Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-02-21

ton. The people Of that State have become
shocked and alarmed by these abolition
/ movements, and the number who would now
favor a system even Of gradual emanci patton
| is probably less than it was in the year l79e
-. Al the session of the Legislature held
II in 1878, the question Of calling c0nven.
iion was submitted TO the consideration ot
! the people by law passed in conformity
with the Constitution Of the State. Many
motives existed for the passage Of the law,
aud among them that of emancipation had its
influence. When the question was passed
upon by the people ut their last annual elec'
ton, only about one fourth OF the whole
voters of the State supported call Tor
convention. The apprehension of the dan
ger Of abolition was the leading consideration
amongst the people for opposing the CALL
But for that but for the agitation ofthe ques-
ton of abolition in States whose population
had no right in the opinion OF the people OF
Kentucky, to interfere in the matter, the vote
for a convention would have been much
larger, if il had not been carried. felt my.
self constrained to take immediate, bold, and
J decided ground agans, it.
II Prior to the agitation of this subject OF
) abolition, there was progressive meliorntion
in the condition Of slaves throughout all the
instruction were opened by humane and re-
| lipous persons. These are all now checked
and spirit of insubordinalion having thrown
itself in some localities, traceable, it is be-
lievcd, to abolition movements and excrtions,
the legislative authority has found it expe-
dent to infuse fresl, vigor into the police
and laws which regulate the conduct OF the
, slaves.
And now, Mr.. President, if it were possible
to overcome the insurmountable obstacles
which lie in the way Of Immediate abolition
let us briefly conte empate some Of the con
sequences which would inevitably ensue.-
One Of these has been occasionally alluded
to in the progress Of these remarks. IL is
the struggle which would simultaneously y
arise between the two rnces in most OF the
; Southern and Southwestern Stntes. And
; wha, dreadful struggle would it not A.
5 Enbtered by all the recollcctons OF the
past, by the unconqnerable Prejudces which
? onld prevail between the two races, and
stimulated by oil the hopes and fears Of the
future, it would be a contest in which the
determination of the blacks, or their ascen-
; dancy over the whites, would be the sole
; alternative. Prior to the conclusion, or dur
iGg the progress Of such contest, vast num-
bcrs, probably, of the black race would
migrate iuto the free States; and what effect
would such migration have upon the labor
ing classes in those States.
Il Now, the distribution OF labor in the United
} States is geographical the free laborcrs oc-
cupying one side and the slave laborcrs the
other; each class pLrsuing its own avocations
almost altogether unmiXed with the other
; But, on the supposition ofmmediate abolition,
the black class, migrating into the free States,
} would enter into competition with the white
class, diminishing the wnges Of their labor,
and augmenting the hardships OF their con.
dtion.
H This is not all. The nbolitionists strenn-
ously oppose all separation Of the two races.
| confess to you sir that have seen with
regret. grief and asionishncnt, their resolute
| opposition to the project of colonization. No
scheme wns ever presented to the acceptance
of man, which, whether il DO entirely practi.
cable or not, is characterized by more un-
mixed humanity and bcnovolcnce than that
Of transporting, with their own consent, the
fee people Of color in the United States TO
the land of their ancestors. II has the pow
0rful recommendation that whatever it does
is good and il it effects nothing, il inhcts
no one evil or mischief upon any portion OF
; our society. There is no necessary hostility
7 between the objects of colonization and ubo-
! lition. Colonization deals only with the free
man OF color, aud that with his own irco vol
untary consent. II has nothing to do with
slavery. 1t dlsiurbs no mans property, seeks
; TO impair no power in the slave States nor
to attribute any to the General Government.
All its action and all its ways md means are
voluntary, depending upon the blessing Of
Providence, which hitherto has graciously
smiled upon it. And yet, beneicent and
| harmless as colonization is, no portion Of the
people Of the United States denounccs il
with 40 much persevering zeal and such un-
mixed bitterness rs do the sbolitionists.
II They put Themselves in direct opposition
to any separation whatever between the two
races. They would keep them forever pent
up together within the same limits, perpet-
uating their animosities, and constantly en-
dangering the peace of the community
They proclaim, indeed, that color is nothing;
tiyut the o'gtDic and Characteristic between
Ifths two races Vugb; TO be entirely overlooked
auu Glsfegurded And, elevating themselves
30 sublime but impractlcable philosophy,
hey would teuch Us 10 eradicate all the re-
pugnunces q or nature, and to take to our
bosu,ns end our boards the black man as we
DO the white, on the snmc footing OF equal
social condition. DO they not perceive that
'h 'I'un SonIolnuIUp MI Tue uIStIlCtIOnS WHICH
God himself has made, they arraign the wis
dom and goodness of Providence itself? II
has been Ills divine pleasure to make the
black man black and The white man white,
and to distinguish them by other rcpulsive
constitutional differences. II is not neces-
saIy for me TO maintain, nor shall endcavor
to prove, that it was any part Of His divine
intention that the one race should be held in
i perpetual bondage by the other but this |
will say, that those whom lie has created
different, and has declared, by their physical
structure and color, ought to be kept asunder,
should not be brought together by any pro-
cess whatever OF unnatural anal ganation.
III But if the dangers Of the civil contest
which have supposed could be avoided,
separation or amalgamaion is the only peace
iul alternative, if il were possible to effectu-
ate the project Of abolition. The abolition.
lists oppose all colonization, and it irrcsistably
follows, ,whatcverth they may protest or declare,
That they are in favor Of anal gamaiion. And
who are TO bring about this amalgamation
have heard of none Of these ultra abolition
lists furnishing in their own families or per-
sons examples Of intcrmarriage. Who is to
begin it? Is it their purpose not only Ia
create pinching competition between black
labor and white labor, but do they intend also
| In, cnp in, ..l 4 L 4