Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-05-10
DEBATE ON ABOLITION
Speech of Mr.. BROWN Continued.

The gentleman from Berkeley, has warned
rs. emphaticaily, that the West is firm and
united in favor Of emancipation. Sir, do
not presume to speak the sentiments OF that
peonle There is a small portion OF them to
whom | lately bore an intimate political rela
tion. and to whom | shall ever be bound by
the strongest ties OF gratitude and affection.
The liberal opinions already expressed by
enc Of their Representatives on this floor, IS
in exact accordance with the feelings ! should
have ascribed to his constituents on such a
subject. This is to me-, a cheering augury,
and | should not be surprized, II the gentle
man from Berkeley. should, eventually ind
himself unsupported in the ground that be
has assumed feel well assured that he will
be alone as TO the reasons which govern his
course The West may vote for emancipa-
lion. but not because they consider slaves as
not property, or as property held at the plea
surt OF the Legislature The late oonven-
tion and the events that led to 1t, are fresh
IN the recollection of all. 1t is, now, a mat
ter of history that the strong argument urged
by the East, against that measure. was, that
ii endangered the security of slave property
The West disclaimed, again and again. on
every fi occasion, all intention of disturbing
that subject. In the humble part which 1t
was my lot to act in those scenes, disavow
ed on this floor, any such object, and with
the concurrence of those who then acted with
me, offered a specific guaranty for slave pro
perry, in order to quiet the apprehenslons OF
ibe East The object OF the West was all
equal representation on the basis OF white
population, which | thought then, and still
think, the only true, republican principle oil
representation. They never dreamed, then,
Of molesiing the slave holder IN the enjoy
ment Of his property. 1t is true their main
purposes we're not accomplished by the Con
v%ention, and they may justly complain oil be-
ing denied an equal representation on the
true basis. But will they do injustice to 9th
ers because they are wronged themselves!
Can they retract the sentiments aud feelings
so often avowed on the subject OF slaves!
Sir, | have the utmost confidence In the
course witch will be pursued on this subject
by Western gentlemen. SO far as they con
eeive the interests of their constituents TO De
concerned, they will, of course, pursue tue
dictates Of their own judgment But SO lar
as they can persuade themselves that It IS a
matter, chiefly ano peculiarly affecting Eas
tern Virginia, they will be governed by a gen
crous and magnanimous policy And or,
notwithstanding all that has been SAID to ex-
site their apprehensions, do not the people Oh
the West, perceive, In the pecullarities oil
their situation, satisfactory reasons Tor beilev-
ing that slavery never will exist to any OBJ
iectionable extent amongst them? The peo-
pie of the East are planters. Slaves are the
most suitable laborers for them. Any mum
Der of them may work to advantage togeth
or. Their labors are of a kind which white
men are rarely found willing to engage IN.
The people Of the West OF the other hand,
are farmers and graziers. They need. com
paratively, but few laborers, and those only
for certain periods of the year White men
can always be found for light and agreeable
supplements. The husbandman would pre-
fer hiring to owning a man because, upon a
calculation of interest, he would rather pay a
iaborer for his work and LET him go his way,
than be burtbened with his support through
ont the ~year--whether wanting or not-and
from the cradle to the grave, A few slaves
there NAV be, in the West, to I'LL the mental,
domestic offices, but they will never become
the laborers of that region-Look over the
face OF the Union, and see the abundant evI
dence of this fact Slavery has disappeared
from the Eastern and Middle States, and rs
TO be found only where planting is the charac.
t%eris,ic occupation This, Sir, is merely be-
cause slaves ceased to be profitable there.
1t was from a principle of economy, and not
from a sentiment of morality or religion.
That such were not the motives oil our Nor
thern brethren, is proved by the fact, Which
l believe, is notorious, that they sent Oh ma
ny of their slaves to a Southern market, IN
orler to avoid the operation Of their emancl-
patton laws A more exact parallel may be
found IN the Carolinas-the interior districts
oil which, bear some resemblance TO Western
Virginia. On the sea board of those States
slaves bear a much greater proportion to the
whites than here. In the mountainous dis
,rlcts, there are. comparatively, few. Thai
dark wave which haunts the fancy OF the
gentleman from Kenawha, has there beer
rolling for centuries, against mountains no
so lofty as ours, and yet It has only cast a lii
tie spray beyond. Let that gentleman dis
nll.s his apprehensions. The foot of the ne
gro delights not in the dew of the mountain
grass. He is the child of the sandy desert
The burning sun gives him life and vi:our