Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-07-14

rein0,n silent IN a subject SO deeply interesting to us la al or
uo,nesue ana pol,,sa. relations; one witch mier,ninsss nS'a,
"a few transient benefits, but certainly of an mtuity of evils, now
We waive, at present, the considerations OF religion and tu-
mainly which belong TO this monentous suDjv:v and present II
as a naked question of political wisdom and saiety. While we
believe tina, the public morals ard general prosperity, which
is the province of government tn a great extent To protect and
cherish, are depiorably injured nv slavery. we proceed tn affirm
that II IS our own experience AID observation confirming the
facts and deductions of political economists, that the lahor OF
slaves u vastly less productive than that Of free men; that IL
therefore, requires a larger space to furnish subsistence for a
gwen number of the iormer than of the latter; that the employ
meut OF the former necessarily excludes the cmulovmrnt ol lie
latter; that, hence, our population, white and black, averages.
but about seventeen, when it ought, aud would, un1eI other
circumstances, average, as in New England, nj least sixty To the
square mile; that the possession and management of slaves form
Il source OF endless vexadon and misery within the house, and
of waste and ruin on the farm; that the youth of the country
are giowmg up with a contempt Of steady rhdusty, "a a low,
ser'iie thins, which contempt induces idieness, ana ali lis at,
tendant efeniinacy. vice, and worules.ness; that the waste of
the products OF the land, nay of the land itself, is bringing pos.
e'ty upon all lis inhabitants; that this poverty and the siacc-
mess of our population, either prevent the institution of SCHOOLS
through the country, or keep them in the most lauguid anL mef-
hcient Conditions; and that the same causes mos, obviously par
alze all our schemes and efforts for the necdful improvements
OF the country. These things are necessarily pressing them
selves upon our feelings amt observations; and it would he easy
10 enlarge the melancholy catalogue. But there arc uthSr con-
siderat:ons Claiming oI attention.
tits conceded, On all hands, tina, Virginia is in a state of ntos
al and political re,rocession among the states If The conf. dcIacy.
Nor is this TO he wondered ut VIXEN to the foregoing considsra-
tons II he added tliat ialt of oar population is estimated, in the
political scale, at but three Ef,hs of It's actual weight. We are
Often mpbrauued bv a coinparE"u of our condition with that of
New York and Ohio, To which all the other States which are
exempted from the curse OF slavery, might well he added AMI
with shame we feel ourselves Constrained to bow 20 the hInila-
ting comparison We view our beloved State, blessed by the
t,oG Of nat"rc with u va,iety Of useful and lovely capabilities
unsurpassed by those OF any other country on the globe we
view IL not merely as stationary, while her sister States are adj
vancing, but as positively declining. Its peculiarly the pro.
vince of such statesmen a. compose your honorable body, 10
detect the causes Of the rational CALAMITY and degradation,
and Ia provide anal apply the remedy. That the causes hereto
fore frequently assigned are the true ones, we do not believe. If
they nave any effect, As possibly they may, il must he extremely
small aud partial. We hunhly suggest our belief that the slave
ry which cxis,., and which, with gigantic strides, is gaining
ground amongst us is IN truth, the great, efficient cause of the
multiplied evils which we all deplore We cannot conceive
that there Is any other cause sufficiently operative To pa,ahZc
me energ'es OF a people so magnanimous, To nettialize the
"ie>siugS of Providence included in the eff of a laid 50 harry
in its soil, its climate, its minerals and lis waters; and to am,ul
me naniiod advandaGes OF oar republican freedom and geo
etaphcaI position. IL Virginia has already fallen from her
nigh estate and If we have assigned the true cause of her fall
II Is with the utmost anxiety that W. look 10 the future. To the
fatal termination nf the scene. As We valu" our domestic hap
riness, as our hearts yearn fOr the prosperity of our o1sprinr.
"a we pray for the guardian care ofths Almighty OYER our coun.
Try, we earnestly enquire what shall We done To avert the inpeuh.
ing rum. The Efficient cause OF our Calamt t. is vigorously III
creasing in magnitude and potency, while we wake and Willie
we sleep. The outlets, for draining off a portion Of this peIi.
ferrous population Of slaves. are fai closing against us I'm the
mean time our white people are removing in mult,tudes. TO dis.
'aEt regions: and those who remain seem destined to become
martyrs 10 their love of Virginia, exposed 10 fDreiun enemies IN
civil fetDdS, and 10 domestic instructions. wjtho,t the nL,sic,l
ABILITY INDISPENSABLE 10 their own preservaticn. And shall We.
a!aSsreduce ourselves 10 the necessity of invoking aid from the
north and the Nest' We wri NOT press this apuafiins topic
any idTi"er; but with intense soiCitude recommend it 10 the Sc
rous consideration of your honorable body. We feel assured
that IT. addressing men of such enlarged and liberal views. n.
we coufItentN ascrhe To TIE members of YOUR body il n,us,
ne Unnecessary to dila'e farther upon this mournful and most
INTERESTING subject We deem II prudent too. no. IN nnsh his
i"ehioii' :hto greater detail and therefore we desst. olv add
ns oWf lmporiunatc prayer that Won NAV devise some constitu-
iiona provision, the fruit of which shall be the determination in
due time Of the slavery which threatens with destruction all that
we hold dear and valuable as a ,,ccrle.
All which IS resPec fully submitted.
~ Editors in Virginia are requested 10 give the fmceoing
an inseti0n in their respective papers. 9