Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-04-10

licy-thcy may be permitted to ask for personal pri-
vilegcs-but he could hearkcn their advice as
TO the proper mode of disposing of our surplus
venue. Ii would be equally proper for TO petition
the British parliament in behalf of the potatoc fed
population of Ireland, recommend to their iavora-
bic notice the cause Of Reform.
MIR. Boon called for the yeas and nays on the
question Of reading the memorial.
MIR. Wicklitle euquired whether ordering the yeas
and nays would spread the memorial on tho journals
of the House.
The Speaker said it would not
The yeas and nays were ordered
Mr.. Blair ofSouth Carolina, cared very little what
was done with the memorial II the subject ofsa-
very to be discussed in this House, he cared not
how soon the game played out. The gentle
man from Rhode Island had alluded TO the labor of
the Southern States. lie would ask that gentleman
il slavery existed in those Suites by amy fault of
theirs? No. sir; the fault belongs 20 the land of ship.
IL was the people of the Northern States-the ship
owners-who tore the Africans from the land of
their nativity and sold them in slavery. The avails
oil tins trattc had been carried To the North and eX-
pended in the erection of houses; and, for augh he
knew, OF manufactures. Many Of the manut.cto-
rics of the North have, doubt, been built by the
Sroans and tears of the suffering Africans. He did
not regard the gentleman from Virginia MIR. nier-
cer) as the Representative of slave holding State.
His conduct had indicated his feelings on that sub
lJect Every disposition had been shewn to moot the
question of slavery here; but he felt bound to in
would be finally settled. When the issue was made
up, ii must be tried by arms
Mr. Dickson found himself in situation similar
to that of the gentleman from Rhode Island mir
burges,) on this subject. lie could not upon
1t without Knowing something about it. He should
not notice the remarks of the gentleman who had
jus, taken his seat Mr. Bair) The Ultima ratio re-
gun, he was not prepared TO answer.
The Speaker said the debate had taken too wide
range; the only question before the House was on
the reading of the memorial.
MR. Dickson trusted that no Representative upon
tins floor was prepared to vote upon any subject that
was not laid before the House. in this case there
Is difference of opinion as 10 the purport of the
memorial. 1t was therefore actually necessary
to know lis contents lie should vote for the reading
MI Patton said, II was to he regretted that all sub
lJccts could not be discussed in this House without
excitement. But as long as the members were men,
certain topics would create strong impressions upon
them, nor were ta,ints and insulting remarks cacri-
iatcd To lessen excitement He had hoped the sub
lJcct might have passed off as silently as it had en-
tered the House. But since the discussion had
arisen, he had been glad to perceive the sentiment
SO universal on all sides of the House. that his col
league MIR. Merccr) had fen into an indiscretion
IN presenting this subject to the House. But by ac-
cedng to the request to withdraw the memorial mo
had atoned for the original error. Some gentle
men 1t seemed could not permit so good an occasion
10 escape. The paper must be read. Why should
IL nc read: 1t was received and referred without
the knowledge of ten members in the House. The
gentleman VINO presented it wishes TO take it back
Should the privilege be refused? lie should have
taken no part i'll the debate, but from the remark that
gentlemen were afraid TO have the memorial read-
AFRAID OF what and of whom? The House had
hearu too many efiusons from incendary fanatics TO
he either surprised afraid. The reason whv he
objected TO the reading Of The memorial was that he
was "iiWllllllS 10 conienance an impairment inter
terence with the affairs of this country on the part
OF ioreigners-upon subject, too, that the States
would not permit the action of this House lie WAS
glad that the State of Virginia would see the brand
OF diScord that had been thrown upon this arena bv
one oil her Representatives. He meant nothing dis
respectful TO that gentleman. His course was nm
doubleday the result of Il momentarv impulse
MIR. Reed called to order
The Speaker said the debate had taken too wide
n range.
Mr.. p said he had underworld to rcplv TO some If
the reasons that had been urged i'm favor of read
ing this paper. From the statement of the sub
stance OF the paper, made by the gentleman from
Virginia, Mr. Mercerl it ought not to be counte-
nanced by the House. No man should be permitted
to scatter firebrands and DEATH and say am not in
sport"
Mr.. Briggs said he should vote against the read
ing OF the memorial. He regarded the subject as
belonging exclusively TO those States i'm which the
slave population exists. lie would avoid all occa-
sion of just complaint from them. But some of the
complaints he had heard he could not admit TO he
Just He had yet to learn that the sufferings of the
Africans were 10 be traced to the manufacturers TO
the North.
Mr.. Blair explained. The South had been re-
preached in the debate for their slave population
lie had stated that the blame rested more upon the
North than the South, who had no means of brinoinp
the slaves from the land of their nativity The shin
owners who lived in the North had brought away the
natives of Africa from their homes and with the mo-
ney for which they soid had built not only
houses, but manufactures.
Mr.. Burgess said he had not reproached the South
for their slave population.
Mr.. Briggs said he had the honor to represent n
fourishlng manufacturing district. Its prosperity
had not been produced by the groans and tears Of
any portion OF the human race. His constituents
had earned their prosperity by the sweat of their
brows They took interest in the question of
colonzing the backs-but had no wish to shake the
security ofslave property. If the Union was to last
till his constituents medded with that properly. it
would endure till this fabric (the CapoD shall crl,n-
bic into dust.
Mr. Burgess felt bound to say few words i'm ius-
tee to himself There had been Il difference of OBI
mon as to the puport of the memorial. He had no
wish to infringe on the security of the properly i'm
slaves. Every honest man who heard him would
say that he had always upheld the rights of the slave
holder lie admitted that while the traffic i'm slaves
was legal, it had been carried on by citizens of
Rhode lsland-for aught he knew it was afterwards
carried on by them to life Havana But he denied
that the manufactures of New England were found
cd ON the tears and sfferngs and blood of Africans
That was as false as it is true that the whole po-
cal Importance of the gentleman from South Caro-
ma (Alr. Bair) is founded upon a pyramid of Afii-
can bones. He would never rcproach the South
with an evil they could not shun. lie would MS
soon reproach man who was born with but one