Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-04

them on these terms7 Sir, tins idea t',at tho own
ers are entitled To the parents as property, In, NOT
W 'h"ir offspring, is one on which ur|,ucnt Is.
unnecessary. When tho hea. generated hy this
"'l.' S'aI! have subsidized, the sober sense of tho
M""n community will cry out against it, AGAIN
sur WIZ ask, whether in that very chatter which
""' "PPoa'ca to ycstcrIay--thc Federal Consiitu-
c oIu was not expressly provided that no cypoSf
Jh Ia" S'sii Do passed. Is not this fundtlnont-
al principle OF our State Cunstitu;ion also and ,
ulctate oi reason and common senSc--,,d 4, ,~;,
cipo "i common ju>,iccl Il might be no VIOLA
,nn oi inns obvious rule Of propriety-or this con
U'''iohai guaFanice-0hough it would certainly
DC very 0hSurbl-to apply this prnciplc 90 am, r.;
NGre acquisition of this property Yo,, u,i,ld ,.r,
wac that all Individuals who hcrsnrcy pure haze,
slaves should be restricted in their ri.lts To In,
c'J"yincn' OF the services of the existing genera
'"n' ana ttft tic }oSi Tat, il YOU please should
DO rec alter stipulated NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
S"eh property; would then act wish their cycs
IF'"' "'T however unwISc the policy might hc,
'tey would have nothing TO complain Of, and Il
you'd involve no imirac,ion OF that Constitution
"hl'h ali OF US have sworn to support Bat hat
r@h' d" you have to extend such 4 PRINCIPLE 10 the
Property OF individuals already acquired, and vest
ca III Them, under the faith ri CXSiip,r laws7
SIR, the plan proposed hy the gent onIan from AL
bemar!c, is not only inefficient in its consequences
TO attain the objects which he Processes TO have in
view, but would lie mschicyoue I'm tho cvirc,,c j.,
MS application and influence. it, orcration would
n' """ O.! DEGRADING character 20 The State II
'iuS OUT Inc strongest temptation 10 every gentle
III INC r'Ilc 10 convert himself into "A negro,
t'ader. Ems plan which preicnds TO hold ca, free
CON IN view To this unhurpy race, vet allows fine
owner TO sell and pocket the value, Of every ono
:" "'eSc l"St n0ti up TO tho very hour in which
'hey arc TO be entitled to their freedom And will
ask you one question: Mr.. Speaker, 10 which I'M
VIE your deliberate reflection. DO you rea!y, be-
ic'e, That, under the operation ofthis fancful svs-
,"i, ono single negro ever would DO liberated in
INC state! ask you "a pause and enquire before
you decide. DO you not believe that the owners Of
'"cSc young slaves, would hold them TO tho last
minute in which it would he safe TO do SO, and
'ncn, gust before their title TO freedom accrued.
would sell Them, if there was single market omen
for tncm i'll the world? Sir, the mass OF mankind
are always governed by their interests. Some
there are, no doubt, vino would lhetatc their slaves
for purposes OF deportation, whether such law az
this existed or not but these would do so without
the law, and surely the law itself would never in
duce them TO do it, or effect the freedom Of sim
gle human being.
Sir, this very feature also involves an iaiu9yaE
tendency. 1t is calculated, though certainly not so
designed, to corrupt both master and slave. Tho
master is presented wit9 every Inducements hold
these aitcr-harn in scrvitudo MS long as TO can,
and then to cvado tho total loss of thc;r yaIuc
which would otherwise result from keeping then,
III ;i" state, by selling them in Il foreign market.
And what is the influence to he cycrtcd on these
slaves themselves, who in this uncertain un-
happy prcdicamcnt! Would not the enactment of
such law this, hold out 10 them false and tlclu-
sTc hopes? Such as would keep them perpetuallv
~ restless umquict, uncertain state of mind?
W itn the prospect Oi freedom constantly in view,
would be coupled The hourly apprehension, that
ihe;rmastcr, by selling them could defeat it's at
tainmcnt and dash from their lips The cup so long
presented. The pains of Tantaus would be given
a real existence. And would they tamely submit
TO such disposition? When arrived nearly to tho
point Of ;iIao, at which they hoped for liberation,
and discovered that all their fond conceptions were
TO he defeated, by sale to a master and n less
desirable situation, would they not have the strong
est temptations TO rebel?
Mr.. Speaker, the injustice and inequality Of such
a system, on the African themselves, const-
tutcs one OF It's most powerful objections. a child
Is born o-day-anoih"r to-morrow. hut after the pc
Rod prescribed to cnttc il proSpcciyoy 10 freedom
They grow up together: hundreds and thousands
in the State, in the same families. Of nearly tho
same ages will occupy this legal reatcn-sonra
with the promise of freedom ahead Of thcin--tho
others with none, knowing that somc were desti-
ned TO life Of scryitudc, while the were TO be-
free. Will this inequality of conditions, do Won
suppose, excite rcSicssncss and dissatisfaction
among thon,? Win they not feel that the same
principle which gives freedom 10 ore, entities tho
others to il? Ni thcy quietly submit TO such I'M
mcritcd distinctjons2 VIII this not also lead 10
iawlcss efforts and Instructions? Rather Shan be
sold in distant chimes, to unknown masters. many,
nave no doubt, would greatly prefer to indcnturu
themselves for life, TO their recent owners, and
near their accustomed associations.
MR.. GEOnNAA'S SPEECH TO EE coNTINUEDl