Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-24

better than friends at a distance, howover disinter-
coicd.
would say a few words TO ny intelligent friend
from Montgomery. mir. P~roston) His arguments
on the right of property, were answered on ycstcr-
day, by tho gentleman from Petersburg. My pur-
pose is TO givo Il synopsis of them, and throw
them into u kind Of syllogisn. l understood him
thus-slaycs are not p~ropcrty-things are property,
because tho Constitution recognizes themselves
arc property by st0tutc-thcrsforc no property.
Nix. PrEsroN rose TO cxplain-lic said the gentle
man had misconccivcd him. He had said that things
arc property under the OnStItution-Slaves 10y sta
tutc only Mr.. SnELL continued. l understood
the gentleman to- say that slaves We're property by
general terms. This statutory provision being
prior 10 the Constitutions, therefore, L maintain
slaves are property by the Constitution. The gen
tleman would Gnd himself in this strange predica.
mont-almost the only things declared property by
statetc, according to his view, the Constitution
subsequently made, does not recognize.
| haze been greatly amused during this debate,
at the unexamplcd ingenuity which gentlemen have
displayed, TO remove The responsibility growing out
of an unfortunate discussion of this momcntous
subject, from their OWN shoulders, ard place it up
on the shoulders of the East. Some gentlemen
seem 20 think, that an explanation is due To tho
public for tho yea! manifested by them, in a sub
icct in which it might possibly be supposed their
interests were rather remote, if not imaginary.
This active Interference is therefore placed on the
ground Of %Gfordiug aid to the East. This is the
ground taken by the gentleman from Montgomery.
He tells u no has heard the cry for aid; and with
unusual gallantry, he generously comes to render
il. The gentleman from Hanover, Nh. Roanc,)
we are told, called on the West for AID. 1t is very
true that the gentleman from Hanover had said
"somothing mast he donO," which by the bye, to
me, is precisely the most definite Of all indefinite
expressions. lie had intiuatcd, that possibly Il
little assistance might be requisite, at some future
tl'nc, to carry some moderate scheme which
had regard to the rights Of propcrty-tho safety
OF the country, and such inconsldcrablo matters
Bat before the sound of his voice is heard in the
vicinity of his location, its echo is pcaling beyond
tho mountains. II startles tho gentleman from
Montgomery, from the Quietude in which he was
reposing, and with the most laundering velocity
he hurrIcS TO givo tho required assistance. With
loud responsive cry, [ come to aid you, says the
gentleman from Montgomery. We have heard
your voice of distress breaking upon us in the
distance-I propose 10 remedy this evil at once
and elltctuaily-knock off the shacklcs-dont
think of pay for a moment. But, says our friend
from Hanover, | don't understand the principles on
which this relief is extended. 1t seems 10 me you
are going too far. Oh no, replies the gentleman
from Montgomery, you called on me for aid, and
L mean 10 give it. L will assist you-you shall
have aid. Our friend from Hanover, no doubt,
begins to repent n little, that no unfortunately So
licitcd aid at the hands of his Western friends
Their assistance though rendered with all magma
bic prompttude, has been rather violent TO pro-
mote the moderate purposes for which it was in
vokcd. The gentleman, | repeat, wanted only a
little friendly assistance, when, TO his utter confu-
sion, his friends have rushed from behind their
mountains, with the rcsistlcss impetuosiiy of their
own mountain torrents, and in the true aud gene.
rous feelings Of their hearts, have overturned the
foundation or which he stood, and threatened to
drown him in the waters of affection. Sure
", NJ man with more ~propricty could say,
save me from my friends" presume my friend
from Hanover feels some symptoms of alarm at
this tremendous and overpowering cataract of dis
Interested regard.
Mr.. RoANE thanked Mr.. SHE'LL. for presenting
TO the House the aid rendered him by his friends
from the West, in lis true colors.1
MIR. SHELL said no was highly pleased TO have
It IN his power to render his friend from Hanover
practical aid in relieving him from the oppressive
weight of friendship with which he was threat
cned.
MIR. Speaker, | think we had better GO home
and shake hands with our constituents, before we
take a step so fatal. / have Said much more than
L intended when L rose: but the Importance of the
subject, the infinite variety of views presented by
gentlemen, rendered it exceedingly difficult to give
moderate limit to my remarks. If the House will
give to as subject, the attention it demands, this
old untcrrihcd Commonwealth may yet be saved.
IDc6ate to be Continued.