The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-08-11

avarice, would have sympathized with oppres
sion wherever found, and proved their love o
liberty beyond their own share off it,
But my intercourse with them, since my re
turn, has not been sufficient to ascertain tina
they had made, towards this point, the progress
| had hoped Your solitary but welcome voic,
is the first which has brought this sound to m,
ear; and have considered the general silence
which prevails on this subject as indicating an
apathy unfavorable to every hope Yet tn,
| hour Of emancipation is advancing, in the
march of time. IL iciH come and, whethcl
brought on by the generous energies of our OWL
minds, OF by the bloody process of st. Domingo
excited and conducted by the power of our
present enemy if once stationed permanently
within our country, and Offering asylum and
arms to the oppressed, is leaf Of our history
not yet turned over.
As to the method by which this difficult
work is to be effected, if permitted to be done
by ourselves, | have seen no proposition so ex-
pedIent, on the whole, as that Of emancipation
of those born after given day, and of their
education and expatriation at proper age.
am sensible Of the partialities with which
you have looked towards me as the person
who should undertake this salutary but ardu-
Gus work. But this, my dear sir, is like bid
ding old Priam to buckle the armor of Hector
- Tremendous GeU0 humeriS et inutile ferr,m
eingitur.' No, have oyerlived the generation
with which mutual labors and perils beget
mutual confidence and influence. This enter
prise is for the young-for those who can fol-
low it up, and bear it through to its consum-
nation
1t shall have all my prayers, and these are
fha " Of an al hnt in
mean time, are you right in abandoning this
| property, and your country with it? think
not.
My opinion has ever been, that until more
can be done for them, we should endeavor,
with those whom fortune has thrown on our
hands to feed and clothe them well, protect
them from ill usage, require such reasonable
labor only as is performed by free men, and be
led by no repugnances to abdicate them, and
our duties to them. The laws do not permit
us to turn them loose, If that we're for their
good and to commute them for other property
is to commit them 10 those whose usage to
them we cannot control | hope then, my dear
sir, you will reconcile yourself to your country
and its unfortunate condition, and that you will
not lessen it's stock of sound disposition by with.
drawing your proportion from the mass that,
on the contrary, you will come forward in the
public councils, become the missionary of the
doctrine truly Christian, insinuate and incul-
cate it softly but steadily, through the medium
Of writing and conversation, associate others in
your labors, and, when the phalanx is formed,
bring on and press the proposition persevering-
ly until its accomplishment 1t is an encour-
aging observation that no good measure was
ever proposed, which, if duly pursued, failed to
prevail in the end. We have proof of this in
the history of the endeavOrs of the British Par
lament to suppress that very trade which
brought this euH on as. And you will be sup
ported by the religious precept Be not weary
10 well-doing" That your success may be
speedy and complete, as it will be Of honorable
and immortal consolation, shall fervently and
sincerely pray, as assure you Of my great
friendship and respect,
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
The people of North Carolina are Justly
proud of the fame of the wise and good Judge
Castor. He was distinguished alike for tai.
ents, attainments and moral worth. They will
therefore receive with attention and respect,
his warning admonition upon the subject of
Slavery. In an address to the students of the
University at Chapel Hill, in June 1882, he
used the following language
On you, too will devolve the duty, which has
,een too long neglected, but which cannot
With IMMUNITY be neglected much longer, of
providing for the mitigation and Gs it too much
o hope for in North Carolina 9 for the ultimate
Of the worst evil that afilicts the
southern part Of our Confederacy. Full we'll
10 you know to what refer; for on this sub
ect there is, with all of us, morbid sensitive
less which gives warning even of an approach
o it. Disguise the truth as we may, and throw
he blame where we will it is Slavery which,
more than any other cause, keeps us back in
he career of improvement 1t STILES industry |
md fepresses enterprise it ID fatal to economy |
and providence; it dscourages skill, impaiys
Dur strength as community and poisons
morals at the fountain head. How this evil is
10 be encountered, how subducd, is indeed a
difficult and delicate inquiry, which this is not
Ihe time to examine nor the occasion to discuss
felt, however, that could not discharge my
iuty without referring to this subject as one
which ought to engage the prudence modera-
ion, and firmness, of those who sooner OF later,
must act decisively upon it.
TO BE CONTINUED.