Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-08-16
[rrom the National IntsllIscneer Of August 81

i GENE BCOtL NhC 5oUJoSt
We received yesterday, from a gentleman In
Maryland, tho letter which we give below. 1t
was written nearly ten years ago, and was first
published in the Danville (Virginia) Reporter,
and thence transferred to the " Maryland Colo
nization Journal" from which journal it is now
copied. Our correspondent is of opinion that
General Scott's views on the delicate question of
slavery have been misrepresentod, and therefore
desires to see this letter, in which they are fully
and automatically set forth, inserted in the Intel
ligencer.
US to evince wise and comprehensive statesman
ship, as well as characteristic philanthropy,
and we therefore, with pleasure, give the letter
place in our columns
WASHINGTON, February 8, 1843.
Ny 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 connexion
with the Presidency of the United States has not
can assure you, the son of an ancient neighbor
and friend, been by any contriyance or desire
of mine; and certainly shall mover be in the
field for that high Office unless placed there by a
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 unwittingly to commit himselfto my support.
Your inquiries open the whole question of do
mestic 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 would be my reply in greater de-
tail, if time allowed and the contingency alluded
to above were less remote.
LII 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, in his Notes on Virgin
ia" and by Judge Tucker, in the Appendix to
| his edition of Blackstones Commentaries, in ia
vor of a 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 l had had
the honor of seat in the Virginia legislature in
the winter Of 1922, when bill was brought
forward to carry out those views, should GER
tainly have given it my hearty support
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 "jHst compen-
saton," Congress may legislate at 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 case of all petitions
but have not failed to see and to regret the un-
avoidable irritation which the former have pro-
duced in the Southern States, with the conso-
quent peril to the two colors, whereby tho adop-
ton of any plan Of emancipation has everywhere
among US been greatly retarded.
| own, myself, no slave; but never have Mt
tached blame to masters for not iberating their
slaves, well knowing that liberation, without the
means of sending them in comfort to some posi-
ton favorable to "the pursuit Of happiness"
would in most cases be highly injurious to all
around, as well as to the manumitted families
themselves, unless the operation were general,
and under the auspices of prudent legislation.
But j am persuaded that il is a high moral obi
SdllOu VI uuu bidNc0OluluR Dtales TO
employ all means, not incompatible with the
safety of both ooors to meorate slavery to exter-
mination.
1t ia gratifying to know that general meliora-
ton has been great and is still progressing, not
withstanding the disturbing causes alluded TO
above The moro direct process of emancipation
may, no doubt, be earlier commenced and quick
ened in some communities than in others. Each
do not question, has the right to Judge for
rlf 1zNl - 4 n
interference or aid from without, except on in
vitation from authority within, TO be as hurtfu
to the sure progress Of Moderation as it may BIO
fatal to tho lives of vast multitudes of all ages
sexes and colors. The work Of liberation cannot
be forced without such horrid regults. Christian
philanthropy is ever mild and considerable Hence
all violence ought 10 be deprecated by the friends
of religion and humanity. Their perfuasions
cannot fail at the right time to FREQ the master
from the slave, and the slave from the master
perhaps before the latter shall have found out
and acknowledged that the relation between the
parties had long been mutually prejudicial to
their worldly interests
There is, in the order Of Providence no evtl NTH
out some con,pensdtiag benefit. The bleeding Atri-
cal torn from his sdUdge home By his fsrocious
neh6ors sold IN slGuery, and c0st upon this CONT
ncnt. Here in The mid South, the race has woBdsr-
fully multiplied compared 10Th anything cuer known
in barbarops life. The descendants of a 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
thousand years elapsed before the advent of our
Saviour; and the lsraetos, the chosen people Of
God, we're for wise purposes suffered to remain
in bondage longer than Africans have been on
our shores. This race has already experienced
the resulting compensation alluded to; and as
the white missionary has never been ablo to pen
citrate the dark regions Of Africa or to establish