Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-07-17
LETTER FROM GEN. SCOTT.
On the Subject of Slavery.
WASHINGTON, Feb. o ls49.

WASHINGTON, Feb Q ls43.
DpbR srR: have been waiting for an eve.
,ing's leisure TO answer your letter before me;
nJ lfer an unreasonable delay, am at last o.
blired to reply in the midst of official occupa-
tions.
That ever have been named in connexion
with The presidency Of the United States has
not. can assure you, the son OF an ancient
usicbbor and friend been by any contryance or
desire Of mine; and certainly | shall never be in
the field for that high office, unless placed there
by A regular nomination. Not, then, being
candidate, and seeing no near prospect oi being
made one. | ought perhaps to decline touhllng
yon or others with my humble opinions on great
,rincioles Of State rights and federal admins
ration: but as cannot plead ignorance of the
p,rliaity Of few friends in several parts of the
Union, who may by possibility ina certain e.
vent succeed in bringing me within the field
tam whicha whig cand date is TO be selected,
TnreG-r To err on the side Of rankness and can.
d,r rather than by silence to allow any sran.
Ger uuwiuingly TO commit himself TO my sup
Your Inquiries open the whole question Of
domestic slavery, which has, in different forms
for number uf years agated Congress and the
country
Promising that you are the first person who
bas interrogated me on the subject give YOU the
basis Of what would be my reply in greater de-
tail; If time allowed and the contingency alluded
10 above were less remote.
In Toy hood. at William and Mary College, and
In common with most, If not all, my companions,
became deeply impressed with the views CIV
eg Nv NJ. jefferson IN his "Noles on Virgins
ia.p and by Judge Tucker, in the Appendix to
his edition of "Bhckslune's Commentaries, m
f1rsr Of a Gradual emancipation Of sldUes.--
That Appendix have not seen in thirty ODD
years. ani in the same period have read scarce.
lY anything on the subject; bu my early I'M
presciors are fresh and unchanged. Hence
If had had the honor of seat in the Virginia
legislature 10 the winter Of 1912, when bill
was brought forward 10 carry out those views
should certainly have given il my hearty sup
port
suppose scarcely need say, that in my o.
pinion Congress aas no color OF authority uhd
iae constitution for touching the relation OF mas
ter and 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 gust com
pensalion," Congress may legisla'e at It's DIS
cretion. But my conviction is equally strong
that, useless il be step by step with the legsla'
lures Of Virginia and Maryland; It would be
dangerous to both races in those Statest to touch
the relation between master and slave in this
District.
have from the first been Of oppiniou that
Congress was bound by the constitution to re-
ceive, to refer, and To report upon petitions re,
lanp to domestic slavery, as in the case OF all
other petitions; but have not failed TO see and
TO regret the unavoidable irritation which the
former have produced in the southern States,
with the consequent peril to the two colors where
by the adoption of any plan Of emancipation
has everywhere among us been greatly re1ard-
ed.
own myself no slaves; but never have at
iached blame to masters for not liberaing ihelr
slaves-weI knowing that liberation, without
the means of sending them in comfort TO some
position favorable to the pursuit of happiness,
would, in mos, cases. be highly injurious TO all
around as well as to the manumilled families
themselves, unless the operation were gradual
and under the auspices Of prudent legislation
But am persuaded that it is a high moral OBJ
legation Of masters and slavebolding States to
employ all means, not incompatible with The SAT
ETY. Of both colors, to meliorate slavery, even TO
determination.
1t is gratifying to know that general meliora-
tIon has been great, and is still progressive not
wiihstanding the disturbing causes alluded "a
above. The more direct process Of emanci'
patton may, no doubt, he earlier commenced snd
quickensd IN some communities than others
Each, do not question, has the right to Judge
tor ITSELF both as to time and means; and con-
sder inlerference or aid from withou, except on
invitation from authority wnhn, TO be as huuiul
to the sure progress Of melioraiion, as il may
be fa.al to the lives Of vast multiiudes, Of al
ages, seres. and colors. The work Of liberia
tioa cannot be forced without such horrid results.
Christian philanthropy is ever mild and consid-
crate Hence all violence ought to be dePreca-
ted by the friends Of religion and humanity.
Their persuasions cannot fail at the right time
lofree The master from the slave, and the slave
from the mss,er-perhaps before the later shall
have found out and acknowledge that the rsla-
ton between the parties had lOng been mutually
PrelUdical 20 tbeirvorldly Interests
There is no evil without. in the order Of Proy-
idencs, some compromising benefit. The bleed
ing African was torn from bis savage home BY hi'
isroeious neighbors, sold into slavery and eas