The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-11


Tag new light upon the opinions entertained by Mr. JEFF
ferson on the subjec, Of slavery:
MR. JxryERsoS's OPINIONS We ask attention 10 the
powerful letter Of sotgs " Randolph. esd Of this city,
anu The excellent comments OF the Boston Post in which
paper we find the letter. Though, in slight partic
ulafs, we do not agree with Mr. r. aud regret that he
should have introduced them TO the beauty of the
rest OF the letter, rejoice that he has placed in so
strong and clear light. the true sentiments OF bis illus
uious grandfather The recorded opinions of Mr. Jeder
son, and other distinguished Virginia statesmen, have
frequently been youched in support Of the doctrines adyo
Gated by The ant-sayery party IN the United States This
letter OF Mr.. Randolph shows the utter fasily of any
such conclusion "His construction Of the views OF Mr.
Jefferson is in perfect harmony" as well remarks the
the dising Vg lola statesman, whom the abolition
lists have boosted The parent Of their nqui,ous phios
ophy Could believe that the author Of the Declare
ton Of Independence entertained the absurdies OF mod
ration for the and his deeds but such is true
The principles urged by the opponents Of our State nsl
utoDs loo aht-repubcan for Jefferson and the JEFF
lerson school OF politicians"
Mr. Randolph reads most instructive lesson to the
northern people IN urging total abstinence from the
question OF slavery. and faithful execution Of the ugi.
i've slave law, on which, ultra. Union he is he
soemnly declares his belief the Union now rests HIS
elter must exert a most beneficial influence in the
Morrill, IN opening the eyes OF the deluded 10 the gross
mposure which has been praclised upon them.
!. From the Boston Post.
AN INTERESTING LETTER.--We have the pleasure,
through the kindness Of Nahum Cnpen, esq, Of laying
w.
Randolph ESD grandson OF Jefferson, highly respect
ed in Virginia lawyer OF fine talents, and
compshed gentleman Coming from source 60 respect
able aud authentic II cannot fail 10 command attention
Besides giving Mr. Jeifersons views, and the opinion OF
Mr. Randolph as 10 the constitutonay OF the fugitive
slave law. also contains highly interesting nara
tive OF facts relating 10 abolition in Virginia.
One OF the means rrsOrted TO Tor exciting hostility to
the South is to claim Jeersons authority for the po
cal doctrines Of the abo,ioniss, and to represent the
South as having basey fallen away from The true faith,
as set forth by the immortal author OF the Declaration
OF Independence. Language used by him to set forth the
rights of man anterior to the formation of society per-
vefted from lis meaning and made apply 10 under
legitimate form of government, the very adoption of
which creates new duties which cannot exist in VIVA, is
called natural state and recprocally rights. This
language used by Jefferson TO show the necessity of
government and the Legitimacy of its rights. as well
the nature OF its duties. Another mode of perreng his
language is few words from the context, and
present as general truth proposition which Jefferson
puts forward in lis broadet form for the express purpose
OF moulding and shaping into real truth BY limitations
contained in the context In this way the crudest notions
set forth Jeesons, when the real ideas and prin
cples OF Jefferson utterly different. The scp is
that the conscience of The South has become
dakened and Corrupted by its Institutions no longer TO
recognise these called Jeersonan principles, and to
dictate TO this dakened conscience the conclusions OF the
more enlightened conscience of the abolitionists.
In undertaking thus TO dictate the North intermediates
with question beyond its jurisdiction, and in utter vio
aion OF the equal rights of conscience belonging to the
South. While this interference, then, is opposed to
OF J,iiersons priaepes-equal rights OF conscience
while il is advocated in spirit utterly at with
charity well equal rights, ii is also practically sub
yersive OF the great reform which Jefferson bent all his
energies and genius bring about The manner in which
il has operated is clearly aud ably explained in M Ran
dophs letter, from which will no longer deain the
reader
RICHMOND, April is. 1851.
DEAR SIR In consequence OF my removal to this place,
yonr letter what delayed in reaching me- and
has not been answered promptly otherwise would
you maintain the unconsuiionilty OF the fugitive
law and insist that IN doing they are following out The
views and principles advanced by Mr. Jefferson; and
you wish 10 know whether there any facts within
my knowledge which warrant such assertions, and
whether have any doubt OF the consiilu,onai,y OF
that law.
to suppose that MIR Jefferson would consider the fugi.
tive slave law unconstitutional If he were living,
and have applied for information this point to my
eldest brother, Thomas Jefferson Randolph. who was
upon terms OF the utmost intimacy with him for many
years previous TO his death ] am fully persuaded that
Mr. JeDersons principles. nightly understood, do not
conflict with the fugitive slave law and that the appear
ance OF such confc, only be brought about by a
most unnsbable Interpretation The Declaration oil In.
dePendsncea believe is usually relied upon bs northern
aboitonss when they I'll TO quote Mr. Jefferson for
authority and that instruments sometimes used to prove
the unconsuiionaliiy of slavery ITSELF and at other
times ii directed against the fugitive slave law In my
judgment has the slightest bearing upon either,
cept recognise slavery by implication as legal insti.
tution
The passage commonly relied on as conflicting with
slavery and nuiying all laws tending TO uphold 1t, is
the declaration "tha all created equal that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain inal enabe
rights that among these are hfe liberty. and the pur
suit of happiness" Does il follow that because rights
nalienable their exercise is never TO be restrained
80, then the Declaration OF Independence not only gives
freedom 10 the slave, but also 10 the inmates oil penen
taries and State prisons And life Is olassed among
the nalenahle rights, capital punish men IS IN like man
ner abolished Take the foregoing passage IN connexon
with what follows, and the absurdy OF such n con.ruc
ton is still apparent II is declared that the people
may found government ION such principles, and organ
i've it's powers in such FORM to them shall most
ol, al. tI.trs n(a ham N,,t
pose that the public safety requires The negro TO be kept
in slavery, would Al not be IN conformity with The prin-
cipe here announced II his rights cannot be touched
because they inaenabe neither those OF feons
oT the reason, and must turn loose all the
thieves and murderers in the community by way OF pre-
serving .lfe, liberty and The pursuit OF happiness"
have sad that the Declarations OF Independence recog
nises slavery II does this by making cause OF com
plant against the King Of Great Britain, that he has ex-
cited domestic Instructions among us. This language
refers instructions OF slaves, will be apparent by
reference instrument which the and pa
rent Of The Declaration OF Independence. aude TO
resolution passed by the general assembly oil Virginia on
Congress propose Declaration OF Independence The
move made IN Congress the 9TH OF June follow
ing. and Tell 10 Mr. Jeherson's lot 10 dsught The Dec
| lsraon This he did with the Virginia instructions In
his possession in which the general assembly complain
that the Kings representative IN Virginia had tempted
their slaves by every ariice to resort TO him, and had
trained and employed them against their masters" The
Independence, which says, 'he has excited domestic in
surreciioBs among US" Can II be doubted that the va
idty OF the institution OF slavery was here recognised
III ii had not BEEN would an attack upon have been
sc, forth prominently as a grievance
Consider moreover, the practical construction given to