Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-21
FoR THE WING.
THE FREE NEGROES.

MEssRs. EDIToRs: Al a period when The col
lec.ed wisdom of Virginia is poured forth like
torrent through the public prints. | have thouyh
proper to contribute my mug-full 10 swell tn,
stream. AppomattoX, the main branch il
length. il not also in depth, has impetuousl,
swept away or ovcftlowcd the reason.ngs of the
ill-starrcG politicians, who vcntured to maintain
that slavery Is amoral evil and q political curse.
which may be removed, in the ialse of time and
the nature OF things. He has dragged his rea-
ders INTO the convection that providence. for wise
and heneEclcnt purposes, imposed on VIRGINIA
this order OF things; that providence in its own
good time VIII change 1t, If providence SEQ cause
for that change; that, at all events. it is our duty
piously to wait on providence, and imoious to
attempt resistance to its DEGREES. For myself,
| have been IN sore pcrpIeHity between Esop
and AppomattoX. The first named sarc has
told us that providence viii not hcip us, unless
we strive 10 help ourselves; and he has assured
us that the wagner III the fable might have
lam on his back in tho mud, till he became q
part OF IT, without getting an inch forward on
his road. All this had been accustomed &c
regard as sound doctrine, until AppomattoS
routed my old opinions, and made me q the.
rough Turk IN resignation 10 the will Of the
powers above us. With the ADVANTAGE of The
new light thus poured uToH my intellect, have
gwen my earnest attention to a subject very ST.
mliar TO that which ~AppomattoX dcigncd to con-
C'HNII uhu 4 "" IICStIJ you Wild tne RESULT
That subject is even now before The Legislature
Of Nlrginle; and ] hope that they and the COM
munlty whom they represent, will admit the in
tcliigcnCe OF my selection, as to time and mat.
ter, though they may all doubt my claims TO more
than indulgence IN any other view. prooose.
III short, to prove the fragrant injustice ard con
summaio folly Of posing a law to exile the free
negroes Of Virginia.
In considering the first branch Of my arcu-
mont, the injustice, namely, Of such a law,
PROFOUND 1t as an uDGCnIablc position that a
mans native country Is the land IN which he was
corn. Also, that a free negro is TO all iutcnta
ana purposes q man. II Is very true that both
grounds have been moro than dcubtrullv assa,I
ga by the advocates for removal They have
MAD TIC ImPudcncc to argue that q negro has
no country, and that oil men must he White
ihey preceded, perhaps, on The rcCoil Ct iou
That OF all definitions ever yet attempted. none
has puzzled philosophers 50 much, or continued
80 d%Onb'iul, as That OF The word MAS md, in
consequence. have assumed the right of InClud-
iDV ~ That definition n new Ingredient i'm the co..
lpur Of he subject. Bot whether this conlcc-
lnre be right or wrong, ! shall unbcs ta'irriv 20
forward on the assumption that a free negro bern
III virginia IS a irccDau of that state. Now, as
10 the question whether Il Virginia freeman. un
condemned and wraccusCd by any law, NAV
properly be expelled from his hcmc, aud sent r.
urea 'htr; "u', J presume, be very ht1, dC
I'rehcc OF sentiment. 4 loud and pdjrran, ne
gatIye vii be sounded by every yo!cc. This is
. view OF the matter entirely distracted from
any reference 10 The condition Of Ibis class OIL
p"P"Ia',.i-'tcT happiness or their misery.
But some Of the advocates for ftans.cra,,,, an
that. although jhe absrrac, RON r. ,,, I've
of dispute, and the free 6lscte ourbt f.
allowed 10 remain. If n0'hinr cl.e ,cc,. + $40,
consideration, yet circumstances ,r cth,r
,lnd- W"st also b. T0TufGCd: that humarj,y die