Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-26

never could have existed and much OF II could not
have been supported. We of the South, have had
the cares of managing, and our nor'h"rn brethren,
have had tho pleasure Of rec wing, the fruits of
their labor. 1 do not blame them Tor thi.-n was
the part of wisdom, in them: but l blame the
Southern man for permitting i'll b'ano the
Northern man for ut,crng his dcnumciations
against the Shareholder, when he has been rcaping
the fruits oi the labor himself. Tho tlavc.hold1r
has hcon blind to permit the fruits of the labor of
his slave to be gathered Ivy others, who wish
10 use i, 10 crush him aud his country.
SIR W. said, thu: tho profits from tl'" com
MERGE based upon northern tabor w"s mol tho only
method in which slave labor has contributed I"
enrich the northern man. The Soutlirons nave
been the patrons OF their schools. the supporters
of their inps, the frSquom'crs of their watering
places, the purchasers and consumer" OF their
manufactures the liberal contributor. to the sup
port OF the literary and scientific publications..
M. W. said no had heard with regret and sSr
price, that many of the sons OF our common
mother, believe her f,''sn-yos, some hsvc said,
tirrru,ied- dc graded, because man holds hiS fellow
man in slavery She may b. fallen-.!e certainly
is fallen i'm the scale OF tho Union but hsr sons
stiil oxsltrd-thcy are exalted in thor charac
,c.s-,hsy a.o exalted in their patriotism-;hcy
exalted in their integrity, honesty, consistcn-
cy and d intrrestedEess.
But, MIR. w. sait tha, il might DC said by some,
that if the slave was faithful obodiont and devoted
To his masters c and interest, as had been repre-
scn;od, that brncvolcncc and kindness, and oven
debt of gratitude to the slave, should induce the
owner To make him free. BIT he believed tina,
Tn. African WAS AS much indebted TO the mastor
as the r,a.tor To him. Tho .bsstioa WAS mutn-
sl--ihcy had reciprocal du,i"s to discharge, and
t!.s debt Of .rati,uds was mutual. The master
loved tho faithful slave, and in turn the faithful
slave loved tho master. Mr.. W. asked what thr
schemes Of the abciitoni>t promised tn che slave,
Had they any territory, any funis, Sny powers OF
| "!np";rncn, which could be exercised. To Srest- a
"onii"an, and money, and what was indispensable 20
i!ie enjoyment of lie, isoral character fer those
cnancipatcd slaves? These things could no; b. p, IT,
viIcd by law. Thoro was no magic i'm a declaration
of Legislative will. So f,T from il, lie, Mr.
W, be'lc"ed that If wo should frame law. which
every DEM agoguc tie country could take up and
prove t.. Ice impraciicablc in it's exccuton-if we
submitted.to the people puny schomc, uns,ippOrt.
cd by tho test OF experiment, they would hold it up
TO the light OF Hsavon-thoy would il fall
apart, and would cast it back into the face of tn,
trainers, and turn from tho subject wit, disgust.
Mr.. W. most earnestly believed. thai procipi,stc
icgisi,tion--thSt unadvi>cd legislation, would re
iar'l the groat end held in vaw, more than all
thing which could lctal Va.
But ii there reason IL dread t!i,t such NJ.
experiment would operate inindiciously To the
whites, how much more reason thor. To dread
that tho effects upon The slaves would oe p.rnc:ous
in tho e1trome! Are they 10 he taught that the
government will Interfere between them and their
| masters! That western mon in body will
protect thcm Not only that sir, but that porii0
| OF the hatno community are thn friends - their
liberty, and another portion their cnorios, Is i,
necessary to depict the consequences of such a
| state OF things!
| But. said Mr.. W., the gentleman from Berkeley
said ON Yesterday, "that although there wsro
found no advocates for slavery in this House vet
lie regretted TO find there apologsts for slave.
ry' Sir, docs the gentleman believe that slavery
IN this commonwealth required an Spo!1gy? lie
SAID Inc would not deisn to mako an apology for il.
1t required mono. The present RAGS of Virgins
were no more responsible tor its existence here
than The t9uakers IF Pcnnsylvania. IL was forced
upon thcnl-t had been forced upon their forcfa
thcrs-it came to us by inhoritancs-it wus our
duty TO guard them from injury, and make thou,
discharge their duty.
MIR. w. said he had heard it frequently repeated
mere that we had gained great trim. ph over our
ancestors, as rs discussed this subject with open
doors, and sent forth our opinions TO tho world
without restraint. This may ta c1uso of triumph
And he did not fear temperate and prudent dis
cussion OF tho Gueston-but ii remained vet to Inc
proven whether this discussion conducted as it ha
| been, will be blessing a curse 10 the commu
nifty. 1t remained yet TO be proven, whether ",
! have moro icisdons, ancestors more pru
dcnee.
The gentleman from Berkeley. said Mr.. w. Ina,
thought proper 10 enforce abolition by argument,
OF strict right. He has thought proper to say tina,
the slave holder has right the increase of tho
iemaIo siavcs-that thoy can have no property in
me otter-dorn: Ii there be any thing in our char
proves equally another position, that the ownc,
has no right to the existing slave
lie had not understood gentlemen, thus far to az
sumo that position. If,hcrc be any in tho House
TO nm he had nothing to say. That question Wal
not open to argument in this year OF our Lor,
lo3@-he would not argue it. Bat tho ccntlcma,
had assumed another position with some PLAUSIBLE
ty, and 10 that he would devote moments alton
ton lie set out with tho old Latin maX,n-Sa
lus popuH supreme est isf--whch in pl,in EnoI;.I
l aft ho al
Prcmc law" and further, that every man. and NOR,
especially the Legislature had right to abatc ,
nuisance. That slaves nuisance and ERGO IN,
Legislature had right TO abato slavery We will
o5ainino this--and to do SO correctly must as
certain the neaning of the term nuisance 1t bae
been Defined to &c any annoyance produced by on.
citizan TO the property and persons of the rest
and to bring slavery within this definition, yor
must first prove that slavery has been Produced b,
the present owners. 1t is needless to xav an,;Y
that such is not the fact. Then gentlemen mns
nbate that which wo have not produced But j.
the gentleman quite sure that it is a nuisance
How is that fact nsccr.ancd? Under the Consti
iuuon the owner has right TO have that question
tried by jury of his county. And | doubt net
that the gentleman from Berkeley where there ar,
very few slaves, might get jury Of twelve men t.
hnd that fact. But my friend from Mceklenburo
could much moro easily procure verdict from a
Jsry OF his county in direct conflict with it, And
when these contradictory yerdicts are produced
mere, row is the difficulty rcmovod!-how is tho
argument advanced! The genticman's principle
cannot avail him. without the ascor,aininont OF
the fact.
The gentleman from Berkeley had expressed a
wish, that the number of slaves should not he in
creased IN his county. Were in his situation, or
an inhabitant ola county having but few slaves, |
should deprccatc rapid increase. If were laying
the foundations of society, and had the selection
OF my materials, would use none Of tbcm-anG
would commend him to iinp'orc aud cntrcat his
constituents not to carry them thcrc. should
hope that they will not 60 it. But wliilo approy.
ing these views. and commenting those sentiments
1 sec nothing III tkom which re;nnrc tha hniaui