Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-28
I'oG rug WUIG.
WILLIAM II.

the late proceedings OF the House of Delegates on
the subject of the Abolition Of Slavery, John Adj
Olson, Esg. called IN the Chair and Dr. Jesse
SimiSinS was appointed Secretary.
The object of the mcctin" being explained, the
following Resolutions and Address adopted:
!. Resolved, That consider every plan OF
compulsory emancipation of slaves by law
which does not at the same time provide for full
compensation to their owners, as an outrage
against tho rights OF private property, palpablc
breach OF tho Constitution of the United States,
and daring uSurpatior of Legislative power
9. Resolved, That there is no difference in prin-
cps between law emancipating tho slaves imme-
diatcly, and ono which emancipates them at some
future period.
). Resolved, That law cmancipatinu the
slaves and making compensation for them, would
exhaust the resources of the State for Il century
TO come, would bring ruin and bankruptcy upon
Eastern Virginia, aud would entail debt upon
postcrity which would drive them from our soil
| aud leave II an untcnantod waste.
! l. Resolved, That the experience of past times
presents lesson upon this subject, which ought
to have warned the Legislature of the ndiscret!on
| OF bringing 1t into open debate
| >. Resolved, That the principles avowcd in that
debate by those who advocated emancipation, and
the manner IN which these principles pressed
upon pubic attention, merit the decided rcproba-
ton OF the people, calculated TO disturb the
public tranquility, by misleading the slaves, insp
ring them with false hopes, and urging them upon
dangerous and impractcabc attempts.
D. Resolved, That the argument Of James H.
Il of
Brunswick, delivered on that occasion, is founded
upon Just views Of the feelings and opinions of
Eastern Virginia, and entities him TO Il public ex-
preston OF respect and appreciation.
!. Resolved, That we entirely approve the
course of our Delegate, Micrs w. Fisher, Esq in
relation to this subject.
s. Resolved, That we adhere to tho PRINCIPLES of
our former resolutions on the subject of our free
negroes, and again earnestly recommend the same
to the attention of the Legislature.
y. Resolved, That there is reason to believe that
an Appropriation of money 10 the Colonization
Society, to be employed in tho transportation of
our own free negroes 10 Liberia as CONTEMPLATED
by a bill now depending, may be attended with be-
nclIcIal results, and will therefore, sustain our
Delegate III voting for it,
III. Resolved, That an address be prepared on
the part OF this meeting, to DO submitted to The
people of Virginia dccnratory of our own views
ana opinions, and inviting similar proceedings in
other counties ot the State
AddresS prepared conformaJle to the lust
Resolution:
We, the people of northampton county, in pub |
ic meeting assembled, impressed with the import !
ance OF the present crisis, beg leave to address |
our fellow citizens throughout the Commonwealth /
upon subject interesting alike to the present and !
future generations
We have witnessed with surprise and deem rc |
greet the progress Of the late debate in the House
OF Delegates, on the subject of the abolition of
slavery III Virginia. We not less sensible than
others OF the evils Of that system nor less alive 10
the necessity OF applying to them, every cablc
remedy. 1t IS however system which was forced
upon us by past generations, and for which
we arc In no wise Tesponsible i'll tho view either of
morals or sound policy. However we may deplore
the position in which wo stand with regard to this
subject we have not had power TO avoid il. We
are not unconscious of the evils of condition. |
and we have not failed to bestow them reflect !
IONS deep and anxious in proportion to their inte
rest and Importance, But in seeking a remedy for |
them we have not been able to devise any plan of
Legislative action, which would not he condemned
ny every consideration OF justice, prudence and
public safety.
I'm the Of this Objectionable debate the
doctrine has been avOwcd for the first time in Viz
Shla' that slaves are not property of peculiar
ana qualified Il character, as to be exempted from
the ordinary rules which apply to that subject II
cannot but fill us with surprise that doctrine so
extraordinary as this should be publicly avowed, |
even in the progress of debate sufficiently dis /
lIhgushcd IN other respects, by bold and danger
Gus novelties. We have heretofore cOnsidersd if |
enough for the security of this part of our possess
ions, that slaves recognized as property by the
Constitution of the United States; that under our
own laws they are transmitted as property by in
heritancc, by WILL and by deed; that we sue for and
recover them as property in Courts OF Justice;
that they arc annually taxed as property by public
law, and finally that they expressly declared bv
an Act Of Assembly, to be personal estate
Even with all the lights of the late debate before
us, we arc wholly at loss to perceive in what re-
sPcct SO lar as the present question is concerned
thcy diner from other personal estate Indeed a
proposition rCprobated by the whole course of orr
legislation from the foundation of The Republic |
cannot require any farther rcfutation. II would |
not have been considered as entitled to any notice
from u.s. u we had not regarded il as the beginning
OF new system of reasoning, and of consc Quent
acuoh, winch recognising the otherwise insupcra.
bic difficulties of the subject, is determined TO at
tah ITS object by direct attack Upon the rights
Of property.
Assuming it ndispufablc that our slaves arc
property, unconditional and without qualification !
hi In t..t 2. L.
soiutc and indetcasiEle as that bv which orr Land
h'eit IS held, We do not allow ourselves to SIM
pose That the Legislature will ever attempt to take
u from US, Oy any act of more arbitrary power ,
we c0nccdc to the Legislature the right TO take
private property for public uses, and we coneo
GGnuiy conccdc the lesser right so TO regulate and
c"uroui the "Se n property as to provide for the
public interest ana safety. But private property
cannot be constilutionay taken for public nscs
without making Just conpcnsation nor c5r !,
cOustjt1tionally be rendered yauclcss in the b,rJ
Of the owners, under the prctoucc of rconi,t;r,,
and controlling the use Of it. a law with such
an object would bo Il mere evasion, uny oriI,v ,l,,
dignity and integrity of public legislation.
Holding these opinions, We douOunce as rlniIs,
oppressive and unconstitutional every plan for tbo
abolition Of slavery, which does not provide fun
and adequate compensation TO their owners Even .
however, with such provision, no such measure /
would, in our opinion, he either practicable or I
wise. Whether NC contemplate immediate or pro. /
spcctiTc emancipation, the subject appears 10 US,
NlITpnhNrd WIN dlfiCultcS TOO serious TO be .
unfairly encountered, and too great TO be over.
come by any Legislative provisions In this re-
spcct VIC do but follow the lights of other times
Every plan heretofore suGgCstcd--aud they have
been many and vurious-has been abandoned as
iWVraclcahc. We have none TO offer, with
better recommendations. We shrink with diff. ,
dcncc, from task 20 which the best wisdom Of tho
wisost age Of our country, felt Itsefuncqua The
occasion docs not warrant full discussion of the
5ullcct, in al is important bearings upon private
rLgni and public policv. II is enongh for US TO