Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-14
Speech Of ,Hr. BERRY of Jefferson


winch tn r. are about four Thousand .avcs be-
ing myself slave holder, and. may saw further
that 'he urges. interest in property, that have
IA virginia, lies about one hundred miles East
OF The Blue x dgc, and consists Of land and
SaVcs-under these circum>tuuccs | hone |
shall be excused by my Eastern brethren for
SAYING few WORDS ON tins important, and deem.
~ interesting subject. That slavery is a nrind-
Jag curse upon this Safe, | mad supposed.
would have been admitted by all, and that the
only question for debate here, would have been
'he IoSSIRILITY, OF removing the evil. But
SIR IN tins, F.! have been disappointed. I have
been astonlshed, TO fad that there are advocates
| here for slavery, with all its effects Sir. this
| only proves no" far, how very far, we NAV be
carried by pecnnary interest; it proves what
has been said by an immortal bard
That man is unco weak
And little to be trusted,
1T self the wavcrng balance shakc
i Is rarely right adj ustcd.
Sir, believe that no cancer on the physical
ooay was ever more certain, steady, and fatal in
ITS progress, than is this cancer on the poIiticnI
body OF the State Of Virginia. It's eaiing in,
TO her very y'tais. And sh al we admit thai Tho
evil is past remedy? Shall we act the norf Of -
pNhy patient. suffering under the ravares of
i'iai disease, who would say the remedy is too
painful, the dose IS too nauscous. cannot bear
II, ana "ho would close lis eyes in Lcspair. and
eve himself up to death? No sir. would bco;
ne knife, o"d tho cnutery, for the sake of
he"th; WOnld never despair Of the Repub-
Ac. 70! M self, would abandon hope on this
SUBJECT and the State together But sir. as
!oh@ as there is hope that this evil Will be re
mo"cn, VIII stick to the good Old Dominion
ana believe there are thousand; in The State
WHO Tee! as do on This subject If we do not
give !. up, what shall we gain by the delay? Is
IHc eva beng diminished? No FIR. Like a
nigh'y avalanche, It is rolling towards us. ac-
c"niulailng weight and impetus at every turn.
ana SIR II VIC 90 nothing 10 arrest its progress.
II VIII Ultimately ovcrwhelm AND tlcatrov us for
ever. The gentleman from Mcckenbnro = no
opened TINS debate, seemed to think that great
excitement, and strange ,clusons had been
Psoduced by the action CT this House. before
'hls debate began think thc gentleman was
entirely mistaken: whatever cXciic,ncnts or do
,.s'ons may have existed among the people, be
'oTc th!s dcbptc began, were pr duced bv cau.
es anterior 10 any motion on the subject in This
HoAsc. Inc trasc'y of S;outhanp;on had n
reused The people OF Virginia, from fatal IL
'"EFF! on ihs Sugcct aud ! ardcntIy hope It
may produce some aa glorious results for fiis
state, as dId some ef the tragedies recorded IN
me annals OF antiquity for ancient Rome ri
the gentlemen frorH Mecklcnbu5p, is not ont
tied 10 the mort Of producing this debate he
Is certainly emitted to Tic merit of sccaIerotjng
H. anu probably Of giving 10 it much more
expanded and dscursgc character. iLon :, |
deferred n
I'll The committee had reported / for one. sm |
grateful to hlm for il believe i. is biob limo
hat this subject should be discussed. and c5nsi
dercd by The people of Virginia. believe fho,
'Ho people are AwAKEHED on the SUBJECT. but |
not ALARMED; believe rhcy will consider if
calmly and decide upon it correctly. SIR.
nave u" fears now for any general results from,
shy efforts at lGs.rrccrIon, by this nnrortrnatn
Cas- OF our population. Know, that we have
ne power o crush any such effort AT q biov,
Know that any such effort on their pnrt at This /
d,y' Wl.! end IN the anniliation Of all concerned
IN 1t. And | believe our greatest security.
49, Is III th'Ir knowledge e thCse things. in .
.dhr knowledge ut their own weakness. None
'0l The mos. ignorant and fluatical will oi,crpt
u N'"-lh" better informed KNOWING the etf,,f
j. hopeless, desperate. will not mako il pLo
southampton affair WIS the work Of the mos,
u ho'a"i, dcudcd. rC'Ches on earth Thai
VS. a snail cH3lr, as il affected the general
.'i'' y OF tbc Stale; bat II was most horrible
tragedy. The attitude Of tho cnigens Of fbis
"o5, distressing insecurity individually We
are IKE a cr,wd OF people towards whom
'.H-.c nan, should pOint a loaded gun, with tho
apparent intent to fire upon them. They knox
'n caH@r. ill them I'll, but each feels tbst his
WV" ''e rs ~ perl. 80 here we Know not when .
H'F' OF where this owl may as3,rl u.s.
admired ,Iie philosophy. mot TO use hnrghor
.a'm. O.. The gentleman from Brunswick. which
.Ha'.n4 ijm to turn the whole Southq,np,on az .
aTIm'o ri';"o!c. lie told VS. he mad Witnessed
nat tr"gety or a part Of it.. sir, had ( wit
jeS''l lint tragedy, I an sure could never
'veth't Of il lad smiled. But Sir al houph | !
rye no i.a-s for any general results from the
ioTts o. this class Of oar population now
iul SIR, thc time viii come, when there viii .
10 imminent general danger. Pass IS severe /
d vs. a. IN" VIII. 10 keep these unfortunate I
'FH''''"r N ignoraDcc, It is in vair, umlcss
.rN con ez'ingui-h tina: spark Of ietaucc'
.,..n TO. Jas G.yon ,hem Io' any man .
'"1 .To--,os c.ova~y, cza.a!ar tic .ss.c.1 90 !
ID. '"'i We haze adopted lltom stern ncoo. F.