Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-02-16

IL
inexhaustible eoquence upon the enchanted specta-
tor-the individual who thus witnessing the effect,
n his genius, doesnot award to him the highest EN-
nence IN the intellectual world, will have forfeited
all claims to dscernpent talent for
But IN reading TIN, speech of Mr.. Clay, along with
much other valuable information which it conveys
ana taught the sad and montory lesson that no man
Whatever may be his superior attachments, has We,
reached that state of perfection, which you'd claim
Tor MN exemption from TO err is the lot OF
humanity, and error Of opinion, with consequent
error OF action Is destiny which attends the wsest
alike with the simplest of mankind.
The part of Mr.. Cay's speech which superinduce J
TINS remark, Is that in which Speeding of free lspour
ana save iaoour, h", N such confident terms gives
preference In the former. He uses the following
language: "Whe rever the option exists to employ
Ut an equal ire, free, slave abour, the former
VIII De decidedly preferred, for the reasons alread
assigned. IL Is more capable, moro tiligent more
lathiui and IN every respect worthy of moro conf
Gehce: raiycars ago, when a student at Col.
eSe heard my preceptor DR.. Smith, the laIc learn
cd Professor OF Political Economy in William md
Mary advance in his professional capaciy the 30 me
sentiment, only lied to much more objections BILE
extent He said he considered free labour not only
preferable to slave labour but productive of greater
proht to the employer. when procured at ble
hire, than slave labour when rendered g,ntutousIv
Eor says he the slave havDg interest in the nro-
hts arising from his ,abour dead 10 that stimulus
which prompts him to exertion-he consequently
nnds II to as nerest. TO labour as little az possible.
MOREOVER the Inducements which he has to practice
economy IN his mantenance, THAT devolvipr on his
'nlster) lie has no restraints imposed on him from
running into all the extremes ofprodigaty and wa ste
fnincss his waste, conended PRESIDENT Smith when
aaded TO the extra labour rendered by the freeman
would more than compensate the employer for a
moderate hire
was much impressed with the reasoning of Dr.
smith, and thought it both plausible and probQhIc-I
Rao no means o. testing its correctness at that time
but determined ION leaving SCHOOL, TO anvil u,vse IF
the hght, which experience and observation would
give me, and thereon TO base al opinion of it's truth
OF asencss-l dli so, and after the most ample and
satisfactory trial. brought my mind TO Conclusion
hScd and deiermnate, that there never was scho-
!astic dc, ma, propagated BY modern philosophers
winch Contained SO much theoretical plaus!bIry
with so little practical truth.
The reverse OF the position assumed By these GEN
uemcn, Is IN every respect true They will find when
they nave made the experiment. las many have been
made) that slave iabour is more capable more dill.
gent, more faithful, and IN every respect more wor-
lhy OF confidence. One fact is worth a thousand
theorics-We may speculate ad iniiri' um suon the
moving principles and governing motives OF man but
wren these specUa'ions are not supported nv the
nm ':ring acts viii mark his conduct thfounb life
thcy should be rejected idle vagarcs or fruitless
distractions. Apply this test TO the reasoninu of
Mr. Cley-look arouri upon the free black ponnla-
non WHEN reside amonGt US compare their cnpaci-
.y--thtir diligence and ,he- fahfulness with our
slaves, aud note the result. III the former with \
very few exceptions ve have class of ncrsons ,oet
10 every principle Of virtue, ndolent TO an extreme
ana abandoned TO every which degrade and yiif
human nature That confidence whirll should sub
sst between different members Of the same conlmu
nity, and which good conduct never fails to SECURE in
tnis country, Is unfeit towards them And like the
I"JudDus APella" among the Romans. they have be-
come "a by-word and prOveFb' Of proiiEacy and con-
tempt.
This state Of moral degradation is not confined
alone 20 those of this unfortunate people who nha Bit
Virginia; but wherever they have inhaled the breath
ot liberty, with it id!eness, and al it's democrat
consequences have succeeded, and reduced them n
the same scale of moral wretchedness which mark
their character In our Commonwealth. To the State
of Ohio Pennsylvania, and the District of Coiumbis
where four fths Of the black population are free The
humble writer can attest from actual observation the
correct application of this remark Resident for a
snort tune m the latter place, he had the farest on
portuni,y CT noting we'll their habits and Informing
himself OF their capacity, diligence and faithflness
lie saw them placed by the side of the slave on the
same farn-he saw different farms, one conducted b,
free labor and the other by slave laborhe
with persona who had been in the habit Of employing
alternately free aud slave labor and The various sour
ces from whence he enabled 10 gather infortna
ton settled his mind conclusvely in the belief thai
save labor was more capable, more diligcnt, nor,
faithful, and in every respect worthy OF more conf
dence.
Another opportunity by which the compuratiy,
0ent oil free and slave abour could be proved, wa
by Journey which the author took in the States o.
Maryland and Pennsylvania. TRAVELLING a distance
of some or 500 miles in those two States by privat,
conveyance, he passed through the former State into
Pchnsylvanls townships thekly settled with Germans
Where IN African, descendant of an African wa.
scarcely ever seen. In Maryland he met with goot
hotels-furnisled with every accommodation desired
Every thing necessary TO be done after LONG da y,
travel was to hand his horse over to u slave servant
promise him with sxpencc, and rctire to rest per-
iectiy assured that hlo horse would be well ATTENDED
to. He was never deceived--his horse fatteneC
from the time he left home until he reached Pennsyl
vanla. There expecting to meet with Mr.. CLAY.
faithful servants, Of whom he had heard much he fol-
doubly sure Of good treatment without that additional
expsnee to which be had in Maryland been subject
Ell. So far rs kind promises aud complaisant de-
Eeanor went he received it, and no further No su.
peFintcndance TIC couid give no compensation he
could olor would avail hU-by some trick or eva.
SION his horse would GO without his livery, or get
| but half rations; and that rubbing and currying
which the wcaricd jade wouid always anticipate will
delight, was deemed By Pat eetrcy superrorato
~; until, like the unfortunate hero Of La ancha he
really thought he should I've compelled 10 erec, mon
umcnt and chaunt a requiem 60 his beloved Rosi
nanto lie len these good people with perfect vii
ingDcss that they should keep their white servant,
and we our black slaves