Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-02-02

ittty was thuOuuCcu against tnelr wtli-tilak
we are indebted for Ii. to the commercial "a
pidity OF that hesrtless empire which has me-
yer failed to sacrifice every principle of right
and Justice---esery feeling OF honor and Ru ,
manity 10 the aggraneiisement Of her COM
ncrce AMI manufactures Sir. we have landss
! we have houses, we have property. and We
are willing TO pledge them all to any extent.
10 aid yeu IN removing this evil Yet, wo
WIN not, that you shall extend to us the sams
evlis under which you labor We will noe
That you shall make our fair domain the re-
ceptaele OF your mass OF political filth and
corruption. Ne. sit, before we can subm,e
TO such terms, violent commissions must aei-
tate this State.
/ Sir. the gentienaa from Brunswick, has
made discovery, Tor which the west muse
certainly feel under infinite sbllestloh. To-
him. He has discovered that we hav, an
actual interest in the retention OF the slaves
as source of taxation; the proceeds OF
which he triumphantly Remarks NAV be APP
Piled to the construction of Rail Roads, Ca
nals and all other magnificent projects OF
Western ambition Sir, surely, 50 exquisite
a piece oil irony must have been designed by
the gentleman from Brunswick. to relax the
heaviness OF debate Does he suppsse that
we have so soon forgotten the past legislation
ioi this state, upon the great intereats Of Wes-
tern Improvement? their cold and Step
dat1e like refusal Of our prayers and peii-
lions for relief Does ne suppose that we had
forgotten his swn very recent and eloquent
declaration of hostility to the Ioanp or the
history OF the amended 4 would rather cali
IT. SIR, Punft Constitution OF this State, by
which we have been ronsiiiutionally prohibis
ted, raean ny the distribution IL political
power. from applying that sacred fund to any
L Ian "A
OF the physical condition Of this Common
wealth.
Sir, take occasion TO assure the gentle-
man from Brunswick, that in the appeal
which he has made 10 our cupidity and ann
bltlon, he has mistaken the feelings ,r thu
Western Delegation We are not. sir. 4
think, 10 be purchased by meney less
by premises Of money, frsm enc who avowu
that he cannot. upon principle. grant US what
! we ask trust, sir, 10 this cause, we are ac-
tuated by holier and purer motive the
hope of coniefiins iastiog and imperisha.
| biz benefit upon our country
Sir. the gentleman from Brunswick, has
| sugmatiscd our proposition as nonstrous.
novel and extraordinary. That genileman
certainly IN giving utrerance to such epithets,
olust Tor the moment, and in the ardour Of
debate, have forgotten portion Of our his
tory. with which arm sure he is familiar.
When and with whom did the idea Of extin-
| gushing the national curse originated With
| fippant politiciansP with deludcd enthusiastsp
with Western Statesmen A brief referencU
to its history will satisfy him
| The idea Of a gradual emancipation and
removal Of the slaves from this Common
wealth, is coeval with tho declaration Of your
own Independence from the British yoke 10
sprung into existence during The first session
OF the General Assembly. subsequent to the
formation of your Republican Government.
Ii was pfoper--there was fitness of things
in the fact, that so benefcient an object, az
the plan for the gradual extinction Of slavery
in this State. sbonld have been the twin Of
| spring of that mind, which gave birth TO tho
Bin Of Rights. and TO the act for Religious
Freedom A fact SO honorable to the public
spirit and humanity Of that age--so worthy.
or the genusc and expanded philanthropy Of
those with whom it originated, cannot be too
often REQUIRED TO. nor too proudly cherished.
/ Sir, if were called npon TO designate o.
period in your history, which more than any
other, was fraught with sound and practical
views Of domestic pclcy-with grand nation
al and experimental plans oil legislation, I
would point to the period which elapsed from
liT76 to 1871 How could il be otherwise
when Virginia, in those. the hetter and pail
my days OF her greatness, stood sustained in
her legislation by The pure and philosophic
intellect Of Probationary the patriotism Of
Mason and Lee by the searching yigot and
sagaci,y OF Wythe, and by the all embrace
, ias, 81 comprehensive genius OF Thomas
/ Jclierseu2
} Sir il was committee composed Of these
five iIlustrieus men, who, in 1777. submitted
, to the General Assembly of this State, then
ia session pan for the gradual emancipa~
r ten of the slaves of this Commonwealth.
/ The plan sas simple and practical-mdch 10,
: substance like that which | had the honor Of
submitting TO the Select Committee IL was
based ursn the postaati principle --it contem.
, plated the freedom of all born after a certain
day, and deportation at proper age. Tbs
( zane scheme sir. which has prevailed in
Pennsylvania. New York, ana all Of tho
5 Northern States, with such triumphant and
' gratifying SUCCESS. This plan, unhappily for
2 this Commonwealth, was not carried it'd
n Execution. The causes of its failure are &c.
lseribed by Mr. jefferson. in the interesting
!. account which he has left Of his own life and
y lpubic acts
d Sir, who can fecur oibe period when thoss
, master intellecis Of former days were en-
/? IpIoyed in lriunp ning over every difficulty. 10
. lpeace and war--ifl surmounting every OBJ
II stacle to which lang colonial vassalage had
e lexposeo us to--in tracing upon the. politca
!, l.ressel board. designs Of evil and political re
!e form; and this, tho most important amont
d s.em and then listened to the fears, alarms