Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1832-03-22

Wv o'bNo W WIN"
hold this property nor, with firmness
and with vigilance: because il 10 ne.
ces.ary TO the public safety that we
} should do so. and because there arc
vested rights To this property, under
the law AS u now Is. Sir, / should be
glad that this House should declare
unanimously, that the relations between
master and slave should not now be
disturbed, that none Of the present
generation should be removed, except
those who may be given up .voiuntari.
ly. But. sir: the plea Of necessity will
not answer IN bar to scheme for the
future gradual emancipation and re.
moval Of this class; thi, measure is
within our power. The evil was gradu.
ally ertsiled upon Us. and can only I've
gradually removed. admit, that we
are not To be blamed for the origin Of
his evil among US; we are not to be-
blamed for its existence now. but we
shall deserve the severe,t ccnsure, IL
we do not take measures as sson
as possible TO remove il. Sir. every
obligation Of justice and humanity
demands, the safety Of the Republic
demands the adoption OF system
which shall produce the certain, e atu
al emancipation and removal Of this
whole class. To hberate the after
born is obviously practicable; il has
been recommended BY the immortal
Jefferson, whose counsels we have fol
lowed in SO many things, with such
signal benefits. but have totally disIe-
garded IN tlts; II has been done by
our sister States; and the only obiec-
ton OF any force, that ] have heard
urged, is the constitutional one, found
ed upon the attenuated, contemplate
right Of property IN these sfter-born
children, which is placed in competi-
ton with the lives Of our sons and
daughters, to the remotest generations,
IN competition with the very existence
Of this Republic. Sir, am sick with
the clamor in this debate, about this
property, this wealth. consider Il,
all as mere trash, when weighed against
the public safety. The right of pro.
per,y in slaves 10 entirely the creature
Of the positive Law; ali our rules Of
property are under the control Of the
Legislature our law Of descenis, dis
tribution, &c. can be altered by the
Legislature whenever il shall seem ex-
pedient. and a fortiOri. can the Legs
lature alter the rule with regard to
property 10 slaves, because the right is
J purely the creature of the Legislature.
The law now Is, that the children Of
slaves shall be slaves To the owner of
the mother; but will IL be contended
that this law can never be altered. L. il
TO he perpetual-willn no necessity JUS
} ufy changer The idea is ride u.ous.
; SIR. there is an important difference
bet~er cssfed rights, and rights nor
vested; between prospective, and re.
frospecfioe legislst,on. IL child be
born, OF a slave, under the law a. il
! now is, the right becomes vested in the
owner OF the mother, and we could
not consistently with the Constitution
perhaps,t take the child from the master.
without compensation. Why not: Be
cause IL is a vested right under the
statute. But can we not legisla,e pros.
7 peciueiy. on this subject? eau We not
, declare that the children Of slaves born
ten, twenty. or fifty years hence, shall
; not be slaves, but shall be free: If we
caunot do this, then indeed our statute
Ia perpetual, and the present owner Of
!, female slave has an ipdcfea sib'e es
, tate IN her descendants for one hum
; dred generations to come III fact for
, ever. THIS is absurd. The right to
slaves non in being is vested I; the right
to those TO be born IL a mere possibility;
; u the law remain as IL now is. the right
: may vest; if IL is altered. the right
will not vest. How could YOU com
) pensate slave owner for the possibili-
~ Ot increase ten years hence! what
, would be the measure of value! Sir,
~ abolIshIng the law Of primOge niiure,
Ne could Othave taken from tho eldest
; sou. an estate which had vested IN him,
. add have divided IT equally among his
; brOihers aud sisters and himself. Why
notF Because the right had vested
Bot We could pass law altering the
q rule ~ property Prospectively, direct
ing that instead Of oil the land going
} to the eldest son, il should pass to all
the children equally The expeetan
cIes Ul all tie eldest sons IN the State
. were cot % by a measure Of policy,
b the abolition Of the law Of primogeni.
turr. The use and enjoyment Of all
property - always controlled by re
gard fof the safety OF the public, as the
paramount Lava oG every state. Can.
. not the Legislature prevent the raising
~ animals that viii endanger the pub
. &c safety? some of the citizens of this
. Stale might Or engaged 10 raising young
tigers, ADD It might be a very hucrnfiUs
b buNuc buf. 81, " probibly would
be Ve very DANCE TO the public; and
will y be pretended that tue Leglsls
: ture could not check u? Add, SIR, IL
/ - proJsbie thaithe raising young