Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1832-01-26
THE LEGISLATURES.
RICHMOND, JAN. 81.

From oUR. cORRESPoN.DEN-T
RICHMOND. JAN. 81.
The whole of the week has b~en oc
cup'ed in debate upon the subject oi
Sisrery, and the discussion has beer
characterized by an ability aud clio
iquepce, on both aides, which have en-
tirely surpassed public expccta,ion.- -
The present House Of Delegates. elect
ed without sny reference TO subjects ol
engrossing Importance, will bear q
eomparioon, and = favorable one too
with any Of its predecessors for the
last twenty years. With the exccp
tion Of faro great lights, the hall has
lost nothing. The aggregate Of talen,
is not lessened. If any change has
occurred-the aggregate Eas been in
cressed.
On Mondoy, the committee on the
subject Of the coloured population, re.
ported that il 10 inexpedisnt, at khi,
Time. TO make any legislative enact
ments Tor the abolition of slavery
Upon this report, . good deal Of Incl
dental discussion arose. ~ 20 the pro.
eriety Of continuing the debate upon
Mr. Ranslolph's proposition. or Of con
sidering the report Of the committee.
A motion TO lay the report upon tn.
table. failed--ayes 60, noes 62. Tn,
report Was accordingly continued be
fore the House and Mr.. Preston. o.
Montgomery, moved to amend il. .,
q" to declare il e<pedienf TO max,
some Legislative enaetments at this ses
sion.
After this. the debate Was continued
BY Mr.. Rosnc, OF Hanover. Mr.. w God
Of Aibemarle, and Mr. Preston.
On Tuesday, Mr.. Powell. of Spot,
sylvania, Mr.. Summers. Of Kanawhs
and MIR. Marshall, Of Fauquier, oe Gu
pied the attention of the House witt
able and eloquent speeches.
On Wednesday. Mr.. Brown. Of Pc
tersburg. delivered . mssterly spsecl
against action and MIR. Garland, q
Amherst, a very cogent argument il
favor Of the policy proposed by Mr.
Randolph.
| On 7hursday. Mr.. Williams, o
Harrison, occupied the floor in shor
speech, full of humour and originate,
OF thought, in favor of the amend
ment Of MIR. Preston; and MIR. Shell
of Brunswick. followed, 10 a strain O
ingenuity and wit we'll calculated q
soften the asperity Of feeling wbicI
had been evidently rising, against lie
gisiative action.
On Friday. Mr.. Randolph, Of Al
bemsrle. made quite a successful vim
dication OF himself and his proposition
against the bnffettings which both ha,
received; and after some explanation
between him and MIR. Newton, o
Westmoreiand, and between Mr.. Pres
ton and Mr.. Newton. Mr.. Berry close,
the debate of that day. by a very in
genious and forcible argument in "a
vor of the amendment.
On Saturday, Mr.. Mcdowell O
Roekbridge, fairly won the merit o
i surprising eloquence, in behalf of in,
mediate action. Though no, an orato
by profession, he exhibited n min,
stored with the richest gems Of CLASH
lore; and his thoughts we're eouche,
IN language go beautiful and impres
sive. that the auditors on both side. O
the question were wrspt in admiration
10 fine person, 10 added q name
amisble and gentle; and the effects o
his glowing elOquenee are almost IRE
sistible. When he concluded, 30 thrill
ling and psrslyzing had been the in
fuence OF his eifusion, that no on
felt disposed to follow him on eithe
side--snd on MIR. Csmpbeli's motion
the report was laid upon the table.
/ This momenious subject has s~al
lowed up all others-the action of IN
committees 10 in great measure sus
pended--snd il is only in the morning
while admiring crowds are throngini
the privileged seats, the gallery an.
the lobby. that any business Of a loo a
character is despatched.
For myself, Notwithstanding all tina
has been said, cannot consent to Ie
gIsiation on the subject at this sessio,
believing that the minds Of the pec
pie are not ''msde up'' in regard 10 i,
and because ] fear that a prematur,
movement may be not only iniuriou
but hazardous to the peace of the State
l think u probable the debate Wi
terminate on Tuesday evening.
- . -
II The Debate on Abslltion continue