Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-07-20
DOMESTIC.
From me sfannion Spectator, July TO-

ion pEhslng WAf provision ne Hiane IN inc
Constitution for the gradual nboiitiea Of sfars.
~ IN Virginia. The movement originates in
Augusta.
A. far ms we can learn there Is n common
sentiment among ouf citizens of friendliness 10
the object ihn only d1rrenee of opinion Is nc
TO the lime of aetating the subject.
We shnl watch with Intense interest the pro
gress Of this question. The issue is fearfully
important. II Virginia should wisely deter.
mine TO rid her postefity of this evil, The net
would scarcely be more beneficial TO her own
future pence and prosperity. ,bsn 10 the inter.
es,s of The Union We would regard II as the
6ra breaking OF thai dark cloud which now
shadows the prospects, OF our county. Other
states might be expected to follow her exam
pie and perhaps before The rising eeners.
lion has passed away, present npprehonsions
world give place 10 the most glorious aniieipa-
iions.
MEMORIAL.
10 The Honorable Convention Of pifgfnin, held
IN Richmond. IN October. 1920.
SEEING ihal The people oil this Common.
wealth have deemed II necessary TO reform our
existing contribution of government, To supply
ts defects, aud 10 remove number OF evils
which we're thought TO press heavily ppun The
community We. the snbscrihers, inhabitants
of Augusta county, cannot but congratulate
mnny Of our highly disiine uished el,zcns for
the performance ofihese solemn md interest
ing duties. Distinguished AZ Won hive been
fof gravity, prudence, md wisdom, we cheer
fully accord 10 yon our confidence, 10 The I'm.
poiiani aud nrduons station to which yon nre
ca led aud trust that you will employ your
wis ON and prudence IN that way which will
rebound must 10 our common welfare.
There have been many topics offrform mn.
iic,paied md discussed among tbe people. We
do not mean q NEEDLE with my ri them, or
10 express any opinion on their me,is Our
purpose Is respectfully 10 call your niteni iun
10 another sni CT. which We regnrd n of para.
mount importance. and respect ng which, II
nothing be DONE we applehend TINT your other
labors must prove comparatively 0ugnio,y We
| ask your attention 10 the existing slavery Of
The negroes IN our slate, and TO some constr.
,u,ionnl provision for system of emnocps-
ton.
II Is objected, indeed, that our proposition
will give aIafm TO opr eastern brethren Who
are Shareholders on larger scale than We Of
the wesl and Thai they are even already n.
harmed nj ibe anticipated power Of The Nes,.tQ
impose unlimited taxes on this species Of pro.
perry. To this latter objection we answer.
thai weafe willing IN see you provide my re.
qnisie guaranty agaius' an undue exercise 'ui
brethren may be quoted. We wish for nothing
that is unfair. 10 the former objection WE shy
that, In a political view, we ss,erm slavery nm
evil greater ihan The aggregate Of nil the other
evils which besei Us mud thnt we are pefecly
wiling 10 bear our proportion OF the burden
Of removing IL, We nsk farther. what il ihr
evil oil any such alarm as our proposition may
possibly excite ~ minds unnecessarily icai-
Gus, tompa ed with that OF the fatal .atasiro-
pie which ultimately awaits oar country, and
The general deprivation Of manners Which sla.
very has already produced andis prndueme
These we think sufficient ausWefsto the uhieo.
lions mentioned above.
In laying this subject before you, we arr not
insensible 10 ITS magnitude or its difficulties.
We nre aware, too, If the rooted prejudice
which VIC encounter, growing out vi old habits
and present real or supposed ,nierest. Nor
ARE WE indifferent io those impnlniipns of en-.
,husiasm aud rashnfss which will probably be
cast upon ns IN no siinled measure. But we
know thai no great good was ever achieved
without Strenuous Efforts aud ihui Fncb effort
have always been subjected 10 reproachfu I'M
putaiions We must, therefore, patiently sub.
mil 10 thein considering them, ~ our turn, ~
the cbullilions oil needless passion or uncon.
promising SelGsbnees. The awful weight of the
subject iorbIds any approacb 10 II III ihe spirit
of leviiy and we feel assured that W. approach
ii with as much caution M those observe who
turn away and reinse TO look II in the face
But we should esteem Ii moral aud poliiicni
cowhrdlce in rs 10 Eemain silent oh II subject
so deeply Interesting 10 rs In all our domestic
aud political relations one which nterninyles
sell will, every interest aud conc ru of life
productive, perhaps, al n few transient benefits,
but certainly OF M infn,iy oil evils. now ptes-
ing upon ~, and portending general de6sola,
ton IN future.
We waive, at present. the consderal IONS Of
religion and humanity which bplong TO tins
momenious subject and present IL rs n naked
question ofpoiiical wisdom sDd safety. While
we believe thai The public morals and general
prosperity, which II ~ the province Uf govern
meni TO gfeni extent 10 protect aud cherish
are deploraby injured by slavery, we proceed
| 10 affirm Thai il Is our own experience and oh.
seryatop confirming tho facts and deduction
of political economists, that the labor OF slaves
! rs vastly leas productive than that OF freemen
that II therefore, requires a larger space u
furnish subsistence Tor given number Of the
| former than ofIhe latter that the employment
ofdhe former necessarily excludes Tbs employ
ment the latter TINT, hence, our population
| white and black averages bun about seventeen
when IL ought, and would, under other ci,curo.
! stances, average, IN New England, AT least sis
~ TO the square mile ; That The possession and
| mana cement If 4la9es form n source OF endIes,
yeYsion and misery within the honse, and o
waste and ruin on the farm that lie youth ef
the country are growing up with n contempt
Of steady Industry. sss low, seryle thing,
| which contempt induces idleness and all IFS al.
tendani etIcmuacy, vice, aud w0rfhlesness
thai the wa.te OF The products ofibe land nay
OF The ynd-itself, is bringing poverty upon ali
lis Inhabitants; that this poverty and tho sparse
ness Of our population, either prevent The in
situation oil schools through The country, or keep
them in The most langnd and inefficient condi.
ton and that the same causes most Obvious
ly paralize all our schemes and efforts for The
needlul improvements OF The country. These
| things are iucessanily pressing themselves un.
on our feelings and observation and il would
be easy TO enlarge the melancholy Catalogue
Boi there are ether considerations claiming our
attention.
! I, "A. concodod nm ali La,Js Al.