Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-28

derive no aid whatever from the General Government
and that she Is resort to the alternative of throwing
on posterity by system Of laws, part OF the charge
removing what would be horrible burthen then-ha
she may have raise the amountn the
by direct taxation TO the whole amount, what is the sum
required. TO the object to be attained by III $4,000
the great State of Virginia, is less than 80 head
her white inhabitants. And who would refuse TO pay
that! Abstinence from two three glasses OF toddy
the Courthouse, would pay it in day. What addition
would IT make TO our present burthcns! The revenue
paid to the State at present il nearly halt million OF
dollars. he county levies-poor ratcs-and other
sional public dues, about the same SUM- So
that the people of the State have to raise million
dollars for public purposes annually besides the income OF
the Literary Fund, and that for Internal lmpov
The proposed amount would only increase the burhcn
the least necessity for deriving the whole mme-
diatcy from taxation, fast il wanting IL there
object for which it would be good policy for
one generation TO anticipate the of the
bequeath to part OF the cost along with the benefit this
Is certainly the object But shall urge that matter
aPresent, because II is not necessary
have supposed it not only probable, but approaching
certainty that we might obtain considerable
fromthe Federal which entitled,
every consideration OF equal justice and which might
consistently receive, without the slightest violation of
those strict State Right principles which distinguish
n disciple. OF the Public Lands held bv the Gene
raj Government, large portion, it will DO rccocced
was ccded TO virginia. portion too which exceed
return from them The sales of the public lands usual
~ produce average avail of $3,OO000O. think the
last prospective estimate the Secretary of the Treas
ry, rated at that The proportion of this to
which Virginia would be entitled according to the rate
able principles which have been recognized, would be
about S275O0 year. Then there is fair proportion
OF the surplus which remains i'm the Federal Treasury
oil the ordinary revenue. This would be far greater
sum. wo9ldno consent that the present tariff should
90 continued ON us, even if could derive this benefit
from --butif be burthened shall we bear ali
e evil and get no part OF the good in retun This last
accession 10 our resources could according my con-
srucuon oil the powers of the government appropra-
ted to the desired object, without amendment of the
Constitution No amendment would l apprebcnd Inc
ition \ bove
oil the proceeds OF the public lands The power of Con-
gres, over these lands and their avai provisions in
tho Acts at Cesson, and otherwise have been supposed
by some OF most correct to stand on en-
uoly different ground from the revenue derived from
imposts Congress has frequently acted il would seem
on mat UNDERSTANDING But it is unnecessary discuss
that question: An amendment of the Constitution could
S wei be solicited TO embrace that OF revenue
as 'he oher; and from recent information, which
place implicit reliance, think Congress at this time has
every disposition TO aid this subject or accedc TO
any necessary amendment Constitution for the pur
pose that we could desire Indeed, Sir have seen let
tiers from several distinguished members of that BODY late
~, which express the confident belief that such an appl
cauon would readily prevail 1 should not of course
consent that any funds from the general government
should be appropriated within State TO the purpose of
removing our Tree persons of color, purchasing and de-
poauS any portion OF our slaves except the condition.
a the object was TO be effected exclusively under the
sohol oil the State auhorites-under regulations of its
enaciment-and by agents of its appointment With these
safeguards, can perceive no objection Mr. King orN
YORK. introduced it will be recollec,ed few years ago
In the Senate OF the u. S. resolutions for a
the proceeds OF the public lands these purposes The
movement was denounced through all the Southern States
as an alarming indication of the disposition of Northern
Ponucians 10 interfere with the relation between master
and slave and the resolution and its mover held nm 70 vim
dcuve reprobaion. But the event has passed by onp
enough Tor us TO examine his project more cooy and i
pears intrinsic evidence of and
II ad NOT propose the compulsory abolition of slavery in
slhge ihstance-but its gradual reduction, by APP
PSS uese particular funds TO the purchase reno
val such slaves only their owners might wish 10 sell
confess nave ever believed hathad same proposition
proceeded from Southern statesman it would have been
nailed with applause through all the slave holding States
was calculated surely have increased the value of our
slaves by throwing into the market an additional fund for
their purchase and the benefit operation would OH
Hiously have BEEN primarily and almost exclusively on
us; while the only benefit which could have resulted f.
ule Nortn from the surrender of fund in which they
possessed common interest would have been the graft
caon OF seeing the gradual extinction an evil which
tnough IL dd not Immediately affect Them they had con-
tibuted originally tointroduce-and the higher graca-
on oil witnessing amelioraon in the condition of the
Dnsed states as an whole Whatever political heresics
Nus hS may have committed, /, for one, regard this
as aredeeminS act in his life. Should no other member
90 so, IT'S my intention at proper time to offer resou-
uohs lhsrucuS our Senator's and requesting our Repre-
senaves in Congress propose the amendment TO the
constitution which may be necessary authorize this dis
pursement OF the federal funds
For the transportation of our free ncorocs alone
ehueaVored 10 shew our State are amply su
clSnt; Let us then, commence in eccting that about
"hich most OF us are agreed-and which is all that could
LOT inc present. be effected whatever may be the uerior
onlect oil anyhe removal OF the free persons of color
h M t,S sna nave been completedif in its process
sna nave demonstrated the practicabity of this plan OF
gradual deportaonand if the means shall bv that fine
ne Wihin our control with which effect il, as hone
nave sheWn was at least probable what to prevent our
gong on WIN the SYSTEM by the removal annually of as
many as 5000 of those who now are slaves? We shall
have the means, trust of purchasing This number AT fair
prices But, it is my decided belief that this will NOT he
come necessaryor at any rate, beyond limited extent
there are numbers of slave holders at this very fine in
Virginia. do not speak from vague conjecture but from
what know from the best nformaon-and this number
would continue to incrcase-who would voluntarily sur
rehuef elr slaves, II the State would provide the means
OF coohiZng them elsewhere. And there would be again
announcer class have already heard of many--who, while
tney could not afford to sacrifice the entire value of their
saves, would cheenully compromise with the State for
hall their value And if in these various modes the
State could acquire--instead of 5000 year-IO 900
year. and 1t should then be deemed desirable TO accom-
psh such an end it will be by simple calculation
allowing for all the intervening increase that in less than
30 years there would not be left one single slave or free
negro in all Virginia
But, Mr.. Speaker, many, ~ first sight, are ANAL
lea at what they consider the magnitude of such an
Undertaking. There persons of sanpuine
Impairment and perhaps / may be one-who re-
gard lie" hings as impraccable unattanable which
are sought with determined, but cool and patient
perseverance, while there others who either espar
without an effort, put down by the first obsta,e
thcy encounter They difficulties and objections
10 every thing that requires excron The people Sir
nave called upon usand they expect us TO do sometime
ohal we iold our arms and say 10 them "the effort is too
great we nave not the means the power and we can
10 nothing Something might have been done perliaps
some years ago, but II is too late, there is moth
ing cIt 10 us but to SIT down in despair 'For nation
10 be ree is sufficient that she wills it, was the memo
raDc remark OF one OF those patriots whose writings emf
henuy contributed to our glorious Revolution And the
tanc success Is equally sure TO follow the determined c
poftO l..