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

that can bc shed en- this subject by the a,c.-
bers of this body and the people, let us de-
eide the question finally and forever Hopes
and fears have been excited, and if il is pos
sibie they should be put at rest and no
grounds be left !or false expectations. With
that view, let us receive every petition; hear
every mans opinions-mabe it manifest that
we act Understandings on the subject, and
then, Whatever conclusion we may arrive at,
will be regarded as final and unalterable.-
The public mind will be satisfied, and the
subject will sleep forever. He preferred this
course, not because lac expected that his own
views would he changed by discussion, but
because all descriptions of persons would
more readily acquiesce in a decision arrived
at by such means But if enquiry were sti-
iied-li petitions were rejected without con-
sideration the question would never be sunk
The petitioners will think that you are act
ing in the dark, and without the benefit Of
the light which they believe themselves able
TO afford you. They will regard you as rash
and unreasonable; and hoping, that at some
suspicious moment, you may be in more
approachable mood, they will assail you
at every session with fresh rcmonstran-
ces. After this explanation of the vote he
was about TO give, he wished merely to add,
that he was in favour Of adopting measures
for the removal OF free people of color from
the Commonwealth, and of revising laws
respecting slaves, in order to supply the de-
iectS disclosed by recent occurrences More
than this, he thought, ought not to be at
tempted.
Mr.. Goode was surprised that hisremarks
should have been so entirely misconceived.
lie had stated that he made his motion with
no feeling OF resentment or disreSpect 10 the
petitioners, and he now repeated that assur-
ance. But feeling that the suhiect-matter Of
these petitions was irrelevant TO the enuui-
ries in which the committee were engaged,
he had moved, and now repeated the motion,
to reject them, and that the question be TAX
en- by Ayes and Noes. OF those who looked
upon this motion as disrespectiul 10 the petit
TONERS, he would ask, how long was it Since
The House had adopted the rule, that no Me-
mortal should be rejected, and that every APP
plication Of the kind must invariably be con-
sldered! How long was it since the Memo
rial ofan individual on solemn subject, was
rejected? Did not members recolect that,
during this session, The Memorial of Robert
Anderson, ofthe city of Williamsburg, On
subject OF much importance, was rejected,
and because majority ofthe House had made
up their minds upon the matter. On the sub
ject now before the House, the minds of
members were equally decided; and he tho't
il perfectly proper for those who believed
that any proposition for the emancipation of
slaves could be successfully acted upon by
the Legislature, 10 vote for the consideration
of these petitions but il was equally proper
for those who believed that no such plan
could be effected, TO advocate, and if in their
power, obtain their rejection. For himself,
he was willing 10 look the Commonwealth in
the face TO look the nation in the face; to
look the world in the face: and declare that
he could not vote for any such measure. AL
lusions had been made TO a melancholy sub
ject, upon which the feelings ofall had been
excited and agonized. He thought that the
feelings elected by that subject, afforded
strong reasons for not acting on the PROPOSE
tlons set forth in these peitions. Were they