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

ken away during the late WARP Was il on the
ground that they were "property:" If SO, Gov
eminent has made an odious distinction between ts
citizens. On this principle, il should have claim
ed indemnity for property OF every description,
captured destroyed. But no such claim has
been setup. The principle on which our Govern
ment claimed pay Tor the slaves, and on which il
was allowed by the British Government, must have
been that they were persons, human beings, hav-
ing some political rights. and, SUCH should have
been restored 90 their country Oh the return oi
peace.
From these considerations sir an, led 20 fhe
conclusion that slaves, for certain purposes, are
pcrsons that their masters have in them only a
qualified property; that Government, in cases of
high necessity, growing out Of state OF war, has
a right 10 impress them into its military service,
without the liability OF being justly called for
indemnitication.
1t is idle defamation, Sir, TO talk of the black
population OF this country, disconnected from the
political liabilities under which they labor. The
phiianthroiist may invegh against slavery. He
may urge the consideration, that they are of the
same flesh and blood with ourselves, descended
from common ancestry, hayin:. like passions 20
crafty, and faculties TO improve, accountable 10
one common Creator, and destined TO the same
| immortality. This would all be fine; but the
politician must view them ~ they are, sunk 70 the
lowest point Of mental and political degradation,
and wait with patience for the developments Of flu
turty.
MIR Randolph of Virginia then rose, and said
My motive for throwing myself Oh the attention OF
the House-U was indisposed, and necessarily alb
sent, when this question was last agitated)-my
motive tor throwing myself on the attention of the
House. is earnestly TO cntreat-I could almost say
adjurebut certainly respectfully and earnestly 10
ask, that no member of this House, South OF the
Ohio or West of the Mississippi, will debate this
qucstion-will dcign-vill condescend 10 debate
the point which has arisen-I mean whether per-
sons can or cannot be property; will allow that
the General Government can, at any time, under
any circumstances, III any manner, touch that
question. i certainly am obliged TO the gentleman
from New York, {Mr. Clark for some of his re-
marks; but should have been full us much SO IL
he bad omitted them altogether.
Thisisa question that the United States Govern
mcnt has nothing TO do with. Itnever had, and il
never can have; for the moment il lays its unhal-
lowed hands upon this ark OF our salvation, it cca-
ses 10 be Government. We have been told by
the gentleman from New York that this question
has been settled forty years since Sir it was set
tied two hundred years since. II has been settled
IRON the day on which the first cargo of African
slaves was landed these shores, under the Colo
NAL Government. What new distinction is this
about persons not being property-as if there were
any incompatibility between the two? Sir there
IS none there never has been any at any period of
lime. Property is the creature OF the law What
the law makes property, that is property; and
what 1t declares TO be not property, that is not
property There Is other distinction. The
question has been settled if we refer to our own eX-
istence as nation during the term Of the longest
prescription, for more than half century. Ii has
been settled, az to federal authority, ever since
these States first threw off their allegiance TO the
British Government.
hope the gentleman from New York will par
don me. thank him for much that he said, espe-
ciaiiy for the manner in which he spoke of his
Southern brethren. The gentleman is an entire
stranger to me- certainly have every species of
good feeling towards him. But must take excep-
ion TO one term he employed. He spoke of ''our
second war of independence" l object to this
language, because Inever can agree, either that
we wer'' slaves before the first war, or that we
were not independent when the second war was
declared. But this Is aSit,c from the subject 1
say that slaves are made property by the law.
and you cannot unmake them So any more than
you can interfere with the British debt, or their
system OF hthes, or any thing which you choose to
consider consider as an abuse In any foreign country
When gentlemen tell me that the Constitution is to
project US IN that species Of property, answer it
Is Ike the protection Of the wolf to the lamb We
scorn IT. We deny it. 1t is created property by
our Jaw ana our own State Governments able TO
carry that law into execution. We do not ask the
aid OF any other Government whatever
The gentleman alluded, in one part of his speech
10 the Missouri question Sir, the Missouri uues-
ton never has been settled. There was spirit
minglng in that question, which as was once said
6y the gentleman from New Hampshire, (Mr
Bartett,) was cndeavoring Esto buy golden opin-
IONS .roin all sorts Of men, poison was infused
into the decision Of that question: did not feel il
10 be any triumph then nor dor do nov
Sir, let me ask the House whether. ,,uder tho
laws oil Old Rome, man who was a slave was any
the less property, because, forsooth, he was per-
son His being person it was that made him
SUBJECT TO becoming property, his personal service
pei"S 'ne very subject OF his masters acquire
mcnt. might refer tco 20 other Governments
in relation 20 this subject; but | win not nov,
pursue that inquiry. We were told sometime I
know not very well What, about humanity and be-
ncVoisncc, and religion. Sir that has NOTHING TO
90 with the question. We are not 10 depend on
individual views of humanity and RELIGION IL IL
upon the cofnpact-Iia lee scTip5G eSf-ihati what
we have to depend upon. You may cant and re-
can't to the end of the chapter whether your RELIGION
DC that OF the Jew or the Gentle. Your religion
cannot interfere in the question. God forbid that
should say that il cannot and ought not to irflu
ton.
Suppose the trainers of the Constitution, instead
OF using the terms which they have done in rela
ton TO slavery, (and l think il was with much
more OF delicacy than Of policy or sagacity that
Ihey introduced such Periphrasis they have
done) had omitted the subject altocefher SIM.
posing the clause respecting 35ihs of other persons
q That permitting the slave trade for limited time
was not there how would YOU have rot hold ~
any pretext Whatever 20 brin, the subject under
your rule or jurisdiction?
sir, humanity and religion are very good thinrs
IN their proper places; but we have no right 10
make our humanity and our religion the rule of
other mems actions within the sphere of neither
VIII put case-and hope | shall not be mis-
understood; that shall be Judged bv nv IyorIs
ana not ny any GLOSS which may he put upon Them
mere or elsewhere. will put il for the satc or
putting case, and, that may not be accused Of H.
beiiing Other States, will suppose that nv own
state, the State of Virginia had made the sIa,,;n
oil slave not punishable at ALL and that slaves ter
DAILY, cruelty and inhumany murdered bv tbcir
masters, "a uihg as much within the range of
as many statements have heard \ what
would be the remedy2 Womb II bo f,,,,J y -