Piney Woods planter. (Liberty, Mi. [i.e. Miss.]) 1838-1840, 1838-12-08

~ N 1MA 1SA a
the whole matter with the owners Of the
slayes-it must be "tEc rork ofhe people,"
is bis opinion. The people of any State
or Territory may abolish slavery lift Is
their will, expressed through the "ballot-
box" The Doctor admits the right olthe
owner to the slave, and denies the right
Of Interference by the people of ether
states, with "the pcaceabIe possession of
his property" Is that Abollionism?
Every state in the Union held slaves
when the Constitution was adopted. The
states that since abolished slavery, did 50
in their sovereign capacity. Regarding
this question put to DR.. Duncan, by the
Aboitonists, he replies:
"We found it when VIC found our
selves in possession Of our new, our
free, and our independent (free and in
dependent of other powers Govern
mcnt. We have neither share nor lot
in either the benefits or the crimes of
slavery. 1t was tolerated by our an
cestors at the formation of the Govern
mcnt and the adoption Of the Consti-
tuition, TO secure and perpctdate our
independence, which had cost SO much
blood, so much treasure, and so much
toll. The federation of slaycry was one
Of the conditions upon which the slave
States agreed TO enter into the conled-
Grafton, and to adopt the Constitution;
and to disturb the question nor, contrary
TO their wish, and in the face of their
appreciation, is, in some degree, 10 vio-
late the Constitution, upon which the
Federal Government was established,
and, if persisted in, may greatly en-
dangerour happy Union. 1t would be.
arrogance in me, and show a great
want Of generosity and liberality, to
hesitate for moment to believe that
in the greater number of cases the
spirit of abolitionism flows from any
other than the purest fountains Of chart
ty and humanity. ] believe that humid
reds and thousands of those who are
supporting the Abolition
cause, are goyernded by no other than
a wish for the best interests of the coun-
try, and the purestprinciples of human
ity; yet haze mol bec1. able TO concur an
! have thought, and do
think that it is mistaken philanthropy,
and | would fear the effects Of aboli-
tionism, even if there were no constitu-
tional objections, or violations Of per-
sonal or State rights in carrying out
the system fear the effects would be
more fatal to the unhappy and unfor-
tunate African than even slavery it
self"
Why did not our opponents lay these
sentiments before their readers, instead
of the garbled mutulntod parts that they
have given; or why did they not give all
lie concludes with the following sentence
II have ever been IN favor Of the CO
lonizj ton plan of amcliorating the con
dition Of slavery, and Of finally abolish
ing il within the United States. Tht
process may be tedious, but it will b.
safe"
Speaking of this letter, when publishes
in the CINCINNATI Advertiser, the cdito
says:
"Wc arc of opinion the design wa
to entraP him. [Dr. DuNcAN,] and t.
procure from him some sentiments tina
might embroil him with his own party
for we do not think there is a singh
lEoco POGO Abolirionist who woulo
have voted for him if he had declared
himselfin favor Of immediate abolition
nor do we believe that single Aboli
zionist among the iioco Pocos did vot
for either him or Governor Shannon"