Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-01-30
SLAVERY IN VIRGINIA.

Virginia House Of Delegates on the queso"'' "
Slavery, aud the colored population OF the State
Extract from Mr.. Powelrs (of SpottsytUa''a)
Speech.
Mr.. Speaker, do not deem this an approPri.
.te occasion to discuss the abstract question OF
slavery; although certainly the very tundament-
al principles upon which our free institutions
SO highly priced and 50 justly boosted OF, are
based, ALL 90 to repudiate 1t. But as | said,
let that pass; there are other motives to action
much more powerful, and much more operative
thao any which can be drawn from the consldera-
ton of abstract questions Of right and wrong
There are motives Of policy, motives OF sell pre-
seryation. and to me it seems that these are the
motives which should prompt US to act upon this
occasion. Let US for moment turn our atten-
ton to the motives Of policy as they affect this
question. can scarcely persuade myse'i 'nat
there is solitary gentleman IN this Rouse VINO
will not readily admit that slavery Is an evil, and
that its removal, if practicable, IS consumma
ton most devoutly to be wished. have notyet
heard. nor do expect to hear. voice raised I'D
this Hall to the contrary Sir, the gentleman
from Blu ckingham, few days ago. sketched 10
us. and sketched it too, with mastery hand,
picture Of the whitening, the blighting effects OF
slavery. That picture is before this House, and
will not attempt to add to it shade, or ano-
Their Tint will not, sir, lest instead oil aiding
its effect, might with les skilful hand, dlmi-
nish il. Mr. Speaker, Virginia, the much loved,
the yenerated mother Of US all, from being the
first state in this great confederacy, Is now the
third, possibly the fourth; and her declining for
tunes have long been the source OF melancholy re-
Election 10 her patriotic sons. What sir, IS the
cause of this decline? Whatever others may
think, to my mind it is clear. that the answer
to this interrogatory is her Stare Population
Hrxc LILLE LAcHRYMJE. Here lies the source of
all her misfortunes. This is the clog that has
weighed her down, and prevented her onward
march pa. passu with her sister States, IN their
career of improvement. Does any gentleman
doubt this? Sir. let me ask him whom and what
is the character of that population. in rearing up
and sustaining which, the once rich and fertile
soil Of our State has been, in great measure,
| Impoverished? Has it been a population OF Tree
and independent yeOmanry, interested IN the
| welfare Of their native land, devoting their best
energies mental and physical, to the advance
ment Of their country's honor and glOry-ln
word, sir, to borrow an expression from the gen.
teman from Buckingham. her ornament IN peace
in war her shield? No sir, that soil has been
impov erished in sustaining slave population,
ignorant. degraded. debased, having no interest
in their country's welfare, whose hearts have
never been warmed with the glow OF patriotic
feeling. who never have exclaimed. and VIII" ne
YER will excalm, at least with the patriotic en-
thusiasm of the poet,
a. his is my own, native land"
But who, sir. while they are in the very midst
of our bosom, have proven, and may again prove
| to be our deatiliest enemy. Sir, cast your eyes
over that portion of our State in which thi popu-
lation mostly abounds, and what is the picture
presented to your vews Do you not behold wide
extensive wastes Of impoverished soil, worn out
aud laid aside as barren and useless, grown up
in PINES, the very emblem OF poverty. through
whose tops. the passing traveller may indeed lis
ten as it we're to the genius OF the PLACE, mourn
fully signing o'er its decay
The gentleman from Brunswick, may, and no
doubt will, impute the utterance of a sentiment
like this to want of national vanity. Sir, do
not distinctly understand what is meant by ma.
| tiOnal vanity. do not exactly kno" what de-
6nte meaning to attach to the phraze. l am
PROUD, sir, that ain VIrglnIan bv BIRTH feel
proud Of my native State, because she has long
been distinguished by the patriotism of her sons.
aud though last not lest bv the virtue of her fair
daughters. feel proud because she has given to
mankind 4 the world, Washington. Jefferson,
a Madison, Henry, and others, whose names
| will BIZ pronounced with reverence, as long as
there shall be v0tary OF liberty on earth. LOVE
Virginia sir. because she holds within her bosom
all Or most OF all that hold most dear; in a
word, love her. because she il my native land,
and like the gentleman from Dlnwiddir. mean
to sink or swim with her. If this be national va
nifty. then. sir, TRUST that in the possession Of it,
! weld not to the gentleman from Brunswick or
any other gentleman upon tins floor But. sir. if
our national vanity should bird US as to the true
condition of our country-,f 1t should induce US
to lock upon that as beauty, which, in all other
eyes but our own Is obviously deformity, hi
deous deformity-it would then cease to be
virtue, and though not crime, certainly would
be misfortune.
Mr.. Speaker there are those in this House,
and out of it too, who hope that by the adoption
of splendid schemes Of Internal Improvement
they are about TO rescusitate the waning fortunes
of Virginia; that by connection of the waters
Of the Atlantic with the Ohio, by line Of COM
munication running through the heart fthe state,
they will arouse her sleeping energies. and again