Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-05-10

pSfnictOns species OF property contain within
itself a principle of compensation? a fair and
just proposition OF compromise? | think it
does, and | exhibit my views thus: 1t is con
coded that at this precise moment OF our lie
gtSla'lon, slaves are injurious TO the interests,
and threaten the subversIon and rum Of this
commonwealth. Their present number
Their Increasing number, ali adrnonish US of
tbs. la diff erent terms. and in more mea
sured language, the same fact has been con
coded by all who have yet addressed this
house. Something mast be Done emphafi-
caliy exclaimed the gentleman from Dinwid
die; and | thought | could perceive a re
sponse to that declaration, il the counte
nance of a large majority of this body. Aud
why must something be done? because If
not, says the gentleman from Campbell
MIR, Rives) the threats OF ali the white pep
pie Of Virginia will be cut No, says the
! gentleman from Dinwiddie-"The whites
cannot be conqut red-the throats of the
blacks vii be cut" Ii is a trlfing difference,
to be sure. sir, and matters not TO tue argu-
ment. For The fact is conceded, that one
race or the other must be exterminated.
sSir. such being the actual condition OF
this commonwealth. | ask If we would not be
justified now surprising all considerations
- 1870 't1 bhAAhhfN OI1 ~ hnDi
even a moments delay, in staving of this
appalling and overwhelming calamity? Sir,
If this immense negro population were now
in arms gsthe ring into black and formula
bic masses of attack-would that man be lis
tened to, who spoke about property-who
prayed you not to direct your artillery 20
such or such a point, for you would destroy
some Of his property? Sir, to the eye of the
statesman, as to the eye of Omu,science,
dangers pressing. and dangers that must ne
cessariy press, are alike present-with "a sin
gle glance, he embraces Virginia now, with
The clements of destruction reposing quietly
upon her bosom-and Virginia lighted from
one extremity to the other. with the torch of
servile iusurrection and massacre II is not
sufficient for him, that the match is not vet
applied. 1t is enough that the magazine is
opcn-and that the match will shortly be APP
piled.
"Sir, | think | am then borne out BY the
actual situation Of things in this common
wealth-by the strong necessity pressing up
on us-and by the sure and progressive ap
proach of an evil that will eventually involve
us in national ruin. 10 conteRding that we
should be justified noc in removing this class
of our population. Bot, do we propose its
present removal? No, sir; we know the aw
full commissions which such a step would
cause. | mean commissions in tgade-fall in
the value Of property, and other results eqa-
ally TO he stunned and avoided. We pro-
pose, therefore, TO guarantee 10 the slave
holder his right to all the slaves now born,
aad which may be born before the 4th Of Ju-
iy, 1910, upon the condition that he rein
pushes his right to those born after that day
and even. as to these born after that day,
he is to have their services until be is fully
compensated for the trouble and expense OF
rearing them Is this. sir, not a fair ground
of co~mpromlse? Is it not the only conpro
mise which The safety aud resources OF the
state will admit?
'Sir, il is as true in n~at'ona. AS it is private
contracts. that loss and injury to one party
may constitute as fair a consideration as gain
to the other. Does the slave holder, while
he is enjoying his slaves, reflect upon the
deep injury, and incalcnlable less, which the
possession of that property %iniigts upon The
true interests Of the country and does he
not perceive that society, IN toleratIng that
evil, say for thirty years longer, for his beae
! fiji. is in the shape of injury to herself and
benefit 10 him, giving him a foil and adequate
compensation 1t is the only compensation
which, SO help me God, as a STAKEHOLDER,
will ever accept from the commonwealth OF
Virginia. II is the only compensation which,
as a law giver, | win ever dispense to others
'Sir. it is, in my judgment, the true and
proper ground Of compromise between the
siaye-holding and anti slave holding interests
of this commonwealth; and by anti Stare hod
ing interest here. | mean to comprehend eve
+ nv interest except that mere pecuniary inter
est which the master has In the property OF
his slave. Slavery. it is admitted IS an evil
1t is an institution which presses heavily
against the best interests OF the state. 1t
banishes free white laboprv it exterminates
the m~echanic-tbe arIiZan-the maDufactur
er. 1t depriyes them Of occupation 1t de
prives them of bread. 1t converts the ener
gy Of a community into incolence-ii its power
into imbecility-its efficiency into weakness
Sir. being thus injurious, have we not a right
to demand its exterminat'on? Shall society
suffer. that the slave holder may continue to
gather his crop of human flesh? What is has
mere pecuniary claim, compared with The
great interests of the common wealp Must
the country anguish, droop, die. that the
slave holder may flourish? Shall all interests
be subservient 10 one? all rights subordinate
TO those of the slave holder Has not the
mechanic-have not the middle classes theiI
rights'-rights incompatible with the exis
tence of slavery?
sSir, so great and overshadowing are thC
evils Of siavery-so sensihly are they felt by
those who have traced the causes of our ma
tional decline so perceptIble Is the poison
Gus operation of its principles in the varlet
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