Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-07-13

| in times past. Eastern Virginia is now full
almost TO overlooking with negroes the
Southern enthusiastically glutted with them,
and In danger of being altogether closed !;
| the inevitable consequence of which is and
must be tbatgreat numbers ofslaves are now
| brought, and will continue 10 be brought a
cross the mountains, until some effectual
| measures are taken 10 prevent it.
But If there was no other reason for de-
string 10 get rid fthe slaves from among US,
| ii seems 10 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 Indirect
ly engaged, ought 10 determine US in favor
OF abolition. The detestation and abhor-
renee in which those Europeans who have
been engaged 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 up
! on the ground that the subjects ofthat trade
are generally purchased from some OF their
countrymen who have captured them in war,
and who would either hold them in a state
OF cruel bondage, and subject them to the
| harshest treatment, or put them 10 DEATH
| Ii may also be said in eXtenuation of it that
a state of barbarism into state of civiliza-
ton /; from paganism and idolatry 10 Chris
tianity and they are brought from barren,
sandy desert to one of the healthiest climates
I and most plentiful countries in the world
But what apology can be made for the trade
carried on In slaves between Virginia and
the Southern States (; in the course of which
! husbands are torn from the bosoms OF their
wives, and wives from their husbands, chill
dren from their parents, and parents from
their children-and hundreds and thousands
of them are driven along like cattle Una
ny of them in chains, y from healthy and
delightful country, TO sickly climate, where
owing TO the insalubrity ofthe climate, and
the severe tasks they have to perform, they
must2soon persh.-This trade is in truth ten
times worse than the African slave trade e.
yer was, and yet the fact cannot be disguis-
ed or concealed that the main dependence of
large portion of the citizens of Virginia,
especially in the lower part Of this state, is
upon raising slaves for the Southern market.
With this dsgraceiul fact before our eyes,
can we hesitate to begin the great work of
abolition?
But it is unnecessary to say any thing to
you against the continuance of slavery a.
mong us-Y ou must all be convinced of the
propriety and necessity of abolishing it ; and
the only question that now remains TO be
settled is, how is this desirable object TO be
effected? And upon that question there
does not appear TO me to be much room for
difference ofopiniou among us. Le+an act
be passed at the next legislature prohibiting
any slaves being brought into any countV
West of the Blue Ridge, after the 1st day
ofMay neXt-and declaring that an exact
register shall be kept in each Of said coun-
lies of all slaves born therein and that all
such slaves shall, if they remain in The state
until they arrive at the age OF twenty one
years, be seized by the sherif'or other officer
OF the county, and sold, 10 be carried out of
the state, and that the proceeds, after defray-
ing the expenses of The sale, shall be paid TO
the persons to whom such slaves belonged.
The passage of snch an act would ensure the
gradual abolition Of slavery in this part of the
state ; and it appears 10 me is liable to few
er objections than any plan which has bean
heretofore proposed The slaves now in eX-
istence, and who are not fit TO enjoy freedom,
will remain liz the possession of their owners
J and that class OF our citizens who from habit.
cannot we'll dispense with the services of
slaves, will still be able to command their
services, and the next generation will be
taught TO dispense with them. The owners
of after-born slaveswill receive full compen-
| sation from their services fopthe trouble and
/ expense in raising them, by the time they
| arrive at the age Of twenty one years; they
will also be at liberty TO remove them 10
another state, or to sell them TO be carried
away, which they will have a fair opportu-
! nifty OF doing tothe best advantage, before
the slaves arrive at the age proposed the
slaves are not sold by that time, they will
| then seized and sold to be carried out of the
state, and the proceeds paid over 10 the own
err.
! In this way this whole section Of the state
will be entirely drained of IFS slave popu-
lation in less than fifty years, without any
| expense to the state, or TO individuals. =
There will be no violation of, or interfer-
ence with, the right of private property, ex-
cept what the good Of the community re-
/ quires and such as is authorised by our exist
| ing laws in cases Of much slighter necessity.
\ Our existing laws authorize the Selling OF
J private property in all cases for public uses.
/ upon compensation being made, az is the
/ case in relation ~ roads, canals, slaves con
demned to be hung, &c The great and by
far the most weigbty objection which has
| been urged against all the schemes hereto
| fore proposed for tie abolition Of slavery viz.
| their interference with the rights of indiyid-
uals, does not apply with any force against
this plan.
! The whole number Of slaves in Western
| Virginia, according TO the last census, is a.
/ bout so, 600 their annual increase at 2 ID
| per cent, will be 1,25O.-For this small
number Of slaves = market can readily he
! found in the neighboring states, and a con
! siderable sum of money will in that way be
I brought