State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-03-08
WHOLE NO. 22S.


improvement, physically and intellectually,
and the enjoyment of degree of comfor,
with which the laboring class in few
countries can compare, and confessedly
greatly superior to what the free people of
the same race possess in the non slavehold-
ing States. 1t may indeed be safely asserted
that there is no example in history in which
a savage people such as their ancestors wero
when brought into the country, have ever
advanced in the same period so rapidly in
numbers and improvement.
To destroy the existing relations would
be to destroy this property, and to place
the two races in q state of conflict which
must end IN the expulsion or extir-
patton of one or the other. No other can
be substituted compatible with their peace
or security. The difficulty is in the diver
sity of the races. So strongly drawn is the
line between the two in consequence oft,
and strengthened by the force of habit and
education, that it is impossible for them to
exist altogether in the same community,
where their numbers are so nearly equal as
in the saveholding States under any other
relation than that which now exists. Social
and political equality between them 10
impossible. No power on earth can over
come the difficulty. The causes resisting
to be surmounted. But, without such
equality, TO change the present condition Of
the African race, were it possible, would
be but TO change the form of slavery. IL
would make them the slaves ofthe commu-
nifty, instead of the slaves of individuals,
with less responsibility and interest in their
welfare on the part Of the community than
is felt by their masters while it would
destroy the security and independence Of
the European race, if the Africans should
| be permitted to continue in their changed
condition within the limits of those States.
! They would look to the other States for
support and protection, and would become
virtually, their allies and dependents; and
would thus place in the hands of those
States, the most effcctual instrument to de-
stroy the influence and control the destiny
ofthc rest of the union.
l. is against this relation between the two
races that the blind and criminal zeal ofthe
abotionists is directed-a relation that now
preserves in quiet and security more than
9,500,000 human beings, and which cannot
he destroyed without destroying the peace
and prosperity of nearly half the States of
the Union, and involving their entire pop
ulation in deadly conflict that must
terminate either in the expulsion or extir-
patton of those who are the object Of tho
misguided and false humanity of those who
claim to be their friends.
lie must be blind, indeed, who does not
perceive that the subversion of relation
which must be followed with such disas-
trous consequences can only be effected by
commissions that would deyastate the coun-
try, burst asunder the bonds of the Union,
aud lnguli, in sea ofblood, the institutions
T ofthe country. 1t is madness to suppose
that the slaveholding states would quietly
submit to be sacrificed. Every considera-
, tion-interest, duty and humanity; the love
of country, the sense of wrong, hatred of
oppressors, ard treacherous and faithless
) confederates, and, finally, despair, would
impel them to the most daring and dcs-
t perate resistance in defence of properly,
family, country, and existence.
But wicked and cruel as is the end aimed
/ at, it is fully equaed by the criminality of
the means by which it is proposed 10 be
, accomplished These, rs has been stated,
/; consist in organized societies, and power
full press, directed mainly with view TO
l excite the bitterest luminosity and hatred of
the people of the non saveholding States
5 against the citizens and institutions Of the
slaveholding states. 1t is easy to see to what
/, disastrous results such means must tend.
Passing over their more obvious effects,
their tendency to excite to Instruction and
. soryie war, with all its horrors, and the
necessity which such tendency must i'm
: pose on the slaveholding States to resort to
S the most rigid discipline and severe police,
, to the great injury ofthe present condition
I ofthe slaves, there remains another threat.
2 cning incalculable mischief to the country.
The inevitable tendency of the means to
| which the abolitonists have resorted TO
effect their object, must, if persisted m. end
in completely alternating the two gre ut
}, sections of the Union. The incessant action
Y ofhundreds of societies, and vast printing
f establishment, throwing out daily thousands
| of ariul and inhammatory publications,
? must make, in time, deep impression on
3 the section of the Union where they freely
circulate, and are mainly designed to have
effect. The well informed and thoughtful
may hold them in contempt, but the young,
D the inexperienced and thoughtless will re-
! ceiye the poison. In process of time, when
= the number of proselytes is sufficiently
!; multiplied, the artiul and profiigate, who
{ are ever on the watch TO sieZe on any means,
= however wicked and dangerous, will unite
v with the fanatics, and make their move
f ments the basis of a powerful political party
e that will seek advancement by diflusing, as
T. widely as possible, hatred against the
: sIaveholdng states. But, as hatred begets
c hatred, and luminosity luminosity, these feel
= ngs would become reciprocal, till every
n veslige of attachment would cease to exist
o between the two sections, when the Union
c ami the Constitution, the offspring ofmutu-
al affection and confidence, would forever
c perish.
f Such is the danger to which the move
n manic of the nbolitonists eXuose he cOun-
+ try. If the force Of the obligation ID in