Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-07

depend on the demand there. No man could from
pocuniury considerations afford to rive $500
Tor slave To be worked ON an ordinary Virginia
plantation, though many own slaves which they
would not sell at any price. SO that if the num-
Der hereafter sent to these other States be matcr-
ally diminished, the value OF them here must de-
cline. But if such should be the result il will not
he the consequence of any system like that which
l recommend. On the contrary, il is an acknow
lodged principle of political economy, that as the
supply of any article is diminished, the demand is
Increased and the value improved If for in
stance, by any operation, fourth II half of all
the slaves III NirginiI were removed would moi
those who remain DO moro valuablel And will
not the effect Of throwing an augmented cnpitol
into the market, before minated have the same
tendency
But what if the gradual abduction of part Of our
black population, were to cause some pcccniarv
loss! Are the people prepared to make no sacrifice
to attain an object desirable as this holds ou,7
know, sir, that 1T is one of the weakest points of
our naturc-al history proves il TO be true of ind;-
viduals and naions-to cling with pcrtinacitv to
all we posscss-and thus to peril ALL r. Their than by
giving up portion, to the residue The
lessons OF experience are exhibited TO us in vain
''No man profits by the experience of othcrs-he
must pay Tor IT himself" And he often does if dear
ly. At this very moment we see the ori.tocrocv
OF England, rather than submit to n moderate re-
ior;n IN the government, and consequent abatement
OF portion OF their exclusive privileges are leo
pardlng the Whoc--and nothing prevents an i'm
mediate cXploSion-a dreadful revolution in Eng
land, but the fact that The King is on the side of
the People, and they hope thus eventually to at
tam their object, without recurrence TO the ulti
| ma ratio. Such was the fate of the ancient mo-
narchy OF France--and the principle is more or
less Illustrated, in the history of almost every ma
ton, and the biography ofalmost every individual
30, here the minds OF some, seem TO revolt AT the
idea OF losing part OF their slaves even on JUS,
compensation. Sir, shall have to surrender a
| part, on some terms, or eventually to lose The
whole. Not soon, sir, but by their ultimate cxiir
pation, and in the manner have depicted. If the
people oil Nirgnia--many of those at least who
arc III the habit of rejecting most intensely and
deciding most accurately--seo that effort is to
be made to avert the probable consequences of the
prcs2n: course of things but learn that it is settled
That the Old Dominion is, 20 the end of time, tc
remain as she is--hcr bright and towering pospcct,
Will hecome Observation-Disclosures will desert the lane
/ OF their nativity and remove to farer fields
where no such difficulties impend. But if the
could see only the imcipcnt efforts made-somt
plan propoSed--no matter how far in advance it,
lhceptlVc action should be placed--no matter how
gradually or slowly the process was to operate
some rational hope presented that the existing
ORDER oil things was not to continue forever, bu
that there was to be diminution, if not extinct
ION oil The evils OF an OVERLOOKING black population
they would rest satisfied. The young would abando,
the thoughts of removal, and the old would cry OIL
IN the language ofancient Simeon, "Nunc Domino
dimittUS."
Mr.. Speaker, am aware, that by the frank an,
uhreserved expression that have given to yscnti
mentS on this vitality interesting subject, NAV hav,
called down on my head dcnuncations from those
VIII" view it in different aspect and who 90 ar,he
than am willing to CO. or who fall short ofme fee
mat have little ofpublic standing, or capacity fo
Punilc usefulness TO lose-but had / as much mo
raj ana political weight of character as ever rese,
on mortal man, would peril it all in such a caus,
as tins. The prosperity OF the country is at stake
ana VIII speak freely what honestly think 81
IS my own-lny native land" and what can do
VIII do, to save her. AS soon would think O
deserving mother in distress, as ofloavinp her II
her present situation. We have listened to man,
luguDrious descriptions of her worn fields, anC
associated condi.ion-and of the sorrowing breeze
through the tops of her pines But sh,
Is my country; and for one, ! will stand by her
through evil reports as well good. All that
haVc-whdtcver interest l possess on earth-i
embarked ON board the old vessel, and L will re
man with her,-let her sink or swim
Mr.. Speaker, cannot resume nv sent wiihon
an unaffected and grateful expression ofmv thanl,
20 you' ana to the House, for the very patient an,
polite attention, with which you have regorde,
inc remarks have submitted, and which have beer
Er0dy more discurslvo and lengthy than had in
tchded when commenced them.
DEBATE TO BE Continued