Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-08-31

, am no advocate OF slavery. There are Evils
possibly, necessary evils connected with The sys
ten, under the most favorable circumstances
which Gcplore, and desire most sine .1ejy Ina
the time may come, when there vii, mol be found
human being on the earth, in slavery, either 10
MS fellow man, "r 10 his own corrupt appeliles
ami passions. In this wish We can probably
unite, but in regard TO The general character OF
Shareholders 10 his country or 10 the time and
lnoce OF abo'i,h.ne the system Of slavery, We are
al an ifreconciable distance lrom each olher;
aLu~h cannot be presImpuous in me, after a re.
sidcnee ol thity-iour years in the midst OF sla.
very, TO assume that | understand the system.
ana The difficulties which are connected With lis
abolition, better Than most OF YOU can possibly
90 Bear IN mind that This system DID not ur-
s'naie WIN Inc e>en. generation. nor with
oouthsrh men, Your father, or grand father, OF
pefchance mine, may have had "A mncb n do
III originating and fostering II as any slavebold.
er now living. When you denounce us then az
ptrctes murdUas and man steale,s, Germs I'M
seenly in The mouth OF proiessed follower or
munster OF the Lord Jesus Christ) you may in
eHecl be blishiing The memory of those whom il
Is lar 10 presume you once loved AMI venera,ed
Although born, and reared TO manhood, in the
Stale OF New York. yet, during oil that period.
mere were slaves in my fathers family. for
emancipation under lis wisely gradual operation
had not then fully accomplished lis work there :
anu VINO Will venture 10 assert that New York
would have been more ready 10 free her slaves
Than Virginia. bad the circumstances of climate
crops, &c, been the samei dare moi. becausa
do not believe il. There is no more dIspo.i-
ton to make sacrifices, for The sake of principle
among the people Of my native than of nv
adopted state But 10 The question between US.
You assert that il Is our duty al once 10 free
every slave, without reference 10 the welfare of
master or servant; in Short without regard to
consequences. This We deny upon every pin.
ciple that ought 10 influence The feelings or The
conduct OF men, viz: self preservation, the real
good OF oil parties concerned-and the word of
.iod. Under The guidance of these, We are la
oorihg as men, and as Christians TO find out what
IS our duty, with an honest purpose to discharge
u. You canno! but see and feel that. after al
'he slafehoiuer, aud the Shareholder alone, un.
der our constitution and laws, can act finally
ana eileclually III thin matter, unless you intend
ny revolutionary measures, by mbrulng your
hands in q brothers blood, to accomplish ths
work of abolition by for.o. am aware that
there are few reckless spirits, who would even
attempt this desperate, though necessarily fruit.
less effort; but hops and believe "bctler things.
OF The great body even of syowed aholilonisls
Permit M to say, lhen that we Shall make
lar greater progress IN The work II gradual
emancipation, II We are lei alone Unkind al
tacKs, hash ccnsufes, lLlamma,ory appeals 10
slaves, ami e!!ofs 10 aid them in ESCAPING
from their masters, are The most effeclual means
which you can employ, to postpone an event
which you profess to have SO much al hean.-
speak adylsedly, when assure you, that your
unWlse and ltJldicious efforts 10 use No stron-
ger terms) have retarded lae progress OF eraanci-
rl- il II & h.
States, many years. True, you have OCCASION
ally succeeded in libeIalins here and there an
Individual! sIage, and this may appear 10 your
t!stot!ea imagination a great matter; but wnal
are these few 10 The mass who are eill For
every one iced by your inj udiciuus efforts, you
rivet The bond, with tenIold strength upon a
lhousa' d. You increase The severity o. our
save,aWs you discourage an cripple or forts
10 Instruct our slaves Is. The great principles OF
morality a.1 .eiIsion; y.u would driae uul OF
Ire slave-holdins States every northern min
is'er now among US, and preyen, Others from
coming herc-and thus d.pEivc both master
and servant 10 great cSlcri, OF lac blessings OF
preached gospel. 10 shoTl, in every way You
Tsaa. ihGf e. eoF5iiGp "a alshG siSxs Esr, far
vice will have weight with you, or influence in
any degree your conducl; but il not shall have
discharged my duty, aud ON you will res he
responsibility ul rel citing the honest opinions oi
a Northern man, long resident in The IEics OF
slavery, and paceI IN circumstances wheie 30
had oil Lie advantages ot experience RAJ close
observation.
We ale not opposed IL courteous and Kind
discussion Of lat subject We are not surpls ID
that ra"n Gan AMI reared in the free States
should disappruve Of slavery. We have no quar-
rel wiIh anti>slayery men ior their honest opln-
ions upon this subject, nor Tor their expression cl
them ua suitable occasions. But we do o6lect
10 The views o lmm diate aoll:lont,ts, and TO the
manner in which they express them, and atlenp,
Ia carry lLeEi uGt.
Ia conclusinr allow me 10 realesl tina, You
will seek information upon this whole sdbjecl
tton reliable sources, aEd moi altogether iTom
prrludiccl a,.u interesting parties. Look al The
sys'em and il evils siuy as you pleas, only
avoiding distorted views Vi il On he other hand,
consider the cyen, ard magnitude OF the s. EN-,
aud how closely interviewer il - with all The Sd
cial, civil, paiica and religious institutions oil
our country, aud the utter impo possibility Ct .ool-
ing out sach stem, with all cUAnrctcl with il,
in a day Consider hat hose who sustaia the
re alton ct Il, ers, are men and Christians;
r.ho, Tor Intelligence, morality and religion,
| claim 10 b. your equal, in every respec' aEs
VINO cannot feel that you have right 10 sit IN
| judgment, upon them, AID denounce them, be-
cause they IenEoi sse with your eyes. Learn 10
appreciate lie character, feelings aud principles
/ u Shareholders, Ill the almost insutmoSDiable
| difficulties which surround the subject OF general
emancipation, even ccsld all masters be brought
10 desire il; a.,i may our common Lold and Mas
Ter make h: pa Of duly very clear 10 all partits
| interested 10 this great subject, and give hem
hearts 10 do His will
AS know not le what extent The views ex.
pressed vii! oe acceptable 10 my brethren, wish
| 10 avuve no one but myself in The responsibility,
and therefore append my proper name.
| SAMUEL REEVE.