Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-02-22

,lation. An immediate abolition OF slavery IN
hem, as these ulra.abo litioniss propose, won be
toIlowed by desperate struggle Tor Immediate
of the black race over The white race,
Or rather il would he followed by instantaneous
collisions between the Two races, which would
break out into u civil war that would end N the
extermina ton suhug ,tion Of The race or The
other. In such IN alternative who can hesitate
Is il moi better for both parties that the existing
state Of things should he preserved, instead OF expo.
sing them 10 tie horrible slrifcs and contests which
would inevitably attend an immediate Ambition
This IL our true ground Of efence for the continued
existence OF slavery in our country. II is that
which our revolutionary ancestors assumed. II is
that which, in my opinion, forms our justification in
the eyes of all Chrisrendom.
A third inpedmen, to immediate abolition is TO
he found IN the immense amount OF capital which is
invested in slave property. The total number OF
slaves in the United States, according to the last
meratoo of The population, was little upwards
Of two millions. Assuming their increase at a
ratio, which it probably ia, Of five per cent. per
annum, their present number would be three mil.
lions. The average value Of slaves at this time is
stated bv persons we'll informed TO be as high MS
five hundred dollars each. To he certainly within
the mark, let Us suppose that it is only $500. The
total value. then, by that estimate, NJ the
slave property in the United States is
200 900 900 Of dollars. This properly is
dffused throughout oil classes and condi.
tions of society. 1t is owned bv widows
and orphans, by The aged and infirm, as
well as the sound ard vigorous. 1t is the
subject Of mortgages. deeds of trust. and
family settlements. II has been made he
basis Of numerous debts contracted upon
its faith, and is the sole reliance. in many
instances, Of creditors within and without
the slave States, for The payment Of the
debts due to them. And now it is rasbly
proposed by single fiat Of legislation, to
annlhlla'e this immense amount ofproperty!
To ann,hilate it without indemnity ard
without compensation to its owners Does
any considera'e man believe it to be posi-.
ole to effec, such an object without convul.
sion revolution and bloodshed9
know that there is a visionary dogma
which holds that negro slaves cannot be
the subject Of property. shall not dwell
long with this speculative abstraction.
That is property which the law declares
TO Re properly. Two hundred years of
legislation have sanctioned and snnctlfied
negro slaves as property. Under all the
forms Of government which have existed
upon this continent during that long space
Oflime- under the British Government
under the Colonial Government-under all
the State Constitutions and Governments
and under the Federal Government itself
they have been deliberately and solemnlv
recognized as the legitimate subjects Of
property. To the wild speculatons of the
orists and innovators stands opposed the
FACT, that in an uninterrupted period of
two hundred years duration, under every
form of human legislation, and by all The
departments Of human government. Afri
can negro slaves have been held aud
respected, have descended ard been trans.
ferred, as lawful and indisputabe property.
They were treated as property in the very
British example which is SO trlumphantly
appealed to az worthy of our imitation.
Although the West India planters had no
voice in the united Parliament Of the Brit
ish Isles. an irresistible sense of justice ex
torted from that Legislature The grant of
twenty millions of pounds sterling to com.
pensale the colonists for their loss Of prop
er'y.
#, therefore. these ultra obolitonists are
seriously determined TO pursue heir scheme
Of immediate abolition they should at once
set about raising a fund Of twelve hundred
millions of dollars, TO indemnify the owners
ofslave property. And the taxes to raise
that enormous amount can only be Justly
assessed upon themselves or upon the free
States, if they can persuade them to assent
10 such an assessment; for il would be q
mockery of all justice and an outrage
against all equity to levy any portion of the
tn ho clo IN Gn. h.i
unquestioned property.
If the considerations to which | have
already adverted are not sufficen, to dis. |
suaGe the abolition's's from further perse-
verance in their designs, the interest of the
very cause which they profess to espouse
ought TO check their career. Instead of
advancing. by their efforts, that cause
they have thrown back for half century
the prospect Of any species of eman patton
of the African race, gradual or immediate
in any of the States. They have done
more they have increased the rigors OF
legislation against slaves in most, il not all.
Of the slave States. Forty years ago the
question was aginted in the State of Ken
lucky OF gradual emancipation of the
slaves within its limits BY gradual eman
cipation, | mean that slow but safe and
cautious liberation of slaves which was
first adopted in Pennsylvania at The instance
of Dr.. franklin, in he year 1880. and. &C.
cording 10 which, the generation In being
wero to remain in slavery, but all their off
spring born after n specified day were to be
free at the age Of twenty eight, and, in the
mean time, were to receive preparatory in
struclion TO qualify hem for the enjoymen,
Of freedom. That was the species of
emancipation which, at The epoch to which
! allude, was discussed in Kentucky. No
one was rash enough to propose or think of
immediate abolition. No one was rash
enough to think of'hrowing loose upon the
community. ignorant and unprepared, the
untui ored slaVes oflhe State. Many lhn'l