Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-01-27


of the race now amongst us. They were
brougbt to the Colonies now constituting
Inc United States. under the sanction, and
nv the authority Of the British laws. which,
~ an early period OF our colonial existence
admitted and tolerated the trade. Il is
due 10 our colonial ancestors, to say, that
they frequently and earnestly, but unsuc-
cessfnlly demonstrated 10 the British Crown
AGAINST The continuance Of the practice.
The introduction OF slavery into this coua-
try is not, therefore, chargeablo TO them,
bot to a government 10 winch they had 40
.oice, aal oyeg which, they had 10 con-
troll. Il is equally due to our parent State
to advert TO the honorable fact, that in the
midst oflhe Revolutionary war, when con-
tending for her own independence and lIb-
erty, she eyinced the sincerity OF the spirit,
In which those remonstrances had been adj
dressed TO the British On one, by denounc-
ing, under the seyerest penalties, the fur
ther prosecution of the slave trade, within
theI jurisdiction. And | add, with great
satisfaction, that the Congress OF the Uni
ted States passed an act, aboshmg ths
trade as early as by their consultation nc
was authorised TO do. On the second
day of March 1917. the act was pas
sed for which It was my happy LOO 10
vote, the first section of which enacts,
"That from and after the first day ofJanu-
airy, 1905. 1t shall not be lawful TO import
or bring into the United States or the ter
ritorIes thereof, from any foreign kingdom,
place, or country, any negro, mulatto, or
person Of color. with intent 70 hold. sell OF
dispose Of such negro, .mulatto, or person
of color, as q slave, or to be held to service
or labor Thus terminated, we may hope
forever, 10 the United Sntates, disgrace
full traffic, which drew aiter It a tram of
enormites supasslng IN magnitude, dark
ness, aud duration, any that ever sprang
from any trade, pushed blythe enterprise or
cupidlty Of man.
"The several States Of the Union were
sensible of the responsibility which accrued
to them on the establishment oi the lnde'
pelilence Of the United States "a regard
TO Ire subject Of slavery. And many OF
them, beginning at period pro 10 ne tor
mination Of the revolutionary war by sue
cessive but distinct acts oflegislai,on, have
effectively provided for the abolhon Of sla-
very within their respective Jurisdictions.
More than thirty Years ago, an aNorppt
was made ia .his Commonwealth to adopt
a system of gradual emancipation, similar
to that which the Illustrlous Franklin had
mainly contributed 10 introduce, 10 the year
1873, in the State founded by the benevo-
lent Penn. And, among the acts Of my
life, to which look back with the most sat
Isfacton, is that ofmy having co operated,
with other jealous and intelligent friends,
TO procure the establishment Of that system
in this State. We believe that the sum OF
good which would have been attained by
the State of Kentucky, IN gradual eman-
cipaton of her slaves, at that period, would
have far transcribed the aggregate Of mis-
chief which might have resulted 10 herself
and the Union together, from the gradual
Liberation Of them. and their dispersion and
residence in the United States. We were
overpowered by numbers, but submitted
10 the decision OF the majority with the
grac which minority, in republic should
ever yield to such a decision ! have,
nevertheless, never ceased, and never shall
cease, to regret a decision, the effects Of
which have been TO place US 10 the rear Of
our nelghbors, who are exempt ron slave
~, ia the state ofagylculture, the progress
Of manufactures, tho advance Of improve
ment, &, the general prosperity Of sociciy."
sz@-,-s
As 4 minister and a lawyer were riding
together, says the minister to The lawyer,
sir, do you ever make mistakes IN plead.
ingl do, said the lawyer, And what
do you DO with mistakesl said the minis
ter. Why, sir, iflarge ones, mend them;
1 If small ones, let them 90, SAID The law
yer. And pray, sir, continued he DID you
ever make mistakes in preachIngi Yes,
sir. said the minister, have. And what
| do you do with nistakesl sid the lawyer
lWby, SIR, ! dispeass with them much IN
the same way you Just observed; reciily
/ largs ones. and neglect small ones. Not
| Ion5 since. continued he as | was preach
/ A.. ,.Lsortro fhef Tho J,t,I NO..