Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-09-17

ern slave proprletors, calling them pirates,
man -stealers, robbers and murderers! are as
unjust as they are foul and indecent; not on
ily because the present proprletors had no
agency in the introduction of slavery into
those States-and probably regret that it ev-
Ter was introduced-but because, from the
whole history of the African race, from the
total failure of the many phianthropic at
tempts and exertions which have been made,
both in their own native country and IN the
West Indies, to civilize and render them Gu
pable of sefgovernment, it has long been
the opinion Of many intelligent and rejecting
men, that the condition ofmoderate servltude,
under humane proprietors, and the protection
Of humane laws, is their happlest condition
and that the burthens and evils Of slavery
fall chiefly, if not wholly, upon their proprie-
tors.
Resolvcd, That, whether these opinions be
correct or erroneous it is certain that, in the
people of the slave-holding States, exclusive
ly and solely, resides the right and the power
of judging and deciding upon all questions
and concerns relating to slavery within their
own respective limits and interference, or
attempt at interference, with that right and
power by the United States, or by others Of
the individual States, or any of their citizens,
would be an unwarrantable act of aggression
and hostility, which the offended and injured
States would have just right to resent, re-
pel and punish The sovereign power of the
people Of the respective States, is only linn
tied or qualified by the grant OF powers made
by them to the federal government. That So
vereign power was not derived from any GO
vernment on ealth. 1t was asserted, obtain
ed, and secured by the States themselves,
when they achieved their Independence; and,
instead of being interfered with, il ought to
be held sacred: especially by the federal go-
vernment, created as it was, and by all the
people of all the States in the Union.
Resolued, That the obligations which, by
the laws of nations, every independent State
Is under to all others, to restrain its own cltl-
zens and all persons within its jurisdiction,
from acts of aggression, and from all practl-
ces and Vaccinations affecting their welfare,
ought to be most strongly felt, and most faith
fully regarded and fulfilled by the States in
this Union, bound together in harmony, as
they are, by their own solemn compact. On
such occasions, the warmest professions OF
sympathy, or the strongest expressions OF dis
appreciation of such practices, are no dis
charge of that obligation.
RESOLVED, That attempts, whether direct or
indirect, secret or open, and by whatever
means carried on, to render the slaves of the
South discontented with their Lotto intlame
them with hatred and revenge against their
masters, and thus excite them 10 insurrec-
ton, with all its train Of horrors-nvolying
the destruction of the slaves themsclves-are
crimes the most atrocious, and for which no
punishment can be too severe for those who
are guilty of such attempts, are conspirators
against the peace, safety, rights and lives, of
the whole white population of the slave-hold-
ing States-against the government Of those
States, and the Union itself.
Resolped, That, whatever may be the real
designs of the present abolitionsts, there can
be no mistake about the tendency of their
proceedings. Alarmed, in their turn, at the
universal excitement and Indignation which
their practices have caused throughout the
non slave holding as well as the slave-hold-
ing States, the chief leaders and officers of
their association have recently published "a
declaration ofiheir principles a,.doJects," with
smooth and plausible "erptanations and dssar-
ances" of their innocence They declare
that they rely wholly upon facts and argu-
ments, and moral Influences for the attainment
of their object and they call upon the public
to take notice that no proofs are brought
against them. Unfortunately, the numberless
lnhammatory & seditious articles contained
in their own periodical papers, purporting on
the front Of them to be "puJiished for The
american Anti Slare,y Society,"" furnish con-
demnng proofs of the nsncerity OF this dec
laration. They pretend that their addresses
are to the hearts and consciences of the mas
tiers of the slaves and their apologsts. But
in their publcations-(scnt to every body but
to the masters to whom they say they are ad
ofh hos
sailed with the foulest abuse, and denounced
rs robbers and murderers, and threatened
with the vengeance of their slaves. They
pretend, in their apology, that they do not ad-
dress themselves to the slaves and if they
quiet and peaceable; that their publications
are not intended for the slaves, but are sent
to clcrgymen and public officers. But their
papers contain direct addresses TO colorcd
servants, instructing them in the language Of
lnsolence to their masters, and exhortlng
them to treat those masters in such manner
as to make them feel their equality. The
same papers are filed with intlamnatory ar
ticles evidently prepared for the use of the
plantation and family slaves; adapted, in Ian
guage and matter, to their state Of ignorance
and limited capacities, and calculated to ex-
cite their most vengeful passions against
their masters. Great nuv,bers of these in
cendiary papers are sent to their coadjutors,
the pretended reformers at the South, 4" for
distribution" And the northern abolitionsts
well know how they are to be dStribMed.-
They know that their agents dare not attempt
to distribute them among the shareholders,
or magistrates, or any of the friends Of the
State institutions, by whom they would be
burnt, and their distributors punished They
know that their inflammatory publications are
put into the hands Of the freed people of CO.
lor, and such of the whites as associate with
fLcna mud cnrru an IL llnnlnrIino trnIn "a. III,