Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-26
Legislative Ebebatc---Corntimucd.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

THIRD DAY. ]-1hursday, January TO-
| DEBATE on .iT. GooDE'S Resolution, and M RAN
| DoLPH's Substitute.
Mr.. BRUcE said--Mr. Speakcr-I know not whether
IL Is prudent In me, at so late hour OF the day throw
myself on the Indulgence of the House; but, repre-
sentng az do in part the largest holding interest
in the State should not, perhaps, be in the line of nv
duty, permit this debate close without an ex
preston OF sentiments the very interesting subject
now before the House. was OF those who originally
voted against the reference of this subject Il, The Select
Committee; and every step which has since been taken
strengthens my convictions Of the pTopnety of that vote
in common with most Of the friends of the Resolu-
ton now before the House, deeply regretted the course
which has been pursued by the gentleman from
Dinwiddic With the bestntentons his part was sa-
uSied that, in forcing the petitions the Committee he
was assisting in raising storm which he would be the
lrSt 10 dcprccate beg gentlemen recollect that do
not stand here advocate for slavery see and feel
too the evils ofte system. justify the grounds of ne
ccssiy 1t is here that all the wise and the GOOD of
who have gone before have rested it, aud here too il
will continue TO rest. The substitute which has been Of
eTcd sad TO he the offspring OF the mind OF the nmor-
tai Jeiersoone OF the wiSest patriots most profound
thinkers which country has cverprouced It's pariuo
ana paPablc defects to show The difficulty or r1
cr lhe lnp9Oiity oil deyising any scheme of enamel
Pa'ioh winch shall be practicable and not at the
same time in direct violation of the rights of properv
INC scheme which is now before us, and which gentle
men insist Oh our adopting strikes the very root of our
constitution 1t Is in that instrument expressly pro-
vdcd That private property shall not be taken for public
uses without just compensation Tho substitute ,ffr,s
at me increase OF all female slaves born after the wear
1870 shall become the property the Satc the females
on arriving at the age Of Is and males the age of
'"' wv 10 ODVldc iiS dIltICuI
y, and to make the substitute square with the Consttu-
ton denies that have any property in the increase of
slaves ls Sir, Is perhaps the extraordinary doc
rine that was ever preached in this Hail. If we have no
property In the future increase of our slaves we certainly
have none TO those in being for the property in both
must necessarily be derived in the way; and ina
gne the gentleman will scarcely 90 far as to Justify the
Legislature in taking away the slaves now i'm being from
The possession OF their But sir this propertv is
recognized by the civil law and through all our sta
ites IRON The earliest period Of colonial existence
down 10 the present time The right is there clearly as
cerained and defined; "chdren born of slaves shall he
slaves, and the maxim Of porfts seq,tifur centrern
IS repeated and reiterated. In ascertainng the RIGHTS
and privileges guaranteed by the Constitution Il il
The common law which have adopted and our alta
utes define clearly what is property, and Constitution
protects us in the enjoyment oft; aud happily for us tina
part Of the Constitution which have lust quoted ecn
TO have been intended for the single purpose of ocin
this species Of property beyond the reach of Legislative
encroachment When this barrier passed IL NAV indeed
be said that Constitution is useless and inefficient az
the parchment which it is written Suppose how
ever, Mr.. Speaker we waive for moment n,s die
iculty, and grant that the increase Of slaves IL NOT
property The substitute Of the gentleman from Albe.
nare among other things, provides that the increase Of
female slaves born after 1910, shall become the property
OF The State IL at be acknowledged that thew arc
eer persons property, for there third class 10
winch they be assigncd-not being property then
they must be persons BY what constitutional power then
can the State convert these persons into propcrtv az IL
proposed by the substituted Ia whatever aspect then we
may choose to view II, ifressibly drawn TO the
conclusion that IL sunconsuonal and can only DO aloo
ted by the people in full and free Convention |
Hwould not be difficult to show TO this House thai ne
provisions Of the substitute offhe gentleman from Abe
Hars are ~ 9nss and oppressive ia their Cts a. Ibey