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

saiey-pu no longer 1t by virtue Of the positive
actents oil the State alone that Slaves are held as pro-
pery and pass in regular distribution II the
time has now arrived when the public interests demand
inherent course OF legislation, the power which
made them property, dvest them of that quality
Private rights and individual claims must Weld to The
overriding and paramount interests of the common veal
why, Sir, it is rule of municipal aw--and use
this merely an illustration OF the great PRINCIPLES Of So.
cety-Ste utero tuo, ns aienum iedas.-So hold
your property not 10 inure the property still less The
lives and happiness of your And the moment
even IN the best regulated communities there i'm prac-
,icc departure from this principle you may abae the
nuisance ltmay cause lossbut tits what our black let
tered gentry term-ddonuni dbsque iJwia-a loss ior
winch the law affords remedy.
SIR itmay be very plausible in our opponents TO con-
tend thatte time hasno yet arrived when resort TO this
eat law OF State necessity can be justified But assert.
Ihat there does not exist in every community an inherent
absoute and undeniablc right to protect itself from de.
slrucon even by the sacrifice of private property is
what no writer on public law yet dared to question
IS right superior TO all law and founded in the moral
justice and physical power of community TO PROSTATE
whatever may endanger its tranquility or existence
But Sir, it is said that society having conferred his
pcsty on the sayeholcr, ,totc take il from hin,
without an adequate compensation--by which is meant
iuh Vaue. may be singular in the opinion, but defy
the legal research of the House to point me TO pncp
recognized by the law in the ordinary course of it's
adyudicatons where the community pays for property
which is removed or destroyed because il is nuisance
and found injurious TO that society. There is humby
apprehend no such principle. There is obligation up
on society to continue your right one after be-
comes Injurious TO the best interests of socetvnor m
compensate you for the loss of that the deprivation OF
which general benefit you participate members of tho
community Sir there is TO my mind a manifest distinc-
uoh between condemning private property be applied
TO some beneficial public purpose and condcmnng or re-
moving private property which is asccrtaned be posi-
i've wrong to society 1t is distinction which pevades
the whole genius Of the law-and is founded ,,pon the
idea, that any man who holds property injurious TO the
peace oil that society, of which he is member thereby
violates me condition, upon the observance of which, his
right to the property alone guaranteed For property
OF the first class condemned there ought be compensa-
uonBut Tor property of the latter class, can be de-
manded upon principenonc accorded as matter of right
although considerations of pocy-consderatons of Ru
anl'y-and spirit OF compromise, may dictate
Sir to contend haH ratue shall paid for the slaves
Dy the commonwealth, now at any future period oe
her emancipation Is TO deny all right OF action upon this
subject whatsoever lis not within the financial ability
Of the State opurchasc them We have not the means
he utmost extremity ofaxaton would fall far short of an
adequate Treasury. What then shall be done! We must
endeavor TO ascertain middle ground of compromise
between the rights of the community and the rohs If the
individualsome scheme which, while responds TO the
demands of the people for determination of The alarm
ing evil Will not in its operation discomfort the settled IN
stutions ofsociey orinyeve the holder in pecu,
ry ruin and embarrassment.
SIR, does not that plan of emancipation which proposes
freedom al future period-and which guarantees TO the
slave holder the present enjoyment prof, of that most
Percious species OF property contain within itself prir
cPic OF compcnsaon-a fair and just proposition of COM
Ponse! thlnk 1t does and exhibit my views thus
Is conceded that Mt this precise moment of our lecislo
o slaves are injurious TO the interests, and threaten the
supFersion ana rum oil this monwealth Their pre-
sent huinbcr-thor increasing number all almonsb ms
oil ms In different terms, and in more measured Ian
guage, te same fact has been conceded by all who have,
yet addressed this House. Something must be done
emphaticaly exclaimed tho gentleman from Dinwid9ic.
and thought could perceive response TO N AZ deIa
oh IN the contenance OF aarge majority OF this BODY
ana why must something be done because if not SAYS
ne gentleman from Campbell (Mr. Rives the threats of
all the Uhtte people Virginia will be cut-No saws t
gentleman from Dnwidde'' The whites cannot be con
queredIhe Threats of the blacks will be cut" Iii
uhS dcTence to be sure, Sir, and matters not TO the
argument For the fact is conceded that one race or the
other must be eXterminatcd
or; such being the actual condition of this Common.
wealth. ask II we would not be justified notc-supDosnD
all considerations OF policy and humanity concIrred2
Woue even moments delay, in starving off this appa
ing ana overwhelming calamity? Sir if this immense
gro population arns-gatering into bIac ard
formidable masses OF atack-woud that man he listened
to- who spoke about propcry-who prayed you not 10 d.
Tect your artillery TO such such point for YOU would
uesuoy some oil has property? Sir the eve OF the states
man as to the eye Of Omnsc!encc, dangers pressing and
hangers thHt must necessarily press, alike present
win single glance, he embraces Virginia now with t,e
elements oi destruction eposing quietly upon her BOSOM
ana virginia lighted from extremity to the other with
INC loren OF servie iusurrecon and massacre 1t is rot
sufficient for him, that the is not vet applied IL il
shortly be applied. ~
Sir, think am then borne by the actual situation
oil things In this Commonweaby the strong necessity
pressing upon usand by the sure and progressive an
proach OF an evil that will eventually involve s in ma
nonal ruin in conending that should be justified notc
mnl ,o s Class oil our population But do pro-
Commissions which such step would cause | mean CON
yuIsions in radea in the value OF property and other
results, equally be Stunned and avoided We proposc
therefore, to guarantee TO the Shareholder his reb 10 ali
The slaves BORN and which may be born before tho
t Oh jury, io4V upon the condition that he renuuishes
his right to those born after that daysnd even as TO
those born after that day, he is TO have their services
until he is fully compensated for the trouble and expense
oil rearing them Is this Sir, fair ground of COM
Pronisels il not the only compromise which the safet
and resources of the State will admit of?
Sir 1t is as true in national il is in private contracts
mat loss and injury TO one party may constitute as fair
consideration gain TO tho other Does the slave holder
while he is enjoying his slaves reflect upon The deep iniu
ry and ncalcuable loss, which the possession of that
property nflics upon the true interests of the country
and does he not perceive that society," in oleaine that
evil say for thirty years longer, for h benefit is i'm the
shape OF injury TO herself and benefit TO him, giving him
iu and adequate compensation IL is the only compen
sation which, so help God a stakeholder viii
ever accept from the Commonwealth of Virginia Iis
the only compensation which, a law giver will ever
dispense 10 others.
Sir 1t is in my Judgment the true and proper ground of
compromise between the slave holding and anti slave hold
ing interests of this Commonwealth and bv Gnfi sIo,e-
holding interest here, mean TO comprehend every inter-
est except that mere pecuniay interest which the master
has in the property OF his slave. Slavery admitted is
an ey is an institution which presses heavily against
the best interests Of the State Vt banishes free white la
abor-it exterminates the mechanc--the artiZanfhe
manufacturer. Ut deprves them of occupation Il dc.
prves them of bread 1t converts the energy Of COM
nunity into ndolenceits power into imbecilityis eff
cacy into weakness Sir, being thus injurious have yyo
not a right to demand its determination? SI<l society
suffer, that the STAKEHOLDER may continue TO Gather his
UigintidI crop Of human flesh What is his mere pec
mary claim, compared with the great interests of be CONF
mon weail Must the country languish droop die that
the slave holder may flourish Shall ali interests be sub
servient to one all rights subordinate to those Of the
e-hodcr? Has not the mcchanc-hayc not the mid
die classes their rights rights incompatible with the
istencc Of slavery?
Sir so great and ovorshadowng the evils Of slavery