Southern planter., 1832-05-05
PROM TnE nosToN COURIER,
INcENpIARY PuBIlCATloNs.


ryto whom II was addressed
Gentlemen; To ono other object. or n general
character, connected With our domestic peace, and
eanng upon our political relations, will ask
moments attention. Composed as that socioiy is,
TO which we owe allegiance, of numerous classes,
each engaged in its own npropoT pursuit. experience
shows that We depend, for happiness, in a great
measure, on every ono keeping IN his own place.
and nihding his own business To attempt TO CON
found the elements Of society, is the work OF an in.
cendiay. The errors and impcriections Of the po-
tcal SYSTEM defects It's laws, and efforts for lis
Improvement, are proper subjects iof gave and do
cent discussion But society must no, suiIor the
passions ofnon 10 be It's legislators Irdefects cx.
isi in the political system, tho wisdom Of The sages
fthe State ought TO be put in rcquisilion 10 cE
feet their amendment 10 other hands, an unskill-
ful lFemcdy viii be apt TO increase the disease.
In this Commonwealth the great priuciple Of q
quality among the citizens exists legally a. practical
~ But we are one Of several States, united under
anational bond Ifndividuals, in private lie, must
use their liberty so rs not 10 do wrong 10 otIets,
surely each State, in the exercise and enjoyment Of
It's political rights, is bound TO respect those Of oy.
cry other State in the Union, and to do nothing, and
TO suffer nothing TO be done by its citizens to their
prejudice. While We expect this from their Justice,
we, on our part, are bound by the golden rule, to
We know that slavery exists in many of these
States-unhuppily entailed upon them by their an.
cestors, while thoy were colonies Of Great Britain.
Their eminent citizens and statcmen, psreeivinp,
with Just alarm, the growing evil, in all it's mapni-
tude have begun 10 consult for itsremoval Il can.
not be proper or lawful for those, who, are happlV
free from this great calamity 90 do any thing toadd
to its difficulty We ought rather as brethren Of
the same family, and bound TO cult dvate the ties Of
brotherhood, 10 aid them with our wisdom and be-
nevolence, and to encourage them 10 complete the
great work. But, whilst il is rccolsctcd that this
owl has boon rivttsd upon their society by course
Of ages II must not be forgotten that this will re,
quire much time to effect It's removal Violence may
greatly retard IT, but cannot expedite that dessabl,
event
Now, gentlemen, il is undoubtedly rdsdemeun
or, and indictable ne such AZ common law, for on,
70 attempt to persuade another to commit murder
robbery, perjury, or any other crime, whether suc
persuasion be verbal or written, and whether th
offence be perpetnted in consequence Of such PER
suasion or not. So II is misdemean or 10 attemp
10 commit any crime, where the unla wiul intent 4
manifested by an overt act which ind icates such in
tent II not material whether ule crime IS L
be perpetrated here; or in some other place
N sufo ont, if il he shown that the unlawful nion
existed here, aud that the decd which manifesto,
that intent was done in this country. To pubisl
paper here, with the intent To send II 20 anothei
State TO persuade one or more persons there 10 com
nit murder OF treason, the law reglEds as a libel O
peculiar atroeiiy, and no supposed freedom Of tn
press will screen the author or publisher from hl
penal consequence of the deed
In that country, from which wo drew our prnci
pies Jurisprudence, il is laid down by the biohes
judcial authority, that every publication which hn
a tendency TO promote public mischief whether b.
causing irritation in the minds Of the people, tha
may induce them 10 commit breach oft public
peace, or whether II be more public and specific
extending TO the morals the religion OF magisTac,
Of the couniry--is libel. Any publication which
tends to degrade revile and auIe persons in con
siderable situations Of power and dignity in forelgr
countries, is taken TO be and treated libel anC
particularly where il has tendency tointerrupt III,
pacific relations beiweenthe two countries 18th,
publication contains a plain aad manifest incile
ment and persuasion addressed to others, to assas
sinate and destroy the peBonii Ofsuch magistrates
as the tendency is TO interrupt the harmony of III,
two countries the libel ASSURES a still more Grimm
/ al intention
( Every good citizen must, ] think, wish that har
mony may subsist between US ard the citizens ol
all the other States. But how is this Union lonc
TO bepreserved fthose who enjoy its benefits, cher
ish towards each other mutual hairedY Ifpublicn.
tons which have direct tendency TO excite the
slave population Oi Otef STATES, 10 rise upOn theii
masters and to involve their families and property
in common destruction. are here published and
circulated freely, may not the citizens of those
States well imagine, that such publications are au-
ihorized by our laws7 Ifsuch publications were
justified and encouraged here, il would tend to
ALLEVIATE from each other the minds of those whose
best political happiness and safety consists IN pre-
serving m iis full strength the bond of the Union
Believing that the laws ofthis Commonwealth arc
not liable TO this reproach deem it my duty 10 ex-
press toycu, at this time, my opinion, that to publish
books, mphlets, newspapers, designed to be cir
culated here and in other States of the Union, ana
having direct and necessary tendency TO excite
IN the minds Of our own citizens deadly hatred and
hostility against their brethren Of other States, and
to stimulate the slave population there to rise a.
galnst their masters, and to effect by fire and sword
their emancipation, is an offence against the peace
! of this Commonwealth, and that It may he prose-
cuted as misdemeanor, atcommon law Il is said,
that pamphlets and papers Of such character have
been published in this city, and sent into the south
ern States, and that they have caused great alarm
and complaint there. II Cannot be denied that il
is Just cause both Of alarm aud complaint. Some
time since, pamphlet was put in my hands, the M.