Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-07-13

should ever subject themselves to such dis
grace and infamy.
Such objections your memorialists regard
as extremely frivolous, and they feel assured
that they can have no weight with persons
capable of much reflection And they deem
It unnecessary 10 notice many other objec-
hons o! the same character which have been
urged against any public investigation of the
question Of slavery. They therefore pro-
seed TO state some of the reasons why they
wish 10 see the great work of abolition inn
mediately commenced: of which the most
prominent are the following.
Slavery is in itself unjust and contrary 10
that great fundamental principle of repubii-
can government which asserts ''that all men
10y nature are equally free and independent"
an axiom which no intelligent and moral
people will ever be disposed TO forget, and
which they cannot cOnscienciously disrs-
gard.
1t cannot exist except in violation Of the
golden rule which preScribes ''that we should
do unto others as we would have others do
unto uS"-a rule of action worthy of its di-
vine origin, and which will never cease 10
be held IN the highest generation as long as
the principles OF justice and humanity shall
continue 10 influence the conduct ofmen.
1t has an obvious and irresistible tenden-
cy TO destroy the virtue and morality OF our
sltizens, and TO lead them into idle and dis
solute habits.
1t retards the growth Of our population,
Virginia has territory nearly one third
greater than any the old thirteen states :.
is blessed with a delightful climate, a pen-
tiiul soil, and many of the finest harbors and
navigable streams in the world, and had
once the largest population of any of the
states; her whole population is now less than
that of Pennsylvania or New York, and she
has fewer white inhabitants than other states
which have not one fourth as much terrific
ry. In 1889 she had 10 representatives in
Congress-Pennsylva nia had S-New York
had D; she will now be entitled To 21-Penn-
sylyania to 2S-ahd New York to 40.
1t impairs our national strength; for no
state can be powerful which is full of inter
nal enemies.
1T is Inconsistent with the true spirit of
the Christian religion, which teaches us that
all men are equal in the eye ofGod
ltis degrading TO our character as ma
tion.-lt is degrading TO our national charac-
fernot only because it is inconsistent with
she principles OF liberty and equality by
which we profess TO be governed, but be-
cause thousands OF our citizens are engaged
humanity must blush-a traffic in human
beings.
1t must ultimately lead to the most ruin
Gus and destructive servie wars. In many
counties our white population is rapidly de-
creaslng, whilst the slaves are every where
increasing. In that part of the state lying
east of the Blue Ridge the colored has gain
cd upon the white population more than an
hundred thousand in the last 40 years; and
1t is susceptible of the clearest demonstra-
ton, that that gain must be much more rap
id hereafter, than it has been in times past,
until at last the diSproportion will become
SO great, we must expect that the horrid
scenes OF st. Domingo, or such as took place
III the island OF Jamaica during the last year,
viii be acted over again In this country
our memorialists, deeply impressed by
these and various other considerations, ear.
nestly entreat your honorable body to adopt
such measures as will insure the gradual and
certain abolition of slavery throughout this
commonwealth. And they have the fullest
confidence in the wisdom and ability of your
honorable body, 10 devise such measures as
will effect that desirable object, without any
greater interference with the rights of indi-
vidualS than every patriot will be willing to
submit TO for the good of his country. If
however, you shall not feel Yourselves au-
thorized to adopt such measures in relation
TO the whole state, then your memorialists
pray that you will pass an act prohibiting
aRy slaves from beng brought into that por-
ton ofthe state lying west of the Blue Ridge,
after the lst day of June HeXt--and provid-
ing for the gradual abolition Of slavery in
that portion Of the state. And your memo
rjaliss will ever pray &c.