Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-03-05

nas been vet devised or proposed; and
the tr,e inouirv is, what is best 70 be-.
49, 9TH fhem.--In human affairs we
~ $3.50 o,fen constrained, by the force Of cir
,,amstances and the actual state of things,
n do what we would not do If that state
Of things did not exist. Tho slaves are
here, and here must remain, in some con.
dilion and, | repeat, how are they to be
best goYernedl What IS best be done.
for their happiness and our own ! In the
slave states the. alternative is, that tho
white man must govern the black, or the
black govern the white. In several Of
those states, the number of slaves is grea-
ter than thatof The white population. An
immediate abolition Of slavery in them,
an these ultra abolitionists propose, would
be followed by a desperate struggle for inn
mediate aseendancy Of the black race
over the white race, or rather il would be
followed by. instantaneous collisions be.
tween the two races, which would break
out into a civil war that would end in the
determination or subiugation Of the one
race or the other, In such an alterna.
tive, who can hesitate Is it not better
Cor both parties that the existing state Of
lhings should be preserved, instead of ex.
posing them to the horrible Strifes and
contests which would inevitably attend an
immediate abolition This IS our true
ground Of defence for the continued exis-
tence Of slavery in our country. It is
ahat which our Revolutionary ancestors
assumed. 1t is that which, in my opinion,
forms our justification in the eyes Of all
Christendom.
"A third impeachment to immediate abO.
litioD- is to be 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
enumeration of the population, was little
upwards Of two millions. Assuming
their increase at a ratio, which 1t proba-
bly, is, Of five per cent. per annum, their
present number would be three millions.
The average value Of slaves at this time
is stated by persons we'll informed to be
as high as five hundred dollars each. To
be certainly within the mark, let US sup.
pose that it is only four hundred dollars.
The total value, then, by that estimate, of
the slave property in the United States, is
twelve hundred millions of dollars. This
property is diffused throughout all classes
and conditions Of society. 1t is owned
by widows and orphans, by the aged and
infrn, as we'll as the sound and vigorous.
1t Is the subject of mortgages, deeds of
trust, and family settlements. It has been
made the basis of numerous debts con-
tracted upon its faith, and is the sole reli-
ance, in many instances, Of creditors
within and without the slave States, for
the payment of debts due them. And
now it is rashly proposed, by single fiat |
Of Legislation, to annihilate this immense
amount of property! To annihilate it |
without indemnity and without compensa.
lion to their owners Does any consider
lte man believe it to be possible to effect
such an object without CONFUSION, reVo.
luton, and bloodshedl
! know there is a visionary dogma
which holds that negro slaves cannot be
The subject Of property. l shall not |
dwell long with this speculative abstrac-
ion. That is property which the law de-
Dlares to be property. Two hundred
ears of legislation have sanctioned and
ano5aied negro slaves as property. I'm.
er all the forms Of Government which
ave existedu upon this continent during
hat long space Of time-u1Gcr the Brit
Ih ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the Colonial Co.
'ernment-mder all the State C0nStitu-
ion and GoveTnments-aId under the
Federal Government itself--they have
zen deliberately and solemnly recognized
5 the legitimate subjects Of property.
10 the wild speeulations of theorists and
nnoVators stands opposed the fact, that
n an uninterrupted period of two hundred
ears dulatiOn, under every form Of hui
nan legislation, and by all the departments
IT human government, African negro (
Iaves have been held and respected, have
descended and been transferred, as lawful /
ind Indisputablc property. They we're
.reated as property in the very British ex. |
ample which is so triumphantly appealed
o as worthy of our imitation. Although ,
he West InHia planters had no voice in /
he united Parliament of the British isles,
IN irresistible sense of justice extorted
rom that Legislature the grant Of twenty
nIslonS Of pounds sterling to compensate
he cOlOniSts for their loss Of property.
Il, therefore, these Observation-Disclosures are
seriously determined to pursue their
scheme Of immediate abolition, they
should at once set about raisinga fund of
Twelve hundred millions Of dolnrs, to in
1emnIty the owners Of slave property.
And the taxes to raise that enormous
amount can only bejustly assessed upon
themselves or upon the free states, if they
can persuade them 10 assent to such an
assessment; for it would be a mockery Of
all justice and an outrage against all equi-
y to levy any portion Of the tax upon the
slave states to pay for their own unques.
toned property Ho
u the considerations to which / have /
already adverted are not sufficient to dis
Suade tie abolitionists from further porsc-
verance in their designs, the interest Of
tlle very cause which 4hey profess g es-
Douso ought to check their career. IN.
steId Of advancing, BY their efforts, that
cause hey have thrown back for half
century thS prcspect Of any species Of
emancipation ,.f the African race, gradu-
I or immediate, in any, Of re states
They have done more they nave lllcle..sI
d the rigors Of legislation agalaSs slases
Q most, If not all, 81 the save 1870,
orty years ago the question vas agltalS.