Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-10-27

IN their own exemption, from whatever ew
may attend II, the great mnss OF our fellow
citizens there do not seek 10 violate the Con
siltntlon or To disturb the harmony OF ihes,
States. ] desire no concealmc NJ Of my opln
ion IN regard 10 the institution Of slavery
look upon IL as great evil, and deeply la
mpni that we have derived it from the pareD.
tai government and from our ancestors.
wish every slave in The United States was IL
the country of his Ancestors. But here they
are, and the question is how can they be bes
dealt with? IL state Of nnture existed, and
we were nSout 10 lay the foundations Of so
clcty, no man would be more strongly oppos-
ed than should be 10 incorporate the ins'i.
tuition Of slavery among it's elements. But
there is an incsculable difference bet tween
the original formation Of society, aud long
existing organized society, with its ancient
laws. institutions aud establishments.
H Now, great as acknowledge, in my opin.
ion, the evils OF slavery are, they are nothing
in comparison with The far greater evils
which would inevitably flow from O sudden,
general and indiscriminnte emanci pat ion
In some of The States the number of slaves
i approxima'es towards an equality with that
| OF the whites: IN one or two they surpass
them. What would be the condition Of the
iion of an immediate emancipation Does
any man suppose that they would become
blended into one homogeneous mass? Does
any man recommend anna gnmaiion-,h that re.
7ot,ng adn,ixture. alike offensive To God
and man? For those whom lie, by their
physical properties, has made unlike and put
asunder, we may, without prcsumpluousness.
suppose were never intended TO be joined
together IN one Of the holiest rites. Aud let
me tell yon, sir, if you do not alrendy know
il, that such are the feclings-prejudiccs. #
you please land what man claiming TO be n
Statesman, will overlook, or disregard, the
deep seated and unconluerabe pledudices
Of the People IN the slave States, that no
human law could enforce q union between
the two races.
What then would certainly iappeni A strug,
gle for political sscondemcy the blacks seek.
ing Ia acquire, and the whites 10 maintain pos
session Of the Government. Upon The suppO-
sition OF Il general Immediate emancipation,
IN those States where the blacks ontnumbur
the whites, they would have nothing to do but
Ia Insist upon another part of the same Dccla-
ration of Independence as Dorr aud his deu-
dcd democratic followers recently did in Rhode
Island, according 10 which an underlined ma
jority have the right, at their pleasure, to sub
|
new one, in It's place, and then The whites
would be- brought III complete subjcciion to ihe
blacks \ contest would inevitably ensuc
between the two races, civil war, carnage, piI-
lage, confagraion, devastation and the ultl-
mate determination or expulsion oi the blacks
Nothing is more certain. Aud are not thcs.
evils far greater than the mild continually I'M |
proving state Of slavery which exists III this
country say continually improving; for II
the condition Of the sla, ,es has been checked
IN some Of the States the responsibility must
attach To the unfortunate agitation Of the sub
ject of abolition. la consequence Of il, in
creased rgor oiihe police aud further restraints
have been imposed and ! do believe that
gradual emancipation Uhe only method OF
liberation that has ever been though, safe or
wise by any body in any of The slave Staies)
has been postponed half Il century.
Without any knowledge of the relations IN
which ] stand to my slaves, or their indiv viduai
condition, you, MIR. Mendenhall, aud your as
sociates who have been active IN getting up
this petition, call upon me forthwith to lIbc-
rate tile whole Of them. Now let me tell you
that some half a dozen Of them, from age, de. |
crrpiindo or inirmity, are wholly unable To-
gain IA livelihood for thcmsel> es, and are II
heavy charge upon me. Do you think iha:
should conform To The dictates of humanity, |
by Kidding myself of that charge, aud sending |
them forth into the world, with the boon OF
liberty, 10 end wretchcd existence in starva.
iion? Another class is composed Of helples.
infants, with or without improv idcnt u oth' rs.
DO you believe as u Christian that | should per- /
form mydnt, towards them BY abandoning them
To their fate! Then, there is another class " ho |
would not accept their freedom if ] would l
give II To them. ] have for many years owned |
II slave that wished would leave me hui he
will not What shall do with that class
What my treatment of my slaves is, you may
learn from Charles, who accompanies me on
this journey, aud who has travelled with mr
over the greater part Of the United States and |
IN both the Canudas, aud has had thousand Il
opportunities, If he had chosen To embrace
them, to leave me. Excuse me, Mr.. Menden.
hall, for saying that my slaves are as well fed
and clad, look as sleak and hearty, aud are
quite rs civil and respectful in their drmeanor,
and as little disposed 20 wound the feelings Of
any one, as YOU are. Il
Great and continued laughte and applause. /
Let me recommend To you, sir, TO initiate
the benevolent example Of the society off
Friends in the midst of which you reside
Meek, gentle, cmbucd with the spirit Of our
benign religion, whilst in principle they are
firmly opposed To slavery, They do not seek to
accomplish its extinction by foul epilheis,
'"'S' 'Hu NhSH' dDu>c anu SIbss CdluinHy J. II
Their Ways do not lead through blood, reyolu-
ilon aud disnnion. Their broad and compre-
hcnsve philanthropy embraces, as they be.
lie'e, the good and The happiness of the white
MS well as the black race giving TO the one
their comnisseraiion, to the other, their kind.
est sympathy. Their instruments are not
those of dctraction aud Of war, but of peace,
persuasion, aud earnest appeals To the chhr-
lies OF the human heart. UnambItious, they
have no political objects or purposes 10 sub
serve. My Intercourse with them throughout
life has been considerable, interesting aud
agreeable; and venture to say that nothing
'ould have induced them, as II society, what.
ever Il few individuals might have been tempt.
I'd To do, To seize The occasion of INV casual
passage through this state, to offer me per-
,onal indlgnit,.
This part al Mr.. Claws speech was listened
10 with deep and absorbing attention, and was
followed by loud bursts of applause.
respect the motives of rational aboiionists
sho are aciuntcd by sentiment of devotion
70 human liberty, although dcplorc aud dep.
-ecaic the consequences Of the agitation of
he question. have even NY friends among
hem. But they are not monomanIacs, " o,>ur.
'"ndrrIng themselves Ia a single idea, look al.
Ugrihcr to The black side of human life. The, II
lu not believe that the sum total of all uur
llurts aud all flC ,ptinn h,.