Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-02-22


is not the question. The slaves are here;
no practical scheme for their removal or
separation from us has been yet devised or
proposed and the true inquiry is, what is
best TO be done with them. In human aft
fairs we are often constrained, by the force
of circumstances and the actual state OF
things, to do what we would not do II that
state of things did not exist The slaves are
here, and here must remain, in some condl-
zion and, repeat. how are they TO be best
governed ? What is best 10 be done for
their happiness and our own2 In the slave
States, the alternative is, that the white man
must govern the black. or the black govern
the white. In several of those States, the
number OF the slaves is greater than that of
the white population. An immediate aboli-
ton of slavery in them, as these ultra-aboli-
tionsts propose, would be followed by a des-
perate struggle for immediate ascendancy Of
the black race over the white race or rather
il would be followed by instantaneous coils
ions between the two races, which would
break out into civil war that would eud in
the determination or subjugation of the one
race or the other. In such an alternative,
who can hesi,a,e2 Is it no, better for both
parties that the existing state ofthngs should
be preserved, instead of exposing them to the
horrible strifes and contests which would in
evitably attend an immediate abolition -
This is our true ground Of defence for the
continued existence ofslavery in our coun-
try. 1t is that which our revolutionary an
cestors assumed II is that which, in my
opinion. forms our justification in the eyes Of
all Chrstendom.
A third impedment 10 immediate abolition
is to be found in the immense amount ofcapi-
tai which is invested in slave property. The
total number OF slaves in the United States,
according to the last enumeration of the pop.
ulation, was little upwards oftwo millions
Assuming their increase at ratio, which it
probably 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 well informed to be as high
= as FIVE hundred dollars each. To be GER
tanly within the mark, let US suppose that it
is only four hundred dollars The total val.
ue. then, by that estimate, of the slave prop
erty, in the United States is twelve hundred
millions Of dollars. This property is diffused
throughout all classes and conditions of soci-
ety. 1t is owned by widows and orphans,
by the aged and infrm, as well as the sound
and vigorous. II is the subject of mortgages,
deeds oftrust. and family settlements. 1t has
been made the basis of numerous debts con-
tracted upon its faith, and is the sole rei-
ance, in many instances. of creditors within
and without the slave States for the pay
ment ofthe debts due TO them. And now it
is rashly proposed, by single fiat of leois-
!ation, to annihilate this immense amount of
pIopertyl To annihilate it without indem-
nifty and without compensation TO its ownersl
Does any considerable man believe it to be
possible to effect such an object without con-
xnlsians 1eyolption and blood shed
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 be prop
erty, Two hundred years of Legislation
have sanctioned and sanctiied negro slaves
as property. Under all the forms of gov
ernment which have existed upon this con-
tinent during that long space oftime-under
the British Government-under the Coloni
al Government-urder all the State Consti-
tutions and Governmenls-and under the
Federal Government iself-they have been
deliberately and solemnly recognised as the
legitimate subjects Of property. Tothe wild
speculations Of theorists and innovators
stands opposed the fact. that in an uninter-
rnpted period Of two hundred years dura-
ton. under every form Of human legislation
and BY all the departments Of human govern
ment African negro slaves have been held
and respected, have descended and been
transferred, as lawful and indisputable prop
erty. They were treated as property in the
very British example which is so triumph
antiy appealed to as worthy Of our imila.
ton. Although the West India planters had
no voice in the united Parliament of the
British Isles, an irresistible sense of Justice
cxtorted from that Legislature the grant of
twenty millions Of pounds sterling to com.
pensate the colonsts for their loss of proper
~.
II therefore, these ultra -abolitionsts are
seriously determined TO pursue that scheme
OF immediate abolition, they should at once
set about raising fund of twelve hundred
millions of dollars, to. indemnify the owners
OF slave property And the taxes 10 raise
that enormous amount can only be Justly as
sessed upon themselves or upon the free
States, il they can persuade them TO assent 10
such an assessment; for il would be mock.
cry of all justice and an outrage against all
equity 10 levy any portion of the TAX upon the
slave States TO pay for their own unquestion-
cd property
IL the considerations to which | have al.
ready adverted are not sufficient 10 dissuade
the abolitionisis from further perseverance in
their designs. the interest OF the very cause
which they profess TO espouse ought to check
IF l..