Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-10-06

rsouous expressive of the opinion of the
heene of this the subject OF the attempts now
MAKING BY the Abutonss, calculated to produce nsur-
r.cn in some of the States Of the Union, In obedience
to that order report the subjoned resolutions;
| HENRY BULL,
Is. HAZARD,
TlIOS. &. PITMAN,
r. B. CRANSTON.
Pesolrcd That while w. hold sacred the rights Of
every man to the full enjoyment Of his opinions upon all
subjects and should dcprecate any interference with the
exercise of it, we equally deprccalc the abuse OF lIat
rpht and condemn the conduct of those who under the
prctcncr of exercising il, iudustously employ thcm-
selves not only in propasans the most pcrncious doc
trrs, but in practices incompatible with the peace OF
! the community. .
Rcsopcd That while VIC sincerely deplore the evils of
Slayery-evils which, we doubt not deep
depored because more deeply felt by our brethren IN
the Slave holding Statcs-we are firmly convinced that
the immediate patton of The Slaves in those States
(which is eSandcd by the Abotonisis of the present
dayY would be productive Of far greater evils, not only
to the white population but to the Slaves themselves;
for without Insisting hat the African race labor under
any peculiar mental ysical disabilities, it is enough
to rcrsRrI, thai il is whom Nature herself has
| dsliuguishei:by indehle marks, and whom the most
jealous asSefscrs Of their equality admit to be- II not
distinct Species at beast variety Of the human species
aud all experience has shown that distinct races III
may say sprcirs of men, be so far asst
inflated 10 embrace the views OF the common
good, to unite in pursuing the same common objects
and interests. Whether Justly no the co0rcG race
will always continue be Looked upon inferior
order of beings; AID they, their part, would never
10 remember the long abject condition OF their
| No degraded of ever yet Salts
fed with being raised to footing OF equality they never
feel that equality nor believe it be acknowledged by
others; they rciain unsasrd until they have gained an
undispu:cd mastery, aud every step they advanced
istead Of exciting their gratitude, does but strengthen
the hostility Of their spirit by giving them nearer pros
pect OF triumph and reKeege. There few natu-
ated to believe that this ut people can ever Oe
incorporated into the Of society as to form one
identical people, freed from all traces of former dsnc-
ton. Nothing but the most dcpraved taste, feelings
and principles. bring any man to wish tor such
condition of things. The laws Of our nature will not be
suspended or changed, TO realise the sPccualons OF
dreaming theorists. But until this shall come to pass,
this race if enancipated must emainb themselves and
act by themselves in harnony and equals, but III
subservi ncy hostility urSh by turns. lin the non
savcholdng States these evils less pcrcepble, it's
because the source of them is confined. Yet even
in those States, ia the large Cities where the People of
of color chiefly resort, serious disturbances and even
danger have frequently been occasloned by them
Great therefore, was the original error oil introducing
slaves into this country it would be far greater error ana
evil to resort to the experiment of converting them into
recen TO remain i'll the country where they are
held slaves. Such experiment would spread desc
ation the country, and end only in the final ek
termination OF those people themselves as we'll as IN the
destruction Of great portions Of The white popuatlon
Resa'red, That in the opinion of this meeting the on
y rational plan for meloatng the condition OF the Peo
pie of color is that which brethren OF the slave
holding States have most zealously endcavored 10 pro-
moe-Lhe plan Of providing healthy and fertile coun
try, which, if they will, they and their Pnslerty shall
their own and in which, under the protection
and fostering care of the American nation, they may
reap the fruits of their industry and enjoy the blessings
of selfgsvcrnment and freedom, if upon trial. they shall
prove capable Of such enjoynent Genuine (not tcign
cd) humanity, we'll wisdom and patti utlsn are the
basis Of that plan: 1t would to the freed Peo-
ple of color tho only real home and country they can
ever call their own the only real freedom and equality
they can eyer possess. That pan too cherished as
ouu To he Inv the whole American People. and (nDOn
the application Of the slave holding States aided BY the
whole power and resources of the national government
would open the brightest and, We believe, the only pros
pect Of gradual and general emancipation OF tho
slaves And yet the pretended friends OF the blacks
themselves to dssuade those that have been freed
from accepting this boon, and the slaves from accepting
it with their freedom Nothing, we think could more
completely unmask them and expose the Insncc1Ity OF
| their professions of humanity and philanthropy.
Rcsoyed, That in the opinion Of this meeting. the Bit
denunca4oas whic he aboitionss necessarily pour
out upon the Southern slave proprictors calling them
pirates slealers, robbers and rderers are as un-
Just they foul and indecent, not only because the
present proprieors had agency in the introduction OF
slavery into those States, and probably regret that ever
introduced but because, from the whole history OF
the African race from the total failure OF the many PHI
anropc attempts and exertlons which have been made
both in their native country and in the West Indies, to
cviliZc and render them capable OF self government IL
has long been the opinion of many Intelligent and
fectng men, that the condition Of moderate scrvude
under humane proprieors and the protection OF humane
laws, their happest condition. and that the burtens
and evils Of slavery fall chiefly if not wholly, upon their
proprietors
Resoired Thst whether these opinions be correct or
erroneous 1t is certain that in the people OF the slave
holding States exclusively and solely resides the right
and f}c power ofjudging and deciding upon all ques-
tons and concerns realing to slavery within their re-
spccyc limits, and any interference attempt at inter-
ference with that right and power by the United States,
by Others of the individual Stacs any Of their clti
zcns would be unwaranlabe act of aggression and
hostility whioh the offended and injured State would
have just rg ut to resent, repe and punish The sovc'
reign power OF the people Of the respective States is
Is limited qNaikcd by the grant OF powers made by
them to the federal soTcrsment That sovereign power
derived from any government on earth II was
asserted obtained and secured by the States themselves
when they achieved Independence; and instead of
being intfrcred with sght to be held sacred-espe
ciay by the Federal Government created it was and
By all the people Of al the Stascs in Union |
Reso'rcd, That the obligation which. by the laws of
nations every independent State is under to all others,
to restrain its cttzcns ard sd persons within its w
risdction from acts of a,gssion, and for all practices
and Vaccinations aeuting ter welfare, ought to be
most strongly felt, and most faithfully regarded aud full
filled by the Siatessa ETC Union, bound together in har
mony as they ares By their solemn compact. On
such occasions the sirnns professions Of sympathy
the expess Df dsapprobation Of such prac
tees arc no discharge of that obligation.
Resotrtd That attempts whether direct indirect,
secret or open and by whatever means carried to
render the slaves Of the South discontinued with their
lot to inaauae eheui"wh hatred and revenge against
their masters and thus to excite them to instruction,
with all its,ran of horrors, involving the destruction
the slaves themselves crimes the most atroclous and
for wch Punishment can he too severe-For those
who arc guilty OF such attempts are conspraors against
the peace safety, rights and lives of the whole white
population of The slavc-holdng Statcs-agan: the CO.
ycrnmrnt Of those States, and the Union itself
Rcsorcd That whatever may be the real design IF the
present abotonists there be mistake about the
tendency of their proceedings. Alarmed in their turn, at
the general excitement and indignation which their prac.
tees have caused roout the holding as well
the slave holding States the chief leaders and officers