The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-24
REMARKS OF MR.. DAVIS.
OF KENTUCKY.
ON THEsUBJECT OF ABOLITION PETITIONS
(Concludedl

IL required the third of a century for the
Parliament Of England, with all lis plenitude
of power, and in its legislation over colonies
acting in the spirit of despotism, to manumil
six hundred thousand slaves. They were
owned probably by less than ten thousand
people, who lived thousands of miles from
the English Government and people and
who were subjected and awed by physical
power, into perfect obedience to its imperial
legislation. Yet, in this age, so strong and
deeply grounded are the rights of property
even IN slaves, that these. four remote and de.
ienceless colonisls, 10 whom the English ma.
ton were feebly bound by an elongated tie
OF kindred and sympathy, could not in less
time than generation be deprived of their
slaves, by the power Of government, to them
perfectly absolute : nor then, until compensa-
ton was made to them. What delusion, wha,
faulty, to think thattwo millions and quarter
owned by several hundred thousand freemen
are to be disenthralled, or its consumma,ion
fastened, by those appeals to Congress on
the part OF those who have no right 10 con-
Germ themselves in the matter. These mis-
guided and false friends of the negro, but add
TO the rigors of slavery, and rivet closer and
stronger its chains They are, by their Off
cious and Incorporate Interference, rolling
back that tide in favor of emancipation and
colonization which was slowly and certainly
swelling in many parts Of the slave holding
States. There Is but single county in the
State of Kentucky, that owns larger num-
Der Of slaves than the one in which reside.
A few years ago. there were probably majo-
rity OF its citizens that began to desire, and
contemplate prospective and gradual sys-
tenn OF emancipation, accompanied by coloni-
cation: and many, very many, regarded as
not very distant the day, when in that State
the experiment should be made. But the
abolition monomania sprung up, and on the
shareholders has exhausted every term of
opprobrum and reproach. Secret associa-
tons encouraged our slaves to elope, and con-
veyed them clandestinely and rapidly to Ca
NADIA: servlle instructions, in the South
western States, were planned and fomenied
by missionary abolitionists and the white
population were saved from all the shocking
enormities of IA St. Domingo insurrection, on
ly by the inability Of these demons to re-en-
act them. We were required to submit our
consciences, our understandings, our wills.
and our property, to the superior reason and
holiness Of others; and at once to endure the
transmutaiion Of one-fourth of the population
Of Kentucky, into free negroes.
Sir, if there was power of sufficient ener-
gy,suddeny, by single act to effect so great
change, and then to be in state OF such ex-
as not to have ability to sustain this
state of things, the two races could not pos
sibly live in the same country. They are by
nature essentially different: and in sympathy
and interest, such measure would place them
much wider asunder. There would be in
habitng the same country two races Of peo-
pie, separated by physical constitution,
strongly and imrlntably marked in its differ
ence, occupying an alien and belligerent posi-
ton towards each other: and the whites
would either abandon the country or they would
drive the whole mass of black population up
on their neighbors, or they would exterminate
it with sword and halter. Yes, those agita-
tors have produced great and striking revul-
sion in public feeling on this subject, but their
malignancy re)oiccs that with emancipation.
they are throwing back colonization. That
great, enlightened, practical and humane project,
they seek TO overthrow, because It may divert
in large degree, misguided benevolence
from taking the direction of their mischievous
Vaccinations, and augmenting their power.
The spirit of this aye seems to be ultralsm,
and manles,s itself in agrarlanism, abolition,
SC. &c. !; and legislation seems to be in
volved as the common agent of all, whether
political or social, moral or religious. APP
peals to the power of government are becom-
ing much too common and indscriminate -
Legislation may properly and ought to re-
strain violence and crime, and gross immor-
atty; bu, it will be found totally inappropriate
and inefficient, in the inspiration Of virtue aud
moral sense, whether in connexIon with slavery
or any other subject. These matters ought to be
left to the exclusive cognizance of an inform
ed public sentiment, which will most wisely
make out, and most peaceably execute its
own DEGREES for the general veal.
| myself believe the mandate has gone
forth, that involuntary serviude shall cease to
exist in Christendom. 1t was pronounced
when Somerset was adjudged to have become
free by touching the soil Of England and the
process of its execution is seen in the ab,li-
ton of The slave trade upon the high seas, first
by the United States, then by Great Britain,
and subsequently, with single exception, by
all the maratime powers of the world . in most
of Christendom having declared that trade to
be piracy, and in the abolition of slavery in
the British West Indian Islands. France is
preparing to abrogate it in her colonies and
it is in the course of events, that it shall 90 on
to its final consummation. The measures of
these people will form obstacles to its progress,
but its onward march is certain and resis,less
though it must be slow, as was that of
civilization upon barbaric and benighted
world. 1t will be first swept from the agricul-
tural States, and will nger long and obsti-
nately in those that grow cotton. That great
staple will never be cultivated but to a limited
extent Inv FREE fnrLiciiInrIu hu lrhiie lahnr