State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-03-15

to suggest for his consideration, few
points connected with abolition, which may
not heretofore have been presented so di-
rectly MS we shall endeavor to do
j. In the annals of slavery, is there any
authentic record of its having been termi-
mated by gradual emancipation, ,chere epen
ONE HALF of the laboring class Of the com
munity were slaves? We believe, none
eau be fond. Pennsylvania does not fur
nish one. She never had 5000 slaves. nor
more than one to every forty whites Nei-
ther does Massachusetis-for she had pro-
portion not greater than Pennsylvania -
and to her honor he it said, her abolition of
slavery was immediate. She ingraited OH
her constitution a truth, with which slavery
was found to he inconsistent. Rather than
give mp the truth, she gave up slavery.
! MIR Slade will find on turning his attcn-
ton to this part of the subject, that in all
the states which have adopted the plan of
gradual emancipation, mot even excepting
New Jersey, where the number of slaves in
proportion to the free was the greatest,)
slave labor has been insignificant in impor-
lance, when compared tcGh their free labor.
Thus 1t was, that the small addition to he
existing amount Of free labor, made by the
emancipation of the slaves, was almost,
without being perceived, absorbed by the
mass of free labor already in being.
Suppose, that in Kentucky, 5000 slaves
her annual increase-are emancpated each
year: what would become of them They
have nothing, with which TO purchase land,
or in any way, to set up for themselves
and shareholders will not employ such, to
labor with their slaves. Thus it is, they
are made outcasts and wanderers and that
they contract, and become confirmed in
the very character held up by our oppo-
nents, as an objection TO immediate emanci-
patton.
2. Mr. Slade would have "the right to
hold men MS goods and chattels, subject to
sale and transfer, Mt the will of the master,
to cease, and to be discontinued Instantly
and forever" AT the same time, she would
not, at ouce, entirely emancipate him tho
slave) from the control of his master" Now
| if MIR Slade had long been witness of tho
process by which slavery is kept up OH a
large scale, he would testify to the truth of
tins position, that it cannot exist unless
there is virtually, absolute power. Take
| from the master the power to tphip up to
the point of acquieScence in every thing
that is required of the slave; the power to
"sell and transfer" at will and men cannot
be retained in bondage.
If the master is to enjoy the labor from
! the circumstance of his having the control
of the slave continued to him, without paw
ing for it what is just and equal, it is but
the mere repi,ion Of injustice, which will
have but little tendency to make the slave
better man, or to inspire him with respect
and friendship for his master.
Why continue any Of the "control" of
] cIuJe m whore or
exercise is transgression of inalienaJie
| rights? Will Mr. ). look for moment at
this idea s. n slave intended to be free is vet
subject to the "control" OF master--oi'
Stare MASTER - he disobeys,--what must be
the resort on the part Of the master Not
dislnission oi'him from his scrvice-a ces.
sation of wages-a turning away from
| comfortable situation not n Withdrawing
of the stimulus Of reward for his services
No; 1t must be the coercion of far and
bodily suffering. Aud those the master
must push to the full extent of overcoming
the contumacy Of the slave. This, and
nothing else, is precisely what constitutes
slavery IN It's present aggravated form;
and this is one reason why we know that all
plans of gradualiSm will ever be found not
even emOtlientS to the disease.
MIR ,. has not, probably, given much of
his attention to the operation of gradualism,
under the form of apprenticeship in the
British West Indies. Here the laws give
the control which Mr. 5. considers Gesira-
BILE. The erueltes of this form of oppres-
sion, put TO shame those that were pcrpe-
trated under the abrogated form of slareru.
And Just for this reason-tliat formerly the
authority of the master was undisputed,-
now, it is disputed. He must have his la
Dor performed, and he finds himself shorn
OF some OF his former power, Exercised us
absolute only ,rhen this made IL necessary
tor compelling lis performance. When
there is disputed authority, there will al
ways he, as there always has been, ieal-
ousy, suspicion, and fierceness on the part
OF HIM who attempts to maintain it and on
the part of him who is subjected to it, ha-
tired and thirst for revenge. Would Mr.
,. be willing to give control over any hu-
man being, except their own children, to
the "Vigilance Committees" oft south
who trample openly on all rights, imbru-
ing their hands in the blood of the innocent
that they may maintain their control over
their fellow men?
We have already far exceeded our limits
III these remarks. We feel how uncothel
and skeleton-ike they must appear, and
would be glad to give them more coneli-
ness; hut we cannot. We trust however.
should MIR Sladc see them, they will suggest
TO has wcIl-irained mind some new depart
ments Of tins great subject on which it
may probably bestow It's labors.
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