The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-14

after the adoption Of the Constitution.
Where the interest was so limited and
the emancipation 80 gradual no great
shock 10 society could well occur, cspe-
cially as I'm the bulk OF cases the emanci-
patOr. with no qualms Of conscience what
ever. received the full value OF his slaves
from those who bought them. The his
torian. Bancroft, Is authority for the
statement that more slaves were emanci-
pated by last will and testament in Vir-
ginia than was ever set free in Peunsyi-
vanla or Massachusetts, Moreover eman-
cipation In the North, when it came. was
accompanied by no recognition Of equal
ity. Prior to 1861 no negro in Massa-
chusetts had ever been "A member Of its
Legislature, or served upon the curry, or
in the militia, or been appointeditO any
ohiceybeyond one OF mental grade. This
was freedom with the recognition and
opportunity Of freedom severely omitted
the name OF freedom craven on heav-
Ter chain"-heavier because 1t was the ex-
preston OF a more invincible barrier
thanthat of law and breathed a more SUI
perlutive scOrn. In the second volume OF
his commentaries Chancellor Kent thus
describes the relation OF the races: THE
Africans are essentially q degraded caste
OF Inferior rank and condition in society.
Marriages are forbidden between them
and the whites in some OF the States,
and when not absolutely contrary TO law
they are revolving and regarded as an
0ffcnse against public decOfum. BY the
Revised Statutes OF Illinois, published in
1873. marriages between whites and ne
gr0es on mulattoes are declared void, and
the persons 50 named are liable 10 be
whipped fined and imprisoned. BY an
old statute of Massachusetts, of 1705 such
q. la sa1 nd
sim. This summary was cited and cor
Ioborated by the Chief Justice Of Con-
necucut as late as 1854. The Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania decided In 1897 that
a negro or mulatto was not entitled to
exercise the right of suffrage. 1t was not
until July 4, 1877, that New York was
ranked among the free States, and when
The Constitution of 1916 was adopted negro
suffrage was negatived by a vote Of four
20 one. AS late, certainly, as the date
Of the bred Scot decision the Consti-
tuition Of New jersey restricted thu right
of suffrage TO all white persons.
Slavery in the South.
This course Of legislation in the North
illustrated the recognized discrepancy Of
the races. Statute did not confer It, ana
statute could rot take it away. Slavery
i'm the South rested upon the natural SUI
premacy of the white race over the black,
and the total and inevitable disqualhca-
ton OF the latter for an equal struggle
with the former. Labor in the South un-
ike Oriental bondage, Roman servitude,
and leudal Yillainage, was not the subJec-
zion OF equals, differing in opportunity
bat the subsection of one extreme Of hui
manity TO the other, of the most abiect
10 the most enlightened. The real inc
quality of the races had made subordina-
.a.nNa.
could possibly be pronounced upon the
practical benehcence Of Southern intsitu-
tons than the one, tactitly sanctioned by
the last amendement, viz, that they had
been sufficient 10 educate the lowest Of
clrths savages to take his place among
the highest Of earth's freemen. AS popu-
lauOn increases IL becomes cheaper TO
hire labor than 20 buy or own IL; or, Dor
rowing the phrase of Carlyle 10 hire for
years rather than, for lie. The labor Of
slavery ceases TO be worth the capital in
vQlved in its support. The coercion of
authority is replaced by the coercion Of
want and the obligation to protect by the
liberty 20 Cypress. Nothing could be
truor or wiser that that which was aid
by John Randolph in the Senate Of the
Uuited States: The natural death Of
slavery is the unprohtableness Of it's most
expensive labor.f The moment the
labor of the slave ceases TO be profitable
10 the. master. or very soon after il has
reached that stage-if the slave will not
run away from the master the master will
run away from the slave; and this is the
history of the passage from slavery TO
freedom of the viilaiEage of England"
The reasons of geCgTsphy and worldly
gain, which created such diversions Of
destiny North and South are given by
ia lge Mclean, I'm his dissenting opinion on
the bred Scott case: Many of the States
on the adoption of the Constitution. or
shortly afterwards. took measures 10
abolish slavery within their respective
Jurisdictions. and it is a weli-known fact,
that a belief was cherished by the leading
men. South as well as North, that the in
stituuon of slavery would gradually de
cline until II would become extinct. The
increased value Of slave labor in the cul-
ture OF cotton and sugar prevented the re-
aliZauOn of their expectations. Like all
other communities and states, the South
was Influenced by what they considered
their own interests" The popularity of
the situation was that while the people of
the South were acting '"like all other
communities and States they We're
abused and accused as though none other
had eyer been so wicked: as though their
OF otense before God and man. The ac-
cuseIs, who had so comfortably purged
themselves of their own sins, suffered such
q very brief interval 10 clapse before ar
raging themselves I'm their white raimont
for the communication of others, who, it
IS tTue. had moved more slowly but had
so very much more difficulty to over
come and eXpediency TO resist. one can
not bat recall that which is narrated by
Zachary Macauiey Ohe father of Thomas
Babngt0n), who made a fortune I'm the
slave trade, and when that was done,
joined the anti-slavery people. and Sc
cured some handsome appointments by
attacking the aforesaid business. 1t was
well said. on the floor of the Virginia
legislature. by John Thompson Brown,
in an answer 10 English invective: "They
sold as these slaves-they assumed a
vendors responshility-and IL is not for
them to question the validity Of our
title" And it was equally relevant 10
say 10 some others: "Your position IN
wolves the right Of a grantor to revoke a
grant without the consent Of the grantee
for value and the right OF one party TO
a compact TO retain the whole considera-
tion moving TO him while regulating
every other"
Mr.. Jefferson's scheme.
a scheme Of gradual emancipation had
been proposed by jefferson as early as
l76' and the general scheme OF II APP
proved by the convention which framed
Nirginia's Constitution in that year, tut
no action was taken. because the public |
mind would not yet bear it," NOTHING
wrote jefferson. as more certainly writ |
ten in the Book of Fate than that these
people are to be free; nor IS 1t less certain |
that the two races, equally free, cannot /!
live I'm the same government. Nature,