Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-19

iN'o'eu' oiu Tue spirit and tcHlpcr that had been
manifested In that hall, since the agitation and dis
cusSion of this great subject commenced tie be
neVeu' nc was satisfied that nothing efficient, no
thing expcdicnt would or could be done bv the pre-.
sen. GENERA. Asscmb That all the funds of the
state lhat could he spared for such purposcs ough,
10 DC hrst applied towards the removal of the free
| o'acks-a measure in his humble Judgment (and
III '''s no vas sure his constituents would heartily
'o"cu' WIN him,) OF infinitely paramount and pr-
mary importance. This end SO highly desirable
"'ght DC accomplished in few years. IL
certainly ought to be Accomplished as speedily
as possible. 1t is obvious however, that this will
h ot nc inc case 1t the means that may be furnish
oo oy the State, are to be divided and applied to-
Warus CARVING on both schemes at the same time.
inc removal OF the free blacks, and the gradual
emancipation and removal of the slaves When
' "'s' u! 'heSe objects shall have been attained,
would thcn be time enough us it seemed TO him.
LOT 'ne state TO turn lis attention and resources to-
wa"s inc accomplishment of the latter. In
the meantime, taking care to pass such laws
'or the government, discipline, and control of
'"o s'"'cs as the times and circumstances
"igm require. 1t was evident that there
coul" only he given number oc colored per-
sons annually removed, by the means furnished by
tnc state, and he for one, greatly preferred that
ths number should consist altogether of free blacks
u"'h Ill such were removed. ANY legislation at
'he present session of the legislature on the subject
! OIL emancipation would be attributed to imDropcr
unjust motives.-It would be so tributed by the
slaves themselves; it would be attributed to fear
TO degrading fear that he was sure was not felt
! by solitary member Of that House, a fear Mr. d.
snld' arising out of the recent occurrences in
! southampton, which had been so much talked of
ana SO much magnihcd Inc believed abroad. Under
such an Impression 1t was natural that the slaves
should become restless, and look with an eve of
lmpatence to the slow and distant operation of the
gradual system of emancipation which had been
so much spoken of.
Mr.. d. said he could not forbear there to express
the opinion which he clearly and sincerely enter.
4 In nod HAT, Ia, -. 4 4
MN, eye witnesses and carwitnesses of what had
pccn there SAID and done, and attempted and that
might farther be attempted to be done in regard To
the Important question alluded to (the most import
ant OF all subjects he believed that had ever enpo
ged the deliberaton of tho legislative councils
OF Va.) there would never have been as he could
not but think, the slightest difference of opinion
on this subject, between himself and those whom
1T was his pride and honor there to repr.sen,
lilo hoped, that in due time all would 90 before the
people, all would ultimately come to the KNOWLEDGE
OF the people; and 1t would then bo seen whc
.her no was mistaken IN the opinion he had
just expressed. AS 1T was, the memorial had
been formally placed in his hands sipncd nv
a portion of the citizens of Kmr William
whose numbers. weight Of character, and intelli
gencc, forbid that he should DISREGARD it-rorbd
that he should hesitate, at that time, about the
course 1t was proper for him to pursue He should
rc1oice, always rejoice, long as he had the ho
nor OF seat on that floor, that the voice of thos.
whom he had the honor to represent whenever !,
was uttered should be heard, anA their will when
ever 1T was expressed, should be done there mn,
ms own SO far as the memorial went said Mr.
d., IN relation to the removal of the free blacks
nc deemed 1t unnecessary, at that time at least TO
say any thing. AS it regarded the slaves he bep
ged leave to state, that the memorial did not in
any manner whatever impugn the right of propcrtv
or the necessity of obtaining the consent of lin
| er before he could be deprived of it. These were
principles he was sure the memoralists held sacred
and inviolable. But there two propositions pre-
/ fhn oil
were exactly contained in any similar memorial
that had been submitted to the Housc-proposi
lions he considered that well worthy the grave
ana attentive deliberation of the House as well
as OF the Committee, if it should be the pleasuro
OF the House to refer the memorial. AS these pro-
POSITIONS were very brief he begged leave to state
them and in doing so, to refer to the lanpunoo of
t! lie memorial itself-lst, that the Commonwealth
S"o"'" ralse' by tax on the blacks, free
as well as slaves, n reasonable sum, suf-
hcIent to defray the expense of the removal. and
maintenance TOR a time, of such slaves as individu
ais may voluntarily surrender to The State and
Tor me purchase of a few hundred of young and
| hcaithy OF both sexes, and for their removal
In like manner. And 2ndly, to prohibit by law the
emancipation of slaves by individuals except on
condition of removal These propositions seemed
10 nm perfectly reasonable The first one particu
larry so, as far as it related to the provision of
means 10y the State for the removal of all such
slaves as might be voluntarily surrendered bv their
owners To the State { the means of removal
were furnished by the State, Mr.. d. believed that
many such surrendcrs would be made 1t WAS
certainly asking but little very little at the hands
OF the Legislature. If the humanity public spirit
ana philanthropy of individuals, prompted them TO
make such voluntary offerings for the public good
surely the State would have the libcralitv TO fur
nISil the means Of removal, the very small pttancc
That was necessary for that purpose, which Mr.. D.
understood to be something like G35 SO far
: SAID Mr.. d.. in view of the memorial which he
was about 10 present, he migh be willing , o 90 at
present, III leglslatlng tho subject He wished
ID" UNDERSTOOD so tar as it recorded the furnish
Ing OF means by the State for REMOVING such sIaves
as might be voluntarily surrendered and so far as
1T regarded the prohibition by law of the enamel.
patton of slaves, except on condition of Immediate
, removal lie hoped, no believed his constituents
would not expect Of him or wish him at this time
to go farther. God grant said Mr.. D. that they
may not nave cause to repent that ticy desired
any legislation the subject whatever, at this
time and by this Legislature. He Respectfully
asked that the memorial might be referred to the
appropriate committe.
Mr. DinNEY moved the reference Of the r. .ition
to The Selec Committee on Slaves &c
Mr.. SIMMs moved that 1T lie on the table IN ,.i,
the result of the Debate now in progress
Mr.. MOORE called for the reading Of the nctit;on
MT. SIMMs SAID, that since the reading of the me-
ton, he understood it contained no new facts bnt
was IN the identical language of one already pre
scented, and referred. In consequence. mo with
drew his motion TO lay it on the tabIe-v.hen tho
memorial was REFERRED
On motion of MIR. RrvEs, the Committee Of
Roads was instructed TO enquire into the q xpodion
cy ot subscription in behalf of the Internal I'm
Prove,ncnt Fund to the Stock OF tho Lynch5urp
and New River Rail Road.
Mr. w EBB presented tho claim If Mills IiJdick
TOT Revolutionary services. Mr. PoyEtt ,,rcs.ut