Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-02-23

may he mcye truly said than Of tile savage tribes of
the wilderness tina, their known rule of warfare is
an indiscrminate slaughter of all ages sexes md
conditions! Or wasit supposed, sir, that in pre-
meditated and unprovoked attack upon the South !,
1t was advisable to begin by general admoniton of
our supposed weakness, in order to prevent us from
making that firm and manly resistance, due to our |
character and our dearest interests Was the s,p-
nifcant hint the weakness of slave holding States
when contrasted with the superior strength OF free
States--ike the glare of the weapon half drawn
from its scahbard-ntonded enforce the lessons of
prudence and patriotism, which the gentleman had
resolved out OF his abundant generosity, gratuousy
to bestow upon us?
Mr. President, the impression which has gone a.
broad of the weakness of the South, as connected
with the Save question, exposes us to such constant
attacks; has done much injury; and is calcula
ted papduce such infinite misc efs that embrace
the occasion presented by the remarks of the gen
tleman from Massachusetts S, to declare that we are
ready to meet the question promptly and fearessly
is one from which We are not disposed to shrink
in whatever form, or under whatever circumstances
1t may be pressed upon usS We are ready TO make
tup the issue with the gentleman, to the influence
OF slavery on individual and national characier-on
the prosperity and greatness, either of the United
States or of particular states Sir, when arraigned
before the bar of public opinion on this charge of
slavery, we can stand up with conscious rec,ituae
plead not guilty, and put ourselves upon God and
our country Sir, WILL to look slavery
IN the abstract We will not stop 10 inquire wheth-
| er the black man, as some philosophers have con-
TENDED, ia OF inferior race, whether his color
and condition the effects of inflicted for
the offences of his ancestors. We deal no abstrac-
{tons. We will not look back to inquire whether
our ia hers we're gutcss ofmtroJucing slaves into
this country.
| If an enquiry should be Instituted into these
matters however, 1t will be found that the profits of
the slave trade were not confined 10 the South South
esn ships and southern sailors the instru-
ments of bringing slaves to the shores of America nor
did our merchants reap the profits of that accursed
tratc" But, Sir, we will pass over all this. Ifsla-
very, as it exists in this country be an evil we
affpf hand
Finding our lot cast among people whom God had
manifestly committed to care, we lid not sit
down to speculate on abstract questions of theoretical
liberty We met 1t as a practical question of obi
CATION and duty.-We resolved to make the best of
the situation in which Providence had placed u.s. and
to fulfil the high trust which had devolved upon u.s.
As the owners of slaves the only way i'm which such
trust could be fulfilled without spreading misery
and ruin throughout the land We found that we
had to deal with people whose physical, moral and
intellectual habits and character, totally disqualified
them for the enjoyment of the blessings of freedom
) We could not send them back the shores ftom
whence their fathers had been taken; their numbers
forbade the thought, even if we did not know that
their condition here IS infinitely preferable what it
possibly could be among the barren sands and saw
age tribes of Africa and it wholly irreconcilab e
with all notions ofhumaniy to asunder the ten
der ties which they had formed among u.s. to rrat-
ify the feelings of a false philantbrophy.
What a commentary on the wisdom, Justice, and
benevoence of the Southern STAKEHOLDER present.
ed by the example of certain benevolent associations
and charitable individuals elsewherel Shedding weak
tears over suerngs which had existence only their
own sicSly paginatons, those 'frends of humanity
set themselves systematically to work to seduce the
slaves OF the South from their BY means of
missionaries and political tracts the scheme was in
great measure successful. Thousands Of these elued
victims of fanatcism seueed into the enioymen Mt
of freedom Northern cities, and what has be
the consequence? Go to these cities now, and ask
the question. Visit the dark and narrow lanes and
obscure recesses which have been assigned, by com.
: snes assent. as the ahaaes of those of the
world, the free people of color SIR there does not
' exist on the face of the whole earth population SO
y poor so wretched, vile, toathsome, so utterly
destitute OF all the comforts decen-
ces of life, as the unfortunate blacks of Philadelphia
e New York, and Boston Liberty has been to them the
It greatest OF calames-the heaviest of curses Sir
n have had some opportunities of making comparisons
the condition of the free negroes Of the North
and the slaves of the south, comparison has
left not only an ndeble impression of the superior
advantages of the latter but has gone far reconcile
d me to slavery ITSELF Never have felt forcby that
touching description, the foxes have their rses and
the birds of the air have their nests the So, o
Nan bath not where to lay hi, head" as when have
seen this unhappy race, naked and houseess almost
starving in the Streets and abandoned by all the world
Sir, have in the neghbor1ood Of of the most
u moral, religious and refined cities of the North, ami
y of free blacks driven TO the of the rock
IT there obtaining precarous subsistence from charity
5, and plumber.
i: When the gentleman from Massachusetts, adopts and
the old charge of weakness resulting from
al slavery, must be permitted call for the proof
IS those bghting effects which lie ascrbes its iniu
ence suspect that when the subject is closely
Is anIned will be found that there is not much force
in the plausible objection of the of physca
!. power in save-hoding States. The power Of coun
try is compounded of s population and its wealth;
in modern times, where from the very form and
ture of society, by far the greater portion of the PEG
is pie must even during the continuance of the most
desolatng be employed in the cultivation of the
soil, and other peaceful pursuits may be we'll doubt
- ed whether siaveholdng States by of the su
~ peFior value ofteir productions able main
tain number of troops in the field fully equal to wha
could be supported by States with larger white popu
70 ation but not possessed of equal II is
popular error to suppose that in any possible state
ia things, the people Of country could be called
e. out en- masse, that half, third, fiji
part OF the physical force of any country could
brought into the field The difficulty is to procure
Is men, but TO provide the of maintaining them
and in this view OF the subject, it may be asked wheth
l. or the southern States of strength
l. and power, aud not Of weakness to the counryi-
,e Whether they have not contributed aud nov