Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-03-02
[COMMUNICATED.]
Extracts from, Debate IN the Legislature Of Virginia
ON the subject Of tSLacey.

ISTRopUcT1oN-A subject Of great and absorbing
interest claims the consideration OF the people OF Virginia
has been freely and ably discussed IN our Oenera
will probably be again brought orward in the next Lssa
The question is Whether Commonwealth shall always con-
oppressed and impoverished BY the evils OF
ar whether there cannot devised for removing from
among the future increase Of the slaves without INJURY 10 TIE
masters.
pe to the subect-o present facts for their
before them such parts of the Debate IN the Rouse
Delegates will enable them judge OF the state Of Puc o
niun in Virginia this important question:
In Republican country like this where the People airs the So
veregn rulers, highly important that every man. ana
ally every voter, should think tor himself and that he souo'
making up his opinions endeavOr to discard every ud'ce
education and every party feelings in order that he may
| act for the good of his country
the ecery in the community ana esper-
the working who his living b ms own honest Id
bo and wishes to rear children in habits OF industry
There is no class earth well calculated to preserve
the State in Of emergency and to direct her councils a
as that middle class which chiefly composed OF industrious lar
and mechanics, who know their own rights anu are
enough to Judge rights OF Others The voters o Virginia
generally Of this class and to them belongs to say whether
the Of Slavery shall be entaed upon our Postey to the
generations whether native State shall awake from
ethargy asunder the cords which bind her t" the EARTH
again take the lead the States the Uno as She was
wont to do in the days of her glory.
In reading debates which have lately taken place at Rich
mond. will observed that attempts to deny that sla
very is an ey-and evil of alarming magnltude-It
generally admitted be the OF the poverty and
ruin that every visible the Eastern part of the State;
crease as they have done whites still continue egate
the West the far distant when the coored popula
will have overwhelming superiority IN numbers
This view OF the subject is skngy illustrated IN the speech OF
General Bodnax Of which annexed and the same power
speaker proved conousvely that something must
be and done speedily to remove burthen which every
day growing oppressive
When we look around among neighbours and how
Of them been enriched by the labor ct their slaves
and how brought into debt by them, we can
help wondering why they continue to hold such unPohaoe
property the humane feelings OF the masters which
generally prevent from selling their slaves; and the high
ue that has been placed them by the domestic Save trade
great obstacle to mauumsson.
The experience all ages proves that like this.
where boers abundant produce cheap there profit
in Slave labor because get work for the
subssence and there be doubt that the price Of
slaves in irgna will fall almost nothing so soon as the de-
maud for the Southern and Western States shall! cease
Louisiana law prevent being
brought for sale; aud highly probable that other States
and West will follow her example; and then Vrg
MA having outlet for her redundant slave population the
of them dwnde down nothing and the State will be obi
ged them he liberated here provide means tor sending
them away
better, then would be for slavehoers to agree
give up future increase Of their staUcs for moderate
be removed at the expense OF the State
Government country that they call their
and where they will enjoy all those civil privileges which
are denied them here Among various propositions which
have the Legislature, has proposed that
present OF slaves should be taken from their
without their consent and there probability that
will be adopted impair the value OF this OF
perry.
There can be no that,
anon. the soil would be cultivated with
features of kind would spring around the value Of
property would improve and aspect would be given to
the face of the Old Dominion.
That useful and industrious class of men who
leaving and seeking for homes the Western Country. nigh
be induced here this greatest of evils could be
for tendency Of always has been take the
subsistence from the aboing aud industrious white
aud thus to reduce them to poverty
will be by the Debates the Legislature. some
from which presented to the pubc that of
greatest who themselves Shareholders and who live in
the lower counties, where slaves most think that
something be done relieve of these evils and that the
means o do it fully within reach.
Let then Citizens. take this subject into serious
and let choose represent the Legsla
who will whatever wise and Efficient
be brought forward to free from this alarming evil.
| HOUSE OF DEIEG ATES.
| WEpNESD Y JANUARY H.
Mr. Goode of Mecklenbug the following
luton:
Re,oired That the Select Committee raised the subject of
slaves free and the melancholy growing
of the rasca Southampton be discharged from
consideration of ali petitions, memorials and resolutions which
have for their the manumon of persons held in ervtude
under the existing laws of this Commonwealth and that
expedlent 10 iegis'ate on the subject.