Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-02-11

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tom And surely Sir, when this question is considered
either in relation to the result that il must
important that has ever engaged the consideration OF
a delberativo assembly. The momen,ous question
oil peace or war; that sometimes imposes such beahes
solicitude, loses all its magnitude, when conrasted wi
the great moral and political revolution con,e INFLATED bv
this measure-and yet, Sir without surplus cent in
the Ireasury,we are to commence this Herculean task.
relying upon the generous magnanimy of the world for
ssance And from what quarter Sir, will it come. VIII
these Yankee Philanhropss have had so much ogen
cy in iomenng strife upon this question: open the portals
oil their Treasury Or will they smile at the wreck Of r;.
Produced Can be expected that the high
generous citizens oil Southern Country ,,y lend their
aid to the effort, when its must involve their ney
table desructon' Sir, far from assisting they would
DC blind to every consideration OF policy, if they did not
use the most strenuous efforts in their power order TO
counterfeit the effects of your misguided policy And has
II occurred to gentlemen what would be the
provided we should declare favor this principle and
then not be enabled the plan into effect Sir the
die viii have been cast The Rubcon of mans awaken
Gu rights VIII have been crossed We shall be driven OH
by the tide OF resstess circumstances for an abandon
ment OF the enterprise, viii involve tho Common
IN ruin Think you Sir, that after the note of Liberty
shall have been sounded in their ear, the inspired
hopes OF freedom shall have been excited that thew will
listen to the voice oil reason, submit the necessity
which prevents you from the accomplishment of the o-
jceti No, Sir they will accomplish il themselves. The
blood. The needless enthusiasm OF a people to whom
you have exhibited the picture of Liberty and rudely
snachcd it from grasp will burst forth into acts ~
VIOLENCE which no power here But we arc
tod that we declare in favor Of the principle that
the General Government will stretch forth its mighty
source TO which wish TO Virginia appeal She
has heretofore stood rectnS ia cia, in regard to this
power upon the part of the Federal Governments And
so far as have been enabled comprehend her prin-
ciples-oPposed TO its exercise 40 ur6e condifa--
10 call upon this Government for aid would be virtual
SURRENDER oil all the great principles for the preservation
oil which, Virginia has magnanmously sacrificed all the
advantages that was in the of the Federal Govern
eht 10 extend Ii would be acknow of the
right upon the part of that Governments to the exercise
OF the most dangerous prerogatve which yer claim
ed and forever seal lips against action throughout
all time TO But if should be so REGARDLESS Of
consequences unmindiul of high bearing as TO
surrender at the shrine of the Federal Eovcrnment an
that is worth preservation ask this boon will our
humble petition be heard? Or, If heard, can we make a
reasonable calculation upon receiving the add Sir in he
event that the General Government should be disposed 10
lend its might in the advancement of this scheme Vir
gima could only calculate upon receiving her quota
arising from the sale Of the public lands. And this
wheh compared to the object TO be ACCOMPLISHED rat
HE Increase of this population. And for is we shall
have surrendered the brightest feature in political c
cutcheon.
And, Sir, these considerations great as thew are with
me- are but secondary in relation the other con
sequences that must result from the measure After we
shall have thus acknowledged the right upon the part Of
this Government, 10 interfere in municipal regulation
OF this subject what guarantee have we, that will be its
pleasure to adopt the mode that may propose? Sir
mere none Ana Just so soon as we give this Govern
ment jurisdiction this species property it will
claim the arbitrary right of adopting own measures
ana the privilege OF forcing out the plan in lis way
regardless either of your feelings interest the subject
Sir there yet another view with this branch
oil the question: That Is TO my mind OF the vital
sequence, and worthy the serious consideration of
the House Virginia, Sir may be regarded at this time
as the keystone of the Arch which rest the entire
weight OF the question of slavery. III we surrender
the principIe-we shall have inflicted vital stab 10
the best interest of the Southern community rG.
think you Sir, that the fanacis of the age win contne
its operations TO Virginia. No. Sir-but enholdcned bv
your example, it will spread its banef contagion over the
whole southern country Demagogucs will in every
section, proclaimng the principle OF universal enanopa
on-and when this period shall arrive, the Government
whose aid you would invoke, will not remain spec
tator OF the strife No. Sir; relying on the acknov,-
eogmeh oil ITS power by one OF the largest slavehold-
ing States IN the Unon il will its authority and
claim the privilege ofdeciding the contest 1t cannot Je
eXpectcdin this event. that the people oftc South will ba
so blind to their interest callous of their rights as 10
surrender all that is valuable the arbitrary ipo on OF
Federal power That spirit of dunion which so recent
y threatened the existence OF this Coniederacy will be
again called into existence. The beautiful temple of our
liberty, once SO imposing will be razed and all that il
valuable in the association, be wrecked the
This must be the result an attempted interference non
me part oil the General Govet i'll this delicate sublectfor
the history OF civilized society presents instance of peo
pie, however degraded that have TO be
egisaed out oil their property IT, Sir, have rendered
my views ntcigible upon this branch of the subject,
beg leave TO consider the proposition that has submit
ted by the gentleman from Abemare, (r. Randoph as
me mode by which this plan is to be carried into effect
In the first place. Sir, il proposes submit the proposition
to the vote OF the qualified frco-hoders of Common
wealth. IT, Sir this the ouly Objectionable feature
which it contained it would besuiccnt of itself to stamp
it with reprobaion Upon the first presentation ques
lion, there may be something captivating in tho idea of
submitting subject OF this character the consideration
of the pcoPe-but it is aught with the most dangerous
tendencies and totally subvcrsve of tho Drncnles If Tho
Government. IT, Sir, each and every individual votor
had common interest in this species OF property the re-
suit OF the vote given under these circumstances might
be fair test OF public opinion. But, perhaps there
| - community whose interest is more variant
than that of the people Of Virg MIA this property
In the Eastern division of the State, there are upwards
OF four hundred thousand saves-wIst i'm the EST there
not more than oneeghb of that SO the op-
Grafton of the would be, give TO the voters Of
the Western division, who comparatively speaking
not interested in the property the power taking away
the rights Of every individual in the Common ealth WHO
might unfortunately be in the possession Of gain
Sir; the number OF those who directly interested in
this species OF property by IFS possession when compared
to the aggregate OF the whole population of The State
would not constitute than third Of the communi-
y who entitled TO vote and thus il would be i'm tie
power of the other two thirds, TO strip the possession of
property from those with whom they have no common
interest But, Sir, admit that the people the State bod
intensity OF interest in the property Can you ina
CINE more fruitful source of strife than the agita-
| ton Of such question would DO likely eDgcnder9
Demagogues would inamc the minds of the people; con-
tcting passion would be called into aeon and instead
OF calm investigation OF the principle the oTgtiaen-
/ ttnn BdcuHnn, would sctilc tho question IL was
Sir, to avoid popular connections of this character which
had often distracted The councils Of te ancient repub-
| lies, that the representative iorm Of Government has
been established. But this proposes 10 subeert
the entire principle OF its representative character ahd inn
pose the burdens Of The Government directly upOD tho
virtue the patriotism, and intelligence OF tho people than
yaon upon the forms Of their government or they would
not have adopted tis they do not wish any such pow
cr conferred upon them, because they have 100 much
10 ffanf ncfs