Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-13

u In order to prepare sketch for the paper of
the day, we were compelled greatly to abrdge Gen.
BrodnaX's remarks in reply to the enquiry addressed
to him by Mr.. Goode yesterday. We submit 4
full report. The extreme interest of the subjc
will have excused the abridgment i'll the paper of
yesterday, and for the full report the atten-
ton the subject demands.
Mr.. BRoDNAX remarked that, in reply TO the en-
quiry which had been propounded to him. Chair
man of The Select Committee, on the subject re-
erred to- he was gratified to have it in his power
to give an answer which he hoped would be entire
y satisfactory to the House; that it would be re.
mcmbered that a considerable mass of business had
been referred to that Committee for it's considera-
ton; that, of this, there class, consisting OF
numerous memorials and petitions, praying the
enactment of laws of private character, and on sub
ecis of no general interest to the community,
on all OF which, with the exception OF particular
one, which was not deemed by its friends cxpc-
dent yet to bring before the Committee, reports
had already been made to the House, that there
were two other subjects before them, general in
their character, and all absorbing in their interest
One related 10 the removal of free persons of color
from the Commonwealth, and the other arose on
certain memorials which prayed the adoption OF
some symtem for the gradual extinction of slavery
the former of which, alone, was calculated, from
it's nature, to involve much of the tise or labor OF
the Committee. a system was to be cyised to at
tain this great and desirable object, consisting OF
NUMEROUS uetaliS, complicated, delicate, and dIt
cult IN their character: that these difficulties and
embarraSsmcntS, of necessity, resulted from the
novelty of the sub vct. 1t was, indce no ordina
ry subject of legislation, aid was 10 he derived
from the lights of former experience The Com
mtcc had TO feel its way at every step in its pro-
cccdings the views Of different members would be
various and often discrcpant not only on each OF
the general principles involved but on each of the
nunbcrlcss details essentially necessary to work
out comprehensive plan All these were to he
considered, and compared, and decided. In dom q
so, II often became necessary to rctrace stCp
found TO be defective or erroneous in its corsc-
qRcnia provisions, and to assume a new direction.
All this had been patiently, and he would add most
laboriousiy effected. Tho Committee had, during
that very morning, concluded Its series of rcsoin-
tons, which asccrtaincd lis opinions and dcci. ions
every subject necessary to enter into the compost
ton If bill, and having instructed lis Chairman
TO draft one, had risen with Il determination not
TO sit again until Friday morning next, when no
doubt, the bill would be reported 10 the House.
That this had been decided on, not only for
the purpose Of allowing time for the preparation of
a bill necessarily long, but also To present oppcr
tunitics TO two other very important Commit
tees of he Housc-thst for Courts of Justice.
and that Of Finance, to hold intermediate sog-
sions, subjects of pressing importance
before them; tho Committees had been so con-
situted, almost from necessity, tha. while the
Select COMMITTEE sitting, a sufficient NUM-
Der of the members of neither of the other two
could be obtained to form quorum. While on the
subject he remarked that nc knew the nuuirics
propounded by his friend from Meckenburr did
not proceed from any impression on his part
of any improper tardincss or inattcntion on the
part of this Committee to their duties, but as sur
gostions had found their way into some of orr
newspapers, whose Editors he knew had not nj
tended the Committee, and could know nothing of