Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-03
COMMUNICATION.
FOR TIE ENQUIRER.

that would he despair ITSELF But felt shocked and dis
appointed that eminent for abilities for services
one TO whom had thought Virginia could always look
IN Time oil her "exrcinest need should, occasion
IKE the present, when she is struggling throw OF the
heaviest curse that rested people, only with
hold his services FROM but throw the weight OF his abilities
against great and holy cause.
That the moral wrong, the various evils and the posi-
bilty OF the abolition of SLAVERY, should have the
subject OF and earnest debate in the Legislature
virginia, is accumsance certainly astonishing whatever
uierence oil opinion may exist as to lis propety. That
State OF things involving considerations of such import
ancc, concerning which it has hitherto been thought ne
cessary that should observe the caution and silence of
conspirao, should suddenly become the theme solemn
deliberate and unreserved discussion by the representa-
lives of the people, is moral phenomenon requiring the
most powerful causes TO produce it.
The chief OF these you think you have found in the inn
preston OF our legislators that panic had seized their
constituents in general in consequence of the massacre
southampton; and this belief you derive from the language
OF certain resolutions offered to the House OF Delegates
reject with as much YOURSELF the idea that the
people OF Virginia such miserable jewellers as that
their slaves excite in them the emotion OF fear But
Sir can you reconcile result which, at the risk of your
satire, must be permitted to call goriousat all
events so important with agent ignobc and in
considerable: Does the cause seem commensurate with
the efec 1t cannot be believed, Sir that the Legisla-
ture OF Virginia would have taken important STEP on
SUBJECT the most momentuous OF all which could come
der their considerations urged merely by the motive which
youaege Indeed, the internal evidence OF the whole pro-
cccding is against this supposon The manner and mat
ter OF this debate-nay, the single fact that the subject
was debatedare conclusive against the idea that fear
the part OF either constituents representatives. was the
winch prOuuccu TIE discussion 1t does
me- that mind far less penetrating than yours, may dis
Germ cause for this movement of Legislature, more
deeply laid than the which you have picked up from
the surace;-a cause, too, infinitely more crediabe to
the intellect andto the hearts of legislators This
cause may think be found in the long continued exis
Just sense of the overwhelming evils of slavery
gradually occupying the public mind; and awaiting an OPP
portuny obelng eXpressed-And what opportunity more
lat than the which presented ITSELF What occasion
better calculated 10 call forth expression of this sent-
ment in the most energetic terms which language affords
than terrible exhibition of least Of the evils of
slavery! Instead, therefore, OF attaching such undue i'm
portance TO tins Isolated occurrenceinscad OF exang it
into the chief source OF that torrent whose you
much deprecatc think il far philosophical TO regard
il merely the touch OF the rock which called the waters
forth For is TRUTH deeply rooted iii the constitution
OF our NATURE that moral cause, however poten-no
principle, however grand-has agency in stimulat-
immediate action, be compared in power TO that
of single physical event.
SO far then, from aschbing this development of public
opinion 10 the aso motive of fear, assign its
causes, oil the nobest most elevated principles of
our nature; desire TO free portion of the human race
from bondage-to eradicate from society evil which
SITS IKE an incubus on It's prosperity parayZng and with
erng all its energies moral and physcal-and 10 remove
from our system OF poty, feature which contradics its
principles, deforms its beauty and deranges its harmony
Such are the causes which your charity if not your udg
nen might have suggesed and in consideration of which
however mistmed you might have thought the philanthro
mistaken the patriotism--you might have
excused, you could approves your fellow citizens
the open expression Of their thoughts,
For myself as citizen OF Virginia, I exult in the
iact that the legislature have not been afraid look the
monster in the ace-that they have length removed the
anuquated mass OF prejudice and mystery which has so
long envcoped the subject and which YOU are sosoctous
replace. rejoice that they have broken through What
seemed an established princpletha, il was an evil which
must not be ouched even TO be cued and that they have
ing this evil.
1t is consoing fact, that in This age are not so
much under the influence of long existing peiudces and
venerable as for ages they have beennen are
now, like Children TO be scared by rawheads aud bloody
bones, from The accomplishment of any object in which
the welfare of society is involved You NAV call il .'thc
soft
dern philanthropy give ii any other appelaton which
fancy or scorn may suggest;-the fact is nevertIle-
less So And here by the way, let remark that ifhere
is any one infrmity of nature unfortunate in
tendency than another, is the propensity asaiI with
rdicule the most dsnterested exercise Of the loest
tues.
But though the spirit of improvement and the prompt
ings OF philanthropy may and will be diculed they may
not and will not be repressed. The mind which is braccd
TO assert and TO maintain righteous cause, is to be
shaken by dicule Not even, Sir, your powerful satire
will be able deter those who have attacked the gloomy
idbc oil slavery, from an energetic prosecution of their
glorious efforts TO raze 1T TO its iounddtiOnsAt least
trust in God it will mott
In the Of your critical and witty remarks on the
extracts which you have culcd from various speeches de-
vered in the Legislature You animadvcr on some of the
opinions expressed in terms which might lead to snp-
pose that you admit evilsncden TO savery but as YOU
do not express yourself fully upon this point reject the
conclusion alike discreditable 10 your Judgment and
your feelings, and only lament that YOU have thought il
consistent with your duty as member of society
your distinguished Abilities not TO free il from the curse
but to persuade your feowctzen that the hand of fate
has fixed il rrevocably upon them and that as il is vain
to struggle, all that can he done is just TO keep il from
overwhelming them But Sir hazard nothing in assert
ing, that the most powerful effort OF human wisdom will
avail nough to stay the progress Of this curse avert
tremendous issue fhat effort be Dodrcced its eradi-
caon-FOr 10 IS q curse tcltich increases Each wear
adds another and stronger coil and that eventually
must be crushed appears inevitable il contemplate
for moment the attitude in which are placed by it,
Society naturally resolves elfino three classes-The
first comprehcnds professional men, capitalists and large
landed proprietors; the second embraces artisans and
small popretors and the third is composed Of
borers. Now, we are society placed in The anomalous
predcanent of being totally tchoa lGboring class
for all our labor is performed by slaves who constitute ITO
part Of that society, and who, q0nd that society, may be
regarded as brutcs machines. This circumstance
operates directly cheek upon the Increase OF white
population For intelligence or properly re-
CURED TO enable belong eherof The first
ses above enumerated, land which have remarked, arc
The only classes which have,) and with ordi-
nary serespcct submit 10 sink below them, and
rary members Is 10 emigration. This want of laborng
class tends likewise 20 Overstock Che other two and there
by TO reduce the compensation Of the professional and
the mcchanictOa minimum Mulitudcs Of both these cas-
being consequently forced labor for bare subsistence,
they forced restrain the natural ncina
ton marry and have families, Thus two powerful
constantly acting 70 rctard the progress of white
population while that of the black population is stimulated
TO the utmost The disproporon between the two classes
must therefore be continually augmented, until vt length
in the natural Of events, The hteS must be
tcheimed.
The moral effect Of this imperfect Of society il
less marked Those possessed ofntcgence 70
acquire art profession, and moreover who
able unwilling TO cmigrac, constitute dead upon
society Not able TO decent subsistence By COM
labor, because the occupation Of common labocrs is
sngrosed by slaves, and even this oherwse) with