Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-31

snort uine, while l make an explanation OF the course l am
anont 10 pursue upon the subjectundcr consideration. | need
not say, Sir, that approach the discussion of this question,
with feelings ofdinidence and embarrassment; feelings
inspired partly by the novelty of the situation ia which
i nave perhaps too incautiously placed myself, but more by
inc importance and magnitude of the subject itself before
me; Tor lei us consideriti in whataspectw we may, its certain
" u INC most important that could possibly have been
presented 10 our consideration and in giving the vote
which 1 am about TO give upon it, l feel a degree ofrespon-
sioih'y never before experienced in my short Legislative
career. IN relation to the opinions of that portion of the
people whom ! have the honor to represent. upon this mo-
men'ous question, | am in a great measure utterly igno-
rants ahu IL Is possible, that in consequence of that igno-
rance IL may he my misfortune upon the present occasion,
not TO speak their wishes. Ii is possible too, Sir, that in
the opinions which | am about TO advance. and I'm the
course am about 10 pursue, l may not by them be sustain
cd. Sir, after having anxionsly bestowed upon this sub
lect' the best reflection of which | am capable, that course
IS me one pointed out to me by the best dictates of my
ludginent-it is the one which, to my mind, the best
interests oil my country-nay, Sir, her very safety
requires II TO be pursued; and whatever effect it
may have upon my political destiny, come veal.
or come woe, mean to pursue it. Sitting in this
Hall for the two last days, and listening TO an un-
restrained discussion, upon n subject heretofore her..
me'ically sealed, our opinions upon which, we have been
accustomed TO breathe in the lowest whispers. ! have al
most felt as though I were in a dream. and have been
tempted to ask myself can it he real-am I actually in the
Legislative Halloi Virginia, listening 10 such a discussion f:
>ir, nut a short time, a very short time since, and the bare
u,tcrance OF sentiments now listened TO with the most pro-
found attention. would at once have been r%epudiated by a
simultaneous murmur of Misrepresentation throupbout this
iai. "hat' SIR, does thi; prove :-does it not prove that,
already, n great a powerful change has been wrought in
public opinion upon this subject? Does il not prove what
the gentleman from Dinwiddie, yesterday remarked, that
the hubicon is indeed passed? Circumstances beyond our
controul, have given TO this subject an impetus, and il
must now roll on by the force of its own intrinsic weight
and Importance. Sir, a crisis is at hand; this great ques-
uon ls Obliged to be met; IL can no longer be evaded; and
1t becomes us, as men, and as patriots, to meet il with firm
ness and decision, yet with caution and circumspec,ion.
And should no other good grow out OF our deliberations
this session, it is, at least, TO be hoped, that we may de-
rive this important advantage from the discussions now po-
ing on; it is most ardently to be desirSd, that they may
have the tendency TO arouse the people of this Common
wealth, from that fatal state of apathy upon this subject, in
which they have long, too long, s%lumbered.
As TO the substitute proposed by the gentleman from Al
bemarle, [ am decidedly opposed 10 il. | cannot 20 for
that or for any other scheme, which does not recognize the
right OF property over this species of population, or which
takes from the STAKEHOLDER his slave, either without his
consent, or without an equivalent.
The question presented 10 our considerations by the re-
solution ofthe gentleman from Mecklenburg is, whether
the committee TO whom thissubiect was referred at an ear
~ period of the session, shall now be discharged from the
further consideration OF it; or in other words, the question
is, whether we shall now attempt by a vote of this House,
so far as n vote of this House can effect that object, 10 STAY
the impetus which has been given TO this subject; or whe-
ther we shall suffer the ball thus put in motion, TO roll on
10 its destination? In fact, Sir, by our vote upon this ques-
ton, we are about to announce TO the people of this Com
monwealth, whose eyes, from every quarter, are now anX-
iously turned upon us, and who are looking TO orr action
on this important subject with a degree of almost fearful
anxietv:-I saw Sir, we are about TO announce IN Them that
this subject is one beyond our control, one too great for our
grasp, and that all we can do, is 10 fold our arms, and wait
in silence, the progress of events; or we are about TO an
nounce to them, what l persuade myself would be far
more pleasing Intelligence, that we do not look upon this
matteri in that gloomy light; that we cannot but indulge the
nope, that when the public mind has been BROUGHT nro-
perry 10 bear upon this subject, there viii &c found wis
dom enough in This ancient Commonwealth, to devise some
sale, some Just, and some practicable scheme of general
emancipation, and patriotism enough TO adopt that scheme
at almost any sacrifice; and thus, Sir, this poisonous scion
which has been unfortunately grated upon, and mingled
its deadly branches with that beautiful tree of liberty rp-
der whose shade we have heretofore so happily reposed,
may be pruned away, and that tree remain TO flourish, as
| hope it will flourish for ages TO come.
Mr.. Speaker; do not deem this an appropriate occasion
10 discuss the abstract question of slavery although GER
tainiy me very fundamental principles upon which our
Tree institutions so highly priced and so justly boasted of.
are based, ALL go to repudiate il. But, as | said, let that
pass; there are other motives TO action, much more pow
eriul, and much more operative than any which can be
drawn from the consideration of abstract questions of Tirbt
and wrong. There are motives of policy, motives of self
preservation, and to me il seems that these are the motives
which should prompt us TO act upon this occasion. Let us
Tor a moment turn our attention to the motives Of policy,
ms they affect this question. | can scarcely persuade nv
sell that there is a solitary gentleman in This house who
will not readily admit that slavery is an evil, and that lis
removal, II practicable, would be a c-onsummatio most de-
voutly TO be wished. | have not vet beard. nor do | ex-
pect TO hear, a voice raised in this hall to the contrary.
Sir, the gentleman from Buckingham, a few DAVIS aro.
sketched TO us, and sketched it too, with a mastery hand.
a picture of the whitening, the blighting effects of slavery.
That picture is before this House, and will not attcmnt to
add to it a shade, or another tint will not. Sir, lest instead
OF adding TO its effect, / might, with a less skilful hand. di-
minishi 1t Sir, Virginia, the much loved, the venerated mo-
ther oil us all, from being the first State in this great con-
federacy, ~ now the third, possibly the fourth; and her
declining fortunes have long been the source of meIancbo.
~ reflection TO her patriotic sons. What Sir, is the cause
OF this decline' Whatever others may think, to my mind
il is clear, that the answer TO this interrooatory is her
SLAVE POPULATION. HING LILLE LACHRYME. Hcre
lies The source OF all her misioFtunes. This is the clog that
has weighed her down, and prevented her onward march.
PARI PAssU, with her sister States, in their career of inn.
provoment. Does any gentleman doubt this, Sir. LOT mo
ask him whom and what is the character of that poDuIa-
lion, in rearing up and sustaining which, the once rich and
fertile soil OF our State has been in a great measure, i'm
povershed' Has it been a population of free and indepcn.
dent yeomanry, interested in the welfare of their native
land, deyoing their best energies, mental and physical, 10
the advancement OF their country's honor and glory-in
a word, Sir, toborrow an expression ofthe gentleman from
Buckingham, her ornament in peace-in war, her sbield9
No, Sir, that evil has been impoverished in sustaining a
slave population, Ignorant, degraded, debased, having no
interest in their country's welfare, whose hearts have ne.
yer been warmed with the glow Of patriotic feeling, who
never have exclaimed, and who never will exclaim, al
least with the patriotic enthusiasm Of the poet,
This 10 my own, my native laad."
But who, Sir, while they are in the very midst Of our bo.
Hest enemy. Sir, cast your eyes over that portion Of our
state IN which this population most abounds, and what is
the picture presented TO your view? DO YOU not behold
wide extensive wastes Of impoverished soil, worn out and
laid aside az barren and useless, grown up in PINES, the
VERY emblem OF poverty, through whose tops, The passing
traveller may indeed listen ash were, TO the genius of the
PLACE mourniully signing DER is decay The gentle
man from Brunswick, may, and no doubt will, impute The
utterance ola sentiment like this to a want OF national va
nifty Sir, | do not distinctly understand what is meant b.,
national vanity. ! do not exactly know what definite
meaning to attach 10 the phrase. I am PROUD. Sir, tina
am a Virginian by BIRTH feel proud of nv nativ,
State, because she haslong been distinguished former pener
Gus chiyalry-for her noble hospitality. She has lon.
been distinguished by the patriotism Of her sons, and tho
proud because she has given to mankind and the world,
Nv Darlington, a Jefferson, Madison, a Henry, and Others