Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-08-19
A New Emancipation scheme.

no responsibility on account of slavery, ana 10
right to meddle with it. cannot let the institu-
ton alone But like Tribulation Trepd tney
are never happy unless they are miseraole-neV-
er contented unless bewailing the condition OF
the slave and devising some scheme or other
for his relief The project last started has q
show of fairness about it, and its originators IN
all probability mean well; but in their benevo'
lent desire to emancipate the slave they seem 10
have no thought or concern in regard TO Ills con-
dition whenlibera In theirestimation tree
DOM is the great good of life, and provided that
is secured they would see the negro deprived OF
every physical comfort and plunged into the
lowest depth of poverty and vice.
The scheme to which we allude originated
with Mr.. Elihu Burritt, extensively known as
the LEARNED blacksmith, and is now attracting
good deal of attention at the North. The FOL
lowing call for National Convention" mas
been put forth
"The undersigned, belonging to different Po-
itical parties, being persuaded that 1t is very de
sirable that some practicable aud equitable plan
should be brought forward by which the peo-
pie of the North may cooperate, IN generous
aud brotherly spirit, with the people OF The
South. and share with them the expense neces-
sary to the extinction of Slavery, would respect.
fully and earnestly invite those of all parties and
sections of the Nation, who entertain the same
opinion, to meet in National Convention, person
allv or by delegation, in the city of Cleveland,
Ohio, on the 25th, 26th and 9th of August ;
there to discuss and develop some plan OF T.
Emancipation which shall fully recognise the
principle and policy ola fair and honorable COM
pensation to the slave owners for the manumis-
sion of their slaves"
There are two hundred and eighty-6ve names
appended to this call, the sgners residing in six
teen States aud some few of them in the South.
1t is scarcely necessary to point out the imprac-
ticability and absurdity of the proposition. A
fatal objection to it is, that no provision for the
emancipated slave seems to be contemplated
Mr.. Burritt and his associates surely do not pro,
pose to leave the freed negroes in the South OF
if they do, Southern people will never consent
to it. The idea is utterly preposterous. Posi-
bly, it is proposed to ship the negroes to Ii
IBERIA; but the best friends Of the Colonization
enterprise would object to that, as likely TO O.
overwhelm the infant Republic with a popula-
ton unqualified for the duties and privileges Of
citizenship, thus crushing out the only hope fol
the regeneration of Africa. If, again, it should
be proposed to remove the negroes to the North
there are insuperable objections to that plan
Before Southern masters can be induced to al
low their slaves to go North, they must have al
assurance that their condition there will be i'm
proved The following extract from recent
letter OF COL j. Prince, member of the Cana
dian Parliament throws light upon the subject
Speaking of the blacks of Toronto, who accused
him of having unjustly denounced their people
Col. P. says:
ut has been my misfortune and the misfor.
tune of my family to live among those blacks
land they have lived upon us) for twenty-foul
years. have employed hundreds of them; and
with the exception of one, named Richard
Hunter, not one has done for US weeks hon
est labor. have taken them into my service
have fed and clothed them year after year on
their arrival from the States and in return have
generally found them rogues, and thieves, and q
graceless worthless thriftless, lying set of vag-
abonds This is my plain and very simple de-
scription of the darkies as body, and it would
be Endorsed by all the Western white men, with
very few exceptions"
The New York Tribune, the great Abolition
organ of the country, publishes the above and
admits that sits basis of truth must be recogniz
ed by the candid" The Tribune further de-
clares that there are more blacks in New York
to-day who seek to live by ''pandering to others
vices, than by downright, useful labor" Thi:
then is the condition to which our negroes would
be reduced upon removing to the North. &C.
cording to the testimony of their peculiar friends
At the South, they are usefully employed, well
cared for, and contented and happy Most o.
them love their masters, and their masters love
them two we'll to send them off to the Northern
States, to relapse into q condition worse than
barbarism. Under these circumstances, the besl
plan is for Northern people to attend to their
business, and allow Southern people to attend
to theirs. 1t seems to US that Northern philan-
thropists should feel it to be their special bust
ness to see after their own degraded black pop
ulation, instead of getting up emancipation
schemes, with or without compensation. y
They will find ample room for the exercise Of
benevolent feeling, and plenty of subjects upon
whom to expend spare change. Better elevate
and improve the condition of negroes now free,
than seek to liberate others. And in the mean
time they may rest assured that Southern white
people are not deficient in the sentiment of be-
nevolence, and while maintaining their own in
terests, will also discharge their whole duty to
the slave.