Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-28
Legislative Debaie---Comlinucd.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
THIRD DAY.l-ThuUsday, January 10.
DEBATE on Mr.. GooDEs Resolution, and Mr.. RAN
MI LIT
DoLPH's Substitute.

D.
Mr. Speakers have to invite the attention OF the House
to some statistical views of this subject which deem
very important. not nsensble the difficulty of
rendering any tabular staementshcavy statistical docu-
mountaineering TO auditory And do intend TO
weary you by reading over in unmeaning succession,
census returns, or other collections OF similar materials
which are accessible to all OF and which all of have
often examined. We may have pcrused how
ever in general MANNER such documents as those from
which derive the information wish exhibit without
having our attentions directed 10 particular results bearing
on gwen questions, not pre-supposcd My object in
curing to these tables is 10 point you prdct
cal piecs, bearing Immediately this question: which,
in previous examinations, your attentions may not have
been drawn The time, Sir consumed in looking
them may not be altogether unproaby spent the
suits which they will be found to exhibit arc really as
founding and apPallingand such will and
may every true patriot They will shcw what
ces are likely TO occur il neglect adopt in time
some efficient measure TO stay the alarming prog
increase oil our coorcd population. Tho statistics de-
sign opresent you, will, think shcw only that some
thing must be done, but Sir, assure you with delight
that they 10 morchey demonstrate that something can
be done, and they show you ho,c you may do it, They
indicate IL am not over sanguine, the praccabity of
plan OF preventing the future accumulation this popua
ton, while the whites shall be doubling their numbers on
principles beneficial TO the of the property and
happy Tor the country Let first ascertain necessity
OF doing any thing before look around for the means
The State of Virginia contains by the last census less
than one 18th part OF tho whole trte population of the
United States;
ifcontains more than one 9TH of the free negroes;
And 1t possesses between 4th and 5h of all the
sidres in the Union.
Virginia has greater number slaves than any other
Stae In the Union-and more, than Louisiana
Pi, Alabama and Tennessee, all put together and more
than four times many either OF them. South Caro-
lima and Louisiana the only States in which the slaves
are more numerous than the white populations; Virgil
MA has more slaves, without estimating her great and un-
fortunate dproporlon OF free persons of color than both
these States put together Nav Sir ono half of the Sa
that which lies the OF the Blue Ridge of noun
tans itself contains nearly many. The ,choe of Vr
GINA taken collectively, is true numerical
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES however, becoming less and less
every day-of tche black populations; but when we
regard the great divisions of the State, how will stand
then!
Virginia contains 694l 39 whites 400, 724 slaves and
A. 1903 free persons of color.
But how are these aggregates distributed In the east
ern half of Virgnia-that which lies between the Bue
Ridge and the Atlantic Ocean, there are 375 935 whites
4l6,3o0 slaves, and ,763 free negroes.
Ana while the Wescrnhaf of the State contains 5O4
white inhabitants, the Trans ehany section of the
State contains only about 900 slaves and 600 free ne
groes-and the Valley District, between the Allegheny
and the Bude Ridge but 3S 4is slaves 6S5 free ne
gees so mat an enormous numerical disproporon of
black population of the State, Eastern virginia
In truth as had occasion before intimate for different
purpose many oil our counties in the East contain nearly
as many slaves and free negroes, the entire extreme
Western division of the State Now, Sir for all practical
purposes ~ proper confIne our estimates exclusively
10 tha portion OF Virginia which lies below her range of
mountains. Whether protection or injury TO them
selves be regarded the Western region thog6 marion
oil the same State, can have connection with this
aspect OF the question, than if it did constitute part
OF the State And would be just discreet to look to
Maryland North Carolina, TO Ohio ITSELF where there
arc no slaves, and derive aggregate proportion of the
different populations from all these together as TO enume.
rate In inc estimate that portion OF State which
equally removed from the reach of danger from our slaves
or The possibility OF aiding if necessity should ever re
quire it,
The annuanc of the white population of virginia
taken from long series of preceding years, is about one
and half per cent while that of the free negroes has
been, in the period, and three -our Der cent
Inc actual increase OF slaves has only one per
cent This, however, has obviously resulted from the re-
Guiar removal OF large number of the latter by sales
the Southern States-a drain which, from present indca-
ons Is about to be greatly diminished entirely
from by Legislative interdicions OH their part The
dlSpropoion OF increase too will be remarked, (or
ucse averages OF increase taken from the whole
State ogether is much greater in Eastern Virginia than
in its Western division. The average of increase of ali
IN ' US g4a ssSs ssneTay
view to hn, 10 some years ago. and then extend
sues IN INC mean time be adoptedto obvate it, within
few years hence. '''''''' =
Forty years ago, there were in Eastern VIRGINIA obo
Zoooo more white people than slaves and free persons OF
ceor together Now, there are above 81 900 more b
man whi'es-exhbitng within that short period notwith
shuhg 100 the constant drain of our slaves durng tho
whoe nme an actual gain of the African race upoo ne
IN TINS hall OF the State, of upwards of LOG OO0n ~
n he % ai G oi le same principles of calculation, is
" NC our reauVe condition forty years hence should no
successful effort be made arrest the present course If
| things! F N'"''o vi
The ratio Of increase of whites il will he seen from, Tho
regular census during the last forty wears has bocn f
one per cent, while that of the backs-bond and f =,
gether-has been one hundred and eiehtysx per cent?
comparison OF the returns from the wear 100 ~ ;
time, will indicate this result, with mathematical nrcc
ion and certanty-andit is striking faot-Now add n
o oi DIack population, 81 ,07S,
increase Tor the next forty years. which has occurred
during the preceding forty years, TO wit IO6 I76 and
you have 1924 And, discardinp from consderaton
that this progressive increase will be in gcometcaI and
not an arthmetical ratio, but making only SLIGHT ALLOW
ahce Io the elect be produced by the occson of t
western markets, and you arrive at the result that in the
eastern section OF Virginia alone there will within ,
next lory years, be in round numbers 2O0 OOo
inhabitants than white ones. The Commonwealth NJ
virginia has at this time, within small fraction times
as many Tree negroes she had 10 years agoand nearly
o'ce as many saves-whilc she has only about 30 per
cent on her then white population.
rory years ago, there in the whole United States
but 6S6oI slaves; while there are in Virginia alone
400 ,724, besides her free negroes ''"0'
SIR these results astounding They are NOT be ~,
gaes OF heated magiDationbut conclusions inferabe
from plain arhmeical calculations founded ON es,absl
ed data and in which, unfortunately there can no NO me-
take' III the disProportions | have pointed ont CON
unue TO advance, as all former experience shows no.,
must do, unless the current is arrested-,vbat 80
peat IT, VIII be the condition of our State Cnrfy ,oa.
hence MIR Speaker, the gloomy Ierebodinos IN which
thcsc reflections point not likely 10 he real,cd H.
your day or mine. NE SHALL no doubt have ben s,s
rom he scene Of action. But Sir il is the dufv of god
parents 10 look TO the welfare Of their children The STATE
ought 10 egsac, not for ourselves alone but for pose
W. any course oil events tending 10 evil should If noe
oe, DC arrested In time. IL all that desirable canno,
1e accomplished at once let at least do what we can
itstbe duty-the imperative duty-of every yyisc ar
goo man IN the State, however humble, to exert his in
Veuuoh 70 inc utmost and contribute his mite bovever
smat II may be, towards the contamination of eouc o.
Peuieh 70 avert the fearful consequences which arc H.
pending over US "Rome," Sir was MOI built in d, y
Ana let us not undertake IT, with the sbort-livcd Grv1
OF enthusiasts who would expect il rise NJ orr biJ