The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-04-10
GEN. SCOTT oNs,

M " SLAVEp,
The following letter of Gen. Scott. wa. HhY,
answer 10 one addressed tn him by soma o "'''eAh
DahVi'Ie' va respecting his views Of A.. ~e" near
| ry' 1t will be seen that it looks 10 ,h '"" Slave
his being brought forward asa eandis. tN'sNon Of
| Presidency. Tor tho
w"ShiNeroN, Feb 9Th. ls,,
MY DEAR SIR; have been waiting "a, 'e4S
ning's leisure to answer your letter bero.o i" eve-
after an unreasonable delay, am, at los, "'' and
reply IN the midst of official occupations. Ito
lhat ever have been named in coroo...
the presidency OF the United Sates, has No, with
sure you' the son of an ancient negbbor ~, ." aa'
been by any contrvance or desire Of MINI '''end'
tainy shall never be in the field Cor ,,. ~" GER
fee, unless placed there by reeulo, "sN Of
No'' men, oe'og candidate, and seeing no near wv"
poets being made one ought perhaps, 10 daI pros
troubling you, or others, with my humble on;s s'"'
on great principles of State Rights and Feds, Oa'
lstFotIon; aut as cannot plead ignorance Of ho 1"
taity OF few friesds, in several parts Of tina r-
who may, by possibility, in certain event . "O"
in bringing me within the field from which u'''
candidate Is to be selected prefer to er, on h
side OF irankness, and candor, than, by slenco
low any stranger, dnwttingly, to commit binsor =.
my support.
Your inquiries open tho whole question ~.
mestlc slavery, which has, in dirercr, c,..,'
for a number of years, ugitated Congress md ,'
country
Promising that you are the first person vbOh,.
Intercepted me on the subject give you the h,.i,
of what 'coula be my reply, in greater detail if ,mn
allowed, and the contingency alluded to above wo.
less remote.
In boyhood, at William and Mary College, ard il
common with most, if not all my companions Ih,
came deeply impressed with the views given Lv ~,
Jefferson in his 'Notcs on Virginia." and by Jplr,
Tuckor,n the appendix to his edition of blackstone
Commentaries, in favor Of gradual emancn,,ior or
slaves. That appendix have not seen in thirty odd
years, and in the same period, have read scarcely
anything on the subject, but my early impression,
are fresh and unchanged. Hence, III had had tL.
honor of seat in the Virginia Legislature in the win.
ter Of 1872, when bill was brought forward IA
carry out these views should certainly have uivoD
it my hearty support.
suppose scarcely need say, that in nv opnion
Congress has no color of authority under the Con.
suon. for touching the relation of master and slave
in n state.
hold the opposite opinion in respect to the Dis.
tFict Of Columbia. Here, with the consent own.
ers, or on payment just compensation" Congress
may legslae a; its discretion. But my conviction ia
equally strong, that, unless it be step BY step
with the Legislature Of Virginia and Maryland, j,
would be dangerous TO both in those States. 10
touch the relation between master and Slave within
this District.
have from the first beon Of opinion that Congress
bound by the Constitution 10 receive, to reerard
to report upon petitions relating to domestic slavery
in the of all other petitions: but have no.
failed TO and to regret the unavoidable irritation
which the former have produced in the Southern
States, with the consequent peril to the coors
whereby the adoption of any plan Of emancipation
has, everywhere among US, been greatly retarded
own, myself, no slave; but never have attached
blame to masters for not liberatng their sayes-weN
knowing that liberation, without the means ofSeadng
them, in comfort, to position favorable TO "hc
pursuit of happiness,'' would in most cases be highly
injurious to all around, well to the manumhed
families themselves-rnless the operation were gen.
eral and under the auspices Of prudent les'sIalO"
But am persuaded that it is hg moral obligation
Of masters and slave holding States TO employ all
means, not incompatible with The safety ofboth cOo'
to ameliorate slavery to determination.
1t is gratifying to know that general annexation nj"
has great and is still progressive, ITO
disturbing causes alluded to above. The more a'
rect process of emancipation may mo doubt no Garner
commenced and quickened in some communities ''''
in others Each, I do not question, has the rlsm"
Judge for ITSELF both as to time and means; ana cOA
slider Interference or aid, from without, except on III
vitaon from authority within, to be as hur'iu 10 '"'
sure progress Of amclioraton, as 1t may De 'a." :"
the lives of vast muItitudes of all ages, sexes anu w.
ors The work of liberation cannot be iorcea WIN
out such horrid results. Christian philanthropy Is e''
mild and considerable Hence all violence ous''
deprecated by the friends of religion ana ""u'r c:o
Their persuasions cannot fail at the right 'ine'O"
the master from the slave ,&the slave from '"s
perhaps before the latter shall have ound o'' 49,.
acknowledged that the relation between '"' r
had long been mutually prejudicial to Inc"
interests. n-s 49, .,,ca
There is no evil, withouin the order OIL ,c,,,n
AIInna