Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-02-04
Legislative Esebatc---Comtimucd.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
FIFTH DAYl-.honday, JANUARY 10.
DEpATE NJ Goonr's Resoil,iinl,- mil III Il


DEBATE on Mr.. GooDrs Resolution, and ifr. RAN
DoLPH's Substitute.
ar. BRopNAx from the Select Committee the sub
cct OF Slaves Free Negroes and uattoes made report
accompanied by the following resolution:
hesofred, AS Tie opinion of this Committee that IL is
heNpeuent' tc present, TO make any legislative
actinGnts Tor The abolition OF slavery.
In presenting this report, Mr. Brolpax stated that il
was not the intention OF the Committee 10 interfere with
inc discussion now going upon the resolution OF the
gentleman from Mecklcnburg CIr Goodc,) the amend
men thereto OF the gentleman iuin Aibemurc, (Ar Ran
doph) Considerable debate occurred, (or which we re-
fer the reader the Enquirer of January IN Oh taking
up the report, and upon motion of Mr. Bryce OF to
amend it, by adding preamble. Mr.. Bryce subsequent
~ withdrew his motion, and the report being taken up
Mr. Preston moved TO amend il, hy striking the word
meSPedte"f and inserting the word erpedient, to
reverse tho decision of the Committee
Inc debate on the main question then proceeded
Mr.. RoANE, of Hanover. said:--
Mr.. Spcaker-Understandng that this subject il once
more freed from parliamentary tramme and again open
to the free debate which has heretofore characterised its
discussions rise under all the diiidencc and embarrass-
meet which can possibly Cypress any whom neither
education, habit the vocaons of past m have trained
and qualified for public speaking The attitude in which
stand towards this subject, which is perfectly understood
by The House. avng first incidentally called their
ton to IL would not of itself, have induced me to throw
myself its charity Slavery subject which ought
not TO be publicly debated here's but, Mr.. Speaker
eei desrous that my sentiments should be known brief
~ as possible, In order that that great day trial. which
VIII most surely when poserity will arraign the
present generation and perhaps the present General
semDy at the bar OF paotisn may be sustained by the
irreiragabe testimony OF what may this day utter, any
plea which may be offered, of "GUILTY NOT GULL
TY, OF the ruin and devastation of my native land
think and ee Sir, that this subject has been most
prematurey and njudciously thrust upon the consdera
uon oil The House Ii Is here however, and | for one
VIII not shrink from full free, and open expression of
my opnionsthey have had little Digestion and will
come fresh from heart that traces all its best and
est feelings, to an early constant, and increasing love
Tor my native and adored Virginia. When first intro
duced this subject some weeks ago, by the presentation
petition the short and incidental discussion which then
temper tIv
determined the good sense and discretion of the House TO
refer 1t to Special Committee. had the honor be
member oil that committees and do truly say that il zeal
osy and aboiousy discharged its duty. Just was
ready toreport oil the subjects referred TO It,
knowedged by all obe important, difficult, and complex
me gentleman from Mecklenburg (Mr. Goodc0 moved
to discharge from the further consideration Of the other
great branch OF the subject and thus brought this delicate
and vital question suddenly aud fully before the House
in its most naked and hidcous form Notwshng TO perform
labor III committee, elsewhere which would BIO una
va'hng, listened with willing and anxious ear, TO the
reasons which the honorable gentleman assigned for this
unfortunate and extraordinary motion He said the subject
ought TO be withdrawn from the committee, because il
was too vital and delicate TO submit further deliberations
that this Assembly ought notnay, had the right
debate it, being an ordinary Legislature, and
ED FOR THE PURPOSE that his constituents were in
great alarm and disqctude about IT, and that their alarm
was much heightened by the fact, that certain newspaper
editors in this city, and their correspondence had pres,in
ed far say what might or might not and perbans
what ought ought not TO be done with i-a this might
nave been WE'LL 1t the gentemans fiat could have been
the rule OF this House. AS to the magnitude the sub
JSS purpose LOT winch TINS General Assembly
was elected beg leave to say now, for ALL that as
long as stand here legislator shall feel myself le
ultimately competent, and duly authorized, under my
known responsibility 10 act all subjects ordinary, or
faordlnary, which may concern the welfare of tic Com
monweah. There is 10 subject which can come before
me in my legislative capacity SO low that will not look
down upon with kind complacency, and high that
VIII not look up at with manly iirmness-noue dmi-
nulve that will not attempt To touch, and giga-
tic, that will not attempt to grasp to measure ana TO
weigh acknowledge, Sir in the fuiiness of republican
spirit, the force and obligation of instructions matter
how obtaned;-aut in their absence, will on my
own IesponSDlyl VIII act for the bestl will act iot
the people, because they have coniled tcir dearest in
terest to mc,-and am OF them.
But Sir, the gentleman from Mecbenburg tells us that
his constituents greatly alarmed that this subject
should be entertained by the Legislature, and permitted
cool and mature itself in the bosom of calm Committee
and that il must not be longer agitacd Did the gentle
man not know that the inevitable effect OF lis motion
would be 10 excite debate, which oil were anxious to
avoid wish from the bottom OF my SOUL that il the CON
stucnts OF the honorable gentleman thus alarmed,
and he really anxious 10 avoid debate he had adopted
some other mode 10 dispc their fears aud quiet their
alarms l wish lac had nlormcd them through the
press or some other organ agreeable TO him, and i
he could ind onc more sduary and preservavo oil the
liberty, happiness, and peace OF the country, that this
great subject had been presented 10 the consideration
the Legislature by the respectful petition OF respectable
portion of the fccmen and slave holders of Virgiuati
it forced upon the attention Oh the Assembly by tho
peculiar condition OF the Commonwealth, and the effect
which recent events might have its permanent, future
welare-at had been referred TO calm thinking and
patriotic committee, who would report ittha il
not III his power the power OF other member
of the House, 10 withdraw it from consideration, limit
dobacthat The patriotic Legislature OF their State would
do nothing to which they ought not TO submtand that
under circumstances would they be deprived OF their
chartered and unalienabe right TO life, PROPERTY and
the pursuit Of happiness. As TO the objections that rcck-
less editors and their npruden correspondents had pre-
sumed far TO aude to the subject in the columns of
newspaper must be permitted 10 say, that the honorable
mover of This proposition 10 discharge the Committee
should in order 10 have worked out h5 rule that nat-
ty which was necessary TO the apparent sincerity well
efficacy OF his motion, have followed IL by others
onc, to Withdraw the leave which this House had given
20 editors OF newspapers 10 take table, and
other, close the doors of th Hall against the anxious and
enlightened crowds who daily hang deliberations
lest some BABBLING LOBBY GOSSIP should publish i'm
the streets the treason plotting. Mr. Speaker,
do not think tho honorable gentleman should have
questioned the proprcy rcpudated the right of any
newspaper, TO discuss this delicate subject and tho same
time demand, permit its editor publish and ba-
10 the world the re-brand which he was the first to
throw into the magazine sure, Sir, that a. soon as
the honorable gentleman had taken his seat he must IN yc
been convinced of the great ndscrctiOn OF the House in
permitting reporters TO como among unless indeed.
speeches are TO be made here would editorial
articles aud newspaper essays required bc written,
TO suit the palate aid consumption OF Mcckonburg only
What, Sir let me ass all the trivial. trashy editorial ar
hc'rs, aud all the ephCmeraI newspaper essays Of daily
scnbbcrs compared with the speech with gentleman
from mccklcnhurg himself and others have made, and
many will make on this delicate subject Sir, cam
not, for the life OF perceive their nice distinctions be-
tween the ordinary aud extraordinary rights OF Lcgsla.
lures the ordinary and extraordinary ghts of the press
cannot for the delicate and tuuChy sensi1y Of
gentlemen those real true Simon Ppres-vbo say
will speak scdition. bat You must not write treason
will speak in favor OF eternal unlimited and irrctievse
slavery and YOU must print my speech but take care
hat you write nothing IN favor Of liberty will tcn YOU
what ~ GOOD 10 be done for VIRGINIA and o,, ,.t H.