Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-01-17

Nrt h'ia Question OF policy. The gen.
tlernan, II he hasa slave, violates hrirci-
ffe by keeping him in slavery. If he ha.
nsH 10 emancipate by-deed, he has
right 10 emancipate by will. IF we can
take the one right away, we can the other.
IL was, therefore, merely a question. of
the Policy OF anticipating slaves. Ii
may be proven (said Mr. RI that it is.
thc-free blacks who ins,il into the slave.
ideas hostile To our peace. Whether e.
manc'patsd by will or by deed, free
blacks are equally dangerous. Can The
gentleman prove the contrary? In hrin.
ef'.'e the bills are equal. In hofcy the
ofig,nai Dill which cuts up the mischief
oy the rootsis to be preferred.
Mr.. MINOR said that if the bill in any
tarni passed, he would prefer the substi.
tnie. lie was surprised that nov, when
Eo:al r'ghts are so we'll understood, n
proposition should come from such
quarter as this does, destructive to lib.
ery. In pas, days these walls have rung
VITA e'iiogies OH liberty. A comparison
between those times and the present
IS degradiI'.: to us. We may be c.
guar IN Intelligence and virtue, but not
IN the love at liberty. Can we contra.
vene the bill ofrights which declares that
a'i men are by nature free" and shut
Against this race, the door OF hope The
Ieg's'aturc have no right to do moral
wrong. What will be the situation Of
the blacks if yoa shut this only door
through which tn y can enter III. "a.
cred ground Of liberty They will
be Fixed in the deepest state of dam
patton, despair without hope. In such
situation they will prefer death to ex
lstencr. They now wait patiently in
hopes OF relief. "Divide and CONQUER" ia
as true in policy as il is as a military max
I'M. The free blacks are sureties or the
slaves. 1t II be their interest to give in.
formation ct insurree,ion. He was in.
Horned that in the late iusurreeiion. one
Tree oiack only was accused and he was
acquitted. When we have degraded his
uniertans,e race, shall We make it rea.
son Tor furnishing them. and thus .mits,e
rae grand enemy of mankndl Because
lew men IN detached neighborhoods com.
PLAN oil the loss Of their sheep and hogs.
shall you destroy great principle ?<He
hoped not.
HRir. ROBERTSON was really astonish.d
atthe speech that had Jus, been delivered.
Ihe gentle man (Mr. A.inor) would en- fTer
a mountain OF vice to exist, but he STUN.
bles at moie.h'll. gMr.. X. said he wa,
acsuaied by desire for the public hao,i.
ness. tie was conscious emancipation
was destructive to the happiness of the
stale. The law formerly in existence had
ferpidden emancipation. We op.y pro
pose to ressoreit. Every gentleman who
- s!arc holder, is an offender aca;ps,
nrinethie, and need not feel so scuean,isb
Al the present proposal. t. cur of ali
nope oil emancipnton, viii produce con
tent ~ the part of the slaves. And we
nave seen that the free blacks are wretch
co, as much so as the slaves. The pro-
posed measure is necessary. / advocate
u from policy and not because am less
friendly to the rights Of men than those
who oppose The bill.a
Mr.. Minor SAID he had been accused
OF stumbling at mols.fills, and oyer.lesn-
ing mountains, because he did rot bring. in
aoin tor general emancipation Of slaves.
lie believed that would tend to The injury
oil the country and conceived that !,
could not be done. He wished TO leave /,
small avenue for the slaves TO e.cspe u,
liberty and happiness. He possessed
(ls said) few, aud you'd long since have
cmanc'pated them, bu, thought il would
do his neighbors an injury. He lho't ,b,,
holding them in slavery would be an ART.
Gle OF danning weight in the day of ao.
count befote his God. But if (said Mr..
&.) should hereafter feel holy feryor
shat be told ty :his body that | must
not 'emanc'pate If emancipation of his
slaves would produce mornentary com.
fort to the conscience Of dying man. w.
ought not 10 deprive him OF II. Mr., NJ,
nor said he lived among quakers: thew
had freed t',eir bl.cks, who had iurn.d
out differently. Some well ; ard some y
therwise. They would have tendencv
be conceived, to preserve us from tbo.s
evils the gentleman from ID nwiddie fears.
Mr.. SxMPLE conceived the committee
might as well reject the bill as agree 10
The substitute. A man may execute deed
IN his last illness and it may be proved
alter his death. The SUBSTITUTE. would
ieaSe US where we are, except that It for
bids emancipations TO lake eiTeet at a tim.
subsequent 10 the execution of the deed.
III we restrain ernaf3cin,,;1, L., 49,. n