Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-08

House OF DELEGATEs.

ItOOSE OF
SEVENTH DAY. l-Uednesday, January Is.
DEBATE on Mr. GoopE's Resolution Mr. RANpoIpu's
Substitute, the Report Of the Committee on Siares,
and Mr. PREsroN's Motion to amend.
Mr. BRowN's Spccch-Contnued.l
The Gentleman from Berkeley has bounlless resources
and dare it is mmaeria with him. whether by the
law or the constitution, slaves property not. Let
them be what they may he entcrtairs another principle
winch places them all at his mercy. He says they
dangerous to the public saety and may, therefore, be
"abaed as nuisance" The idea of destroying some
noSious object that eDgenders peence aud is obviously
injurious TO the life and property in its immediate vicinity
Is familiar TO all But did before conceive
ue 'ho"gnt oil aoaung as nuisance whole popula-
Ton, constituting organic part OF the frame and charac
ter OF the body polite? The artillery of the law appre
hend Sir is too light for the postraton of gigantic
so undetinabe object There now, he saws but
few slaves among the people he represents, the evil
approaching them, and must he arrested He is
sed with the erection OF barrier around his borders
but claims the right 10 down into the infected dis
tric and TO eradicate the evil according his views
OF expectancy at the expense ohe slave holder in order
TO insure the welfare OF neigbong community. What
principle is it, Sir that lies disguised under this fair
exterior? 1t is the doctrine of the holy alliance
the very basis on which they have consolidated their
power and through the operation of which, the
tons OF Europe lie bleeding and Geicnceloss their feet
They too, claim the privilege of regulating the affairs
Of contiguous States, with view the welfare of their
own subjects. Constituting themselves the Judges of
what is or is not evilas well Of the and mode
OF redress they never need pretext for interfering when
their interests their passions urge them onward is
TO maintain the independence of ncighborng nations
they parcel out their territories among themselves aud
the better TO preserve perpetual that they march
their armies the face of Europe. From a pretend
ed socude for the repose of nations they have denounc-
ed the revolution of France curse-hey have
crushed the manged remains of Poland and under the
abused pretence OF humanity and necessity they plant
their deSolang feet every soil that bears germ of
liberty Sir this is dangerous rule of action and will
be fatal TO peace whenever it shall be attempted.
Self-prescrvaon is the law Of nature, and preventive
measures are sometimes necessary. But the danger
must not be anticipatedt must not be doubul-it
be urgent, imminent, inevitable.
The gentleman from Berkeley has warned u.s. empha-
cally that the VESTS firm and united in favor of enanc
patton Sir do not presume to speak the sentiments of
that people, There is small portion of them to whom
lately bore an intimate political relation, aud whom
shall be bound by the strongest ties of gratitude and
affection The liberal opinions already expressed by one
of their representatives this floor in accordance
with the feelings should have ascbed his constituents
on such subject This is 10 Inc, cheering augury and
should not be surprised il the gentleman from Berkeley
should, eventually find himself unsupported in the ground
as to the reasons which his The may
vote Tor emancipation, but not because they consider slaves
not property property held at the pleasure OF the
legislature The late convention and the that led
to it, are fresh in the recollection of ALL 1t now mat
ter OF history that the argument urged by
against that was that il endangered the security
of slave property The dsclaimed again and again.
on every INT occasion all intention of disturbing that sub
Jec In the humble part which il my act ia
those scenes, disavowed this floor any such object
and with the concurrence OF those who then acted with
me- oereda specific guarantee for slave property in
der TO quiet the apprchensions of the east The object Of
the west was an equal representation the basis Of white
population, which thought then, and still think the only
rue repubhcan principles oil representation. They
dreamed then, of moesting the Shareholder in the enjoy
men of his property. IL is true, their purposes were
not accomplished by the convention, and they may Justly
complain OF being denied equal representation the
true basis But will they DO injustice Others because
they wrongcd hemseves Can they retract the SEN
timcnts and feelings so often avowed on the subject of
slaves'
Sir, have the umos, confidence in the course which
will be pursued OH this subject by gentlemen
SO lar they conceive the interests of their constituents
TO be concerned, they will of course pursue the dictates of
their own judgment But far as they can persuade
themselves thatitis matter chiefly and peculiarly affect
ing eastern Virginia they will be governed by generous
and rnagnaDimous policy. And Sir, Notwithstanding all
that has been said TO excite their apprehensons the
people OF the west perceive, in the pecuariies of their
situation, satisfactory for believing that slavery
never will exist TO any Objectionable amongst them
The people OF the east planters Slaves the
suitable labourers for them Any number of them may
work TO advantage together. Their abours are of kind
which white men arc rarely found willing engage in
The people of the west the other hand, are farmers
and grazers. They need comparatively but few la
bourers, and those only for certain periods of the year
White men can always be found for light and agreea-
bic empioyments. The husbandman would prefer hiring
to owning manbecausc, upon calculation OF interest,"
he would rather pay abourer for his work and let him
his way, than be burdened with his support
the year; whether wanting not-and from the cradle to
the grave. few slaves there may be, in the west fill
the menia domestic offices, but they viii er become
the abourcrs OF that region Look the face of the
union, and the abundant evidence of this fact Sla-
very has disappeared from the middle states
and TO be found only where planting is The characters
tic occupation. This, Sir is merely because slaves ceased
10 be profitable there. 1T asrom principle of economy
and not from a sentiment of morality or religion That
such not the motives Of northern brethren is
proved by the fact which believe snoorious that they
sent oil many OF their slaves 10 southern market in
der to avoid the operation of their emancipation laws a
exact parallel may be found in the Carolina
interior districts of which, bear resemblance
Virginia. On the seaboad of those states slaves hear
much greater proportion TO the whites than here In
the mountainous districts, there are comparatively few.
That dark which haunts the fancy of the gentleman
from Kenhawa has there been rolling centuries against
mountains not lofty ours, and yet il has only
little spray beyond. Let that gentleman dismiss his ap
prehensons. The foot Of the negro delights in the
dew OF the mountain grass. He is the child of the
sandy desert. The burning gives him life and
vigour, and his step is Joyous on the arid plain
in the peculiares of their climate their habits feel
ings aud pursuitsin the fixed and unaterable laws
oil naurethey have cHcctual Gordon Sdnifaire
than any with which Legislative art can environ them.
But TO return from this digrcssion-for such con-
sderit-to the proposition of the gentleman from Al
bcmae. Some credit is claimed for il on the ground of
its being the plan of Mr. Jefferson Sir no man holds in
greater respect than do the character services of
Mr. Jefferson Ills memory needs no euIogy from me.
The author of the Declaration of Independence, and the
acknowledged champion OF domocracy-thc patron Of
science-the founder Of laws and identified with all
the important which have elevated his country
the submit of greatness his fame is beyond the reach
Of cayi dctrdction, aud when impartial history shall
have done her Office, and the moss OF ages shall have
gathered his grave, postcrty will concur in the suf
frage which prOnounces him the alcst statesman, Of
the purcst republic upon earth Admitting this 10 be The
plan OF this great man, and according all the respect
it deserves that account let tell you Sir that the
most vain and Improbable OF all human efforts Is that Of
resumine the unfinished labOfs Of the "mighv dead ="
The agmensof their thoughts not only vaIueess
dangerous. The genius which conceived then, is
necessary TO fill their details and select the 80