Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-12-11


verrments attached. He would read extract
from the provisions Of the law of Congress t
show how necessary it was in tins delicate sub
Ject, becoming more SD every day, to under
stand the state of the question. He said tina
the provision he read, had boen penned by him
self, and that he had never taken more care il
drawing up any composition. Having read an
extract from the provision of tho act of Can
gress, he called the attention of the Committee
To The fact, that tho provisions of this act pro
hibitcd The exercise of authority over slaves g.
ven In the territories-and the second law MIR
ported to follow the Constitution of the United
States in their behalf. lie remarked on the re.
suits that follow from this act-that the Con
gress had relinquished all power over slaves
leaving them 10 the municipal laws of the Sto,e
lie added, that the State of Ohio, acting at tina,
me under fanatical spirit, had invited mum.
FER OF these unfortunate people of colour, To
IKE refuge in her territory. Ii had been sur.
ested, at the time these laws of Congress were
fssed, That If Ohio chose to change her poli
she should have the power to reduce these
pc people OF colour hereafter to state of sav.
In consequence Of this idea, the provision
adopted. And now, what has Ohio done
coming perfectly sensible of her fanatacisn
would not call it iolly,) she has passed law
all persons of colour should rive security
sum beyond which they have not the abil; =
I'VE 1t, for their good behaviour, under a men.
OF leaving the State and if they refused
d'd not leave the State, he presumed they
ld DC subject TO incarceration and then
yinia may look out for the consequences
mas provided no asylum To receive thes,
pie. And may she not hereafter, if she finds
ing else will answer, reduce them to n state
avery! And do not all these facts and con.
Fations show how very cautious we should
moddling with thi, delicate subject, and
on the interposi,ion of the general 20
nent,
begged leave 10 call the attention of lb;.
nlttee TO another point which he had omit
es.er''"y VINO are consliIu.
10 whom the power of government is I, be
ned whether majority or minority-if tn.
rity are to have it, what is to be the extern,
eir jurisdiction He presumed this would
nd upon tho social compact-aud that in
'g down its provisions, it ought to be done
'ch manner as IL best calculated to pro-
the,publlc veal. And this brings him to
point at which he was compelled to break
yesterday.
ms brought into view, the differences OF
ional interests in Virginia How, are the
Fes to be counted? And why should the,
be Are they not both persons and proper
can't
non he advocated, that they ought to be rep
ented tie contended that this would ne the
ait, whether we looked TO the provisions of
fedefal Constitution to the municipal laws
ne States-or to the regulations of Great
tain, where the moment that slave touched
soil, he became dsenthraIIed Its true in
a, that she has sanctioned slavery elsewhere
S curse on our land was owing TO her regula.
u.s. And in her own West India islands the
% OF slavery is permitted. She not being as
idious in her colonies, as i'm her own empire
admits that they arc property ass appears
III Convention lately made with the U. S.
the Indemnity of their masters
blr. G.. contended, that the gentleman from
udoun was guilty of some alteration, in say
the slaves had no civil rights If this were
how came it that laws were passed for the
lnshment Of those who should murder a slave
| Their persons are as much protected as those OF
he greatest nabobs in the land, if there be any
such character. For subordinate offences n diff.
erent course is pursued, If the murder o
slaves then be considered the murder of a hu.
nan being, surely they ought to be considered
Is possessed ofcivil rights-If they were regard
I'd as property only, why is there made SO much
discrimination between that and the murder o
my other animal? Who ever heard of any
nan being prosecuted for the murder of cow
Slaves could not be arraigDeG in a court Of JUS
ice without being entitled to defence-and he
Fentnred to say, that there were thousands oil
white persons tried and executed in London
who were treated with much less consideration
and they seemed to be strung up with no more
respect than so many cows.
But gentlemen admit that as property alone
the owner is entitled TO protection aud thu.
they consider slaves not rs persons, but as prop
erty-and gentlemen offer us guarantees agans
abuse. tlas any gentleman ever thought of tn,
effects that will arise from the moral tendencie.
of adopting principle, which requires guar
antcc against its own tendency instead of re
sorting to any principle, which requires no sucl
guarantee.
Mr. g. cOntended, that we have been unde
the operation of good moral principles for tn,
last 90 years-whereas gentlemen, by the YER
offer Of their guarantee, pre-suppose that they
arc about to put rs under the operation of bat
moral principle which requires protection a
gainst its abuse.
lie said no had listened with much pleasure L
the pathetic and elegant speech Of the gentle
man from Hampshire tMr. NsylorJ for justic
to tho people beyond the mountains. Mr.. G
said, that if 10 had seen the justice of his az
posl, he would have been the last man to reiec