Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-02-02

the dccacy OF this subject the difficulties which enyi
ron It, The fabric of society, ike the OF archi
tecturai SKILL requires time and toll for its completion
the labor OF necessary give stability and
but the work of destruction il the work of moment
Errors In science may msead without inurng the COM
mun'y-Pmiosophers may wander harrnlesSly in the
mazcs oil metaphysics abricate ingenious theories in
natural science while mankind pursue in quiet their or
binary vocations but the opinions of the Legislator when
clothed IN the garb and armed with the attributes of law
nave so direct and often pernicous influence ON the
peace and happiness OF society," that they ought 20 no ma
urcly considered before they are publicly U
ana not seek this discussion: he regretted that syllable had
been uttered on the subject of aboonbut il has acatcd
TINS House, and wH agitac the people. The utmost a,-
ude OF debate had already been tolerated. and no bene
TIT could now accrue from the orbearance of any member
express in temperate and considerable terms his sen
ments the general question II he thought otherwise
his lips would be Theoretically sealed; but Mr. M said
he elt himself at liberty to that he opposed to s
very practical evil particularly that part of the coun
try where he best cquanted-exclusively grain
growing region-and ii all concurred with him. the dav
would ultimately come when the evil would djsappear
He objected TO slavery, not because implies moral rni
ude, or because ii is 10 be owner of slave
it be sin, then let the censure fall ON those
cd the evil, and have tran smcd il their offspring we
suffer the consequence OF their transgresson The IA
thers have eaten sour grapes ana the chdrens teeth are
set on edge Its law of naturc mmutab,e as the
VIII oil Him who is the Author of Nature that the sins f
the fathers visited upon the children But WIN cen
sure only our colonial ancestors England, who fastened
upon us the ncfarious traffic. who rejected every .oica
ion Tor relief from its appalling consequences and who
now consumes and profits by the produce of their bour
England ought first TO atone for her participation In te
quit III 1t be sin, then let those who were the ye
anders OF the crime, who brought them 10 our shores for
the profits of the voyage and had not the moor excs Of
requiring their labour in the cultivation of the solicit
them wash their polluted hands by some great act of ma
.lonsi eNpauon before they l them in prayer Hca-
ven's majesty for the abolition of slavery No Sir. If
slavery be sin, cannot collectively or ndyiduaIlv
be deemed cuipabe, until wise, we'll dgesed safe,
pan ior It's abolition shall have been offered
our acceptance and shall have been deliberately rejected
Nor is it because of its denoraizng tendency that sla
very should be abolished The slaves are Ignorant il il
true; and therefore may be inferred that much evil pre-
walls among them but he questioned whether they arc
not as exempt from the commission of gross crime as the
lowest classes OF any other country With regard IN Tho
whtc portion OF our community, the citizens of Virginia
oil ehersex, may lay as just claim to purity of morals.
to elevation OF thought and action to proby in all the
transactions OF life, the citizens any other State or
the people OF any other country on the Globe
Again The ordinary condition of the slave is not such
as tomake humanity weep for his lot Compare his con-
don with that of the abourer in any part Of Eurone and
you VIII Ind him blessed with a measure of happiness
nearly II not altogether equal He could say this, with
great confidence OF that part OF Virginia where he rsd
ed The negro there is perfectly happy-he is treated
with the most ndugent kndness-he is REQUIRED to do
the some work, and more than is performed bv The
white manhe is clothed with the best fabric or ,bc fac
tories and he is fed literally with the fat of tie land
Is not Tor hs sake then, nor to ameorate his condition.
mat abolition is desirable Wherefore then object ,o
slavery! Because il is ruinous the whites-retals i'm
Rrovemen-roots ont an industrious populaion-banishes
the yeoinany OF the counry-eprives the simmer tbe
weaver ,e smith, the shoe maker, the carpenter of en-
ployment and support This evil admits of M rc,e :,
increasing ana VIII continue to increase until the
whole country will be inundated with one black wave
ering It's whole extent, with few white faces here and
there oating the surface. The master has mn a;,i
but what is vested in human flesh; the father inscad Of
being richer for his sons is at loss 10 nrov;de e H.,
there Is no diversity of occupations no incentive 10
Laoo9r Oh every species is dsreputabe, be-
cause performed mostly by slaves. Our towns are sta
tonary, villages almost every where declinin and
the general aspect of the country marks the curse of
wasteu idc reckless popuaon who have no interest in
the soil, and how much it is impoverished ph
Ia "Ar."-eneu's negrecrcu i,v eriu Ir uU
uocs not present region for which nature has done so
much and art so little. If cultivated by free labonr IL
SOIL oil virginia capable of sustaining population
among whom labour would be honorable and where ,h
that all were free. "PPS' anu
Mr.. NJ then proceeded to state his objections to The
oShai resolution 1T was the primary, If not the sole
design OF the gentleman who presented it, TO arrest ali
further proceedings the subject of general emancina
uon But the words OF the resolution are "the manumis
sion OF persons held in servude under the exsino Lave
oil this Commonwealth" If the proposition sbouj3 s,c
coed, the Committee will be restricted NOT on, r.
sueIhg the SUBJECT OF abolition which would be an act r
The State, but private manumisson likewise which il now
10 on certain conditions, and the future
regulation OF which will constitute important feature
In the plan for removal of emancpaed slaves IN which h
proposed hereafter TO call the attention of the House
Considering the resolution, however, as intended IN
vent any further action by the Committee on the subject
Of slaves generally, he should for that reason Object ~
Although perfectly satisfied that have not the public
sanction Tor any scheme of general emancipation he was
equally convinced that it was proper TO do son,e,l
which might have the effect of tranquizing the public
mind, by checking the increase of the sI5ve WIZ VIZ
from the earliest period of our history until The nasos
at southampton, was silence deep and awful as bo C
DEATH observed upon this subject why was it forbidden
nN1
spoken only in mysterious whispers around the domestic
hearth! Because of security reouired or ras
thought TO require this course. WIN Sir l. ,I;s
mystery now dispeed? Why has the crave omen
cd It's ponderous and marble jaws!" WHY is the sub
ect openly and freely discussed in every place and under
every ior-bccausc general sense of insecuyifu nor
vades The land, and our citizens deeply impressed yy
the belief that something be DONE The numerous
petitions and memorials which crowd your table fnish
abundant evidence of this truth. They NAV mi stake he re-
meuy but hey Indicate most clearly that some action
PeIousy required at our bandsthat the evil has attained
magnitude which demands all the skill and energy of
prompt ana able legislation. 1t is contended on the other
mana that noinS elcent be accomplished and that
any proceeding ny ms legislature will reduce the va
,e OF properly ana endanger the security of the people
WIN respect TO The first considerations he would saw
tha The price oil property be niuriouslv affect
CO. ny system which would operate on that mr.
lon only oil the slaves who belong to masters desiros m
Derate em or TO sell them for their own benefit Al re-
ouCeud'e Inc elect, any, upon the residue must he In
enhance heir value AS to the other the more serious
oJecuoh' nc would remark, that il constitutes and must
oeVer constitute an obstacle 10 aboitOn requirino all fhe
Wisdom and discretion of the legislature and
The plan removing the blacks now free and those
be hereafter liberated by individuals or OF purchase and
removal carries no danger with it, IT, indeed the whole
aorc shall tottcT TO its fall when touched by the oent
ndd, IL must rest on prccarous foundation If DANCER
uik under Just, bemgnant legislation, aiming TO relieve
Doh inc master aud saYe-to combine Justice with Inn,
ihdhyWlu the period when il will be safe
10 ACT! But, admitting ithat the subject cannot be an
preached without danger now the great o,".,;
Tor US TO determine is whether by DELAY II NAV mo,
become ieariully worse and in process of time attain
magnitude lar tfanscending feeble powers We owe
70 our c1nren 10 determine whether we or thew shall
incur ule hazard oil attempting something. Gentlemen
say, iet ngs aone-he evil will correct itself Sir we