Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-07
TDs Constitutional SCgt,lo
Saturday Eveissssg. Eco. &.



Watkins Leigh was actually writing for tho Press
on the Slave Question:, This important onnunc,
ton oil course, produced the solcmnty of expect.
alton and suspense, which is experienced in South
crn climcs when the unhappy native momontarly
expects the next shock of the Eaythquakc .'iIavc
you heard the news?" ''No-what itl" al am not
at liberty to say, but will tell you in confidence
Watkins Leigh is writing for the Press on the
Slave Question" -! Presently another gentleman
approaches, evidently big with tidngs of no com
mon import. After few words on Van Buren,.
he approaches The secret the awful secret. .IIave
you heard the news?" "No-what is it?n .sWbv.
am not exactly at liberty, but will tell you, to q.
no AUTHORIZATIONS Leigh is writing for the
3ress, on the Slave Qucs,ion".! Prodigious
When wo saw Appomattox in the Fin iurer OF
the day, we concluded chat Mr.. Logh's travail was
happily achieved, and that Appomattox was the
child A perusal of its features satisfied us that
we were not mistaken in the conjecture of parent
age, suggested by the signature: But, VIC will saw
that but for the flourish of trumpets which announ
ccd its appearance, and superseded conjecture and
the ear marks of the style, which are too familiar
to be mistaken, we should not have concluded The
article to be Mr. Leigh's, for we could not believe
p'7or, that Watkins Leigh would have put forth
an argument unphilosophcal in all its essentials
and decidedly inferior in ccery PARTICULAR to one on
tho same sidc delivered by a strpling-dccidedlv
inferior in style, in learned research and in grasp
OF comprehonson the Public in few DAYS.
will have an opportunity of Judging. We mean
no dircspect to MIR. Leigh; very far from it; but we
In common we presume, with many Others do not
exactly relish the prelude to Appomattox's intro.
duction TO the Public.
We said that this address was unphilosonh ic,1
in all its essentials Let us point out one in.
stance The writer recommends three thnps IN
the people of Eastern Virginia, the last OF which
is stated in these words
3. do most earnestly and deliberately recon.
mend to all the people of the slave holding parts
OF Vrgnia-and moreover to all the people of
the Southern and Southwestern sla we holding
States, who have common interest with us and
are exposed to the dangers--to disc oura ore
every man by his own example, and by advice TO
his nelghbors, the circulation among them of the
papers of the Virginia 0L0ltjoa presses; upon the
like reasons of common prudence, that would not
tolerate the dissemination of writings wilfullv in
cendiary. do not think, and therefore do n ot
say, that oar abolition presses are nHfULEy jDcep
diary and therefore, entertain no resentment TO-
wards the editors. But to as it can make no cd ds
wether their publications editorial or contribu
ted-ln the form OF speeches or of essays-dicta-
ted by indlscretion, carcessncss of cense-
quenccs, or blindness to them TO us The danger and
j
by thca,ost ~ dcsig3 ,hc cf,siors of in
fammatory matter they have already poured forth
and the temper,n which they have already taken up
the subject, should warn us all of the bnrnin0 lava
yet to be discharged upon us; which, like the ira
vail OF a volcano in the imiAcdatc ncrhborhood
of our dwellings, threatens the more DANCER and
mischief, for coming from them. The public SEN
timent, sec, is to be ..dcveoped'-tbe subcct
Is to be discusscd-and he that does not Coroseo in
what tone it will be discussed in the public prints
cannot be made TO take warning Let us pay no
regard TO the claim which may he asserted for the
independence of the press: if, in the exercise of
Mer independence, they choose to print we in
the exercise Of Our Independence NAV choose to
suppress, to the uttermost of our power what we
deem lntiammatory, dangerous, miscellaneous. Eve.
ny man has perfect right to withdraw his
subscription from any newspaper, and to
scourage the circulation of it; and if he
thinks the opinions it maintains, likely to produce
evil, he is bound, in duty to his corniry to cxer
clse that right. | have been crcdihly informed
that the publications contained in n certain indie.
pendent press during the late war, giving an ac-
count OF the deicncccss condition of Washington
were the real incentive to General Rosss visit
to that city. The claim TO such independence
OF inc press, as not only gives it freedom to
publish, but a right TO free unrcstrained cir
culatlon among those whom The circulation NAV
lnlurc, is, in truth, a claim to absolute dominion;
which shall never acknowledge in any man or
set OF men whatever. want no scdition laws-I
would have nonc-tllcro is check. sufficient
check, III the influence of public opinion if timely,
promptly and vigorously cxerted; and, in my deli
berate Judgment, prudence, Justice, necessity re.
quIro the PeoPie Of the mhoie sIorc hoIding countrn
TO mite in the exercise of hat check upon the prc
sent OCCASION
We well understand the object of this recon-
mendation. The recommendation ;tso1f &c moi
expected, perhaps is not wished to be put in force
The design is to hold it in tcrrorcm over the Vir
ginia Press particularly the Press orthis CITY, fo
the purpose of intimdating it, and supprcssina
that discussion which is so much dreaded by Ap
pomattoX, not from fear of its effects on the slaves
because he cntcrtains no such fears, he nor any
other man Of sense; but because discussion mus
be followed, sooner or later, by the overthrow o
slavery itself. We know not how the nerves O
Others may he affected by the apprehension o
having this recommendation put in force acains
them; but for ourselves it will not sway our course
hairs breadth either in restraint. or in excite
mont. We shall 90 on as we have bopun, to pub
lish for the Public what is offered bv that Public-
and never did any subject s, choke UP the Press
and our own reflections, if any occur TO us as o
use to The people Of Virginia.
But, suppose Appomattox to be in earnest in 70
commendingt to all Eastern Virginia, 70 proscrib
the two political papers of this city, and further
more, that his recommendation is embraced b,
those whom he has taken under tutclogc2 Doc
he imagine he can thus muzzc the Press? Doe
he imagine nc can thus put it down. Vain expect
alton! founded in utter ignorance, or disregard a
least, of ihc best known rules Of human action
When did persecution ever promote the cause 0
bigotry or intolerance When did the fire ard fag
got, ever suppress hcrcsy2 Does he suppose tina
'h'rc arc not in all parts Of Virginia, even iIalifa
ana Mecklcnburg and Southampton, many VIII
L. Al.