New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-22

TO most and accessible to all our readers,
while the following extracts are very rarely
met with. We like the Farewell Address,
and will publish that too whenever we shall
have reason to suspect the majority of our
readers of infdelity to its counsels. For
the present, there would seem to be more
fitness in giving place to
Washington's Views on Slavery.
The plan alluded to in the following letter, was
one which COL Laurens had brought before the
Legislature Of South Carolina, for raising regi
ment Of black leves in the State 1t was voted
down. The following is an extract of letter
from Washington, in reply to one from Laurens
communicating his failure;
To Lieutenant Colond John LaurezS.
HEADQUARTERS July 10, l7s2
My DEAR SIR: The last post brought me your
letter of the 10Th of May. must confess, that
am not at all astonished at the failure OF your
plan That spirit of freedom, which at the CON-
mencement of this contest wodld have gladly
sacrificed every thing to the attainment of It's OBJ
ject Las long since subsidized and every selfish
passion has taken its place. 1t is not the public
bat private interest which Influences the gene
rality of mankind, nor can the Americans any
longer boast Of exception. Under these circum
stances, it would rather have been surprising if
you had succeeded, nor will you, fear, have bet
ter success in Georgia.
In remarkable and very interesting letter
written by Lafayette, in the prison Of Magdeburg,
he said 4" know not what disposition has been
made of my plantation at Cayenne, but hope
Madame de Lafayette will take care that the
negroes who cultivate it shall preserve their
liberty"
In reply to this portion of General LaFayette's
letter, Washington wrote as follows, from Mount
Vernon, 10th May, 1885,
"The benevolence of your heart, my dear mar
quis, is so conspicuous upon all occasions that
never wonder at any fresh proofs of 1t but your
late purchase of an estate in the colony of Cay
enne with a view of emancipating the slaves on 1t,
is generous and noble proof OF your humanity.
Would to God like spirit might dlHuse itself
generally into the minds OF the people OF this
country. But l despair of seeing it. Some
petitions were presented to the Assemb y, at its
last session, for the abolition of slavery, but they
could scarcely obtain reading. To set the slaves
aAoat at once would really believe, be produc-
tive Of much inconvenience and mischief; but by
degrees it certainly might, and assuredly ought
to be effected and that, too by legislative
authority"
Governor Pnkney, Of South Carolina, had writ
ten the following in a letter to General w ashing
ton
"Our legislature, among other questions, agta.
ted the one respecting the future importation OF
slaves as the prohibition expires in March, 1893
Great pains were used to effect a total prohlbi
ton but upon the question being taken In the
Senate, it was lost by so decided majority, that
| think we may consider it as certain this State
will, after March, 1898 import as largely as they
ever did. 1t is a decision, upon the policy OF
which l confess have my doubts"
To this. Washington replied in letter marked
private" and dated Philadelphia, 18th March,
1892 which contained the following passage:
81 must say that lament the decision of your
legislature upon the question of importing slaves
after March, 1898. | was In hopes that motives
of policy as well as other good reasons, supported
by the drefal effects Of siave'y, Which at this mo-
Dent are presented would have operated TO pro-
ducs a total prohibition of the Importation OF
slaves, whenever the question came to be agita-
ted in any State, that might be Interested In the
measure"
The following is one of the famous FAIRFAX
COUNTY RESOLVES, adopted at public meeting
held in Fairfax County, in Virginia the 18th day
of July, INA over which General Washington
presided; reported to the meeting by the Com
nttee of which he was Chairman, and by drec-
ton Of the meeting, reported by him to State
Convention, held the following August:
"ls Rcolsed That is the opinion Of this meeting that
ought 10 be in ported into any Of the Brih Colonies on
On his corneit; and NE lake this opportunity of de-
clsrng most earnest wishes 10 entire stop for
" ever put 10 such wicked crue and unnatural trade"
The following is the second item of General
Washington last will and testament:
"Itm.-U pom the decease OF my wife, it is my
will and desire that all the slaves whom hold In
my own right shall receive their freedom. To
emancipate them during her life would, though
earnestly Wisked by me, be attended with such in-
superabe difficulties on account OF their intermar
rage with the dover negroes as TO excite the
most painful sensations, If not disagreeable con-
sequences to the latter, while both descriptions
are In the occupancy of the same proprietor; it
not being In my power under the tenure by which
the negroes are held to manumit them. And
whereas, among those who will receive freedom
according to this devise there may be some who
from old age or bodily inhrmties, and others who
on account OF their infancy, will be unable to sup
port themselves il is my will and desire, that all
who come under the first and second descriptions
shall be comfortably clothed and fed by my heirs
while they live, and that such OF the latter de-
ciptiOn IS have no parents living, or, II living, are
unable or unwilling TO provide for them, shall be
bound by the court until they shall arrive at the
age OF twenty fve years and in cases where no
record can be produced, whereby their ages can
be ascertained the judgment OF the court upon its
own view Of the subject, shall be adequate and
final.
1.-THE negroes thus bound, are 10y their masters
or mistresses) to be taught 10 read and lerite,'
and be brought up to some useful occupation,
sgreeaby to the laws Of the Commonwealth Of
Virginia, providing for the support Of orphan and
other poor children. And | do hereby expressly
forbid the sale OF transportation out Of the said
commonwealth, of any slave may die possessed
Of under any pretenSe phatever. And / do more
over most pointedly and mast solemnly enjon it
upon my executors, hereafter named, TO see that
this clause respecting slaves, and every part
thereof be religousy fulfilled at the epoch at
which it is directed tc take place, without evasion
neglect or delay, after the crops which may then
be on the ground are harvested
It is criminal oaense now, IN Virginia, and .,