Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-21

4NN'hS' s'sh Nv Va6 ~ NOblAU y ttibi " Y "
recollection the several steps already taken. On the SCI
csnd or third day of the session. when the members wore
fresh from the people, the House had raised a Select Com
mittce on various points connected with our colorcd popu-
lation. In a few days after that, petitions from citizens Of
Hanover and from the Society OF Friends had been pre-
sented, praying that measures might be taken for the grad
ual diminution and ultimate removal of the evils of slave
ry from this Commonwealth: to the reference of those PEI
hions the gentleman from Mecklenburg, (Mr. Goode1 OBJ
jected, moved that they should be rejected instanter. and
the House, by a grave decision, (he ayes and noes being
called for1 rejected the motion, and ordered the reference
OF the petitions TO the Select Committee, for its considera-
ton. On subsequent days other petitions of like charac-
ter had been presented and referred; and the House had
ordered the enlargement of the number of the Commit
tee. That Committee had not yet reported on these petit
tons, and, it was understood, had not acted on them when
the gentleman submitted his resolution TO discharge tho
Committee from their further consideration-to which
the resolution oil the gentleman from Albemarlo (Mr. Ran
doiph) had been offered as a substitutes; and both those
resolutions are now under consideration.
The resolution Of the gentleman from Mecklenburg was
Objectionable, as it sought TO change the decision of the
House before the Committee had acted; but IL was more
Objectionable, as ii brought the entire subject Of slavery
under discussion, without limit or plan; and was there fore
likely to lead TO that sort of Improbable discussion which
was taken up more with elimination and re- elimination
charges of enthusiasm and fanaticism on the one hand, and
inhumanity, cruelty and ~impoicy on the other, than in
grave and sober reasoning and argument. From these OBJ
Elections, the substitute was free it was in conformity with
the past decisions of the House, it brought TO the view of
the Committee a particular plan, without excluding tho
consideration of other plans, and was well calculated to
narrow the discussion here TO a single point, to wit; the ex-
pediency of consulting the qualified voters of Virginia, as
to the adoption or rejection of the plan indicated. 1t did
not propose that the Committee or the House should take
the responsibility of deciding finally on the subject, with
out consulting the peoplc-but it proposed the inquiry,
whether the wishes Of the qualified voters, on the plan
mentioned, should be asccrtained at the polls, in order that
our successors, Members of the next Assembly. should
know their WISHES, and knowing, obey them.
The plan indicated in the substitute, by which to ac-
%complish the great object Of diminishing and ultimately
getting rid OF the evils oil slavery, appeared to be so plain
and simple that all might understand tit was altogether
prospective in its operation, and was "solidly PRACTICAL
1t was the plan of one of the wisest men-most profound
and experienced statesmen-most devoted and useful pa
triots, and greatest public benefactors that ever lived in
THIS or any other country-in this or any other age. 1t was
the plan OF the late Thomas Jefferson. And il was ha-
zarding little to predict, that ii would add to a fame deem
ed by many already immeasurabe-would do what the
poet pronounced "eXcess," and "add another hue IN ,le
rainbow" Speaking as a Virginian, Mr. II. said. that he
would rather have the fame with pesterity arising from
this, than from all the other great acts of that great mans
life. And he thanked the enlightened people of Abe
marie for ahording an opportunity to have it proved to the
world, thatthe ilustrious example constantly before them
had been appreciated by his descendants, and that thew
were now walking in his footsteps. What was that plan,
was with the appreciation of the people, to declare by
law, that from and after the 18th July, 1910, all the chill
dren oil female slaves born in Virginia, should (the males
at Fl and females at 1S) become public property, ifdetained
by their owners in the State until they arrived at those
ages espectlvely-and be hired out until the nett
sum was sufficient to defray the expense of removal
to a foreign country. How would such law operate,
Il the people decide in favor of its passage All
slaves now in existence would be slaves for life.-all
those born before the 4th ofJuly, 1910, would be slaves for
Iie-all those born after 4h July 1910, would remain the
property OF the owners of their mothers, until the males
arrive TO FL years, and the females TO Is, so as TO remune-
rate for The expense of raising them; but if their owners send
| ''Nih Va Vi hhC sbICN may ucldlnl e : SlayGS
orsell them there and put the money in their pockets, II
their owners will not send them off before they arrive at
the respective ages before mentioned, then at those ages
they VIII become public property, and be hired out TO raise
money enough to bear their expenses TO a foreign country.
1t wouid therefore be Is years after 4th July, 1910, before
any female could become public property under this law,
and 2l years after before any male could: so that it wouldbe
more than 26 years from this time before the law would ope-
rate in a single case; and after its operation commenced
the process would be regular and gradual. As slave Labor
quietly and slowly disappeared, its place would be supplied
by free labour; there would be no sudden transition fron,
~ COnuluOn 10 another: no lnterrIlDton nf m t,rcr -
business OF society; and no deprivation in the community
oil one description OF labor, without making preparation for,
and ariording an opportunity to, the supply of its place bv
labor much more valuable and desirable.
lie was particularly pleased with those features of tho
substitute which, consulting the people first, brought 20
public view a plan for the gradual relief of the GOOD peo.
pie OF this Commonwealth, from the terrible evils of sIa-
very, oy a measure wholly prospective in its operation
furnishing reasonable notice beforehand, that such system
would be introduced; whose operation would be inner.
%c,cPible, gradual, and ultimately efficient; which allowed
the owner oil the mother 10 enjoy the proceeds of the la
bourof the child until remuDerated for raising it; allowed
sx-and-tweny yearsfor the owners of slaves to send them
Oft TO other States, and to retain them there as slaves.
" sell them and pocket the money; allowed any of the in
crease 10 be sent off before they arrived at the noes men
noned; afforded opportunity for the introduction Of free la
Dor, as slavery gradually disappeared which did not turn
them, as they got to Fl and Is years of age, loose on soci-
city, to become %vagabonds and nuisances, Entertaining them
SUI under control and discipline, until the proceeds of their
nre was suihcientt to deiray the expense Of their removal;
and thus relieved the community from all apprchensjons of
oelhS INFESTED with IDLE, vicious, and worthless free ne
sroes, and of having TO be burthened with the expense of
sending them off This plan had received from him a c
rlous, close and dispassionate examination-be had endeo-
vored TO view it in all lis bearfngs-it met with his decid-
ca aPProbaton-and though as a public man, restrained
by the letters which Justly bind a representative, he wonId
not adopt the plan finally, without having first obta;ncJ
me appreciation and sanction of the people yet when re-
mitted to the freedom of a private man and individual CHI
zen, ne should give il his Jealous and hearty support, and
continue to do so until a better plan was presented, which
me could not hope TO see.
IL would be forming an erroneous opinion, and taking a
very limited view OF the subject, TO suppose that the pre-
sent state OF public feeling was attributable solely to the
tragicai events in Southampton last summer. That TRACE
~ brought nothing new 10 the minds of the rejecting por-
uon II NIrginia-it was at most but an earlier and moro
melancholy realization ofthcir apprehensions.-The statute
booK showed that such an anticipation had been formed
long since; or else why pass all the laws concerning patrols.
unlawful assemblages of slaves, TO prevent their being
taught reading and writing, &c. &C. But that terrible
event had forced the whole community to reflect on tho
was without remedy.
On the multiplied and d%esolating evils of slavery, he wa,
not disposed to say much: the cause ant. its deterioratine
consequences were within the observation and experience
oil me members OF the House, and the people of Virginia.
ana IL dd seem TO him that there could not be two opinion,
aOout IT. But there were strong objections 10 discussing
'fis branch OF the subject in its details, and he would
content himself with giving a brief attention n tho stranoo