Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-09

disaircetcl slaves would. be palmed upon them,
have passed laws prohibit their admission. They
! have passed such laws before and repealed them.
They will repeal them again. They will be evadcd
| even whilst in force. They planters and
mnst have regular supply of labourcrs. The
planting interest in tho West Indies aud elsewhere,
opens market, it is said for l00, 900 Africans,
nually.
! Another fallacious method has been adopted of
dcducing appalling results. 1t is assumed, that
tho present number of slaves iii the State (t69 724
VIII be doubled i'll certain number .: years
and within certain period thereafter it will DO
doubled agan--and go on I'D infniium-untii Al
no distant period we are 10 have millions on mil
lions 1t is well known fact in the economy of
population, that alter il attains Il certain bulk the
rate OF increase gradually lessons and finally "a
ses. The present population of tho whole earth is
probably no greater than it was thousand yc RS
ago But this systea of doubling i, quite harm
less if the whites be allowed to double also. In
decd it presents cheering aspect. The excess Of
III, whites over tho saves, in 1890, was 10 400. 1t
is now 22i,7l4, and when tho whites and slaves
shall both have doubled again, the difference in ia
your of the former will be upwards of AIS, 900.
Is there safety in this difference? The number
OF slaves in :. Carolina, and also in Louisiana, has
for long time, greatly exceeded that of the whites.
In many of the w. India Islands, tho proper
ton has been more than . to |, yet we have heard
OF no rebeilions or instructions except in the
case OF ST. Domingo. That was owing TO
peculiar causes. 1t ~ now matter of history,
that IT was occasoncd by the discussions and doc
trlncs OF tho National Assembly of France Lii
bcrty and equality docrscd to all nations and
even the w. India slave had his post in the mise
rab!e pageant of Anacharsis Cloots. All this was
communicated, By the free ne groes, to tic slaves,
who were thus excited TO the preparation of that
| horrible massacre. Let gentlemen remember the
causes of this catastrophe, and consider how "a il
is proper here TO indulge in the discussion of alb
stract principles.
| The tragedy of Southampton is held up to
| our view as an argument that admits of no rcfuta
tltlOn, and sufficient Ia outwciui,
sions TO " oh minds might be brought by
reason and reflection. 1t was indeed an appalling
occurrence-not from its importance or conso.
quences-but from the decp.toned atrocitv that
characterized it-fot, it has happened only once
IN the course of near sixty years, which have
elapsed since became independent paoplo
And is this solitary calamity-so brief and rare
Ito change tho whole tenor of our lives
and upit the very foundations of society? To
allow single disaster TO outweigh the lonr socu
rlty oiyoars, would be absurd as TO deducc the
principles of philosophy from the eccenrictics of
nature, instead of her customary habits All that
human wisdom do is to calculate the chances
of evil, and abide by that which is comparatiyelv
remote Ncsuvlus Iabors, perhaps, once in cen
tary, and cities are buried under it, burning lava
Get the peasant who dwells at its foot feels :,
comfortable sense OF security, and plants his vine
on The soil vhich has gathered over the ruins OF
fompcil, with as fair promise their fruits as if
he dwelt in tho broadest plain in Italy Whittier
shall VIC go to escape all dangcrs7 They beset our
one form, they are TO meet us in another
L throughout the world, there is not a spot where
lie is more secure than in Virginia; and of all the
ousy agents OF death, not one has disturbed society
so little as instruction. Yet, gentlemen will have
It that we are surrounded with perils and have ar
rayed them before in forms so terrible that tho
gloomy genius of Salvador Rosa could have added
nothing to the picture. They have talked
! TO us OF passing the Rubicon" and ''wading in
bleod;' and warned us that s'the elements are in
motion" and ga crisis is at hand" When these
and other prophetic bodings fell upon nv ear in
all the melancholy madness of cloquence, could
scarcely persuade myself that some great and inn
pending ruin was not about TO burst over our
heads. L almost fancicd that heard the war.crv
and tho clash of arns-that the Gauls w,ro
mounting the Capitoline Hill-that stood, again
In the House OF Burgesscs, and heard that lofty old
Roman, Patrick Henry, procaiming TO hi. ae
! founded audience, that was inevitablo-,ha,
their enemy was already forging their chains, and
an appeal to arms and the God of hosts was ali
that was left. But, sir, listen not to the deco n.
tive voice OF eloquence, 1t is the orators art 10
raise the storDl--to invoke the thunder, and i'm
press its tcrrors on our bewidered senses Trust
! him MOTOR there is no ''criss." When "the el-
ements are in motion"-whcn Olympus does from.
bic and the bolt is hurled from the rcdrioht arm Of
JoVc let us summon all the energies Of our nature
TO meet the occasion as it deserves. But, sir
there Is no dangcr-thcre will he none unless our
! own indiscrction produce it. | beseech you sir
to pause and reflect before on embark in this ne.
rIlous enterprise. Without the steady and faithful
support public opinion, through long series of
years, no law you may pass, be eiFectual-
Have you any assurance of such support So far
from 1t solcmny warn you that whatever act of
emancipation you may pass will be received with
general reprobation. And if you pass an act that
violates the right of property in slaves it will be
met with the sharp, quick remedy of resistance
| ltfwIll shake this ancient Commonwealth to its
| centrc-it will sever it in twain. Then in truth
the Rubicon will have been passed, and we cannot
pause until fall at the base OF Pomncv,s
| statue Then indeed, if the ''genius of enamel
patton" be tcnd and deli ght in ruin she we'll
may smile that 'thc work goes braYelv onn
will not dctan you longer, sir In EXPRESSING
my opinions on this subject have endeavored TO
dlvest myself of every feeling that might disturb
'hG exercise OF my reason, and to address myself
soieiy 10 the understanding, and not the passions
OF this body. In doing so, | have zone perhons
too Tar into details, and fearful of having IA
tgucd your attention. But shall not reoretit if
/ hove succeeded in Pcrsuading single friend of
c"oItoH TO pause and reflect before he advances
farther. / took part in this discussion with no
expectation of winning laurels. That is teserv
ca Tor those who advocate emancpa ton They
claim already the merit of intrepidity and if they
succeed in their object they will be crowned it is
sad, with immortal Donors. l. on the contrary
| and those who think with me, must submit to no
charge OF being too timid to keep pace with suhe
I spirit Of the age"
lherc IN only event that can re-
dound to our crcdit-and trust in Heaven tbat
/ may never happen. 1T our warning voice be dsre
! gardcd, and the attempt be made and fail amidst
/ inc eIccrations OF ruined People, then, indeed
! we may prefer some claim to prudence and discern.
ment' 1t may be too, that have mistaken the wish
! eS aud interests of my constituents I was eloct
cd before this subject had attracted attention, and
III have had no opportunity of making their opi.
| mons known to me l have obeyed the honest
dictates of my judgment, and acted in conformity
10 my own clear convection Of the true interests
of the people | represent and of society pcnerallv
III the course i have taken involves any