The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1851-07-17
! hold the opposite opinion in respect

the coEsrn, m The owners, or on The
Tsy ,nca, Of jus, compensation" Con-
erees may icgislsie Al ,,s discretion.--
But my conviction is equally strong
that, unless i, bc step by siep with the
Legislature Of Virginia and Mary land.
i, would be dangerous TO both races in
those States 10 touch the tclation be-
tween master aud slave in this district
have from the first been of opinion
that Congress was bound by the Con.
stiiu,'on TO receive, 10 r, fer, and 70 re-
port upon petitions relating to domestic
slavery. as ia the case Of all other pcti-
tions 4; but ] lave no, failed 10 set and
10 regrc, the unavoidable irritation
which the former have produced in the
Southern Siaies, with the consequent
peril 10 the two colors, whereby the
adoption Of any plan of emancipation
has everywhere among Us been greatly
retarded.
own myself, no .lave; but never
have attached blame 10 others for not
libern,ing their knowing tha,
liberation, without tue means Of send.
ing them in comfor. 10 some position
favorable to "the pursuit Of happiness"
would in most cases be highly injurious
TO all around, as well AS to The manu-.
mitted families :hemselves---unless the
operation were general, and under the
auspices Of pruden. legislation. But l
am persuaded that it is high moral
obligation Of masters aud Slnveholding
States TO employ all means not inc ON.
patible with the safety of both colors,
70 mcliora,e Slavery even to .x,erinin-
alton.
1t is gratifying to know that general
melioration has been great, aud is still
progressive Notwithstanding the disturb
ing causes alluded TO above. The more
direct process Of emancipation may no
doubt be earlier commenced and quick
cr in some communities than ia others.
Each, ! do not question, has the right
TO judge for itself, both as to time and
means, and consider interference or
MD from without, except on invitation
from authority within, TO be as hurtful
to the sure progress Of ameIiora,on, rs
it may be- fatal 10 vast multiiudes Of all
ages. sexes and colors. The work o.
m .lioration cannot be forced without
such horrid results Christian philan
,hropy is ever mild and considerate.-
Hence all violence ought to be dcpre
Gated by the friends Of religion aud hu.
manity. Their persuasions cannot fail
at the right time, to free the master from
the slave, and the slave from the master
perhaps before the latter shall hav,
found out and acknowledged that til,
relation between the parties had lon,
been mutually prejudicial to their world
! ly interest
a There is no evil without in the orde
of Providence some oompensa.ing ben
eft. The bleeding African was tori
{ from his savage home by his ferociou
n neighbors, sold into slavery, and cas
}. upon this continent Here, in the mil
South, the race has wonderfully multi
piled compared with anything eve
; known in barbarous lifa. The decend
ants Of few thousands have becom
many millions and all, from the frs
- made acquainted with the arts Of civil
zation, above all, brought under tn
light Of the gospel.
From the promise made to Abraham
two thousand years had elapsed befor
the adven, Of our Savior, and the !
raelitcs. the chosen people Of God, wei
!, for wise purposes, suffered to remain
i bondage longer than the Africans ha,
been On our shore. This race has a
:, ready experienced the resulting con
pensaiions alluded to and, as the whi
missionary has never been able 90 pei
:, citrate the dark regions of Africa, or
y establish himself in It's interior, it ms
! be within TIE scheme of Proyiden,
= that the great work Of spreading til
, gospel over the vast continent, with Il
I ! the arts aud comforts of civilization,
-. to be finally accomplished by the bla'
:! man restored from American bondag
" A foo,hold there has already been gai
" ed for him, and in such scheme ce
turies are but as seconds 10 Him WI
=, moves worlds as man moves finger.
- do but suggest the remidies al
=, consultations Of slavery 10 inspire !
i, tience, hope and charity on all sidt
" The mighty subject calls for the exc
else Of all mans wisdom and virtue. a
!, these may no, suffice without aid fro
>. higher source.
" 1t is in the foregoing manner, Z
dear sir, ,ha, ! have long been in T,
'r- habit, in conversation, in expressi
lie myself all over our common country
Ia! the question Of negro slavery, an'
u must say tha, have found but ve
Al few person, to differ with me, howe,
opposite their geographical positions.
y: Such arc the views aud the opini'
III which you seek. ] canno, suppress
ep- muillaie ,liem, although now liable
by be more generally known. DO "
ln' them wha, you please never co
i'x nor shun publicity.
en-. remain very truly yours.
ion WINFIELD SCOTT
not T.P, ATKINSON. ESQ.,
hs4