Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-02-04

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and regain has liberty 1he ean 1t was an obsery alton
OF the gentleman who opened the debate on the side Of
abolition, in enuneratng the evils of slavery, that the
slaves will DC ready 10 flock TO the standard invad
sing whenever he may be disposed to tempt them TO il
by holding to them the strongest temptation which
can ever be presented TO the human mind namely the
possession OF liberty; and that we may often have
enemies, who will not be too magnanimous TO avail
themselves OF advantages which them nothing -
Now ask any man, who has heard or read these de-
bates IN the House OF Delegates whether if public enc.
my were landed shores, and he should issue ma
nesto With design TO bring slaves his standard and
10 arm them against there is single topic which
might be expected to be found in such manifesto suited
TO seducc and name their minds that might not be ex
tracted from the speeches favor of abolition. We MIGHT
indeed expect them from public enemy; but we never
fellow citizens. w
delivered in the House Of Delegates with all parliament
tary soemny so as to make the deepest and most cencr
al Impression; and that they have been spoken, and writ
ten out TO be printed and published i'm this city of Rich
mond the place OF all others, where their influence is
most hkey to take effect the minds of the blacks and
ospread. WE'LL therefore, has this discussion been de-
sciibed as "mraculous But the miracle is a menace of
evil not promise OF good l am very far from suspect
ing Qt did suspect it, would say i that the authors of
ese speeches, any among them has the least de-
sign TO incc scrvile rebellion: but looking 10 the effects of
causes put into action, do say that Through our supne
ness and utter exemption from those fears that have been
imputed to us, such an instruction shall break ont will
nc owing not TO the halucinations mposture of anot
er Nat Turner, nor to the scdous practices of negro
preachers, to the Vaccinations of the con
venon oil free blacks in Philadelphia nor TO the
on oil the incendiary writings Of The Liberator or The
yr1ean Sentinel or The Genius Of Universal E,nan-
edhon-but to measures proposed and speeches de-
vercd, in our Legislature published and
by our own public journals BY of these indeed we
nave been comorted with the assurance "That the intel
hence OF the slaves has long ago reached the point to
which the fears of Imagined this discussion would
conduct it, They have learn those abstract
theories which teach the universal equality of man and
his rights but the extent of intelligence informs
them oil the impossible, the worse than homeless expec
@uo'' OF engaging In successful struggle for their
IL inntl,,r
son to DO convnced but passions to be inamcd Is
inc business OF this opinion approved by the success of
Nat % imposturc ON his gang! Orhas this improve
meh oil slave intelligence this perfection of stocal phi
osophy taken place in the interval that has elapsed since
the southampton nsurrecton' Let rely upon such
assurances as these, aud neglect aop for ourselves
since tho Legislature will adopt for us those ammo
pirate measures OF vigilance and precauton which, and
our slaves, and tho security of our homes
The evils of slavery have been displayed in this debate
WIN eh emulation OF eoquence most ill-timed at any
rate IL not considering actual condition. and while
yet no plan oil ddance has been settled and the question
Is whether any such plan is easble) unwise il-iuged
ana Perncious In the extreme; and my opinion those
nave oeeh exaggerated, too, in manner which sober
reason must forever condemn The subject is too large
Tor tins paper; neither is il necessary TO nv that
II should be here discussed 1t appears to me- that the
real nature OF the evil has been very ndstnctv under
stood; while all the lls that flesh il heir IN pbys;cal
and moral evils that flow from thousand springs have
been ndiscminatey imputed to this single cause The
least calm observation would have reduced the black caa
ogue oil evils that has been exhibited bv tbe half or
more: the least exercise of would have found some
alienation in comparison of our condition for GOOD or
v WIN mat Oh other nations, and would certainly have
traced many oil the evils complained of az intestine our
society," to other parenage. Forexampe: myself he ard
usuy to the existence of savery-for as he ngcnious
y argued, the save-h holder obtains credit and contrac
ae5's upon the faith OF the slave property he holds;
ana when Judgments recovered against the poor debtor
and he has to raise the money or 90 to Jail tben comes
the Papershaver and kindly profers the money at thru
three and third per cent? and .stie very fact that we
4.
y sSSeesg icanns ny a'egs sassssy ae poo
mon honesy-'sis proof of the recessifv OF a chonSe
Of our condition." 1t was not perceived that tho ar1
concludes, NOT mat slave property only but that all
properly upon inc faith OF which may obtain credit il
an evil and ought TO be abogatcd. And most conscien
uousy believe that the day is not far distant when d.
rec attack VIII be made upon the very principle of pro-
pery-ln these debates also, general Decentralization of
the master has been represented as the necessary
ana lseparaoe effect OF the existence of slavery and
accordhgy ignorance in the great body of the peope'
throughout the whole holding country-idleness
dissipation, sensual indulgence enervation vice-Ixurv
which empts "the epicure the groaning tables of the
palace, TO banquet and de''-whatever in short ;s
most degrading TO the national character of communtv
mas neeh imputed TO us, with bodness and insolence
which could not fail to kndle resentment if we were
scious OF single trait of likeness in this attempt At coco
lure. AS 10 the comparisons that have been made be-
tween NE people OF the New England States and those
VI e -hoding States, in respect Of the general
fusion OF education among Them rather the contrasts
which have been between their intelligence and our
Ignorance; shall not deny that elementary educaon
Is more generally dsed among the people of New Eng
land, and especially of Connecticut than i'm Viroina m
any oil the ehodng country perhaps any country
IN he world, not excepting the lowlans Of Scotland and
snail agree, that that kind of education is above ALL the
most truly, useful and valuable in a republican society:
Dut, apprehend the superiority of the New England
states over us in this particular attributable to far other
causes than the absence of domestic slavery there and the
existence OF here Toput the question fairly to the test
oil experience let the comparison be instituted between the
state OF intelligence of hc great body of the peope' of
and that of the great body of the peope' of
the holding counryor between he great BODY of
the people OF Wesern and the great body oithe people,
oil E0SfeT virginia This last comparison has been at
tempted and the result is a vast superiority of our Wcs
tern leow-citZens u.s. intelligence enterprise and
moral worth presume the result of all such COMPARISONS
would depend very much upon the pre- conceived opinions
oil those by whom they should be made The contest is
idle, IL not pernicious dsdain to defend the moral
character OF our society Deprivation of the manners and
morals oil the citizens OF state the necessary concomtan
or the consequence of the existence of domestic slavery
witness the republics OF Greece and Rome in their best
days Let common candour and justice give us credit for
virtues, and let malice make the drawback for our
vices still, this society of slave holding Virginia. and
doubt not that of all the slave holding country NAV cha
ienge comparison, for purity of and morals for
Kindness, generosity and honesty with any people under
the sun 1t is however, fair TO state, that gentleman
norm an Eastern PiTgnd, bears testimony against us
slave population exercises the perncious n-
ence on the manners habits and character of those among
whom 1t exists Lspfng infancy learns the vocabulary
OF abusive epithets and struts the ebyvo rant of its
little domain. The consciousness of supeyor destinv
takes possession OF his mind its earliest dayning and
" love OF power and rule grows with his growth and
strengthens with his strength When in the sublime
lessons OF Christianity, he is taught TO do unto others rs
he UOd hare others do unto him he never dreams that
the degraded negro is within the pale Of that holy ca
non Unless enabled TO rise above the operation of DOW
crul causes he enters the world with miserable notions
oil sellimportance and under the government Of an I'M
:" bridcd temper" ! afraid that too MANY Young men
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