Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-17

she could ever sink 10 so degrading state of de.
pcndcncc on the opinions OF any man, as to make
1t Important to tbs Concrol Assembly, what ho
might say or do | hopo the time has not vet
conc when prepared 10 acknowledge tho
existence of such state of things, by voting for
The 2vu'lcm0us resolution for such reason. 1t
may not lc Improper in me TO take this occasion
to remark, tha, although have always had n hiyh
personal regard for MIR. Richie, have almost in.
varably differed with him upon all political ques.
tons, and that have never hcsitatcd to censure
freely his political course 1t is but just that
should add, that regard the bold manly and intlc.
pcudan, manner in which he has vcnturcd to de-
clare his opinions upon the subject of slavery as
worthy Of ia" highest appreciation and admiration.
He has done act sufficient TO cover a multitude
of sins, and almost disposed to assert, that,
had lie been guilty of more faults than are record
cd in Heaven a.anst any man, living or dead
should lac prepared To forgive and forget them ALL
ia consideration Of the noble stand which he seems
To- have taken in the cause of Immunity. The only
other reason assigned in favor Of adopting this re-
solution is that much excitement has arisen in tho
county, from apprehension that we arc about
To Interfere with the rights Of private property. 1
should regret at all times the existence of any un
urccs airy excitement in the country, upon any sub
icct; but, sir. | confess j see no reason to lament
| that which may lave arisen the present orca
son. IL is often necessary that there should DO
some excitement among Tho people, to induce them
I" turn tier attention to questions deeply affect.
nsg their interests, and the welfare of the Common
wealth; ard there can arise any subject mora
worthy their attention than that OF the abolition Of
slavery.
as nothing has occurred since tho reference Of
the memorials the subject of emancipation to
your Commute, which III my opinion ought to in
ducc us to recall them, we must enquire into the
otiginal pr"prieiy of that reference. The memo.
MORALS referred from various parts Of the
state, signed by great numbers of our most re-
Specialize citizens, many of them deeply interest
ed IN that species of property which is to be affect
rd by tie adoption of system of emancipation
and all of them entitled to a respectful hearing
from TINS Assembly, upon any and every sub
IJect To have rejected their memorials without
a reference, would have been an insult to them,
aud tdntanouut tc denial of the right of the ci-
ttzcus OF this Cowmonw cath, TO be heard upon
questions in which they most deeply interest
/ sd. III was known too that vast majority of the
/ people OF this Commonwealth, looked to this pre-
sent General Assembly, to make some effort to de-
rive the means of removing the coored pupula-
+ ton from among IL was evident TO all, that
although iii times past, Owing to the apathy of
/ the human mind, to every dancer hut that which
is present and paplb!o) the evils and the dancers
arising from the continued existence CT slavery a.
mong us, had escaped the observation of ALL but
those who had devoted their attention TO that sub
Jcc; yet recent cv.n!s had opened the ewes of the
whole people to the magnitude of these evils and
/ TO the Imninence of the danger which is irnpend.
/ ing over them. And in my estimation, to have at
/ tempted under these circumstances to shrink from
Inc Investigation of this important subject, would
'''S 'N'li " inc dictates oil WISDOM and
| of prudence. IL is utterly impossible Sir for us
/ to avoid the consideration of this subject which
iorccs Itself upon our view, in such n manner that
we can not avoid IT. AS well might the Apostle
have attempted to close his eyes against the LIGHT
which sho'c upon him from heaven, or to have
( turned ii deaf ear TO the which reached him
from on high as for this Assembly to try to s,ie
Tie spirit OF enquiry which is abroad in this land
/ II" TO tEe Rest means of freeing the State, from
the curse of slavery. The monstrous conscauen
COS which arise from the existence of slavery have
become exposed to open day; the dangers arising
from 1t, stare us in the face, and it becomes us as
men, as trcemen, and the representatives of free
men, 30 meet and overcome them rather than to
attempt to escape, by evading them.
! Pcrinlt me now sir to direct your attention 10
some oil the EVIL consequences of Slavery by way of
Argument, IN favor of oar Eiaturcly celebrating on
the whole subject, and adopting some cfIicic,.t nea
Snres TO remove tie cause from which those evils
| SPRING In the first place L shall confinc nv re-
marks to such of those evils as affect the white no.
! Puiahon exclusively. And even in that point OF
VieW, think that slavery as it exists among US
i"ay DC regarded as the heaviest calamity which
/ iins ever bcitilen any portion of the human race
II we look back thro' the long of time which
I mas elapsed 'ron The creation tn the present mo-
hicH, we sha! scarcely be able to point out a peo-
! PIE whose situation not in many rcspects pre
ierahlc to our own, and thlt of the other, states
III winch negro slavery exists. True, sir we shall
see nations which have grounded under the woke of
dcspoiism Tor hundreds and thousands of wears
but the lndvd dllS composing those na.ions lave
enjoyed degree OF happiness, peace and freedom
lr"!h apprehension, which the holders of slaves
IN inns country can never know. True il is that
sinvery has existed almost from tho time of TIM
GeInge IN some form other in different paris of
me world but always, and every where, under less
GiSadvIhtageous circumstances than in this coun-
try. The Greeks & Romans had many slaves but
fortunately for them there was no difference in
complexion, which placed impossible barrier be-
tween the freeman and he slave, and prevented
them from hbcrating the latter, and raising him
TO an equality with the former. They exercised
an Ehii.hlteJ power over even the lives of their
slaves, and being under but little restraint from
principles OF humanity, they could guard apa;r.t
Danger, by putting part Of heir slaves to death
we appear TO be destined to see the evil constantly
increasing upon us, whilst rcstra incd upon
the one hand, from raising them to The cond;.
ton Of frcemen, by unconqucrabo preudices
against their complexion, and the other from
destroying them, by feelings of humanity, which
thank God are equally invincibe. But sir.
must proceed to point out some of tho most
prominent evils arising from tho existence of
slavery among us. And among these, tho first / |
snail mention, is the irresistible tendency which il
has, to undermine and destroy oyery thing Ike |
virtue and morality in the Community. [ think ! |
may safely assert, that ignorance is the nseparabe
companion OF slavery, and that the desire of free
dom IS the inevitable consequence of implantipg
IN The human mind any useful degree Of inteIli
gchcc 1t is therefore the policy OF the master that
inc ignorance OF his slaves shall be as profound as
possible And such state OF Ignorance is Who'll. |
iy incompatible with the existence Of any mor,1 |
Pfnciple or exalted feeling in the breast of the
slave. 1t renders him incapable of deciding be |
"ccn right and wrong, OF Judging of the cnorinjty
% CRIME, or of estimating the high satisfaction
which the performance Of an honorable act affords
10 moro intelligent beings. He is never actuated |