Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-28

whole eonfedoracy, and Danish tho black man from
TINS continent Let us contemplate the difficulties |
OF this project of purchasing aud transporting a !
nation fsouls. There are now in the limits of
the United States, 2,0l0 500 slaves, exclusive of
Tree persons OF color. These, at average Of
S&oo' would cost the sum OF SiO2, l25,SOO. To
transport them at the price of S33 each, would
cost 500 1850, $50, aiordny general aggregate for
the purpose OF purchase aud transportation, of
S46S,116 $50; and it will appear, the slightest
examination, That this calculation is not sufficient
~ comprehensive; because, while the slaves of
Virginia may, probably. be rated at average of
S2uV each, every body knows that sum would
not ba regarded as Just compensation, i'll
inc southwestern states; and the cost of
the undertaking, would be augmented lii
proportion to the increased average value.
ought here 10 repeat tho suggestion, that this est
mate embraces only the present number OF slaves;
ana no account whatever is stated OF the cost and
transportation of one who may be born alter this
day. 1t must be obvious to the house, that this
great object could not be accomplished at cost
less than flee hundrcd millions of dOltars! The
tcctlon may be disagreeabc, but 1T is impossible TO
shut 1t out from the mind There rcsour-
ces within our reach, equal to the accomplishment
of this mighty project The idea OF compensation
and transportation cannot possibly be realized. Ii
must ever prove dcusivc phantom-it will ever
Hit before the ginationt will forever eludc the
grasp. You cannot perform impossbilitics-yo
cannot pay us for slaves. You must first make
them free men; freed by your act of arbitrary
legislation, and their present holders must sustain
the loss
MIR. Speaker, this sentiment has been already
avowcd, openly, unrescrvcdly avowcd, by those
generous and philanthropic gentlemen, who have
stretched forth their hands, laid them the altar
and called on the Great Ruler of the Universe, to
witness the solemn dedication of themselves to the
accomplishment Of their holy purpose. Yes, sir,
/ the devoted friends of abolition, who believe that
our slaves have been held in servitude by tho mere
| force of an invincibe necessity; which necessity
they regard as removcd-gcntlcmcn who earnestly
insist that, according TO the laws of God and IL
turc, man cannot be property, have bad the firm
ness openly to declare, that, cannot of right
demand compensation Their SagaciouS minds
have discovered the utter futility of attempt
this revolution, when they acknowledge, and act
on, the idea of compcnsa,ion- With dccs
ion adapted to their ends, they have boldly assum
ed the position that, there is no binding obliga-
ton IN the constitution, which secures the right
to compensation. Sir, our property has been COM
pared to n nuisance, which the commonwealth
may abate at pleasure. nation of souls to be
abated by mere effort of the will of the General
Assembly! nation of frcemcn to hold their pro-
perty, by the precarious tenure, of the precarious
will of tho General Assembly,! And to reconcile
us to condition, assured by the gentle.
man from Berkeley (NIr. F2ulkner) that the gene.
raj assembly in the abundance of its HJeralitv, is
ready to enter into compromise by which we
shall be permitted to hold property, turea-
freight gears condition that we then sur
render it, absolutely, and Internationally -
This compromise, he regards as Just cOmpensa-
ton; he AYERS it to be the only compensation
which, n slave holder he will ever dcign
| to receire: which statesman, he will ev-
| er deign TO giUe. Sir, | cannot but admire the
| frankness with which these gentlemen have treat.
ed this subject. They have exhibited themselves
in the fulncss OF their ntentions given us warning
of their designs and now see in all its naked.
ness the vanity of all hope of compensation Is there
one among us, who is disturbed with troubled
conscience? Does he believe that by the detention
OF his slave, he oticnCs against the will of Amigh
| ty Providence! Let him prepare his voluntary
| deed % et he cd wit
delay; let him not tease and tantalizc himself,
with the vain expectation of compensation from
the public. Whenever his slave is cmancipatcd by
the agency ofthc public, it will be done per uilu
But, why should we discuss the title to property;
why discuss the topic of past natl: the assump-
ton that the black population is to be rcmoved.-
The sole question which determine Is,
whether we will abolish slavery, and allow the ma
numitted blacks to remain as frcemcn in this re-
public You have not the means of purchase and
removal: and if you had you have no domain to
which they might be exported. AS to the colony
at Liberia, if it belonged to the General Assembly,
it is Inadequate to the reception of the blacks |
am indebted for this suggestion to my friend from
! Halifax (Mr. Bruce) According 10 the represent
atoms OF those best acquainted with the affairs of
the Colonization Society that colony could not
receive from Virginia, more than five hundred an
nually. But if it were exclusively our otun and if
every acre of its territory, capable of rccla.
nation, and of adaptation to the of civilized
man,--if the face of the country be interspcrscd
with no mountain, no morass, it could not receive
our slave population. The length of their terrific
! ry IS but about two hundred and eighty miles, its
width but thirty five; it therefore only contains
about nine thousand eight hundred square miles
winch with a population of thirty to the square
mile, (ncarly twice dense as the population of
virginia. would only contain about 294, 900 souls
whilst the stare population of this common.
wealth, is 469, 724 souiscxclusive of AZ 900 free
persons OF color.
| Mr. Speaker, when came to the House, intend
ed to discuss the doctrine of post nafi-the subtle
tlccting doctrine of pOst Rati-whose very essence
consists in it's subtlcy--afIirming, as it does that
we nave no property in the increase of our slaves
because that increase is not in Northumberland
has no substantial form, which the obligations
| OF law may fasten: but cannot now subdue NV
feelings to the examination of this legal question.
| The thought is constantly recurring to my mind
will the House vote an act of cmancipation with
out the possibility of compensation? Sir the re-
Spouse CRATES on the ear. We have heard it orally
from the lips of gentemen-we have seen it under
their own signs manuel, in the form of speeches
written out for publication-that the General As
sembly enjoys the right of disregarding the provi-
sions ofthe Constitution, in regard to this species
OF propcrty and OF Wrestling that property from our
| possession, without rendering compensation Is
1T possible for gentlemen to suppose, that this can
be accomplished in peace! Sir, | beg NAV not be
considered as addressing any considerations to the
fears of gentlemen. never use the anruapc of me-
mace 1t is not the part ofa brave man. to endeavor
to inspire his adversary with fear. should dcspisc
myself if thought myself capable of such an eff.
tort; should dcSpise the house, if thought if ca
pablo of acting under such impulse. But sir il
is the duty Of statesmen, to act with candor to-
wards one another. We must know and apprcci
ate the feelings of others, before our own conduct
can be marked with wsdom; and announce il TO
these gentlemen, soemn,-as an immrtable
truth,--thar they cannot succeed in the accom-
PiIshment OF their undertaking, and maintain the
pcaccablc relations Of our citizens Sir, it never
can be accomplished, by the mere force of reason.
NIprn m, t, lte,,. IL