Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-02-07
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crs life and interest had been represented tat BENG
violence and kindness. aud debt OF gratitude 10 the
slave, should induce the owner to make him tree But lac
believed that the African much indebted to the
the master to hn,. Tie obligation was mutual
they had reciprocal duties 10 dschargc and the debt OF
gratitude was mutual. The master loved the i1ihtul
slave, and in turn the faithful slave loved the master Mr.
w asked what the schemes OF the alO,onsl promised 10
the slaye Had they any territory any funds any powers
OF ornnipotcnco, which could be exercised,
tncnt and money, and what indispensable 10 the
ioyment OF life, moral character for these cmanepa
slaves! These things could not be provided by law here
was no magic in declaration of our legislative Will 80
far from it, he, Mr. W., believed that if we should frame
law, which every demogoguc in the country could take
mp and prove 10 he impractcablc in s eNecuiioTn we
submitted to the people puny scheme, unsupported by
the test of experiment. they would hold up to the light
OF Heavcn-hoy would it 6ll apart, and would cast
back into the face OF The iomers and turn from the sub
ject with disgust
Mr. W most earnestly believed that precipi,ate legis-
laion-tha unadvised lcgisaon would retar the great
end we held in view, more than any thing which could
beta rs.
But if there was reason to dread that such an expert
nen would operate njudcouly to the whites how much
there 10 dread that the effects upon the
slaves would be pernicous the extreme? they
be taught that the government will interfere between them
and their masters! That our western men in "A body will
protect them! Not only that Sir, but that portion of the
same community the friends TO their liberty and anoth
portion their oncmcs; Is necessary depict the
sequences ut such a state oi things?
But, said Mr.. W. the gentleman from Berkeley said ON
yesterday, "tat although there found advocates
for slavery in this House yet he regretted TO find there
apoogsts for slavery. Sir does the gentlemen be-
Hove t,at slavery in this Commonw eah required apo
III required none The present race OF Virginia
no more responsible for its existence here than the Qua
kers OF Pennsylvania. 1t forced upon them-it had
een forced upon their orcaters-it came To us by in
heutancet was our duty to guard them from injury and
make them discharge their duty.
Mr. w said he had heard il frequently repeated here
that we had gained great triumph ancestors,
zoe discussed this subject with open DOORS and forth
opinions the world without restraint This may be
cause of hiumph And he did fear a temperate and
prudent discussion of the questionable it remained vet
Be whether this discussions conducted as been
a blessing n tO itN Ia
NAMED yet TO be proven whether we have tciSd0
or our ancestors more prudence.
The gentleman from Berkeley, said Mr. w, has thought
proper To enforce abolition by arguments of right
lie has thought proper 10 that the shareholder has
right to the Increase of the female Savesthat they eau
nave no property in The ierboIn If horo be any thing
in our character statutes such am idea
proves equally another position, that the owner has no
right to the existing slave.
lie had not understood gentlemen, tus far to assume
that position Ii there be any in the House, him he had
ho'h,nS 10 sy mat question was not open TO argument
in this year of Lord Is32-he would not argue
It, But the gentleman had assumed another position with
some plauslbity, and To that he would devote moments
attention. He set ont with the old Latin maxim-SoIs
p0Puh Sipreno eSt ier-which in plain English means
"that the safety of the people is the supreme law and
further that every and more especially The legislature
had right TO ahatc Nuisance That slaves are a nuis
ance, aud ergo the Legislature had right slave
ry we Will examine ihis-and 10 do correctly, we
must ascertain the meaning oithc term nuisance Ithad
been defined TO be any annoyance produced by one
czch 10 the property and persons OF the restand
bring slavery within this definitions you must first prove
that slavery has been PrOdced by the present owners
III Is needless 10 say again that such Is the fact Then
gentlemen must aboe that which have produced.
But is the gentleman quite sure that it il nuisance
How Is that fact ascerained Under the Constitution the
owner has right 10 have that question tried by lry of
his county And doubt not, that the gentleman from
Berkeley where there very few slaves, mig Int get
jury oil twelve men TO find that fact But nv friend from
Mecklcnburg could much easily procure a verdict
from ajury OF his county in direct conflict with it, And
when these contradictory verdics are produced here how
Is the difficulty removed?how the argument adyanc.
odf The genemans principle cannot avail him. without
the ascertainment of the fact.
from Ber lev al
the number OF slaves should not be increased in his coun
~. Were in his situation, inhabitant of coun-
W having but few slaves should deprecate rand in
crease If Were laying the foundations OF a society
and had the selection OF my materials would none of
his constituents not carry them there should hope
that they will not do it. Butwhile approving these views
ana commenting these sentiments nothing in them
rounded.
Whilst most arlcnGy desire a remedy for that which
acknowledge TO be an cv-yet there certain principles
which must be held sacred, in devisns the remedy One
oil tese IS that The tenure by which this property held
must NOT DC shaken Another, that mans property
must be taken without his consent unless
made for it, third that must first remove the free
coored population. During this operation or a lis COM
pleuon manumisson may be permitted, upon condition that
inc State has means ready for the immediate deportation
of the manumittcd. Under these qualifications he Womb
heartily cooperate in the contamination this great OBJ
ject.
Mr. w. said, that he unwilling TO take step so de-
csVe upon this question: until nmation should be given
and an interchange of ideas should take place between
this and sister States. In This view of The subject he
beieved that movement OF the character contemplated,
would be et by our southern and south western brethren
as an electric shock If Virginia passes acts for abolition
her influence cannot be resisted by other States She
holds more than any other State. She has nearly one
fourth oil all the coloured people in the Union The I'M
avOidaDic effect oil such must be total Dro-
hibion oil the removal of solitary slave from Virginia TO
any State or Territory in which slaves are held If the
people OF these States cannot prevent their Introduction by
law, they Will prevent it by force of arms They will
drive them oil at the point OF the bayOnct They will re-
resist, because they will know that thew will carry hi
cr notions dangerous 10 the peace of their society," They
will regard them ieGUen which will operate pon the
whole mass OF their slave population If this should come
TO pass, can gentlemen tell in what manner VIC can get
rd OF so large number, annually tlcported 10
the different STATES and Territories which admit slaves;
Can they shcw how from 1000 TO 20 900 can be an
huay carried to Liberia, to any other spot which we
may be so fortunate to acquire hereafter? The result
most aucnng TO the committee only promised the revova
ny HIac means, oil 1OOO per When take stems
To cIOic the door OF the STATES and Territories what is 10
become OF the surplus? And shall rush into measure
win precipitation, leading 70 this result without pausipg
qucnccs?
Mr. w said, that no scheme had been vet suggested
ne feared none could be suggested, which can effect the
removal oil this class ecnon. MANY must be retnov-
cd rs Slaves and that not by the Governments hut bv the
owners Ana lac would venture TO express hope that
those gentlemen anxious for removal instead of aoptnp
measure H0tr, which may close door, without OPEN
ing another halt so large will, the end of the session
wen lhey return home, if shareholders themselves sell
al lcast portion OF them to those who may carry Them
ont o the State: il not shareholders that they will use
are means which the people use without violation of
others rights lie az