Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-28
virginia Legislature.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Wednesday, Januaru 25
DEBATE ON MIR. nnYcE's pRrAatntr

Mr. Bryce OF e., renew his motion 10 almond ,a
ble ~ "s tIS"iH-
Profoundly sensible of the great evils ori,ing from Tho
CONDITION oil the colorcd population OF this
ihGuced by humanity as well as policy, to an immediate
effort Tor the removal in the first place as well of thosc
VINO are now free, as of such may hereafter become
ee believing that this effort while il is in lust accordance
WIN he sentiments OF the community the subject will
absorb all our present MEANS and that further action for
9 removal Of the slaves should await more definite de-
'eopelnent oil pulse opinion.-ReSOred, sc.
In making this notion Mr. b. was not actuated bv
ohS on Iurther debate The House, he had doubt
was fully satisfied with the discussion which had ALREADY
taken place He agreed with the Report of the Commit
,ee' and thought that it would be approved by very
large majority Of the People OF Virginia But he believed
that by adding this Preamble 10 the Resolution they
n1o more Tmy announce the public feeling upon the
SUBJECT For HIMSELF he would canddly declare that not
Wnsgnding he perceived the difficulties which enanged
e SUBJECT he did entertain the hope and the belief that
at some future day Virginia would be enabled to rid her.
sen oil The evils of slavery He had most heartily CON
CURED with the decision of the House reectnr tho
amendment ofthe gentleman from Montqo,nery II. uSo
convinced they ought not act Our means were de-
ana me public were not prepared for iBut he be-
me attention OF the people turned their do
hesus relations and that they looking forward to the
probable disscation Of them. Numbers nreparn
ior change which seemed approaching He ibercCnrc
thought the subject should be left suspended in the nnbl
u 10 DC directed and controlled it should determine
for ac I naI no doubt; mat when the people ready
TOT acon they would be aided by the Government in de-
VlSng such measures should be thought necessary
i[ olms sald that after the expression of opinion that
d oeeh given by the House the questions of in
Ueuhe Posponemcnt and the amendment il was impo,-
o % decide what would be the Ultimate opinion of the
House on the subject. When the House met this rno,
s mere were supposed to be two distinct parties amon
the menberonc for, and the other against action uno5
'he SUBJECT OF Abolition and il also supposed that the
y3e Oh tpe House would defnitivcly settle the question
lie would not go the ground of former b
as representative of of the LARGEST slave boJin
counties IN the State he considered his duty TO rise and
Posl against any action of this House the question Of
1oOhlon The gentleman from Goochand had said that
'hc people wished something to be done
Mt Bryce rose TO explain If the gentleman would at.
1unbla ha "
cared That the people had not formed an opinion
MI S@s resumed. He regretted that he should mis-
represent ue gentleman He opposed 10 the dccla-
ration III the preamble because contemplated future
measures on the subject of abolon- was intended 10
ead on 70 mat result No expression of opinion had been
obtained from TIE pcopca tew petitions had been cev
ed, but whether signed by II 1900 they did not speak
general IeeIing among the people. If there had been
such ieelng' the public would have spoken in voice
ST. D have reached TO every corner of the
in,,oI,; u. NOSE most interested in this question
danaer, i.oid i'au Deeen enormously said, so much
gStve action Q" IsaGPiney qga , had dor ypdaa,
ana was now question whether this House should tram
sccnd is sphere and attempt TO lead public opinion
wait and march with public opinion. most in
terescd require this House leave it future times
speak on this momentous question. Mr. Sims
fortunate as TO differ from every gentleman who had spoken
on this subject He gave it as deliberate opinion, that
slavery not an evil in Yrgnia-that where slave la
Dor exists other labor could cXist-and that whenever
slavery becomes evil the would no longer continue
ohod slaves Whenever that time arrives the surrema
lee would regulate the evil without the inteposon of the
Legislature He had not intended TO open his lips upon
this subjects but feeling it be his duty to oppose this
preamble he had been induced TO throw these hasy
remarks.
Mr.. Preston TO ask explanation. If the pream-
bic intended declaration that the House would
act at some future time, he should for it, and also
the Report, should the preamble be adopted.
Mr. Bryce did not intend by this preamble, pledge
future legislatures to any plan Of actonbut to sub
init the question to the people in such TO
draw their attention TO the subject -1s-
Mr.. Witcher asked if the vote ON the preamble was
in order
The Speaker said II was
Mr.. Miller said there was much Inconvenience in being
obliged to decide the preamble before acting upon the
solution reported by the Committee. IL would place mem
bers in an awkward situation-as many who pre-
pared TO vote for the resolution would not vote for IT, II
the preamble adopted 1t the first time he had
ever known in this House, that preamble dcci-
dsd upon, before the substance Of the resolution to which
il was to be attached had been adopted
The Speaker here made few remarks and stated that
the preamble first in order.
Mr.. Wcher said the preamb, :. so drawn that Inc
could not easily understand it. IT, therefore, he To
vote for is and afterwards asked what he had voted
for, he could But he had arrived the opn.
ion, that there gentlemen among who in IA
vor OF abolition, and who think the public mind is not
prepared Tor it-ans therefore, take this means 10
urge on the people. Tic did not know what had
been given by the House, which should authorize them
TO say that Il was profoundly sensible that abolition was
necessary nor how gentlemen had come 10 this conclusion
Such declaration could not he made without having the
effect Of shaking the confidence of stockholders in the
security Of their property. He believed the effect Of the
debate, which they had been listening 10 for many days
would have most injurious effect IL would set dema
gogucs work throughout the State, and contribute to the
exclusion OF slaves from other States. IL in The
power Of this House, 10 speak for any future Legislature
1t was the wishes Of the people who sent them here
(which members were bound 10 speak lie thought tn,
Report OF the Committee sufficient, as left the subjec
open for future action by stating that 1t inexpeden
noto to egslatc. Had he consulted his views, hi
en- out, bat ne did not think 81 much consequences ~