Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-14

it oud trauuuilizs the public mind; the col
ored classes, scong that settled policy was adopt
ed towards them, would become more quiet and
rcconcilgd, and would abandon all vain hopes and
INA gnation Of any general or Immediate oman-
! cipalion. This process would remove the
evil gradually, and certainly would produce no
| shock 10 socic,y-,hc places of the slaves would
be gradually filled by frccm,n, and the habits of
the people would DO gradually adapted to the
change. Oar poscrity will DO most Interested in
this matter, and think you, sir, they will regret tho
adoption, by Us, of such system? No. sir-it
will he tho best legacy that can POSSIBLY leave
them. Had this been done thirty y. fifty years
ago, would now rcgrc: il? No, sir--wc should
now he tho hLppest people on Garth. Sir, am
| sorry have not confidence in the scheme of the
gentleman from Dinw;ddic, to this evil
from among lie states the annual increase of
the colourcd population, bond and free, now, at
about 5000, and no proposes TO raise tho of
two hundred thousand dollars annually, to dcfray
thu expense Of removing and settling this number
| III Africa. He estimates the annual increase of
slaves now at l,5Ge, and he seems to Hatter HIM
self that this number will be given up annually
by their owners, to be colonizcd. What will these
slaves be worth at the time they will be fit to be
coloniscd? Ut Will not DO TO tako the very old or
very young)-lhcy will BIO worth at loast ono
million OF dollars; and if may Judge from the
tone OF this debate, cannot boIevc that property
of this value will be given up gratis, annually, by
the slave owners. But this would be only takin,,
off the annual 'ncrcc>c-it would leave the capital
stock about stationary. And | cannot believe i,
WEI even no lDS-NCl, sir, L am tor ldODtiuU the
scheme OF the gentleman from Dinwiddo; il will
do some good. Sir, believe that the annual in
crease OF slaves in Virginia. will DO in few wears
much greater than ii is now Tho annual increase
ct slaves throughout tho United States is about
three per cent; may be inferred that The iucre,s,
is as great in Virginia az elsewhere Tho gcp,Ie
man from Petersburg estimates tho whole stock of
slaves in Virginia at about 40, 0Oo-at that r,to
mo actuai annual increase in Virginia would be
il,0O0: but this has boen kept down by oxporto,or
| so as TO leave 1T at about 800. Tho Southern
states are gradually imposing restrictions upon the
importation OF slaves, and by that policy our OK
PoFtal'on of them. must be considerably reduced
III tl'nc TO come. Tho consequences will hc
That the actual increase of slaves within III;
@tate, Will be not less than lO, 900 pcr annum
ana II we nave to buy up all these, and colon;zo
,ieh !, VIII not cost less than two millions three
hundred thousand dollars. | ask where is Iii.
treasure to come FRONT And this mark Won will
not DIMINISH the capital stock pcrceptibly Sir I
am hrm!y convinced that there is no other svs,or,
that Is practicable, and will DO efficient for ,emo
r'hg tins evil, than that of liberatiur Tho ,f,or
born children. The gentleman from P,forsburr ~
inmates the value of the present stock of slaves in
virginia, at upwards of one hundred millions of
dollars, and asks rather triumphantlv what eoui
va!cnt shall we receive for all this wealth? answer
inc security OF life, liberty and happiness we shall
be rich In these blessings if we have not sla VIZ j.;
inc land. But the slaves will be removed so
gradually by this SYSTEM that the loss will moi bc
iel,' the reduction of the number of slaves will
Their objection of the gentleman from Petersb.,rr
Is, mat when this system takes effect slaves and
freedmen VIII be growing up together and that
inc disposition TO revolt will be thereby increased
! 90 not perceive the force of this objection The
freedmen will be so many distracted from the NAL
contents; they will have no sufficient mot;vo ,o
risk their lives tor that to which they will he emit
tied already, aad our security then, as now, will
DC IN our superior power. Those living at the
time this plan would take effect would he Tho orIv
class from whom any danger need bo apprehend
ed. All who might be born afterwards, would be
entitled TO their freedom on tho same terms and
would nave no sufficient motive for revolt; thu dan
ger would be continually decreasing. But. sir.
suppose we do nothing in our day, as the gentle
man would seem to desire, will not the danTer be
INFINITELY greater, and increasing continually? The
gentleman gave long statistical statement tho
OBJECT OF which was to prove that slave labour is
more productive than free labour I prcsnmo
that the exports from tho City of New Orleans
formed part OF the estimate he gave us of South
ern cNports and sir, the fact that New Orleans i;
the shipping port for the Western part Of PcnnsvI
wanna, the Western part of Virginia tho States Of
ONO, Kentucky, Indiana, in fact, for almost III.
Who,c OF me young and mighty West DESTROYS he
WHolc Iorcc OF his statement. But, sir, will any gen
ticman maintain the proposition that given d;sir;
OF country can sustain in comfort and prosperitv
larger slave population than free population?
olr' IL VIII be very hard to convince me of this
have seen too much Of the practical effects of SIN
very to believe this. AS n general rule tho cl..
only !lalt work, and the masters do not work nj
all. Inc masters prodigai, and the slaves ,ro
wastciui' and this results from the very nature Of
Si'Tery' ana the Influence it has all the motives
| OF human action. What stimulus bos tho sIa,. -,
work, other than the lash? He arnues tbus. ,I
should fatigue myself with work? am homrSS
20 WORK all my lite-l reap not the fruits of INV Ia
Dour-i increase not my comfort by increasing INV
!'pour' Nhat motive have to save? nv JnSsicr
oouhu 10 provide for me long as live. be ,,ot
all the fruits ofmy labour-honce his whole noSiir
10 WORK as iitt!e as possible, and TO consume as
| much us possible, TO nothing. On the cont.
| ry, what are the effects Of freedom unop ,n,, 49,
Pu'a'Ion! Every individual in the communi,y j.
| stimulated by a desire 10 become wealthy dist;n
g"i'hed' independent, and powerful. All the (acmI
ucs OF each individual arc expanded and f,IIv do
VcloPcd; each acquiring all he can, and talino emo
| OF what lie docs acquire: hence the mass NJ nrn
uuctlen OF all that is essential. TO the com for, 81
happiness OF man is infinitely greater i'm n froo
than IN slave population. Tho pentlemon fron,
i e'cl SDurS' ana the gentleman from Brunswick
Soe" TO nc well satisfied with slavery as il is
c VS. ana seem 10 DO IN state of perfect Sc
curry ior inc present time, and Ii time 70 conc
on TINS subject They are fortunate pentIernn'
ana II thsy can persuade majority of The PoonIo,
| Oh virginia to think with them there will bo rn
thlng cone on this subject. The question is now
| Hirly before the people, which is all desire NJ
n'lis 'c' 1mey VIII consider of it, they will decide
upon 10. Tho next Legislature that meets boro
VIII be fully instructed oil this subject LET Tho din
ciS,on OF the people be what it may | shall cheer
,u'ly submit; bow with submission TO the will of
the majority, in all matters of State
So "H.s-sz' .-Ey,rv>,-7v-z-z--.
ETGjt SALE. y tract of land WING in tho
:" county CT GooChlaDd, about miles North
to inc Court-housc, on Bcayerdam Crack
D's tract /" thought to be inferior to no bjpb
iond plantation of the same siz, in the compiu
~ contains about seven hundred and ciohiv
acres, Of which about orc brplroJ - C,e'j