Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-02
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subject had already been discussed at great length
The debate has been crolucutly aud ably sustain
~, and especially by the gentleman from Peters
burg who has just taken his scat. IL has been
i'cwcd IN almost every possible aspect, and 1T is
difficult now TO suggest new idea. He was very
lar from believing that he would import To II any
additional interest. or throw upon 1T amy farther
light, and he should not hay" presumed 10 have
cast himSclt upon the courtesy and Indulgence of
The House, if the popularity Of his situation did
not seem 90 impose it on him. But when he in.
formed the House that he had the hon or TO repre-
sent on this tloora county lying East of the Blue
Ridge, in which one halt of its population con-
sisted o! slaves and that OF consequence whatever
affected that class of cur population, either di-
rcc,ly or remotely, was vitality interesting to his
constituents, 1T would at once DC sect how delicate
ana responsible was his sitratiun-aud that situa-
ton is rendered, if possible more embarrassing
from the further fact that he should bc compelled
from solemn sense of duty to separate from
majority ofmcmhcrs who are similarly situated, on
The final vote which is IT, he given on the great
question now before them. This, he trusted,
would be il satisfactory apology, if nono other
could be iOuud for ob'viding himself az this time
upon the notice and kindness OF the House. But
the gentleman from Petersburg, has properly &c.
marked, that no member who rises to discuss this
subject need offer any apology The subject ITSELF
furnishes the best apology for the most lcngthen-
cd debates for if such subject does not authorize
the greatest latitude of enquiry and examination,
there is no subject which the mind of man can
conceive of, entitled to that consideration. 1t is
nota common subjcct-it is not of ordinary
legislation. The most careless observer can not
fan to sec IN IL, u consequence which former
subject possessed in this Hall, and which mono
that may be brought into it in all coming time can
possibly exceed. All agree us to it's Importance,
Its magnItudc, its thrilling and all pervading in
tercst Vast IN its conscquenccs-momentous to
the present. and generations yet unborn, and init
matcly connected with the veal or woo of this
Commonwealth, no man can approach, it without
feelings of solcmuity, and a sense of docp and
painful responsibility.
Mr.. Speaker, tho gentleman from Mechlenburg,
and those who think with him, that discussion on
tins subject is dangerous To the peace and rcposc
OF the community, must by this time be convinced
how vain would be any effort to stay the awakened
and still increasing rnxicty which is every where
felt to probe it to the bottom. You have been told
tina, the die is cast--thot the Rubcon is crossed
and, sir, the ball is in notion which il is not
given To the power OF man 10 arrest. Like the
gentleman from karawha, and others who had
uttered the same sentiment, he rcjoiccd that this
discussion had taken place; he rcioiccd that the
curtain which had so long yelled it torn away,
and that silence was now broken, and broken for
ever lie rcIolccd too, i'll the hope that the dis
cusson would still go on, not only here, but at home
among our constituents, until tho mind of this
whole community shall be gathered as it were to
point, and ccntcrcd upon this tho lost important
OF all conceivable subjects. The time has come
when wo must face tive cannot evadc it:-ifyou
lily from 1T, 1t will pursue you, and though any de-
cisivc action may be oStpoucd for n time il can
not be deferred long. An impetus is given it,
which will drive with power AID force irrcsst
able and overpowcring on to action. He had not
tho hardihood to announce before this Assembly,
that the work before them was easy of complcti ion
and frac from difficulties. He knew, rs all must
that it is surrounded with difficulties almost inuu
mcrable, and perhaps deborativc body was
over called upon to solve moro embarrassing and
momcntous question. Even the most ardent NH
lanthroPhist ard enthusiastic votary in the cause
of emancipation while viewing with transport the
cheering prospect of seeing slavery day wiped
from his country, can not but how many diff.
cultlcs there arc in the way, and how many oh
staclcs oppose the contamination of his hopes and
wishes. But sir, the question has been asked and
he begged leave sgan TO repeat it, because il was
an important enquiry, when will these difficulties
be less! When will you be better able TO grapplc
with these difficulties? Will it be some ten twen
~ or fifty years hence? Will it be when your
slave population shall have surpassed and doubled
that OF :hc whites? VIII it be when your land is
more mpovcrishcd-your resources more limited.
and your citizens poorer? Sir, will it be when al
hope OF relief is gone, and when despair has come
upon you! There is danger in dclay-no,.inr
can be gained by il, but all may be lost. Year by
year. these difficulties increase, and what is practi-
cable now, may become impracticablc and
day by day the dangers and the evils now sought
to be removed arc growing and spreading around
you. view it as you may, if it is ever contem-
plated to act at all-i If is ever designed to make
an effort to remove this danger and this evil from
our country, 1t must he confessed that this is the
time for action and this the golden opportunity
Like the gentleman from SPottsylvana, ali the
gentleman from Hanover, he stood here uninstruct
ed by his constituents on this great question; and
1t might be his H.; fortune 10 pursue course not
approved OF by chem. But, in the absence of all
Instructions by which he would willingly consent
to he governed, and without knowledge Of their
wishes to Which lac would chGcrfuliy sacrifice his
own, !c was thrown upon his own Judgment: and
governed by its Dictates and the results of his best
reflections, aided by the lights of the day and arc
In which we live lie t. ok upon hms elf the high re-
sponsi5liity of declaring that nc was now prepared
10 act. tic had announc, ! tina: he uunstructcd
by his constituents 1t was true. But Inc took this
occasion to mention that he had had the pleasure
of receiving by the last evenings mail, Il letter
from much valued friend, and who is orc of the
largest shareholders in the county of Amherst, i'm
which he says, that he, too, is prepared to act He
could not but feel chccreG by such declaration
from such sourcc-it served to sustain him in the
adventurous path along which he trod, and cmboId.
ened him to perscvcre in that course, which the So
Tenn convictions of his mind had pointed out as
best. gentleman, the other day, in the ardor of
debate declared, with much emphasis, that we
dare not act. In reply, he W, i beg leave to saw
(dnd in doing so, he spoke only for himself) that
he dare do any and every thing which the vital in
tcTcst OF this community, shall require; and he
would not stop TO count the cost, when all trat she
holds most dear, shall be put in jeopardy.
lie said nc should have voted for the substitute
offered by the gentleman from Automatic 1T was
not, however, free from obicctons but he should
have voted for il as matter of reference and en-
quIry-knOwing, at the same time, that il womb
he open to amendment, both in the Committee and
lii tho Housc-and especially as it only proposed
submission of the great question involved in if TO
the judgment and vote of the people. That s,b
siIutc has been Withdrawn from before the House.
by the aspect which, has been given to the
aublcct since the report Of tho Select Committee
lie should, now, vote for tic amendment to that
report, proposed by tie gentlemen from Mont.