Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-24
DEBATE ON ABOLITION.
Remarks of Mr.. SHE'LL.
CONTINUED.

slavery may be-whatever the dangers which
accompany It's Observation-Disclosures the calaml-
Ties II Is likely to bring upon our country, our
pecuniary condition and prospects are such as L"
render action now totally impr acticable. |
might pause here, and demand that We await the
coming OF that future period, when we are told
the deep, broad waters of unknown resource
snail by silvery foods wash and purify The soil of
our beloved State; but representing a portion Ct
TINS CommoHweal h, deeply Interested not only
IN The adoption OF rel -ction of the proposition.
now before us. but in the opinions and arguments
growing out of this debate, | feel that the sacred
trust conhded to me, by my Guns itucn,s. would
not be faithfully discharged. were | TO la,l to of
Ter some reply to particular remarks which have
fallen from several gentlemen.
~ long lst OF statistics have been offered tbs
by the gentleman from Rockbridga. (Mr. Mortcj
"a gentleman for whom ! entertain high re-
spect, for the vigilance and Independence with
winch he gives utteronce to his opinions. NV
own decided opinion is, that statistical calcutta
tons lead invariably, in political enquiry, to en-
roneons conclusions. They prove amy thing
andtheretore prove nothing. And, sir, a strong
er case OF the truth of my opinion could not be
adduced than that exhibited by the gentleman
himself. 1t IS assumed that slavery re,ards the
growth OF white population. To establish the
ProPricty OF this broad proposition, he appeals To
the population of Brunswick in 1890 and in 1880.
Inc increase, 1t seems, has not kept pace el,her
win the gentieman's own iInagin alton, or with
that redundant accumulation generally incident
TO rich new countries. Slavery has existed here,
and therefore slavery has unquesiienabiy pro
duced this delcterious result. 1t did seem TO me
that the gentleman had, in the course cf his re-.
marks, assigned other sufficient and better rea-
sons for the depiorable want of increase in the
white population of my county. Reasons,
not only amply sufficient to have deferred in
diVldualS from settling among us-not only suf
flcient to have caused the removal of such
as have deserted the abodes of their anccs-
tors-but reason so strong and potent, as to
make Us wonder that any should be fund so
hardy as to remain IN a region so perfectly mis-
cradle The hills and gulies-the poor. desc.
late and unproductive fields which wa are told
every where inll upon tho eye in that section of
country, would afford good and satisfactory rea.
sons, L should humbly lmagiIe @, to enable us FIJI.
~ To account tor every removal which has at any
time occurred within our borders. If these s,a-
tlstlcal tables of the gentleman cou'd establish
the fact, that wherever slavery has existence.
the white man gradually becomes extinct, and
that white population ra plGly incr eases where
ever slavery does not exist, then he might, with
some reason, from these premises, deduce the
conclusion TO which he arrived. These are
facts, however, which, unfortunately for the pur-
poses OF the gentleman, even statistics them
selves refuse TO afford. Removals, and many
removals., have certainly taken pace from the
section 10 which our attention has been direct
"a. Not, sir, L assure you to escape the evil
and curse of slavery. The emigrant, so far as
nay observation extends, almost invariably settles
again among a slave population; generally in the
rich vallies of the West, where he can enio.
greater facilities to market, and reap the full
harvest of more abundant agricultural produc-
llon. The march OF empire is to the West.
Inc gentleman, IN another part of his re-
marks, as additional inducement to action, | cup
pose, tells us, the evils of slavery hereafter will
be greater than they have been heretofcre. |
agree with him certainly in this seniiment-f,r
a reason, however, widely differing from that on
which his opinion is founded. Sir, legislation
on this subject is in itself an incalculable evil
hction, unattended with success, must most assu-
rcdiy bring upon the country IndescribabIe injury.
From the discussion here will spring discussiOn
at every grog shop-at every tavern-at every
hreslde, and In every public and domestic circle
IN The Commonwealth. And rancnrous disputes
will arise, exhibiting to the slaves the dangerous
intelligence that half the whites desire their
emancipation, the othor half to keep them in a
state of servltuje. This is an evil. a great and
ar :ad.ui evil-an evil, from the baleful opera
tons of which, | would most willingly. most anx-
lously save the State Of Virginia Our pillows
will indeed become uncomfortable. We shall re-
tire from such exciting disputatIen, if not to re
allze, at least TO dream of innocent blood. fami-
es and kindred slain, and to be frightened by
visions and s~pectres OF. insurrection.
The gentleman from Buckingham, (Mr. BollingD
in the able and eloquent view he presented us o
few days since, of the communicating evils Of sla-
very, contrasted the character of this State with
that of non slave-helding sections of this Union.
His contrast was by no means fattering to Virgil
MIA. tie told us the poor man was degraded here,
and that the generous and the brave were forced to
fly their country to escape the influences of this
incompatible evil.
enter NV prOtest in thn most unOunliGeJ man
ner, against the assumption, come from what
quarter 1T may, that the character of Virginia has
aHy thing to apprehend from a comparison with
any non slave holding portion of America. |
had thought if there was any thing to which Viz
ginia had pre-enincnt title, in the estimation not
of her own citizens merely, but ny the unanimous
voice of the civilized world, it was the unsullicd
purity of her characteristic disintercsted patriot
ism of her sons-the stern unbcnding virtues of
her people. Whatever other ills may be attribut-
able to slavery-whatever disastrous evils il may
have inflicted on the land Of its toleration-the
lmperishable records of history inform us, it nell
ther restraints or e%nervatcs any of the high and no
BILE principles OF our nature. il slavery brought in
its train of evils ignorance, vice and degradation
at one period, would not The same cause infallibly
produce the same effects, whenever and wherever
it existed? Slavery has always existed here, and
/ would enquire for the evidence of its immoral
tendency. When has old Virginia proved recreant
in the public cause2 When has the trump Of war
sounded when there was not an immediate rush
to battle? Tell me ola solitary instance in which
she has ever turned her back on friend or foe2-
Has tho gentleman forgot George Washington?
Has the glory of his name faded from his memory?
Has he forgot the great il~lustrious Jciicrson?-
Were they not born and educated in this inglori-
Gus land Of slavery Where do we find in them
symptoms of this corrodng, paralyzing corruPtirg
principle which recently has been found so extern
sivcly TO exist? Look to other States. 70 slave
holding Georgia. To generous, chivalrous Caro-.
lima. Sir, the little State Of South Carolina has
nearly as much talent i'm the present Congress, as