Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-06-19
Gen. SCOTS opinions on Slavery.

Slavery We believe our readers will be pleased
with perusal Of them. We have seen nothing
that so well expresses our views upon this great
louestion: and we believe they are the views Of
a vast majority of the right thinking people of
this country General Scott has hit the happy
medium which all NATIONAL men admire and
sustaia. The position which he maintained IN
1913, we have every reason to believe he adheres
to now /; and it is position which can be nam
tanned by the Wing party in every part OF the
land II is the broad platform of the Consttu-
ton. There is nothing sectional, nothing viru-
lent nothing but true UNoN AMERicANIsM IN IT.
While he is lust to the South he is also Just t.
The North. We ask for the letter careful and
candid consideration The Southern Press says
of the letter that in it General SCOTS views are
very plainly and decidedly expressed, ana he has
since given no reason to suppose that these views
have undergone any change ILLUS.
WASHINGTON. Feb 9 1913.
DEAR SiR,-I have been waiting for an even
nes leisure to answer your letter before me,and
after an unreasonable delay, am at last obliged
10 reply in the midst of official occupations.
That | ever have been named IN connection
with the Presidency Of the United States has
not can assure gou, the son Of an ancient
lneghbor and friend been by any contuvance or
desire Of mine; and certainly shall never be IN
the field for that high Office unless placed there
by regular nomination. Not, then, beng
candidate, and seeing no near prospect of being
mate one, | ought perhaps to decline troubling
lyon or others with my humble opinions on great
principles of State rights and federal adminlstru-
ton but as ! cannot plead ignorance of the par
tlahty of a few friends, in several parts of the
Union, who may, by possibility, ia certain event
succeed in bringing me within the field from
which a Wing candidate is DO be selected, pre-
fer TO err on the side of lrankr~~s and cnndor,
rather than, by silence. 10 allow any stranger I'M
willingly TO commit himself 20 my support
Your inquiries open the whole question of do
nestle slavery, which has, IN different forms for
a number of years, agitatcd Congress and the
country
Promising TINT you are the first person who
has Intercepted me on the subject, give you
the basis of what iroidd be my reply IN greater
detail, # time allowed and the contingency allu-
ded TO above were less remote.
In boyhood at William and Mary College,and
IN common with most lf not all, my companions,
| became deeply impressed with the views given
by MIR. Jefferson, IN his Notes on Virginia and
by Judge Fucker IN the Appendix to his edition
of Blackstone's Commentaries, in favor Of
gradual emancipation Of slaves That Appcn-
dix have not seen IN thirty odd years, aud III
the same period, have read scarcely anything on
tue SUBJECT; out my early Impressions are fresh
and unchanged.
Hence, If ! bad had the honor of a seat in the
Virginia Legislature in the winter Of l-}l-.}2,
when bill was brought forward to carry out
those views, should certainly have given 1t my
henriy support
| suppose | scarcely need say that in my opln-
ION, Congress has no color of authority under the
Constitution, for touching the relation Of master
end slave within State.
hold tha opposite opinion IN respect to the
District of Columbia Here, with the consent Of
the owners or on the payment of "just compen-
s1ton,' Congress may legsiate at IT'S discretion
But my conviction is equally strong that unless
II be step by step with the legislature OF Virgin
IA and Maryland, 1t would be dangerous to both
races ia those States to touch the relation be-
tween master and slave in tins District.
have from the first been Of opinion that
Congress was bound by the Constitution to re-
cere, TO refer, and to report upon petitions rela-
ting to domestic slavery as M the case of all 9th
er petitions but | have not failed To see and to
regret the unavoidable irritation which the form
er have produced in the Southern States, with
the consequent peril to the two colo-s, whereby
the adoption of any plan Of emancipation has
everywhere among US been greatly retarded.
own, myself, no slave but never have at
tached blame to masters for not llberatng their
slayes-knowing that liberation, without the
means of sending them in comfort 10 some posi-
ton favorable To " the pursuit of happiness
would In most cases be highly injurious 20 an
around we'll as 20 thc uanutndted families
themselves-unless the operation were general
and under the auspices of prudent legislatlon.-
But AN persuaded that II Is a high moral obli-
CATION OF masters and slayeholding States 10 EN-
ploy all means, not Incompatible with the sltety
of both coors, to mehorate slavery even to ex-
termination.
1t Is gratifying to know that general meliora-
tion has been great and is still progressive, not
outstanding the disturbing causes alluded to a.
bovc. lhemore direct process of emancipation
mny no doubt, be earlier commenced and quick
ened IN some communities thtn 10 others. Each
do not question, has the right TO Judge for IT.
self. both as to time and means, and consider
Interference or aid from without, except on invi-
taton from authority within, to be as hurtu 20
the sure progress of Moderation, as II my be
fatal to the lives of vast mutltudes Of ali ages,
sexes, and colors I he work of Liberation can
not be forced without such horrid results Chris
tan philanthropy is ever mild and considerate.
Hence all violence ought to be deprecated by the
trie DIS Of religion and humanity. Their per-
suasions caunot fail at the right time 10 free the
master from the slave, and the slave from the
master perhaps before the latter shall have
found out aud acknowledged that the relation
between the parties had long been mutually pre-
judicial to their worldly interests
There is no evil without. ia the order Of Prov
It1on.a Sauna ronnnans,tip,r banoGt I'm, hl,.J