Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-19
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
CFIRsr DAY.]-Wednesday January III.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
THIRST DAY.]-Wednesday, January IL.
ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.
Mr.. GoopE oil Mccklenburg, rose to move the following
resolution: .
RESOLVED, That the Select Committee raised on the sub
Ject oil slaves, free negroes, and the melancholy occur
rences growing out OF the tragical massacre in Southamp-
ton, be discharged from the consideration of all petitions,
memorials and resolutions, which have for their object, the
manumisson Of persons held in servitude under the ex-
listing laws of this Commonwealth, and that It is not expe-
dent to legislate on the subject.
MIR. RANDOLPH moved the following substitute, TO be
inserted after the word Southampton
- be instructed TO inquire into the expcdiency of
raj towns, cities, boroughs, and counties of this Common
wealth, the ~propriety of providing by law, that the chill
dren of all female slaves, who may be born in this State,
on or after the 4th day of July, 1910, shall become the
property of the Commonwealth, the males at the age of
twenty-one years, and females at the age of eighteen, if
detained by their owners within the limits of Virginia, un-
til they shall respectively arrive at the ages aforesaid, to
be hired out until the nett sum arising thcrefrom, shall be
sufficient to defray the expence of their removal, beyond
the limits OF the United States, and that said Committee
have leave TO report by bill or otherwise.
Mr.. GooDE said, it would be recollected that he yester-
day ventured TO declare his determination to bring this sub
ject before the House. Every member must be well advis-
ed OF the thrilling interest which it had excited through
out the country. But he begged the House 10 believe,
that in declaring that intention, he had not imagined nor in
tended to create that public movement which he perceived
had been excited. His intention was only TO call the atten-
ton OF members to this subject, and presenta proposition, in
the decision Of which, this exciting subject might speedily
and finally be disposed of. This subjecthad long been to him
the source OF great anxiety; one to which he had given the
most close .attenuon, and contemplated with the utmost So
icitude.-Stll he had been avcrse to throwing himself in
to the attitude in which he now stood, lest his motives
might be misconceived, and he might lose the good OPT
Mon OF those he valued. But he now found that it had
become his imperious duty, since no other individual SEEM
ed disposed to assume the task-to step forward, in order,
If possible, to arrest a misguided and pernicious course of
legislation, by moving that the Committee on the subject
OF Slaves and Free Negroes, should be discharged from
the consideration of the question of emancipation, because
he believed that the Legislature of Virginia was now con-
sidering whether they would confiscate the property of
the citizens-a question which it had no right to act upon
or considerable consideration of this subject had given
rise to the diffusion of opinions highly injurious. 1t was
wei known that the public press had embarked in the dis
cussion OF the subject, and 20 IaVor OF aboliti9n -" mn ne
v vesa ns' assagsnow L ise Rowff6 sssse' e esp Rssss Se 81 opinion mSs had
produced, and were producing, the most disastrous eff
fects,-it being impossible to touch this subject, with
out %impairing the value of the property of the Slave
holders. BY the action of this House, and the promulga-
ton Of opinions supposed to have their origin here, the va
lue Of slaves was every day impaired. Their owners, I'M
der a feeling of doubt as to the result of the deliberations
OF this House, upon the tenure by which they were held,
would be induced to make sacrifices of their property; and
purchasers, fearing the event, would not be disposed to in
cur losses by engaging in a doubtful traffic. Among the
effects of the alarm which had BEEN excited, the Iceisla-
ton OF other States was important. The State of Louis
lana had been induced to pass a law, ~inhibitng the intro
ducton of slaves, and other States were disposed to take
the same course. In Kentucky, such a proposition was
rejected by a trifing majority. While Pennsylvania had
passed a law, excluding the free blacks. At this alarming
crisis, every thing that had been done by this Legislature
bad been calculated to increase, instead of allaying, the
feelings of fear and anxiety which ~pervaded certain Sec
tons OF the State. They had taken the subject of the
abolition of slavery into consideration, thereby exciting a
feverish state of solicitude, which had increased as the
subject had been DELAYED; unit, he had felt impclled to in
terpose a proposition which might bring the consideration
oil the subject to a close. Knowing, as he did, the feel
ings which existed among the people, he should be a trail
tor to his duty il he did not call the attention of the House
70 the effects of its untimcly and unjusiiiable course. But
the effect produced by this Legislation did not alone con-
Germ the white citizens. The slaves themselves were not
unconscious OF what was going forward here. Who are these
people! They are not an ignorant herd of Africans. On the
contrary, they are an active and Intelligent class, watching
and weighing every movement of the Legislature, with
"a perfect knowledge OF its bearing and effect, They knew
all that was done, and they well understood its relation to
the past, its influence on the future. They saw that a
few desperadoesa arose upon the defenceless women and
children OF southampton; and that their murderous acts
bad inspired the very Legislature of the State with fear.
They drew this conclusion from the discussions which
took place here on a former occasions; and would they not
believe that, by a repetition of That they would
force upon the State a measure for their emancipation. If
any thing could do IL, this course would be calculated to
inspire hopes among the blacks. BY considering the sub
Ject, their expectations were raised; expectations which
were doomed to disappointment, the effect of which might
be the destruction of the country. VAST not then proper
on every ground, was IL not imperatively demanded, TO
adopt this resolution. The chairman of the committee on
the subject, had announced that he believed the commit
tee would not report favorably on the subject of emanci-
patton, and that no action would be recommended and no
measure proposed on this subject. What objection, then,
was there to this resolution Ithad been declared that the
committee would come TO the very conclusion of this reso-
luton, that nothing could be done; and, if so, why
not adopt IL! He asked what could be done? No
plan could be offered which could be ~proftablv consid-
cred, or agreed TO. Had the State funds at lis disposal?
Has 1t a dominion on which TO place even that portion of
'WHN P"PW WIZ "O VI may DC Hcc! lney nad not the
powerto carry these projects into effect, and not having
the power,i was ~derogatory TO the dignity of the House
TO spend It's time in playing this farce of legislation, on a
subject on which 1t could do nothing, and which had caus-
cd great anxiety and pain among a large body of the PEG
pie. He knew that were he to attemptit he must fail TO
impress the House with a full sense Of The public feelings
excited by ITS legislation, and now at their height; and hc
would, therefore, confinc himself to a single closing re-
mark. lie asked the House TO reflect that its action ON
this question was useless--thatit was creating great pain
and anxiety among a large portion of the citizens of the
Stsse, ana mat II would raise expectations in the minds of
me colored Population-doomcd to a disappointment which
CouId not ial 10 engender feelings highly injurious and
dangerous TO all parties; affecting not only our own lives
and property, but the lives ofour wives and children, and
tfe safety of future generations.
WI. BRYCE Off, said he thought It his duty to rise and
explain his opposition 10 the resolution Of the gentleman
ro" siecklenburg and the amendment Of the gentleman
rom Al0emarle. He was aware Of the excitement which
me attention of this House to the subject Of slavery had
caused throughout the State. Expectation had been turn
ca 10 mus House, excited by the knowledge that this all
engrosslng subject was a topic Of its deliberations. He
Knew mst letters were received by members daily, hour
w. on 'hs subject. The public knew that petitions re-