Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-07-29
scott md Pierce.
Tier Vle,cs on Surery Compared.

Ihey |tcTS on iSucJy IoWPo'Fd.
The Democratic papers are in the habit Of
de-oupcinc Gen Scott as an aboliiionlst and
fiee-soiier Of the deepest dye. yet they have
been utterly unable TO rake up any evidence 10
sustain the charge. With all the assistance OF
her willing co adiutors. the famous "Protes-'
ants Toombs g. Co., they have not been
abe to r. fer to any document but solitary
Liter OF the Generals, containing any opinion
hitch they Can pretend to charge to be irn-
al TO the institutions Of the South, and that is
is letter to Dr.. Atkinson. Its true they deal
largely in sur inisrs aud bold assertions. but
/ lev are utterly deficient in tie proof.
L We here give the leuer referred to. though
] it has Leen repeatedly published, in order TO
1 show how little ground it furnishes for the
I char made by the Democratic press. and Tor
4 the statement contained in the card OF Messrs.
T.ombs & Co.. that in one. "a, least. of his pub
lie letters, lie has expressed sentiments mimi
cal 10 the insiit atoms Of fifteen States OF the
, Union" Here ii is in full:
-1sisa WAsnixGroN, Feb. 9, lS43.
Il Dear Sir: hive been waiting tor an even
~ : Ic1Sufe 10 aHShtT your ltUtF Utiofc nix,
4 I'D asicr an unreasonable delay, am a, last Oh
=, tsed TO reply III the midst OF Official occuPa-
TONS
4 Tia, | ever have been named in connexion
q with The Presidency of the United States has
not, can assure you. ihe OF an ancient
re;el,bor and friend, been by any contrivance
or tesire of mine; and certainly shall never
Z be in the field for that office. unless placed
4 H., liar, aftf Nut.
Z icing ca udidate, azd seeing no near pros
poet Of being made one ought perhaps to de-
Inc troubling you or others With my humble
! puons on srca, principles Of State rights and
federal administration; but us cannot plead
ignorance OF The Partially If few friends in
,,veral parts Of the Union. who may, by pos
!, >ihiliiy. in a certain event, succeed In bringing
4 me within the field from which wing candi-
! late is tn he selected, | prefer TO err on The
-iIc Of frauknesss and candor. rather than by
silence to allow any stranger unwntinsly to
!, commit himself 10 my support.
Your inquiries open the whole question of
| domestic slavery, which has In different forms.
for namLer Of years, ag'iaied Congress and
le country.
4 Promising tha, vol, are the first person who
& has ltcrrogated me on the subject, give the
n OASIS Of " hat would he my reply in greater
~ detail, II lime allowed and the contingency al
II luJed 10 above were less remote.
N In boyhooJ, at William and Mary College,
e al In common with most, if not al. my COM
4 rauions. became deeply impressed with the
WINS given by Mr.. Jefferson in lis Notes on
! Virginia" and by Judge Tucker, an the APP
/ aenaix to his edion Of "Blacks,one's Com
l. nen,aries' in favor Of a gradual ernanc patton
a II slaves Tha, Appendix have not seen in
i thirty odd years, ard in the same period have
1 read scarcely anything on the subject; but my
\ early inn ressions are fresh and unthangeL.-
] Hence, i'll had had the honor OF seat in the Vir
b ginia Legislature in,he winter of 1879, when
" a bill. was brought forward to carry out those
d views, should certainly have given ii my hear
= ~ support.
: suppose I scarcely need say. that in my
/ opiaion Congress has no co'or Of authority I'M
r der the constitution for touching the relation Of
\ master aud slave within State.
hold the opposite opinion in respect to the
| District Of Columbia. Here, with the consent
] Of the owners. or on the payment Of lust com
Il pensa,ion," Congress may iesi.tate at its dis
81 re,ion. But my conviction is equally strong
n hat. unless il be step rs step with the Legs
aturcs Of Virginia and Maryland. it would be
ii ange Gus 10 both races in those States TO touch
"A the relation between master and slave in the
~ District.
N | have from the FIRST been Of opinion that
IN Congress was bound by the constitution to re.
Aveve. TO refer. and to report upon petitions re-
latiny TO domestic slavery, as in the case of all
other pe,i,ions; but have not failed TO see and
4 to regret the unavoidable irritation which the
y for rner have produced in the Southern States.
- with the consequent peril TO the two cOlors.
ID whereby the adoption Of any plan ofemancipa-
=, lion has everywhere among us been greatly re-
II tardcd.
own myself no slaves; but never have at
tachcd blame to masters for not lIbera,ing their
III slayes-well KNOWN that liberation. without
N the means Of sending them in cemiort to some
n pos;tion favorable to the pursuit of happiness.
\ would, in most cases. he highly injurious to all
4 around. as well as to the manumitted families
1 themselves. unless the operation were general
and under the auspices of prudent legislation.
Bur am persuaded, tia. 1t is hi Oh moral oh.
/ 6sation Of masters and slavchodng States to
/ .mploy all means. not incompatible With the
n safs,y Of both coors, TO s,elsora,e slavery. even
A to determination 7fr tFl
A Its gratifying to know that general meliora-
U ton has been grca, aud progressive not
y withstandiug tho disturbing causes alluded to
\ above. The moredrrct process OF emanc,ration
may no doubt, be CARRIER commenced ana
5oaickcned in some communities than IN others.
Each. do not question has the risat tojaJge
4 for himself both as to time and mems and l
u consider interference or aid IRON without
sexcepton insitation from au'horry w,."'n'
u to, be as hursfulto the sure progress OF meh"ra-
a non as il ma be fatal TO the lives OF vast multi-
Al ,pdes Of all ICES sexes and ceiors. The work
ID ofi;bera,ion cannot be forced without such
n horrid results. Christian philanthropy Is ever
III mild and cousidcrate. Hence alivioence ought
"A 10 LIE deprecated by the friends of'reigion aud
IA humanity. Their persuasions cannot ia'l at
"A the right time to free the master from the
jslavs and the slave from the masser-perhaPs
before the latter shall have found out and ack-
Jnowledged ,',a, the relation b. tween the parties
j had long 10 n mutually pejudicial to their
worldly interests.
Il There is M ext, WITHOUT. in the order Of Pro