Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-11-23
LETTER FROM REV. WM. 4. SMITH.

| i'''' i-h rhpM REN. w VI. y. SMITH.
We have been favored with the following copy o
the letter recently alre> 'ed to the Boston SLAYER,
Lecture Committee by the Rev. Willin n A. Smiti,
President Of Randolph Macon College, Va:
| R'ND"LrH MACuN CnLIrGk, V,l
| November Eth, 1850 !
| DIX. SroNK hNp OTHERS: Your letter inf,rmin, ~,
"thai il would bc impossible, at this late day, To make
any new arrangements BY which more than ON,
evening runll u" allowed me 10 discus, the suhpc
| of sluYery calne tu hald III duc course of mail 4
! temporary absence from College and urgent du,i-,
when present, have delayed my answer. Your ussu
rance that yuu would probably be obliged tn ..an
made il ''- important ihat should hasten this rruiy
| | drclIn" your invitation ~ l,';ur. ia fremont
Temple :. subject ot .arery, on the l1th oi Jan
ay nrAi Bat, III don. tlis, II is proper that rtat,
| that do only hccui.. 'ali the lecturers for IN,
course have been InvilcG' and that it is "iupos
sibr' lIr y"u la allow the time which deem II,.
c"'sary t" fII, aud proper Development of my view.
on ia" subject "i African Slavery in the United States
That IS III least three c"li3ccutlve evenings. wOIlC
not undertake II development OF my views uf slavery
in B'ston, in The time usually appropriated /" NJ
evening discussion "! such IL topic. ] could hav,
no immd"!r political Results TO accomplish, even il
behalf Of the South, by visit 10 Bustun. am not
| political mill. J! African Slavery in the umlteC
States required H. bG discussed in Boston, "a Il pU
| cal Iuesti"n, or Il Question Of Constitutional law
which very much duubr--nay, do mol believe thai
II iocs-therc arc gentlemen nuch more competent
10 Discus, it than ari. Let them discuss il. II par
t-nn politicians in Boston and i,> vicinity are kim
! 10 avail themselves of agitation produced by pu
tra di~cl"sl"ns Of ;hi' kind Ia effect their persona
ends, lior they are always personally will not enC
them my uld ii | can avoid H. think they richly
merit the rebnke whic! they have received from
certain quarter Bat, sti!i, find abundant reason.
to Justify NE IN ecturing in Boston, if were permit
ted 10 'o :" under circumstances which promise es
Scita. good without mnicria hazard Of evil bv CATER
III? :? the morbid appetite of dcpraved politicians.
claim that am an American, in thr full end ap.
! li"pratc scnsn OF this cAprcss0n. an PROUD of my
cUuurv-Iny Whole rouniry-Nurth as we'll n. South
Hence, only tie more get to think that the coun
! try, at iGln day, abOunl- with many men of but
"acvcn prnciplca' political scheme whatsopvr,
receives their sanction, whether il makes the African
II freeman or slave, EI0r;,i The scheme S likely 10
succeed and will promote their personal ends. | dc
not ralse the question whether the presence of ts
| incubus Of folly and madness upon the institution.
and hopes of our country, is chiefly supplied by
Northern politicians. Although fremont Temple
"stun should be the Congress Hall oi the presiding
gcni of this evil, in which they hold their nightly
reYe- and from which they send forth those tides o
moral lava which ate daily threatening the safety o
the Republic, II would not alter ny course hair
breadth turn away iruln these mcn--North and
SOUTH trust. with piGus horror. would gladly re-
form both their hearts md their politics as well
avert the CHlamtIcs with which they threaten thG
country.
But do not promise myself Success with these
men by discussing the Question, whether the Const
t~tui guarantees 10 protect our rights of property
Such inen are not Ia be- reasoned with. Nay,
! doubt il proposition from such men ~ discuss the
question Of the condition %; the Africans i'm the South
l. not an iasult, cHlirngIli: severe rebukc. But
gnncrncm these inen would b. Elpotcnt for evil in
the country, but Tor the TACT, that there ia behind
them numerous class ui honest, mslliyen; citizens
whose conscientious opinions form the staple uf this
mischief. Ii Is the 5"j OF this great and honest
! class, upon which these men feed which daily sup
plies thea; with liz. and activity potent for mis-
chief turn away, then, from that mere provision
of tAs federal Constitution, which guarantees tht
righ Of property in African slaves, and look back u
this provision to the great abstract principle which
undcrllcs II. that IL, Mdt IN P'Hc'plc SGseryE righ
Ih- must be- Gdrittrd to be In" doctrine OF the Con
! stitution, unless II be absurd!y assumed that ou
inreathers deliberately provided in the organic law
of the whole lund, for The being and protection u
TINT which in Itself; that Is, H p.IHctbic, was wrong
Turning, aside i:Cm the class 0 corrupt, des gnlnl
politicians 10 the -ub-iratum ri society which
derics them, what do we ind! Why, Ht the NORTH
we find u NUMEROUS Clg4s oi citizens whose intell
g"ncc ana honesty can no mere be doubted than VT
I can safely d"hbt American Courage and patriotism
who. unfortunately believe that thi. feature oi OIL
federal Constitution i" great moral lailacy--that il
that the dnoirgr OF the Constitution is al rrror-a
aa error, bcc9Hs" ne FrjHcD'" ~ 'i!rrrg Is Jong
,:a,' Yo Tj.'h, the Constitution prstu!ates it 10 be
and, therefore, that fathers di not intend 10
-ert Nlhihi tLlS doctrine III lJtnit'". that II
they did, II ia time the Constitution WIS revised, and
10 carry ont tho argument 10 lis results add, that il
il b. time Ia revise the Constitution this point II
s time ~ dissolve the union OF these Stara Hat this
/ IL not Rl!. These persons not ouly believe African
slavery 10 be morally wrong. but clearly wrong
TN, no honest and unbiased mat ot columon sense
ra possibly believe it To be right. Now, il does mp
pea; 10 me. that assuming these persons TO be honest
there is but little ground to hope for the permanency
"i the fed, rel Constitution now that the discussion
, =, turl t,l IN ,Ip
coed III d,abgsHG the pubic mind ut alse plliloso
ply. II il idle 10 say that they hGv. To interest In
Ibis suhicct. The declaration -! the Constitution is
much their av"r!ncnt as Il j. OUR The action o
thrcnury under this Constitution is rs much theil
action it is And they nre hs firmly bonnd by
the provisions I" tho Constitution 10 respect the right.
OF property III slaves ms are. hut il Is their mis-
fortune IN have been educated i'll the belief that The
Constitution requires Gm to respect that IN practice
which in inoras they brlieve t" be- wrong, and 81
clearly wrong that no unprcludiced man can believe
it To- be right The Lending men 0i the country have
contributed Ia educate them in this belief not even
excepting in this remark those great lights, Clay and
Webster. To their view, this Is purely a onc-sldrd
question in morals. IHW Siaryrg is mr5Rg, il qup5
| ton in .rtrsmry, not in contingent matter. And
although 10 sreaer ialIacy ever perpetrated in
moral science yet such Is the fact, that the con
| f.lrncc and religious belief Of large portion
| of the citizenship Is abused to this EXTENT
Already has this false philosophy divided three
of the great christian denominations Of the land
School! books for chirr text books for scholars and
popular orators in Legislative Halls and elsewhere
! have all contributed, without stint hindrance to
achieve this fearful result For myself, as in church
81 in State, do not s"e how an honest people can
long remain parties 10 constitution which, IN their
religions belief, asserts in theory and maintains III
practice that which they belevcto he not only wrong
but so ccsrir wrOEy that candid can believe
/, to Ice right. Hence rejoice that rhc discussion o
this subject hns publicly and avoweLly commenced
TtGh has caIisr 10 .car the lights Of dlscusslo
The pulpit the school, the press, and the popular lee
turr room lave all been Systematically employed
in onc-s:ic discussion Of this great question, not n
politics ns"r'ly, Dut Of christian morals. II the c"u!
try be secure from the cnanitics which threaten II
from this quarter, the same agencies should DO EN-
ployed in bca!i u: truth. We may not soon be able
10 triumph the riudicCs nt edncHtI"'i We may
still, leave the great body OF honest men nt the North
in ore respect. Just where We found thrn that Is, pro-
trrinr their system of domestic servltudc O that "i
III" African with u.s. But one thing, II II" more, we
could scarcely fail 10 accomplish. We could not ial
to satisfy a!l candid aud honest men that this was, IL
sny the very least If il, twosidcd, aud not rs they
supposrd, a M.'re ouc-s.ded ,luestInm-that both
ss n question OF philosophy and Il question
of prncticc, men, mul.!udcS Of men, intelligent
rs they are. honest rs they are, and charitable
aud p0lIs rs they are i'll word as pure III all re-
spers us they dare claim to be, are not accustomed
n, they have allowed themselves 10 think they dld
tn net run the blind influence ot education hnd habit
in holin. African slaves, but thar they entertain
emil Ihtcmrti views oi HES sup.''i "hu a"'" "f
make il their conscientious duty To God and TO soce'
ty 10 hold African slaves III their proridentihl circu
stances Such result il! the present state OF the
country could only be attended with good True, ws
should fn nf rfIertIng any good with dclnagogue-
ir ,vio.r view no reasoning is sound, except ns il
NAV promise 10 effect selfish purpose. But | an
w.I n.rsunded that there is both candor and lntelli
,,.r.i. ~ III. North rs we'll rs in the South whicl
| cnuno, be appealed to III VAN
With ,hcs, views feel my duly to instruct th'
students committed TO my care in wnnt hold I" bt
sI,nL views OF moral science on the subject Of slave
ry have also embraced frequent opportunities n
d,scussinr this subject in popular assemblies %
southern people. Why should not embrace the "e
cssjnn afforded by your invitation and discuss t
subject in Tremou; Temple before Boston audience
| I confess am strongly inclined to d" IT, sh0uld
r,orct Il candid and respectful hearing from a those
p numerous class-ior whose benefit spoke ant
q, or others think it likely should be ss little al
~. - H.. ,hnir nrutil. ns [ uilvht TO be, Whilst