Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-24


zcd by the law, where the community pays for pro.
pcrty, which is removed or destroyed because il il
n nuisance and found injurious Ia that society,"
There rs humh.y apprchcnd no such principle.
There IL 40 obligation upon society to continue
yonr right one moment after il becomes nurions
10 Tie best interests oi soc ciy-nor To- co,r"nSatc
You Tor the loss that the deprivation Of which is
demanded by the safety the S,atc-and l., which
General benefit you rticpa'c as members ur the
community. Sir, there il to MY mind mauilcs, dis
iinc;"n between condnmniuy private property to
he applied 10 some beneficial public purpose, and
c""c"'hn'n" or removing private property which is
aSccr,aincd 10 I've positive wrong 10 society. Ii is
distinction which pcrvhdcs the whole genius Of
the ldw--and IS founded upon tho idea that any
man who holds property injurious to The peace ot'
that society of wl,ic', he is member, thereby vi.
o'a'cs thc Only condition by the observance of
which, his right to the property is alone qua.
rhn'crd. For property uftEo lrS: class ccndem,-
cd, there ought to he compcnsa: ion---But for pro-
pcrty OF '!,c latter class none be demanded mp
on prncipic-none accorded matter of right
although considerations of policy considerations
oi huinany-anda spirit of compromise may die.
tate some compensation.
SIR, dHos not that pan of emancipation which
proposes freedom at future pcriod--aud which
guarantees to the slave holder tn. present enjoy
ncnt aud profit Of that most pcrnicious species of
property contain within itself principle of COM
pnnsation' "a fair and just proposition of compro-
mise! think it does, and l exhibit INV views
thus. 1t is conceded that at THIS precise moment
oi our legislation, slaves are injurious to the
interests and threaten the subvers;on and
ruin OF this Commonwealth. Their present
hn"'oSr-'hcir increasing number, all ,dmonish us
o. tis. IN different terms Il in moro measured Ian
%na%c thc same fact has been conceded by all who
have vet addressed this House. 'Sonci:n.. mast b.
@n"e' cmpla'icaiiy exclaimed the gentleman from
b'hw'"die; and thought L could perceive Il re-
Spouse to that declaration in the csuntcnancc of n
large majority ofthis Body. And why must soma
thing he done: because it not, says the gentleman
r"n Campbell, (Nlr. Eivesl the throats of all the
N"fc people OF Virginia will he cut-No, says the
gentleman from D!nWoLc-.'rhc Whites cannot
be cOnqucrcd--,hc throats of the htachs will be
cut" 1t is tritng difference to be sure Sir and
matters not TO the argument. For the fact is con.
ccGcd that one race or the other mast DC cxtcrmi.
mated.
Sir, such being the actual condition of this Conn
monwcah, ask if would no, be justified nor
surprising ali considerations of policy and humu.
NIFTY concur-ed-without even a moments t.clav
IN staving off this appalling and overwhelming ca
lahly! SIR, II this Immense negro population
were now i'll arms-gathcring into black and for
midable masses of attack-would that man be list
enca to- who spoke about propcrty--who prayed
you not to direct your artillery to such or such
point, Tor you would destroy of k;S property?
Sir, to the eye of the statesman, as to the eve of
omniscicncc, dangers pressing, and dangers that
must necessarily press, are alike prcscnt-with Il
single glance. he embraces Virginia now, with the
elements of destruction reposing quietly upon hor
bosom--and Virginia lighted from one extremity
to the other, with tho torch of scrvc instruction
and massacre. 1t is suflicien, for him. that the
match is not yet applied. 1t is enough that the
magazine is opcn--and that the match will shortly
be applied
Sir, think am then justified in contending that
the community might nolr. by the strong necessity
pressing upon MS, remove this population. But,
do VIC propose its present rcmovull No, Sir we
know the awful commissions which such step
would cause. mean commissions i'm trade-fall in
the value OF property, and other results, equally to
be summed and avoided We propose, therefore.
TO guarantee to the slave holder his right to all the
slaves now born, and which may be born before
the 18th of July, 1910, upon the condition that he
renquishes his right to those born after that day.
Is this, Sir, not fair ground of compromised
Is 1T not the only compromise which the safety and
resources of the State will admit of?
Sir, 1t is in national il is in pri yatc con-
tracts, that loss and injury to party may const
tute as fair consideration gain to the other.
Docs the Shareholder, while he is enjoying his
slaves, reflect upon the deep injury and nca!cula
bic loss, which the possession OF that property in.
tcts upon the true interests of tho countryl and
does he not perceive that society," in toeratng that
evil say for thirty years longer for his benefit is
in the shape of injury to herself and benefit to him.
giving him full and adequate compensation? 1t
Is the only compensation which, help me God,
as stakeholder, l will ever accept from the Com
monwealth of Virginia 1t is the only compcnsa-
ton which, law givcr, will ever dispense to
others.
Sir, 1t is In my judgment, tho true and proper
ground Of compromise between the slavc-holding
ana MISUNDERSTANDING interests of this Common
wealth; and by anti LdUc- holding interest here
mean 20 comprehend every interest except that
mere pecuniary interest which the master has in
the property of his slave. Slavery it is admitted
IS an cvil-it is all institution which presses hca-
Willy against the best interests of the State. II ba
ns!ics Tree white labor-it extcrminates the mocha
nic--tle artiZan-thc manufacturer. 1t deprives
them OF occupation. II deprivcs them of bread
1t converts The energy Of community into ndo-
icncc-its power into imbeciliy-its efficiency into
weakness. SIR, being thus Injurious, have not
right to demand its determination? Shall society
suffer, that the eholder continue 10 gather
his UigiatiaL crop of human ficshi What is his
mere pccunIary claim, compared with the great in
tercs.s OF the common veal? Must the country
anguish, droop, die that the slave-hol may fou-
rIsh! Shall all interests be subservicnt to one?
all rights subordinate to those of the slave holder?
Has not the mcchanic--havc not the middle class
cs their rights?-rights incompatible with the exist
cnco of slavery?
Sir, great and ovcrshadowing arc the evils Of
slayory-so Pcrceptiblc they, TO those whose
minds are not warped by prejudice and intcrcst,
that 1t must appear manifest that the community is
justified aoic in demanding its cs;irpaton We how
ever, propose comIromisc-and it is one which
III my Judgment, The slave holder ought to accept
We will tolerate the evil, for certain definite perl
od longer-upon the condition, however, that he
agrees forever to part with his rights. The pre-
sent generation will no. feel the loss, if any is
and postCrity has right to complain, if complain
it would,
Let it not be supposed that, because ihciday Of
final action Is postponed TO some future period
say thirty years hcncctat the :ciorc the ncccsSi.
II for the removal of slavery is not imminent and
pressing. That osponcmont is but the s3crifce
which society is disposed TO make, to reconcile Tic
slave holder TO his !oss-aud to adapt the pursuits
OF TIC community to the change which must ne
ccssariIy cnsue. Is not the slave holder also dis