Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1832-03-22

cd With feelings Of sbhorreuce Tor ala
very IN all its forms aud stioas,
Iii it depended upon my word, leo
ci-ty being prepared fsr IT, the shac.
kIcs should fall from every slave in the
Universe. And If Sustained by nv
ceostituents. and entrusted with q
place in this House, TO express their
will, I should glory in the privilege Of
being allowed to vote for its total ex-
tinction.
But, sir. I do not stand here TO ad.
vance indiuia,ant feelings or opinions
on this head; or to say what I would
do - 4 citizen. stand here, as the
representative, in part, Of large SLAVE
holding interest--of men who have
con6ded to me . guardianship over
what they deem their sacred rights
men Who have generously reposed con-
fijence in me, notwithstanding my
apparent want Of identity Of interest
with them in this particular. Sir, for
this very reason, feel that ] ought to
proceed cautiously-that ought to
place my feelings and my prejudices
under the restraint Of my Judgment
that l ought to respect the opinions.
and even the prejudices, Of those who
differ with me, and who are much more
deeply concerned. Sir, / riH pause.
before sanction any act which will
affect the right Of property-however
that right may hav. been obtained. -
For. whatever may be thought Of sla-
very in the abstract. men sciU hold on
20 this species Of property a. long a.
their safety and their inferesf will per.
nit them to do so. The laws (whe.
Their wisely or notl have recognised il
custom has sanctioned il, and argu-
ments founded upon any other premises
will be fruitless. Men may listen
but they will listen in vain. Philan.
thropv itself can do nothing-it must
be backed by the potent energies Of q
mighiier feeling.
MIR. Speaker, even policy. il no other
considerations were involved, would
dictate TO me q cautious course upon
this subject. IL il not plain a. the
MONDAY light, that public sentiment
in Eastern Virginia is rapidly tending
towards some important action upon
this matter at no distant dayi The
Southern markets once effectuaIly
closed to our surplus slaves, do we not
see that the Great Lever, Interest,
(which moves the machinery ,of the
world,) will soon be brought to bear
upon this subjectF Do we not find
that the two greatest incentives of hu-
man action. necessity and interest, are
already supersdded to whatever Of
moral conviction now exists in refer
enee to il! Is not the simple fact, that
Eastern gentlemen now talk openly
and freely upon topic, which hereto
fore was only breathed in whispers,
proof conclusive that they will soon
be prepared to lesson, if not entirely
20 eradicate the evil ? Will not pre-
cipitation retard, il it does not defeat,
the objecti Shall zoe, by exciting
prejudices add alarms, which ought
rather to DO alIayed, interrupt the mo-
raj current which is now gently and
smoothly flowing, and which will soon
swell into q resistiess tidei Shall zoe
render the sweet and placid waters
bitter and turbulent, by disturbing and
sgitating the spring from which they
flow? ]. for one, will not do it.
] shall, therefore, vote against the
amendment Of the gentleman from
Montgomery, and against any legisla
tive action, At this session, upon the
delicate subject Of slavery.