Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-09-19


right to legislate for the Territories
Of the United States.
Washington on Slavery.
We copy from the New York Post
the following collections Of Washing
tons opinion upon slavery, expressed
on various occasions, some Of them
oil the highest importance. These
extracts are not detached sentences,
Torn violently from their connexion
they are the well settled opinions Of
Washington's life, and they show
plaiuly enough on which side Of the
question now before the country he
would be. How strange that with
such a record before them, the
friends of Buchanan, who represents
the extension of slavery, and not
only its extension, but its lorclhle
extension, should dare to call on the
name Of Washington
To LIEUT. COLONEL John LAWRENCE.
Y" HEAD Quarters, 10th July, 1882.
My Dear Sir: The last post
brought me your letter of the | 9th OF
May. | must confess that ! AIN not
at all astonished at the failure Of your
plan. That spirit Of freedom which
at the commencement of this contest,
would have gladly sacrificed every
thing to the attainment OF lis object,
has long since subsidized, aud every
selfish passion has taken its place.
1t is not the public, but private inter-
ests which influence the generality
Of mankind. Nor can the Ameri-
cans uuy longer boust Of exception.
Under these circumstances, it would
rather have been surprising if you
had succeeded, nor VII you, | fear,
have better success in Georgia"
ln a remarkable and very inter
estlng letter written 10y Lafayette, in
the prison Of Mageburg, he said
al know what disposition has
been made Of my plantation at Cay
enne, but hope Madame de Lafay-
ette will take care that the negroes
who cultivate it shall preserve their
liberty
In reply to this portion OF Lainy-
cuts letter, Washington wrote as
follows, from Mount Vernon, I0lh
May, 1856
LETTER TO LAFAYETTE.
The benevoence of your heart,
my dear Marquis, is so conspicuous
on all occasions, that never wonder
at any fresh proofs of it, but your
late purchase Of an estate in the col
ony of Cayenne, aoith a pieio OF
emancipaiing the staves on IT, is a
generous aud nnole proni OF humani
liy. Would 10 God like Spiri,
might difuse itself generally fnfd
the minds Of the peopLe Of This couH-
ryi But | despair Of seeing it,
Some petitions were presented IA
the Assembly (of Vlrginia)at its last
session, for the abolition Of slavery
but they could scarcely obtain @
reading. To set the slaves anoat a
once would, really believe, be pro
ducliye of much Inconvenience anc
mischief; but by degrees il certainl,
might ani aSsurediy ought to be
effected, and that too, by Legislative
authority"
Governor Pinckney, Of South Car
, olina, had written the following in O
= letter to Gen. Washington
J Our legislature, among othe
,..--..ons. auiiaied tho ono rosra"t'ni
the future importation Of slaves, al
Tho prohibition expires in March
1893 Great pains were used Il
= to effect total prohibition; but
y upon the question being taken int
/, the Senate, il was lost by SO decide'
3 a majority, that think we may con
4 sider it as certain this State will
= after March, 1898, import as largel.
n as il ever did. II isn decision, upoI
o the policy Of which | confess hav'
my doubts"
To this Washington replied IN
e letter marked "pnvate," and dale'
+ Philadelphia, l7lh March, 1892
r 81 must say that | lament tn
= decision Of your legislature upon tn
+ question of importing slaves ahe
i March 1893. was in hopes tha
d motives Of policy, us well as oihe
O good reasons, supported by The DIRE
y lu effects of slavery, which are a
this moment presented, would hav
= operated to produce "A total prohbl
d ton of the importation OF slaves
II whenever the question came To b
# aei,ated in any State that might b
d interested in tho measure"
i The following is one Of the lamou
n Fairfax County resolves, adopted .
e public meeting held in Fairfa
e county, in Virginia, the 10th day {
h July, l77A, over which Gen. Wash