Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-09

| "i The primitive Christians, or even the blessed
author of our faith? Slavery prevails over all
me wotld,-trom the Gauges To the Niie-from
| inGns To the Pole. The principle exists every
"hcTc, and Is Virtually felt even among those
who are called tree. Where is the community
| IN which there are not individuals who, IN drag
| g'ng out a to,ISomc and wrc,ched existence, en-
| posed "thc ricli mans Scnrm-the proud man =
! c"n'umciv," do not see and feel tina, 'hlS world
! was made for others And who can say that
tins partial evil, is not conducive I" the univcr-
sal good or. IN SEINE manner, subscrvicnt to tie
! tcnc focnt purposes of an all-wise providence?
Nations arc stricken down under the rod "t al
Fiction and bowed low, Tor centuries, at the iot.
stool Of "pprcs ion. but c; 1t justify The ways
OF God TO man." that IN the endless viciSSitudes
ct humon AFFAIRS, the balancc may st las b. re-
dressed, uni rctubutivc justice done 10 all. We,
ourselves arc the slaves of circumstances, aud
if, IN submitting 10 rhs universal, ordSr OF social
being, we do sin, let us rcposr Nj h humble con
hicncc III The hope, thai, whom urrai.ncd at the
bar OF postcrtY-SD much dreaded by the gen.
tIcElan from liluOvrr-or at the throne of h"a-
ven, the pailiatiOn wc can pead-aiGe by In,
m"rciiul n.ercessiou that Will not be denied us,
may secure our pardon and forgiveness.
Again, Sir, contend, that tho happiness Of The
slave does not cali Tor his emancipation Ills COP
diton is better than that Of four-itlhs OF the hui
man family. lilo enjoys far more Of the comforts
of life than the pcasantry of many Of the nations
in Europe. The Russian Polish scrI, for in
stance is mere arpendage to the soil--,hc vic
tim of passion or arbitrary transfer, and kept in
submission by boing plunged in the darkest tide of
ignorance and superstition. Lands assigned
him, aud the proceeds OF his labor are called his
own, but the whole beyond miserable subsis-
/ icncc are absorbed i'll tho payment OF rents and
dues. He accumula'cs nothing, and if the sea-
sons prove unpropitious, he is exposed to all the
| horrors Of famine. When worn out with toll and
bowed down with age, there is no ono from whom
he can demand support. Ho is not called a slave
but IN what respect IL his lot dcsjrabe' The
slave also amasscS nothing, but whatever be, ies
he is sure of Il subsistence He is independent, of
! accident or the elements. If his owner becomes
too poor TO feed and clolhe him. he is sure to sell
him TO one who is able. His life is nnder the pro-
lection OF the law When disabled by age or
disease, he Is secure of support. Public opin-
ION and the interests of his master protect him
from cruel and abusive treatment. He is not free
out That is blessing only i'll name, TO large ma
IJor'ty OF tho human race. Man must be civilized
ms nilnd Iyhtened, and his feelings refined, be-
tore he is fitted fer the enjoyment of liberty. The
iiindoo and the Tartar free, hut what avails
the fruitlcss boon? Even tho States of South
America, the objects of so much sympathy and
hope, have prOttcd but little by their indcpcndencs
lhe hcrce and DISCRIMINATING conflicts that mark
that sanguInary arena Of ambition, and for the ter
minaton OF which, have locked SO long in
vain-ovince too plainly, that liberty came before
they were prepared for it. The greater part of
mankind, must, lii the nature of things be moor
and isnorant-toiliu% arxiously for their daily
bread. All cannot he raised TO the top ofthc scale
and the negro, OF all others, is the least susceptible
| OF elevation on may declare him frec-you NAV
| enact laws 10 make him frcc-but unless Won "a n
reverse his d. ON of intcriority-unless YOU can
exempt him from poverty and toll your utmost
efforts will only change him from a slave into
sert. lilo would not thank you for the favour
for the only charm lie could discover in Eh.r,y
would he the privilege of not labourng You NAV
establish him on the coast of Africa but il will
neither promote his happiness nor be tho
means of cvzing that Continent. | know there
are those who think otherwise. For their motives
and opinions, have much respect, and as lonp ne
they pursuc the objects they have avowcd accord
ing to the rules they have announced, I wish them
with all my heart, success 1t is far from mn
wishes TO discourage so grand and munfce.,t a
design as That OF the American Colonization Soci
ety. But when required to on the faith of their
experiment, must confess my incrcduIity Tbc
fate OF the Colony at Sierra Leone adtnonisbcs ,nc
OF the hazards and difficulties of Tho enterprise
IL Is now more than forty years since an associ,-
ton was formed in England, for the nurnoso
OF restoring rc-capturcd slaves to their countrv
and thus introducing Christianity into Africa. II
was composed of the most intelligent a nd virtuous
men III Great Britain, and its resources were as OK
tenslye as any that Virginia could command
Sierra Leone was selected as the theatre of opero
Liohs' ana the pertinent has been in progress
tor nearly half Il century. During considerable
part OF TINS time, the colony has been upheld and
sustained by the strong OF the British govcrp
mont-dctcndcd by her navy, and noursbed Tho
rally with her blood and treasure II is estimated
that more than sixteen millions of pounds sterlinr
nave been expended IN the undertaking. And
what is the result? A population of l6oJO souIs
the slave trade prosecuted as vigorously as ever
the naked, degraded and idolatrous Kroon,on
hoyer!ng still on the confines of the setllenent-
the thick gloom of heather darkness moi vet No
netra:cd by the holy light of Christianity-a feeble
spark OF cIVillzatIon giimmerng on The border of
an immense continent. Sir, there never was
period at which the sun of civilization shono AZ
once over the whole world. Barbarian p,sses
IKE a cloud over the earth 1t il now settled i'm
ITS deepest gloom, Africa. 1t will be swcrt
away, when, i'll the accomplishment of tho inscru.
taoe purposes OF providence, it becomes fit that il
should envelope some other and-perhaps our own
Let the ardour of our zeal be moderated bv the
Fohec"on MAT our utmost efforts may hasten it on
Its round, bat cannot chase it away from earth
Much of the odium with which slavery is view.
ed by those who are ignorant of its cbaraatcr in
Virginia, is owing to their confoundinp it. in ina
glmaion, with all the atrocities Of tho slave trade
we have all wcpt at the fate of the African, torn
rom ms c"uhtry--Soyorod from his kindred, and
doomed TO pine, in hopeless bondage, far from tl,e
objects ot all his affections. These wero the cnor
mitles that prompted the splendid eloGuence of
Fox-that stimulated the efforts of Sharp and
nliberiorce and Ciarkson; and which have aroused
'he SynPAthleS OF every generous bosom in Christ
endom. But is there any resemblance botwecn
such horrors and the circumstances that surround
our slaves? This is their home-their birth pI,co
-lhe only country they ever kncw-lhc spot which
iIab, If not affection, has rendered dear to then,
That they are happy, is evident from the rapid in
crease OF their numbers. In The West Indies oyv
ing no doubt TO severity OF usage, thew are CON
stanty diminishing. Let them remain here then
they are happier than they would be in any other
situation. They happier than their fathers
were, and might be happier still, if incendiary fa
naIcs would let thom alone and cease TO persuade
them that they are miserable Their condition
might then be greatly amclioratcd and their mental
instruction would no longer be incompatible with
NE peace Of society: nfcinns ~ rrritlnsr 80