Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-01-31
Lecture on Slavery in Boston.

In accordance with an invitation extended some
time since to various Southern gentlemen, the
Hon. Robert Toombs, of Georgia, appeared at
the fremont Temple, Boston. the evening
of the Gath instant, aud addressed large au-
dpnce.
We find in the Boston journal abstract
Of the speech. md learn that Mr.. I. was treated
very respectfully, with the exception Of slight
in decorum in the middle of the speech and at the
close. on the pnrt of two or three individuals.
strongly condemned by the respectable portion
of the Boston press. The Journal says;
"Bofore entering upon his subject Mr.. loombs
snd that he not unconscious that the views
he had to utter not in harmony unison
with the opinions Of the great majority of those
before him. He accepted the invitation Ia ap
pear, with desire to present the subject of sla-
very from n different stand point from what it is
usually viewed here, with the hope that it might
modify those asperites which ought not to exist
between the people Of this nation lie proposed
to consides the subject in two particulars:
First what constitutes the status Of slavery IN
the United Suites; and second, what is the ei
feet of slavery on the slave himself, and on
society where il exists, and he hoped to do it
in spirit Of candor and of fairness becoming n
freeman"
Mr. Toombs gave review of the history of
The formation of the Constitution of the United
States, the powers given under it, and the course
10 African slave trade WAS continued twenty
,rnrs longer than was desired by Maryland and
Virginia. During that period one hundred nous
and Africans were brought to this country IN
Northern ships. On referring to clauses ot the
Constitution which protected slavery such rs
those for the return of fugtives aud for the sup
preston of domestic Instruction some OF the
audience uttered a hiss, at which the lecturer re
marked that he ''he did not put the clause there :;
/ I ,,,I,, 81, thn Of n
your fathers and mine: you may hiss them If you
! chooso.'
These principles. Mr. r. remarked. were gen
orally ncquiesced in by the whole people OF the
United States enforced by every President from
WAsnNGroN to PIERCE, and sustained by hume
rous judicial and Legislative decisions; and but
for the acquisition of new territory the questions
which now agitate the country never would have
arisen
Mr. r. then reviewed the practice of the Gov
eminent on the subject of slavery, showing that
| Virginia made her grant of land to the General
| Government with an anti- slavery provision, whilst
North Carolina made her grant with II pro slave
ry provision, and gave history OF the subsequent
struggle on the admission of new States. lie
also considered the effect Of tho institution OF
slavery on the slave and on society at the South,
and said
THAT the comparison which good men often
made of the South with the North not fair
one The question is not whether the South
would be better with million of freemen than
with half million of freemen and half II million
OF slaves but whether, Having the half million of
slaves, it would be better to have them in subord-
nation than in freedom! He argued that tho
Southern States found the slaves among them at
the time of the adoption of the Constitution. In
their judgment these Africans were not adequate
to participate in the privileges of frecmen, and
80 they excluded them from that right. land in his
opinion wisely. Mr.. +. referred to history. going
back to the time of the Egyptians, 10 show that
the African race had ever been held in seryitnde,
and argued that this history showed that the race
in its own country, is incapable to take the first
step III civilization. 1t is race without letters,
without arts, or civilization or religion; without
even those aspiration which would raise to idola.
try race which, if it should be blotted from the
land in which Providence has placed it, in iwen-
ty years no evidence gifts ever having existed
could be found This race, he argued, was the
only one which was never found in any other con-
ditlon than servltude."
Other views were presented to show that the
influence at slavery not to debase siciety,
rs often urged in some quarters, but that histo-
ry proved that it had existed in these nations
most renowned for their attachments in the arts
and in civilization. The reporter for the Jour
nal SAYS:
1.-The lecture was an hour and half in length
and for the most part was listened to in res
pectful and attentive manner. The speaker was
earnest aud eloquent in his delivery and pre-
scented his arguments with much power"
Mr. Toombs was the guest during his stay
in Boston, of the Hon. William Appleton and
the Hon. Nathan Appleton. and was accompa.
'ied by them to the platform guaranty for
gentleman and courteous II eatmen in the main
The exceptions referred to can scarcely be con.
sldered as compromising the character of a
Boston audience, since rude men are to be found
every where. The reporter properly character
ICES the conduct OF some of the audience at the
close asian ungentlemanly aot,"- National In
telHgencer.
| DEATH IN A BALL RooM-We learn that n
melancholy affair occurred on Thursday the ID