Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-08-16
F9E E2GN

SLAVERY DlsasStoH Is ScGTIASn-lne hev' 40
bert j. Breckenridge, having proceeded as delegate
from the General Assembly Of the Presbyterian Church
in tie u States, 10 the Congregational Union OF Ing
land and Wales. in due time challenged by the agI-
lalor, George Thompson, public discussion on the
subject OF slavery and!ls kindred topics MI nIrckcI-
ridge accepted the challenge and the discussion LOCK
place in Glasgow, commencing ON the evenns 81 June
| 18Th. in DR.. Wartlaw's Chapel Dr.. HaTdiaw himself
presided The audience, BY agreement, was 'ii''o 10
1900, who admitted by ticket The London alf;al
Of the 20ti, "a furious AntSavery paper) contains
sketch Of The first nights debate, occupying eight closely
printed columns. This is all that we have seen OF The
discussion We observe also shat the London Record
semregious paper, wos giving place in It's columns
WIKI these exceptions find no mention OF Inc atar
in any IF the London papers, of It's results ftoh1
bly,, cac! party claimed The victory The following com
muncatlOn published in the Patriot few days be-
fore the debate commenced and was followed the mkt
: week by communication in reply from all American
: signing himself Robert Beaily Hall"
: RI. Y Jour. . Com.
rHoMPsoN's ATTACK ON THE AMERICAN CHURCHES.
To the Editor IF thc Patriot.
SIE:-l observe III your paper of the is! inst an ac-
count, occupying t!rau eleven columns Of closely
printed matter Of two meetings in London recently con-
2encd for the purpose Of hearing tie individual whose
is the head of this article lecture on the subject
II American Slavery.
lake it Cor granted that MIR. Thompson cannot escape
from meeting this great and exciting subject in
The form and in which his challenge has been &C.
ceped hy me, III the note which THANK you for publish
ing. But in the mean time find so much in the p7n.
ceeciRgs ri the Two meetings referred 10 above that m
correct, so much that IS Gisengrnuous-so much that
must mscad, that ain compelled, By earnest desire
prevent, possible the catastrophe to which t.:s per
determined to push matters between the
Christians Of The countries. to make the following
statement, with view If guarding t public against the
statements and designs ri Mr.. Ihompsan.
BY the OF 1850, there we're il America about
200U0G0 Of YES; about 4tD Goa free pe~ons OF col
lnd about II UODJt0 Of whit, PERSONS Out Of the q
Tod SIn tu lrs-r
ire slaves al all and the remaining y tolerate slave
IS. Tie j. nonslavc-huIding Slaics contain great
majory Of the white population OF A:Eerlcn; and about
half Of The FRI" c"ored people, Of those II free Siaes
tolerated slavery Being Dcw States formed w!i!n
the present century, the remaining were all slave States
al the Of ihc American RcvouiIon and have sboIsh-
ed Slavery, some Of THIN long ago-a"ne less than 5e-
ty-one above fifty years slnce
Nov sir j.; obvious from this statement, tnGt half
our States embracing perhaps lsothiEGs Of OPT entire
white popuhtion have arrlay long ago done all they
could do States IN their Legislative capacity to aho-
s slavery. And That such States should be rlduced
for dung hat they actually did before hclc SANDER
! er born, and be thought hard Of by tha British
Christians, being la!c III thai which they were rGa.
dy TO do, and did, at period when the british con-
science incapable of hcing reused even by Nber-
fn'cr such things must npp"a |" them, say, al once
! singularly harsh: unjust, and absurd
| But let il BE- borne mind, that every one ct the
100000 free persons of color in America, was himself
actually set free is the descendant OF parents ses res
I
people OF that nation; that least half Of them
set free by tie pugc!y voluntary bcnevolcnce q. their
masters in the holding States and that the money
value Of this combined charity, exhibited at this mo-
mcn in The acpal amount for which these fee persons
could now he sold, is neeh short Of $l5O,UeO0iO.
-, That is, few snail and poor communities, and few
benevolent men, have surrendered freely oshaif more
than the boosted twenty millions STERLING which the
mighty empire Of Britain tor that which 1t took the
oinipo,cn power 81 her Imperial Parliament To
If it be demandrd-Why do pot these free STATES Co
their sister States abolish slavery also? reply
first this is rol oar mode d doing things. Light anc
love- not nigh! and authority, approved modes o.
doing good. We have found the cause OF Cod and man
profit by the principle; and, if only let al one
or aided only by persons Of sense wei! as zeal NC
should now be telling Of blessed results, Instead oil
legunr YOU not 10 destroy what frenzy has left 10
This would perhaps be if the free states had
the power 10 a.r4ap what he British public ssrHs so
anxious 10 have attempt-namcy, the abolition OF
slavery ,hroughon. ell the slave Sa.es by the power.
direct or indirect, aF t!se Nationa! Government. We
would probably say have d0Ee gnnd deal ny The aid
OF the Bible alone bear with us, and b. and by ell you
can ask will be effected far Than you think; far
more certainly than by violence, @! even by bitterness
! and denunCjat!on
But Sir the asking Of such question inrGivcs total
IGNORANCE Of our political institutions. We have no
| omnipntent Parliament. We have defined, written
constitution which creates nltiona! government OF ex
iremely limited powers, and for specific and mostly OK
,ernal Objects b. express clause of that constitution
every power conceded in it, is withheld from IT. SO
that by the face of the instrument, andDy the universal
consent under it, the Congress has no more power 10
abolish slavery any Stale OF the Union, nor to 20 ac's
that shall conduce 10 it, than your Parliament has 10
abolish the sngue law in France, the temporal po~r! of
the Pope in Rome, pei ygamy III Turkey or any otheI
wicked or foolish Thing in any iorelgnsiate or nation
Then, Sir on this plain statement stand, and assert
that this is not American question al all that IL ID
unjust 10 hold that nation responsible as nation; that
it IS cruel to con1und States that have abolished slavery
half century ago. and States that are no* struggling 10
find and make safe and happy deiverance from IT. anc
SIars which have small and devoted nlunres, who arc
striving TO cnyh:ea pGEc sentiment on the case and
States which nearly unanmoas in favor or the eier
nal existence of slarcry-all together, and ceaounce
and msudge all Such conduct can do Eo good 10 any
| rood man or Cause. Whit would he thought OF tlt
Americans If they should commence great and sysle
maiic oucry against this whole nation ,as haoH OF ia
psls or nnliun CT Hndvos ami IN Justification OF snci
silly or wicked proceedings refer 10 part OF Fe!Iho
or nearly all of southern India ARD yet Sir very
mncb larger portion of the 2i0N.000 of European
subjects Of this empire Pists, than there are o.
American citizens ho are shareholders; and vastly
rreatcr prnpuron O! the entire mass OF human oelhg
Subject to yor power, worship idols than own slaves
with us! We spad missionaries 20 India, nd we try 10
convert the Pauists have opportunity You seno
heated zrao 10 as who BY his violence and bitterness
srs up all manner Of striics amongst us inteTiees N
political and social questions, whose ag!a" can 90 DC
good to the pretended Of his m!ssnt weaHS IRON
Himself and his country the hearts OF the very people
through whom alone heir alleged object could be gained
and alter capsEiDG about The tree States "!ch nave nc
Dnwer over tie case and carefully keeping clear OF The
Slave Suites. which have all power over it, returns home
10 swaggc asoat his Imaginary dangers and wtrak hi
bitterness on The peopia that with unprecedented pa
tence, :; bore with his manners: ~
The whole of the free people in the United States may
be divided into two great classes this subject one Ia
vcrobIe 70 immediate action on the subject OF slavery
will, view 10 its abolition as soon as IL San oe 1bas
;h drn ,,gnrd 20 the Interests Of all the parties; The
r,hrr unaroaLe to d. any thing at all with the snbiec.
Tbr latter party is again be divided into two pals
one and think the smallest of ell "sh consider S
I,,e,v ro,d institution in and of ITSELF and which
i Lrcys ounhl to exist for ever The other, ars mos
cnnsJerahe onr admitting slavery to be wrong, yet con
sidcring the steci enconpassed with sueh nsupeEabl