Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-23
'Rasc RE5c1asEacsMss VSFaEg.
COIs}ls' NII'ATvDNS
ink WE MMin.


men, who calmly await the issue Of all the mo"-
surcs proposed ami - the various systems aGi'a- |
ted III relation 20 th,ir slaves, aud III" Tree u'gr"cS
with whom those slaves connected, without |
interfering, in any way, with subject iii which |
then have the deepest interest, pc"uniarv and po-
hticd-whilc the question j. mrch discussed, and
in s".',c cil TO be settled by persons having
less interest in il, and to some OF whom all qucs
tionS ot property are mere distractions.
Some withdraw for modcStv, some from timdity
knowing If they embark in the controversy II Is
VERY soon 10 he converted into personal matter /
the original subject To he wholly dropped, and tho
characters and motives al the PARTIES To the con-
tr"vcrSy to be substituted in lis placc-a subject !
always more amusing 10 the public, and therefore"
generally more acceptable tn the Editors OF the /
newspapers. Retired men, embark with dit +
dcncr in public discussions o. all sorts, generally:
in printed controversy, always; they find no plea /
sure in strife.
The writer of this is retired, very re-
tired man; getting in Years and whatever infer
may he drawn to the contrary, from his wri-
tins! for the press, extremely diiiidcnt-yct, pos
scSsing much presumption us To cherish the
hope that hc may he able Ia satisfy some few, ot
tho many, who arc cudcav"uring t" make tn" free
people OF colour unwilling 10 leave this State, and
t"prcludicc their minds agains, removing to Africa
or elsewhere, that they arc, under the garb of
friends, in truth, enemies To the free people of
color; and that hv retaining thea here, they
doing the greatest possible injury to them, and
much injury to the slaves and to the whites
THIS is not mere question of abstract right
few political questions are SGT is question
essentially depending upon, and Ia be determined
by reasons of State policy: properly speak
ing, reasons of State necessity. Mr. Jefferson,
the great founder and for LONG time the leader,
OF the Democratic Party against whom one
ever objected for his not entertaining opinions
sufficiently Democratic, assumes postuate
III his plan for emancipation, that the two races
cannot SubSiSt in one community on terms of mli-
tual equality; and every person who knows the
condition of the two classes OF people, not only
knows, but feels this tn he true; and iii every in
stance in which an individual case has occurred.
the white party has been degraded To the base and
ahlec: condition of the negro in his cStima-
ton. and in that of the community.
We may pratc about equal rights and quail law.
"A school boy, fresh from the schools, do that
more hippamtly than experienced statesman,
because he is fresh from his books. But in truth
free negroes neither free equal us compared
To white men. What is freedom! TO he secure
lii ones person, and the enjoyment of his pro-
perty, and the pursuit of happiness by any means,
not conflicting with the privilege OF others
hat l. equality To enjoy the political
rights that others Cnloy-tha; shall possess
or exercise political rights, privileges, or ilnmun.
ties, that arc not attanablc equally Ivy ALL These
are my ideas of liberty and equality, connected
with the subject OF State policy. Some modern
politicians seem to Inc to have confoundcd pot cal
with social ana civil rights, and to have fallen, by
that lncauS into very manilrs: ahsurditicS. 1t is
true, they free, freedom stands in opposition
TO bondage, but they free in other sense of
the word. There are certain privileges and iminu-
mites allowed TO portion of all free communities,
tmorc or less extended or restricted by considcra
tons OF policy or propricty,) such the right of
suffrage, holding offices, civil and military &c.
which of necessity must exist in every free com,nu.
nifty ana which every free white man, possessing the
requisite C!idcnccs otiucrCSt, in the welfare OF the
Community, is permitted TO exercise; and being OK
cudcd from these privileges when possessing these
quaiitIcaiIonS, Is manifest and gricvous OPP
preston Now, every body knows that free nc.
grocs not IN fret free persons. 1t is true they
hold, II cannot say cnioy,) partial and rest rctc ed
V, q invaded lDlpun nit ~ hIr
any rufian; limited and hcdged around with penal
ties and tortciturcs, every side, and of every
kind, even to the forfeiture of that partial liberty
iSrf. mat they are not equal to white men,
every white man who has made them his equals
can bear wi'ncss. Things equal to a common
standard arc equal TO another; but the white
person who has become the equal of free negroes,
Is no longer, in any respect, the equal OF his own
race.
BAT it is assumed that they arc happy in Virgil
ma, and that they Will not be in Africa; and vet
a condition of existence here, has been Justly i'm
putcd To them, wholly incompatible with our ideas
OF hdpplncss:-habitual dlcncss, sloth, poverty;
very imperfect security in the enjoyment of the
few rights, personal or political, left to them
perpetual contrast between their condition,
and that of the whites: the degraded con-
diton OF their follow cfIntryncn frequent instan-
COS of cruelty from the whites, without the hope
Of redress, of any futurc moderation of their
condition: code of penal laws in many respects,
worthy OF the temper of Draco, in some of the
wisdom of Scion; written indeed in blood; but die
tatcd by sound and just policy, and sanctioned by
sad necessity: by this code, information to them is
ProScrIhcd-Social intercourse ncrdictcd-rcligi- I
Gus worship, Ill most of its forms, prohibited |
tho use of common guns for amusement, forbidden !,
without license. In short by it, they depri- |
we'd of the benefit and protection of Governments !
IN its chief and most beneficial operation; that
IS TO say, i'll securing to the privilege and the
blessing OF seeking his own happiness in his
way; by this code, all the privileges franchises,
ana So:uc even Of the amuscmcnts, which would
seem TO be open to all, interdiccd and proscri-
bed, not IN spirit of cruelty injustice, but I'M
Ger Il deep and solemn conviction of the propricty
and indispensable necessity, OF each and every re-
Ftuctl"n; % which necessity am fully convinced
without their consent concurrence YOU NAV:
and you do take from life, all that adorns gives To
1T Il charm. But you must not presume to Judge
tor them, in a matter, intended by all to be for the
ulii"ri" GOOD OF the rtcc: and is your penal code
to De restrained within the limits now prescribed to
IL think Tor ono it is not Necessity the ultima
ratio OF sound policy, that neither respects nor
Knows ANY restraining principle, WILL from time to
time, compel us to adopt regulations in relation 10
these people at which humanity must weep. No
matter now VIC came INTO this situJtion-bcinp i'm il
we must, and hope Will provide for our own sccu
rity. Il may be ga dominion which Heaven meyer
gave; but VIC must maintain if, even by means
"hiCh II can never sanction" For ono, l believe +
that Heaven VIII approve our placing them he. /
E'ii oII jurisdiction ~ condition, where they :
may te the makers of their own future fortunes
an I happiness. BE this as il may, we cen never
r"Ic1'. Oars must DC an onward course; to W Inch
i"fascc no happy end or issue. To remove thcI,
FROM amongst us, rs IN view o! Tire mat! or. tho
best by consent, # It is yicllrG; bv force is il
IS "iiilcId. 10 determine whether they arc in =
better condition here than they would h. in A(ric,
or elsewhere, in the altitude Ola free and indcpcnd
cnt nation, docs not L should suppose require
very cNlct and minute information. lit did, I con
less my want of such information: though under