Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-05-24

sooti every soch attempt must nave a oeetn'
ming. For our WI parts, we have been
trained in a different school; we have been &C
customed to think. that there is no political
evil brought on US by the shortsishtedness
of man, but may be redressed, If the people
will but look ii fully ia the face, ascertain
its length and breadth, its height and depth,
and cody yet firmly determine to remove it.
Yet we confess, we were sorry to see the in
PRODUCTION Of any scheme into the discussion
of this great question last winter, and Of MIR.
Randolph's we are not advocates. 1t afford
ed our adversaries the advantage Of attach
ing to the question generally, every objection
10 the particular schemes whereas neither
the public nor the legislature had sufficiently
matured the subject. Nor do we adopt the
principles advanced by all the advocates OF
, emancipation in that debate. We should
have preferred seeing it confined 10 a simple
resolution, declaring that 1t was expedient
for Virginia to take efficient means, TO re-
duce and keep down the slave population, TO
a ratio smaller when compared to the whites
than now exists, with a view TO a final ex-
tincuon Of slavery in the state. But 10 jus
uce to MIR. Randolph and other gentlemen
engaging early in the debate, 1t should al
ways be remembered that it was not brought
on by them, that neither the time nor the
manner were oil their selection; but that the
! question was presented to them Unexpectedly
by their adversaries without concert or pre-
~para,ien on their parts, and we doubt not
many things were said that more mature re-
Election would have changed. MIR. b. speaks
OF our making by such an act, a "pubiic cen
fess:ou oil our fears" We had always thought
that fears, such as any man need be asham-
Ell publicly to ~coatess, were either unnaniy
apprehensions Of unreal danger, or permit
ting real dangers TO uhman us. 10 ind the
term reproachfully applied 70 a wise fore
sight Of approaching danger and a resoiu'e
effort to avert it, is really novel. We hoie
The patriot is not disgraced by deep fears oil
foreseen dangers TO his country, which how
ever nc is ready to meet with unblenching
eye, and spend his HE blood TO avert.
We proceed to another part OF Mr.. BIS.
speech, where the beauty OF the Illustration
compensates in some degree, for what we
consider the defect Of the argument he
saws ..there is another feature in this plan
which leads to similar consequences. Ihere
are bonn annually OF this (slage) population
about twenty thousand children those
which may be born before the year 1s4o,
are to be slaves, those which are born alter
that period, are to be free at a certain age.
These two classes will be reared togeiher'
they will labor together and toge-
ther. 1t cannot escape the observations OF
him who is doomed 10 seryitade, that al
though of the same colour, and both OF The
same parents, a very different destiny awaits
his more fortunate brother. In rejecting on
TIE causes of this distinction, he will find no
satisfactory reason for it, in the circumstance
oil the one having come into being d lew
months before the other. As his thoughts
again and again revert to the subject. lac VIII
begin to regard himself as the victim OF IN
justice. His fancy will exaggerate the bless
iugs Of liberty and the miseries OF his own
lot. Cheeriulness and contentment will flee
from his bosom, and the most harmless and
happy creature that lives on earth, will be
transformed into a dark, designing and des-
perate REBEL" MIR. B. here admits by the
way, what no man can doubt, but which was
considered as we understand, one Of the
most offensive remarks made by the friends
Of emancipation, viz: That the great author
of our being, the father alike Of all, has i'm
planted in the minds even Of the African,
that love Of liberty which will stimulate him
TO "deeds Of daring to attain it But these
negroes must be strange being. They are
T.. slaves for life. without any hope for them
selves or their children, with constant exam.
piles of liberty before them. not only in their
masters, but in the free of their own color,
and they are "the most harmless happy crea
lures that live on earth;" but say to them
''we are convinced that slavery is a sore evil
both to you and ourselves; it is impossible
for us at once to get clear Of it. but although