Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-20
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Speech Of Mr.. CA.HPBELL Of brooke.

Speech of .Nr. C.iHPBELL Of Brooke.
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II has been said. that ,Eis subject was introGu-
eed here merely Ivy am imr"mS'drr', o re'crcn'" "i
n petition from Il tcw funatcil q takers S'r' mat
is not correct As u n.c!,ibcr 81 the Select 'ohi-
mittcc, 10 whom the subject MAS referred h"''"
closely all the petitions which ca'o before us anu
the order in winch they were presented. on inc |!
9TH Sth and g;h Of D,rr.,llr.r petitions from the !
counties of FIuqu"r Pt-c and Augusta, were re-
fcrrcd, each amongst other ihtg* dIStlnctlVclN |
asking an action in AID u. tlc rcm"rGt 81 Sidr"S.-
The petition at the Friends was not presented until
the llth 50 that this House had assumed uriSlic-
ton of the subject before this much abused, but
humble, petition of most worthy portion of the !
good people of this Commonwealth had, perhaps, |
oven reached this city. Again, sir, mt the time
this discussion commenced there were on the Ia |
BILE of tho Select Committee, petitions the
subject from no less than eleven counties, tscvcn
Eastern and four Westerly and still II rs SAID that
the public voice has called for present deli!
hcraons that all the good evil oi this discussion
il due to the pctitioniug Friends. This, sir is
awarding to these petitioners "honor over much"
Nay, sir, since thus debate has commenced, pc
titiors of like import, from other counties, East
and Wcst,) have arrivcd-aud not single remou-
stancc--so that already we begin to hear, more
loudly that voice to which the .cn.cnau from
Brunswick (Nr. Gholson) appealed, and so conf
IDENTIFY assured that when it did come, il would
he to those VIII" sustained his views of this sub
Jcct, |or D"i. IL said lay the gentleman from
hanawha, iMr. Summcrs,N that thu tay oa which
you determined to refer the Hanover petition, this
question scttlcd: not meaning, as the gentle
man from Brunswick (Mr. ShclD seems to have
understood him. that the vote on that occasion was
To he taken test of the relative strength of
parties in this House: but meaning and correctly
announcing the fact that the moment you deter
mined to investigate and to discuss this subject,
You unveiled this veiscd prophet; that you unScal-
cd the lips and thoughts of this community,
The effect of that decision. That Instant the
work was done, the Rubicon was passed. 1t mat
tiers not what may he decision on the question
now before us, the work in NV iudrucnt. is
finished.
But we are told, that there is now no Just cause
OF apprehension Tor the future; because, say gen
tlcmcn the relative Increase of the blacks over the
whites is gradually diminishing. What are the
facts9 BY the Census of 1893, there were whites
Fast of the Blue Ridge, 3l4, 25; blacks, 2s9, 425;
leaving majority of whites of 25,D9S. BY the
Census of $780, there were in the same district,
AJI,Ol3 blacks, and 1885 whitcs leaving Il ma
jority of Sl,07s blacks. Thus showing an actual
gain of blacks the white population for the last
40 years, of LOG, l76 But, sir, L am aware, that
the argument of a dminuton of relative increase
Is based upon the admitted fact, that in this
district the increase of the blacks over the white
population for the last 90 years has been less than
IN that of the preceding 30. Has this reduction
been grdd"at, or was it produced by causes which
Warrant the inference that 1t will continue?
From 1890 TO 1900 the whites increased 2l,SI6
" " L" the blacks increased 1865
From 1900 to 1910, the whites increased 2l64
4" " 90 the blacks Increased Al $40
FROM 1910 to 1920, the whites increased 1920
g Z" 80 the blacks increased % $50
From 1920 to 1880, the whites increased 27,O62
% 90 &c the blacks increased f3OS5
From this statement, it is evident that the
blacks gained the whites in the first period
Is 1922 in the second IL, }S5; in the third g. 666;
IN the fourth, 16,O23. Has then, the dmnution
o""n 9T"d"nR Certainly not, during these four
periods; and although the increase is less during
the two latter than it during the two former;
YET, we cannot say whether the increase during
,ho ~ years, comprising the latter periods, has
been grddn0t, we have not the separate increase
OF each of the included ycars---but this compara
tive reduction is the result of which forbid
even Il hope OF continuing or relative diminution
your accumulated stock of slaves, exhausted
lands, and the diminution of the value of YOUR
produce, have all combined in compelling YOU to
make sale of the increase to as large an amount
AS posslblc--thc Southern market has given YOU
an outlet. These are the causes of the past dimi-
mutton; but that market, III The nature of things
viii soon be supplied Already, Louisiana has
passed u law forbidding further importation into
her terrltory--kcntucky has the subject under lc-
gisiative consideration. The Southern States gen
orally, Will ultimately be compelled to slut their
doors against you; then the increase and value
VIII be as before statcd.--Sr, in the prospective
cannot imagine how any vgant statesman can
console himself with hope of comparative di-
mnuton But in the statement before me, one fact,
in itself singular, is exhibited. From the wear
1900 to the year 1910, the whites increased only
2lol why this extraordinary diminuton2 At
present. l cannot call to mind any other reason
than the migrations which may have been produ-
ecd by the tcrrors of the instruction which took
place about the latter part of that period, com
monty known Gabriels nsurrcction If |
am correct i'll this conjecture, how much more cx-
tcnsivcly, (may not anticipate,) will be the eff
feet of the incidents of the present day. Indeed
SIR If something is not done, are assured that
mIgratlons to an unparalleled extent will take
place The gentleman from Albcmarlc, (NIr Ran
dolPh,) has stated to this House. that III certain
district of his county, miles square. the entire
populatlon save one old bachelor, awaits but our
decision, to determine their removal In other sec
tons OF the State, assured that similar |
feelings and determinations exist to great extent
But, MIR. Speaker, we have heard sometime Of
Virginia prosperity. Sir were it not for the
gloom of dcsoaton that surrounds u.s. the term
thus applied, could not fail to excite smile This
is Il theme which can have charms for no one
certainly none for uc;-with n climate and native
soil, inferior to section of this Union--yith in
terminablc mines, water power, and every natural
advantage man could dcsirc--a commanding central
location amongst the StatcS-wlat is the real
condition of Virginia! What might she have been?
Look, sir, at her exhausted soil covered with Il mise
rabo thriitcss and haggdrd black population where
the industrious white should bc--with no facil-
tiles OF internal intcrcommunication--hcr natural
advantages lccted-native resources uncxplorcd
State and individual energies paraZed. Sir do
you not hear the ending murmurs of yondcr noble
stream RS it hecd.essy rolls on, almost under the
walls of your Capitol, ever reminding us of tba
liGtlcss inactivity OF Virginia. Did that invuIun
pie water power uncqualcd in this Union, exist
IN Tree community, were i! to be found in one
OF the free states, think you such fountain of
wealth would long remain unlppropriatcd? Look
SIR, at the position of Virginia in the scale of the
Ht"toS. Ole by one they pass here. BY sorIc,
she Is already dIGtanccd. Contrast sir tI,s ,r,s
Pcry of your citizens, their wealth and resources
WIN the prosperity and resources of the citizens
oil states which started with you; but instantly /
unct1rcd themselves Cast your eye upon the State
ofPcmnsyyania, her ostcrcd SOIL and still luxuriant
lItttl mo trnCr .',,r ,-!,., L