The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-22

he bousht and sold he has prostituted his
negative FOR suppressing every legisia-
live attempt to prohibit or restrain this
oxecrab.e commerce" This clause was
s,ricke, out upon the request OF South
Carolina and Georgia. and Mr.. Jefferson
,eoa,ts that "our Northern brethren a.so.
t..i.ve. felt a little tender under these
c.nsures, for though their people had
very few slaves themselves, yet they had
been pretty considerable carriers Of them
20 others"
Two years after the Declaration Of In
dependence virginia led the world in en-
aching the first law 10 crush forever the
slave trade and this nearly thirty years
before IL was done by England.
After the Independence Of the United
States was established and while the
Constitution was being framed In 1851,
Virginia desired the total and instan-
taneous prohibition OF the slave trade.
but, strangely enough, a combination Of
the New Eng and interests with Maryland
North Carolina. South Carolina and Geor-
gia. disregarding the protests OF Viz
ginia, Delaware. Pennsylvania, New Jer-
scy, and New York, extended the slave
trade to 1s0s. Thomas jefferson said In
speaking Of negro slavery, And can tho
liberties Of a nation be ever thought Sc
cure when we have removed their only
firm basis-a conviction in the minds c.
the people that these liberties are Of the
gift Of God?"
George Washington said In 1856. 81 never
mcan unless some particular circurn-
stances should compel me, to possess an
o.her slave by purchase, 1t being among
my lrst wishes 10 see some plan adopted
by which slavery in this country may be
abolished by law" And by his Will
George Washington set his slaves free.
on January O. 1882. the House of Dele
gates Of Virginia in committee Of the
whole, by a vote Of 70 ayes to s. noes,
passed the following resolution: Re
solved az the opinion Of this committee
that it is expedisnt to adopt some legis-
latlve enacJmenis for the abolition OF
slavery"
In view Of all this Il may be asked why
slavery in Virginia was not abolished.
The reply Of the late Prof. John B. Minor
is sufficient. 1.-THE continuance Of slavery
in virginia" said he. was justified by
an inexorable political necessity" This
ms that by the tine the Common
wealth Of Virginia had acquired the
power 70 direct her own policy. the num-
Der Of slaves had so increased within her
boundaries and the institution had be-
come so woven into the warp and wool
Of the very existence Of the State tina.
it was impossible to abolish slavery with
out so rendlng the social and industrial
organization as thst no man could pre-.
diet the result, and some Of the truest
friends Of liberty dared not TO face the
/ consequences.
There IS 10 doubt, however, IN our
mind, that If the North had not interfcred,
/ II Virginia had been left free % settle
/ this question for herself, by degrees all
F the slaves would have been emancipated
under wise ana conservative PROVISIONS,
the tie of affection that bound master
/ and slave together would have been
abiding. and the evils Of reconstruction
had never been.
We have shown, I'm reply 70 Mr.. Wise,
that slavery was imposed upon Virginia
[ by England. kept upon her by the ALI
/ once Of New England slave-traders with
/ southern planters. that Virginia made re-
I pcated attempts TO stop the slave trade,
/ and even TO abolish slavery as an institu-
ton, and we give t. as our deliberate
I opinion that even II there had been no
/ war there would have been no slaves to-
/ day iu the state Of Virginia.
We have written ga no spirit Of anger
I Wo have not even meant to rebuke MI
Wise. but simply TO lay bare the facts Of
I history which are IN themselves a sudi-
cicnt vindicatlon OF Virginias attitude
toward the slavery question.