Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-12-11
RICHMOND DAILY WING.
"a CITIZEN"-SLAvERY.

~
We have, rarely if ever, published article in
no years, the sentiments Of which so exactly CO.
ipcide with our own, us the reflections Of "A
Citizen" in this days Wing.
They were anterior to the rise Of the Sosfa
Cardiac School, pernicious in all its economical
philosophy, tho sentiments Of all Virginia, from
Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Wythe, Pendle-
ton, Henry, George Mason, Monroe, down to the
humblest citizen. We learned them in our boy
hood, and we have not learned how to unlearn
them. Then IL was universally taught, and uni.
versally believed, that Slavery was curse to the
land which was cultivated by it.
But no. for the finatical reasons assigned by tho
Northern Abolitionists: not because there was
any Scriptural or moral 81" n slavery itself: not
because Slavery % not perfectly reconcilabic
with Republican liberty, which as Sparta show.
q, il promotes, instead Of dminshes: for no
sickiy, sentimental feeling for the slave himself
who is in the average Of life better off, better
red for liable to fewer Affections than his master,
who in Virginia at least, ought TO be called tho
Slave, and the Shave the master: BUT, because
NO community can greatly flourish and prosper
where its youth are brought up in idleness, and
10 regard manual labor and the mechanic trades
10 the manual labor of the community: This is
tbs great and cliuging curse Of Slavery! 1t en-
srvates and efieminates the youth of the Republic:
II causes them TO rely at every turn, even TO the
bringing of pitcher Of water from the well, or
brushing their shoes, upon negro, instead of up
on themselves: They grow up worthless in ener
", and helpless, and when their patrimony is
squandsred, as il is almost sure TO be, from the
habits of idieness and extravaganza engenderei
by the existence of Slavery, they become drones
here, or cmigrate to the West to seek the fortune
they rarely or never find, and never deserve to
find.
What again. can he greater let and hindrence
10 the yigor Of community, than the impairing
she value of the mechanic and handcrait arts TO
the czcn, by the employment Of Slave labor in
them! lis effect inisllibly is TO cxpel from its
bosom 70 a greater or less degree, artizsns and
mechanics, sound, patriotic and enlightened elias.
ofmen, whose multiplication nd prosperity ought
to be studied by every wise law giVerl
For these sentiments we expect the denuncia.
lion Of those who vindicate Slavery upon South
Carolina principles. lie, it come We dcspise it
nov as we did in 1881, when we proclaimed
them, and when they were backed by people and
LeSsIatufe' iutl Were thc sentiments OF W ASH
ington, Jefferson, Madison, and all the great and
good Of thai age. They the only sentiments
which put into execution, can render gna the
frst and greatest Commonwealth on this Cont
nent Without this, she may make violent efforts
10 restore herself but she viii continue 10 sink,
sink, sink in the scale of nations not for the
Sdre, but for our own race, the WHITES, do
We wish TO see them practically carried into
cution: Pay HE osgser however, or let Slavery
remain: Require the emancipated to leave the
Stsie, or let the blacks continue as Slaves, rather
than as free negroes, collectively the most worth
less aud least available Of all classes. Above all,
let the execrsble tribe of Northern AboiItionists
keep hands off, and not presume to interfere in
what does not concern them. We would not
take even good Itself at Mei- dicta;ion. Their
Interference 10 1882, ruined every thing as from
the frst they have proved blish, to all they
touched.