Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-08-01

laration Of independence, and that in ne
section Of the country was the opposition
stronger and more determined than IN the
South. At various periods in I77l, be-
fore :he FIRST meeting of the Continental
Congress, the people in many Of the
counties Of Virginia, in public meetings,
assembled to consider Of the most effect
i've method to preserve the rights and liber.
ties Of America" took up the subject 81
slavery, discussed it, deliberated upon it,
and passed resolutions declaring it injurious
to the colonies. The proceedings Of these
meetings may be found in the FIRST sol.of the
4th series Of American Archives, published
by order of Congress. l shall not detain
the Senate by reading them. l will. how
ever, beg permission to refer to a resolution
adopted by the freeholders and other inhab-
itsnts of the county Of CuIpeper, assembled
at The courthouse in that county, on the
9TH of July, l774. 1t is in the words fol-
lowing.
" Resstued, That Interpretation Of slaves and
convict servants is injurious to this colony, as il
obstruc,s the population Of it with free and use
fol manufacturers and we will not buy any
such slave or convict servant hereafter to be i'm
ported" et.Aaees
Free and useful manufacturers were re-
garded of great importance in the colony,
and as the importation of slaves obssructed
the population of it by that desirable class
Of men, the good people of the county re-
solved to give no encouragement to slavery.
Resolutions of similar character were
passed in many of the other counties in the
Commonwealth; and also at State Cou-
vention held at Williamsburg on the LIST Of
August, IVA.
MIR. jefferson, delegate to the Williams
burg Convention, being unable to attend,
addressed letter to the body, in which he
expressed his views in regard to slavery in
the following language:
" For the most trifling reasons. and sometimes
for no conceivable reason at all, his Majesty has
rejected laws Of the most saluiary tendency
The ABOLITION OF DOMESTIC SLAVERY Is TIE
GREATEST OBJECT OF DESIRE IN THESE COLO
MES, where it was unhappily Introduced in their
infant state. But previous to the eniranchise-
ment Of the slaves we have, it is necessary to
exc 'ude all further importations from Atfica.-
Yet our repeated attempts to effect this by pro-
hibripns, ard BY imposing duties which might
amount 10 prohibition, have been hitherto defeat
ed by his Majesiy's negative. THUS preferring
the immediate advantages of a few african Cor
sairs II the LASTING INTEREST OF the .7mcrican
STATES, and 10 the RIGHTS OF HUMAN NATURE
DEEPLY WOUNDED BIZ TINS INFAMOUS FRAC.
rICE."
Is this, sir, the language Of fanasicism or
of patriotism? !" The aboiifioa of domes-
tic siarery is the greatest object Of desire in
these colonies, Ohere IL Oas unhaPpiiy intro
duced in their infant state" This was
Southern sentiment when uttered by Mr..
Jefferson, ard concurred in by alb or near
ly all, the slave States. Then FIVE or six
hundred thousand slaves were considered a
great evil, and no sacrifice was too great to
get rid of them. Now, three or four mil
lions are regarded as great blessing; and
the integrity Of the Union is threatened if
they are excluded from the free territory of
the United States. But 10 pass on. The
Convention at Williamsburg recommended
a Congress, in which all the colonies were
to be represented, to meet at Philadelphia
on the first Monday in September, 1774, 10
take into consideration the critical condi-
ton of the country, &c. The recommen-
dation was fayorably received by the other
colonies; and, on the day named by Vir-
ginia, delegates from all the States except
Georgia appeared at PhiladeIphia, and the
Congress was organized. Ii was collec-
ton Of patriots and statesmen, assembled in
the darkest hour Of our political history to
consider of the best method to preserve the
rights and liberties of America. George
Washington. the Adamses, and the Ru:-
leges, were there, TO mingle their counseIs
with the other eminent men of the body
Among the weighty matters there consider
ed and discussed, slavery was not omitted
No, sir, it was thoroughly examined and de-
libera.eIy condemned. On the l2.h of jan
uary, IT'S, Georgia proclaimed her senti-
ments in regard to slavery in clear and EN-
phatic language. Hear it:
ave, therefore, the representatives Of the
extensive district Of Ddrien, in the colony Of
Georgia, having now assembled in Congress, BY
authority and fee choice of the inhabitants Of
said district, now freed from their feters do re-
solves. To shoiO The icorid that ire are not tn
fueneed by any contracted or interested moiues but
a general 4 tanthroPy for ALL MANKIND. Of uhat
euer climate, language or complexion, we hereby
declare our dsapprobation and adherence Of the
unnatural practice of slavery in America, (how-
ever the uncultvated state Of our country or 9TH
er s3ecirus arguments may plead for nj prac-
tice founded IN injustice and cruelty and higky
dangerous to our liberties las well as lives &c.
bdsing part Of our fellow creatures below men,
and corrupting The uutues and morals Of the resi-,
and is laying the basis of that liberty we con-
tend for land which we pray the Almighty 10
continue 10 the latest posten.yl upon very
wrong foundation. We, therefore, resolve at all
times to use our utmost endeavors for the manu-
mission Of our slaves in this colony upon the
most safe and equitable footing for the master
and themselves. LIT DOL All series, .anlrr-
ican .archires, p. 1886
This language, if uttered in the North,
would be called BY our Southern friends
rank fanaticism, and in the highest degree
insulting to them. But, sir, it is the Ian
gusge Of the representatives Of the extern
sive district Of Darien, in Georgia, Of slave
holders themselves, of men well qualified to
judge Of the effect of slavery upon the in
situations Of the country, and the morals Of
the people. They say it is founded " in in-
Justice and cruelty, and highly dangerous