Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-02-02
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
. tFoURTH DAYl-Friday, January 20.
DEBATE on Mr.. GooDE's Resolution, and Mr.. RAN
DOLPu's Substitute.


Heretofore, the Western part ofths State has been pro-
eced from this redundant slave population by the charac
ter oil ITS grazing and agricultural enploymens by the
Vulnerable outlets through which escaped every por-
ton oil the Union; but particularly by the Souther,
demana' which carried of large portion OF this surplus
properly 10 LOUISIANA where il found profitable market
This was our projections; and pronounce it, Sir, our o
protection But now, Maryland on the North has closed
her territory against the further importation of our blacks
-Pennsyvania is engaged in Iegisla,ing with view to
the result-Kentucky has taken the alarm and the
Southern markets are closed against What, Sir, will
now become oil expectation Of slave property
which annually subsractcd FROM yet could not keep down.
this prolific and rapidly increasing race. Will the gentle
man from brunswick inform what is to become of this
redundant black populations Occuded from the South
cncompasscd by the Ocean the East-the Pennsy vana
portcuis closed-the North and West guarded casted
and scntineed- ask Sir is TO become of il, The
result is inevitable that great law of nature
by which fluids seek their level Sir will not the waters
thus dammedup flow back TO the arthest Western extrem
ties of this Commonwealth TViH not the Pennees ga
nish Shall not become universal slay holding
and slave destroyed people.
Sir, uniformity in political views feelings and interests
in all the parts OF this widely Stale would adj
nit, be extremely desrabeBut that uniformity is pur
chased at too dear rate when the bold and intrepid To-
roster OF the West must yield TO the othu and
Atrican-and those hills and vales which until have
re-echoed with the songs and industry of reemcn shall
have become converted into dcsoaon and barrennes by
the whitening footsteps OF slavery Sir native, sub
stantia independent yeomanry constitute PRIDE eff
cheney and strength; they defence in war;
naments in peace and no populations will venture to af
frm upon the face of the GLOBE distinguished for
an elevated love OF ireedomior morality, virtue, frugal
independence, than the Virginia peasanry west of
the Blue Ridge-Sr, may Heaven protect from that
curse, by which alone, noble be extermina
ted from their castles and inhcritancel
Sir, il the proposition submitted this BODY to
prohibit the further introduction of slaves wcsto the Blue
Ridge, think you that such proposition would the
concurrence othe gentleman from Mecklenburg and those
who act with him! am II would not, Sir speak
advisedy when say know that that gentleman would
vote far division OF the State, before he would support
such measure And why! Because you thus deprive
the east of the only market open them, for the dis
position of their surplus slaves An commercial
tecourse is thus fondy anticipated in the fancy of these
gentlemen, bctween'the and the west. New ties and
attachments us more closely in the
bonds OF intimate and rateal union Human flesh
be the staple OF that trade human blood the cement of that
connexion Andn return for the rich products vae
are we TO receive the nicely measured and graduated limbs
evening the debate upon the and reference
the Hanover petitions remarked TO me, Why do you gen.
temen from the West suffer yourselves be famed into
such tempest of passion when the subject of slavery
introduced in the House!The time will come thabe-
fore long, when there will be diversity Of interest or feel
ing among us on when shall all equally repre-
sent asavehodng INTEREST,"! Sir, il any such
possible consequence to my country, that of the
humblest but not the least determined, the Western
delegation, have raised my voice for emancipation. Sir
tax our andsvilify countrycarry the sword of ex
termination through defenceess villages but spare
us, mpore you spare us the of saveryhat bit
tcrcst drop from the chalice of the destroying angel
Sir, the people of the West undertake 10 say feel
Deep lively generous sympathy for their Eastern bret
rem. They know that the evils which atilict them
are not attributable TO fault of hersthat slavery
introduced against their wilthat are indebted Tor
to the commercial cupdiy OF that hearess empire which
has never failed to sacrifice every principle of right and
jusiccevery feeling OF honor and humanity, the ag-
grandiZement of her and manufactures. Sir,
have lands VIC have houses, we have property and
willing to pledge them all 10 any extent aid you
in removing this evil Yet, will not that you shall
extend 10 us the evils under which you labor. We
will not that you shall make fair oman the rcccpa
Gle of your of political filth and corruption. No
Sir before submit such terms, violent convul-
sions must agitac this State.
Sir, shall we be told that the Nest has no cause for
aarm that the character and pursuits of people pre-
sent nsuperble obstacles the of an excessive
slave population amongst us! Sir the SUGGESTION is
contracted by the past history of that portion the
Stately uniform observation and experience The slave
populaonhas increased since 1890 the country the west
oil the Blue Ridge, in ratio the whites euIa 10 lis
increase in any other portion of Virginia 1t has increased
in ratio alarming every Western patriot In 1890 there
were west of the Blue Ridge, but 1918 slaves-By the
Census OF $780, it appears that have 50 ,437 1t
has thus nearly qddIied in forty years. If such is the
result of the ordinary Of the increase of that
Populaton-exposed too 10 continual drain has been
the case with us by expectation the Southern markets
what pray you, will be the of its increase now
that the southern markets closed-and the flood
gates oi Eastern redundancy opened upon us? Ii
presensa prospect too horrible to contemplate
Sir, the gentleman from Brunswick has made disco
very for which the West certainly feel under inf
mite obligations TO him. He has discovered that we have
actual interest in the retention of the slaves as source
OF taxation; the proceeds OF which he triumphantly re-
marks may be applied to the construction of Rail Roads,
Canals, and all other magnificent projects oil Western
bition Surely, so exquisite piece of irony must have
been designed by the gentleman from Brunswick 10 relax
the neavlhesS oil ueDate Docs he suppose that have
so soon forgotten the past Legislation this State upon the
great interests of Western improvements cold and
stepdame-like refusal OF our prayers and petitions for
lei! Does he suppose that have forgotten his own
very recent and eloquent declaration of hostility to the
loan!or the history OF the amendcdi would rather call
it, Sir, P"nic Constitution of this State, by which
have been constuonally prohibited by the distribution
oil political power from applying that sacred fund TO any
such unlawful purpose the improvement Of the physi-
cal condition of this Commonwealth.
Sir, take occasiont assure the gentleman from Bruins
wick that in the appeal which he has made to our cup-
dy and ambition, he has mistaken the feelings of the
Western Delegation We not Sir, think to be pur-
chased by noneystill less by promises of money! from
one who avows that he cannot upon principle grant
what we ask trust, Sir, in this cause, acuated
by purcr and holicr move-the hope of comforting
lasting and imperishable benefit upon our country.
Sir, the gentleman from Brunswick has stignatised our
proposition as monstros novel and extraordinary That
gentleman certainly in giving ucrance to such ephets,
must for the moment and in the ardOur OF debate have
forgotten portion Of our history with which sure
he is familiar When and with whom did the idea of cx-
unguishng this national originator With ippant
politicians with deuded enthusiastic with Western States
men8 A brief reference TO its history will satisfy him
Inc idea oil gradual emancipation and removal OF the
slaves from this Commonwealth Is coeva with the dcca-
ration OF your Independence from the British yoke.
neral Assembly, subsequent the formation Of your Re
publican Government II was properthcre a fitness
OF things in the fact, that bencfcent object the
plan for the gradual extinction of slavery in this State
should have been the twin offspring Of that mind, which
gave birth TO the Bill Of Rights and to the ACT for Religious
Freedom. fact honorable TO the public spirit and
humanity fhat age-so worthy oihe genius and expand.
cd philanthropy OF those with whom originated,
be too often REQUIRED to- too proudly cherished
Sir, II were called upon TO designate period in
your history, which more than any other ffaugh