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

were IN favor Of abolition Abolition petitions poured In
very introduced BY Mr. Thomas Jefferson Randolph,
under instructions IRON his constituents He represented
Absmarlelhe second county IN the State in point OF
slave population Finding the legislature not ripe for 70
decisive measure, he did not press it 10 vote. An
animated debate took place. however in the Of
which many prominent men advocated abolition. and one
of them congratulated the house that advocate Of
slavery had risen in that hall The popular branch OF
The legislature finally resolved, by vote 65 TO 50. that
they were profoundly sensible Of the great evils arising
from the condition OF the colored population OF the Com
monwealth, and induced by policy, well as hu-
manity TO attempt The immediate removal OF the Tree
negroes but that further action Tor the removal OF the
slaves should await definite development OF pub.
lie opinion" Mr. Randolph returned home, and was re
elected alter canvass turning upon the abolition ques-
lion II any man now were to advocate abolition ~
Albemarle he would be most assuredy mobbed And
what has brought about this change Of sentment There
is no d'fhculty IN answering the question
Contemporaneous with the abolition move in Virginia
similar movement began at the North In 1880 or 81 Mr.
Garrison established an abolition paper in Boston, and IN
1884 the first meeting OF the American Anli-Slavery So
ciety was held in Philadephia A part OF their plan OF
operations was 10 circulate abolition papers Through the
southern States; some OF these addresses advised sur
recon, and all tended TO promote il. They were filled
with denuncaions Of Shareholders and were mainly m
tended for the slave population. might have been an
cpaied, violent reaction Immediately took place IN
Virginia, and The cause OF emancipation was abandoned
by It's best friends In the Of 1885 thir,y-eght
counties held public meetings and addressed the legsla
ure. calling for action against the northern aboiuonss
Governor Taaewe back ed their addresses with mes
response Pdsseu ol
resolutions and finally statute for the suppression OF
abolition publications, &c. Then the conflict between the
North and South began which eopards the Union.
All idea of abolition in Virginia Immediately aban-
doncd, as the character Of the movement had actually
changed. When in southern hands il was measure OF
reform, recognising the legality OF slavery, and looking
its peaceful extinction by the will of the master. Un
der northern auspices, promised 10 be bloody and vio-
lent revolution proceeding from the slave. Men then dis
covered the truth of the political maxim, that "reom
comes from above and revolution from beneath and all
lbye Of ord n set
The reaction. is usual ran TO extremes, and raised
upon the ruins OF southern abolition party which NAM
tans the wisdom and expediency OF slavery under all
circumstances and believes that republican government
| cannot exist without it, This party now predomlnaes
in the South, and will continue e do while the present
slavery agitation continues They are considered the
safest depository OF power under existing circumstances
when abolition is the danger most to be apprehended
Consequently, no abolition movement can succeed in our
day and generation without violence and bloodshed and
with this firm conviction the friends OF the in this
State will oppose any revival OF the question II we had
been permitted TO prosecute The matter IN our own way
it altogether probable that the grain growing States OF
the South would have been carrying out schemes Of
gradual emancipation. The cotton States, where slave
labor is profitable. would of course have been be-
hind the others in this matter
think that our democratic friends, il they ponder
little upon this page oil history will feel no very
strong inducements to turn abolIionists. II they viii
but reflect that according 10 our political faith the
general government has concern with slavery, they
must eel that they are no more responsible for thar
for the serdom OF Russia; and il so, let the sin Of
4
atone responsible for il. Do not interfere with south
ern masters 10 pursuit OF their slaves and they wal,
want no assistance from federal marshals or municipal
police Ii is this interference which has occasioned the
passage OF the fugitye-save law Ii YOU had lei slavery
alone, your country would not have been place o.
refuge for fugitive slaves, and we should have escaped
the scenes OF violence and excitement dangerous Il
the institutions Of the couairy and 90 utterly destructive
to all hope of freedom for the slave population Every
abolition their bondage and strengthens the arm
of pro sayeryism II The ugtve-slave law cannot b
executed, the Union must be dissolved In my humble
Judgment, human power can avert this catastrophe
The wish father 10 the thought for am ultra il
my attachment the Union, and am so far from being pro
slavery that regard il OF the most gigantic evil
that ever afflicted people Nevertheless, its mus
now be left natural causes which operating slow,
but surely, and all interference will only aggrava,e thu
/ evil.
must ask your pardon, my dear sir. for having pnc,e
upon you this long letter, and in own justification
will remind you that you have drawn upon yoursel
The subject is upon which feel strongly and deeply
and sometimes forget myself when gefupon IT, and rul
into pfolixity
With bes, wishes, remain your friend and servant,
GEO w. RANDOLPH.
| To NAHUM CApEs, esq, Boston, Massachusetts.