Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-19

favor oil our maturely celebrating on the whole subject,
and adopting some efficient measures TO remove the cause
from which those evils spring. In the first place, | shall
confine my remarks TO such Of those evils as affect the
white population exclusively. And even in that point of
view, L think that slavery as it exists among us, NAV be
regarded as the heaviest calamity which has ever befllen
any portion of the human race. If we look back through
the long course OF time which has elapsed from the crea-
ton to the present moment, we shall scarcely be able TO
point out a people whose situation was not in many re-
spects preferable toour own, and that of the other states in
which negro slavery exists. True, Sir, we shall see ma
lions which have groaned under the yoke of despotism
Tor hundreds and thousands OF years; but the individuals
composing those nations, have enjoyed a degree of hoppi-
ness, peace, and freedom from apprehension, which The
holders oil slaves in this country can never know. True it is,
that slavery has existed almost from the time orthe deluxe.
in some form or other in different parts of the world, but
always and every where, under less observation-disclosures
circumstances, than in this country. The Greeks and
Romans had many slaves; but, fortunately for them, there
was no difference in complexion, which placed an impassa-
Die barrier between the freeman and slave, and pre-
vented them from lberating the latter, and raising him to
an equality with the former. They exercised an unlimi-
ted power over even the lives of their slaves, and being
under but little restraint irSm principles of humanity, they
could guard against danger, by putting n part of their
slaves TO death. We appear TO be destined to see the evil
constantly increasing upon us, whilst we are restrained up
on the one hand, from raising them to the condition of
ireemen, by unconquerable %prejudices against their com.
pleXion, and on the other from destroying them. bv feel
ings oihumanity, which, thank God are equally invincible.
But, Sir, L must proceed to point out some Of the most prom-
inent evils arising from the existence of slavery among lis.
And among these, the first / shall mention, is the irresisti-
BILE tendency which it has, to underminea and DESTROY every
thlng like virtue and morality in the community. | think
L may safely assert, that ignorance is the inseparable COM
panion OF slavery, and that the desire of freedom is the
inevitable consequence of implanting i'm the human mind
any useful degree ofinteligence; it is therefore the poll
cy OF the master, that the ignorance of his slaves shall be
as profound as possible. And such a state of ignorance
Is wholly incompatible with the existence of anv moral
exalted feeling in the breast of the slave. I, renjero hin
incapable OF deciding between right and wrong, ofiudqinp
OF the enormity OF crime, or of estimating the high salts.
Iacton which the performance of am honorable act anards
to more intelligent beings. He is never actuated bv those
noble and inspiring motives which prompt the free 10 the
performance OF creditable and praiseworthy deeds; on the
contrary his early h~abits<pprsuits and associations. are
such as to bring into action all his most vicious propensi-
ties. He is habituated from his infancy TO sacrifice trutb.
without remorse, as the only means of escaping punish
ment, which is too apt TO be inflicted, whether merited or
not. The candid avowal of a fault, which a kind parent is
disposed to regard in his child as the evidence of merit. is
sure 10 be considered by the master as insolence in a
save, ana 10 furnish additional reason for inflicine pun
ishment upon him. The slave perceives that he can
never attain to the least distinction in society, however
fair and uneXceptionable his conduct NAV he or
TO an equality with the lowest class of free men.
and that, however innocent he may be. he IL often
liable TO the severest punishment, at the will of hire
i imfu 8xerS Sc FPss%Syiahh R6qVf 6ae9f FIST as1lHhga IN dria'D DIV T}1sf
dr. I'd of infamy and disgrace, which operates so pow
erfully, in lettering freemen from the commission of acts.
criminal or dishonorablc and he is ever ready TO INDULGE
with avidity, in the most beastly intcmperance. conscious
that nothing can degrade him in the estimation of the world.
HIS reason beclouded as it is, tells him that to hold him in
slavery, is a violation of his natural rights: and consider.
ing himself as entitled to full remuneration for his labor, he
does not regard 1t as fault, to appropriate any part of the
masters property to his own use. He locks upon the
whole white population as participating in the wrongs he
endures, and never scruples to revenge himself by iniur.
ing their property; and he is never deferred from the com
mission of theft, except by fear of the punishment conse-
quent on detection. The demoralizing influence of the
indiscTiminate intercourse of the sexes among our slave no.
puiahon, need only 10 be limited at, TO be fllIyu understood
Can't be expected, Sir, or will itbe contcnded. that where
so large a mass OF the population of the country is corrupt,
tnat the other classes can entirely escape the contagion3
Sir, 1t is impcssible! and the dissolute habits of LARGE
our citizens, especially of the very poorest class
is too notorious 20 be denied, and the cause of il is too obvi-
OlS 10 be DISPUTED. Far he III from mr. NJ, C.ooIu- A..
assert, that virtue and morality cannot at all exist amopo
the Tree, where slavery is allowed, or that there are NOT
many high~Ininded, honorable, virtuoIs and patriotic indi-
viduais even In those parts of the State, where the slaves
are most numerous. know there are MANY such. on
~ contend, that it is impossible in the nature of things.
that slaves can be virtuous and moral, and that their vices
must nave 10 some extent, an injudicious influence upon
the morals of the free.
There is another, and perhaps a less questionable evil.
growing out OF the existence of slavery in this country
which cannot have escaped the observation, or failed to
have elected the profound regrets of every patriotic and
rejecting individualint the Assembly. Iallude, Sir, to the
prevalent, and almost universal indisposition of tbe frcc
population, TO engage in the cultivation of the soil-that
species OF labor, upon which the prosperity of every conn
try chiefly depends. That being the species of labor in
winch slaves are usually employed, tits very generally re-
garded as a mark Of servitude, and consequently as de-
grading and disreputable. 1t follows of course, that the
enlre population OF the State must be supportcdby the la
borof that half which is in slavery: and il will hardly be
denied that it is TO this circumstance principally, if NOT
solely, that we are to ascribc the astonishing contrast be-
tween the prosperity of the non-slaye-boldine and sIavo-
8ANAH aaBNN INJURY AlNGN lD We
see around us, of men in moderate circumstances. who.
too proud TO Till the earth with their own hands, are gradual
ly wasting away their small patrimonial estates, and raising
their families in habits of idlencss and Extravaganza How
many young men, (who were it not for the prevailing pre-
JUDGES of the country, might gain an honorable and honest
subsistence by cultivating the SOIL do wesee, attempting TO
force themselves into professions already crowded to excess.
IN order to obtain a preoarious subsistence? and how MANY
OF these do we see resort to intemperance 10 drown re1ec-
ton, when want Of success has driven them TO despair'
we learn from those who have had ample means Of decid-
ing, that the situation of the yeomanry of the middle and
northern states, is, in every respect, different from flat of
inc same class OF people in the slavc-holding States
j mere the farmer cultivates his land with his own hands.
whlch produces all the accessories, and MANY of the com
iorts OF life, in abundance. He rcars up his children in
hablts OF industry, unexposed TO the allurements of vice.
ana instead OF being a burthcn, they assist him i'm his la
bors' III, Sir, we compare the face Of The country in yir-
gina, with that Of the Northern States. we shall find the
result greatly TO the advantage of the former. We shall
sec 'he va Dominion, though blessed by nature with all
the advantages OF a mild climate, a fruitful soil, and fine
nNVigaole bays and rivers, gradually declining in all that
constitutes national wealth. In that part of the state below
u~dc-water the whole face Of the country wears an ap-
Pearance OF almost utter desolation, distressing TO the be-
hoIdeT' TAI and thick forests Of pines are every where
70 nc seen, encroaching upon the once cultivated fields,
ana casuhg a deep gloom over the land, which looks az if
nature mourned over the misfortunes Of man. The very
sPot ON Whlch our ancestors landed, a little more than two
hundred years ago, appears TO be on the eve of again be-
coming the haunt Of wild animals. No man can doubt,
Sir, but That the deterioration in the appearance of the
country. Is owing mainly to the careless manner in which