Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1842-11-05

tuf9Q Int q VirtuaI eHldHGiphhloh ~ - tho
slaves within their respective limits Would
" rginia and the ether Southern States have
seyer united ii d declaration which was to be
Interpreted int an abolition OF slavery among
them? Did any one Of the thirteen States
entertain such a design or expectation j
imputes such d secret aud unavoWed purpose,
would be to charge a political fraud upon the
cJnfederacy Of the Revolution, a fraud upon
The Union OF these States, whose Constitution
not only recognized the lawiliDess OF slavery,
but permitted the Importation Of slaves from
Africa until the year 1903. And. | am bold
to say that, if the doctrines of modern ultra
political abolitionlsts had baen seriously pro-
lnulgated at the epoch of our Revolution, our
GLORIOUS independence would never have been
achieved. Neverl Never
| know the predominant sentiment in the
free States is adverse TO slavery but happy
in their own exemption, from whatever evils
may attend il, the great mass OF our fellow
citizens, there do not seek 10 violate the Con-
s%titution or TO disturb tie harmony OF these
States. ! desire no conte aiMent Of myopiE-
ions in regard TO the institution OF slavery.
| look upon il az a great evil aud deeply IA
ment that we haze derived it from the paren.
tai government and from cur ancestors. /
WISH every SFuN6 III ltp oilltLi t3tdlCS u "a
the country Of his ancestors. But here they
are. and the question IS how can they be beat
dealt with! II state Of nature existed, and
we were about to lay the foundations OF so
ciety, 40 man would be more strongly opposed
than | should bet incorporate the institution
Of slavery among its clemens. But there ts
an incalculable difference between the origin
al formation Of society, and a long existing
organized society, with its ancient laws, M
etitutions and cstablishments.--Now great as
! acknowledge, in my opinion, the evils OF
slavery are, they are ~ne:hine, absolutely no.
thing, in comparison with the far greater evils
which would inevitably flow from q sud
den, general and indiscripinate emancipation.
In some Of the States The number ot. slaves
opportunities towards an equality with that
Of the whites, ia enenpr two they surpass
them. What would bNFthe condition oftbe
two races in thuse States upon the supposl-
ton Of au immediate emancipation! Does
any man suppose that they would become
blended into one homogeneous miss !! Does
any man recommend a~malgamatlon that re-
v~olting admixture, alike offensive TO God and
man for those whom lie, by their physical
properties, has made unlike and put asunder,
we may, without presurnptuousness, suppose
were never intended to be joined. together IN
one of the hottest rites. Aud let Inc tell you,
sir, if you do not already know it, that such
are the ieelings-prejudiceE, if yous please
(and what man claiming to be a statesman,
will overlook, or disregard, the deep seated
and unconquerable prejudices Of the peep'e!)
in the slave States, that no human law could
enforce a union between the w races,
What then would certainly heppen! A
struggle for political ascendency the blacks
sec king to acquire, and the whites TO main
tain possession of The government. Upon the
supposition oil a general immediate emaneipa-
ton, in those States where the blacks out
| number the whites, they would have nothing
to DO but to insist upon another part OF the
same declaration of Independence, as Dorr
and his deluded democratic followers recent
" did in Rhode Island, according to which
an underlined majority have the right, at Their
pleasure, TO suhyCrt an existing government
and institute a new one in its place, and then
the whites would be brought in complete sub
lection to the blacks. A contest would M
evitably ensue between the two races civil
war, carnage, c~enflagratien, devastation and
the ultimlte determination or expulsion OF
the blacks. Nothing is more certain. And
are not these evils far greater than the mild
and continually improving state lot slavery
which exists in this country ! | say contibii-
ally improving for if this gratifying progress
in the amelioration of the condition ot the
slaves has been checked in some Of the States,
the responsibility must attach TO the untortu-
nate agitation OF the subject Of abolition. In
consequence of it, increased riger in the po-
Ice and further restraints have been imposed;
and | DO believe that gradual emancipation
Uhe only method of liberation that has even
been thought safe or wise by any body in any
o. the slave States,) has been postponed hal
a century.
Without any knowledge of the relation:
in which / stand to my slaves, or their lndi
vidual condition, you, Mr.. MeAdenhall, anC
your associates who have been activein get.
tiog up this petition, calling upon me forthwith
to liberate the whole Of them.-Now let mt
tel} you that some half a dsxens of them, from
age, decrepitude or infirmity, are wholly I'm
able to gain a livelihood for themselves, ant
are a heavy charge upon me. Do you thlnl
that 1shoald cor form to The dictates of humanl
ty, by Riding myself of that charge, and send
ing them forth into the world, with the booT
of liberty, to end a wretched existence il
starvation? Another class is composed o
helpless infants, with or without improviden
mothers. Do you believe, as a christian, tina
| should perform my duty towards them, b,
abandoning them to their fate? Then, Their
is another class who would not accept thei
freedom if | would give it 10 them. | have
for many years owned a slave that | wished
would leave me, but he will not. What sha!
| do with that class?
What my treatment Of my slave is you ma.
learn from Charles, who accompanied me o
this Journey, and who has travelled with III
over the greater part OF the United States an
in both the Canadas, and has had a thousan
opportunities, if he had chosen to. embrac
them, to leave me. Excuse me Mr.. Menden
hall, for saying that my slaves are as well fe
and clad, lock as sleek and hearty, and ar
quite as civil and respectful in their demean
Or, and as little disposed to wound the feeling
of any one, as yen are.
Let me recommend you, sir, 10 intimate tn
benevolent example Of the society Of friend
in the midst of which yeu reside. Meek, get
tie, imbued with the g%enuines pirit of our be
nign religion, whilst in principle they ar
firmly opposed to slavery, they do not seek t
accomplish its extinction by foul epithets
coarse and vulgar abuse and gross calumny
Their ways do not lead through blood, revolt
ton and disunion. Their broad and compre
hensive philanthropy embraces, as they be
lieve, the good and the happiness Of the whit
as well as the black race, giving to the on
their commiseration, to the other their kindes
lSYmpathy.-Iheir instruments are not thoS
of detraction and of war, but of peace, persua
sion, and earnest appeals to the charities c
the human heart. UnambltlouS. they have n
political objects or purposes to SubSerVe. M