The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-24

II Is evident that the Eastern section Of Virginia
is the reverse Of prosperous. This conclusion
is further corroborated by the mournful silence
thatr eigns in her dilapidatsd villages-the large
quantity Of exhausted land that is lying waste,
and the forests Of pine and cedar now waving
over soil that once rewarded the labors of the
husbandman.
We thus perceive that slavery produces the
same melancholy results In Virginia as We have
pointed out as existing in Maryland. But bad
as the condition of Virginia is, still more
gloomy state of things is before her. She now
gains her support principally by selling slaves
to other States. This trade, in the present
state Of things, is to her Of the most vital i'm
portance, but II places her at the mercy of the
States with which she carries on the traffic.
These States have drained off the dark waters
which would have overwhelmed her. But now
some OF them show an inclination TO shut out
the stream from themselves. II must then roll
back, and spread desolation over the face of that
ancient Commonwealth. She will be reduced
to a condition worse than any which her worst
enemies could wish for her. Sooner or later
this state Of things must come. Too many OF
her citizens seem to think that they can keep of
this dark cloud by shutting their eyes. Ifthey
continue to do so, its thunders will burst upon
their ears when IT is too late for them to avoid
the storm.
Before the convention for amending the Con-
stitutioE Of Virginia, called in 1880, Charles
FsntOn Mercer, of Loudon county. made the
following remarks, which drew tears from the
eyes Of members Of the convention:
"Mr. Chairman, as L descended the Chesa-
peake the other day, ON my way TO this~city,
impelled by favoring west wind, which, CO.
operating with the genius Of Fulton, made the
vessel on which | stood literally fly through the
wave before me, thought Of the early descrip-
lions Of Virginia, by the followers Of Raleigh,
and the companions Of Smith. / endesvored to
scent the fragrance of the gale which reached
me from the shores Of the capacious bay along
which we steered. and | should have thought
the pictures Of Virginiawhch rose to my fancy,
not too highly colored, had not often traversed
our lowland country, the land not only Of my
nativity, but that of my fathers--and said TO
ioveliness. Does the eye dwell with most pleas
ure on its wasted ields, or on its stunted forests
Of secondary growth of pine and cedarl Can
we dwell without mGurnful regret on the tenn
Piles of religion sinking in ruin, and those spa
cious dwellings whose doors once opened by the
hand Of liberal hospitality, are new fallen upon
their portals, or closed in tenantless Stencil
Except on the banks of its rivers, the march Of
desolation now saidens this once beautiful
country. The cheerful notes of population
have ceased, and lhe wolf and wild deer, no
longer scared from their ancient haunts, have
descended from the mountains 70 the plains
They look on the graves Of our ancestors, and
traverse their former paths. And shall we do
nothing 10 restore this once lovely land7 There
was time when the sun in his course shone
on none so fair"
Since the time at which Mr.. Mercer spoke,
freemen have been invited 10 come and take pos
session Of these lands, and the wolf is again be-
ginning to fly to his mountain den. Slavery had
so poisoned the soil that slavery itself could not
live upon it. 1t fastened its teeth upon the soil
and never let 60 its VAMPIRE hold while life
remained in It's victim. But as II to show thai
| slavery has n, sorrow that freedom cannot cure
the land is aglin reviving. The beautiful plain,
are again rejoicing In the smiles of freedom
and send forth their welcome in herbs anC
flowers. The country will acquire more thar
its former glory, il slavery is not again permit
ted to enter ike another serpent into the garden
| of Eden.
The enhghted public sentiment Of the age i
uncomPromisingly hostile to slavery. The TEL.
timOny Of the COnscript Fathers of the Rspub
lie, those great and wise men who laid the foun
| S-ss~--Sf our Es-srazaeat. a. -l.s .s.i... Af-s
can slavery. There isscarcely agreat.man VIII,
fiourished in our revolutionary history, who ha
not taken occasion 70 record his opinions agains
slavery. In proof Of this assertion listen to tn,
following great men;
Washington, it is well known, provided fo
the emancipation Of all slaves over whom h,
had control, by his will. In letter to Genera
Lafayette he said:
"The benevoIence Of your heart, INV dea,
Marquis, is so conspicuous on all occasions
that never wonder at fresh proofs of il; bu
| your late purchase Of an estate in the colony O
Cayenne, with a view Of emancipatinR IN,
! slaves. is generous and noble proof of Won
humanity. Would to God, a like spirit nigh
diffuse itself generally anto the minds of In,
people Of this country! Bat despair Of SEEING
il. Some petitions were presented 10 the As.
| sembly at its last session, for the abolition a
slavery; but they could scarcely obtain hear.
ing.
In another letter addressed to John F. Mercer
he said:
81 never mean, unless some particular cir.
cumstances should compel me to it, TO posses.
another slave by purchase; IL being among Va,
hr't isishes 10 see some plan adopted 6y rAiel
slarery IN this country usH be abolished by latc "
Mr.. Jeffersons adherence of slavery wa.
often expressed. In the original draft of the
Declaration of Independence, he expressed the
greatest indignation towards the, British King
for capturing and bringing to the colonies ga
distant people who had never offended him.
In letter TO Mr.. Warville, he gives the follow.
ing melancholy and yet truthful picture Of
slavery:
"The whole commerce between m.s,sr and
slave is perpetual exercise of the most bolster.
Gus passions; the most unremitting despoti,m
on the enc part and degrading submission on
the other. Our children see this and learn TO
initiate 1t; for man is an initiative animal. The
parent storms, the child looks on, catches the
lineaments Of wrath, puts on the same airs in
the circle of smaller slaves, gives loose 70 his
worst passions, and thus nursed, educated and
dsiy exercised in tyranny, cannot but be stain
ed by 1t with odious peculiarities. The man
must be a prodigy who can retain his manners
and morals undePraved by such circumstances
And with what execration should the states
man be loaded, who, permitting one-half the
citizens thus to trample on the rights of the
other, transforms those into despo,s, and these
into enemies, destroys the morals of the one
n ha r