Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-04-17

he has "perfect right 10 DO 6oe and tba, his oyvoor
retains him in servude only by of gross inusce
all this anu great deal wholly without e-
climate object, ii those whom intended TO
rate were already willing to do the very thing which the
orators desired Such fierce squirting is necessary
Wiling minds, and IT is mere prodga waste of words, to
persuade TO what they have already determined TO do
Nay't was little uncourteous in gentlemen draw
such strong pictures OF wasted fields sterile soil
our sloveny cultivation, Sc, oil owing to those very
slaves which, they say, wished rely on no longer
But the "mos unkndest cut OF ALL" was 10 pourtray the
slave as waowing in moral filth SEA state of igno-
rance wholly Incompatible with the existence OF any mo-
"Pnnciple or exalted feeling in the breast and then
c all the world that he other classes wit, the
ers' cannot 'entirely escape the conogon" And this
was said Of us at the very time when gentlemen prosed
10 be proceeding on the fact, that had already the
error OF ways, and had determined on am
oil me- IL we DO not sink under this cruel rebukc our
nerves must be made ofsee At all events as we must
not suspect gentlemen of supereroyatory unkndnes we
are compelled TO conclude that he perpe who required
TINS debate are not "the people" who the slaves.
nope 1t Is not for this reason that the proposition made
70 submit the question to the people; it was
mol; and personal knowledge OF the gentleman by whom
mat proposition was made. au,horses saw So But
hs hte surprising, that his reflections did sug
gc 10 MIN, the true character of that propositions and the
Impression which must necessarily make on the people
oil eastern Virginia Ii my right my slave may be de-
termined by the of the people il is difficult 10 per
ceive, why my right my land or my stock NAV NOT de-
pend upon the same suffrage. This is summary mode
OF overhrowing the Constitution OF dissolvng our repre-
sentative, republican government, and reducing us TO
simple democracy But the justice Of this proposition is
sun more striking My right my slaves is TO be sub
,eo 10 me determination ofmen, whose representatives
nave already told me, in plain terms that they are
der hgh dndinperdtre moral obligation and an all.
ABSORBING personal interest TO take them from me!
The people Of eastern Virginia cannot but admire this sim
guar specimen OF Legislative ethics, and extreme
~ grateiui Tor such dspcnsation of public usce quasi
dgnui con1nittere lupo al derorendunn
am much mistaken if the great body even of western
men, nave not been TOO far calculated supporters of
these high handed proceedings When the eervescence
of the present feeling shall have passed awav they will
see this subject in the calm lights of practical policy
They VIII perceive that these theories of 'naura rights
are altogether Visionary and unsuted the condition of
AN actual government; they will perceive that the re-
sources oil the State wholly inadequate any plan of
eancpaon as now contemplated, except only that plan
winch would subject the justice OF the State reproach
break down all the barriers of the constitution and wholly
uninge society, by destroying the security of property
These consequences far be hazared
Tor the sake OF any speculative principle, any
puoic dement, Whenever the people generally, shall be
convinced of this shall cease TO number among the
evils oil this debate, alienation in feeling between the
different parts oil the commonwealth, which fail
shed disastrous influence upon the future of her
policy. LOCKE