Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-10-17
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER,
ABOLITION AND DEMOCRACY.

questions, or would seem to question, the ldennt
of principles, as to slavery, between Mr.. JErrER
son and that misguided party who, in Massachu
sets, just now seem bent on sacrificing every prac
teal good in Federal politics TO their own fury
of an Anti-Slavery which they should know car
effect nothing for the bondman except at dread
full cost and must, meantime fast,n on the wrists
of the freemen of the country the gives of Loco
tocoism. The Union, in word, claims that we
shall produce any passages out OF Mr.. JEFFER-
sons writings which contain the opinions upon
which the so-called Liberty party" the political
Abolitonists of the North and Northwest, are act
ing or protesting to act.
The task upon which the Union thus puts us is
by no means an agreeable, perhaps scarcely safe
one. The fact which we have averred is too widely
known by proof to need that we should substantiae
il by citation. Messrs. BIRNEy & Co. chose excel
lent friends to annexation and Polksm in ls44)
have too constantly made Mr.. JEFFERSON doctrines
their chief battle-horse or stalking-horse for the
editor of the Union to be ignorant whether as
their friend their enemy, of the blows they have
dealt or shots they have fred from the shelter of
that great name. Every body has long ultra
aboitionism parading in its publications his dicta
as its main authority. TO suppose that his words
can be unknown to one of the earliest fathers of
his church, although battling with heretics that are
constantly appealing to them, is much if one
should assume that schsmatcs knew the Scriptures
and ST. Chrysostom did not.
Nor is this all the editor of the Union himself
took leading part as an alarmist and agitator in
favor of emancipation in Virginia after the South
ampton instruction of 1891 and in the legislative
debates of the next winter, in which they with
whom the editor sided not only made large use Of
these doctrines of the plans of Mr. JEFFERSON.
but spoke of slavery itself in the very language of
opprobium and detestation which now furnishes to
Liberty men" dialect of reproach and which
this editor denounces others for using-when they
happen to be Wings
What, then, does the Union want with citations
of abolilonsm from Mr.. JEFFERSON! Why does
it wish to see in this paper such matter! Is ii,
perchance, that il may then, with the candor which
much distinguishes it, turn around and tell its
readers that " the Inteligencer is publishing incen-
diary matter" or that we have falsifed Mr.. JET.
FERsoN ~ For what other purpose can the Union
wish to put into print the decisive passages
which it must we'll know to exist
IT, then, this be ignorance on the Unions part
we cannot hope to instruct an ignorance so invete
rate; and, if il be any thing else, we cannot trus
It, Far stronger reasons, however, than any tina
regard that journal forbid to minister to that pub
lie inflammation which is so much mo matter by
whom played) the deplorabe aud the successful
game of Locofocoism-to minister to it by rectin.
4 - Il.
slavery has constantly produced, and which, eS
citing only public and personal passions, hav
served but to render more hopeless any right o
safe solution of the question to which they relate
We shall, them not cite, either from Mr.. JEFFER
SON or from those with whom the editor of tn
Union sided in the legislative debate already refer
red to, their violent language against slavery, thei
expressions rivalling not a little the opprobriou
style of the Liberty men, and doubt offer
suggesting it. Ii is quite sufficient, for presen
occasion, establish that he who is regarded the
"Apostle of Democracy was the Apostle also o
Abolitionism; that he held its principles and advo
Gated their application, from the beginning of his
career TO the close Of his life that he was one o
its earliest if not its first legislative protector in tn,
South and that his followers maintained il
1912, the same doctrines and struggled for tn,
same object in Virginia. We shall prove all this
not for the justification or comfort of those who
in Massachusetts and elsewhere, trampe upon ever,
other duty in order to pursue the imaginary one o
compelling distant region to be guided, in a mat
ter most difficult and perilous, by violent, alien
and ignorant opinion nor yet 10 vindcate the dc
clarations of the more moderate people Of Massa
chusetts, provoked as they are by the late illega
and las they think destructive measures of annex
alton and war. With the Liberty men, we hav
France, blessed the guillotne as a chosen instrr
ment of Freedom, and went forth TO frater,aize tn
earth with fire and sword. On them, in commo
with other probably conscientious but not the les
mischievous sects, we look as only tending
plunge society in disorders that can establish
last nothing but tyranny. As little almost do W
concur in any other denuncations Of slavery an
shareholders that may come from men really
sound and patriotic purposes, but irritated out {
their customary prudence by the sight Of those fat;
things those aggressions upon the Constitution an
our nelghbors, which the personal ambition of Pre-
sldent-making, instgated by the schemes of fe,
Southern men, and aided by the slaves Of part
and the mercenares and minions of the spoiIs ha
brought about. Denunciation has done and wi
do nothing for the freedom of the blacks SLAYER
too NaE