Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-07-13
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
TUESDAY MORNING, July 1a, 1855.

BY RITCHIE. bUNSAVANT, TYLER 81 WlSE.

| TUESDAY MORNING, JULY 13, hS0S'
THE PROBLEM OF THE FREE NEGRoES.-ABo
IITION DEBATE IN ls3l-B. WATKiNS LEIGH,
PROF. DEW, MADISON, JEFFERSON, TYLER,
| WILBERFORCE, OCONNELL, &c, &c
The effect Of the general discussion elected by the
emancipation debate in the Genera! Assembly was a
powerful reaction in public opinion upon the subject
ut slavery. The writings which Chiefly contributed
to this result b. W. Lsigh'a essays and Proies
sor Dews pamphlet In thess documents the folly Of
a general emancipation, without deportation, and the
rnprac'cabity of deporting go large q population,
were clearly demonstrated. The anti slavery tide
which he'd long been rising in Virginia, and which
culm mated in the debate in the House OF Delegates,
was arrested at ts food, and has been ebbing ever
since. Some ardent colonzatious,s had put for
ward the Colonization Society as competent 10 tifsot
the deportation OF the Whole black population This
was mistake, and tended to confound the Colonial
ton Society with the emancipaonists. 1t was sganat
this aspect of colonization that Professor Dew level
led his tremendous batteries As he interpreted the
design of the Society, his argument was unanswsr'
able and fatal But, in truth, the picture which lie
had in view vas mere caricature. Even MIR. Jei
erson az may be seen in his letter to Sparks, only
thought of Africa az an asylum for the free negroes;
this he regarded the greatest OF missionary
schemes" But be also enancpatlonist,
looking to the ultimate extinction of slavery. These
he proposed 10 send to the West Indies. Mr. Jeiter-
son should not be confounded with modern Abo
tonists; they insist upon immediate abolition; he
in favor of gradual emancipation they deny the
right of property in slaves; he distinctly recognized
IT, and would compensate them for the loss out OF the
! public lands. In this view Madison and Marshal
concurred with him. The Abolitionsts will not have
emancipation with deporation; Mr.. Jefferson would
not emancipate without deportation.
| When the smoke of the fierce conflict Of opinion
passed away the Colonization Society was seen under
It's colors, and its real purpose, rightuly appre
cated. Accordingly, al ths very next session bli
approprating $4,000 TO the coloniziug of the Tree
negroes in Africa, advocated by Msssrs Gi,rnsr
Brown of Petersburg, Gholson and other leading men
and passed by the General Assembly Tha sppropris
ton, for reasons hereafter to bs assigned, was moi
called for. We oite it only expression OF public
sentiment, and 10 place the responsibility where i
belongs.
About this time Garrison, after publishing his booi
agsinst the colonization scheme, followed Mr.. Cres
son to England, for the purpose of countersctng h
influence of that gentlemen, who was commencing
the euhect of African colonization 10 British philan
thropisis Soon after his arrival, OConnell and WI
berforce published a Protest against the Colonial
ton Society,"" which they alleged fosters the s2lri
of caste-widens the breach between the two races
and dverts that feeling which We entertain tha
slavery is incompatible with the law of God and ih
well being OF nsn." This movement probably lei
10 the mission of that audscious British emissary
J. (Thompson,) who dishonored his country and de
sraced himself by caumnistng Southern slavehoid
ers to Northern Aboitonis,s. These facts show will
what relentless hostility the Colonization Society ha
4 been pursued by the Aboitonisis. The Bible th
Constitution the Union. and the Colonization Society
sre their fayorite themes of denunciation becaus
they oppose uvincbe barriers TO the consunrnaIioI
Of their reasonable pro Gjects. In 1889 the Anil
Slavery Society issued ,OO0 copies of newspapers
&c, some of which wers illustrated with hideou
carlcaiures OF Southern men, women and children
brandsh;ug whips and other instruments OF torur
over crouchng slavee.
BY the mail thess seeds OF nsurrecon wer
,own broadcast throughout The South. Tho resul
! was an Intense excitement among Southern people
Meetings we're called aud measures suitable 10 th
crisis adopted in our cities, aud 10 many coun.ias.-
At the Gloucester meeting John Tyler, then Sena
Tor in Congress, made powerful speech. Re;anior.
measures were recommended, privileges hitherto el
lowed 10 slaves we're withdrawn and more Rigorous
policy adopted. The more conservative and patriots
people of he North assembled in public meeting
and assured the South of their sympathy and sup
port. Conspicuous among them WAS the venerable
Harrison Gray Otis OF Boston, who came forth from
hs retirement, and, in accents trembling with age
made speech in Faneuil Hall, which covered hin
with glory. With luminous reasoning he demon
strated the revolutionary character Of the anslave
~ proceedings, lifted up his voice in tones Of sucl
earnest remonstrarce, and made such patriotic an'
pathetic plea for the Constitution and the Union,
must have made profound impression upon his hear
ers. In concluding, he said:
81 witnessed the adoption Of the Constitution, Ant
through long series Of years, have been accustom
sd TO rely upon an adherence to II az the tounda'io
of all my hopes for posterity. 1t is threatened,
think with the most porten'ous danger that has ye
srsen pray it may be dias pated that the thrfeeI
stripes may not Ds merged in two dismal stains q
black and red, and that my grave may ciose over me
before the Union descends into hers
Among the persons who were most efficient ii
exposing the new doctrines OF the AboitiouisIs wa
Joseph Tracy, tie agent Of H.! Massachusetts Colo
AVIATION Society. The conservative ground takel
by leading CoIonizatonis,s all over the Unon, drov
off from them the famous Gerritt Smith, who assign
I'd the following reasons for taking this STEP viz:
THE Colonization Society has been, and is Low IA
more Interested in the question of slavery than IN In
work Of Colonization-jn demolshing TIC Antt
Slavery Society, than IN building mp ats eofoHy.''
.