Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-02-09

| gnian.
scene has DIFFERENTIATED in your Legislature which
must have excited your utter astonishment filled your
minds with the most distressing and alarming
sons belongs, you know, TO the history OF the past
ampton tegung to consider himself the instrument select
edby Heaven for accomplishing the great work of the
emancipation OF his race, induced few kindred spirits TO
cooperate with him, and that at late hour Of the night,
when all nature was wrapped in profound reposc they
commenced indiscriminate massacre of the whites
Men, women and children alike, fell victims to the savage
barbarty and unsparng vengeance of this nuriac band
OF desperadoes The day had scarcely dawned before
the insurgents dispersed and overcome, rather crush
ed has been well sad by the irresistible weight of
circumstances beyond their control than vanquished by
any regular military force. All who participated in this
bloody tragedy dragged from the into which,
panicstuck, they shrunk, and all have expated their
crimes upon the galows except few who acted by com
puson and they properly became the subjects of Execu-
tive clemency In this short sentence il condensed c
ini history oil what is familiarity called the Southampton
tragedy which has recently been made i'm your Lcg stature
the occasion Tor sounding the ocsn of alarm throughout our
Commonwealth, and disturbing the tranquility OF our ci-
zens, which had happily been restored. That occur
renee so unusua-an occurrence which cannot easily be
forgotten, for it is traced in characters of boodsoud
have spread CONSERVATION and terror for time, through
the surrounding country. is at all remarkable But
that the Legislature of Virginia. after lapse of nearly
six months, should regard that event ne ustiCvnu The
course which has been pursued, is, indeed passing
strange For what the lesson which the history of that
instruction teaches us: To il appears that no propo
uon, not susceptible OF mathematical demonstration,
be clearer than that peposerous and visionary expert
inent conceived in folly crime consum-
Hia'cu III INC utter rum and destruction authors
ought 10 aay rather than excite the apprehensons
citizens and convince slaves themselves the utter
hopeessness and iutiy OF any attempt procure their
freedom by the extinction of the whites That the latter
effect was produced, do for one moment doubt: and
that there at the period which the unfortunate dis
cusson In the House of Delegates commenced, less dan
gcroi any isurrectonary movements breaking among
them, than has existed for many years past is my firm
and decided conviction. What effect that public discus
SION may have in delung them false notions of their
rights and strength claim not the gift OF prophecy d.
vine. But, Tor myself must frankly declare my honest
concuon, mat can see in it no 10 anticipate
gle good reshe strongest for experimenting the
most unhappy consequences. have listened strains of
impasioned eoquence there, which, ordinary occasions
would have commanded nought but my warmcst admra.
uon' my most heartfelt applause yielded for a mo-
ment TO the irresistible impulse of the heart and felt NV
cheak burn with generous PRIDE when behed the muse
OF eioqncnce entwining her rich and beautiful wreath
around the brow of youthful orator. whose fame had
never reached before. But when reason for n mo.
ment dethroned resumed her sway in the breast most
gladly would have snatccd the garland from his brow:
and iet pang OF deep regret that that eloqence which
enchanted the attention OF delighted auditory, was
cxerted in better l speak adyisedy when saw
better cause, perfectly that in doing So shock
the sensibies OF the flaming advocates of universal
emancipationof those who in the pcnitude of their lib
crafty, would take away your property without making
you compensation for however pure and disntcested the
motives which may have actuated gentlemen cannot but
DcneVe that tney have been mised by mistaken philan
.nropy ana That the inevitable consequence OF the doc
tIines which they have avowed will be- TO place our
slaves in much worse condition than that in which they
arc at present The necessary effect must be- TO DESTROY
IN great degree that bond of confidence and mutual al
tachment which has heretofore connected masters and
their slaves, and excite a spirit of INSTRUMENTATION AMONG
tne latter which must result in restricting, vet farther
the privileges they enjoy. Entertaining these vic
deprecated public discussion of the deeply absorbing
and most momenous question of the abolition of slavery
In virginia was discussion which the public exigen-
cy did not requirewhch the public voice had not called
0r we had every thing TO fear from inohing hope
these fears have been than realized; for in the heat
and excitement of debate, a subject calculated to
arouse and bring into action all the energies of the mind
gentlemen of high standing have avowed sentiments
eXtraVaoant. L humbly nix
have been anticipated That debate has given rise TO
much glowing defamation the unalienable rights of
nan-and certainly finer field for gathering the flowers
oil rhetoric was before presented The opportunity
was not permitted 10 pass unmproyed. Gcntlcmen, epe-
ciaiy young gentlemen, addressed themselves with
mendabe industry to the task of gathering bouquets and
nosegays pluckng here pink there a rose a tulip here
Jonquiile hee-and did not dess from their innocent
DIVERSION until the COLLECTED sweets tortured the sense.
But seriously speaking,and this is subject grave
ior merrlmen-the occasion which | refer, was pre-
cisely that which, least of all others the head
ought to take counsel from the heart Whether that oc-
cason was met in that temper of GOODNESS and discretion
which 1T so emnenty demanded the materials before
you from which you will be enabled form your own
opinions IL can never cease TO be subject of profound
regret, that In yielding TO the dictates of misplaced
maity, gentlemen ana not Tor moment remember that
ey were ennS not only your property but your lives.
tor II any thing could stimulate your slaves nsurrec-
on 1t would be the intammatory speeches delivered in
the House of Delegates, with which the press is literally
tceming IL the flames servilc war that most dread
u OF all national caamties more to be excited in
Virginia, it will be melancholy 10 reflect that the
whose constitutional duty devise measures TO Sc
cure safety and happincss With due Difference TO
the opinions OF those who entertain sentiments in
corance with my own, cannot the propicy of con-
siderng slavery as it exists in Virginia. an abstract
question: here at as, introduced originally by the COM
nercial cupdity OF that nation from which sprang II
slavery be an eva cursc-and, consderineit ahsracv
who denied ithc sin OF its introduction lies not at
the door OF this generation Let the CALLED jade VINCE
our withers are unwrung. Ii is institution coeval
with the colonial existence of Virginia. institution which
has grown with our growth and strengthened with our
strength Assa it rudely and you break up once the
foundations oil society," you destroy forevcryes forever
It's repose and happiness 1t is the frozen viper, which, if
awakened into active lie by the genial warmth and alice
Tomato careses OF misguided philanthropy will turn up
on and sting the hand OF its benefacto nlse dead
~ poison into his veins You may kill the snake hut YOU
can never extract the subtle poison, which, with fearful
Fapldy pervades The SYSTEM drying up the very
tains oil vitality, and causing the iebOod curdle and
stand stil 10 the Legislature, them would say touch
not, handle not When the evil is more strongly felt there
is obvious corrective, which may be applied without
legislative action. do believe that the large slave
holding interest in Virginia. will he tanely surrendered
10 the abstract reasoning of speculative politicians. When
ever SUCH measure shall be seriously insisted on fore
tell that the days OF beloved and ancient Common
wealth viii be numbered. Ii true, that she has
safely, galanty, triumphantly through wars, after
encounteng by the side OF her sister States an enemy
whose resources greatly exceeded our own But f we
are wise enough 10 profit y the lessons Of experience il
we listen 10 The warning )ice OF history which 'phi-
losophy teaching by example, we will have learned that
u separation OF the State is indeed our inevitable DOOM
virginia would not furnish the first instance of State af-
Ter having rcpecd the nvasOns Of foreign foe which
fell nglonous sacrifice to the conflict of discor1ont in
tercss and intestine connections, when that foe was van
pushed Thasucb fate may not be in reserve for Viz
onia. L 1 envy not