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

perial empire. but by the hand 81 her sons.
Edward Darlington and Richard Henry
Lee. constituting with Nathan Dane. II
Massachusetts. a special committee. pre-
pared the celebrated ordinance OF lshl Tor
its government. In which Il was provided.
that slavery should never exist IN all that
wide territory
THE SLAVE TRADE
Thus Virginia not only gave 10 the
Union the territory from which five Of she
f0rem0s. CCmmonweIlths Were carved,
but dedicated 70 10 freedom. The supreme
opportunity however. Of SURPRISING the
slave trade. came upon the adoption OF the
Federal Constitution. with every M
crease i'm the number Of slaves tha diff
cui,les and dangers m emancipation were
multiplied. THE hope OF emancipation
rested on stopping their import. Jon. and
dispensing over the whole face of the land
those who had already found "a home In
our midst Despite the opposition OF Viz
ginia, the legality of the foreign slave
trade was extended for a period of Is snty
years. This action Of the convention ia
declared by Nj. Flsko. the New England
historian, "a bargain between New kas7
land and the lar south Continuing ne
saws: This compromise was Carried
sinia."
George Mason. the author OF our Bill Of
RIGHTS, denounced what be called he IN
fernal traffic" Slavery said h. 'dls7
Courages arts and manufactures. NE poor
despisc labor when performed by slaves
they prevent the emigration OF whlles,
who really strengthen and enrich a coun-
try They produce the most pernicions
effect On manners: every master Of slaves
is born a petty tyrant; they bring mo
Judgment OF heaven on a country; az nt-
tons can not be warded or punished ~
the next world. they must be in this By
am inevitable chain OF causes and effects
Providence Furnishes national sins by ma
tionqi caiamiues" But says Mr.
Fiske these prophetic words were
rowerlcss against the comb nation ~
New England with the lar South.
TRADE LICENSED
Thus by the votes OF Massachusetts,,
New HAMPSHIRE and Connecticut with
those OF Tie tar South, an additional
twenty years was added to the century
and half during which The slave trade
was licensed by law, and wh.n ihai peuod
had rolled around the statesmen ant
thinkers of the land stood front 20 front
with the problem OF emancipation unaer
far different and more diihcuit conditions.
The General Assembly II Virginia nn
more than ore occasion considered the
subject of gradual emancipation, ara hs
late as 1882 the advocates of suth "a
course mustered a following almost large
enough 20 enact their resolutions INTO
laws. The great difficulty. however, lay
In the dangers 10 the community N the
mere presence OF such n host or slaves
suddenly released from the restraints and
care with which they were formerly
surrounded.
The sentiment OF q large. II not th'
dominant element OF the people OF VIZ
GINA. was doubtless EXPIRE ssei in me
words Of Rob ri p. Lee who, wrilins IN
December 1856. declared:
SLAVERY Az EVIL.
There are few. I believe. h this en-
nohtencd age. who Will not acknowledge
: that slavery as an institution III a moral
and political evil. / think IL Is greater
! evil 20 the white. than 90 the colored
race While ny fee.inss are strongly en-
listed In behalf Of the latter, my sym
pathies are more De ply engaged for the
/ former The blacks are immeasuraDly pct
! ter oN here than IN Africa. morally pnV
! sically and socially. lhelf eHan |.
! cirafion Will sooner result from the mild
q and melting influences Of Christianity.
/ than from the storm and tempest OF melt
! inc controVersy While We see the
| course OF the final abolition Of. human
( slavery is still onward. and give II the
: aid OF our prayers. lei us lc2ye the prog
ress as wen as the results, IN the hand
OF Him who S. Is he end, who chooses
10 work by slow influences. and with
whom a thousand years are bur a single
day"
The great apostle OF liberty. Mr. Jeffer-
son. realizing tho dangers aud difficulties
OF emancipation. and yet discerning some
signs Of the future nned In The closlns
years OF his life these words; Noihlns
is more certainly written I'm the book OF
fate than that these people are 70 be free
/ Nor is Il less certain that the two races
/ equally free. can not live In the same
/ government. Nature. habit opinion, has
drawn indehbie lines ~ distinction De
tween them.
TO DEPORT THEM.
The leaders ana rhianihrop'sts or VIZ
ginia grew 90 realize he truth OF these
sentiments. and 50 the efforts which were
made in the State Legislature TO secure
the enactment OF laws for the emancipa
ton Of the slaves, were In time abandon
ed. and followed b. the inauguration o.
movements for their deportation II wa
nowhere felt that ether the peace o. TN
community or the We'll being Of the slave
would be subserved by his emancipation
unless followed BY his exodus from ih'
country. In this work many of our fore
most citizens we're enlisted when the ris'
I OF what was known as the Abolition
Party" AZ the North. projecting Itself a.
disturbing force between master AM
slave. and Ia The councils 81 he Fedora
Government. with respect 10 this-s pure