The southern press., 1851-12-13
For the Southern Press.
Abolition
ITS NATURE, ORIGIN, AND CONSCIOUSNESS.
.. No 2

That sentiment which has gradually ripenee
into the fanaticism of Abolition, appeared at al
early period in the history of this country, in thu
shape of opposition to the introduction of Afri
can slavery into the Southern colonies. Both
Virginia and South Carolina, in their colonia
state, passed laws for its prevention, which were
negatived by the King Of England; and thus, tc
use the words of Mr.. Jefferson in his original
draft of the Declaration of lndependence-'H He
is noD erciting those rery people TO rise in arms
among us, and to purchase that liberty Of ~hich
he has deprived their, BY numbering The people on
,chon he also obtruded them thus paying of
former crimes committed against The liberties Of
one people, uih crimes achich he urges them 10
commit against The lines Of another"
The laws and circumstances Of Virginia and
South Carolina, were not, however, directed
against the institution of slavery as it existed
among them, but against the importation OF
slaves. Their hostility was to the save-trade,
and had no reference whatever to abolition. But
the feeling was or soon became different in the
Northern States, especially in Pennsyl vona
among the Quakers, and among others. Anthony
Benezet preceded both Wherefore and Clark.
son in his efforts, not only for the abolition OF
the slave trade, but of slavery itself This sen,
timent against slavery, so far as have been
able to discover, did not become an element in
political affairs, until the States were brought to
act together, preparatory to 'the old confedera.
tion," where the interests and prejudices ofeach
came into direct collision with each other. The
Declaration of Independence brought with il
the necessity of establishing new form Of
government; and the war waged in its support
made it indispensable that the States should act
in concert. ..
Accordingly, after good deal of delay and
difficulty, their deputies were brought together
to devise that system, GENERALLY known as "The
Articles ofConfederation." Many obstacles arose
to impede the contemplated union, the most
formidable of which was the objection of the
States, possessing little or no Incorporated
lands, to allowing these territories to remain en-.
tirey at the disposal of the States to which they
appertained, by grants from the King of Eng
land. On the 18th Of September, 1880, Mr.
Madison, in letter 10 Edmund Pendleton,
writes-"Congress have at length entered seri.
ously on plan for finally ratifying the confed-
Grafton. Convinced Of the necessity of such a
measure, to repress the hopes with which the
probable issue of the campaign will inspire the
uall IN rriva nj ~ 4
vgor to our public councils, they have recon.
mended in the most pressing terms to the States,
claiming unappropriated back lands, to cede a
liberal portion for the general benefit As these
erclusipe claims formed The only obstacle Dith
McryLand, there is No doubt that compliance
Nth this recommendation tDiH bring her into The
confederation. How far the States holding the
back lands may be disposed to give them up
cannot be easily determined. From the sent
ments of the most intelligent persons which
have come to my knowledge, own, l am pretty
sanguine, that they will see the necessity oil
closing the union in too strong light, 10 OPP,
pose The only erpedient that can accomplish IT," Ii
was under these circumstances that Virgins
made the cession Of that vast territory included
in her ancient boundaries, accompanied by the
condition that slavery should be forever exclud
ed. That cession was a sacrifice to the union
and the condition which accompanied it was the
first victory Of Abolition. The passage above
quoted, explains what would otherwise be in
applicable, and furnishes a key to one of the
most extraordinary. Incidents of our history.
Another difficulty in adjusting the articles oil
confederation arose out Of the adoption of a
basis Of general taxation, including all the in
habitants Of the States, except Indians, without
distinction Of age, sex, or color. To this pro
position Mr.. Chase, Of Maryland, moved as an
amendment, "that the quotas should be paid,
not by the number of inhabitants Of every con.
dition, bat by that Of the white inhabitants. "
This amendment was rejected by a vote Of seven
10 FIVE. Georgia being divided, all the Southern
States, with that exception, voted for, and all
the Northern States against the amendment. IT.
this debate Abolition again peeped forth. Mr.
Wilson, Of Pennsylvania, said, ut is our duty
to lay every Encouragement on the importation
of slaves, but this amendment would give the
jus trium hLerorum TO him who would import
slaves" DIR. Rush. advocated voti by the
number Of free inhabitants, because il Twill have
one excellent effect, that Of inducing Congress,
to discourage slavery"
These indications Of Northern hostility Il
slavery naturally awakened sPprehenslons
the South, and when the convention assembled
at Philadelphia TO revise the old articles Of con
federation, this hostility on one hand, and jeal
ousy on the other, became little more apparent
The deputies Of the Southern States, justl,
alarmed at these indications, demanded and OBJ
tanned those guarantees which they at that tim,
SUI posed would shield them against the grow
| ing spirit Of Abolition, which they saw so dis
tine tly exhibited on many occasions by North
ern members of the convention As the cessior
Of Virginia, with the condition Of excluding