Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-02-16

that the vital interests of the require that
the slaves be removed from among should adopt
10 that end without providing enumeration
10 the would it be violation of the meaning and
spirit of that clause oil the Constitution much relied upon
by the other side? Does the citizen lose his property
without just compensation, when he il the
neccsii OF the community, of which he is member,
depends upon the surrender? When the tax satherer
takes from The pocket OF the citizen the which is
TO support The operations government, what the "eom-
pensauon which he receives for his contributions The
general prosperity OF that government, which enables it 10
protect him la the enjoyment of e liberty, and the pur
suit OF happiness" This Sir his only compensation: II
Is full and adequate
But MIR. Speaker, gentlemen have discussed this pro-
position as il it were sought to hbcrate and remove the
slaves now in being We told Of the millions invest
ed in this property and Of total inability purchase it,
Sir no one ha dreamed OF emancpang once, the
now in this Commonwealth. The strong the almost en-
rc reliance placed upon the question OF private right has
necessarily led the friends of gradual emancipation into
examination OF the authority Of the State TO demand the
surrender OF this property, il her interests require it, We
say that u e necessity has arisen, the community has
perfect right in the exercise of its legitimate powers
remove this any other evil dangerous TO its safety
tranquility. But sir scheme for sudden action is pro-
posed or defended II hoped that the necessity may be
avoided by the adoption now, OF slow but certain TO
prevent its occurrence Should the motion the
report oil The Committee prevail il is believed that wise
and efecnt plan may be devised providing for the liberia
ton and removal of those hereafter to be born The sub
situtc OF the gentleman from Albemare, (NIr Ranoph)
proposes that all slaves born after the ih OF July, 1870
shall be free, the females at eighteen years of age, the
males az wentyonc That they shall then be hired out,
until sum be raised from such hire sufficient transport
then TO such country as may be provided Tor that purpose
This is the rash and precpilate scheme condemned in
terms unqualified Ii does not commence its operations
for eight years The further period of years
to capse before the property of the be rcn
qushed period OF service rembusing him for the
oil rearing And sir, The perish may be varied by the Com
mee or the House. They may make it thirty, instead
oil twen;y-onc, should it be deemed advisable.
This projects objected TO, aninvason of private right
equally unwaranted with that which would take from the
owner the slave IN 1t is said that the property in
the increase perfect The property in the mother
Mr. Speaker ii this be invasion OF private right il is
one sanctioned by the ilusous Jeftrson-by him. who
above all others, delighted 10 defend and secure the rights
oil The pcopc--by him, who, much any other man,
aided in the organization OF Government, and the set
ucmcn OF tue terms upon which became an associate
community Sir, the same right which makes slave 10
DC BORN in lS40 mnc would make TO be born one
hundred years thereafter mne and would authorize me
to direct the distribution OF all those periods and
their multiplied progeny thereafter. The right the in
crease OF slaves belongs 10 that class of rights which NAV
at all tunes be changed, modified abridged, by ogsa-
i've chac'mcnts 1t Is right not vested but in cxpec-
fancy Ii is contingent right dependent on known and
existing one--and, admitting the invioabity of vested
rights, the fullest extent has il ever been doubted that
rights springing out OF them under the control Of
Ssaton Has the constu;ionay popriety of the laws
aooslng entails and The rights of priIaogeniture
been questioned? These belong the same class and are
lair illustrations of the authority asserted.
MT SPeaker, by emancpaug the post natl, the inter-
esis OF the present owners be but little affected
the true question Is can by any of ours, take
from postety that which would otherwise be property TO
them! Have we not perfect moral and political right to
do So' Has not the father right, by emancpaion 10 de-
PrNc bis ofpnng Of the slaves who would otherwise de-
scead to them property We are collectively the fathers
OF the generation which is TO succeed us-But sir when
was it denied that any people had right TO aboi.h hc
form OF their Government change their municipal regu
lationsto declare what things shall be property
and what shall continue such: Is generation auho
fiscd 10 lax upon the next a national debt. The opposite
doctrine would relieve Great Britain of debt OF eight
hundred millions OF pounds sterling
But, Sir, the right TO free the aferborni is moi one now
Tor the first time, asserted 1t has been acted upon il,
other counties, and may be considered adulicateG
question This the plan adopted, in to the Roy
al Islands. 1t the plan acted upon by our sister
States TO the north of us. They believed themselves au-
horsed TO take from poseriy, would have otherwise
descended to them property
And, Sir, will after ages complain Of the dcprivaion?
tn"rr chhtffcrlp'ii" weNtfb ed eace AND Your
suppose the proposition made by Mr. Bland had prevailed
Or at The bill reported by Mr.. Jefferson Mr. Wythe and
Mr.. Pendeton, and the amendments, proposed by the
orncr providing for emancipation had been adoptsd At
that period, would zoe now re- ret the deedl
But, sir Speaker, this is the only plan mich NAV
ne devised The gentleman from Dnwidie has endea-
Vorcd 10 convince us, tat emancipation is practicable Inv
the scheme which he suggests. This ough TO satisC;y
gentlemen that the work is mpraccable Should the
Conec be instructed TO bring in BILL other plans may
yet be suggested.
Sir, we should take encouragement from the goodness of
me cause IN winch we are engaged 1t is one, on which
Heaven VIII smile We shall not be left una,led in our
eAcIdoiiS' slavery Is national calamity. Such il has
been regarded, by those who are entirely free from, The
evil Nine OF he non-slave holding States, have gener-
o"Sy offered 10 the South the treasury, Tor the
removal OF this common evil. Such, too was the pirpo
oil the Resolutions, submitted TO the Senate of the United
States by Rufus King, the close his long and useful
public life.
The gentleman from Abemarle (AIr Wood \ himself
ads that congress may constutonaly, aid in the reno
val oil our co!oed populations by appropriations from The
PuDc lands III, Sir may lawfully receive assistance
from tins source, we may from the Treasury or anv other
OF The resources Of the General Government
There Mr. w God explained. lie said there was in his
opinion, wide difference Congress had an cypress gbt
To dispose oil the public lands but that could only disno,e
oil c monies in the Treasury, in the particular manner
ana or the particular purposes provided in the Consti;u
ton
MIR. s. continucd-Iti Mr. Speaker a distinction will,
out difference. The lands belonging to the Government
as much constitute portion OF the national fund while
hcy continue the public domain, after they have been
converted INTO money and the proceeds placed i'm the ,re-
sury Inc position Is this, that Congress may legitimate
~ give us portion OF the public lands TO be- by us sold
anu dpposed OF at pleasures but that it is not competent for
Congress to sell the lands and appropriate 10 us the
amount OF such sale. could TOO remind the gentleman NJ
another clause oil the Constitution, which auborises Con-
Sress $50 provide for the defence and general
'egoFe, Out suppose should probably differ i'm our
Interpretation OF that disputed text.
IT, sir, we should apply TO this quarter for aid we NAV
go win tie manly front and bearing of those who ask what
they may justly claim To the success of tlat 6orf,
struggle, which ended in the independence and union of
states, virginia contributed Insers share I'm t,e
winter oil our nations iorunc she dispensed with gene
rous hand, from her then ample treasure She gave
away mighty States 10 the cause.
Sir, the resources of this country are noyy adenofo IN
any lling which The public good may require Her rich
es are borne upon every wave, her flag floats in every
breeze. '
Mr. Speaker, cannot take my seat without EXPRESS
ing my full and decided conviction that the effort nov
making to lay the foundation for the ultimate and total abo
liton oil slavery, within this Commonwealth, will be