The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-09-21

to their internal policy-slavery not eX-
cepted; and rather than surrender this
great right they were prepared to with
draw their allegiance from the Grown.
Again referring to this petition to the
King the same learned Judge adds:
This petition produced no effect, as
appears from the first clause of our Vir-
ginia Constitution; where, among other
acts Of misrule, the inhuman use of the
Royal negative in refusing us 1.-THE people
of Virginia permission to exclude slavery
from US by law, is enumerated among
the reasons for separating from Great
| Britain" - Ff ha.T.fa 80 r.t.
This clause in the Constitution of Vir-
ginia, referring to the inhuman use of the
Royal negative, in refusing the Colony of
Virginia permission to exclude slavery
from her limits by law as one of the rea-
sons for separating from Great Britain,
was adopted on the 18th day of June.
l776, three weeks and one day previous
to the Declaration of Independence by the
Continental Congress; and after remain
| ing in force as part of the Constitution
for period of fifty-four years, was re-
adopted, without alteration, by the Con-
vention which framed the new Constitu-
tion in 1880, and then ratified by the
people as a part of the new Constitution;
and was again re-adopted by the Con-
vention which amended the Constitution
in 1850, andagain ratified by the people
as a part of the amended Constitution,
and at this day remains portion of the
fundamental law of Virginia-proclaim
ing to the world and to posterity that one
of the reasons for separating from Great
Britain was "the inhuman use of the
Royal negative in refusing us 1.-THE Colo
my of Virginia. permission TO exclude
slavery from US by law!" 55l 10 Ha...1..
! The legislation of Virginia on this SUBJ
ject may be taken as fair sample of the
legislative enactments of each of the
thirteen Colonies, showing, conclusively
that slavery was regarded by them all as
domestic question to be regulated and
determined by each Colony to suit itself,
without the Intervention of the British
4 Parliament or 1.-The inhuman use of the
Royal negative."l Each Colony passed o
series of enactments, beginning at on ear
y ly period of its history and running down
to the commencement of the Revolution,
!, either, protecting regulating. or restrain
| ing African Slavery within its respective
: limits and in accordance with their wish
es and supposed interests. North and
South Carolina, following the example o.
! Virginia, at first encouraged the intro
1 duction of slaves, until the number in
creased beyond their wants and necessi
ties, when they attempted to check ant
e restrain the further growth of the iustitu
$ tion, by imposing a high rate of taxation
upon all slaves which should be brough
into those Colonies; and finally, in 1854
Z South Carolina passed law imposing {
f penalty of one hundred pounds Cor fv,
4 hundred dolla:s)f every negro slave sub
! sequently introduced into that Colony.
The Colony of Georgia was original!
e founded on strict anti-slayery, principle
and rigidly maintained this policy for
: series Of years, until the inhabitants be
;. came convinced by experience, that, witt
:. their climate and productions, slave la
!; Dor, if not essential TO their existence
!. would prove beneficial and useful to thei
q material interests. Maryland and Della
o. ware protected and regulated African
: Slavery as ohe of their domestic institu
y, tions Pennsylvania, under the advice o
: William Penn, substituted fourteen years
service and perpetual adscript to the sol
! for hereditary slavery, and attempted t.
d llegislate, not for the total abolition o
o Q slavery. but. for the sanctity of marriag
:, among Slaves, and for their personal Sc
curity New Jersey, New York, an
a Connecticut, recognized African SLAYER
r as domestic Institution, lawfully existin
; within ,their. respective limits, and passe
n the requisite laws. for its control and reg
e ulation.
e Rhode Island provided by law that n
$ slave should serve more than ten years, a
q the end of which time he was to be Sc
v free; and if the master should refuse t
If let him 90 free, or sold him elsewhere fo
l. a longer period of SERVICE he was subjec
r to penalty of forty pounds, which wa
supposed at that period to be nearl
.s double the value of slave. - a,8a.s
,f Massachusetts imposed heavy take
/. upon all slaves brought into the Colony
N and provided in some instances for send
It ing the slaves back to their native land
J. and fually prohibited the introduction {
70 any more slaves into the Colony unde
a any circumstances. ,,srs4.s ,ss-rsar .s.ls..
II When.sNew Hampshire passed law
q which were designed to pyevent the in
d PRODUCTION of any more slaves. the BIRTHS
" Cabinet issued the following order
$. Governor Wentworth; "You are not
N give your assent to, or pass any law in
,e posing dates upon negroes imported int
p. New Hampshire" As rs,a f-s,a. 3.
10 While the legislation of tue sewers
ID Colonies exhibits dissimilarity of view
ID founded on a diversity of interests, on tt
of merits and policyrof slavery, it show
conclusIvely that they all regarded it as
n. domestic question affecting their intern
i'll policy in respect to which they were el