Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-11-03
THURSDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 8, 1912.

siderateiy 10 atlx their signatures 10 ms
petition, aud that they will deeply regre,
lat. Others, and not few am told, are
free blacks, men, women, and children,
who have been arifully deceived and I'M
posed upon. A very large portion, !
have been credlbly informed, are the pc.
itical opponents OF the party 10 which |
belong as they most unde.
seryedly call themselves, who have eager
y seized this opportunity 10 wound, as
they imagined, my feelings, and to aid the
cause to which they are attached. In
other quarters Of The Union. democrats
claim 10 be the exclusive champions Of
Southern interests, the only safe defend.
ers Of the rights IN slave property, and
unjustly accuse us Wings with abolition
designs, wholly incompatible with lis Sc
curty. What ought these distant demo-
Gratis 10 think OF the course of their friends
here who have united in this petition
And what is the foundation Of this APP
peal TO me in Indiana to lberate the
slaves under my care 10 Kentucky? 1t
is general declaration in the act an
of tbs Thirteen American Colonies, that
all men are created equal. Nov, as an
abstract principle, there is no doubt OF the
truth OF that declaration; and II is desra-
Bile in the original construction Of Society,
and n organized Societies, to keep it ~
view as great fundamental principle. -
But, then, apprehend that in no Society
that ever did exist, or ever shall be form.
ed, was or can the equality asserted a.
mong the members Of the human race,
be practically enforced and carried out.
There are portions of it, large portions,
women, minors, insane, culprts, transient
soIourners, that will always probably re-
main subject To the government Of another
portion Of the community.
That declaration, whatever may be the
extent of It's import, was made by the del
egations of the thirteen States. In most
of them slavery existed, and had long OK.
sted, and was established by law. 1t
was introduced and forced upon the colo
MES by the paramount law of England.
Doyou believe, thatin making that decls-
ration, the States that concurred in il in
tended that it should be tortured into a
virtual emancipation OF all the slaves with
IN their respective limlts1 Would V rgi.
MA and the other Southern States have
ever united in declaration which was 10
be interpreted into an abolition Of slavery
among them ! Did any one of the thir.
teen States entertain such design or ex-
pectation To impute such secret aud
unavowed purpose, would be to charge a
political fraud upon the noblest band Of
patriots that ever assembled in council,
fraud upon the coniederacy Of the Revu-
luton, fraud upon the Union Of these
States, whose Constitution not only recog.
nized the lawfulUess Of slavery, but per-
mited the importation of slaves from AZ
RIGA, until the year 1903. And am bold
to say, that if the doctrines OF modern ul
ira political bboIltionists had been SO.
riously promulgated at the epoch Of our
revolution, our glorious Independence
would never have been achieved. Ne.
vert Never!
[Great applause; and many voices
echoing Never.']
| know the predominant sentiment in
the free States is adverse to slavery; bnl
happy in Their own exemption, from what.
ever evils may attend il, the great mass
Of our fellow citiZens there, do not seek to
violate the Constitution or to disturb the
harmony of these States. desire no
concealment Of my opinions in regard 10
the Institutions Of slavery. | look upon
it as great evil, and deeply lament that
we have derived it from our ancestors
wish every slave 10 the United States WAS
IN the country Of his ancestors. But here
they are, and the question is, how can
they be best dealt with If . state Of
nature existed, and we were about to lay
the foundations Of society, no man would
be more strongly opposed thaa should
: be to ncorpol ate the institution of slavery
among its elements. But there is an IN
calculabe difference between the original
formation of society, and "a long existing
organized society, with lis ancient laws,
institutions and establishment. Now,
great as acknowledge, in my opinion,
the evils Of slavery are, they are nothing,
absolutely nothing, in comparison with
the far greater evils which would nevIta.
bly, flow from sudden, general and indIs
criminate emancipation. In some Of the
States the number OF slaves approximate
towards an equality with that Of the
whites; in one or two, they surpasc them.
What would be the condition of the two
races in those States upon the suppostlon
Of an immediate emancipation Does
any man suppose they would become
blended into one homogeneous mass =
Does any man recommend amalgamation
that revolving admixture, alike often.
sive to God and man? For those whom
He, by their physical properties. has made
unlike and put asunder, we may, without
presump,uousness, suppose we're never
intended to be joined together IN one ofthe
hottest rites. And lie, me tell you, sir, If
you do not already know il, that such are
the ieelings-prejudices, if you please, land
what man claiming To be Statesman will
overlook or disregard the deep seated and
unconquerable pr"iudices Of the People
in the Slave States, that no human law
could eniorce a union between the two
races.
| What then would certainly happen =
4 Il