Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-12-29
Nirgiiiia Legislature.
FREE -VEGR0ES .4.9'D SL-1YES.
HogsE OF DgLsGArrs, Dec. ii

FREE -NEGR QES .A.NU sL.arES
HOUSE Of DgLGGArEs, Dec ii
Petitions were presented by Mr. itaane,
of tic ciiIzeus Of the county Of Hanover,
respecting Free Negroes and OF the Society
OF Friends 90 the same subject.
The former OF these petitions, signed by
slave owners, pfays that The legislature take
measures for the removal without the limits
of the State, OF all free negroes and nuat.
toes, and such as may hereafter he yolinta
rily cmancipate,i By theit owhe,s-,hs lattrr
suggests that legislative measures he taken
for the gradual emancipation Of slaves, and
their removal from the state
ilr Roane observed. in presenting these
petitions that he admired tie system, which
was adopted br the House for The economy
of time, ny which petitions were laid on the
ta6 Die, aud rcirfred to their appropriate co.h
tuittees Bat. on a subject of such absash
lar interest as this, he could ne: nut think
The reading of the petitions very important,
IN ord n that members nneht catch ihe ideas
and icws Of ia, citllfns Of various seri:ons
Of the state He, therefore asked that those
petitions aishl>be read; which Was acetded
10 mem ca, aud The FIRST petition was read.
Mr.. Goode said il Fes Obvious that at the
Iresoat moment, the reading of these pcti
lions could not command he attention " heh
the sah ]. Il deserved. He, Therefore, moved
the reference If the petitions
Mr. Wiichvr said that b. had understood
the gentleman from Hanover 10 state, that
these petitions related 10 the sut jet 81 free
negroes But il appeared that they frIAted
to the emancipation OF SLAVES. a subject "'t'r
" irrelevant 70 that which lhe committee was
apponied 10 eonsi,er. He understood that
the sfcond nrtit,on was still '"oEe "ojocii"n
able than Ihat which had been read
Mr. Roane considered these petitions as
coming within the scope Of the subject 10
witch il va. intended the committees appont-
81 Ia take is;3 eenNidrfation 50 much sf the
Soycrner's message as related to the late 10
Surrect ton in southampton, Should apply its
deliberations. There woia be IA many
views oil the subject OF the black population,
as there were colors IN the rainbow, aud they
ought all to be examined. The whole sub
ject of slaves. free negroes and mulattoes,
was submitted to the invesu gallon of the
committee, and lie therefore thought these
petitions were entitled to u reference
Mr. Witcher said that he lad not under
stood that the governor piessd%e touched
upon the emancipation oil slaves; I've beheIcd
that the actinh Of the Legislature was to tie
confined To tree negroes ami mnlaitors, and
he was certain that the committee WAS not
raised upon the subject OF emancipation. Ii
the gentleman from Aleckienbufs insisted up
on pushing his motion Tor reference. Mir,
w. should nave the reauins OF the second
memerial CHE memorial ri tn; Society of
Friends was then read. urging upon the Ie-
gislature some plan for the ultimate slanu-
missian vG the slave population OF Virginia }
MIR Nitcher sand that he agreed with the
gentleman from Hanover, that this was sub
iest Of tie most deep and absorbing interest
that could occupy the legislature. He there
fore moved the ayes and Roes on the refer
ence
A debate ofconsdcrablc length Subsequent
ly took place. in which Messrs. Moore, Gar
ter of r. w, Goode, (who withdrew hi, mo
ton ts refer. and moved 10 reject the second
memorial) Roane. Jones. " llians Of ilar
rison. Brodnax, Brown, Boil ny, Chandler,
and Rives, took part Several motions were
made and Withdrawn; when the question was
taken on rejecting the petition OF the Society
of Friends and decided in the Regatire by
the following vote-ayes 81, noes o. En-
9,drer
The Richmond Wing remarking on the
result Of the question, says: ut will be Oh
served, that the petition OF the Friends was
referred by great majority. This is an i'm
portant step. The question Of remote and
gradual aboltioa, Is under the consideration
OF the general assembly, Circumstaice s
have subdued the morbid sensitneness which
disaiiowed even pubic ainlsiou 10 the teFic
Public opinion can now aci cut lis wishes
Events viii demonstrate the groundlessnrss
Of apprehension from considering the ques-
ton Of abolition. The peopi,, Of the com
monweaIih will feel emboliened 10 express
their wishes openly and unreservedly. and
he pracilcahiG'y Of RIDING ourselves OF an
evil, which al men confess TO be the sorest
sehich ever nation groaned under. will now
he tested. We do not kGO,y hat yesterday
Viii not be celebrated ty postcrity, as a day
-ntifled ~ be associated wiih tic fourth of
JtIly, by tie benefits which may iloN to u.
.iDia liom tie step lhea takcn"
Our Reporter. having been called out Of
lbe House of d lrsates on Saturday, before
its sJ.omnmctt, the following pIocced,ns