Slavery. By William E. Channing [pp. 268-306]

Slavery.
timents of the northern states had long since been clearly ex pressed by the abolition of slavery within their limits. That
the same opinions and the same feelings continued to prevail
among them, may be inferred, not only from the absence of
all evidence to the contrary, but from various decisive indi cations of a positive character. In the year 1828 a resolution
was passed by an almost unanimous vote in the legislature of
Pennsylvania, instructing their Senators in Congress to endeavour to procure the passage of a law abolishing slavery in
the District of Columbia. In 1829 a similar resolution was
adopted by the assembly of New York. In 1828 a petition
to this effect was presented to Congress, signed by one thousand inhabitants of the District itself; and the House of Representatives instructed the proper committee, in 1829, to
inquire into the expediency of the measure.* How altered
is the present state of the country! Instead of lamentations
and acknowledgements, we hear from the south the strongest
language of justification. And at the north, opposition to the
proceedings of the anti-slavery societies, seems to be rapidly
producing a public feeling in favour of slavery itself. The
freedom of discussion, the liberty of the press, and the right
of assembling for consultation, have in some cases been assailed, and in others trampled under foot by popular violence.
What has produced this lamentable change? No doubt,
many circumstances have combined in its production. We
think, however, that all impartial observers must acknowledge, that by far the most prominent cause is the conduct of
the abolitionists. They indeed naturally resist this imputation; and endeavour to show its injustice by appealing to the
fact that their opinions of slavery have been entertained and
expressed by many of the best men of former days. This
appeal, however, is by no means satisfactory. The evil in
question has been produced by no mere expression of opinion. Had the abolitionists confined themselves to their professed object, and endeavoured to effect their purpose by
arguments addressed to the understandings and consciences
of their fellow-citizens, no man could have any reason to
complain. Under ordinary circumstances, such arguments
as those presented on this subject in Dr. Wayland's Elements
of Moral Science, and in Dr. Channing's recent publication,
would have been received with respect and kindness in every
part of the country. We make this assertion, because the
Jay's Inquiry, p. 157, 161.
VOL. VIII. NO. 2. 35
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1836.]
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