Macon Georgia telegraph. (Macon, Ga.) 1836-1844, October 06, 1836, Image 3
To the Citizens of Bibb County.
Ihe cl
>fthc n
ipon tli
#
inw;
» «ll#w Citizens—In repelling Ihe charge
ferret! against me, by the Editor ofthe Teleg
it was not my purpose to intrude upon the eolunii
efn newspaper, but to bring all tMLIacts heft
you at the close ofyour regimenal review, on
Saturday last. I preferred this ronrSr; because it
"Would have afforded Myron Bartlett and liis friends
an opportunity of proving the fallacy of mv state
ments, if indeed, they could be proven false. I
appeared before you ready to redeem iny pledge,
but the hero of Van Buren was not lo be found in
fho city, and at the request of my friends, I have
now to trespass on your patience, with the fol
lowing statement ot facts.
In the Inlter part ofthe yenr 1831, the celebrat
ed speech ofthe Rev. Mr." Maffilt to the Coloniza
tion Society ol'New York, made i!» appearance in
Southern Slates. The fame of its author ns an
Irish orator, and fhc tale of his zenl and untiring
energy in Ihe cause of human benevolence, ac
companied his wretched caricature of Southern
slavery ; and wretched indeed, ns il was, it was
hailed as a message from Heaven, by thousands
who are now the votaries of Martin Van Buren.
I was Ihcn Editor ofthe Christian Repertory, nnd
unfortunately for me. neither Ihe author’s tame,
nor hi> classic and splendid tropes, nor his con
nection with ine in Ihe same church, could induce
me to withhold my disapprobation of his senti
ments in Ihe columns of my paper. I reviewed
his speech with just severity; maintained that
slavery was an institution sanctioned by the
Scriptures of both the Old and No,ly.. Testaments,
anil ndvi-cd Mr. Maffilt not to persuade the Aboli-
tionits and our slaves to the contrary. For this, I
received volleys ofabueivc epithets "from the cleri
cal Editors of the North, accompanied with Ihe
thundering vengeance ofthe LIBERATOR. The
controversy thus commenced, continued for three
months, during which time iiic Editors ofthe Lib
erator were permitted to review weekly in the
office ofn mnlhodist paper, the only number of my
paper sent to Boston, for the special purpose of
holding me up at the North, as a ‘•clt.ri al woi.r,
a M.it-nxjkUR, a i r.vti. iscxrsatb," «fc<*. kc.' These
beautiful pit-lures of Southern slave owners were
sent ine from lime fo lime, and in this way ! be
came tlie owner of 20 copies of Ihe Liberator.
These tacts are ns well known lo Myron Barlh-lt,
as Ip my friends in Macon, who were in (lie habit
of visiting my office, and reading my papers.
Wny (ben, should he charge me wiili being it sub
scriber folhe Liberator—cherishing (lie priricipb s
am! purposes of an Abolitionist ? The answer is
at band.
Impelled by a so- sc ofduly lo my country, I had
yi-ited my neighbors at their Justices’Court for
the purpose of discussing the merits ofthe can
didates for the Presidency and Vice-Presdenoy. I
called their attention to the ngifnted slate of our
republic—the causes nnd imprinting result—open
ed my Bible and proved that the institution of slav
ery win sanctioned by Moses, the Palriaiehs.
nnd 1’roplu-ts, und justified by the Apostles—that
the Saviour n ho came from Heaven to earth, to
correct the moral trrors of limn, could not have
withhoiden bis denunciations agnin-f the “aresir-
sed evil," if indeed, be regarded I an evil—that be
had found in the Centurion, one of-lhe wealthy
slave owners of Koine, all Ihe virtues of the
Christian Ihith, pronounced him the best mail
iu all Israel, and permitted him to hold bis
sl ives in bondage, and bequeath them to his pos
ti-r.’ty, without say ingu word about emancipation,
f then appealed :<> comuttm sense. muT n-ki-ikif Mr.
Vail tliircn u-as-iudeed, the friem! ofthe t iiihn, She
' •‘aelaetprofthe S«u:!i. and the learned -l-itestu'- 1 ’.
xvliv bis sagacil? nod bruevoleoee would md |*.-i-
mil him lo quell the ra ;e ofthe Ah ilitiimi-l* w.lh
a learned i-uiii iinit no those pa—-ages nfoirriplme
--uol why the did not assure tie-m that Ivf.mtk
Wlsnuv saw ii. the days of Mwes that the <le-
S. endnnls of tlnm would not have e tparilies l.»
provide for their wants, and Imusucr Msrov had
provided nuulers for them. VY Jib ihr-c remarks, I
luriied to the Constitution ofthe Foiled States—
proved from see lion •" ujld 111 She legal tenure by
which we hold our slaves, and the express deelu
ration that “Congress shall pu-s no cr. post futlo
law,” or law impairing the o ligition ofeonlruet;
and with the Bible in one baud mid the Con-titu-
tinn in the other, I affirmed that, “with all the
lights” reflected from those great moral nnd c eil
Codes, Martin Van Buren in declaring that he does
not “feel himself safe in pronouncing that Con
gress does not possess the poser pf interfering
with or abolishing slavery in the District of Co-
lumbio," stands before the people of the United
States in the character 01 cither u KNAVE ora
l-’OOL; for none but a knave could evade an an
swer to a question so clearly recognized in the
Constitution, and none but a fool can rend that
venerated compact without perceiving that Con
gress has no more right to take away the property
of a citizen living in the District of Columbia,
than it has lo deprive n citizen of (Jeorgia of
the same species of property. I proved the
knavery ofthe man by the words of hisown mouth,
the very man, who in the plcnlilude of of his tender
compassion for the “ good order of society anil the
peace of New York," voted to give the negroes of
that city the right of suffrage.
For these acts, I have incurred the righteous
vengeance ofMyron Bartlett nnd some lew of his
political parasites. It wn«, indeed, an unpardon
able offence to the tender sensibilities ol their
Southern souls to say a word about the Almlition-
ists, nnd their hostility to Southern rights, espe
cially as eight of our Congress men had contend
ed with them in every menstirr designed to effect
the subversion of the Union and the de-irest inter
ests of the South. The alarm was given—Ihe
tocsin was sounded, “ he < nrries the Ljbera’or in
his pocket—he is a subscriber to that incendiary
torch—ride him upon a railthese were the sal
utations that met me, and but for Ihe interposition
making them the, subject of special enactments,
' has coiupromitted its dignity, and made itself a
laughing stuck. Like the Anti-Masonic the An
ti Sunday Mail, and other pious excitements, got
up to cajole the people, and swindle them out o(
their money, is the Anti Slavery question. Craf
ty men have taken advantage of theguillitiilitv of
human nature, and are making use of it for their
own benefit. We do not impute to the Rev. Mr.
Garrison, editor of the Liberator, any worse mq-
tive in fanning this excitement, than a desire to
fill his pocket at the expense of his dupes, at the
same time he is gaining in amiablt not citify «* the
apostle of insurrection and massacre. His paper
does not. and is not calculated to circulate at the
Smith—bene.e it cannot affect the situation <*f Ihe
shv*s. h is at the north, aodon notheru people
hi« lever is intended toopeiare, end if it can
raise in them stirli a spirit of fanatirism as will
move the money from their pockets to his own-
even should the slave holder escape without his
throat being cut—we presume he would he quite
satislied. We repeal it, these publications as far
as it regaids our interest's,Jjef perfectly harmless.
Hence, all legislation on iKft subject, is worse
than ridirulnus— inasmuch as it eurouraces them
in their nefarious course, /f the publication of
any thing would stimulate the slaves to revenge
and massacre, it would be that of our own ordi
nances respecting them, which are circulated in
every captain’s district. Rut »ve see it has no
such effect. What fear need we have then, of a
newspaper printed a thousand miles off?”
JTliese are the words of a Van Buren Editor— a
Northern man who sought and found a home in
Georgia, add would lain ilow persuade us all that
(be opponents of Vnn Bur- n are Ihe enemies of
their country. The Editors ol Ihe Liberator meant
no harm, in bis estimation—they bad not publish
ed a word enleidnted to produee insurrectionary
disturbances—they bad nothing to do with the
So*if» Homj ton tragedy in Virginia, though they
sent Nat Turner with his murderous crew to
Heaven, ns (be noble innrlws of liberty, aod eon
signed to Hell (lie Virginiaus who b;ui them exe-
cuted as murderers. No. no! says Myron Unrt-
lell. they mennt no harm in all this—“they only
wanted to make money by their pnper”.—Is it
marvelous that such a gentleman should (ell us
that “ politicians have not yet decided whether
negres ought not to be allowed to vote.”
We will now compare the-spirit th: t dictated
till* libelous editorial ol Myron Bartlett with the
genius of the Liberator, (lie Boston Telrgrapli and
the New England Christian Herald, in the follow
ing extracts:
SENATORIAL VILLANY.
" The Georgia '-eiiate lias adopted Mr. Nexbit’s
revrbn • - fsttuded'In in our last paper.) offering-
FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR for the appre
hension and prosecution to conviction ol the edi
tor or piildis tier of this paper. A step like this,
however ridiculous in itself, ought to stir up the
indignation of every man in the Ciiiniiiounealth.
A price set upon the head of a citizen of Massa
chusetts—for what ? For daring to give his opin
ions of the litoral aspect of slavery ! Wlteie is
the liberty of the press nnd of speed) ? whcie the
spirit of our fathers ? where the iinuiuiii'iex se
cond to its by our Bill of Rights ? Ary we the
slaves of southern taskmasters ? /(is treasnn'to
maintain the principles ofthe Declaration of In-
dependence/ Must we say that slavery is a »;«-
cied and benevolent jnsiiliilion. or be silent ? —
Know ibis, yeseuatoiial Patrons of Kydnappers!
that we despise your Ducats as much as lie de
plore your irdatiintion ; nay, more—know that a
hundred sti'en stand ready to lilt our places as
soon a. it is made vacant by violence. The Lib
erator shall yet live—lire to warn you of your
danger and guilt—live to plead for the peiisbing
slaves—live to hail the day of universal emanci
pation .' For every hairol our heads which you
touch, there shall spring up an ssseiter of the
rights of your bondmen, and un up-braider ol your
crimes.
Mr. Nesnit's Resolution is thus noticed in two
of nnr papers :—7Vie Liberator.
We have heard of • cappingsllie climax ;’ but
we have seldom seen so prominent and daring
an example as the above. Where is the • freedom
of the press’ ? What ha* become of our • Dec
laration of Right’s.’ mil our great national ax
iom, •all m-n at born free and equal’ 1 . . * Hail
Columbia, happy laiid !' when men of principle
and conscience must be kidnapped for publishing
their opinions.—Boston Teh graph.
We receive this tesoliitiou ol Mr. Neslut is an
attempt *o legalize abduction, minder am 1 crime.
It certainly can tie none other than such an at
tempt. Alii as such, it is an insult on the hon
esty, dignity and integrity of a Kepunlican Leg
islature. and high treason against the Constitu
tion of a Dee people. Establish such a prece
dent as this, and what will follow/ Why. the
whole system ufjunsprudence would he unavail
ing, ami the giealest crimes would be harmless.
The sum offered would induce many a daring
villain to couiir.it the foulest deeds; when lie
knows he flitll be protected by Legislative au
thority. This is giving public license to commit
crime with impunity. But, in the present case,
such an act on the persons of the editors of the
Liberator, as this resolution is intended to sanc
tion, would l e the watchword, not only for a little
... # vankee operation; but it would make hundreds of
ofsome high smiled Republicans ofthe oblJefler- 'editors in the same c*use in which they are so
sonian school who determined that I should be ] a(ir ) M |,|y engaged—viz. universal emancipation.
renites, with as little ceremony as th« Liliputian j 0 ||,. r „„ comment on the sentiments of Bart-
Scribes pi Lumpkin hung the venerable Sumter;. Jett’s Trio but 1 beg lens e to copy a lew senten-
and Warren as traitors to their country. — —I oe « from his " harmless paper” the Liberator, for
beg leave now, to show how lar the principles of ( j, e special edification ufhis political friends:
Mvron Bartlett differed with the Abolilionfolo in v I , . .
1821. and how extremely excited bis righteous I “ We assert, that no slaveholder is innocent:
soul became when ihe Legislature of Georgia ol- . that he is an unjust, crunl. criminal kidnapper,
fered a reward of $5,000 lor the opprehension ol who is guilty ol the most atrocious transgression
Gaftison and Knappi the Editors of the Liberator, against God and mail; that it is the most infat-
These are his words, published in his paper dated uated delusion for such men to believe, or the
December 24, 1831. most impudent hypocrisy in them to process
Fromtke Macon TdepnpKof Dee.2* 1831. themselves innocent; that whole counties may
“ Incendiary Publications."-—Too niucli tin- ^ traversed, in which comparatively but few
portance, in oar opinion, is attached to these eon- p ersons ran jJe traced, who distribute as many
temptible vehicles of slandor and falsehood. Y/e comfoits or at much care to their slaves, as to
can imagine no serious harm that can result irotn I j )ejr horses; that the general managemen of the
them. Their abuse is annoyine enough and *o S | HV( , „ v, complication of indiscribable barbarity;
is the buzing of flies—but we can drink our col- that EhristiarJ prolessors are not exempted from
foe notwithstanding. Hence, (ho Legislature if
UKriTn mufii 'iTl lijuiuij 'iif iT _) 7 11 ^ | |T u
the enormity of the crime, or the application of
the charge ; and every man-stealer is dared either
to refute the doctrioe, or to disprove the accusa
tion.”
*• Slavery is made up of every crime that treach
ery, cruelty and murder can invent; and men-
stealers are the very worst of theives. The most
knavish tricks are practised by these dealers in
human flesh; and if the slaves think of our geo-
eral character, they must suppose that Christians
are Devils, end that Christianity was forged in
Hell. Shall 'recall ounelvtsChrislians or Dev
ils ? Can a trace of Devils plot against us worse
than we do against them ? In art and wicked
ness, as it relates to our principle aod practice,
wefbnodantly exceed."
* Every slave in these States is as notoriously
kidnapped, is if he had been purloined from
Guinea ; ana he who claims a colored child as...
his property, and nurtures and detains it in^jav^
rv, is equally a man-thief with the., negfo-stealer
on the Gold Coast.”
*• I freely confess (hat I am no friend to what
are called ameliorating measures. If they can
effect good, they will not effect it io sufficient
time. I hold the system of slavery to be a crime
of the deepest dye. and I would deal with it as
crimes ought lo he dealt with. I would not
ameliorate; ) would not cut off the most offensive
parts of the system, but would destroy it altogeth
er.”
A Slave whipped to death near Macon, ‘Geo.
by his overseer. The murderer unpunished:
A Slave was hung in Kentucky, for attempt
ing to commit a r-ipe. Another for the murder
of a Mrs* Dodd. Two others for attempting to
poison their masters. ’
VIRGINIA.
Dick, a slave, executed for attempting to com
mit a rape oo a white woman.
Mr. Robertson, a respectable white gentleman,
stripped naked, severely scourged by a mob of
slavites, and coinjielled to leave the State, for
having said, in a private colloquy, that tbe blacks
were -ueii entitled to their fieedom.
Upwards of o le hundred slaves slaughtered in
Southampton tragedy—many of them in cold
blood while walking in the street; and about six
ty white individuals, men, women, and children.
Some of the conspirators had their noses and
ears cut off, the flesh if their cheeks cut out.their
jaws broken asiinder-win that condition, they
were set up as marks to shoot at. The whites
burnt one with red hot irons, cut off his ears and
nose, stabbed him. cut his hamstrings, stuck him
like a hog, and at Iasi cut of his head, spiked it
to the whipping post.
Nat Ti rner, the instigator of the insurrection,
hung, and two or three others, in consequence of
his confession.
I will not trespass on your patience, follow cili*
z -ns. with any more extracts Irimi those harmless
papers, but I Is g leave to assure you, that the sal
vation of all that is dear to the South depend- upon
the suppression of their publi at ion. And who
will effect this! YY’ill Martin Vnn Buren? A--k
the citizens ofthe New England States, and they
will tell you, that “ne^ro abolitionists and blue
light federalists ofthe North constitute bis most
zealous supporters, no t all such unprincipled pol
iticians as have abused Thomas Jefferson and
pronounced James .Mae i-on worthy of0 halter, are
ready nor lit sing lio-ann.is to (lie Magician.’'
Will you i ole for such n man? V. hat lias he ever
il. »e for the 8ou!b 1 When the Mis-nuri question
convulsed the Union was iie not an Abolitionist I
W'bi'ii mill where lias he piofessed conversion
since! Will bis friends answer for him? But lie
is General Jackson’s luvorite, and we are told
that the old veteran would not recommend him
ifhis principles were corrupt And has General
Ja-kson the puwrrot divination? ll he were not
laboring under the infirmities of dotage would be
commit su -h an outrage on the principle- of our
Government to nominate his successor? Has lie
not nominated Richard M. Join son too, a man
who would not He entitled to the privileges of a
citizen in one ofthe States over which be is to
preside? Has not the old veteran forgotten that
the laws of Maryland recognize every, white tn n
who lakes lo his bed and board a black wou.un
and rears a lainilv of bastard mongrel-, as u va
grant. and iljohnson were a citizen of that .Slate,
he would be sold as a vagrant for 1 seven years,
and the people ol the United States would have to
but him before they eoaid elect him their Vice
President! Every well rend Inwyer knows this
fact, and General Jack-on must have known it
- once, but lie has forgotten it in his old age. And
lie must also have forgotten that the election of
sue]) a grovelling wretch to the second office with
in the gift ol Ihe people ol the United States would
he an eternal disgrace in our country, ami an
outrage on the laws of decency and morality.
Would the Piney Woodsmen of Bibb suffer tbeir
daughters l» associate with Dick Johnson’s?
Would they suffer the hnoured gentleman and
his Ebo lady lo sleep in Ihe.r beds? Ob! sbnme
and infaiby to my country, that there should be
found among us men ofuAite skins who are striv
ing to exalt n man of such debased principles.
I ain no candidate for office, follow citizens, nor
will I ever ask you for an office ofprofit or honor:
I desire no other station than that ol on humble
fanner among you, cultivating his fields witli bis
own hands; but I eani ot be insensible to Ihe in
terests of my country. Tbe ensuing session of
our Legislature will be one of vital impoi lance to
u«. Three Judges ore to be elected, who wiU
preside over our new Court of IrriA-snnd Appeals.
Their decisions will Lie the luw ofthe .hi mi; place
upon the Israeli wise jurists, ana Ihe Giftid Will be
a blessing In Ihe people cummit that trust fo <>rdi.
nary lawyers, and it will be a curse. Now the
question devolves upon this point, who - what
party will give us such a Court as w- ought to
have? I have no personal prejudices against the
Lawyers of either pnrty. but your interests and
iny interests oblige me to say. that if there. be a
wise Vnn Bnren Inwyer in the Slate of Georgia,
I have yet to learn where he lives The most
prominent gestleman ot Ihe parly lives in Bibb—
you have heard him again and again when con
tending with his Juniors Poe and Chappell, and
you have never beard him without a conviction of
his imbecility. How will i-e compare with our
Wilde, Berrien, Clayton, Law, Dougherty, Long
street, nnd others ? Carry this with you to the.
polls, and recollect that a Van Bnren Legislator*
will prefer the mo-t humble lawyer in Bibb to
YVilde or agy other White nan in Georgia.
G, CAPERS.