Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-17
Virginia Legislature.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
WedneSddy, Dec. III.
SLAVES AND FREE NEGROES.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
"wednesday, Dec. ii.
SLAVES FREE NEGROES
The petition of sundry citizens of Hanover on the sub
ect OF Free Negroes, and of the Society Friends rca
1--WE 10 the gradual emancipation of Slaves, having been
read, and melton of Mr. Goode to refer the same benp
under consideration e
Mr. Moore said, Gin reply 10 remark of Mr. Witchcr0
tnat nc could not why the petition of the Society OF
Friends should not be referred 1t treated upon subject
on winch all sects and denominations of people ought TO be
heard came from respectable class of individuals and
was expressed in respectful and decorous language II
gentlemen who opposed the reference supposed that the
refusal to refer it would prevent the consideration of e
SUBJECT they were in error. 1t subject which the
people oil Virginia would consider seriously and eeplv
lie hoped the petition would be referred
Mr. Carter OF p W., troubled the House reluctantly on
tins subject the discussion of the merits of which was
premature at this time He agreed entirely with the gen
eman from Pittsylvana that the subject of emancipation
could not be properly submitted TO the deliberations of the
Committee But as there seemed TO be doubts on that
point he thought the question could better be settled now
than hereafter whether the Committee appointed to
consider the subject oil emancipation For his own
part he believed it would confuse and render complicated
subject already sufficiently He believed also that
inc minds oil members were made up the subject of
emancipation and that its consideration would be .useless
The question before the Committee was how we should
get rid OF our free black population? And he appealed TO
the gentleman from Rockbridge Mr Moore whether the
reference OF this petition would trammel the Commit
tee in the consideration of that subject He did NOT
the right OF any class Of the people to petition the Legs-
laturc but was certainly discretionary with the Leeis-
iature to entertain their petitions reject them He had
nigh respect Tor the Society of Friends BODY; but
sect, whose principles
ties between nations, in any whatever were to pet
ton Congress never go war-would Congress consd
or such petition! The Legislature ought to allow
set oil enthusiasts TO introduce into the deliberations of the
Committee, subject foreign TO that which thew were an
pointed TO consider On these grounds he opposed the re-
ference.
Mr. Goode observed that he had not at first been
oil the nature OF these petitions he should not have
moved their reference And that he had discovered
er character and tendency and convinced that they
were Irrelevant TO the subject under investigation by the
Committee he should withdraw his motion TO re and
their rejection He should vote against them, because
Judging from his own opinions he believed that the House
was not prepared to consider the subject embraced in them
in any shape, and that discussion would alter the views
OF the House. He believed that the minds of arpe ma
they would not be changed by its discussion In promising
to reject these petitions he intended dsrespec TO any
class oil individuals IL the entertainment of the petitions
could produce any good if he believed the sentiments of
the House were undecided, if any length of debera-
ton would operate on the minds of members, he should
whnSy accede to the reference. He thought otherwise
and asked the Ayes and Noes on the motion TO reject.
Mr. Roane had not proposed TO so into the discussion
of the merits of the subject; and he was certainly supr
ed at the in which these petitions had been re-
ceived They were altogether different in their charac-
ter although abiding to the general subject He
had supposed that their reference would be made without
opposition, TO the committee TO which similar documents
had already frequently been referred. The difficulty
which had arisen in their reference was he believed
founded IN msconcephon OF the style OF the Committee
appointed on this subject When the motion was first
made to raise that Committee, it proposed that ii
should be appointed TO take into consideration the subject
OF the removal of Free Negroes Sc but its style was
amended audit organized for the purpose of taking
into consideration much of the Governors message
related TO the insurrecuonary movements in Southamp
ton Could it then be said that the Investigations of the
Committee limited to the removal of the Free Ne
groes On the contrary, the whole subject embraced
in the objects TO which the attention of the Committee was
directed. The views of individuals would naturally be
various and he wished that all might be heard and exam
ined ltwas essential he thought that all respectful pet
tons, this subject whatever sentiments they might
express, should go to the Committee where fair COLI
sion OF opinions would take place, from which beneficial
result might be anticipated.
Mr. Moore did not wish to cntangle the Committee in
the consideration OF the subject of getting rid of the free
black population OF this State That population was he
Knew nuisance, which the interests of the people re-
CURED TO be removed. But there was another, and a
greater nuisance slavery itself He wished that il
should be considered and possible to devise any
plan for the ultimate extinction of slavery, he should re-
joice at it, He would not say that he would give his
vote Tor any proposition that might be presented But he
wished that the subject should be looked in the faces and
ne was willing oconsderit in all saspecs The gentleman
from Prince George supposed the Society Friends
topcuon Congress that the General Government should
never go TO war; that body would not consider such Pc
ution But, on the contrary Congress would be bound TO
consider IT. He was not of those fanatics who were
continually crying against the horrors of slavery but
he thought 1t ought to be- and he sure would be-
considerable not by the legislature, by the people them
selves.
Mr. Jones believed that he was free from prejudice OH
this subject; and he assured the gentleman from Mecen
burg, Mr Goode) that lac had formed an opinion up
on IT. winch would not be operated upon by the reasoning
Of others He open fair and full Investigation of
reject---
Mr. Williams of Harrison, as a Western member, rose
to state that on this important topic, Western members
would give their Eastern brethren carte blanche, with
the sincere hope that some efficient measure might be
adopted towards which they he Western embers would
give their most hearty cooperation They had often been
indebted TO the berality Of eastern gentlemen in carrying
objects in which the West alone interested and they
would recprocae the good will thus displayed by going
the whole with the East in any they might devise
on this subject.
Mr.. Carter, from p w made some brief explanations.
Mr. BrodnaX would dcain the House but a few mo-
mcnts The question not what operation the refer
cnce OF these petitions would have upon the deliberations
OF the committee, but whether the petitions related 10 a
SUBJECT which came Under their consideration. If not
they could not be referred. lie considered that the
committee was appointed TO give TO il large scope
OF investigation, and 10 embrace every point relative the
black population Of The State, Why then should petition
on the subject be rejected, because its views varied from
those OF the members Of the Leeislaurc2 II was not
necessary consequence Of entertaining petition recon-
mendng means for the emancipation Of slaves that the
House should originate complete any such plan. The
hearing oil The petitions involved such consequences.
Bu were the Lsgaurc dPosed to allow the nation, Of