Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-21

cd that our lands, from wretchcd cultivation, have been
exhausted-that our slaves have become valueless and un-
profitable--that our agriculture will not support US; and
that bankruptcy is our fate. And how, Sir, is IL proposed
to alleviate our distress! Its by wrestling from us, by the
strong arm oil power, without our consent, and without
compensation, the only means we possess under heaven,
according to the showing OF gentlemen themselves, by
which we can discharge our private obligations, and meet
the cxactions of two hungry and consuming governments.
Mr.. Speaker, the great poet of nature has justly said,
"fou do take my lis, whom YOU take the means whereby l 1.-Two"
And | submit it TO these disinterested advocates of the
equal rights of man, to ID determine whether treemen, consci-
ousottheirr rights, and with ability to defend them, will not as
soon sacrifice the first ms tamely surrender the latter. L am
aware, Sir, of the awkward and ridiculous position l seem
TO occupy, in gravely debating questions like thesc.-Sir,
they are III truth not debatabIe. When the distant reader
shall discover, that the Virginia. Legislature, in the year
1882, is engaged in solemn deba,e on the questions, whe-
thcr 'privatc property can be taken for public use with
out Compensation whether "slaves are property and
whether "the increase OF slaves is property he will be
lost in amazemcnt, aud will be ready to exclaim of us,
can these be the sons OF their faihers!'
But, Sir, another and 4 still stranger light has broken i'm
upon us. The gentleman from Rockbridge, CMr. Moore1
di,daining to- xamine this subject under the Constitution and
laws, has ascendedt to the very fountain ofourp political power,
and rests himself upon our bin Of rights. can men, by ma
turc, are equally free and independent" The gentleman
thinks that here he has found a power sufficiently compre-
hcnsive and reSisless TO burst asunder the chains of
slavery, and set the captive free. Mr.. Speaker, /
have been educated to regard the trainers OF our1BilI
OF Rights aud Constitution, with the most flial venc
ration and respect. L have been taught To esteem
them, not only tcise men, but Just men. But il
This position OF the gentleman from RockbridCe be true.
then do !, in the face of this General Assembly. and in
the hearing of their postcrity, charge these political archi-
tocts with the grossest folly, or the veriest knayery on
earth. viii you believe it, Sir, when | tell you that these
great men OF the revolution Otcned sldre,7 Yes, actually
owned slaves, and worked them too-cven died in the nos
session of them, and bequeathed them to their children.
II then, the gentlemans construction of their language be
true, they are either chargeable with the folly of not I'M
Outstanding what they themselves had written, or with the
knavery OF having violated through their lives. principles
and rights, which they had solemnly recommended To the
adoption of others. But the gcntleman's construction
OF the Bill of Rights is not Just. The section TO which he
has referred is only a declaration of the natural rights of
I man-nOt a declaration of lhc OVpr ol tbic EOvArpr,o,e
or of the social obligations or rights of sociefu. If the
g~entleman's construction should obtain, the bands which
bind society together would at once dissolve-the relations
oil husband and wife, parent and child, master and appren-
uce' master and servant, governor and governed, would
end, and even our present deliberations would be "most
strange and unnatural"
The Bill of Rights will not sustain gentlemen in their
defence OF this high-handed measure. Itisas unavailing TO
them, as either the Constitution or their modern definition
OF property. THERE'S but one plausible ground on which
Il team be rested; and to that, Sir, the gen. from Buckinobam
(MIr. Bolling1 with more discretion, and not less vaIor' than
his associates, has fled. Ii is the ground of necessity.
Sir-seD safety. This is high ground
and should not be lightly considered or incaudousIv an
preached. Show me, sir that the salvation or existence of
thiS society depends on the adoption of this substitute, and,
with submission, | will cry 'TSdlus poD,M .Suure,5o est
Lea Show me that the horrors of insurrection are gath
erinS round us, and this is our only refuge, and promptly
will l exclaim Inter anna silent leges." Pardon me.
however, if, on a subject of this high import, | reject the
evidences offered here. | cannot consent that the tenure
by which my constituents hold their property. shall he
decided by the gloomy pictures which the sombre pencil
OF disordered fancy may present 10 our view. or Ue iptem-
perate ebullitions of imprisoned orators may coniure up.
No, Sir-the passing stranger, ignorant Of our history.
who had heard the debate of yesterday, would suppose
uat The hand OF ruin and dismay was upon us: that the
spirit OF desolaion was abroad; that the yell of insurrec-
ton echoed through our land, and that songs of mourning
~, our borders. l beg such a stranger, &c to start not
us but iancy's sketch" Ibeg him TO believe, that b efore
tins most unwise and unfortunate discussion, all was tran.
quill aud composed and that this body itself, presented an
( @Pect OF happiness so abiding, as to eNpel all anxiety or
apprehension On the one hand, the bright and un6az-
Zled gaze oil aspiring and youthful ambiion!-on the other,
the calm serenity of contented and peaceful old Or
! many oil us nave lett far behind IN unnrDfpCfpb and ,,nl,
tended, the dearest objects of our afections-thc wives of
our bosoms, and the children they have borne US and if
all that we have heard in this debate be true-if the aw-
iul and impending dangers which gentlemen depict, do. in
very truth, threaten the objects of our care and love, how
unmaniy is il, that we sit here in idle debate, when we
should lily to their rescue and protection. Sir, these alarm
lists do injustice TO Virginia, and the character of our peo-
pie-Ihe dangers they imagine, do not eXist-the general
alarm aIi apprehension oil which they speak, do not exist
The late unfortunate occuTrcncesin Southampton, did, for
ahme, hll the public mind with dismay, and call into ac-
ton all the sensibihies of our natures. The awful scenes
OF mat tragedy are deeply engraved in the memo
rles OF our citizens. 1t is natural they should be-
The very idea OF servile war, is full of horror; and lis con-
sequences, above all others, cause the hearts of brave men
to faint and die within them.-Sir, most deeply did we
sympathiSe with our neighbors of Southampton, and most
cheerlully would we have aided them; nor do L claim for
my CONSTITUENTS any exemption from the alarm and excite
ment which pcrvaded this community. But | do contend
that this alarm and excitement have subsided-that. socie-
" Is restored 10 ITS ordinary current and repOse, and that
sail sense OF sccurity is not gone.' No, Sir; the people of
our country again sleep quietly on their pillows, and would.
ID all probability, have enjoyed uninterrupted repose, had
tnot been for this false Legislative cry Of "Wolf!"tsWolC!'
Gentlomcn, in the heat OF their own intemperance, and by
the aid OF their own disturbed and distcmpered fancies,
raise spirits and spectres at pleasure-gaze at them with
horror, and then set about TO shew their skill in the office
Of eXorcism. These spirits and spectres, they call "neces-
sliy," ''selfprescrvaiion,' "pubIc safety" The exor-
clsm, is the simple process Of taking eighty or one hun
dred millions Of private property for public use, toithout
compensation. Mr.. Speaker, it is idle TO argue this ques-
ton before this enlightened body, on The pleas of necessify
and the Pu1he safety. They cannot be sustained for, they
are not founded in truth. They are questions of fact; and
to be false.
| have endeavored to show, that private property is sa-
cred.-ihat slaves and their increase are property-and
that no high and everything necessity exists Tor taking
them from their owners. If have succeeded, Sir. / have
done enough; and | ought, perhaps, here 10 close this ar
gument. II is here, that the powers OF the Government
over this subject end. "Thus far may we 60, but 10 far
thor"-"We stand on our chartered rights"
But, gentlemen in pursuit OF their iayorite theory, have
adventured on the boundless ocean Of policy, erpediency,
and even speculation; and as they have taken along with
them on board, my rights and property, / hope 1 shall be
excused 81 pursue them, though the sea is rough and the
voyage dangerous.
The gentleman from Rockbridge has admonished us
that we cannot resist the lights Of the age-nay, Sir, this
good Old Commonwealth, "the blessed mother of us ALL
has been hkened to the ancient Apostle, Saul of Tarsus-
that she is stricken to the earth by the light of bea-