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

would be useless. The question before
the Committee was, how we should get
nd of our free black populations And he
I appealed TO the gentleman from Rock
bridge (Mr. Moore whether the refer
ence OF this petition would not trammel
the Committee in the consideration of
that subject. He did not deny the
! right of any class of the people TO petit
ton the Legislature but it was certainly
discretionary with the Legislature to
entertaihe their petitions or.reiect them.
lie had high respect for the Society
of Friends as a body but suppose that
sect, whose principles are opposed to
hostilities between nations, in any case
whatever, wereto petition Congress new
er TO go to war-would Congress tonsid-
er such petition' The Legislature
ought not to allow set of enthusiasts to
introduce into the deliberations of the
Committee, subject foreign TO that
which they were appointed to consider
On these grounds he opposed the refer
ence.
Mr.. Good observed, that he had not at
first been aware of the nature of these
| petitions, or he should not have moved
their reference. And now that he had
discovered their character and tendency.
and was convinced that they were irrel-
evant to the subject under investigation
! by the Committee, he should Withdraw
his motion to refer, and move their re-
lection. He should vote against them,
because, Judging from his own opinion he
believed that the House was not prepar-
ed to consider the subject embraced in
them in any shape, and that no discus
sion would alter the views Of the House.
Mr.. ROane had not proposed to 90 in
to the discussion; but he was surprized
at the manner in which the petitions
were received. He said there was mis-
conception OF the title of the committee
that it was a proper reference the
committee was raised to consider so much
OF the Governors message as relates to
the Southampton Instruction. He wish
ed the petitions 10 go before the commit
tee ; there would then be comparison
Of opinions, and benefit might ensue.
Mr.. NJ GORE did not wish to entangle the
Committee in the consideration of the
subject of getting rid of the free black
population OF this State. That popula-
ton was, he knew, nuisance. which
the interests ofthe people required to be
removed. But there was another, and
greater nuisance, slavery itself He
wishes that if should be considered and
ii it were possible 20 devise any plan for
the ultimate extinction of slavery, he
should rejoice at it. lie would not say
that he would give his vote for any pro-
position that might be presented. But
he wished that the subject should be
looked in the face and he was willing
TO consider it in all its aspects. The
gentleman from Prince George supposed
if the Society of Friends were TO peti-
ton Congress that the General Govern
ment should never go to war, that BODY
would not consider such petition. But,
on the contrary, Congress would be
bound to consider it. He was not one
of those fanatics, who were continually
crying out against the horrors of slavery;
but he thought it ought to be. and he
was sure it would be, considerable not
by the legislature, by the people them
selves.
Mr.. Jones believed that he was free
from prejudice on this subject; and he
assured the gentleman from MeckIen-
burg, Mr.. Good, that he had not formed
an opinion upon it, which would not be
operated upon by the reasoning of others.
He was open 20 fair and full invesliga-
ton Of the whole matter. He should
vote against the motion torejecl.
Mr.. Williams, Of Harrison, as Yves
tern member. rose to state that on this
important topic, Western members.
would give their Eastern brethren a car
te blanche, with the sincere hope that
some efficient measure might be adopted,
towards which they (the Western mem
bers, would give their most hearty CO.
operation. They had often been in
debted TO the liberality Of eastern gen
tlemen in carrying objects in which The
West alone were interested, and they
would reciprocate the good will thus dis
played, by going the whole with the
East in any measure they might devise
ON this subject.
Mr.. Carter, from P. w. made some brief
explanations.
Mr.. BroadnaX woulddetoin the House but
few moments. The question was not what
operation the reference Of these petitions
would have upon the deliberations of the
committee, bat whether the petitions related
10 a subject which came under their conSid-
Grafton. If not, they could not he referred
He considered that the commjttee8as 50 ap-
pointed as TO give 10 il large scope Of ilyes-