Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-13

My objections, sir, are strongest TO those sec
tions OF the bill, which intended exclusively TO
operate upon the free people Of color. 1t will be
remembered by the House, that but a few weeks
since. when the bill providing for the removal of
free persons of color from the Commonwealth
was under consideration, the compulsory feature
was stricken from that bill, by decided, YES sir.
by an overwhelming majority; and call upon ali
those who voted for cxpunging that section 10
vote against the hill in its present shane for can
not avoid the belief, that in it's effect and nr,ct;
caloperation, it will result in this that the free
negroes Will be so harrassed and prosecuted that
they VIII DO compelled to leave the country
The section of the bill, which declare. ,h,,
those to whom the means of emigration NAV have
been rendered, shall not be permitted to carry on
any trade or hand.crait, nor take apprent;cc. ex
cept BARRIERS, (and why this exception has been
made, am at n loss to conjccturc,) without first
obtaining permission from the County Co,rt md
such permission entered of record, which pcrnis.
sion may be withheld at any timo the Court plc,s
os. Ana tho section which immediately prcccdcs
tins, and which prohibits them from carving to
market, any commodity or stock, down to n dozen
of eggs, or chickens, no matter however bonestIv
acquired, without written certificate from free
holder, specifying the article offered for sale and
that IN his opinion the vcndcr has honestly ncoui
red them; and without such written certificate sub
Jecting the purchaser TO fine, and the vcnder to
hetvy penalties.
say sir. take these sections in connection with
others in the Bill equally unjust and oppressive AS
being well calculated to cut Off the means of nc
curing honestly, subsistence for themselves and
families, and from necessity, to urge them on TO
tho commission of crimes that will involve them in
total ruin, and others with them.
Our blessed Saviour, when earth, directed his
Disciples to ask day by day, for their daily bread
and that they might not be led into temptotion -
and you about to enact law SO injurious in its
provisions, that tho free negroes will not be able
honestly TO procure tho means Of subsistence; de-
nyng them their daily bread-tempting them from
necessity to steal; and steal they must, or starve.
But MIR. Speaker, this system of injustice and
oppression, does not stop here; innovation is to
be made in the general law of the land, which has
been in fOrco since tho formation of our govern.
mont The trial by jury, and the right to prcremp-
tory challenge which they have always enjoyed, is
now to be withheld from them forever and they are
to be tried slaves are now tried The
trial by jury, has been held sacred, and has been
The constant boast of free governments, in every
age and country. How far this is violation of
the Constitution, will not undertake to determine
am free to acknowledge, that all my pursuits
through life, have been such as not to give me
much confidence in my own opinions as to consti-
tutionai questions; be this as it may, ask why
the necessity of changing their mode of trial! and
IN what have they offended, that they TO be
thus prosecuted, and to be made worse than Aliens
IN the land of their birth; to be driven from place to
place! Well may they cxcam in the language of
the great APOSTLE of all men, wo are the most mi;
SCRABBLE.
Mr.. Speaker, 1 stated on n former occasion, that
the various statutes relating to slaves free negroes
and muiattocs, were of character so highly pc
nal, and SO revolving to the moral of the
community, that they cannot now be en- forced, and
If you pass this Bill, the blood stained code of
Draco will furnish the only parallel. 1t is more in
accordance with the despotisns Of the old world
than with our Republican form of Government.
But sir, there is another aspect i'm which must
present this subject, before take my seat. Many
OF our wisest citizens and patriots, view some of
the existing laws, in their operation and tenden.
eies, as going very far to cut off all sources of mo-
raj and religious instruction. from those classes of
our population Ito wit, slaves and free neg.ocs,)
and 1t is a source of painful solIctude, to many
christian and philanthropist You may call them
fanatics II you plcasc-an cptlet which is so often
used here, well elsewhere; lad perlia ps may
orlng the imPutation upon mysclf-if do, it shall
not deter me from the free expression of my opini
ons upon this, as well as all other subjects, which
may fell 1T to be my duty to discuss.
Should this bill, pass in connection with some of
the existing laws now in force, do not hesitate to
say, that the effect will be TO exclude every raw of
moral and religious illumination, from their be-
nightod minds, I'D win hln. iron, their moral hori-
1on the star Of Bethlehem; and roll back the stone
upon the sePuichre of the Redeemer Sir do i'm
Pioro the House to reflect seriously before it pass
Is the bill under consideration.
1T the House will sustain me, / will call tor the
ayes and noes. have not made the call with the
expectation of producing any change in the vote
"hich any member will feel it his duty to record;
but have done it, in order to have an opportuni.
y OF recording my own humble name in opposi-
lion to measure which cannot be justified by ne
cessity or sound policy.