Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-23

against risking all his future hopes the only,
confess the sad alternative, Involuntary and ctcr
nal cNc--trom whatl from friends and children,
and wife and sacred bomC7-no, all these go with
him. But from disgrace, humiliation, distress and
despair, and country that neither is, ever can
De l." li'n, home, or resting place. They who
Talk OF their happy condition here seem to ne to
know but little OF Their situation, anu moreover To
make very light, and erroneous estimate, of the
blessings OF political security and freedom: with
":t these, life would appear 4" ma of little value.
Bu, this is amongst the ills a;cndin" their condi-
tion; not the worst: they arc degraded, diShonorcd
rrci ricvahlytimc has nothing I" console them: in
all the Unreasonable cxpansc of tho future there
is no promise, no hope of Il better conditions; but
their wrctchcd fortune, holds out for contcrpla
ton nothing but more intense, more bitter, and
more hopeless misery. NJ heart would bleed to
know that some ot them to he compelled to
leave the country; they, would mistake me very
Eiuch, wh" supposed that was influenced by any
unkind tccn, towards thCSr people: far from n :.
believe the measure to b, not justified ONLY, but
prescribed Ivy the best humanity, and sountcst poll
cv. We have hccu asked I" put the to our
selves. l have dome Would 1 rather leave
dIshonor, acknowledgements, hopeless sense of
everlasting inf"riorjtv, the daily spectacle of NV
fellow in the most a'lcct bondagc; all hope of
ever rsin" that my To the end of time should
ever rise even To respectable standing in society
a voluntary rNo and wonderrr upon the earth, in
Tue hope at finding, or maxim. better and hap.
pier state of eJiStcncc; remain i'm Il coun, nv
where should he condemned to all these things
and worse! | answer yes; and if my spirit should
have been degraded nd dcbascd as to make any
other choice, but To fly from such nh accumulation
OF dshonor and misery, l am worthy to 10 mad.
to do by compulsion what l declined to do by
choice. Does any ono who has reflected upoI
the subject, doubt that tho condition of the rae &C
Will be improved; that they will gain many, a
great many advantages, without any sacrifice, OK
ccpt IN the change of place. They gain a climate
more c"ngcnial--they gain absolute freedom
which they very far from enjoying herc--,licy
gain equality Of rights and equality of condi
ton, that is political, civil and social cGuali
~; they gain exemption fiom the degrading sense
OF the white mans superiority, and from (what
=, know to be conmun) his oppression and in
bondage; they gain what wo all consider a
tho privilege OF office, with all its appendages. In
short, they exchange condition in a moral point
of view, little better than slavery in Il physical
aspect absolutely worse; for the condition Of free
and independent citizens of a free and indie.
pendent Common wealth. Why, then, dissuadc
them from choice much Gas seems to I'M }
for their benefit. and certainly nothing tho
less for being of tho greatest possible advan.
age TO tho whites. l am aware that there
are many respectable individuals amongst the free
blacks. II necessary. allow some discretion on the
SUBJECT; cndcavor to establish the rule and Lex
TO others TO point ont tho exceptions. Don't in
stIi prcJudccs int"' he minds of these people, Give
:hcm information the subject, and leave then
tree to choose exile, il inclined To do so. ask
1t for the love of humanity.
a BACKWOODSMAN.