Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-19

an" ihdeieosble; but, if the Constitution impo.od
no restraint on the Legislature, us to the rgbt of
ownership over the offspring, the substitute was not
obnoxious to the churgc. Yet the cbnr,c,or 80
consequences of the claims asserted shouLI mn, -
caps observation: the mind could not coutcm,loto
them without feelings of revulsion IL wos i, ,,;,,
10 the contro! OF human beings not yet i'm exist
cnce-indccd TO the possible Offspring of thc M,
born. If the principles of immutablc Justice ruI..
That the stream should partake of the impurities OF
the f'unt, MS bencvolcnce devised a mode Of re-,
.c"P,on by which the rigor of the law was satisfied
AUD Mr. X. hoped, that before the people of Vrr;p
IN abandoned this subject they would GnJ ,,,t .
"'oue' not only of relieving MS of the evils OF sin,
very hut of atoning to bcnightcd Africa Tor the
many wrongs inflicted on her by other coutincnts
Inc public mind appeared TO be co,ning 10 tb.
conclusion that something ,uust be done and ,I,
'ou' unreasonable delay. The several cnume
ro'o III, OF The white and black population of East
, '"sinla' exhibited appalling facts. The blacks
were progressively increasing i'm number and tho
whites relatively declining. The disnronor,;r ot.
numbers was constantly Increasing and Womb in
crease more rapidly tho drain Of tho bl,cks 20
'"o SCUM and South West diminished. This was
an own which would not be stationary: measure.
must he taken to diminish it, or il would bc nro,,
ing worse and worse-n some countics there wcr,
already two and three blacks for ono white Jr,ha
poor whites continue to leave the State as fast as
'ey were able, and the drain of slaves for the mark
cts OF tho cotton and sugar plantation cc,sed H.
d'SproPortion would become as ten or twenty to
one. What then may he tho C onseaucuccs7 Wul
'"'" "'oi"n elinIIS numbers their side tlev
may venture to measure strength with us; and un-
Tess our brethren of the free States ar Of III.
es'crn part OF this State, come to the aid Of tho
East, or help he furnished by the General Govorn
"cnt (n government which some gent, ,n,cn nm
peored to delight in holding up as a monster, bun
under which Mr.. r. had lived in safety and To
"Wch he looked with security,) that STRUGGLE NAV
eVci'uate In their asccndancv, in our becominy
'hcir slaves If we did not refuse life as bondsmen.
ana s ,ne very seat now occupied by our Speaker be-
iii'cd by theirs. uc entertained no apprehension
a' such things We're possible, at tho present dav:
c", because we are secure at this moment shall w,
ran TO look forward to the future? Shall we 300
'hiS oiack ciond rising and swelling and vet fold
our arms In fatal security 1t was the mart of wis
do'n TO look ahead. 1t was the duty of npblic mon
To scent out and ward Off danger, however far of,
ITO was convinced that something must he done.
and speedily and etlectuall y-what that somethnn
was 1T was difficult to decide; but he wished IT,
consult the pcope--ho wished the plan presented
IN The substitute laid before The people, that their
"pinion and wish may b" obtained.
MT. H. said he was 6one--ho was aware of his
inability TO bring much intellectual capacity to tho
consideration of the suhject-itwas one that would
TASK the genius of the most gifted-but he was
strongly impressed with the necessity Of some pru
oeht ana cautious movement in the matter; and he
would endeavor to make up in hearty zeal and
steady perseverance, for deficiency of ability.