Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-28

present aud prospective emancipation. They in.
volvc the violation of private right, ond the
same unwarranted assumption of legislative pow
or. They equally beyond tho resources Of our
Treasury, equally dangerous to the safety, and !
equally ruinOus to the prosperity Of Eastern Viz. !
gnia.
With these views of the utter hopelcssnoss of
the attempt, VIC have marked the progress Of tho
late discussion in the House of Delegates, with
equal astonshmcut and sorrow. The wisdom of
past times considered this subject fit only for Sc
crct dchbcrLtiun, and of far too delicate and dan
gcrous character, to be- openly debated Public
opinion throughout Virginia has sustained the Le
gl>iuturo in this cautious course. When WAS that
opinion changed We have seen no evidence oci
any change whatever. We Goubt not that the
shock which VIC have felt at this striking di,rc
spcct to public opinion, and this bold and unprc-
ccdentcd attempt TO dictdte to, instead of obevino
public Union, has been felt with equal fore.
throughout the Commonwealth. fla course this
Kind could, at any time, be justified or palla.cd
common prudence should have taught Performances
on the late occasion. In August, thorc is an in
surrectIon among the slaves, marked at evcry steu
10y atrocIous and unSparing massacre. In Janu
AIRY following, IT is openly debated in tho Lcpisla
turc, whether this very circumstance does not rem
dcr necessary Il universal emancipation OF the
slaves! An invitation, thus dirnct, to repetition
oi The southampton horrors, and coming, too from
such high authority, will scarcely be misundcr
stood by those to whom it is addressed. The oc
caSlOn was peculiarly ill chosen in other rcspsc,s
fanaticISm, both III religion and politics, has been
and still is busy, in other quarters in striking NJ
the peace and safety of the Southern States, bv
disseminating false and impractical notions Great
my discomfort, and exciting an insurrcctionary
spirit among the slaves. Tho force of public OBI.
mon and the vigilance of the public authorities have
heretofore kept these attempts within bounds.
But this shield of defence is now taken AWAY from
us. In the Legislature of Virginia, and under the
high responsibility of that trust, doctrines have
ncen nyowed, as unsuitcd to our condition, as in
ualhmatory and as dangerous as any against which
'"@ universal voice was wont to be raised, when
coming from other quarters. When VIC again COM
pam OF mcendlary publications, of nccndiary
preaching, and of the long train of nsidiows prac-
,lces against our peace and safety, which have
heretofore united us in one common feeling of re-
sentiment and Indignation, we may prepare to be
siIenccd by tho extraordinary truth, that the cx-
ample has been given in councils. These
are but part of the considerations which should
nave induced the Legislature to wait, with modest
respect, for farther developments Of public opin
ION, before they venturcd to break the seal which
P"0lic OPINION most wisely imposed, and which Il
cautious prudence has guarded fer fifty years.
III is not the least of the evils Of this ecedent
ed debate that it has removed all restraint from tho
pubic press. We know tho value of Il free press
ana would guard its freedom as the strongest OF
our own safeguards. But we also know its power
and we fear it, the most successful engine of
mischief, when indiscrcctly employed. The cond-
lon OF our slave population is felt with inten 50
interest, by all the people of Virginia; il has long
oecn subject Of deep reflection among them, in
all Its bearings and relations. They do no, need
10 DE- STIMULATED TO any safe excrtion by exciting
paragraphs nor have they yet asked To be instruct
GU III their course, by any form of public discus
sion whatever! Upon subjects of this sort, the
ProSS should be the echo of public opinion, but
should not attempt to lead it. We believe that the
Richmond Enquirer and Constitutional Whig have
not been duly mindful of this truth. Those pa
Pers arc read by all classes and descriptions
OF people throughout Virginia, and necessarily
, exert powerful influence over the public mind.
lhey also circulate extensively in other States
where they are received as tho organs of
pubic opinion here. 1t bchoves them, therefore
10 DC extremely cautious how they admit into
theIr columns, articles of questionable tendency
or such as may mlslcad public opinion abroad i'm
regard to the sentiments and intentions of Virgil |
Ia upon this delicate subject We believe that |
those sentiments and intentions have not been ex |
pressed IN the Legislative debate and still less, in
the commentaries upon that debate in which the
public press has so freely INDUCED 1t was the
duty OF leading journals to set example of more
crcumspectlon and reserve upon this subject We
DO not doubt the sincerity nor the patriotism of
the Journals i'll question, but we believe that the |
course they have taken and still pursuing is UNI
wise and ndiscrset, and pcrous in the highest de-
gree, and such as justly exposes them to public
rebuke. The Enquirer demands particul ar ami
nadVcrsion, since that paper, although sustained
Tor more than twenty years by the almost unani.
nous support of the people of Eastern VIRGINIA |
mas now, for the second time, and great occa- !
SION, taken decided stand against their opinions
and feelings.
We have no apprehension of an instruction
among our slaves. They are, for the most Part, |
well disposed, orderly, and would be contented if |
let alone They are, at all events, too well in |
formed OF their own comparative weakness, to |
hazard the fatal consequences to themselves which
would attend any such attempt. But we do not,
on this account, the less dcplore q course of pro
cecdIng on the part of the Legislature and the pub
TIC pross, calculated to excite in them, unfounded
hopes, to render them dissatisfied with their con-
dItIon, to give them false ideas of their power |
and to excite them to insurrcctionary movements
when could serve only to strengthen their own |
bonds and aggrayats the evils of their condition.
we believe that the occasion imperiously de- |
mands pablo expression of opinion on the part
81 the people. The consequences may be fatal to
themselves, If their silence shall be construed into
IN approval of the villa doctrines recently avow. |
I'd, or of tho indiscrcet and dangerous course of
public measures, in reference to this subject
when public agents suffer themselves to forget tho |
source of their power, it is time for the people to
speak, and to speak in language too distinct and
strong to be misunderstood We, therefore,
invite our fellow citizens in other parts of tho |
state, and particularly in the slave-holdng coun-
les TO meet together, and by an open expression
81 opinion prescribe the course of future measures
n regard to this subject.