Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-07-26


county, and sold, TO be carried out of the
state, and that the proceeds, after defraying
the expenses of the safe, shall be paid to the
persons TO whom such slave or slaves belong,
ed. The passage of such an act would en-
sure the gradual abolition of slavery in this
part OF the state; and il appears to me is liza
Die to fewer objections than any plan which
has been heretofore proposed. The slaves
now in existence, and who are not fit to en-
Joy freedom, will remain in possession OF their
owners, and that class of our citizens who
from habit, cannot well dispense with the
services of slaves, will still be able TO com
mand their services, and the next generation
will be taught 10 dispense with them. The
owners OF after born slaves will receive a full
compensation for their services for the tiou
bic and expense IN raising them, by the time
they arrive at the age of twentysone years;
they will also be at liberty TO remove them TO
another state, or to sell them TO he carried a.
way, which they will have fair opportunity
OF DONG TO the best advantage, before the
slaves arrive at the age proposed. Ii the
slaves are not sold by that time, they viii
then be seized and sold to be carried out of
the state, aud The proceeds paid over TO the
owner.
In this way this whole section Of the state
will be entirely dreamed OF It's slave popula-
ton IN less than fifty years. without any ex
pense to the state, or TO individuals There
will be no violation of, or interference with,
the right Of private property, except what
the good OF the community requires, and
such as IS authorised by our existing laws in
cases of much slighter necessity Our exis.
ting laws authorize the seiZing of private pro.
perry in all cases for public uses upon com
hatp aAa ia fhn in 10
ton to roads, canals, slaves condemned to
be hung, &c. The great, and by far the
most weighty objection which has been urg-
ed against all the schemes heretofore propos-
ed for the abolition of slavery, VIZ: their in
reference with the rights OF individuals, does
not apply with any force against this plan.
The whole number of slaves in Western
Virginia, according to the last census, is "a
bout $4,000: their annual increase at D. per
cent. will be 1850. For this small number
o. slaves a market can FeaJlly be found IN the
neighbouring states, aud considerable sum
Of money will in that way be brought among
US every year.
am aware that NJ ny of you may be dis
posed to object TO the plan have proposed,
because il only provides Tor the reniorat and
not for the emancipation VI the slaves. But
It must be recoilectea thai ii has The advan-
tage OF being practicable, and no scheme for
emancipation, which has been suggested, ap
pears TO ne to be SO 20 every scheme of
emancipation, all the objections IN relation to
interfering with private property, and the
great difficulty and expense 81 disposihg ct
The slaves when enancipated, viii be urged
with overwhelming effect 1T mast also be
observed that the plan now recommended
does not prohibit the master from emanc,pa-
he. Ia. "A,
ana tits my confident expectation that thou
sands Of them will be liberated and SO eduea-
ted, as TO fit them for the enjoyment Of hber-
ty--and furnished with the nicsas Of remov-
ing to country Of their own by oar benevo-
lent citizens Ii is by no means my wish 10
prevent or retasd the great work oi emanci-
patton ny the plan have proposed. Nhe.
Their the slaves shah be sold or set free, how
ever, is matter winch w,A be, ard which
ought TO tie. left entirely to the conscience of
the owner, and be, and he alone, wall be ac-
coantabe 10 his Creator (as IN all other mat
tiers Of conscence,) fer the course he may
pursue. have no doubt if this scheme is a.
dopted, that many will be liberated, many
persons will remove and carry their slaves
with them to the South; aud iuany viii he
sold before they arrive TO the age oi II years,
80 that in ioss than twenty years there viii
not be half as maay slaves IN Western V,r-
b!na, as there are at present.
You viii perceive that have confined my
remarks exclusively TO the proposition Of get
Ting rid of the slaves in Western Virginia;
and have said nothing as TO the practIcablli'
ty of removing them from the state. have
done so because | am disposed TO think such
a measure will meet with great opposition
from the Eastern people and because that
matter has already been pretty freely discus
scd both in the legislature and in the public
prints. The object OF this address is 70 show
how easy il viii be 90 get rid Of all the slaves
in Western Virginia, ia which ! would fam
hope have succeeded Let ue then, make
united and powerful effort, to effect this
most desirable object. II is good and glo-
rous caase, IN which all mcn, of all proies-
sions and caGl'ngs, may engage, with the at
most proprieiy. Let the whole people OF the
West axe one united call upon the Legs
lature, 10 pass such an act as will speedily
relieve Us fron the heavy curse of Slavery
and success must ultimately crown the effort
We should not do the Legislature the injus-
tee to suppose that they will be guilty OF the
inhuman barbarity Of refusing TO pass such
an act, which can only affect the interests OF
those who call for it, Should they do so,
however, il will then be time enough TO de-
termine what further measures 1t viii be ne
necessary for US TO adopt IN order 10 assert
our rights. ID Citizen " lie pa1ey.
To fLe GeReYai Assembly of Tirginis.