Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-05-04
COMMUNICATIONS.

fellow citizen not only born AMONGST vou but whose
Tor several generations have claimed Virginia
Tor helr birthplace asks leave address you
ateiy, on subject far the important ever submitted
10 your consideration since the days of the Revolution
No foreign blood mngles i'm his veins no alien fee dis
tract his attachment TO her Interests He looks forward
with confidence TO ending his days among you and TO
e pleasing hope oil commnging his ashes with those
ms children, in the land of his nativity He can saw fur
her and it is vain profession that his attachments OK
tend 10 the whole territory the State from North 10
SOUTH from East TO West; spot is the object of one I'M
lively regard.
In the views shall take of that momento,s subject.
slavery may be wrong but if of judg
nen not the result OF passion the Of regard
the best Interests of the State at large shall address 70
you no argument founded mawkish sensiblity on the
one hand; upon the other, on miserable selishness
pricing individual and indulgence above every con-
sieration OF public good In the late Debate i'm the II
oil Delegates, disapprove a many things both sides
cannot justify slavery in the abstract, nor think il
blessing TO any community. do believe, as class
our slaves well of the class of white abore i'm
the holding States of this Union; will draw
from inc iact That wealth always has been able and ALWAYS
will be able purchase by remuneration the voluntary
labor OF the poor the inference that slavery has always
existed, and must always continue This opinon do
an who work Tor hire into equality with slaves Who
indeed can escape the mputaiion' The Physician the
Lawyer the Divine, in fact all who derive their sbss
ehce from personal exerion, may be thrown into the
same class, and the whole community degraded 10 The
level and character of slaves except some favored few
VINO deriving their income solely from stated means en-
rch society only by spending. On the other hand can
not deny 10 masters the complete right of property i'm their
slaves would have the question of emancnation is
GuSseu on inc ground oil natural rights, calculated TO
discontent the slave HIMSELF and involve us In the dan
gers and horrors Of scrvile war No; consider s,vcry
me most tremendous evil free people ever endured
amongst them, justified only by that strongest of argu
mens-necesSy. Does this necessity still exist or rather
do not circumstances still stronger necessity If
graduating or at least mitigating, the ev Letus then
take calm view of this subject not so as TO render G
slave disconnected with the lot God has assigned him I'm,
10 trace its operation the whites and see whether no
not essential to the public welfare that this evil should be
IN han
devised 10 efiectuae that object
Iut hero am met at the very hreshhod with nm o
PreJadice; deep-seated sensitveness the dangers
wch may result from the discussion of this awful This
question. i admit these dangers and NAV
be asked why then do you discuss III Because these vey
dangers show the extent Of the evil and the necessty
Of removing it, Because the evil il growing ,non ~
daily and never can be considered with less danger Than
present. as our relative strength will probably be
sreaeI unless something is done relieve u.s. and there
Ore II we have not determined quiet unrcsisng sub
mission to our fate the present is the best time both for
discussion ana action Besides, believe there no evil
nora' or POLITICAL which men may not correct if they
'aYa COURAGE to ~.~.;', s.~oost IN rcrovo Il
me obvious and necessary effect of slavery is 10 alb
ORD 'e Whoe labor OF the community, falling within
he capacity of the slaves II first occupies nil The a
'uurai labor oil the country and preclues the lhor;n
White man from employment there AS the master 6nI
hse possessed OF more labor than he
use on his farm, bis slaves are instructed in various
radeS until at last the laborng man. possessed of land
lhdhg every channel OF employment closed to him every
source oil susicnancc for his family pre- s con-
'eed TO seek some fortunate land whore the means
u acquiring MS daily bread denied him. or TO lin
ger III misery and want about the place of his nativity the
bones oil his ancestors, and the of his Lovhoo
system extends i'scIt the tcnany, and finally the
small ireeholders must be removed TO rive efc3c, 10
me surplus labor oil the extensive slave holder until final
~ the whole society is composed of masters overseer
traders, professional men, and slaves
Not content with excluding white labor from tho Ind
slavery presses ITS competition TO waters; and every
one must have Observed that now probably eiahttan
oil our internal commerce is carried OH by slaves HAVING
sometimes even black commanders TO our coas,in vessels
oil improving his condition, SUPPLYING his wants DO
prve MN OF this by deprvng him of the means of using
H. ana you condemn him TO a state of rreevabIe ,nj
hopeless misery Strange is the situation of our coumu
MY IN Eastern Virginia, where more Than ono half p
reputation IS horn TO absolute slavery and fully half the
otner with little but their compile xion to console them for
being born in higher caste. How far a system Which
precdes numerous and valuable class our free cit
lens, from the of subsistence and exiles tbcu
rom me ad OF Their fathers that another portion NAV be
enabled TO build their prosperity broader basis is CON
SS'e win That form of government which puruorts In
protect equally the interests and happiness of all Is for
YOU leow-ci'ilens, TO determine There one cons
dcraton however, which, with my attachments to Vir-
Sm' and my indspositon to remove, does, confess
deeply affect me. None, even the most wealthy can
nave any assurance that poverty NAV not he the LOT r
their children and grand children if not of themselves If
men, there be possibility of removing it, should we per-
mt inc continuance OF a system, where poverty is misc
ry interminabe butby exile without perhaps the means
OF rendering this last and only hope available?
ot'er eloct OF slavery nearly allied TO this, il the
want oil diversity of employment desirable i'm com
munlty Agriculture and the professions internal com
merce and traffic, almost the only pursuits in which
young man, above the condition of laborer can now on
gage In the FIRST, our sysem requires territory and
capital, sufficient in other countries to settle and most
respectfully support hall dozen families Every parent
win family OF sons, feels the difficulty of finding for
mem proper empoyments, and frequently is his heart
wring with anguish, when convinced of be ueces, or
that separation, which slavery by compelling his children
TO seek situations favorable enterprise in fact
forces upon them. How many bitter pangs might be
saved him, ii we had amongst manufacturers nayiea
ion an| commerce. and that diversity of avocaon result
ing IN non slave-hodng States, from the rnultipeyans
OF society! consider slavery, therefore, unjust TO our
orcuFeh' our chndren, and ourselves. CiYIS.
PROCEEDINGS IN ESSEN
At large and respectable meeting of the citizens Of Es-
SEX held at their Court House, the day of their cleo
ton OF member TO the Assembly, (Which meeting was
advertised at March Court) TO take into consideration tho
proceedings Of last Legislature in regard to Slaves
and Free Negroes, well the course pursued by
raj OF our Public Journals in relation the same Doct
Austin Brockenbough being called to the Chair and Geo
Wright appointed Secretary, metion the following gen
tlemen were appointed by the Chair to prepare prcam-
BILE and resolutions expressing the Of The meeting in
reference TO the objects for which convened to wit
James NJ. Garneu, David Pitts, John IT. Upshaw James