Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-03


Abandoned corrupt and debased ignorance and poverty
combine to chain them down TO state of misery aud vice,
from which they rarely arise. a very slight observation
OF the lowest class Of white population will fear.
attest the truth OF this principle their number Indeed is
small Tor reasons above stated; but the amount OF inmo
ro'y and crime concsntie ed in TIA m number speaks
volumes against SYSTEM which consigns any porons
however uncomfortable OF the human family o such ire
deemabe wrctchedncss.
Thus far have spoken of this subject only in its mTne
date bearing on socieyt is however capable of
ing aspect far more momenous and imposing. A
glance at the two political parties which divide this great
Republic informs This division essentially be-.
the holding States on the one hand and the
MISUNDERSTANDING States the other This can
scarcely be am accidental coincidence On the contrary
cam think, be seyn that the difference Of political
sentiment which exists is the direct result of this very
difference OF situation; but TO do this would require
time than have at present TO bestow Let it, however,
be conceded aud how irresistible do the considerations be-
come which urge the removal of this Of political
contention The continually Increasing fancor animos
ty which mark the contests of these two parties
OF deep concern ccvery lover Of his country, for they
plainly point to the natural result of conflict betwee
ireconciieabe interests That result nohing'less
dsunion The downfall of supendous iabrici The
crushing of the hopes of every friend of his Species who
now looks with anxious and prophetic eye this repub
lie to light other lads the path to freedom and self
government.
Should Virginia then take the lead IN roofing out from
her borders this fruitful source OF many ills and should
the whole South follow her example, what usre would
DO added TO that character which proud
ennence and makes her exult in their birth
right For to her, would be due the glory of preserving
,nat union winch she so essentially contributed 10 esta
blsh and which is the vital principle of system.
StatCS preserved
rendering as nearly may be- the interests of all homoge
neous and the first and greatest step towards producing
this effect will be to make population Homogeneous
But you ass the rights property TO be disregard
cd! shall not here discuss The right to this or TO any
other species OF property shall admit for the sake
of argument society though urged bv invincble ne
cessity, has not the right alter its institutions; and
say TO those who not willing yield portion of their
property for the public good hSt would moi take their
property without compensaon upon the principle that
in cause like this would enlist all run counter to
The prejudices anu interests of 1t is which
will nil ,tiftyn ~ taal nnI nfa .n,
would then annually apply TO the purchase reno
val OF the slave population; in the first place, proper
ton OF the proceeds of the public lan
ton OF any surplus which might remain in the Treasury
OF the United States, TO which would be justly entitled
-(suPPosng OF course that Congress should yield
equitable demand II an amendment to the Constitution
oil the United States be required authorize the pay
men OF this surplus to eny State for any specific purpose
would ask that such an amendment be made.
The Tariff of which complain much, may be Sc
reduced as to remove all actual OPPRESSION and yet
plus may be- left adequate the cxgcncy Surely TO Ell
feet object like this, the parzan Would abatc his ierv
hostility " measure, the buIthen imposed by which IL
inappreciably light when composed with that sought TO be-
removed
That these will DO adequate will think appear
we examine the subject fora moment in detail Ii will
be found on sair2ing Es component parts population
that rather less than two Ghs OF IT, constitute that class
which produces the actual increase of populations Uhe re-
naming three hs consisting of old persons and OF those
under the ageof puberty) Two-hs then the annual
increase oil society belongs naturally that cass-Iet
or rather more OF the annual Increase the
slaves DO remotedj and let these ths be all selected
from the producing class, and It evident that the whole
increase must be kept down 1t will not require therefore,
In order TO produce this effect, the removal of the
entire Increases and thu great difficulty in the scheme
OF abolition dwindIes to of inconsiderabe magnitude
Pecunary means being provided the other difficulties
may be suriounod by zeal energy and discretion You
indeed consider them inxurInountabl: but sir hostility IN
any however feasible is known TO reat
ingenuity IN suggesting difficulties and arranging siumb-
ling-boc TWAS then to be expected that abilities
such az yours directed against subject pregnant with
difficulty would exhibit imposing array impede
Tons and dangers, deter the lukcwarn and siare
the timd. But hope that the uleTsarn and the ,imd
alone will be convinced.
The dangers arising from excitement among the slaves
during the process OF removal, may, | apprehend, he
guarded against by means similar those which YOU sug
ge.as constantly necessary to keep them in subsection.
Indeed very much doubt whether less ecacious means
would suffice
The chief difficulty which YOU present is the fact that
we should be removing population which now performs
the labor oil the Community, while there would be no influx
of whites supply their place We have already seer
tina; the existence Of ,he slave population acts as check
upon The increase of the whites this check would
bc gradually removed, is it fair conclude that the cf
ieci would cease 10 be produced exactly same pro-
portion that the check ceased opcatc There seems no
reason TO doubt t5We shall then at once be relieved
from ilat difficulty without the necessity which YOU infer
oil importing population at the risk of their lives
All the departments oi manual labor will no longer De
hiled by slaves; and a. vacuum takes place. and de
mand Tor abors created both will be supplied by labor
my class OF whites, whose interest will pedonnae over
the petty considerations that they for the moment on
level with class Of menvo about pass away aud
return to annoy them.
Let me not be told what some have asserted. that
blacks necessary stand the climate of the South
that cannot nurc their bodies any thing much ess
that men born In climate, cannot work in that climate
1t is repugnant nature and TO the fact.
Thus VIII all fears be at end supply Of labor to
replace what shall have been removed; thus too shalt
we have society restored its natural and heathu state
That constituent which wanted, viz laLorine popuIa
on VIII he supplied, and every will be rbe 10 find
an appropriate station. None will be forced TO wander
vagabonds around the confines of society," finding no cIass
which they enter, because for the one which they
should have entered there ia substituted ARTIFICIAL
SYSTEM Of labor 20 which they atach themselves
Industry will succeed to indocncc which we see and
know to be the concomitant OF svery and from indus
try will result good moals:-For occupation is the pa
rent Of morality, surely incidence is the "root of
evil"
But 20 enumerato all the happy results which might uI-
tnaely be traced TO the abolition of slavery, would far
outgo the limits Of a newspaper essay.
There is view OF this subject which seems to me To-
demand peculiar consideration. The profits of agrcuItu
raj ldborin The slave holding States, already below si-
milar profits in other States, q include not Of course the
profits arising from the cultivation OF sugarthosc are
kept up by artificial means) The fact is that white la
bor has been cncoachng slave labor for than half
century The system of rgor which necessary tower
come tic disadvantage arising from the want Of moral in
sentiments Of slave-bocrs have chanscd until now land
- with exuliaou that say it, public opinion would
rown with Indignation upon attempt 20 re-establish that
system.
The amount Of labor, therefore. performed by slave
may be regarded minimum; and Inc degree of sur
reliance necessary to produce a is large addi-
lion TO The expense Of slave labor in general The dspro-
portion between these classes OF labor must progress
vty increases for the expense Of slave Tabor never
DC materially duinshed whereas, population advances
in the holding States, the supply Of white labor