Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-02-14

But, Sir, is not as Western man minGI only, M tho
interests OF that portion OF the State from which GOMEZ
that feel myself bound to against the Report of the
Select Committee. AS Vginan as legislator bound
by the highest moral Obligation and by my official
oath 10 promote, far be, the general safety
prosperity and happiness of the whole Commonwealth
can, with the best exercise of my poor Judgment i'm mo-
other mode discharge the duties which owe to my con-
science and TO county, than by solennly declaring in
the vote which shall give, the deliberate convictions OF
my inind that 1t expedent 10 in relation 70 this mo-
mentous subject, and 10 act promptly and efficiently
VIII not advert 20 the great principles of eternal JUS
uce which demand at hands the release of this peo-
Pe-i VIII not examine, here, the authority upon which
part OF the human family the CHIT TO ensye
e oher-i will not open the great volume of natures
laws, to ascertain il iii written me are alike
IN the sight OF Him, who regard with equal bene6-
the creatures Of his hands, without distinction of
ior or CONDITION. Apart from all these, every motive
policy and security requires that this question should be
fairly and fully weighed and that measures cautious but
energetic in their character, gradual but in their
operations, should grow Of having for their object
the final emancipation of the slaves of this Commonwealth
and their removal from territory. Lam no fanatic or
philantropc enthusiast anxious only TO the condi-
uon oil the blacks On the contrary, believe that the
present day, the situation of the Virginia negro so far "a
regards mere animal comfort, be well compared with
tat oil large portion Of the labouring classes other
countries particularly in the severer governments of En-
rope know that many OF thcm perhaps the larger por-
ton OF hem content with their destiny and have fur
nshed in frequent Instances examples undying
friendship, OF grateful devotion fidelity TO those under
whose conroul circumstances have placed them 1t TO
better condition. the dcsolating scourge
oil our country from after ages the accumulated ills
oil then hopeless and rcmedless disease, that are
now called upon TO act This is the work our hands
Il lsf
its commencement and which, sustaining us i'm its prose-
cuton, will conduct 10 its ultimate and successful attain
ment.
As question of political economy the removal of this
population, Is justified; nay imperiously recommended
slaves ADD nothing to the true wealth OF any community
her labor when the cost OF raising, and the Of
continual subsistence, whether employed or otherwise
and the other incidents Of ownership, taken into the
account, costs more than free there
Is an unnecessary subtraction OF profit in the production
upon which his labor employed and general mnution
OF the aggregate wealth which abour creates Nor is the
preserved
inc pockets OF the employer to those of the aborer He
In TINS instance, can neither be the holder of money! or
owner OF property If the be considered himself an
article Of production and value be attached him. be-
cause oil inc capacity Tor sale and transfer, say nothing
OF the higher objections derived from humanity he must
be held precarious commodity, yielding unsafe issue
and constituting an unreliable source of naonalor ind-
vidual wealth He holds the anomalous and duplicate
character OF person and property In aspect he is
souess, unthnkng matcr-in another living, sentient
man. From the operation of great causes which none
may conoui, there Is constant tendency,
able liability, TO exchange the for the other
his accomplished, he 10 be individual
wealth TO the former proprietor butn higher sphere con-
sntues portion OF the public resources, member Of
the body polite
That slaves are dangerous property therefore do
not contribute 10 the real and proper commu
nity shall endeavor to illustrate hereafter Public sec
rity, and public tranquility, public capital
But as laborcrs, how inferior slaves compared with
ree intelligent population. Their work is always
FORMED IN the worst possible manner, the natural result of
total want of interest in the mode of its execution and
inc absence oil Intelligence to direct them the interest
IAsed' In many empioyments they almost useless
knowledge is incompatible with slavery and without
Kmo" ledge many othe occupations of life would cease
ne useful inventions which have contributed most TO be-
nei mankind, have been chiefly the rewards of engbt
ened labor Their successful application 10 the great bur
poses OF human happiness, depends upon and pnc
pies OF matter, which require enlightened skill ia
comprehend and direct. The distinguished Engineer re-
Gently in the service State furnishes as one Of M
arguments in favor of canals rail raods the fact ha
the former better adapted to the capacity and undcr
standing of the laboring classes in Eastern VIRGINIA
slave population, exercising the most pcrnicious in
huence upon The manners habits and character of those
among whom exists Lispng infancy learns the yoca-
| i've zenith nd a.
ITS little domain The consciousness superior destiny
takes possession of his mod at its earliest dawnng and
rove o! power and rule, grows with his growth and
strengthens with his strength When in the sublime
lessons oil christianity, ho is taught edo unto others az
ne would have others do unto him. he never dreams that
the degraded negro is within pale of that holy canon
Unless enabled 10 rise the operation of oovyerGt
causes he enters the world with miserable notions of self
Importance and under the government of unbrdled
temper
Habits OF dleness, and their usual accompaniment dis.
spaton are seldom avoided in slave holding community
Men IN all ages have been found seek sensual ndueen
cGs and to acquire ondness for luxuries whenever
paced within their reach Though daily admonshed of
'hcr deeterous tendency, there is something which m
ressdbly impes us on in the forbidden path The cpl
cure though convinced that health and life DEPEND for
their continuance the rigid frugality of the cottage
board, yet flies 10 the grooming tables of the palace 10 han
que and to die Slavery without paradox NAV he term
ed luxury and it is one than which none ever existed
more injurious TO those who participate IT, hen seldom
labor when they can avoid akour becomes dislionora
be because IL is the business of a slaveand when indus
try is made dshonourable unashonable virtue is al
tackled in her strongest citadel But, Sir those whom in
poyment in dense slave population for the field is occu
pied however poorly, by them. The honest applicant an
roaches with fear and trembling the threshold of his more
favored ncighbor, and
.Icgs brother ofthe
Tog him have tO.~
He is answered by the chilling annuncation that his sor
wees are uncaedor. Pcnury and Indebtedness await
HIM. or the abandonment of his land and the hum
bic graves OF his Kindred seek distant country and
among strangers that which his had denied him
is not This truth practically taught, in the stream of om
grafton from among US, annually swelling in volume and
pouring on to the urpe0ped regions of the West These
too are the men who form the "bone and snew feverv
country --These ore they whom the government should
protect
Princes and po,epo'cs may flourish may fade,
breath can mako them. a breath hath madc
i.,, a bravo yeopanry, their counirys pride,
! When once destroyed can never be supplied.~
fuse Ignorance among those Immediately in contact
with IT, do not intend to that a location in slave
holding community is Incompatible with the highest de-
ycoPemont OF human intellect Such position would
DC contrOvcrted by facts know that Southern States
Of our Mon have, within the last fifty years furnished
mass OF genius and talent rarely cquaed never surpassed
IN any age or cOunry--Our good Commonwealth,
would unfold tho long roll Of her immortal sons and
point in silence TO which never die But Sir
speak in reference 10 the great body of the people and
ask you TO compare the general distribution Of eementarv
education in the non save-hodng with that in tho slave
/ holding States In document recently examined fbc
read IL stated at about thirty. should blush 10 sec the
catalogue OF my own State. fear there is nuftudct 10
whom even That volume which the history OF our origin
and me record OF our redemption is "scaled book"
where slavery prevails, the spirit Of free inquiry and
ADVENTUROUS enterprise, is much in