Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-02-27


snald the black race ever acquire the ascondancy'n
thai State. But If bad been then, or were now
citizen Of any of the planting Statesthe Southern
or Southwestern States--I should have opposed,
and would continue TO oppose, any scheme "nate'e,
of emancipation, gradual or immediate, because o.
The danger OF an ultimate ascendarcy oil the black
race. or Of civil contest which might terminate IN
the extinction OF one race or the other
Tho proposition in Kentucky tor gradual etnhh'
cipation did not prevail but it was sustained y
large and respectable minority. That minority hAd
;pcreased. and was increasing, until the Abolition
lists commenced their operations. The enrct mas
been to dsspatc all prospect whatever i'f tne pre-
sent. of any scheme Of gradual OF other emanc'pF
ZION The people Of that State have become SHOCK,
cd and alarmed BY these abolition movements ana
the number who would now favor system even Of
gradual emancipation is probably less Than y was
IN the venrs 1899. At the session u the Legs
lature held in 1879, the question Of calling a
convention was submitted TO the confederation OF
the people BY law passed in conformity aih the
Consultation Of the State. Many motives existed
for tho passage of the law, and amosg them that Of
emancipation had its influence. When the question
was passed upon by the people at their last Hnnla
election only fourth Of the whole voters ~ inc
State supported cali Of convention. Inc sPpie
henson Of the danger OF abolition was tue lead'hs
consideration amongst the people Tor opposing the
ton of abolition in States whose population had no
right, in the opinion Of the people Of ntucky, to
interfere in tho matter, the vote for convention
would have been much larger, ift bad not been car
ried. | felt myself constrained to take Immediate,
bold, and decided ground against 1t.
Prior 10 the agitation OF this subject OF abolition,
there was a progressive moderation IN the CONDITION
OF slaves throughout all the slave States 10 some
OF lhem schools Of instruction were opened by hu'
laan al
checked and a spirit of INSTRUMENTATION having
shown itself in some localities traceable it's bette
we'd TO abolition movements and cxerons, tic i'g-
islave authority has found it expedient to inlare
fresh yigor into the police, and laws which regulate
the conduct of the slaves.
And now Mr. President, il il were possible to
overcome the nslImountable obstacles winch lie IN
the way ofimmedistc abolition, let us briefly con-
template some Of the consequences which would IN
cvitaby ensue. One of these has been occasionally
alluded to IN the progress of these remarks. II Is
the struggle which would instantaneously arise be-
tween the two race. 10 most of the S1n'hern and
Southwestern States. And what a dreadful stTug-
gle would IL not be Embittered 10y all the recoi
IscoAs Of the past, by the unconq prejadices
which would prevail between the two races, and
stimulated by all the hopes and fears OF The future
il would be a contest in which the determination Of
the blacks or their asceHdancy the whites,
sion or during the progress Of such contest, vast
numbers, probably, ofthe black race would migrate
into the free States; and what effect would such
migration have upon tbs labotng classes in those
Safes
Now the distribution Of labor in the United States
is geographical; the free Iaborers occupying one
side of the line. and the slave ahorcrs the other
each class pursuing ts own avocations almost alto
gether unmixed with the other Bnt, on the suPpo-
4 H.. ~. tI,ak E~ln mi
grating into the free States, would enter into com
petition with the white class, diminishing the wages
Of their labor, aud augmentng tbs hardship' Of
their condition
Thsis not ALL The abolitionists sirenuously OPP
pose all separation ofthe two races confess TO |
you sir that have with regret. grief and as
constituent, their resonte opposition to the project
of colonization No sehane ever presented to
the acceptance man. which, whether it be entire
Nv practicable not, is characterized by more I'M
mixed humanity and bcnevolcnee than that of trans
porting with their own consent, the free people OF
color IN tho United States to the land at their an
cestors. Il has the powerful recommendation that
whatever il does is goods and IT 1t effects nothing,
it nhicts no one evil mischief upon any portion
Of our society There is necessary hostility be-
tween the objects Of colonization and abolition
Colonization deals only with the free man Of color
md that with his own free voluntary consent. 1t
property, seeks to impair power in the slave
States nor to attribute any the General Govern
nent. All its action and all It's ways and means
are voluntary, depending upon the blessing of Prov
lence, which has hitherto grsciously smiled upon
T. And yet benefcent and harmless as cooniza-
ion is, no portion Of the People of the United
States denounce it, with much persevsring zeal
md such unmixed bitterness Us do the abolition
sts
They put themselves in direct opposition to any
separation whatever between the two races. They
would keep them forever prntnp together within
be same limits, perpetuating tselr anlmositles, and
onstantly endangerng the peace otthc community
They proclaim indeed, that color is nothing that
he organic and characteristic differences between
he two rases ought to be entirely overlooked and
lisregarded. And, clevating themselves to sub
ime but impracticable philosophy, they would teach
IS to eradicate all the repugnance of our nature,
md to take to our bosoms and boards the
lack man "a we would the white. the same
ootng or equal social condition, Do they not per-
eive that In thus contounding all tho distinctions
which God himself has made, they arrGign the
wisdom aad goodness of Providence itseli II has
een His divine pleasure TO make the black man
Rack, and the white man white, and 10 distinguish
hem by other repulsive constitutional differences
I j. not necessary for me to maintain, nor shall
ndeavor to prove. that il any part OF Ills d-
inc intention that the one race should be held in
erpetual bondage by the other; but thi. will say
hat those whom He has created different, and has
ecared, by their physical structure add color
ught to be kept asunder, should not b. brought to-
sther by any process, whatever of unnatural ANAL
amation.
But If the dangers of the civil contest which
ave supposed could be avoided, separation
i. the only peaceful alternative, it it
,ere possible TO efec tho project of abolition.
he abolitionista oppose all colonization, and it ir
ssis,ibly follows, whatever they May protest de-
are that they are in favor Of amagamsliol.-
nd who are TO bring out this amalgamationi
ave heard of mono OF these ultra-abo lrionsts fur
ishing in their own families OF persons, examples
intermarriage. Who Is To h"ginitl Il it their
urpose not only TO create punching competition
etween black labor and white LABOR, but do they
ltend also To contaminate the industrious and la
orious classes OF society at the North by II revolt.