Constitutional Whig. [volume], August 15, 1827, Image 1

About Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832

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— - - OiSMOCRACY-THE CONSTITUTION-STATE lilGUTS.
BY PLEASANTS & SMITH.
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST l Ts^
Vol. IV.—No. 57.
O’ The Constitutional Whig is published twice a j
vv-tk, (U'edrusJaifS and Saturdays,) at five dollars per I
Minitm, payable in adrancc.
iO* Precious to a discontinuance of the paper, all ar- ■
r Pa rages must be paid up. And those who may wish to
liiscoiitinue, will notify the Editors to Hint effect, at hast
thirty days btfore tho period expires for which, they sub- |
sc.riki J.
(L#* For advertising—75 rents a square (or less) for the |
Hirst insertion, aiui 50 cents for each continuance.—The ;
number of insertions must be noted on the .MS. otherwise i
they will be conlinuid and charged accordingly.
IPf* All letters to the Editors must be post-paid, or Ihry !
trill receive no attention. •
Parasols, Looking-Glasses, and UtnbrelLts.
A FRESH supply of each, opening this day, by
WILLIAM NEALE k CO.
July 21 \s !
Madeira Wine.
1^1011 sale, the cargo of the schr. James Monroe, Capt.
Higgins, direct from Madeira, of su|icrinr Loudon
particular Madeira Wine, in pipes, half pipes, quarter
casks, and half quarter casks.
Aug 4—4t*C. k A. WARWICK,
FOR LONDON,
The ship GRECIAN, Capt. WU.LIA3II,
at Bermuda Hundreds, and can lake 160
ifihds. Tobacco, a 40s. pr. Iilid. freight, and
have despatch. C. & A. WARWICK.
Aug 4‘4t*
To Cowes ibr Orders,
The brig TIBER, Capt. RooMK.can take
100 Hlids. on freight. Apply to
C. k A. WARWICK.
I*. S. We are receiving by the Tiller, direct from Li- i
werpool, for sale, 1010 sacks SALT, 55 crates BOTTLES, !
rts. pts. and 6, U and 12 oz. Octagons.
Aug 4 4t* I
’VTOTICE.—By virtue of a Deed of Trust executed to ,
_L'n the subscribers by James Burfoord, aud duly rccoril- ;
e.d in Gnocblnud county Court, for purposes therein men- j
tTobed, we shall proceed to sell at public auction, at Hen- >
r'rco Court-house, on Friday, the 17*lit inst. all said Bur
lbord’s interest in and to n negro woman namtd Dice,
two negro men named Lewis ami Isham, all his household
and kitchen furniture; also, all interest in a claim against
tfle Deep Creek Navigation Company. SuTh title as is
vested in us we shall convey, and on other.
JAMES LYONS, Jr.
JOHN S. FLEMING,
Aqg 4—I't THOMAS B. WATKINS.
Fresh Medicines.
rjT*HE subscriber lias just received by schr. E'fllvrt, and i
.a, otlier late arrivals, a fresh assortment of DRUGS !
and MEDICINES, at Vails old stand, Shockre-Hill.— ]
He assures his customers aud the public generally, that his j
Medicines are of the very best quality, and by the regular j
supplies he receives, will be enabled to sell as fieslt as can !
he procured.
N. B. Prescriptions put up with cate and attention, aud i
Medicine readily obtained at any time of night.
Aug 4—fit__M. FLAGG. j
A Valuable Plantation tor Sale.
OFFER for sale rr.y Plantation oil Beaverdain Creek, j
fn the county of Goochland, within 4 miles of ibe Court
hpuse, 5 miles from the James River Canal, and ‘27 miles
from Richmond; containing nbmit 500 acres—about u fifth
fart of which is low grounds, of superior quality, well j
reclaimed and cultivated in corn, witeat and tobacco, aiul j
Ciie high land not inferior to any in the neighbourhood— j
about a fifth part of the tract is uncleared, affording a j
sufficient supply of timber for all plantation purposes, and
is fine tobacco land—and the whole plantation icnrtaika*
Idy well watered, having several little constant running '
streams.
'l’iie improvements are all new, and of superior order; the ,
dwelling is a large 2 story house, elegantly finished, with j
siv fire-places; kitchen, laundry, smoke-house, Ate. a com- )
iiiodioti3 barn and threshing machine, !> large tobacco j
houses, corn-house, stable, overseer’s house, Ac.; tiicie is
a good well in the yard affording an abundant supply of •
excellent water throughout the year, and several never j
failing springs on the tract. The situation is remaikably ;
healthy, and may be justly estimated as desirable as any j
in this section of country. The terms may he made imu- t
dually accommodating, as one-third of the purchase would
lie received in land, negroes, or othor property, and for the
balance, an arrangement may be made to suit (he conve
nience of the purchaser. For further particulars apply to
Sam. Pumi of Richmond, Win. P. Taylor at Goochland
Cpurt-bouse.or to the subscriber on the premises.
GEO. VASIION. 1
Jifnv 2G ^ f|t
NEW GOODS.
171 k E. JAMES k CO. Mark'd Bridge, have received
. « (nhiotly by the la>t arrivals from IVew York, Boston
and Philadelphia) the following 1)1! Y GOODS:
1 case super blue and black cloths, cheap
•1 do 7-8 and 4-4 grass bleached Irish linens
1 do 4-4 sun bleached German shitting linen, a superior 1
crrlielc
1 dr>G-4 Irish sheeting
3 do 3-4 long lawns
3 do 3-4 birds’ eyo and 3-4 Irish diaper
T do 7-8 superior Merrimack prints
1 do 3 4 rich plaid prints
I do 3 and 6-4 garment dirr.ity
3 do I/Pgliorn Bolivar hats, efenip
1 do best silk umbrellas and double dorenee parasols 1
3 do ‘•Clark’s” spool sewing cotton, all 71 rui deers
I do containing a good assortment of shell tuck, long
bent, neck and deep teeth side combs—(among
the tnrk, am some of verjf large flic)
Heavy blark Italian lutestring
Do Grns dc Naps, of almost every Color, plain and
watered
Black Italian crapes, broad fch.agv
titeen, white, blue, straw and pink liorenfes
Superior black French (InrenCes
4, 5 and 6-4 blar.k modes
Black, white, pink, brown and straw satffrs
4,5 and 6-4 plain bobbinet ) , 1
Rich bobbinet veils t^euop
Mrs. Cantelo’s corsctfs, Nos.3, 1 and
'•bales 3-4 brown shirtings
.5 rlo 4, 5 and 6-4 brown shecliitg
2 do 3-4 plaid domestic
Z do 7 8 and 4-4 superior indigh plaid domestic
f» do 7-8 Doiebester ticking l
4 do 4-4 Walpole rlo fine quality
1 do 4 and G-4 indigo apron checks
4 dt> :» ami fi-4 do furr.tturo checks
5 rlo British oznaburgs,
Which added to the stock previously on hat. % renders
theirassortment unusually cnort. an, | ,-t
Patent Spring Saddle.
MUCH! has been said in rc-coipmendafion ofT. G.
Preltyman’s PATENT SPI\J\(J SADDLE: I !
think it the best invention I have e*er seen, for rase !
to the rider and durability. I have nadc but 3.0, all J
nf which have given entire satisfaction. If the patent ’
sipJdlts purchased of me, do mt prove I* be vet v easy,
tho purchaser shall be at liberty to return the same i
n fer the first trial, nrtl I will return the Iftonev
I have constantly on hand, best plain ant shafted
Saddles, patent spring or without. An elegaot assort
ment of plated ami polished steel curb and snaffla bits
English bridle leather and martingales; plated and po
lished steel stirrup irons, spnog do; carriage, gig jqj
Jersey-wagon harness; whips; and spurs—winch I wi\\
sell low for cash or approved paper.
„ DAVID JACKSON,
May 2?—tvt? Main Street. '
\
New Dry Goods Store.
^1^ HE subscribers have taken the house recently occupied
by Messrs. Thos. A: Richard Croucii Sc Co. and are
now opening a handsome assortment, compiling almost
every variety of staple and fancy
DKY GOODS,
Which they have just received by lire late arrivals from
New \ ork,Philadelphia and Boston, and which are offered
for rax/:, to the public, nu reasonable terms. The business
will be conducted under the firm of Rdtcin James A Co.
FLEMING JAMES.
JOSEPH SHEPPARD JAMES.
EDWIN JAMES.
*'1/novg [he riuods offered fur sa/c, arc the fullsnviitg articles:
Best London blue, black, brown, olive, green and mixed
cloths and cassunercs
Mariner! chop, long company,short yellow and blue nankins
Rouen cassirncres, black merino 6*-4 bembazines
Rlack lastings, Circassians and Denmark snttiiis
1‘tench hemp, brown, and London plain, white and ribbed
drillings
Stout India mixed silk camblets, inisjed Ftench jeans and
Circassians
Plain and figured black floreutines
Plain and figured while and printed London Marseilles
0-4 new style berreges and Chilian stripes
Plain and figured aiul watered Gro de Nags, of almost
every colour
French Uore.nces and lustrings do do do
Best black Italian lustrings and 3-4 and C—4 superior black
modes
Richly worked and flounced Swiss muslin robes
l lain and figured Canton, Nankin and Mandarin erdpes
and crape robes
Cambrics, jaconets, hook and mull muslins,plain A figured
1 bread laces and edgings and bobhinet laces atid veils
Rich barege scans and lidkfs. and fancy silk shawls
Black and coloured bombazetts and black hnmb.v/.ines
A good assortment of ginghams and fancy piiius
Tortoise tuck, neck and side combs
Brazilian do do do
.j-4, 4-4 and fi-4 garment and fotnTjtuiii (fiinities
Umbrellas and parasols
A large assortment nl ribbons and rich sashes
•l i <iiid 6-4 bed tickings, cot-on balls and spool sewings
Brown and bleached shirtings Sc sheetings, plaid domestics
German ozi.ahurgs, ticklenburgsand burlaps
Swing, toilett and mantle glares, At. Ac. At.
W e have made such arrangements with our linn*<■ In New
\ ork, as will enable us to obtain on the best terms, almost
every aiticle in our line, which we shall receive throughout
the season in such quantities as will render our assortment
at all times good and commanding.
EDWIN JAMES Sc CO.
May 1.9
New and Seasonable Goods.
HALL Sc MOOKE have just received by the Schr.
I' Iv from New \ ork, the following desirable (loads;
A beautiful assortment of Jacq goods, consisting of capes,
caps, cloaks, pelerines, half hdfs.
Thread lace edgings and inserting?,
Ginghams, Chilian Stupes, striped and plain batl?fe
Silk and worsted bereges, ice. Sic.
Supeiior calicoes,cambric, jaconet and mull fulls! i ns
Plain and figured Swi.-tg and bonk muslins
English and French Silk Hosiery, a good assortment -
Men’s and women’s cotton and thread hosiery, tin.
Black Italian Lutestrings,Gro tie Naples and
French Florences, very superior,
English and French Black Bombazines of vgry si'petim
quality and colour,
Black satins, satin levantines and
Biacksilk camblet, heavy and good.
Black nankin and Canton Crapes, superior
Black and white figured silks and Bareges
Tiuread, brown cambric and hflskin glove?
Long white kid and hotseskin gloves, stiperinr
Very superior yellow and white nankeens
Morocco riticules of new and handsome pntci'u?
A large and beautiful assortment of
7 8 and 4-4 Irish Linens, 5-4 and 6-4 Sheetings
G-4 and 10 4 table diapers, also diaper, crash and Jiutka- ;
back towellings, fancy silk and beregp hdki>.
Site!! tack, side and curl cotuhs, dressing comb?.
In addition to the above, they have, and always keep on i
hand, a geneeivtl assortment ot Dry Goods, mid are receiv
ing Gesli supplies by every packet from New Yoik.
.Tune *0.
NEW GOODS.
HAU. NEII.SOJi lia:; icceivi-d by ,li<; Plaiitrr and
other late arrivals, a Iresli assortment of the most ‘
fashionable nnd desirable GOODS, of the latest importa
tion, which he is enabled to offer at very low prices for ;
cash. I
l’laid and striped Chilian dresses
Bo do batiste and grass cambrics, of new and
beautiful patterns
Plain and shaded Grecian stripes
Striped and plaid cambric gingham
London printed cambrics, assorted
Black Italian lustring, of sup. quality
Heavy black Nankin and Mandarin lustring
Sattin K'vantiue and company sattins
Figured ami plain Gro de Naples, assailed
Black, white and colored sattins, part very superior
Colored and black Florence and Mnrecline silks
Superfine pongee (for ladies’ riding dresses)
Very superior Mandarin crapes
I'nbleached India grass ch.th
0— I r icncii merino bomba zinc
Black and mixed lasting* and Circassians
Brown and white French drillings, assorted
Beal mame chop nankeen
White and colored Marseilles vesting
London .superfine cloths and cassimcros assorted
l’latn and striped (hiremities and jeans
6--1 checked and striped cambrics and jaconets
•1-4 ami 6-4 book, mull, jaconet and Swiss muslins
Licit tamboured and floss worked 0o
Swiss and India intili robes and scarfs
Licit worked jaconet and cambric, robes
Drab and hufi cambric for banners
1- loss worked, book, mull ami jaconet Irinnnitm
Superfine and fine cambric and furniture dimity
A superior assort.,ici.t of thread laces, edgings and rrhn
tntngs
Bobbinet and gimp laces, assorted
•1-1 ami 5-4 plain and tamboured bobbinct lore
Birh lace pelerines, rapes, collars, lufkfs. and cars
I loss worked Swiss and India nuislio do
White and black lace veils, part very superior
Black, white and green gauze veil*
Barege and Gros dc Naples lidkfs, assorted
1 ine and superfine thread cambric lidkf*,
Knglish and French silk hosiery, assorted
Lnglisli and German cotton and Unead do
A superior assortment 7-B and d-d lrjs», Iine.|Ig
oaivl 0—1 sheetings, of various qualifies
Bong lawns and supciior bird's eye diaper
B-4, 9-1 and JO—1 table diaper and damask
, entch and German oznaburgs and tickle,iburtrs
' Mtnn antl thread ticking**
Thiead and cotton checks, assorted
Bleached & in.bleached domestic shirtings fc «»lCectincs
Common and superfine domestic plaids a,,d *fri„e* i
H.th n great variety of other desirable goods which
renders the assortment complete. c
June 22
_____ ____ wts l
/Jomm.ttkd to Campbell Jail, the 1 IdTsc^mbe'r
. , « 8 '"aT’» whn ' his »»"*c '•» Jim. IB- is about
ZcLsz™ o!;,’,,ar:; «•"•»***»•. »bout i
mestk eout shirt "icomn;m«* M an old do
mesuc co.it, slurt, ami pantaloons. ?im r,v<. h.. , , ,,
from Al.b..„„ I
who carried him to that Siar*. t. tn/rrlrr,
comply ,i„ *
Cr.B.MAN JORDAN, Jailor
- fir Campbell ceasr/.
I He (gottBtUuttpnal ttLUjfg.
l'rom tlio Lynchburg Virginian.
Sir. FI mi son's address.—The Colonization Society
vindicated to / irginia—We lay before our readers
I 'v,tl* >nucb [dcasure, tlio address delivered by Jesse II.
| Harrison, Esq. at the late anniversary of the Lynch
! burg Auxiliary Colonization Society. ’ No subject can
j be ol more interest to ihe patriot: and it is peculiarly
i important at this moment that the object and the means
I of the Colonization Society, as well as the sources from
| which it expects effectual contributions, should ho can- '
didly avowed, in Virginia, more particularly, is it
important, that all the information attainable should he ;
disseminated, in order to correct tin: mischievous cr- !
rors which some of her most distinguished politicians
have propagated with an unflagging zeal worthy of a i
better cause. Wc rejoice, however that the opposition
to this grand scheme of patriotism and humanity comes
principally, from men who are gloomy from disposition,
cynical from habit,and malignant fiomdisappointment
—men who take delight in arresting cveiy symptom i
of improvement of ti,c physical and mental condi-*
tion ot their species—whose Cassandra-like prophecies i
have eternally been thrown out to check and dispirit
ardor and perseverance in projects of hopeful promise, i
Mr. Harrison, therefore, addressed himself particularly J
to \ irginians, rnd completely succeeded in establish
ing tor V irginia fhe proud honor which belongs to the
first projectors of a plan which wc firmly believe is des
tined to rid this country of a moral pestilence. The
names of Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, in themselves
“a tower of strength, which they of the aw verse faction i
want ” and,even, in these days of party turmoil, n iton, !
as !Mr. Randolph has said, the las rise to the surface.’ j
will carry with them greater weight than his of Roan- j
oke or of the Wigwam.
W c have received the following communication, a
propos to the subject, which shows that Mr. Madison,
:n t7d7, made a proposition which goes a how shot far
ther than the Colonization Society ever dreamed of
going: ’ j
HISTORIC A E.
Reading the LOth vol. ol the Eritish i'nivcrxal
azine, containing the number for January, I7tt7, my
attention was arrested by the 'oliowing paragraph*_
Accounts I rum Williamsburg, in 1 irginia, mention
“ Mr Madison, a young member of Assemhlv
“ there, a sliorl time since had the spirit and human itj
“ to propose a general emancipation of the negro i
“slaves in the province, to commence at the beginnm"- I
i " this year. Mr. Jciioison’s absence at I’ai is, and •
the situation of Mr. \v by thee [W\*!iol as one of
!“ the judges of the state, which prevented them from
j ‘ lending their powerful suppbrt, occasioned it to mi,
i c arry’ for the tnomc’iil, hut there is every reason to be
“ lievetliat the proposition will be successfully renewed: j
“ as it is, the assembly have passed a law' declaring
; “ that there shall he no more slaves in (he R* public hut
' •• those existing the first day of the session of 1705
*• and the descendants of the female slaves.”
I nin not sure that I have ever before met with any
account of the proposition mentioned m the above pa
; ragraph. Ami as every effort to ameliorate the com
plex iniquity of this evil rr.iwt he worthy of enquiry. '
and interesting to the benevolence or curiosity- of vonr
read; rs, I would solicit answers (o the following enqui
ries: What was the plan, in (he ouUine and detail/_
IV as ihe work to he consummated at once or gradual. !
iyr If the latter, at wlmt age were fhe male and fe •
male intants to be free: Was any provision for their
education intended? Were they permitted to reside '
in V irginia. &c. HOWARD.
. here is evidently a mistake in a p/trt of the. paia»raph !
.pmte.l hj’ ‘'Howard.” No such law as- that inentiniie.l
was ever passe! by the Legislature of Virginia.—Kills.1
THE COLOXIZ VTIO.N SO.-IETY VINDICAT
ED TO Vila; INI A;
A Dist.ottrsc by II. |] tujuson. Esq. delivered before
the Auxilirry Society at Iiyiichburg, at its Anniver
sary m July.
Extract-from the Minutes.-*•/?- «/, That he. he!
“requested to furnish ;, copy thereof for publication j„
"‘tiro \ irgiuian and in the. African Colonial Journal.'*
•■'dr. President and CSrntlenu.n uf the Sovi't>>_I
should have been well content had the honor of jour I
choice, and the responsibility ol representing yon, this
day, fallen on some member of our body hotter ot’iali- '
bed to assert the true character of our association and
to speak lor :t in llio voice of ciuquent parstias*on _I
At no time since the establishment of the parent so
ciety, ins its cause demanded more zealous friends or
abler advocates than at this moment; assailed, as it is.
by all the arts of ingenious misrepresentation, or ifde
nmmecJ in sinceiifv, then w.lh an ignorance of the true
objects of the society, scarcely paidonable, because to
gross. In a time so critical I have not the vanity he
lu-ve me, sir, to he satisfied that you have rested your
otlencc on myself. Yet am 1 not unwilling to do all
that lies in my power; and while to the society I make
an offering of my zeal, to those who listen I pledge im
candor for the statements and sentiments which Fshall
utter today.
i he present age is distinguished above all others, not
; more by the wide diffusion of knowledge and leamiim.
lhan it is by a <! Tnsive and wide reaching spirit o(r
; pbilantbropby. While nature has yielded up hoi 1
most cautiously guarded .secret.,, and shown a beautiful
system of fixed laws, running through all her works, I
■ and while philosophy, brought down from ils high,
imaginings, and become “with man, as with his friend,
.anuliar,’ has taught ti3 more and more convincingly
what I think the most valuable of all human truths!
namely: that there is no situation in human life in
which maids duty ever requires him to act, wherein lie '
is permitted to dispense with (he practice of (ruth and
justice,—that the morale of politics, for example, is •
m no respect different from the rule of household dulv,
individuals have gone on to confirm bv action (bis pure j
, theory of human nature; have persuaded the world how
j rasy 't is to he a benefactor of our species, and bv
their enlarged plans of successful benevolence have
approached near to a demonstration of (he snhlimesl
of ail. conclusions, that there is nothing, which, on a1
;ust view of the interests of man, is desirable, which
is not practicable. Instances there are, without doubt, i
and long will be, in which (he possibilities ofamelio !
ra'ion are cheeked by high necessities of prudence, j
fitbearanee and long suffering; hut the world is begm- !
! ning to listen to suggest ions that these instances arc
; not so numerous as has been imagined. Take a few 1
examples: the danger of universal education is now
. mentioned only to be laughed at; the danger of onli
j inited toleration iu religion, so proinotive of piety, is i
: no longer spoken of by the wise; and the liberty of
, unlicensed pyuting, now finds its opponents not a
tnong those who, from a liberal regard for the welfare
of society, tremble at the lawlessness of (Ids public
agent, but those rulers only whose measures would not
bear to be exposed to honest scrutiny. There is cn
conragernent in these examples to believe that the
world is not deaf to the voice of reason, and that it
rloes not believe every scheme impracticable which is I
grand and comprehensive, ami which enlists, in ji^ bo i
half, some of the lofty sentiments of general truth
and justice, which, to some minds, is conclusive cri i
‘fence of the visionary nature of any scheme: and'
accordingly, philanthropy, thus cheered,bar projected,
j and proposer! to the world, many plans in the prosccu
j lion of which (lie most honorable exhibitions of indivi :
J dual enterpri/.e and the mo t gratifying displays of pub- i
j lie sympathy and support have been shown. Sir, it i
I :3 a chief glory u sur ctrn time* that in He persot • of
I the l.uropcan ami .American missionaries, so actively,
l i r'ist successfully engaged in spreading a know
' rS *1 i ° 'V,s °* a ,norc benign religion in the
iLt il I' aDt ,rol,y ^us billed up the vacancies and made
i. : y r’l | 1 Je picture so admirably disigned by Mr.
> , , ° n ljb;,fS of lhe Howard- -to dive in
o (he depths of dungeons; to plunge into the i:ifec»
lion of hospitals; to survey the mansions of sorrow
4 , p:,u,: to gauge and dimensions of iniserv, i
depression and contempt; to remember the forgotten;
| Jo attend to the neglected; to vu-'i the forsaken, and
; Jo compute and collate the distresses of all men in -all |
countries.” Hut never, till our own time, con’d it j
,e said ol (lie philanthropist, without exaggeration, in j
us concluding words, -his plan was a voyage of dis- j
covery, a circumnavigation of charity;” for the bene- j
voionce ol our day lias indeed travelled arouud tho
globe.
Act, (his is not an age of enthusiasm. Far from it;
loo large a part of the talent of the age is devoted to
caricature, to ridicule and scorching sarcasm; and,
what is more, too large a part of tho good sense and
goiMt learning of the day is in the hands of those who
auk for the ludicrous part of every plan; by much too
large to permit the public mind to he heated with un
necessary zeal even in the best cause, or to uphold,
lor a long time, any grave farce. It is not the age
of enthusiasm; and happily it is not: it is the age of
practical reason; of great moral truths, rigidly cstab
In i.-d by cool practical erpaiitunt;. the age which has
relieved human nature from the apprehension Uvat any
r * |C insliluuons iu bocidj aje sealed and !
fated on us by our own imbecility, by proofs, too,'
which must satisfy the most plodding, the most deter
mined enemies ot novelty. Knthusiasm is not fit to be
trusted with any great beneficent scheme, unsteady,
blind and undisciuninating as it is. The most anx't
nits zealot i> little wise w ho would not rather tru--t lit-'
cherished plans to that state of devotion to principle
m. naturally n-ing up in this age; which, tempered bv
prudence and resit ained by fear of tbc cl.urge of ab
‘-tudif), jii tly alleged, takes its course, calm, collect
ed, atu', lee I be cloud of (he poet, -inoveth altoge
thrr, it it move at all.” Public opinion. when thus
iiilornicd, is truly the voice of God. ISecd 1 add, it
is iriesis(ih!e.J
I? is ii w many years since the idea of colonizing the
line blacks in the 1 . ,N. originated among ns, and as 1
propose to address myself to ton wholly as Virginians.
I am happy to he able, in the outset, to congratulate
our state on tin* part she lias borne in the benevolent
’►cricnic ^jr ^,e fuilJiOrancc ufuhic;h uo aie associated.
I slate, then, that the plan originated iu tho Virginia
Legislature, about twenty five years ago, and that Mr.
Monroe, then governor, at tlie'ierjuest of the Legisia
«me, opened a correspondence with Mr. Jefferson, the
I iesident of the </. Stales, consulting him on the best
made o! procuring an asylum in some distant country
i for our tire blacks. Mr. J. proposed either to ob
’niti admittance for them info the Hntisb colony of'Sierra
r.eoue, C.en belonging to a private company, or into
-nine of the l’oi tuguesc settlements in S. America _
Mot ii of these plans however, failed. The Legislature,
not withstanding this, with a perseverance w hich shows
fiow great their zeal was, at three several limes, tho’in
.ht' *,:l sessions, passed i.^solution* in favour of renewed
J-xertions, until finally, in IdlO, the Governor was once
mme, by public resolution, desired to address the l*re
indent on this head, and our senators and represents
tii.es were requested to lend all their talents to its ad
vancement.
"I{<solved, tlmt'he Executive be requested lo cor 1
‘•respond with the President of llie lJ. States, for llie
“purpose of obtaining a Territory upon the coast of!
“Africa, or at some other place, not within any of the
“Stales or Territorial Clnveriiincnts- of the U- States,
“to serve as an asylum for such persons of colour as are '
“now free, and may desire the same, ami for (hose who
“may hereafter be emancipated, within tins Common' '1
-wealth, and the Scnnfois and Representatives of this j
“State in the Congress of the V. States, be requested
“to exert their best efforts lo aid the President of the i
“I Stales in the attainment ol the above object: /Vo !
%l tided, That no contract or arrangement respecting ;
“Mich Territory, shall he obligatory on this Common- !
“wealth, until ratified by the I•cgis'iaUirc.11 1
/ This icsnlution passed the House of Delegates with
Lbutmne dissenting voices out of 140, and the Senate,
with but one dissenter. The resolution was at that
I time declared by a member of Congress from Virginia
j to be truly the voice and feeling of Virginia; the'plan
•Js therefore V nu: ixi a rs, and 1 am proud of it. 1 11 ust tri
j shall not he among the first to desert cur on n long nui
Hired and fast maturing plan, when if has gained the
co-operation of oilier than Virginians: surely not for
• that reason, lie who speaks ii. defence of an object
so long desired by Virginia, and now put within our
reach, may expect to he heard not as one w ho is the
advocate of a suspicious plan officiously devised for u*
In- strnngeis, with the prefence that is for our good,
but as flic advocate of a favoiite scheme which we
i should be sorry to find cause to abandon, and should
feel dbg raced if we. abandon it without cause.
The American Colonization Society established, in
: Io 16, at Washington, gretv naturally out of the spirit
.fed efforts of the Virginia Legislature, and merits the
. thanks of Virginia for Laving done all that in c/Jict, is j
yet done in furtherance of her object, It j, this socie
ty, then, as the representative of opinions so clearly
and so zealously set in motion by Virginia, (hat i am
ready brio to attempt to vindicate and to uphold 1st.
What arc its objects, and 2d, what the means of ever
attaining them? The object of the Patent Society is
declared to be the removal, with their own consent, of
(he free people of colour in llie I*. Staten, and such
persons as by the laws of the several stales may be set
free, to a settlement in Africa. Sucb is the only di
rect purpose of the Society, such Its whole scone, and
its only etui. U is no Abolition Society, it addresses '
ns yet arguments to no master, and disavows with hor- '
mr the idea of ofi'ering temptations to any^slayc. It
denies the design of attempting emancipation, either:
partial or general; it denies, with us, that the General !
Government have any power to emancipate: and de- •
claics that the Slates have exclusively (he right to ie !
gulatn the whole subject of slavery. The scope of:
tbo Society ic large enough, hut it is in no wise ruing- i
led or confounded with tiic broad sweeping1 views of aj
few fanatics in America, who would urge us on to thei
sudden am! total abolition ofslaverr. Are the avowed I
and true objects of thr society desirable? And as;
these objects are two. let me consider them apart. 1st, i
as lo the actual iree people «>f colour, and next to those 1
who may he Ik reader set free, w ilh reference to the I
society. Is there any one who has regarded for a mo 1
rnent the deplorable condition of <hc liberated Africans j
in Virginia, who desires to retain them in our borders5 j
I will look no farther when I seek for the most degra !
ded, the mold abandoned race on tire earth, but rest^rny I
eye on this people. How came Ihev thus? Alas! it is
tec, tee who having first crushed all cheerful hope -of
good, all taste for praise f aid to virtue, bv making them
slaves, have completed the work by throwing them out
on a world where wo are vaio enough to expect from
them actions without motives; efforts where is no spring;
clearness and straightness of sight where is no light;
where the passive qualities bring contempt, and'die
active meet no honor, but suspicion ratber; where ig
norance with its fool horn lightness of heart and giddy
carelessness of to morrow, leads them on; where po
veitv hangs its taller# on them and plants its unnp- :
pcased hunger to thrir breast; and where vice in its;
worst shapes, from indolence up to felony, is their sba- j
dow, their familiar, their tempter. .Sir, is this imagr- !
option;' - And,being **-o, whs' In- tw.r wo/etd*
Y
fat the misguided piety which lias set fire so many of
, fhein by death-bed devise or sudden conviction of up-.
| justice: Uetler, far better, for us, had theyieen kept
in bondage, where the opportunity, the inducements,
(he necessity of vice would not have been so great.
Deplorable necessity, indeed, to one borne down xrltl%
the consciousness of the violence wo have done. Yet
1 arn clear that, whether wc consider it with reference
to the welfare of thp state, or the happiness of tho
blacks, it were better to have left them in chains than
to have liberated them to receive such freedom as they
enjoy, and greater freedom we cannot, must not nllpw
them. In lb 10, (hero were 30.0(X>, and in 1320, thorn
were 37,000 free blacks in Virginia, an increase of
about one fourth in ten years, which number wouKJ
double itself Jnt that rate, in about 33 years. Emigration
into Virginia of these p.eople there has been none, Si all
those emancipated since 1 ffOfi have been compelled to
leave the stale. Jt is observable that, with almost tho
whole slave population the free blacks are gathered in
the middle and eastern counties of the state. 1 am
a "Virginian—I dread for her the corroding evil of this
numerous caste, and 1 tremble for the danger of a dis
affection spreading through their seductions, among our
servants. I am a man. 1 cannot disown some kind
regard for the welfare even of this humble wrctchcrl
class; and farther and deeper than this, am I concern
ed. 1 know (hat i, and all of us, have had our share in
the institution which has brought them first to the de
gradation of slavery and next hinds them down to the
baseness of ineffectual freedom.— Whether, then, wo
fear or loathe them—whether we feel compassion to
'vards them, as a common feeling of humanity, or com
punction, as to those ive have injured, cruelly injured,
we must all desire to he rid of them, and if possible t<v
make better their condition thereby*. The whole num
ber of free black in the U. S. in 1320, was 233,OOU, and
the annual increase at this time has been calculated
at 0,QQ0. 1 ueed not, 1 am sure, address a single argu
ment to any one in this assembly to strengthen tho
conviction which this hare statement must‘produce,
•hat this class must he removed from among us. And
what plan docs the Society propose as conducive tu
this great end? The history of tho Society and its
I efforts is brief, and 1 prefer to use (he concise kmguago
tor a few sentences, oi the Society itself. Immediately
alter its foimation io 13lt* “agents were sent out to
“the south we... in roast of Alrica, with instructions
“to \ isit toe l»iitish settlement of Sierra I,cone and
“othci places in the vicinity, to select a proper location
‘Tor the proposed colony, and to ascertain how far
‘reliance might be placed on the favorable disposition
“ot the native tribes; and liom these coiniuisgioricis a
“report was received, ot the most encouraging charac
“ter. Alter some further irxjuiiics and preparatory
“effort-, a small colony was sent out, in tho year 1U2V,
“and placed on Slierbru Island, as a temporary rear -
“Jenc^ until possr-jssion could be obtained of a ncigh
“boring tract of land on the continent, which the na
tives had promised to sell. 'J in* performance of this
“promise was delayed and evaded, under various pre
texts. for a considerable time, dr.ring which (he health
“of the colony suffered very materially from the low,
‘‘flat and marshy giound of Hherbro, where they were
“compelled to continue their residence much longer
“than had been anticipated. At length, however, the.
“Agent of the government of the United St-ates cm
! “ployed to select a suitable situation for the Africans,.
! “recaptured,” under the laws to suppress the slave
i trade “effected in conjunction with those of the (,’oJd
j “ni/.ation Society, the purchase of an extensive tenito
“rv at the mouth of the jWontscrado river, incDdmg
“the cape and hay of that river, and there tlic coIodv
“has been established. The soil is for tile, the land ef
“evated nearly an hundrend feet above tire sea, tho
“climate as healthy as any hi Aliica, anil the anchor
“age in the I Jay and roadstead not inferior to any on the
“w hole coast. Jin* distance hour the nourishing col—
“ony at Sierra I.rone i-> between 2 and 300 miles.
*• 1 he natives in the vicinity are divided iutoagreat
“number of small ami nearly independent tubes, and
“being hut slightly held together by any superior
“authority, may he considered as wholly incapable
“o! uniting, to any sennus extent, fur purposes of hos
“tj'.ity. iua single instance an attack was make eu
‘ the colony while in its feeblest condition; but the fa -
•'cility with wi ich it wasiept-lkd renders (he future
‘security of the colony fnun similar attacks uiiqutstiii
1 “able, under its probable increase of population, amt
; “the improved means of defence with which it i$ al
ready provided.” “The conduct of the natives indted
‘ is now of the most peaceable and friendly character.’*
I —“Notwithstanding alt the difficulties inseparable fioin
••tiie nature of the attempt, the colony has annually
: “increased in population and now contains upwards of
; “000 individuals; u government has been established,
“provided, as far as practicable, with the necessarv
“securities for life, liberty and property. Schools are
“opened for the instruction of natives, as well as cole*
“ne ts. A library of I .’00 vols. tins been sent over,
“and a printing press; lands have been Cleared, and
I “partitioned among the settlers, and an annual product
j “may soon he anticqsiled adequate to the supply as
i “well of all who have already emigrated as also of those
i “v. ho may hereafter he induced to seek for happiness
j “and independence in the land of their fathers and a
| “home of their mvn.” Of (lie health, let me add, that
of two vessels which sailed during the early pail of (ho
y ear 18**0, the one fiorn lioston with 34 emigrants, and
tlie other from Norfolk with 154 persons, of whom 130
were from N'. Carolina, nearly one half of the passen
gers Irom Hostoti perished at Liberia, while not.one of
the latter vessel suffered severely from sickness,'a
fact which .shows how perfectly the Africans who had
lived in our Southern climate are qualified for the tro
pical climate to which they go. Of the soil, that it is
among the richest in the world; and of the Trade, that
no Ic*s than 15 vessels touched at Liberia in the first
hall of the year IfWfi, and purchased the produce ofllio
country to the amount of about $43,980 African value,
and that by tins traffic the colony liiul made a total pro
fit of £30,780.
i he price of labour to mechanics is two dollars per day,
and to common lahomers from 7,a cents to SI £>; and the
circumstances of thr settlers, of course, ore easy and com
fortable. “Every family,’’says Mr. Ashmnn,‘‘and nearly
every single adult person in the colony, has the means of
employing from one to four native labourers, at tin expense
of from four to six dollars the month; and several of the
settlers, when called upon, inconsequence of sudden emer
gencies of the public service, have made repeated advance?
of merchantable produce to the amount of ”00 to 000 dol
lats each.” Such is the beginning of the colony; such the
asylum held out inviting the free blacks; and such the spot
which the Virginia Legislature so long and so ardently
sought to find, in order to display its humanity and mag
nanimity in a suitable mode toward these degraded per
sons, And now, that we have found it, is it for us in Virgi
nia to l-.e studious of objections to the sufficiency of the
plan? Shall we deny its merit, brand its spirit as enthusi
i astir, nay fantical, and tave against it as incendiary, and
| never once remember that it is our own plan,exactly as set
I out in our Act of Assembly of 1J116. and adopted by others
j at our suggestion? with no one adjunct or quality which
j out own plan would not have possessed* Tri r it is, there
! ore a few among os, and those, ton, net the least conspi
cuous in the State, wbo have found, may I say, created
! (.bjertions to the colonization system? It is these objer
' tion.s to which I alluded in commencing; and the formal
avowal of them as conclusive against the Society, is,* 1
! think, the most important event which I can bring to the
notice of this auxiliary Society at this its anniversary.—
The fust great material objection is that the Society does,
in fact, in spite of its denial, mediate and conspire th*»
emancipation of the slaves. To the candid, let me say
that there are names on the rolls of the Society too high to
b® ra': vialfy acCi/sc,' *f *!t«* duplicity anJ Itixfd’ios.'x fat*?