The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-12


time, except by Gen. Hamilton, and have not
gone out of my way to hunt up testimonies
from that quarter. The views Of MIR Jay are
known to have been strongly Anti-Slavery
and, although Gen. Hamilton may have felt
less on the subject, he was equally decided in
his opposition to the institution
have diligently sought for everything which
General Washington wrote on the subject OF
slavery. 1t will be seen that his judgment and
his feelings were decidedly against the iDstitu-
ton, whether viewed in the light of morality
or political economy. And while he, on all
occasions, expressed his strong disapprObation
of it, he saw and felt the political necessity OF
shielding it from unconstitutional encroach-
ment. Without this protection from external
and Federal interference, there could be no
union among the States, no domestic peace,
and, therefore, no security for the National In
dependence.
The position of Washington on this question
would form the true compromise at the present
day. His humanity, his benevolence his sense
of justice and expediency, were all on the side OF
Enamel patton, at the earliest practicable pc
Rod and yet his fidelity to his political obliga-
tons constrained him, while the institution
should last to maintain the State Sovereignty
which guarded It from illegal interference.
The views of Mr.. Jefferson and Mr. Madison
are entirely coincident with those Of the Faith
or of his Country on this question. The former
has more strongly and point given express
sion to his adherence Of Slavery bat he con-
Cured entirely in the necessity of constitution
al inhibitions against foreign interference with
it. IL is but justice to those great men that
their entire positions should be known.
The resolutions adopted at public meetings
in Virginia, and by general convention at
Williamsburg, show that the state of feeling
among the people corresponded with that ex-
pressed by the eminent men whose writings
have quoted in this work
The following extracts from the proceedings
of public meetings in the Southern States prior
to the Declaration of independence, show the
state of feeling among the people at that peri
cd. 1t will be seen that Washington, Jeffer-
son, and Madison, were little in advance of
public opinion on this subject
AMERICAN ARCHIVES FoURrH SERIES, Vol. |.
Prince Georges CO, Virginia, Resolutions.
At general meeting of the Freeholders of
Prince Georges county Virginia, the following,
among other resolutions, was unanimously
adopted:
ReSolred, That the african trade is injurious
to this colony, obstructs the population of it by
frcemen, prevents manufacturers and other
useful omigrants from Europe from settling
US, and occasions an annual increase
of the balance of trade against this colony
Page 494. TnEoDoRIcK BLAND,
Clerk of the Netting
Culpspper co., Ia, meeting: Henry Pendieton,
Esq, Moderator
ReSOiUed, That the importing slaves and con-
Wet servants is injurious to this colony, as it
Obstructs the population of it with freemen and
useful manufacturers, and that we will not buy
any such slave or convict servant hereafter to
be mported.-Page 523.
john JAMESON Clerk
NdnSemond county, Virginia, Resolutions.
Resolved, That the african trade is injurious
o this colony, obstructs the population of it by
reemen, prevents manufacturers and other use
ul emigrants from Europe from settling among
~, and occasions an annual increase of the
balance of trade against this colony-Page $50.
LEMUEL RIpD!cK and BENJAMIN BAKER,
1sqrs, sent as delegates to williamsburg.
Caroline county, Virginia, Resolutions.
Resoiued, That the Afriedn trade is injurious
0 this colony obstructs our population by free
zen, manufacturers, and others, who would
migrate from Europe and settle here, and Oc-
asOns an annual balance of trade against the
ountry; aud, therefore, that the purchase Of
ii imported slaves ought to be associated
.gainst Page SAL.
EDMUND PENDLEToN and JAMES TAYLOR
delegates.
SuIry county Virginia, Resolutions.
9Th. Resolved That as the population of this
olOny, with ireemen and useful manufacturers,
$ greatly INSTRUCTED by the importation of
laves and convict servants, we will not pur-
,hase any such slaves or servants hereafter to |
be imported.-Pdge 593
ALLEN Cooke, and NICHOLAS FAuLcoN, jr.,
delegates,
FdirJdr CO., Tirginid, meeting, Georgs Wash
'ngton, Esq, presiding Robert Harrison,
gentleman Clerk.
Resolved That it is the opinion of this meet
ing that, during our present difficulties and dis
tress no slaves ought to be imported into any
of the British colonies on this continent; and
We take this opportunity of declaring our most
earnest wishes to see an entire stop forever put
to such q wicked, cruel and unnatural trade
Page 600.
GENERAL WASHINGTON and others, dele
gates.
Acidress to John Syme and Patrick Henri, By
the FrechoiderS Of Hanocer co, Va.
The African trade for slaves VIC consider as
most dangerous to virtue and the welfare of
this country; We, therefore most earnestly wish
to see it totally discouraged-Pdge GIG.
john SyME and PATRICK HENRY delegates
Princess Ann co, Va, Resolutions Anthonv
Larson, Esq, Moderator.
Resolved That our Burgesscs be instructed
to oppose The Importation Of slaves and conyicts
as injurious to this colony, by preventing the
population of it by ireemen and useful manu-
facturcrs-Pdge Gal.
Thomas ABBOTT, Clerk
Virginia Contention
At a very full meeting Of delegates from the
different counties in the Colony and Dominion
Of Virginia begun in Williamsburg, the first
day Of august, in the year of our Lord IVA,
and continued, by several adjournments, to Sat
Wday the 9th of the same month, tho follow
ing association was UNANIMOUSLY resolved upon
and agreed TO:
2i. We will neither ourselves import, nor pur-
chase any slave or slaves imported by any
other person, after the first day of November
next either from africa, the West Indies, or
any other place.
X X
For the most trifng reasons, and sometimes
for no conceivable reason Mt all his Majesty
has rejected laws Of the most salutary tenden-
cy The abolition of domestic slavery is the
creates. object of desire in those colonies where
1t was unhappily introduced in their infant
state. But previous to the enfranchsement OF
the slaves we have it is necessary to exclude
all further importations from africa Yet our
repeated attempts to effect this by prohibitions
and by imposing duties which might amount
to a prohibition have been hitherto defeated
by his Najesty's negative; thus preierring
tho lmmediate nd yantuuas of N fcw African cor