Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-02-16


stances may not without intending TO question the
thors vcacity in the slightest degree be permitted to
ask whether or not in point Of fact any such mpua-
tons ever were, at any time, on anu person. attempted
10 be fixed upon the good people of Southampton, And
whether has not happened in this case as il has pei
hops, often happened 10 Others that the writer's extreme
anxiety TO appear the Champion of Old Vircina and
the exclusive defender OF all her citizens has led him 10
place himself in the rather unenvioh, a,,,,5 Of an H.;
dvidual, who volunteers himself defend other peope
against charges which have been made, The peo
pie OF Southampton will doubt, in duty bound''
acknowledge the obligations they under 10 Tho writer
Tor his good intentions, whatever they may think of his
discretion. But, suppose such iupuauons have been
made, what does this writer mean, when he says that he
ala not understand then, but does noic, why these mpu
taons were madel Does he mean to nsinuac that the
members oil the Assembly, who friendly the aboli.
ton oil slavery, (not of whom perhaps had ever
written word about the SOUTHAMPTON nsurrcction wore
the authors Of those imputaons Such an nterpretaon
oil the writer's declarations would apncar ol,oo.or
just and absurd, il for the utter ;nnss;,, 81
conjecturing upon any other supposion what no docs
mean wnen nc says in reference to the debate in the
why such pains taken to fix those impuations no
the people of Southampton. IL Apponattox has really
been able to trace connection between the supposed
attempts TO SANDER the people Of Southampton and the
recent proceedings in the House Of Delegates relative IN
inc eo'orea Of the State then verify his sagaci-
~ can only be equaed by that of the old lady, who de-
cared that she had foeseen that the COW would cal tho
grind-sone. Wv w
The aborcd effort of Appomatox to prove that mo c,
were entertained by the people of this Commonwealth
in consequence of the Southampton massacre was nro,
py intended Tor the Information offorcgnersas he must
have known, that every body here knew lust AS much
ABOUT mat subject as he did himself And YOU all know
and 1t Is no dscredt TO the State 10 ackno H. Thai
great though underlined apprehensons did exist i'm the
minds OF the people througho the Commonwealth, a, H.
time and shortly after that dreadful tragedy was acted
aud that there were many of stout hearts as an m
the world, who apprchended that much mischief migb I've
done by the insurgents before they could be reduced 10
subsection NO man. it is true, could nationally have he
leyed that the negroes get the bt
still that they might have done much mischief was
rent to every one Nor do the advocates Of emancipation
pretend that any efforts which the slaves can make n III
by h,.
cess all that they assert is, that even now they NAV do
much mischief and that the time come if thew be
not removed when owing to the rapid increase of their
numbers, they may make the struggle at least doub,l
one The fears entertained the consequences which
WIN ensue from the continued existence slavery In the,
State are not the effects of mity or present alarm but
oil calm reflection upon which lead TO certain and
inevitable results They are such fears wise statesmen
always entertain, when they uponthe superstition that
unless they provide for the defence the nation aranst
approaching DANGER the consequences will be fatal to the
State And it would be just rational TO undertake To-
persuade those who conduct the affairs of The National 20
vcrnment, not TO build ships of war; or to erect frca
tons the coast lest might be IMPUTED 10 fear .s 20
endeavor to dissuadc the people of Virginia from endea
vourng get rid of their slaves by shamng them ont Of
it, They cannot be deceived by arice rarely practis
ed, except with Children and which never succeed
with an intelligent people.
This writer has given what he no doubt considered 40
very accurate account OF the proceedings House
OF Delegates relative 10 colored population must
however, be permitted TO mention some circumstan.
ces which appear 10 have escaped his observation and
OF dputng the differences which he draws fon,
such facts he has stated. His narration begins with the
presentation of certain concerning the free no
grocs. be allowed to go little farther hack and
TO mention which prevailed to xent At the
beginning OF the winter, time when il was gene
rally anticipated that effort would be made during the
present session. TO remove the cooed population from the
state. The ruinor was that gentleman of distinguish
ed talents from the South side OF River had acr
ally taken rooms at boarding house in the city, and in
tended to spend the winter here in order prevent any
effort being made by the Legislature at its present
10 interfere wl. 1he subject slavery in any And
into this subject this winter, should succeed that then The
gentleman aludedo and the reputod author ppomatox
were 10 10 the General Assembly to nut ~
question oil emancipation at rest forever. Whether This
conjecture well founded not cannot undertake a.,
ue'erhhe; dd not think il at all improbable am will
ing to take the statement of Appomaitox as to tIe nuhn
oil petitions and the number of persons which Stoned cat
TO be coec norris il important whether his statement i;
accurate In every other respect But il is material an
proper that should sew that the mputation or nco
O' uuV winch he attempts to fix upon the Select Com
nave Deeh presented TO the House of Delegates peu-
hons from ftcece counties and citizens in all nrav
ing that some provision should be made by law for the
remoVa oil me Tree negroes from the Commonwealth =
" "e" views, II Is obvious hostile to all schemes of
emancipation whatever; and their petitions seem not as
" yet, to have attracted any serious notice - And ,
lte further on, in speaking of the motion made bv Mr.
oode TO discharge the committee from the further eonsi
defanon oil the petitions referred them he saws This
committee having been (or reason not necessary
to be enquiredinio) rather slow in making its report
Now, cannot agree with Appomattox thai il n obvion
d uoSe VINO peuuoned fer the OF the free me-
groes, were hostile to all schemes of emancpation Whale
ver On the contrary, think it will be perfectly obvious
tn al
the petitions that the petitioners are not only NOT obvov
opposed to- but that they obviously in favor Of some
scheme Tor removing the whole of our coored popuIaon
Nor can agree with Appomattox that the peIions pray
ing Tor the removal of the free negroes have NOT rcceved
the serious attention of the Committees or that he had The
slightest ground for making such an mputation against
hen II is notorious fact, that as soon as il was sun
PoSed mat all the memorials upon the subject of the coored
POpuauoh which members had expected to receive had
been presented 70 the House, the Committee mot al
as soon as hey had disposed of number of petitons
rom me county oil southampton praying for compcnsa
uon Tor slaves killed during the nsurrection (which nc
nuohs ny the bye, AppomaoX has entirely overlooked
hey devoted Their attention every morning from an carly
nouT' unui The House met exclusively TO the considcr
uon OF inc petitions Tor the removal of e free neproes
uh lhey were ready to report upon it, is notoyous
TOO That at the time Mr.. Goodies motion was made anI
before Appomattox had written his essay that the Com
mittee had actually reported bin conformity TO tho
prayer oil hose petitions which had been printed and the
iact noticed III the newspapers. And notwithstanding all
us seems TO AppomattoX, that these petitions had not
attracted the serious attention of the Committee
Equally erroneous was the impression of Appomattox that
e s'oWness oil the Committee TO report on the business
before i was the cause which induced Mr. Goode TO sub
NIT his notion Fort will probably be remembered bv
every member OF the House of Delegates that before Mr.
uoode submitted his motion, he enquircd the Chairman
"en ne would be ready to report upon the business re-
naming before the Committee, and that the Chairman
stated twice, distinctly that the Committee would be allie
10 report IN very short time, certainly within week
upon the petitions praying Tor the abolition of slavery IA
IS proper also TO state the fact that the Committee did ac-
ualy meet two days after The discussion ON Mr. Goodies
mouon commenced, and in fifteen minutes agreed to a