Litchfield enquirer., 1832-02-09

Ject has Iatey been very tTeey oischssed Hitherto all the southern states have approached this subject though they were approaching hornets nes,--shey
 would discuss it themseIvess nor ifpOssble allow others 10 do But the affair at SOuhamptOR last summer seems to have had the effect of throwing Vir- gina into such state OfinqHieude that she appears disposed to look about and ascertain whether some
 means may nOI be devised by which she may be sna- bed throw of some of the weight of slavery which presses upon her. paralyzDg her energy, prostraing her public spra, and keeping her great distance be- hind her northern ueighbors in the improvements of the times. In the debate in the legislature, number Of the members out in the most fearless siye- 1 among others, Mir. Faulkner, from whose speech we make extract below, to show what is there thought of tho curse of slavery. The Richmond Whg, in au- ding 10 this debate, remarks-'' There has beon no question considered since 1776, mOmentous the question of its abolon there be question em- bracng such mutludes n it's decision for veal or for woe, and reaching in its effects far down the stream of tme Not Virginia only is interestcd-not whether her sons shall be relieved of the reproach the awful and ncaculable oppression and the pece-meal poli- tca death of slavery, and whehe. the descendants of 45O,O00 blacks shall in future ages and in their native cline enjoy liber,y-not these points, of tremendous | us IHcy uTe1 pTeseht tue WnOIo QhestOn- That i" it's wide range comprehends all the Southern States, and all their inhabitants, and the living only, but all succeeding generations. What mind grasp the mighty subject What intellect can appre- ciae its magnitude? What philanthropy can calculate the benefits to mankind, of Virgnin's successful exe- 1 cution of plan Of aboon3 Unquesonably every Southern State, with what expedition it might, would
 follow the iIlustrious example. The moral feeling of ,ha, example would impart resstless impuIse.' l 7he Ertroct.-" Sir, if still he should hesitate in the aprehensIons of thIs important political truth, that slavery s which no local adv ntascs can i counerbalance, eI invite him back again to his native Stae-and point to the tragedy Of Southamp-
 on There, sir, undisguised and clear to the vision
 There may be seen practical commentary upon that institution, as it actually exists amongst The gem tIeman from Dinwldde, has called it petty affair."" IL does not appear so to me. The more reflec. up- on it, the more am convinced that it is importam. "a most momentous affnr. Sixty-one white native inhabitants of Vrgnia-in few hours-in the face of day-in county as well protected as most Of the counties east ofihe Blue Ridge, nttacked-butchered -mangled. ia style in which ,he records of arocity can scarcely furnish parallel. This petty affair lt may suit the modesty of those whose valor and ergy suppressed the nsurrecien to underrate it's im portance. But to the Statesman who knows that like causes will produce like efects appear frausht with useful instruction. Let it not bo said that these
 nsurrections rarely occur; and that similar one may not take place for half century to come. To us no more than to the murdered citizens of SOuthamL ton is give" to know the day and hour. It is suicien, that such an evil may Occur and that vigilance of yo1r police can prevent It's recurrence.
 Sir, the evils of slavery stand confessed before The only question with Virginia Stntesman should I bc-Is there any remedy? The gentleman from AL Iemare, has exhibited ons scheme-the gentleman | from Dinwiddie, has presented another Other, and perhaps, less exceponable projects, will be submit
 ted as soon as n is understood that disposed 10 1 apply some remedy Let manifest the evil-,he means will assuredly follow. never could despair, sir, in a cause go just as ths never could despair of accomplishing that, which eight States, although, it is true, under more favorable circumsanccs have already accomplished. I never could despair of do- ing that which the venerable fathers of Republic have told us, is notony practicable, but have adInon- ished us must be done, # we moan to save the Com monwealth from ruin. With a steady perseverance, failure is impossible. The sympa,hes aud supper. of the world would gather around US. The smiles of Heaven and our honest feelings would sustain us."
 Sir, would disdan, upon an occasion of hi sor appealing as does to the fundamental principles up on which society is organized, to bandy with gen,e are briefly these Property is the creature of civil so- ce,y. Ihs gentleman from Brunssoick and the gen. tleman from Dinoidde. hold their siaves-not by any iao of naturemot by any patent from God the iai ter gentleman yesterday ass~nied-but solely 6y cir tns o Che aequieseence and consent o e society in phich they Lve. So long that property is no. dan gerous to the good order of society," may and will be cous-~o soon as it is ascertained to jsoparlze the peace, the happiness, the good order, nay the very existence of society," from that moment, the right by which they hold their property is gone. Society cea. | to give its consent. The condition upon which they permitted to hold it, is volaied-,heir right 1 ceases. This, sir, s the supreme law of soeety-a law above and paramount to all other laws-a law which cannot be uestoned-which cannot be dcnied Why, Sir, it is even rule of municipal law--ahd this merely an illustration of tho great prinei- pies of soeieiy-Sic utero tuo ut oiisnu iedas- So hold your property not injure the property
 still less the lives and happness of your eghbors- And ihe moment, even in the best regulated commmni- tes ihcre in practice departure from this princi- pie, you may aaie the nuisance. 1t may cause loss but it is what black ettered gentry term-dan,. obsQHe hyHri0, loss for which the law affords ! no rOmedy.
 Bu Sir, it is said, that society having conferred this property on the slave holder, ii nosO take tt from him without an adequate compensaton-by which is meant full value may be singular in this opnion but defy the legal research of the House 10 point to principle recognized by the law, where the community pays for property, which is removed destroyed because nuisance and found iniuri- to that society. There is, humby apprehend, such principle. There s obligation upon soci- sy continue your right after il becomes
 injurious the best interests of society-nor to com pensale you for the loss of that, the deprivation of which s demanded by the safety of the Sate-and in which general benefit you participate as members of the community Sir, there is 10 my mind a manifest distinction between condemning private property to be applied beneficial public purpose, and con. demnDg removing private property which s ascer- taned to be positive wrong tO society It is dis tnciion which pervades the whole genius ofthe and is founded upon the idea that any who holds property injurious 10 the peace of that society of which he member, thereby violates the only con-