Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-04

m"nts-hcaYy statistical documcnts--intcrcsting !
TO any auditory. And do not intend TO weary !
you by reading over in unmcaning succession,
sus returns other collections of similar matcri-
ais which arc accessible to all of us, and which all
oil us have often examined. We may have peruscd
repeatedly, however, general mauncr, such do
cumcnts as those from which derive tho III iorma-
ton wish to exhibit, without having attentions
directed to particular results, bearing given qucs
ions, not prc.supposcd. My object in recurring To
these tables is 20 point out to you some practical
oicws, bearing Immediately on this question, to
which, in previous examinations, your attention
may not have been drawn. The time, Sir, consum
cd IN looking them may not lie altogether I'M
proitaby spent; for the results which they will be
found to exhibit, really astounding and appall-
tng-and such as will startle and dismay every true
patriot They will shcw what consequences arc
likely to occur, five neglect to adopt, i'll time,
ciicicnt measure To stay the alarming progressive
increase Four colorcd population The statistics
design to present you will, think, slew OF only
that something mast DO done, but Sir, assure you
with delight, that they do more-they demonstrate
that something can be done, and they show you hon
you may do it. They Indicate, if am not over
sanguinc the practicabty of Il plan of preventing
the future accumulation of this population, while
the whites shall he doubling their numbers, prn-
cplcs beneficial to the owners of the property, and
happy for the country. Let us first ascertain tho
necesSity of doing any thing before we look around
Tor the means.
The State of Virginia contains by the last
census, less than 18th part of the whole
'chite population of the United States.
1t contains more that eth of the free negroes.
! And it possesses between u 18th and 9TH of
| all the Si0rcs in tho Union.
Virginia has greater number of slaves than any
other State i'll the Unions, more, than Louisiana,
Missipp Alabams and Tennessee all put toge lher;
aud moro than four times many either of
them South Carolina and Louisiana are the only
states in which the slaves more numerous than
| the white populations and Virginia has more slaves,
without estimating her great and unfortunate dis
] proportion of free persons of color, than both
these States put to %ether. Nay, sir, half the
Statc-that which lies the East of the Blue
Ridge OF mountains, itself contains nearly as ma
ny. The ,rhotc of Virginia taken collectively, it
Is true, contains numerical prcpondcrancc-one,
however, becoming less and less every day-of
,chte over bidck populations; but when we regard
the great divisions of the State, how will it stand
thenl
Virginia contains COL, 430 whites, 400, 72i slaves,
and IA, l03 free persons of color.
But how are these aggregates distributed? In
tho Eastern half of Virginia--that which lies be-
tween tho Blue Ridge and the Atlantic Ocean.
; there are 375,935 whites--il6, $50 slaves, and
40, 1853 free negroes.
And while tho Western half of the State con
tains 3lS ,504 white inhabitants tho Trans He
ghany section of the State contains only about
$4,000 slaves and 600 free negrocs-and the Val
ley District, between the Allegheny and the Blue
Ridge, but 38,4iS slaves and 1865 free negroes.
SO that an enormous numerical disproportion of
tho black population of the State, rests on Eastern
Virginia. In truth, as L haG occasion before TO in
tinotc, for different purpose, many of our coun-
res III INC East contain nearly as many slaves and
free negroes, as the entire extreme Western div-
sion of the State. Now, Sir, for AL practical pur-
poses, it is proper to conhnc our estimates exclu-
sivcly to that portion of Virginia which lies below
her range of mountains. Whether protection to
' us injury to themselves be regarded the West
ern region, though portion of the same State
can have no more connection with this aspect of the
question, than if it did not constitute part of the
State. And it would be just discreet to look to
Maryland North Carolina, to Ohio itself, where
there are no slaves, and derive aggregate pro-
portion Of the different populations from all these
together as TO cnumerate in the estimate that por-
ton of our State which is equally removed
from tho reach of danger from our slaves, or the
possibility of aiding us, if necessity should ever
require it.
The annual increase of the white population of
Virginia, from long series of preceding years. is
about and halfper cent while that Of the free
negroes has been, in the same PERIOD two and
three fourhs per cent. The actual increase of our
slaves has only been one per cent This however
has obviously resulted from the regular removal of
large number of tho latter, by sales to the Sou
l thcrn States-a drain which, from present indica-
tons, is about to be greatly diminished or entirely
cut of from us by Legislative ncrdictions on their
part. The disproportion Of increase, too, it will
be remarked, (tor these averages of increase are ia
ken from the whole State togethcr) is much greater
IN Eastern Virginia than in its Western division
The average of increase of all classes of popula
ton, in the United States generally exceeds three
per conflict us take retrospect now, Sir, of
onr condition some years ago; and then extend
our vewto W hat it must inevitably become, should
no measures in the mean time be adopted to OBJ
vatc it, within few years hence.
Forty years ago, there were, in Eastern Virginia.
above 25,OOO more white people than slaves and
Tree persons OF color together. Now, there arc
above 81 900 more blacks than whltcs-exhibtnp
within that short period, Notwithstanding too, tho
constant drain of our slaves during the whole
time, an actual gaia of the African race upon us
III thIs hall OF the state, of upwards of l0G, 000m
And what, Sir. on the same principles Of calcu-
iation, is to be relati.e condition forty years
hence, should no successful effort be made TO ar
rest the present course of things?
| Mr.. DRoDNAx's SPEECH TO ne coNrINUEpl
DEBATE In IIuE SENATE