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

population does not ondanger tho safety Of our G,
nzens By what motive then shall we be prompted
to Danish the slave from the limits of the common
wealth. Is IT for the sake of the slave hjm.clr,
Do we expect to better his condition. (.cntlcn.,,
in the generosity of their nature have admitted
that, the slave is humancly treated. He has an
unrcstraincd abundance of good, substantial
wholesome food-as we'll for his family as for him
self. lie and his family have ample allowance
Of comfortable clothing. lie is, for the most part
well housed. lie enjoys many reasonable indul-
gcncics. lie has set apart for his own use his
gardcn-or his little field, from which he derives
many of the comforts, and even some of the luxu-
RES of litc beyond the reach of the pcasantry of
other countries Is he sickl Is his wife, his child,
struck down by the hand OF diseased lie is secure
OF the best medical ad--of the kndcst, the most
constant attentions. Is Inc charged with the com.
mission oil crime! He is not entitled to jury trial
-oIcauSe ms peers are not good and lawful mem
put he is secure of fair, and public trial. He has
TWO chances to establish his iunocencc first be.
o 'no justice OF the peace, and secondly before
'n' courts Oh pohce lie is secure of the benefit
VI couhscl, by The humanity of our law-and the
commonwealth couIpcs the attendance of his wit
neSscs. Tie resides i'll civilized society, in well
regulated community, in which he is protected from
all outrage, and even the power of his own master
Is restrained from all violent cxcesses What have
you to offer us equivalent for these certain
these substantial advantagcsi A perilous freedom
u caprcious license Tor the commission of crime.
10 DC sent to lve-wc know not where-among
institutions we know nought of. Who can con-
Jccture his future condition? lie NAV become tho
| subject of despot. He may be thrown amidst
Pohticai COMMISSIONS He may be exposed to vo-
| icft outrage. lie, his wife, his lighter or his
| child, may become the subject of Il capricious tv
| ranny. Sir, call upon this House to determine
whether they arc likely bcncfcally to serve the
| objects oil their humane bcnevolcnce.
But gentlemen urge that must act for our
own sakes. They contemplate with peculiar horror
the day, when the great flood of slave population.
shall break over the barrier of the lofty blue noun
tam, N overflow the towering SUBMITS of the West
This suggestion has been already discusscd-hu
morously by my friend from Brunswick, (Mr
SHELL seriously by my friend from Petersburg
| (Mr. Brown) Sir, | have nothing of the lud
crous III my composition; 1 am Obliged to consider
! Things seriously; and following the reflections of
my friend from Petersburg-I ask whether there
DC hotning IN the condition; the manners and pur-
suits OF the Western People, which should admo
i nish them to dismiss their fears Sir thew arc
grazler5, or they are farmers. They want not tho
slave TO follow, or attend their hocks and herds
AS farmers, their demand for labor is but sion
al, or periodical; confined for the most mart t .ccd
time, and harvest. They are not under the neces.
slty OF burdcning themselves with the support of
,he laborer the whole year round: they procure
laDor on occasion, III quantities suited to thcir de
nand Hence, their demand for slave labor will
not be otfectual. 1t cannot compete with the great
er demand, which will exist in the planting coun-
try. The man who grows tobacco, cotton and
other products of a plantation, has constant and
unremlttted demand for regular force the whole
year round: the operations of his estate must not
uePehu on any Precarious supply of labor; it must
he certain, and always at command The planter
therefore, has greater demand for the labor of tho
slave, and he will pay more for it, than the farmer
or the grazicr The labor of the slave like every
thing else, will go to where it is most usefl-,v;iI
meet the most ctfcctual demand; and our western
brethren need not apprehcnd, that they are to be
oVcrruh by our slaves, unless they arc willing, and
able to pay more for them, than can be OBJ
tanned IN other parts. 1t was by the one
ration OF this principle that slavery was banished
from the Northern States. The northern people
became farmers and graziers--they had no c!lcctu-
al demand for slave labor: it was less useful to
them than IN the Southern States; it sought the
efiectual demand of the South; and the number of
slaves diminished IN the North, until the slave in
tcrest' enteebled and exhausted, unable to re-
slst the abolition of slavery. Such sir / believe
under the dispensation of Divine Providence will
be the course of events here. The superior use
tulness OF the slaves in the South, will constitute
an chectual demand which will remove them from,
our limits We shall send them from our State
because 1t will be our interest to do so. Our plant
CTS are already becoming farmers. Many who
grew tobacco as their only staple, have already in
lroduccd and commlngled the wheat crop. Thew
are already semi-farmers and i'm the natural course
OF events, they must become more and more So
AS the greater quantity of rich western lands are
appropriated 20 the production of the staple of our
planters, that staple will become less profitable
we shall gradually divert our lands from it's pro-
duction, until we shall become actual farmers
hen VIII the necessity for slave labor diminish;
then will the chectual demand diminish, and then
Will the quantity of slaves diminish until thew
shall be adapted to the effcctual demand
But, gentlemen alarmed lest the markets Of
other States be closed against the introduction of
our slaves. lhat such an event may be occasion
cd by the folly of our legislation is possible
II not Probabe--that any thing else should pro-
duce 1t, is to my mind most improbable The excite
men which lately existed in some of the States will
soon lose It's ephcmcral cXStence; things must flow,
back into their natural channels and the SoutbampJ
ton msurrectlon though it may be remcmbcreda as a
thng winch once had existence, will not be repard
ed as such an event. should disturb the settled
Pollcy OF a nation. Sir, the demand for slave labor
? must increase through the South and West If
mas been heretofore limited by the want of captaI
but when emlgrants shall be relieved from their
eInbarrassments, contracted by the purchase of
Their lands--when they shall have erected their
necessary buildings the annual profits of their
estates, Will constitute an accumulatinp canital
they VIII seek to invest in labor. That the
demand for labor must increase in proportion to
the increase OF capital, is one of the dcmonstra
tioIs OF political economists; and | confess that
Tor the removal of slavery from virginia I look
alone to the efficacy of that principle: together
win the circumstance that our southern brethren
are constrained TO continue planters, by their posi-,
tlon soil and climate. But, suppose / am mista
ken in all which have submitted to the Uouec
suppose the evils of slavery to be as great as thew
nave oecn mere ePresentcd--suppose slavery to be
| the greatest curse which an angry Providence
could In his wrath inflct upon sinful people"-Is il
| eXpedlentl Is it possible for this assembly to
Danish it from this land7
Dir, 1t we may not cohfide in the operation of ma
! tural causcs-lf we may not trust to the dcyelop-
mcnt OF the mysteries of time-then arc we with
out hope in this particular,-for it is mpossble
| that the object can be accomplished by leGisation
| Others, know, come to a different conclusion
and many contend that the practicabilitv of tho
thing, has been already demonstrated. In the ex
animation of this proposition | shall confine nv.
I n hp MIA Cr,Ir,- t4.xII