Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-07-20
SLAVERY

SLAVERY.
We comply with the request contained in the
Stanton Spectator, in copying the Memorial
of a portion OF the people of Augusta, 10 the.
Convention, praying that body 10 make
some constitutional provision for the era.
dual emancipation of our slaves. although
we believe il TO be highly injudcious
and impolilic step. Nearly all the slave
holders in Virginia are on the East side Of th,
Blue Ridge Between them and their brethren
On the West of the Ridge, heart.burnngs and
jealousies have long existed which rccen, cir.
cums'ances have tended rather TO nname than
| to appease. This veiy question Of slavery, not
indeed as il relates TO lis gradual abolition, but
as to the extent TO which the power Of taxation
may be stretched when the reins OF power
shall pass into the hands of the Western peo-
pie, has already been urged in stump speeches,
in conversation and in thu public prints, and
will be urged in Convention, with all the force
OF The State can exert, against the propriety
and policy of adopting the principle OF free
| white population as the basis OF representation
The only basis, by the way, which can be a
dopted consistently with right and justice. IT,
therefore, the bare exclusion of slaves from
representation has led to the display Of so much
wal NTH and feeling, is it not reasonable 10 ap.
orehend that much greater degree Of excite
ment W II be created by proposition to embo-
DIV in the new constitution provision for
their gradua manumission II will he com
ple,e frrbrand in and out Of the Convention.
if that body attempt seriously to discuss it. We
snail hear of interference with the rights OF
nroperty, an attempt To exercise power tyranni-
cslIy &c and reason & judgment will be LOST
sight of in the whirlsint aud tempest OF passion.
We cordially deprecate the introduction the
Convention of questions, which, without the
possibility of receiving the sanction Of any
considerable portion of that body, may lead 10
inaammalory and unpl oftable discussion.
Besides, in State where there are so many
slaves as there are in Virginia, the scheme ap-
pears o us TO be of too unce,tal accomplish
ment, boz h as to the mOduS Operandi and as TO
tho time We cannot follow the example OF
New York and some other States, and fix on a
partic ular day. some ten. or twenty or lhiHy
wears hence, when the shackles of our slaves
shall be thrown of, and the jubile. OF univer-
sa and unbounded liberty proclaimed. Their
slaves were so few in number, that The law was
not felt by the community-and, as scarcely
any person owned more than two or 'hfee so
there was no case OF aggravated lhdl'iddhi
hardship and oppression. But our slaves are
so numerous, that il they we're all manumitted,
we should have a population more VICIOUS IN
their habits and degraded in their character
than has been ever seen in any age or 10 any
country possessing the least claim 10 c''iiiza-
lion, And besides very many OF our extensive
farmers and planters. who own from so to 2Oo
slaves. would be suddenly ruined by such con-
,siitutional provision-in short every thing
uoId he a scene of die aud confusion.
The truth is, so long as the blacks are to re-
main among rs, they are h"cn oe'''' VI" 40
slaves then they could possibly be II they were
set free. In addition to the restraints imposed
h, the laws on the liceniious passions OF all
men, then require the more immediate and con-
slant watehiulness aud control of master
far it ia lamentable fact, that, If they be I'M
awed by this salutsry fear,-'hst is, IL 'hey oe
what we all free they readily fall into temp
,at;on and the commission of crme-unabash'
cd nv shame at the moment of detection, ieei-
ina no conjunction Of conscience, unconscious
,f the value Of character, and therefore 'ndt-
loren, to its possession--in one word, careless
Of every thing but the punishment which their
Grim. carries with il. Such is the character
Of the great mass Of the free colored popula-
linn in the slave holding States. Surely no one
can wish to swell their number. The means
of,rspsuor,ing to Africa those who are already