Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-12


tary. We are all Representatives. of respectable.
and SOME OF US, of ancient and powerful Common
wealths; and laws must and will execute
thcIpseives. There may be sgi;ators, and ! know
there Is some real or effected agitation q mean
without the Southern Srates,) on the subject OF
slavery: and the effect of tlis agitation may be 10
make the slaves themselves moro miserable but
that will be the sum total OF II; effect.
On word more, Sir, and have doae. Suppose
that the reasoning OF the gentleman who has lust
spoken III opposition 10 that o. tie able and very
learned gentleman from Louisiana (ani there i,
none who in reference 20 his professional acquire
nents, better deserves the titlc) were true, then
tCe must lose three iths aud the British Govern
meat pay only two iiiths of the value of the slaves
carried away during the last war, because three
hi,hs oil each man was person. and two iiftlis pro-
perry! So we must call in the Surgeon and his
knife 10 cut out the wo iiits of each owners pro-
peTty, and let the three personal fifths 90 about
their business. Like King Solomon in the Ia
peStry, Cor related in that book OF which ever
desire TO speak with respecO who ordered the
child, disputed for by two mothers, to be equally
divided between them; but his was more prac-
ucaole rule: II was vcrOa al cut from top TO bot
tom. tSo'nc members smiling at this aliusonI-
CID not intend, Sir, by this remark to excite any
!ncrriIncnt.
Permit me again 20 entrcat, before | ST down,
That no southern will deign over 60 d;scus,
this question This is not {" the accepted time.
III ever that time does arrive, as ! sincerely hone
II never WILL our business, sir, viii not be here
out at home. Our business will be- 70 make our
escape II we can, for this Hall win then be to US
the den OF Cacus. Our business, ! repeat will be,
not here. but nj home. And let me- on the other
hand, remind those gentlemen who differ from me
on this question, (and differ, doubt as consci-
entousiy from me rs do fEom them,) that il WIS
Just ten years from the first stirring ofthc question
OF inc right OF Great Britain 20 tax the Colonies
until the spirit was got up which ended in sepa-
ration. 1t took ten years of gosdng TO bring us TO
that point Sir, the relation of the States to the
General Government is indeed closer, and resem-
Oies IN some respects, another sort OF union more
tender and more sacred in its character; vet even
that viii not bear continual proYocaiion-eyen
uiat near and strong relation NAV be torn asun-
DER though there be pledges of their loves to bind
the subjects OF it together. He may he q very
acute mamie may be q very learned men-and
nc may be in a train to become a very able man.
put he Is not a man Of observation and experience
VINO does not see that temper has been cxcit-
cd, and is exciting now this subject. which
II IS not less the duty than the interest Of every
member of this House, in every possible mode to
aiiay know, and speak &c the words of truth
anu soberness' when say that know that the
rejecting part of our country will unite with me
III thls sentlment--cyen among those, who have
conlured up all those chimcras on the subject
OF slavery, which we have so often seen pour;av-
ed both by pen and pencil. l cannot agree with
my worthy colleague, (hIr. Barbour) in the opi-
mon which was sorry he occasion to express
on another bill this morning, that the slaves are an
IL
unhaPpiness TO their owners, somctimes-but this
Is true OF all earthly possessions-and TO doubt
they are unhappy sometimes themselves for who
Is exempt from unhappness? But as a class i have
no hesitation In saying, (and speak from no slight
knowledge or experience of the subjecN that thew
are much happier than their proprietors are now
loaded as these with the effects of q system
which will not now go into discussion of, and
with the cares, and wants. and difficulties, which
TINS very population brings upon them.
In regard to the claim TO be Drovided f,- IN tl,c
present bill, had thought that the old maxim was
applicable, inter anna iegeS silent This slave
was taken precisely in the same manner as the
morse and the cart. a gentleman has asked Il
slaves 10 be considered as oxen and cattle? Sir
no man OF common refinement, or even of common
humanity, ever regarded them in the same LIGHT as
oxen. Yet gentlemen should remember that even
the OK and the horse. though they be but br,ltes
have, nevertheless, their rights. Sir l fear have
done, what have often done before, but very sell
dom OF late, and what intend rarely to do again
trespasscd already too long the patience oil the
House.
H1r. storrs of New York said. he was sorry ,l,e
honorable gentleman from Louisiana had introduced
question which was extremely liable TO be
misunderstood. cannot, said Mt S., agree with
that gentleman that, on the mere question of The
adoption OF this amendment, we are cnrnpclIcd IA
determine wh" Is the precise nature of that pro-
perty which master has III his slave But as the
question on the amendment is question of COM
pensaton, we must vote Oh it, Though represent
ing 4 state which does not, at this time, contain
any slave population, il is not my fault that tbie
question has been presented. II has been brortb,
IN, as think, Unadriscdly: I could have wished
the honorable gentleman had forborne 70 press IL.
lest some misconstructon might lead to a doubt of
our maintaining that relation which the laws Of
some OF the States have recognized md which
they sustain between slave and his master
agree with the gentleman from Virginia. (NIr
Randolph,) that the Constitution has nothing to 40
with this matter That instrument never fixed the
nature OF the relation of master and slave nor of
any other OF our domestic relations nor of the per
sons OF the different States TO each other. when.
therefore, gentlemen criticise on the terms ssper-
populaton--persons held 10 SERVICE" &c
used in that instrument, they are, in my Judgment.
somewhat hypercritical. Those words were used.
not Tor the purpose Of definition but out of deca
cy, and as laying down a rule TO be observed in
taking the census of the United States. What il
tins relation of the slave TO his master? and what
are the qualities of that relation? l hold. sir. that
the right OF the master in his slave is light to his
service under all circumstances whatsosvor and
also 10 the absolute, unqualified control and cusfo
dy OF his person, that it cannot be taken from him
Tor purposes Of service, nor his actions rerulcd BY
any power but his own, save only when the State
lays Its hand upon him for The punishment Of crime
ana the preservation OF the public peace. You
may debate the abstract question as long as Won
VIII, and may discuss metaphy sicaliy what is The
exact nature Of the right; but after all the cuae
ton -, what do the laws of the State declare in
which the master and the slave reside have
bestowed some E!tlc reflection upon the s,b;ect
and the only concl ision to which can brinr nv
mind, il that have stated On maintaining this
control OF the master, rests the security Of very
large and important portion offhis Union and who
ever lntcrieres with the exercise Of IT, is guilty Of
violation OF the tights Of all those who inhabi the
States where this species of property is held This
Government cannot do this II is a question not to
be debated. No man, | mean no man Of any sense
ana reflection, ever thought of maintaining, that