The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-02-14

uthariiy Spende ltseiI N petty annoy th'
ces, poisoning the happiness of life. Il
sometimes terminates in tragical occur.
rences. 1t is now about two years
since the wagon of black driver was
overturned by thar of a white, in the
streets Of one Of our principal cities.
The white man got down to help him
right it again. The negro, fred with
jealousy that deliberate prank had
been played upon him. seized an iron
bar, and laid TIE unfortunate man dead
at his feet. A rencontre took place in
our own county Of Belmont last sum
mer, between white mower and a
black one, which terminated in the loss
of an ear to the former, and which orig
mated in a triiling jest about going to
supper. In these instances, and hun
dreds Of similar ones, no anger or jeal-
ousy would have, been enkindled had
the parties both been of the same race.
illustrations on larger scale be ne
cessary to right understanding Of the
princi pie, the last few years of the his
tory Of Philadelphia and Cincinnati,
will furnish those illustrations.
These facts are not alluded to for the
purpose Of showing that the black race
is naturally baser, or more depraved in
moral faculties, than the white. The
committee has never so believed, nor
ever seen any good reason so to be-
lieve. To place the argument on a
wrong basis, would materially injure
lis force. The evil arises from the in
compatibility of the two races; and,
surely the petitioners, themselves, will
admit, that this incompatibiIity cannot
be removed by amalgamation, except
TO the shame and perdition of the supe-
rior race. Guided by these, and SINH
lar considerations, perhaps, of more CO.
gency, can we doubt what the deter.
minaton Of such legislator, as above
mentioned, would be in the supposed
caseG We stand in the place Of that
legislator. an it is our highest duty 10
bring to the determination of this ques-
ton whatever of benevolence and
whatever of wisdom nature or provi-
dence may have awarded to us, unbi-
assed by prejudice or preconcelved o.
pinions. Our black population fortu-
nately consists Of less than twenty
thousand, and the real question at issue
is, whether we shall invite all the strag-
glers of that unhappy race, from Cape
Florida to our own southern border,
here to congregate.
Although, as before observed, our
State and our institutions are new, we
are surrounded by an older world, and
older institutions; and, unfortunately,
some of those institutions are old in sin.
The untamed barbari,y of our British
ancestors has left for the solution of
their posterity the most knotty ques-
tions--has left US nothing but the choice
of difficulties; and evils of greater or
less magnitude, will press upon US, be
our determination what it may. But,
when we consider what vast mass of
these unfortunate people exists imme-
diately on our southern border, in the
States of Virginia, North Carolina, Ken
tucky, and Tennessee, the lights which
ought to guide our steps, would not
seem difficult ofattainment. In the year
of our Lord, 1880, one of those states,
Virginia, alone, contained largely more
than forty thousand free blacks. Ii,
therefore, in the language of the petit
TONERS, "we abolish all distinctions on
account Of COLOR" and raise that race
to a perfect equality with the white,
we may expecta deluge of that 'unde-
sirable species of population" to set in
upon us. Not only tie free born blacks,
but old, worn out, emancipated negroes,
and fugitive slaves, will crowd to our
shores, and we shall pay the penalty of
iI-advised and undiscerning benevo-
lence. Is it possible that the General
Assembly can seriously intend to en-
tertain such proposition as this? To
call such an uncouth, untutored, undis-
ciplined mass to full participation in
all the privileges and duties for which
ages of self direction and self control
have scarcely sufficed to prepare our
own people! Let not our Opponents
object that we recommend a policy to
the House not in accordance with the
standard of abstract, absolute, moral
perfection, but with that of mere expe-
diency.
The petitioners, themselves, do not
propose to 60 all lengths against slave.
ry. They do not propose, themselves,
nor do they ask this government to do
all that might be done to subvert that
institution. Why do they not? 1t is
an institution which, as they contend,
and we admit, is utterly inconsistent
II ~ Il ,o.,,..,t