The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-04

man to deny It,"
"When, within period equal to that in
which the Federal Constitution has been in ex-
istence, those numbers will increase to more
than two millions within Virginia; when this,
the fairest land on this continent, for soil, and
climate, and situation, combined, might become
sort of garden spot, if it were worked by the
hands of achite men alone-can zoe, ought aoe,
to sit quietly down, fold our arms, and say to
each other, well, well; this thing will not come
to the worst in our day. Something ought to
be done; means sure, gradual-systematic,
but discreet-ought to be adopted for reducing
the mass of evil that is pressing upon the
South.
"The disease is deepseated. 1t is at the
hearts core. 1t is consuming our vitals"
Richmond Enquirer Of Jan. 7, 1882.
We might make a volume of such quota
tons, from the speeches in the Virginia Legis-
lsture of 1872. We might quote Governor
Randolph, Mr.. Jefferson's grandson, who intro
duced the subject Mr.. Summers of Kenawha,
still prominent man in Virginia Gen. Brod-
max, and score of others, with nearly every
press in the State, certainly all that were at all
distinguished for talents and influence. The
editorials of John Hampden peasants, then
the editor of the Richmond Whig, are among
the most splendid contributions to newspaper
literature which the country has produced.
We next quote from the Nashville Banner,
then the domestic organ of General Jackson:
From the Nashville Bar ner of the Oh OF June 1884, then
edited by the late Samuel ii. Laughlin.
"EMANCIPATION.-Thea gitators and fanat-
1cao of fho CT how rQpoutly OodI in
some highly reprehensible measures. All the
sober friends of gradual and prospective eman-
cipation, and who see the alarming and horrid
consequences of Immediate or forcible aboli-
ton, have been open in the condemnation of
their measures in Boston, New York, and Phil
adelphia. Those wretches have set themselves
up the open enemies of the Colonization
Society, and speak in open dersion of its prin-
ciples and its measures. In this State, we have
nothing to fear from such men they dare not
show their faces. Here, the GREAT MORAL
PRINCIPLE IS at acork, which, IN THE
END, ,oiU inevitably accomplish THE GREAT
WORK in LAWFUL and constitutional ayay.
The warmest friends of the cause here only
wish to 60 little in advance of the present
spirit of the age. The only weapons they pre-
reason, and MORAL DUTY. 1t is in this
spirit that Mr.. Stephensons benecolent protest,
introduced in the Convention, has been drawn,
which IN the bentgnancy Of its purposes as un-
a1ssoerable, and in point of reason and argu-
mentor the hand of man who has matured
his subject is apparent in it-says everything
that can be said in favor of what it proposes,
at this time. These are merely our opinions );
but the subject generally is one upon which we
have read and reflected, more perhaps than
upon any other not Immediately connected
with our daily avocations in life. We have
become thoroughly convinced, that nothing
but time, and the future operation of MORAL
PRINCIPLES, carried ont in acise legislation,
founded upon the principle of compensation,
or some other principle Of justice, which may
become, hereafter, acceptable to the owners,
will ever enable the work to be done. Let re-
ton be as few as the safety of society will per-
mit-upon Colonization, none"
The Nashville Republican, also a Jackson
paper at the time, spoke as follows, on the goth
of February, 1884:
at is supposed that efforts will be made to
insert provision for the gradual abolition of
Slavery, and perhaps the colonization of our
colored population. Upon the propriety of
this step we shall not at present decide. Much
would depend upon the nature of the provi-
sion, whether well adapted to our present and
future condition. The Legislature of Tennes
see has already taken up the cause of Coloni
cation, and made perhaps as liberal provision
for it our finances permitted. The nature
of things, the march of public opinion, the
voice of religion, all have said that American
Slavery must have an end. What shall be
the Legislative measures to that effect, and ~hen
they shall begin, are questions for prudence to
dstermine."
The State Convention declined to do any,
thing at the time towards emancipation, though
the evils of Slavery were generally acknowl-
edged. Mr.. Stephenson, prominent poll
tician of the time, entered protest against
this non-action. Mr.. Laughlin, the editor of
the Banner, and a prominent friend of General
Jackson, pronounced the protest "wise and
benevolent" The following are extracts from
this document
Gone of its 1.-THE Bible's) excellent rules is,
'As you would that men should do unto you,
do you even so unto Them Now, to apply this
golden rule to the case of the master and slave,
we have Just to place each in the others stead.
then ask the question honestly, What would |
that my servant, thus placed in power, would
do to me?' Surely, (if 1 durst,) l would say,
when had paid to you, with usury, full
equivalent for all you have expended in procu-
ring me, and providing for my support and COM
fort, you ought to be satisfied; this is all stern
justice can require, and humanity and regard
for the rights of man would require no more.
Why, then, do you not permit me to go out
free to pursue happiness my own way2"
Again, we read in this benevolent protest."
(which, in the benignanoy of its purposes, was
unanswerabe, according to Mr.. Laughlin,) as
follows;
"The undersigned do not admit that the re-
fusal or neglect of other States to remove an
existing evil is justification for US. It is
written, when the Jews desired king, one of
their reasons was, that they might be like the
heather natives around them; but this then
was declared by the words of unerring Thought
not to be good. In the Bible we have an &C.
count of a people once in bondage; and when
the great God called for their deliverance, the
cry Of their oppressors was, las we believe, in
the spirit of the report, They be idle, they be
idle God hath said, Let the oppressed 90
free;' and he that oppresseth the poor, re-
proacheth his Maker.
"The report supposes it dangerous expert
ment; the command is, nevertheless, Go for
ward, although the Red Sea, starvation, degra-
dation with all the train of horrors so eloquent
ly set forth in the report, stare you in the face
Is it better to obey God, or man? AS wise
men, judge ye."
Mr.. Laughlin remarked, in reference to the
subject:
Here lin Tennessee) the great moral rrin-
ciple is at work, which, in the end will inevita-
bly, accomplish the great PORK (of emancipation
in legal and constitutional way. The warm
est friends of the cause here only want to 90 a
little in advance of the present spirit OF the age.
The only weapons they pretend to employ are
religion, expediency, reason, and moral duty"