Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-04-24
Legislative Observation-Disclosures
HOUSE OF DELEGATES
GEIoHrH Thursday, Jan. 10.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES
CErGHrH AY.1-ThuSdoy, Jan 49,
DEBATE on Mr.. GooDE's Resolution, M. RANpoLpH's
Substitute, the Report Of the Committee on Siaues
and Mr.. PREsroN's Motion TO amend.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Harrison, and said:-Mr.
Speaker L know that, according to parliamentary
usage, it is expected that should submit to the CON
sideration of the House views OH the question
wader discussion-as j was yesterday the mover of
the adjournment. 1t is with common feeling of
delicate responsibility that approach this subject
have often attempted TO claim the attention of this
body and never-even on topics of far less moment
without humble diilidcncc. But, | NAV saw
with the most heartfelt sincerity, that have never
experienced so lively sense of embarrassment as
ON tho present occasion. The magnitude of the
subJect-thc ability with which il has been debated
tho brilliant and attentive auditory which crowd
the Hail., and the intense interest felt i'm our telibe-
rations by the public at large-all conspire to de-
prive my mind of half its wontcd energies feeble as
they may beg in expressing my sentiments OH q mat
ter of such awful import. The ground has been So
fully occupied, that il would he presl,npton i'm me
10 hope that could add link To the chain of ar
gument, OF one ray to the halo of eoquence, with
which the subject has been surrounded. The field
of oratory has been culled of every flower and de-
prIved OF all It's foliage-and what once presented
blooming cxpanse, rich in the treasures of eIo-
guonce-is now barren and unproductive; and i'm
following those who have gone before me- I feel
that am treadiug in the footsteps of giants | NAV
however, with humble pretensions, and without
hoping for the success ofthe Moabitish maiden oe
for short time cleaner in the field where the har-
vesterS have successfully reaped honor and re-
nown.
1t is my purpose, Mr. Speaker, TO present com
mon sense view OF some Of the arguments adduced
by gentlemen opposed TO all action, to debate
upon this subject. What, Sir is the question now
before this House? Is it what the General Assem-
bly, shall now do, for the lilrtherance of the aboli-
ton of slavery? No, Sir Those gentlemen who
have applied themselves 10 argue that question
have transgressed the rule of order which confines
the tn 10
question is simply-will the Legislature act upon
this subject will they not? This is the sole le Of
innate proposition under Dissatisfaction the reso-
luton and its substitute, the report of the commit
tee, and its amendment before the House. all
contain nothing else. Nor is there in them a sin Gle
phrase which brings into review, the rights of the
Shareholder to the possession of his property, or
the evil consequences attendant upon slavery
Should the Legislature decide to act,-and that will
be settled by the vote upon the amendment offered
by the gentleman from Montgomery,--it will then
he the proper time TO deliberate the mod,s one
randi.
the strict rules of order, with the tact permission
of the House, trust that shall be allowed TO fol-
low i'll their track and freely examine the subject
now before us, i'll any and all the bearings which
it might, by possibility, assume
Mr.. Speaker, am i'll favor of discussion upon
any great national question-but am free to con
fess my opinion, that protactcd debate on alb
stract principles, even should their affirmative or
H.. n
bic of practical application, is worse than useless
The time of this body is too precious to be wasted
in idle defamation If orators wish TO make n dis
play of their elocutiou argumentative profundnv
other theatres might be selected than this Hail. for
the successful exhibition Of their powers | have
indeed, been pleased to ascertain that we possess so
much debating talent, and that uptncss in rhetorical
fourIshes Is an accomplishment possessed nv so
many around me. But, it has been nv impressions
that this subject has been ill-chosen az n hobby
horse on which orators might ride into distinction.
Many OF the speeches we have heard, might more
properly have been reserved for the nluster-feld
the hastings, or the Fourth Of July.
In attempting to answer some of The arguments
of those on the other side of the question, trust
that sufficient apology for the miscellaneous char
acter of my remarks, will be found i'm the discursve
flights in which those gentlemen have INDUCED
who have gone before Never have | listened
to Il discussion which took so wide a range; seem
ing to embrace every possible topic, comprising
learned opinions, de omnibus rebls Ct qtibtsn Nils
OF this be wlldering variety of subjects, which by
almost inpcrceptble filamcnts of associations have
been connected with the question now before us
the bare mention of few which occur to my memo
Ty, VIII suffice to illustrate the unbounded license i'm
which gentlemen have INDUCED. We have heard
illusions made 10 the Bill Of Rights-the Federal
Constuion-the Empire of China--he Garden of
fhen-LegIslaton in the Northern States-tbe Loan
Bnl-POwers of Congress--Interna Improyerueut
Heaven, Earth, and the Internal Regions-AIl
these, and many more, have passed in rapid sue
cessioH uny inquired lOrih, like the creation Of tire
magc-lantern, aud with such astonishing want Of
order or OF application to the question, that to
comprehend this world of figures" would be as
impossible as for philosopher to solve an nstro-
nomical problem, while hanging :ot the tail Of
comet.
This, MIR. Speaker, is fire-sdo subject, and nd
dresses itself to the dearest interests and most sen
stye feelings of the community. lndependent Of
lts operation upon individual rights and possessions
1t rs subject Of deep and permanent import to eve
~ member Of tho body polite 70 the eottagcr, as