Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-13
Ttae eSa~'eaesbDgnta SVseEGe
CONE fy2J NECA'Tat3ES.
l''oD Tur WING.


To the Pco,'r cf lie Senatorial District composed
IF Taif:r md Ncchicnburc Counties.
FnI,.ow. Cirzr>s: In assuming myself tho
task of addressing you, upon the much agtatod
subject of the slaves il is certain that shall bring
upon myself the dsploosurc of the Editor OF the
Enquirer ond Ills enancipa'ng corrcsrondcnts.-
Slavery has existed in Government from lis orr
GIN and has never boon considered by myself so
horrible or Inconsistent with Republican ns;itu-
tinns some gcnt!GWon i'm inc, and lily the
Editor of the Enquirer. My purpose, however, is
mcddlc with the abstract question of slavery
but with the notions OF gentlemen about the cman-
ciPation of our slaves. All sane men admit that,
for want of means, il is utterly impractcablc to
effect any safe scheme Of emancipation. 1t is, too
generally known To the slave population of Virgil
MA that, owing to the late inSurr"ctiyn in the
~ OF southampton. efforts making to commence
gradual system of cmnncipatiou; which cannot,
by admission all hands, take effect by any act
@! the present Legislature; that the agitation Of
that question can only have 4 tendency To stimu-
late the blacks to fresh acts Of violence, with the
hope of obtaining their freedom by exciting the
fears oe the tmid, and hy the aid oil modern philan-
throri&ts.
/ consider Editors Of newspapers advising any
change in tho relations between master and slave,
dangerous TO the community, and must necessarily
have the effect OF exciting bad feelings among tho
slaves If nothing viii be done, the Editors
OF the Enquirer appear think, why agi,atc tho
ruhjccU Not that any good is to grow ont of il. FOR
l think it must be apparent to all that it will
have different effect. Tho Editors of the Enqui-
no fanatics"-the drunken man SAYS, II am Eot
drunk" The main object of my address is to call
your attention, and | hope the attention Of East
orn Virginia, to the course ot the Enquirer upon
tho subject of slavery; and if, like &c, you and
they, disapprovc of their nterncddiing with what
belongs TO others, suggest that meetings be held
to take into consideration the prorre'y Of discon-
finuing the Of that paper, the only ciicctual
means of making them feel your Misrepresentation of
their untimcly Interference with question which
20 vitality concerns the peace and happiness of
Eastern Virginia. The STAKEHOLDER asks only to
be let alone, by those who have not property in
common with them --fanatcs northern & domestic
modern phanthropiSts. AS individuals, am more
pleased with the Editors OF the Euqurcr than
otherwise, and have always agreed with thcm in
their federal politics. but they, like most Of tn,
Edit ors, like to find out how the current SETS aud
they, no douSt, think the wind cow blows west
wardy, have trimmed their sails accordingly,
with the hope of entering harbour Of safe
ty; but when it is too late, they viii find
The Western ports tcmpcstuous ard unsafe
moorings for their trail bark, that they
will either be wrecked there, founder on their
turn passage 20 the East
1t is with reluctance that have addressed You
upon this delicate subject and should OF have donc
so, but for tho discussion of it in the Enquirer;
knowing, | do, the injurious effect it must ne
ccssarily have upon our property
Your fellow citizen,
NAViIL ALEXANDER.