Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-12-23

and a want OF decision as 10 w hal ought TO be
done. The confidence of the people was
! gone and when that was lost something
ought 10 he done. When men we're found
TO lock their doors at night, and open them
IN the morning 10 receive their servants 10
| light their fires, with pistols in their hands
surely some measures To- restore confidence
and security were necessary. L ndcr such
circumstances, life became hurthen and il
were better 10 seek a home in some distant
realm, and leave the graves of their fathers,
than endure SO precariouS a condition. Ii was
evident that something ought 10 be done; and
although measures for the removal Of this e.
WI, might not, perhaps, be arrived at inme-
dlateiy-yet, some plan for lis gradual Grad
icatlon, would probably be hit upcn--a sys-
tenn might DC concocted by degrees, to EN-
brace The whole subject and it was, there
fore, necessary 10 consider ii in all its bear
ings. The people tell us, that some measure
must be taken--what that measure is, they
do not sal-they have not formed an opin-
ion. Shall we, then, refuse to consider the
subject: No. Let us discuss it coolly and
fully, and compare opinions, that some ben
etcial result may arise from our delibera-
tons. Mr.. b. was, therefore, willing 10
iorego pressing his own opinions at this stage
| OF The lnveStlgalion-nor did he believe that
the Legislature would take any direct steps
towards the emancipation ofthe slaves but
he was willing to consider that topic, as con-
nected with those objects which were more
Immediately the subject Of their present at
tention-and as the respectable Society of
Friends wished to be heard on this matter.
he had no objection. Perhaps the Legisla-
ture might do something which should form
a nucleus, or, TO speak more mathematical
~, an entering wedge, towards the ultimate
emancipation of the slaves al distant period
lie had not heard very distinctly their petit
llon when II was read but he did not think
IL objectionable. Let me ask, said Mr.. Il. -,
IS there one man in Virginia, who does not
lament that there was ever a slave i'm the
State: and is there man who considers the
decay OF our prosperity, and the retrograde
movement OF this once hourishing Common
wealth, who does not attribute them TO the
! pregnant cause Of slavery? And are we not -,
then, willing TO look into the subject, and
see whether, AT some future time, il may not
be removed, and Virginia be enabled again
| 10 stand erect, freed from The shaCkles by
which she is now enCumbered? In throwing
Out these suggestions, he spoke his own indie
pendent sentiments. lie would not take shell
ter under the cloak of any other mans opin-
| ions, however great he might be-not even
when ii was argued that this subject must
not he touched, he would ask whether such
a feeling prevailed in other States, where the
evil OF Slavery had been removed /: The
same feelings, the same interests, the same
doubts unquestionably existed in those States,
previous 10 the abolition OF Slavery, that now
exist here. And had an inGisposi,ion TO act
upon and discuss it prevailed, the States of
New Hork, pennsylvania, and others, would
/ stlI. have been burdened with the evils of
Slavery. They had mainly removed and,
III some cases, entirely eradicated it, by the
| same or nearly the samO plan that was re-
commended by Mr.. Jeilerson.-They did
not object 10 touch the subject but met il
/ boldly, and arc reaping the benefits of their
measures. Does any man doubt that Slave
ry is an evil! Does any man deny, that The
cost of production by Slave labor is far great
er than by white labor? The facts are before
him, and around him. Even.tLe vegetables
which supply our tables, the tubs which we
use, and a thousand other articles are bought
from the laborers olnon- saye-holding States.
These statements, might, perhaps, lie CON
sidered as trifling with the subject at this
stage OF the proceedings, and he had no wish
TO extend the debate at present He was a.
e-hoder himself, and probably should
be one, as long as Slaves were held al all ind
Virginia; but dat circumstance did not p,e-'
vent him from wishing TO examine every
plan that might be presented, and every o.
p!nIon that might be express ed on the subj
ject before the House. twas not proposed
that any branch Of the subject should be TAX
en- up Tor The action ofthe House, until the
whole should have been thoroughly concoct- (
ed by the Committee. He, therefore, bcing'
DESTROYS 10 weigh the whole subject, hoped
these Memorials would be referred.
Mr.. Brown, said he was moi in the Housed
when the petitions were read, but he under-}
stood that they simply proposed an inquiryI
into the expectancy OF adopting measures forI
the gradual removal Of Il slave population
of the Commonwealth, and that they wereI
expressed in respectful and dccorous Ian
guage lie was satisfied, therefore, without
calling for the reading of The petitions again,
that they ought TO be referred, and not 10
icCted as unworthy Of consideration. ButN
whilst he was in favor referring these pc
titions, he wished it 20 he understood, that
he had no expectation that The object Of the
petitioners would be attained. lie admitted
that slavery was an eyii--the greatest, per
haps, thatan angry Providence could inlet
ON SHINING people. But il was TOO late to
correct 1t. II was now so interwoycn with
our habits and interests, that it was inpoSsi-
bic to free ourselves from it. Ii was unwise
TO attempt it. itwould not be in order 10
discuss the merits Of this question. lis own
opinion was formed on the subject, and he
bad no expectation that il would lie changed
But be would not shut his cars 10 tie views
and opinions ofolhers, nor close the door a
gainst the petitions and representations ofthc
l. IL a