Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-16

cons 'utC the whole ntrSSttChGth III tUlS h"uNS
Ia oprc, ION 20 the principles OF emancipation:
voted IN favor of that reference; was it ina
uirct that INTENDED, hv that vote, to take from
the East their property and their dearest Nights:
| Docs ANY, man give sanction 10 til" prlrcipIts 81
| A proppSIr .on wi on he consents to send It 90
/ Committee to enquire ot ITS expectancy: \ on
/ know SIR that du.iug the present winter ger
tlcman presented 10 The House OF Representa-
,tycs, memorial confirming the same obnoxious
feature io be found IN the Hanover memorial
/ Was there 4 su-le gentleman OF the whole
/ South,,p rapirsrula;lru in Congress who rose IL
/ protest against r' Ard, SIR. did the whole South
I commit us.i then en- the principles OF enamel
patron bv a s.,uple vote to r tc;; There was ro'
| believe a solitary mau who declared that he
regarded 'nr vote on tho Quaker petition from
the county vi Hanover US test. ain remind.
ed that the orrricman from McCkCnburg, (Mr
GooGc.; called on The House so TO regard IT. ]
lid rot hear th,t cal; and If had could not
have aasrutGi 20 It's PrNp'lcty That gentle
man. am well persuaded, would be very sorry
so lean that the vote was in fact n test-thai
the question was then ior,v,r decided L, iris
mattcr was considered finally disposed of,
WHY this struggle why thus eXcit emenl?-au
| excitement which Gud- no parallel in he annals
Of cur L"gi-l,ion. Mr. Speaker: | must be
permitted 10 say say il with the highest re-
spect for mcnters ofthS House that the course
| gen lrmcn have thought proper to pursue on tho
subject Of tins petition has not been marked by
those liberal and enlarged views which ought to
| hav5 been anticipated.
A great deal has been said during tho pender.
cy of this debate about sectional preiudices.
Much Of tho difficulty incident to this discussion
| has no doubt grown out of tho idea that ,uch
feelings cn'er extensively into views proclaimed
from arilcular quarters of this State.
For myself take This occasion TO say. that
such feeling finds 10 place in my heart. When
| came mere brought with me no such cor
ruptng principle. My friends i'll this House
belong 10 no particular portion of the Common
wealth Ny friend h, 5 have been formed with
out tie least regard to locality or political OPT.
mon. do most cordia ly dcspisc such prln-
cipIc-a principle SO damnatory TO the best lntc-
rests OF the State And Sir, | should utterly
nate myself If were capable of being nctua-
| teH by Il passion so oGious and damning in its
"lin|ncc on the de lbera,iOns of Legislative pro.
ce,'ings No Sit. an for Virginia UNITED
not torn and snmdcred, by party and fiction -
me COMMISSIONS If the revolution Numbered
over us IN VAIN when we were ONE PEOPLE
| WI'H ONE SPIRIT 10 animate US Mr.. Spea ker
nave many friends from The West. who re-
rf,s nj their cons titu"nts on this floor with
distinguished ability. but am sorry TO saw
| that they have totally differed with me on this
| exciting sublect--'hat some uI them have ox-
pressed sentiments the most astounding ever
uttered, since the foundation &C civil and re-
g'ous society No Sir, there was orc occasion.
ON which similar doctrines were advanced
and Si5, let it be reinem bcrcd as a moni orv
icsson-that tie fatal PRONUNCIATION Of these
d. ctrncs dclugcd in jlood the fairest empire in
Nni"pe--Wh!tcned the plains If France with the
| homes ol her pcopIC--upturned her institutions
and destroyed them, both civil and religions
cnUh'ca'cd The property of her ctjzens--and
placed h"aily tie ncck Of that renowned Com.
h"h"caiih under Ihc foot OF tyrant opprcs-
sOr.
While know that these opinions are based
on the honest convictions OF lndgment-on n
sincere desire to effect some happy result,
must canGId!y declare their circula ton far
more dangerous, IN my concG ptlon, than TWEEN
~ such instructions as that set on foot by
Nat. Turner and his Gcluded followers A
barrel OF gunpowter lying or that table, with
malch rapidly approaching it, should really
give less concern than the publication Of m my
such opinions, as have been avOwCd here. We
might escape the one by flight, the other is
silent, certain and deadly.
Mr. Spe0ker-the sSillul physician when
called 30 prescribe for patient, b fore he af1O ds
thc rcmody, aSccItIIns the cause OF the dis
ease. In Ike manner and with greater reason.
should wise statesman before he adopts or
recommends splendid scheme ofinnovat,on on
the Wei known and ancient institutions Of
country, cNamne with a tcnliye accuracy, into
me reasons and causes which propcl him TO ac
zen. Il cannot be concealed for an instant
''''' '''" ''''it gItJbb VI all luC movements mere
III The cause OF emancipation s the single
~olatcd ilcl Oh the instruction Transporting in
southampton III August last. Dangers from
similar incidents are the approximations which so
"isluTO ana hauHt Uur luiGEinations at the pre-
sCnf moment.
We all feel the deepest emotions of synpa
Thy Tor those who tcli on hat melancholy oc-
casiCn. Tho heart sckcns with chjllin6 dis
gust at tn" recital of the med iuluriatod deeds
at rrmor"cicss massacre, and relentless assassi.
oat!oh which spared neither age, nor sex, nor
eiPI"ss infancy in their blood stained progress
w mourn the lal.cn--we weep over TIE little
chHdrcn, whose sweet and infant cries found no
n"rcy-no cecapc AT the hands ola ruthless foe
n"'' HIr, IT becomes rs mon, as members of
an enlightened l.. 'slative Assembly in free
ANA enlightened age, to examine this transac-
tIon with tie most deliberate attention-to
marx It's character, and to examine the circum-
stances under which it broke upon the public
view we arc bound by every consideration
OF prudence, wisdom, justice and policy to Give
1t the most painful and impartial attention. and
see II there be any thing in 1t to Justify the n
doPtioh 81 the novel and extraordinary princi.
pies so ably and cIoqucnty recommended to the
favourable regard of this House.
Tho gentleman from Petersburg, (Mr. Brown.
IN me great and powerful aid he brought to the
sinking fortunes of Eastern Virginia in tho rc
marks he submitted to consideration on ycstcr
day advertcd to the pleasing, but ndisputabic fact
lHat IN period of two hundred ycarc, during
"hlch slavery had existed hero, but u single in
stance had occurred in the history of our country
where drop of blood had been spilled by Insured
h"hafy movement. lie cor'--sfot .'.. class of
our population uili .He Ucasautry ol other conn
u '. 70. some states of this Union and h5
..Ns.Eatet tgni nrf agas arc not only cc..,,ra.
= a happy people, bot arc as experience neon.
- cess dangerous iu every point of
Vic BAN we o." .ar other governments. whoar.
n" tree, ,H. .sa ip fact miserable slaves.