Daily American telegraph., 1852-08-20

L
We received yesterday, from gentleman in
Maryland, the letter which we give below. 1t
was written nearly ten years ago, and was first
published in the Danville CVirginia) Reporter,
and thence transferred to the {" Maryland Colo
nization Journal" from which journal it is now
copied. Our correspondent is OF opinion that
General SCOTS views on the delicate question of
slavery have been misrepresented, and therefore
desires to this letter, in which they fully
and authenticity set forth, inserted in the Intel
ligencer.
The views expressed by the General appear TO
US to evince wise and comprehensive statesman
ship, as well as characteristic philanthropy,
and we therefore, with pleasure, give the lettera
place in our columns:
WASHINGTON, February 8, 1843.
My DEAR Sir: / have been waiting for an
evenings leisure to answer your letter before me,
and, after an unreasonable delay, am at last
obliged to 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 you, the son Of an ancient neighbor
and friend, been by any continuance or desire
of mine and certainly shall never be in the
field for that high Office unless placed there by
regular nomination. Not, then, being candi-
date, and seeing no near prospect of being made
one, ought, perhaps, to decline troubling you
or others with my humble opinions on great
principles of State rights and federal admins
tration ; but as cannot plead ignorance of the
partially of few friends, in several parts Of
the Union, who may by possibility, in certain
event, succeed in bringing me within the field
from which Wing candidate is to be selected
| prefer to err on the side of frankness and can
dor, rather than by silence, to allow any stran-
ger unwittingy to commit HIMSELF to my support
Your inquiries open the whole question of do
nestle slavery which has in different forms, for
a number Of years, agitated Congress and the
country.
Promising that you are the first person who has
Intercepted me on the subject, | give you the
basis of what weuld be my reply in greater de-
TAIL If time allowed and the contingency alluded
to above were less remote
In boyhood at William and Mary College, and
in common with most, if not all, Of my compan-
ions | became deeply impressed with the views
given by Mr.. Jefferson, III his Notes on Virgin
ia" and by Judge Tucker, in the Appendix to
his edition Of Blackstones Commentaries, in ia
vor of gradual emancipation of slaves. That
Appendix | have not seen in thirty-odd years,
and, in the same period, have read scarcely any
thing on the subject; but my early Impressions
are fresh and unchanged. Hence, if | had had
the honor of n seat in the Virginia legislature in
the winter Of 1831-'32 when bill was brought
forward to carry out those views, should GER
tainy have given it my hearty support.
! l suppose scarcely need say that, in my
opinion, Congress has no color of authority under
the constitution for touching the relation of mas
ter and slave in State.
hold the opposite opinion in relation to the
District of Columbia Here, with the consent Of
the owners, or on the payment of "just compen-
sation," Congress may legislate Mt its discretion.
But my conviction is equally strong that, unless
it be step by step with the legislatures Of Virginia
and Maryland it would be dangerous to both
, races in those States to touch the relation be-
tween master and slave in this District.
; / have from the first been of opinion that Con-
gress was bound by the constitution to receive,
to refer, and to report upon petitions relating to
domestic slavery, as in the of all petitions
but have not failed to see and to regret the I'M
avoidable irritation which the former have pro-
duced in the Southern States, with the conse-
quent peril to the two colors, whereby the adop-
ton 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 liberating their
slaves, well knowing that liberation, without the
Y means Of sending them in comfort to some posi-
ton favorable to "the pursuit Of happiness "
would in most cases be highly injurious to al
around, rs well as to the manumitted families
: themselves, unless the operation were general
. and under the auspices of prudent legislation
{ But | am persuaded that it is high moral obi
cation of masters and slaveholding States tc
!, employ NIL means, not incompatible with the
safety of both colors to meiorate slavery to exter
" mination.
!; 1t is gratifying to know that general meliora
ton has been great, and is still progressing, not
withstandng the disturbing causes alluded t.
# above. The more direct process of emancipation
. may, no doubt, be earlier commenced and quick
y ! ened in some communities than in others. Each
! do not question, has the right to Judge fol
itself, both as to time and means; and consider
interference or aid from without, except on in
vitation from authority within, TO be ms hurtfu
J. to the sure progress of meioration MS it may BIZ
Il fatal to the lives Of vast multitudes of all ages
!, sexes, and colors. The work Of liberation cannot
! be forced without such horrid results. Christian
philanthropy ever mild and considerable. Henc,
all violence ought to be deprecated by the friends
of religion and humanity. Their persuasion!
cannot fail nj the right time to free the master
;, from the slave, and the slave from the master
y perhaps before the latter shall have found ou
c and acknowledged that the relation between tn,
parties had long been mutually prejudicial t.
I their worldly interests
There as, IN the order Of Providence, no eua scith
Z oWt some compromising benefit. The bleeding 4fri
r can torn from has savage home By his erociou
neghbors, sold in SLAVERY, and cast upon this cont
= Rent Here IN the mild South, the race has tconder
4 fully multiplied, compared nth anything eUer knsws
> III 6arbaTons hfs. The descendants of q few
. thousands have become many millions and all
: from the first, made acquainted with the arts OF
;, civilization, and, above all, brought under the
light of the Gospel.
/ From the promise made to Abraham, some two
I thousand years elapsed before the advent Of on,
! Saviour; and the Israeites, the chosen people o.
i God, were for wise purposes suffered to remain
t in bondage longer than Africans have been OF
our shores. This race has already experienced
I the resulting compensation alluded to; and al
E the white missionary has never been able to pen
: citrate the dark regions of Africa, to establish