Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-21

public mind has been brought properly to bear
upon this subject, there will be found wisdom
enough in this ancient Commonwealth, TO de-
wise some safe, some just, and some practicable
scheme of general emancipation, and patriotism
enough to adopt that scheme at almost any sa-
critics. and thus, sir, this poisonous scion which
has been I'M Fortunately grated upon, and min
yed it's deadly branches with that beautiful
tree of liberty under whose shade we have
heretofore 30 happily En0xed, may be Prnncd
hope it will flourish to como.
Mr.. Speaker, do ~ sthis an appropriate
occasion to discuss the abstract question of sla-
very; although certainly the very fundamental
ilciples upon which our f:e. institutions so high
lv priced & so Justly boosted of, are based, ALL go
to rcpudate it But as sad let that pass; t! ere
are other mo ives to action much more power
| ful, and much more operative than any which
can be drawn from the consideration of abstract
questions of right and wrong. There are
mo,ives Of policy, motives Of self preservation.
| and TO me il seems that these are the motives
which should prompt us to act upon this occa-
sion. Let us for a moment turn our attention
| to the motives of policy. as tiny affect this
question. / can scarcely persuade myse I
tha, there is a solitary gentleman in this house
who will not readily admit that slavery - an
evil, and that its removal. if practicable. would
be contamination most devcutly to be wished.
have not vet heard, nor do l expect to hear,
voice raised in this hall to the contrary Sir.
the gentleman from Buckingham, few days
| ago. skctchcd to us, and sketched it too, with
a mastery hand, picture of the wither-
ing. the blighting effects of slavery That
picture is before this House, and will
not attempt to add to it a shade. or another
tmt-I will not, sir, lest instead of aiding its
effect. ! might, with a l'ss skilful hand, =
m nish ii. NJ. Speaker, Virginia. the much
loved, the veIerated mother Of us all, from be
ing the first State in this great confed'racy,
s now the third, possibly the fourth; and her de-
elm ug fortunes have long been the source of
melancholy reflection to her patriotic cons.
| What sir, is the cause of this decineS What
ever others may think. to my mind it is clear
that the answer to this in'errOgatory is her
SLAVE POPULATION. Hive lille LAcHnrM f.
Here lies the source of all her mistorune'. Thus
is the clog that has weighed her down, and
prevented her onward march PART rAssU with
her sister 81 ates, in their career OF Improvement
Docs any gentleman doubt thi>a Sir. let me ask
him whom and what is the character OF that po
pulaion, ia rearing up and sustaining which, the
once rich and fertile soil of our State has been
in great measure, impoverished Has 1T been
population of free and independent yeomanry,
Interested in the welfare Of their native land,
devotng their best energies, mental and physl-
cal, to the advancement OF their countrys honor
and glory-in a word, SIR, to borrow an express
sion of the gentleman from Buckingham, her
ornament in peace-in war. her shield! No, sir,
that evil has been impoverished in SUSTAINING Il
slave population ignorant, degraded, debased,
having no interest IN their cnuntry's welf're
whose hearts have never been warmed with the
glow Of patriotic feeling, who never nuve ex
claimed, and who never will excllim, at least
with the patriotic enthusiasm of the poet.
"Ihis is my oUn, my ndtire land"
But who sir, while they IN the very midst Of
hoSNr hnun md n1au
to be dcadliest enemy. Sir, cast your eyes
oyer that portion of our State in which this po
puia ion mostly abounds, and what Is the picture
presented TO your view? Do you not behold
wide extensive wastes IF impoverished soil.
worn out aid laid aside as barren and useless
grown up IN PINES, the very emblem of po-
verify, through whose tops, the passing traveller
may indeed listen as it were, to The genius of
the PLACE mOurnfully signing DER its decay?
The gentleman from Brunswick, may, and no
doubt Will, impute the uttcTance of a sentiment
like this 10 Il want OF national vanity Sir, d. not
distinctly understand what is meant by national
vanity. | do not exactly know what definite
meaning to attach to the phraZe. am PROUD,
sir, that ] am Firginian by BIRTH feel proud
IF my native State, because she has long been
dis ingushed for her generous chivalry-for her
noble hospitality. She has long been distn-
pulshed by the patrlotlsr Of her sons, and tho
last not least, by the virtue of her fair dnugh-
ters feel proud because she has given to man
kind and the world a Washington, a Jefferson.
Madison, Henry, and others, whose names
will be pronounced with reverence, as long q :
there shall be a votary of liberty on earth. !
LOVE Virginia sl-, because she holds within her
bosom. all or most OF all that hold most dear;
in word, love her, because she is my native
land, and like the gentleman from Dinwiddie, |
mean to SWIM or 10 sink with her. If this be
national vanity, them sir, trust that in the pos
IF NJ | ppf IN ha lam fr
Brunswick or any other gentleman upon this
floor. But, sir, if our national vanity should
bl nd us to the true condition of our country
If it should induce TO look upon that as a
beauty, which, in oil other eyes but own, is
obv iously dcf0rnty, a hldeous detormity-it
would then Ceaee to be virtue, and though,
not crime, Certainly would be misfortune
Such, ! fear, sir, has been the effect of the ma
iional vanity Of the gentleman from Brunswick.
The gentleman from Brunswick will, hope,
believe hat say this of him, with feelings the
most respectful. Sir, il with degree oi
pleasure | never before felt, that / listened
| few days since, to his splendid eocution, his
pointed sarcasm, his able and ingenious argu-
mems; and could but mentally cxclam, what
ought not such abilities do, if only exrrted in q
right cause, and from some expressions that then
| fell from that gentleman towards the close of
his remarks, which | acknowledges, ] did not
expect to hear, yet have the hope Of seeing him
in some future Legislature, cooperating in the
great work now before US. But. sir, to return
from this DEPRESSION. Let me ask you, would
those barren wastes have been presented to your
view bot for the eaitence Of our slave population.
But for that, would not these very wastes
have now been thickly studded with the smiling
cottage Of the freeman, the abode Of peace, Of
happiness, Of virtue, intelligence, and patriot
ISM Sir, let us remove the evil, and 1t is not
yet too late 10 hope that in time, this will cease
to b. the picture Of fancy, and become glorl
Gus reality. Are not here then, powerful mo-