Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-30
LORD BROUGHAM AND sLAvERY-JUDGE
DOUGLAS.

To the Editor Of The Whig:s
Win you give to Of your subscribers small space
in your crowded columns notice your leader OF the
24th, headed "Lord Broughan on Slavery in America!
Your views of Lord BIS letter. in which he tells the
autsavery party of New England that their John Brown
sympathes are wicked and murderous striking and
appropriate In the conclusion Of your article You pro-
pery call attention Lord Bs opinion as to Lord Mans
fields decision in the celebrated Somerset case lin which
decided that Jamaica negro was free in Eng
land,) and you justly say that "the correction, by
"Lord B. of the common mistake in regard 10 that decs
ou and the hint to what would have been declared
"as law if Jamaica had touched upon the coast OF Eng
"and worth remembering, by those who have oeca
son TO investigate discuss the historic and uiidical
"aspects of slavery"
As one of your readers am grat6ed at your appre-
citation of the Importance of this view OF Lord b more
especially as it is departure from the arid and dreary
waste of party abuse by politicians against those OF our
fellow countrymen Of the South, who, whether right or
wrong are perhng every thing in an honest yindcauon
of their ancient rights and liberties.
These crinons Of Lord b. have n direct aud pointed
bearing upon the rights of the South in the Territories
now so much insisted and discussed to the verge
OF the utter overthrow OF the entire fabric OF our Gov
srnment.
Aud here, permit me to say, that, to the unuterabe
amazement of all Statesrghts men, some OF our public
men, in speeches in Richmond and elsewhere have uncer
strong party bus gone far TO tell Southern an-
diences that Lord Mansfelds decision in the case above
referred to- applied Territori that the Common
Law was brought by from England and now rules the
rights OF the South n the Territories; that, at common
Law slave free, according to Lord Mansfield, and
that therefore, the Southerner who carries his slave into
the Territories is the victim Of that neSorable rule Cf
the Common Law
Such doctrine as this cannot be too strongly reproba-
ted in Southern community; and, when endorsed here,
only shows how far blind party spirit will dlsorgan re
strong intellects.
What analogy is there between the rights of the slave
holer under the criite American Constitution which
recognizes and protects slavery and the rights at Com
mon Law of EagliShman under the nn'rHen English
Constitution which did tolerate slavery? Again,
does not every Tyro of the Law know that the Common
Law had validity in Virginia and the South except so
far as adopted by express statute!
But above all see the singing rebuke OF Lord
Brougham those who rely Lord Mansheds decision
as authority deny the rights of the Shareholder IN the
Territories when he solemny declares that the Jamaica
negro could not have been declared free III Jamaica
had touched upon the coqsts of England"
lie obviously means that when such close contiguity
exists all the rules of comfy and natural justice between
sister and contiguous States require the recognition and
rendition OF slave property.
Is it nos time forSouthern politicians to pause when
they find their extreme doctrines rebnked by the steln
caudcr of the most ultra abotionsts in Great Britain
DO they covet such Immortality Of fame this:
VIII YOU pardon me just little more, for some refer
ence to the plan of settlement by Judge Douglas,
which you publish in fall in your same issue
II seems be the fate Of this eminent statesman like
the flbled Danaides TO be constantly pouring water
through the iaterStces of sieve. What scheme does
he here present for the adoption Of soheaded South
eTn men Has your atIeG ion been called to the 9th
section OF the amendment nov proposed by Judge DoG-
gas as substitute for Mr.. Crtt,nGenS plan
Ii has NOT venture TO say, that it wall not escape
the vigilance Of such commissioners as President Ty-
Ter, VIM G. kyes, James 4. Seldom, ~, when they
meet in Washington on the h OF Fe5ruary In that
cluse it ia provided that that the United States shall
have power to acquire dstcts of country in Africa or
South America for lie colouz ItOD, at tie 6ypsnSe Of
hs Ft&ra' treasry Of such free Iegroes and nulat-
toes as Hs Seeeral States may dsrs to hare remOrtd
Jrcp ,c;An their limits and from the District IF Co
bia and such oLer places may be under the juris-
lcJion oi Congress"
Does llge Douglas suppose that Of the South are
soft enOGgn ignore the tact that this clause contains
fayoe scheme 0! the Black Repub csns, which is to
array the uCusIyehoder agaG't the slEvcLolier until
a scj1giy be had for cnG"e potion, and then under
lust such clause this to remove, at TIE 'IPce Of tie
Ftieri Trcly.y these enlacipatsj negroes because
the State desires it, la other words are 70 cGcou-
age the families to brij about emancipation OF our
property and to help out Of the Federal treasury TO
pay out of our pockets, to transport and remove
thea
Is this the vauued evidence of the regard of this dis
ii gui,hrd staesmaa for Southern rights aud safety
Does he not know that this clause fits exactly the scheme
announced in his Philadelphia sp ech b. that dssemina-
tor of he Helper Pamphlet that rotten fungus from South
err soil-F p Blir, Jr., OF st. LOUISE This but ex-
emplfes the difference between great statesman who
stands Upon constitutional snd great princip and one
Ike Judge Douglas Who is great in small expedehts and
snail in great emergencies.
CAH