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


passed prohibiting the introduction Of slaves
into that part Of the state lying west OF the
Blue Ridge, and providing for the gradual
abolition of slavery iH that part of the state,
will shortly be distributed through all the
Western counties, in order that II may be
subscribed by all those who are opposed TO
slavery. This will afford you favorable CD
portunity, which it is hoped none of you viii
neglect, Of making yonr feelings and wishes
known in relation to deeply interesting sub
ject. And II II shall be ascertaiDed, as ii is
hoped it will be, that you are unanimous, or
nearly so, in favor of abolition, IL will free
this section OF the state from any share in the
odium which rs attached TO the whole COM
monwealth, in the estimation Of foreigners,
as a community in which slavery is allowed,
through choice rather than necessity. need
not tell yon how giaringly inconsistent tho
practice of holding slaves, is with these prin-
ciples of natural equality. which we profess
to venerate and admire, or % what extent it
exposes US to scorn and contempt in the opin
ions Of all intelligent and disinterested men,
of all which you must be fully sensible. And
it would be vain for me to attempt to enume-
rate or to portray all the deplorable conse-
guence which must result from the continued
existence of slavery in this country. They
pablo and appalling to have escaped the oh
| servation of any rejecting man. That the
idle, absolute, wasteful and extravagant hab
its of many of our citizens may be traced with
unerriDg certainty to the existence of slavery
among US, cannot be disputed; and it is e.
qually certain that the evil is every day in
icreasmg. in every county the slaves increase
IN much greater ratio than the whites, in
| dependent OF the emigration 10 such counties.
! III many Of the valley counties the increase
OF the white population was hardly percepti-
ble IN the last ten years, while the slaves are
| greatly increased IN number And in two of
those counties the white population is less now
than 1t was by the census Of 1870, and the
colored is considerably increased. Nor is il
difficult TO account for this deleterious and a.
farming change. AS the slaves increase,
thousands Of our white people are compelled
/ TO make room for them, by removing to the
| western country. The slave holders who are
| IN prosperous circumstances are continually
buying up the small farms of their poor neigh
bors, who have no alternative left but to go
to some OF the western states; and thus we lose
the hardest portion Of our population.
II requires no argument TO prove that as Tie
slaves increase among as the difficulty Of re
moving them must be continually enhanced,
cable. And it is easy TO perceive that this
portion Of our population must increase in a
much greater ratio hereafter. DIAN it has in
tunes past. Eastern Virginia is now fall al
most to overflowing with negroes; the Sou
them market is nearly glntted with them, and
IN dancer OF being altogether closed, the in
evdable consequence OF which is and must
| be that great numbers Of slaves are BOW
brought, and will continue to be brought a
cross the mountains, until some eticctual
measures are taken to prevent it.
But if there was no other reason for desir-
ing to get rad of the slaves from among US, it
seems to me that little reflection upon the
infamous and disgraceful trade in slaves, in
which so many thousands Of the people of the
slave holding states are directly or indirectly
engaged, ought to determine US 10 favor OF
abolition. The detestation and adherence
in which those Europeans who have been en-
gagged in carrying on the slave trade on the
coast Of Africa, have been held by all the
enlightened portion of mankind, is not more
deserved by them than it is by great many
citizens of Virginia. Some apology may be
made for the African slave trade upon the
ground that the subjects of that trade are
generally purchased from some Of their ceen-
tryfaen who have captured them in war, and
who would either hold them in state of cruel
bondage, and subject them to the hhr.hest
treatment, or put them TO death. II may al
SO be said in exten1ation Of It that the slaves
so purchased are converted from STATE Of
barbarism into a state Of civilization; from
plagiarism and idoiatry to Christianity; and
that they are brough. from a barren, sandy
desert, TO one of the heatthiest climates and
most plentiful countries IN the world. But
what apology can be made for the trade car
rIed on in slaves between Virginia and the
Southern States; in the course OF which hos
bands are torn from the bosoms of their wives,
anu wives from their husbands, children from
their parents, and parents from their chh-
dren-and hundreds and thousands Of them
driven along like cattle (many of them in
chains,) from healthy and delightful couh-
try, to a sickly climate, where, owing TO the
insalubfity of the climate, and the severe
tasks they have 10 perform, they must soon
perish. This trade is in truth ten times worse
than the African slave trade ever was, aud
| yet the fact cannot be disguised or concealed
that the main dependence Of a large proper
ton Of the citizens of Virginia, especially IL
the lower part of this state, is upon Raising
slaves for the Southern market With this
! dissraceful fact before our eyes, can We hesi
tate to begin the great work oil abolition?
| But il is unnecessary to say any thing to
you against the continuance OF slavery among
us-You must all be convinced OF the pro
prety and necessity Of aboiishing it, and the
only question that now remains 10 be settled
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