Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-02-19

! not less than forty millions OF people
in the U. States, of which perhaps TWEEN
ty would be inhabitants nfthe vast coun
tries beyond the Mississippi, we can
not fail to admit that the 500 millions
of acres, contemplated t" be oeS"teo
as fund for the emancipation OF Saves
will have had value more than con-
petent to the redemption and COLOMBO.
ton of all such of our slave population
as il shall be found expediento Or des'ra'
BILE TO part with. Let me endeaVor'
said he to shew in few words the Prao
teal operation of this fund. Suppose
tho lands, intended to constitute THIS
fund, to be surveyed into the usual ser
tons and quarter sections. ana numoe'
ed ; that the alternate numbered por
tions be sold for certificates Of the va
lue of slaves that the intermediate
portions be disposed Of only for cash !;
that the certificates of value OF slaves
be furnished in the following manner:
whenever the owner of slaves is willing
to part with them, let him make aPph-
cation to the District Judge OF the lis
| trict, who, with the Marshal of the
District, shall, together with the owner
and some discreet person appointed on
his part, ascertain the value ot the
slaves proposed to be emanclpated !;
that, when such valuation IS made, II
shall be at the option of the owner ii
nally to accede to it that, on lbs con
sent, the District Judge shall deliver TO
him certificate of such valuation,
which shall be receivable only in pay I.
ment for the alternate sections OF which
/ have spoken. Then, will 1t not be
apparent that, if such alternate sec
tons are purchased with such certlfi.
Gates, the intermediate portions will
acquire a value which will command
sufficient sums of money to defray the
expences of colonization will not
this operation proceed pari passua-
Mr.. M. said he had witnessed, with
constant anxiety, the progress Of the
great controversy which now agitates
us, ard had from the beginning of his
career, as member of this house, de-
termined, if it should become necessa-
ry, to devote himself sacrifice for the
great object, if possible, of keeping the
two great parties in peace. ! DO not
know, said he, whether ] have made
such sacrifice. 1t is probable have
by the we'll known course which have
pursued upon this subject. But, sir.
If indeed have lost the confidence OF
those whom l represent. will, before
leave my present station, at least
make one effort for the purpose of unit
ing the PARTIES by the only measure
which appears to be calculated to unite
them-one, too, in which both may
participate, and in which they will, as
repeat. perform one of the most noble
acts of Iegislation-une which | would
not exchange for all the laws on our
statute book from 's9 to this day.
have even INDUCED what may be con.
sidered An extremely romantic opinion,
that the original plan Of Las Casas. Of
preventing the destruction of the lndi.
an race by supplying their place with
the hardy natives Of Africa, may ye,
terminate in restoring toAfrica, from the
pressure of the great necessity which
we feel on the subject, her long estran.
ged children, with the first principles
of the Christian Religion and OF Educa.
ton, sothat Africa, long beaighted may
assume a respectable rank among the
People of the world. With these re.
marks. Mr.. Nj. submitted the follow.
ing resolution
| Whereas slavery in the United States i:
an evil acknowledged to be OF great and in.
creasing magnitude and which merits th.
greatest efforts of this nation to remedy
therefore.
| RESOLVED, thata committee be appointed
to enquire into the expectancy of devoting
500, 100000 acres of public lands next ives,
of the Mississippi as fund for the purpose
of, in the first place. employing navil force
competent to the humiliation Of the slave
trade. Secondly. the gradual emancipation
Of slaves, by voluntary exchange Of the
lands for them and. lastly, coloniziDg such
emancipated slaves in such way as may be
conducive to their happiness in their orig
nal country, Africa Provided, That no such
exchange Of lands for slaves shall ever be
suffered or allowed. except upon the perfect.