Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-13


acrbed TO nm some language of forcibe
against the mpolicy Of agitating the subject the
Juncture oil affairs, which had been used by member
from Brunswick, (who spoke before him in the debate
against the scheme for abolition and deportation without
20 ne rights oil slave property the only one before the
ouse at the timc and which thought Just with
espectto the scheme than the other equally APP
plcable toboh. Ishould explain the which
led into this mistake fwerc at all material that should do
so--butiti is enough that acknowledge it, and thereby
so lar as IT lies I'm power, obviate any Injustice which
may possibly flow from It, either to the member for Din
wddc, or the member for Brunswick. The mistake
does not affect the general business of the remarks made
on the particular topic enforcing when quoted the
words In quesionnce good is of equal weight and
power whether uttered by person or anoher-bu IL
would have been most improper to have used willingly
the language quoted from the speech Of the member
Tor Brunswick, IN the manner used -by way of ar
gumenfttn dd hominem 10 the member for Dinwiddic
Truth in my plain sense of things is always valuable
Its own sake oil however trivial importance may seem in
any particular instance; and am heartily thankful to
JEFFERSON for his detection OF this error for the oppor
tuniy he has given correct il. Whatever value T
may set on reputation for accuracy put an infinitely
higher value upon strict truth iustice and shall never
wiuy persist in any departure, tho but hairs BREADTH
from either.
The little have TO say to Jecrson's remarks upon
my last letter. is perhaps, hardly worth saying. II
seems to me- that he really does not understand the
ing OF the passages in that letter upon which he
certain il is that if he understands them correctly do
not understand my own meaning and am incapable Of
pressing inegbiy TO others In rsal writings
the passions OF the controversial apt TO mix
with the very language of his opponent dscoor its
meaning as II were by chemical process, TO produce
something wholly different in FORM in substance and i'm
temper have only TO add, that ready TO swear 10
the best Of knowledge belief that the saoacos
old lady and her greedy do not and never did live
any where upon the waters Of the Apponaox and call
upon the whole delegation in both houses of assembly
from the country watered by that stream and its buta
res, for my compurgators.
OF my correspondent York. whose letter to me YOU
published some eight nine days SINCE desire to speak
without giving the least offence I recognize with pea
sure. Sin the style Of his compositions that classic taste
WHEN Which,; me genius OF Professor Johnson bequeahcd to
"iInan q mary hope his memory still lives there. |
understand the opinions and the feelings of York most
;u 'ney were once my own, and maintained
with the same zeal, which ranges him among the
number oil my opponents till reflection, observation and
experience, drove them from my mind 1t is therefore
from comparison Of his sentiments with the course nj
my own opinions and the evidence of own conscious
ness, that think myself entitled TO srmise that this sub
ect oil slavery and abolition of slavery is upon which
he has felt more than he has thought. His candor will
surely compel him 10 agreo with me- that the wish 10
abolish slavery and deport the blacks however virtuous
the wish and however desirable the object, can never
wisely he carried INTO action until and unless feast
be adequate means of accomplishing the purpose can be
deved-hat oil pursuit of unatainabe good is vain if
NOT Gas 1t in many instances and, think especially in
this) pernicious And then pray him 10 read the re.
marks contained in Mr. Browns speech in the House of
Delegates upon The plan which he (York) proposes
TO give them fair consideration, and resist the arg
ment' il he can. To me it seems conclusive.
was not at all surprised that the parties concerned
first letter any blame worthy satire and ridicue much
more rdicule of vruous exertion or aspiration for
good The piece consists mainly of narration of
iacis, history of the proceedings of The House of
Delegates sundry quotations (perJafi) from the speech
so' cer'h members, comparison OF those speeches
e aSiuai STATE oil acts my apprehenson (he sincerity
OF which York hardly doubt of the mschevous Ten
oency oil those proceedings and speeches. and the simplest
arguments could select to shew the falacy and The mis-
CHIEF OF the doctrines broached in the debate If there be
any thing odious ridiculous in the story il was not nv
aut l was my design to tell the truth the whole truth
ana nothing but the truth-to hold UP a plane mirror |
which should reflect the image in real coors and d.
mensions neither darlened nor magnifed nor distorted
In one sense however, naked truth may be- and often is
or at least has the effect Of the sae and there
are occasions upon which men, and especially politicians.
nrnnNn lOolN
man with the small poY on her face.
And now Messrs Editors Qfhe Enquirer beg leave
10 address single remark Voi-I pray Won 10 road
mark and mediate upon the following passage in LETTER
sons last letter; ga very simple calculation will show
" mat the surplus revenue of the United States which
WIN ~ snort umc amount TO ten millions of dollars
year. il applied to that object, will be ampy sufficient
purchase up at fair price and TO send abroad so large
number oil slaves, as will be sufficient 10 rid the whole
country, in reasonable time, the curse of slavery
without any mans property being taken from him at
" less man It's fair value have reason 10 doubt but
" that the whole of that surplus revenue can he obtained
Tor that obiect and should prove insufficient the de-
" iccncv could easily be supplied bv State means and
" by individual exertous You NAV see now how Te
Telegraph came 10 think, that this slave question WIS
connected with the tariff Here lisa device disposng
OF the surplus revenue ofhe u States which can hardly
al 10 recommend the eSacon of that revenue 10 southern
politicians Perhaps, jefferson speaks advisedy when
he says he has 10 doubt but that the whole of
n surplus revenue can be obtained for that obiec" for
have heard something of the kind from another quarter:
ana believe in my conscience, that there are but too
many the friends ohat (socae) American system who
IN order TO make precx for the perpeuaon of the exac
IONS on which ii depends, would be willing TO take from
us Just as large proportion the profits our properv
ana aoor as we VIII submit TO pay, and to give it back to
us Tor any conceivable purpose provided there shall be
enough left TO pay the regular annual tribute 10 the
manufacturing interest of the North and the East which
rs now the only effect of that system 10 protect 10 secure
and TO promote But even Mr. Clay (unhappiIv its prn
cpal patron is sensible OF the necessity of reducing the
revenue 10 such an amount will afford lavish VERY
avis) supply for the wants Of the Federal Government
Itself whenever the State Governments or any of them
shall become dependant the Federal Government for
supplies Tor any purpose, they 10 have any
power There is certain class of politicians who profess
me utmost zeal Tor the preservation of the Union lin which
believe them sincerely and who yet seem 10 me TO be
pursuing 10 the last extreme, which, in nv an
pehenson tend either 10 dissolution destruction
oil that balance, settled by the Constitutions on which te
value OF the Union essentially depends Would TO heaven
This apprehension may prove groundless But have
done APRON lrTOX
U-5'As in duty bound, we ought 10 thank Appomat-
ox for the suggestion he has made oouselves-but if he
had noted the note, which attached 10 ''York" he
would have seen That we had marked and medtated on
the above propositionand that we bad entered our Pro-
test, at least, against any such device.-EDIToRs.
TO THE EDITORS OF THE ENOJIRER
The tenor OF the Resolutions of a meeting i'm Sussex
which was published in your paper few days since. is
calculated to cast the mpocy and of apitatng
the subject OF the abolition Of slavery, the present Gene
raj Assembly Those who have attended 10 the history
OF That natter must know, that portion the General
Assembly, foreseeng the injury that would result from
the agitation OF this subject, and the inposbiy of doing
any h'ng and the improperly of attempting il voted at
the outset, against the reference of the petitions which
were presented and that. the General Assembly bv
majority of fifteen, decided against the attempting 20 do
any thing at this time. The whole BODY should not he
censured for the acts of minority. The writer of this
article IS as much opposed as the people Sussex be