Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-13
To THE EprroRs OF THE WING

In reference TO the communication from A
Large Slaveho!der," and your remarks upon it. in
the Wing Of the 9th inst allow me to saw that the
free regrocs in the country somewhat different
race from those in town, if non slave holder, find
them important auxiiiarcs in the way of perform
ing labor, any material safeguard against dam
gers from another class. They seem in general to
have peculiar aversion to heavy work and
evincc wonderful knock in getting alonr in 4
light way. The truth, l appreheud to be- that
while they subject to the degradation in this
they occupy the interval between the freeman and
the slave, neither respected respecting them
selves, they can DO little else than nuisance to
both. There arc some honorable exceptions tn
Il i remark, hut ! speak of them as a class
1t appears to me, therefore, that there Is little
r eason Tor opposing the removal of free blacks
far and 50 fast it be done it'll due re ga I'd
to their rights iii they be allowed ANY, and TO tho
claims OF humanity-that must he regarded-and
if the policy be good, it is not worth while to
quarrel with the motives of those who favour and
will unite in it, to enquire what their Interior
views may be. The ultra slave holder may think
thereby to remain more securely in statu quo md
those in favor of gradual emancipation NAV con.
slider it an important measure towards promoting
that end. Well, if two opposing forces can be
brought to produce right line, let it be so.
l am no advocate for forcu or legal coercion in
this matter. Much l desire and hope that
Virginia may be released from this incubus that
weighs her down, l would not sec her brough,
| under the reproach of Georgia policy for all that
III,
| can gain nothing by it-truc policy must be con-
Sistcnt with true honor
If il be contcndcd, however, that legal coercion
is honorable and just, maintain that it would be
n ugatory and useless. Law, unsupported hv pub.
lie sentiment, dead letter, (wltncss for instance
the effect ocysting laws relative TO ancipationa
ard IN this case, public sentiment will effect all
that practicable, better without the law than with
II. The process OF remova; must, from It's nature
be small i'll its beginning, and in its progress pra
du5lly increasing. The subjects must and NAV bo
brought TO feel that it is the whole for their
lntercst-and this will be done without coercion.
which naturally exctes to resistance
In reference To the plea for non-slaye h ,LIcrs
so cIoqucntly presented by 4 Large Slave Holder
1T need not if row c0gent, be considered of much
Pcrmancncy. Lit the hopes now excited FIAT
something will be done" be dsspated sin thin
AIR., and shareholders will not long he Inner
innate Let the blacks remain under determined
policy, and non slave holders and they not alone
VIII quit tho sinking ship obodicnt to a voice as
o:ninous as thrt which sounded s'Let us dcpart
hence" from the devoted city of the Jews Taen
may tho utfrHs be Ut ease and sleep sound If
they CAM rejoicing in the success of the .et ne
aSne" policy that has so long held us blind deaf
and motionlcss, while the stream watts us onward
10 The gulph of ruin.
In conclusion, I offer one or two brief rcn,rLs
upon the letter Of IN. Alexander" in the Whin of
yesterday, without intending to anticipate vour
profound examination. He says-"AH sane men
admit, that for want of means, it is utterly inprac.
tcable to effect any safe scheme of orlancipaon
1t is strange, that when Nh A. asserts '.thc drunk
ell man says am not drunk Uhcy arc not all in
ebriaes, trust, who say su,) he houId not re-
collect that it is only the insane Who iaks all be-
rcit of reason but himself Will MIR A allow me
to remind him Of another fact-thut no man can
be sure of the imPractcab!!ity of plan, not in it.
sell absurd, until ii is fnrly tried; and also that
IL is very easy TO believe whut we vsh TO bo truc.
especially when such belief, however disastrous in
Its consequences, will practically relieve us from
exeriion, scltdcnial and temporary Inconvenience
mere are other points in Mr. AS letter, to
which hope you will do Justice; and close. mere.
iy renarking that am not sorry for the rod that
he holds up to Editors, to cvacc once his to!era
tom, md to prove their Independent spirit.
BETA