Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-01-30

some way or other, ever restore to society 'lat
feeling of SEE urity, that confidence which II once
enioved, and without which il can have no t"te'
rable existence. Nor does this want OF c"nh-
dence and feeling of insecurity, result from any
craven fear. No Sir, it results from the noDiest
feelings of the human heart; and It Is no par''a'
feelings, but it is felt by all. Who, that has
mother, vile, sister, or child, that has not fe't
when seriously rejecting upon this subject, pangs
little short of death?
Yes, Sir. many brave man who would face,
without shrinking, the terrible array of battle,
and with fearless heart, spur upon the lannon's
mouth, has felt bis blood, in icy currents, flow
back upon its source from the chilling-the fear
fut thought, that when he should return to the
home he had left surrounded BY all those domes-
tic blessings which make lite so dear, he should be
greeted not with the smile OF JOY and welcome.
but by the nangled cOrses of his butchered family
Shall we say, then, that there is nothing to tear.
when such feelings as those, hut yesterday agitat.
ed the bravest of US? 1t is true that We are told
to be at ease-for, saw gentlemen, the very breath
of the nustrs of the slave is in the hands OF the
master. That the late deep tragedy bad been
the work of fanatics only-true. bnt have gen
tlemen only philosophical principles by which 10
graduate fanaticlsmf-have they any arithmetlcaI
rule, by which to calculate the time, the place,
the force, when and where, and how violently 1t
will burst forth No Sir, they have not. Fana-
ticism, of all the horrid passions with which man
is cursed, is the most wild and ungovernahle in
its character. and Is the peculiar child OF Igno-
rance Ignorance is the necessary consequence
of slavery; and we all know, Sir, that our slaves
are not only extremely ignorant, but extremely
! fanatica, and therefore always danger nus.-
/ These are truths truths that force themselves
upon US; and force Of our most valued and valu-
able citizens Yes, Sir, it drives into reluctant
exile, the good, the wise, the generous and the
brave, who value the rich enjoy'nents OF domes-
tic happiness, which entwine themselves about
their hearts, with force more powerful than the
iron grasp with which the child Of avarice clnss
to the unfortunate slave. Yes, Sir, it is such
citizens who are driven from this Commonwealth;
men who would be Virginla's ornament in peace
/ and her shield in war.
Extract from, Mr.. Mves' Speech.
The plan indicated in the substitute, by which
to accomplish the great object of diminishing and
ultimately getting rid of the evilsof slavery, ap.
pcared to he So plain and simple that all might
understand tit was altogether prospective in
its operation, and was q" solid.y practical" 1t
was the plan of one of the wisest men-most pro-
found and experienced statesmen-most devoted
tors that ever lived in this or any other country
f. in this or any other age. 1t was the plan Of
the late Thomas Jefferson. And it was hazard
Ing little to predict, that it would add to fame
deemed by many already ACKNOWLEDGMENT
do what the poet pronounced - excess. ''and add
another hue to the rainbow" Speaking as a
Virginian, Mr.. r. said, that he would rather
have the fame with posterity arising from this.
than from all the other great acts OF that great
mans life And he thanked the enlightened peo.
pe Of Albemarle for aAordins an opportunity to
have 1t proved to the world, that the illustrious
example constantly before them had been apprc-
ciated by his descendants, and that they were
now walking in his footsteps What was that
plan? 1t was with the appreciation of the peo
pie, to declare by law, that from and after the
18th of July ls4O all the children Of female slaves
born in Virginia, should 1.-THE males at 81 and
females at 49, become public property. if detain-
ed by their owners in the State until they arrived
at those ages respectiveiy-and be hired out un-
til the nett sum was sufficient to defray the ex-
pense of removal to foreign country. Hnwwould
such law operate, il the people decide in favor Of
its passagei All slaves now in existence would
bfsIaves for Iife-al those born before the 4th
of July, 1910, would be slaves for iife-all those
born after 4th July 1910, would remain the pro-
o ~
males arrive to 81 years. and the females t" 10.
so as to remunerate for the expense OF raising
them; but if their owners send them out Of the
State, they may detain them there as slaves, or
sell them there and put the money in their peck
cts. If their owners will not send them off be-
fore they arrive at the respective ages before men
toned. then at those ages they will become pub
lie property. and be hired out to raise money
enough to bear their expenses TO foreign coun-
try 1t would therefore be Is years after the 18th
July. 1910, before any female could become
public property under this law, and 81 years af-
ter before any male could; so that it would be
more than &c years from this time before the law
would operate in a sing case; and after its ope-
ration commenced, the process would be regular
and gradual. As slave-Iabor quietly and slowly
disappeared. its place would be supplied BY free
labor; there would be no sudden transition from
one condition to another; no interruption Of any
pursuit or Of one description Of labor, without
making preparation for, aud affording an oPportu
nifty to, the supply Of its place BY labor much
more valuable and desirable