Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-26

'la' no could cope with that number himSclt-
mat mounted on his chosen stccd his pale horse,
ana having, II may be, the additional advantage OF
personal reScmblincoto the great enemy oil us
alt. hc could drive them before linn as he pleased.
Depend upon il, sir, the time Will never come
"hcn interest or ucrctuty will not i0brcatc some
lrc'rxt TOR saying and believing that the "woc is
not yet" Avarlc, which is blind TO danger, will
see none so great as that OF losing its prey and
will ant with that when every thing else is rclin-
iuIshed-whcn time shall close up his volume -
The day OF doom be ushcrcd IN
"Whcn cdrth'S cities hare sound nor freud,
And shipS dr!ftiHg cith hc dead,
/ To shores ,rh"ye al IS Gwm6."
IT rs not for u.s. however, who are Tic constituted
guardians al the safety and happiness of the people
/ To compromise with DANGER winch we know to
| cHi*t-whch we know to he sprcadIng--whicIi
we know to loo porcntous OF disaster; ia not for
us To compromise with II because 1t proceeds from
"hJoc,s OF profit and 10 argue and TO doubt about
acting 1t until the necessity for acting be
nouuccd Ia us, in coniagrati"n and murder. 4
necessity for acting. short of this indeed, but
verthcIess, necessity exists now, unless
prepared to surrender every hope of Legislative
! mcdy and patiently commit ourselves to the issues
| of couvusion. We must begin or take the alter.
native: the choice j. between them.
! We have been told in the course Of this debate
frequently told, that the attachment ofthe slave 10
, ms owner is common that, III numerous instances,
| IT is warm and devoted, and the fact has been
urged in apprehension of the idea that he cared FOR
his freedom. The fact is undoubtedly true and il
- one of honorable import tn the the humane
l'y Of people, But although true it
is only in particular instancGs--thc instan
ccs themselves anomalous; they arc out of
the ordinlry coarse OF human naturc--iu
contradiction Of it's strongest passions-its LEADING
principles and chiefly noticeable for their novelty
Were we TO assume isolated instances Of this
KIND as instances upon which it would be lust TO
construct a system of laws for the government
and condition of tho slave our legislation would
DO nuhty; it would provide for the units of that
population out let the mass of it escape. If, how
over, tho fact in this case be broad as il has bccn
stated and the inference from it-that freedom 10
no boon which is desired by the slavc-bc lust why
them ccnsurc our debates upon this subject WHY
ccnsurc US for holding out to the slave an unat-
taInahic obcct-tOr exciting impracticahlc homes
tor stimulating daring and ncendiary attempts
to accomplish them? One or the other of these
Judgments upon the temper and the wishes of the
slave must be mistaken; being contrary they can
not both be true, but rs both have furnished Sc
paratc grodnd of argument against us from ono
at least. of these arguments we should be hpld IS
fairly discharged.
as to the idea thc, the slave in any consiicra-
bic number of cases. can be so attached to his
master ana liiS Scrvitudc to he Indifferent TO
freedom, it is wholly uunltural-rc;cctcd bv the
conscious testimony of every mans heart and by
inc written testimony of the worlds experience.
me truth is, sir, that although there are spc-
cal cases OF slaves who willing TO forcmo tho
benefits of complete freedom for certain other he
hcits which they enjoy under mammal slavery
Yet the cases from their very nature must be lnii
tcd-,hey can extend only to favored few and
they furnish no authority for decision rpon
the conduct of others. Take the slave in his rc-
neral relation to ourselves, and You cannot regard
nm otherwise than manipulating the ca
pacitcs and rcScntmcnts of man, both indeed re-
pressed bat both existing. Here, at least, in our
country, he is not spurned from this distinction:
! humanity admits him as Il nlcnbcr-soilcd in
hIs character and degraded in his fortunes though
nc ':u ne yet stu member of a common and
still entitled, as SUCH to sympathy and kind.
ness This sentiment tells upon his condition here:
yon read 1t Ill his dwelling, Won read il in his
hcaith You read it in the quantum of his labor-in
the manifold personal privileges which he enjoys
1t is true sir, 10 the letter, what gentlemen have
frequently declared, that there is no laborin pco
santry III any other part of the world who i'm all
external respects, arc better situated than our
savc-who suffer less from want-who suffer less
from hardshIp-who struggle less under the tolls of
lie or who have a fuller supply of the comforts
which mere physical nature demands In all these
respects he shares in the cquaizing and bcnignant
| spirit OF our institutions and age. He is not
The victim of cruclty-rarcly, if ever of oDprcss-
Ion--is governed by authority, which year af.
! ter year is abang of its harshncss and is admit
ted to every privilege which the deprivation of his
| liberty can allow
But, sir IT is in this very circumstances; in this
aievlatcd and improved condition, that we have 4
principal cause of apprehension from the slave
on RAISE his intelligence with his condition-and
as lie better understands his position in the world
| iiS "'Ao man, III IL Gld not the lntlame his
aiScontcht. lhat 1t has this effect we all know
| Tor the truth is provcrbai that Il slave is the
more unhappy as he is the more INDUCED. He
could not be otherwise he follows bat the impulse
! OF human nature in being Introduce him
step after step into the cnioymcnts of that estate
from which he has fallen and vet proclaim to him
mat he IL never to regain it and his heart rejects
every favour but the favour which is. denied As
you benefit his external condition, them you do not
better INN as slave but with feelings of increased
intellect md
increase, both his disposition and his capacity for
the purposes of resentment. Depend upon
1t, sir, that he will use his capacity for siIch
pHrPoscs--that the state of things which we
boast OF as the evidence of our humanity
is not the state of things to he trusted
m Let gentlemen look to the clothed and
comfoi and privileged condition of their slaves
and please themselves with it rs an achievement
OF Kindncss'-but sec to it, sir, lift be mask of
nlischicf-a covering which hides from the eve
the iirc OF future cNplosion.-Iift up the con.
dltioh oil the slave and you bring him in nearer
contact with the liberty he has lost; YOU decpcn
upon his heart,-rrcvocably dccpen-thc image
! OF that IDOL of which man is every where tbc wor
! shipper. And is this safo7 Or think you that no
sucn consequence occurs-that the slave crawIino
III the DUST has none Of the generous feclings of \
man-regards not and worshps not the liberty
Wnch stirs inc blood and awakens the enthusiasm
OF inc ifccl III might indeed be So had not the love
OF liberty come to us with life and made up n part
| oil It's charter Sir you may place the slave where
you PicaSc-you may Cypress him as Won please
you may dry up, to your uttermost the fountains
OF MS iccllng, the springs of his thought-you
! may close upon his mind every aycnuc of know,
ledge and cloud il over with artificial ninbtvor
| may yoke him to your labors as the OK which liv
Gun only TO work and wor<cth only to livc-you
| may put MN unGtr any process which, without
destroying his value as a slave win dcbosc ,rd
crush MN as Il rational bcing-you may do This
ana the idea that nc born to he free will chr
viYc 1t all. 1t is allied o his hope of Immortality