty
against an undue exercise Of such power, that
| thus the fears of pur eastern brethren may ne
Quoted. We wish for no hug that is Unfair
7 10 The former objection we say that IN poiit
ical view, we esteem slavery an evil greater 'hah
the aggregate Of all the other evils which be-
| set US; and that perfectly willing 10 pear
| our proporton of The burden Of removing it,
We ask farther, wha, is the evil Of any .uch "a
larm as our proposition may possibly excle,
| in minds unnecessarily jealous, compared WIN
that Of the fatal catastrophe which ultimately
awaits our country, and the general deprivation
| Of manners which slavery has already produced
and is producing? These we think sufficient
answers to the objection, mentioned above.
In laying this subject before you; we are not
insensible TO lis magnitude ar is difficulties.
We are aware, too, Of The rooted preJudlces
which we encounter, g. owing gu, Of old habits
! and present real or supposed inter st. Nor ave
we indif,I zen, 10 those impu, atoms OF .nIhusi'
asm & rashness which will probably be cast up
on us in no stin,ed measure. BuI we know that
no grca, good vas ever al hiev.d without strrn.
uous effor's;S ,ha. such efforts have always been
subject 10 reproas htnl impurations. We mus
therefore patiently S, b'oi' 10 hem {; considering
| them, in our turn, as he ebullitions of heed
| less passion or uncompromislng SELLS "ness.
| The am full wrighl Of the sub eCl forbids any ap
prosch TO il in the spirit OF evity; and we feel
assured that we approach il with as much eau !.
ton as those obsrrvr who ,0rn away and re-
fuse 10 look il in the face. Blu: we should es-
TEEN moral and political cowsrdice in US 10
remain silen, on subjec, SO deeply interesting
to US in all our domestic and political relations
one which in,ermingles itself with every inter
est and concern Of life productive. perhaps, OF
few transient benefits, but Ger ainly OF an mimi
" Of evils now pressing upon u.s. and portend
| ing g.neral dssolstion in future.
| We waive a, present, the considerations Of
religion and humanity which belong TO this
| momrn,ous subject; and present 1t as a naked
ques ion Of political wisdom sud safety While
we b-lieve hat the pubic mo, sls and general
prosperity, which il is the province of govern
men 10 great extent to proteC' and cherish,
are drplor ably injured by slavery. we proceed
10 affirm tha, il is our own Experience and Oh
serva,ion confirming the facts and deductions
of political economists, that The labour OF slaves
is vastly less productive Than that Of free men /;
tina, it therefore, requires larger space TO FUR
nsh subsis,e nee for given number OF the former
than Of The latter that he employment Of the
ormer necessarily excludes the empl ymen' OF
he latter; tha' hencssnur population white and
black averages buI about seventeen, when il
| ugh, and would, under other circumstances,
= erage as in New England, al least sixty to The
square mile; ha, the possession and manage.
| nent of slaves form source Of endless .eS-
alton and misery wi hin he house and Of waste
md ruin on the farm; lha he youth If The
country are growing uD with CON empt Of
st, ady industry, as a low servl' tnlrg, which
contempt induces ideness, aud a'li's attendant
eff.mInacy, vice and worihlrsness ,ha' the
waste OF the produce OF the land, nav even Of
the land itself, il brings poverty upon the in
habitants: tina, this poverty s. the spsrceness OF
our popula ion, either prevent The INSTITUTION
Of SCI ools through thu country. or keep them in
the mos, languid and deficient condition; and