Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-17

slaves, and the amendment offered to II by Mr.. Randolph
Mr.. Powell addressed the House. and was followed b,
Messrs. Daniel, Faulkner and Marshall.
On motion OF Mr.. Roane, the House adjourned.
Monday, Jan. l6.
A message from the Senate was received. stating tina
they have passed the bill changing the name of Henr,
Sprouse to Henry Wood.
and passed:--Directing the payment Of a sum Of none,
to the School Commissioners OF the county of ORANGE
Concerning Jacob Shough-authorizlng VIM. M. Prossel
and John Dewitt to establish ferries across the Ohio river
Petitions were presented-By Mr.. Webb, of Johr
Thompson Kelly, Clerk of the county Of Nansemond
representing that the fees now allowed to Clerks are made.
quatc, &c.-By Mr.. Moore. of citizens of Rockbridye. TO,
the removal of free negroes, and the gradual emancipation
of the slaves-By Mr.. Cline, of citizens Of Rockbridgc for
the establishment OF the town Of Rifeville-by Mr.. Daniel
OF Citizens Of buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte and
Prince Edward, for the formation OF a new county-by
Messrs. Patteson OF u: and Boiling, of sundry citizens Of
Buckingham in opposition TO the formation of said county
by MIR. Cameron of Citizens OF Bath and Rockbndcc, for
the Incorporation of a Joint stock company to construct q
turnpike from the marlborough and Lexington road
across the Mill and North Mountains.
On motion OF Mr.. Bryce of F., the order Of the day for
the election of a Brigadier General to fill the place vacat-
ed by The promotion of Gen. Harvie, was postponed until
Monday next. Concurred in by the Senate.
On motion OF Mr.. Chandler. the Committee of PROPOSE
tons and Grievances, w sinstructed to enquire into the expe-
diency Of amending an act Of last session, to establish Wa
ter Street in the Town of Portsmouth.
On motion OF Mr.. Halyburton, leave was given to bring
in a bill, TO change the terms Of holding the Supcfior Courts
OF Law and Equity in the fourth Circuit.
ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.
Mr.. Roase Tentitled to the floor, ns mover of the adjourn.
ment on SATURDAY. moved the Resolution and snbsitSto on
the subject of the emancipation of slaves be now taken up;
but withdrew his motion at the suggestion of Mr.. Bryce, Of
T.. to admit of the presentmcnt of areport fromthe Select
Committee on Slavery and Free Negroes-which was
subsequently, presented by Mr.. Brodnax, as follows:
"The Select Committee, to whom was referred certain
memorials praying the passage OF some law providing for
the gradual abolition of slavery In the Commonwealth
have, according TO order, had the same under c~ensidera.
ton, and have come to the following resolution thereup.
on
"Resolred, As the opinion Of this committee. that il ia
inexpcdient for the present Legislature to make any lc-
gislativc enactment for the abolition Of slavery"
In presenting this report, Mr.. Brodnax disavowed for
himself and his colleagues. any intention TO impede, re-
tard, or give a different direction to the discussion of the
resolutions which had thus far been debated. II would
have been a contemplate littleness, of which he would no,
have been the instrument, tohave endeavored, by the pre-
scntation OF this report, TO check the free course of a dis
cussion, in which certain gentlemen had already engaged,
and in which others were prepared to express themselves.
There would be no difficulty in proceeding with the debate
There was no reason why the gentleman from AIbe.
marie should not move his substitute as an amendment n
this report. So far from this report having been introduced
to favor any views OF the members of the Committee
Mr.. Ii. could refer TO the magnanimous gentleman from
Rockbridgc, who would state that 1t was presented at his
request.
Mr.. Moore said that 1t was but Justice 70 ,be
Chairman and members of the Committee to saw, that
he had requested that the report might be pre-
sentcd TO the House, as he wished to have the whole
subject before the House at once, TO be decided upon fl
nally.
Mr.. Bryce ofG. moved that the Report be now taken up,
which having been agreed TO, Mr.. b. offered the follow
ing preamble as an amendment -
Profoundly sensible of the great evils arising from the
condition OF the colored population of this Commonwealth:
induced by humanity as well as policy to an Immediate
effort for the removal, in the first place, as well of those
who are now free, as OF such as may hereafter be-
come free: believing that this effort, while it ia in
Just accordance with the sentiments of the community on
the subject, will absorb all our present means; and that a
further action for the removal of the slaves should await a
more definite developemento of public opinion: Pesolred. SC.
Mr.. Bryce said lie moved this amendment for the reason
that, being declaratory of the opinion, that Mt some future
ume, when the feelings OF the people. which wera uro-
crossing and increasing, should have developed themselves
ty, to remove the colored population-it would pre-
vent the effect of the bare annunciation of the
report.-He wished the report of the Committee to de-
clare that when we should possess the means of doing it,
we would take measures to remove the whole evil-witha
view TO show to the world that we look forw ard to the time
when the final abolition of slavery shall take place-and
that we will go on, step by step, TO that great end. He
hoped all those who wished for the final removal of the
coloured people would vote for this amendment.
Mr.. Moore rose to move that thereport and amendment
be laid on the table, because it had been understood that
this report should not interfere with those gentleman who
came prepared to debate the previous propositions!
Mr.. Bryce said that in justice to himselfit was proper to
state that he contemplated no interference in the debate on
the resolution and substitute presented on this subject. But
he wished to present distinctly to the House his view of ii.
The wide range which had been allowed gentlemen in that
debate had embraced every possible topic connected with
it. The same range would be allowed in discussing this
question; nor was it offered to stihe discussion, which
would undergo no restriction by the adoption Of the pre-
amble. If the gentleman from Rockbridge would exam
inc il he would find that eyery topic could be discussed in
considering the preamble as well as upon any other propo-
sition. He knew that gentlemen desired to discuss the
substitute OF the gentleman from Albemarle; and that
proposition might with propriety be brought into the
debate on the preamble.
Mr.. Gholson regretted that at the present time the gen.
tleman from Goochland had presented this amendment
He knew that it was not strictly in order-and the House
might be placed in the awkward p~redicament of adopting
the substitute of the gentleman from Albemarle along with
the preamble. He wished the propositions first presented
might first be debated. The preamble of the gentleman
presented a new question. 1t went to declare that altho'
the present Legislature did not consider il expedientto act
upon the subject Of abolition, it was proper that some fu-
ture legislature should act. The original resolution ought
first TO be discussed and decided; and the resolution and
preamble afterwards taken up.
Mr.. Preston objected to the consideration Of the pream-
BILE at this time. He believed that by taking up the Re-
port oil the Committee, the original resolutions were both
superscded-they were taken from before the House.
He hoped that a motion would be made to reverse the
resolution reported by the committee, and refer 1t back to
them with directions to bring in a bill for the gradual
emancipation Of slaves. For that purpose he hoped the
gentleman from Rockbridge would withdraw his motion to
lay on the table.
Mr.. Moore withdrew the motion.
MIR. Brodnax said that there seemed 10 him no
embarrassment in getting at this subject: The questions
were the same. Any gentleman who argued that the re-
port ought TO be, or not to be adopted, would be for one or
other of the original propositions. lie hoped, therefore,
that the gentleman from Hanover would be allowed to
proceed.