Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-31

gHTd, oT, UCCdUsC sic nOIds WITHIN her bosom, all or mO.
oil all that l hold most dear; in a word, l love her, be-
cause she is my native land, and like the gentleman from
Dihwiddie,l mean TO swim or 10 sink with her. If this
be national vanity, then, Sir, | trust that in the
possession OF IL, l yield not TO the gentleman from
Brunswick or any other gentleman upon this floor.
but Sir, II our national vanity should blind us as TO the
rue cohuiuon oil our country--it ii should induce us to
look upon that as a beauty, which,, in all other eyes but
our own, is obviously a deforInity-a hideous deformity-
II would then cease to be a virtue; and though not a crime,
certainty would be a misfortune. Such fear, Sir, has
oeen the effect OF the national vanity of the gentleman
from brunswick. The gentleman from Brunswick will,
L nope, believe that l say this of him with feelings the
most respectful. Sir, it was with a degree OF pleasure |
never before felt, that L listened n few DAYS since TO his
splendid eiocuton, his pointed sarcasm, his able and inge-
NOUS arguments; and i could but mentally exclaim, what
might not such abilities do, if only exerted in a right
causc-ami from some expressions that then fell from that
gentleman towards the close of his remarks, which / ac2
L did not expect TO hear, 1 yet have the hope
oil seeing him in some future Legislature cooperating in
Tue great work now before US. But, Sir, to return from
inns aggression, let me ask you, would those barren wastes
nave been presented TO your view but for the existence of
our slave populations! But for that, would not these very
wastes have now been thiekly studded with the smiling
cottage oil the lreeman-the abode of peace, of happiness,
OF virtue, intelligence, and patrioiismi Sir. let us remove
the evil, and 1t is not yet too late TO hope that in time, this
VII cease 10 be the picture of fancy, and become a plori-
Gus reality. Are not here, then, powerful motives OF ac-
ton, drawn from considerations of policy alonei Let us
now direct our attention 10 those motives which may be
drawn from considerations of self-preservaion. For, Sir,
attempt TO disguise the fact as you may, it is at last a aues-
ton OF selt-preseryation. Sir, let us 90 back to the wear
1890, and see what was the relative condition of the white
- 800 lN'NN ~" '~"'NOih HBu NJ
that time the majority of whites was in round numbers.
2o,OOo, and how do they now s;and' At this time there
Is a majority oil blacks of more than 81 900; and this, not
withstanding the fact, that we have in the intervening Pc
Rod, in a great measure, filled up with slaves the States
OF Kentucky, Missouri, Alabama, Mississippi and Louis
lana. But these sluices, which have heretofore drained
oil so large a mass of this population, are, or soon will be
closed up. The policy of those States and the spirit of the
age are all tending TO it. And when these avenues are
closed, ana tins population thus damned in upon us. il re-
quires no great eXertion of the mind readily 10 perceive
what VIII be The relative condition OF the two species OF
population, in fifty years from this period. | have not
made me calculations other gentlemen have; but who
ever VIII undertake 10 do il, will find il TO be a most an
paliIng state of statistics. When the slaves shall out-nun,-
Oerthe ireemen ten TO one; when, in the progress of events.
a progress no earthly power can arrest, they shall
have become more enlightened, when the love of free
dom, inseparable from knowledge, shall have sprung I'M
IN their bosoms, is it not 10 be feared,-awinlly to be
ieared,-tlat in the convulsive throes OF liberty, which
must inevitably ensue, the tragic scenes of Southamp-
ton, VIII he but a common occurrence, and the his
toric muse OF Virginia, be fated to weep, often to
weep, over similar cotastrophes. Sir, whatever the re-
suits oil these convulsive struggles may he, whether
they eventuate In the attainment of their object, by this
Inflated people; or whether, as 10 me there SCENE little
doubt. they result in their utter determination at the
point OF the bayonet; in either ovent, their history will be
written In characters oil blood. And this is that progress
oil future events, which we are called upon to fold our arms.
and await in submissive silence, without one effort TO ar
resi- me impending danger. For one, Sir, / cannot do il:
l. WI not do it. No, Sir; for myself, as one individual of
tins community, here before the assembled REPRESENTATIVES
OF tins Commonwealth, / lay my hand upon the altar, and
PiieuSe, myself That The humble faculties with which il has
pleased nature, or natures God, to endow me, shall he do
voted, religiously devoted, to the accomplishment of ttis
great ooJect-the abolition OF slavery in this, the land Of
my nativity.
Mr.. Speaker, there are those in this House. and ont Of
II too' VINO nope, thatby the adoption'of splendid schemes
oil internal improvement they are about to resuscitate the
waning fortunes OF Virginia; that by a connection oC Ue
waters OF the Atlantic with the Ohio, by n line of conmu.
hication running through the heart of the State, they will
arouse her Sleeping energies, and again place her in the
ironto OF This Coniederacy. Sir, in my opinion, they yainlv
hope ii; they have mistaken the disease: under wbicI, Vir.
gina Is langushing, and until they direct their application
% tlat ulSeaSe, thew can never effect their Ioh;ect 1ybo.o
schemes may benefit our western brethren, and | rejoice
ulat uiey VIII; but j fear that we in Eastern Virginia are
not to be benefited much by them. Sir, you NAV hold out
what inducements you will, you may spread the most in
wiling ieasts, and who will come and sit at your board. with
ue sword OF Damocies suspended over his head by a sin
gle fai' Alas! Sir, ii something is not done, il some hope
oil a brighter prospect is not held out-those who have
heretofore sat at your board will leave it, and seon your
banquet-hall will be deserted and solitary. The ce1tle-
man from Brunswick, in a spirit of sorcSsom. would no
doubt tell you that all this is but a melancholy diroe. the
ehecto i an oyer-eXcited imagination. Sir, had the warn
ing voice oil Cassandra been listened TO, though THAT was
but a melancholy dirgc, it might not so soon have been
sung oil Troy-HiUm Fuit-TRoY HAS BEEN.
Mr. Speaker, after what | have said upon this subject,
you may perhaps De surprised TO hear the declaration, that
L am not at this session prepared 10 vote for any scheme OF
general emancipation. l cannot do it consistently with
the trust repo3ed in me by those whom | have Tho bonor
TO represent on this floor; and they have too deep, too vital
an interest in this momentous question now, TO be com.
miiledby one so ignorant of their wishes as / am. Again.
Dir, upon a subject ofsuch magnitude as this, our Iecisla-
uon cannot be TOO cautious and circumspect; we should
well weigh every step we take in it, for one single false
step may lead TO consequences the most fatal. But while
am unwilling TO leGislate deiiniivcly upon this subject
l am willing that the Committee TO whom il w referre,
shall 90 on with their invest gaions-fhat thev shall mali
their report TO this House, that that report NAV o.,
before the public, that the people may be brought
TO reflect upon II, and that a future Legislature
may come here prepared TO act deflniiively.-
Again, Mr.. Speaker, l must most unafcctedly declare I,
you, Sir, that | distrust my own youth and inexperience
! disirust that ardour fleeing, that enthusiasm, natural {,
this condition oil lie. | see around me many of nv coad
tutors III a similar situation. IL strikes me that had In,
people contemplated any Legislation upon this deeply inn.
POFtdnt subject, we should have seen, this hall made ven.
cradle by more gray heads than now appear in it. And
yet, Notwithstanding, / have ventured, perhaps in The es.
tlInailon oil my audience, rashly venturcd, to infrude upor
the House my own crude notions. Ifso, Sir, | must throw
myself upon their Indulgence, and plead that very you'll
and ineXPericncc rs my apology.
Mr.. DANIEL Of Campbell, rose and said--
Atthis late stage Of the debate, I rise with no cxpocto
ton of throwing new light upon the question under consi
deran0n. ! am not so vain az TO suppose, that the few re
marks which | am about 10 submit,a arc destined to eIec
any material change in the sentiments OF those TO whom
they VIII be addressed. But inasmuch as all1sion Ina
neen made TO The sentiments of the people whom 1 have
tho honor IN part TO represent, and that too. by the gentle,
man with whom | I'm associated, I should feel that I ba,
been gmlty ola d%erclicton of duty il I filled 10 assign the
reasons That induce me 20 pursue a course different from
nc one which he has thought proper TO advocate. And
mere permit me TO remark, that believe few persons arc
generally better acquainted with the wishes Oftbeir con
siNdeh1 uan That gentleman, or more disposed 70 advocate
them, when asccrtaiued. The fact 1iat he has enioyet
their confidence for so long a lime, IS of itself sufficient Il
convince me that in this belief / am not mistaken. But Of
the present occasion, acting az / do, from the solemn con
vicions Of my own mind, guided by the best dictates n
wishes, by any instruction, or by any communication
whether public or private, | deem it myduty as one Of tp
representatives Of Campbell, to protest against the cours,
which the advocates oil the amendment, have thought pro