Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-01-02
SIGNEp:
COMMUNICATED.


Nh Snowden.-Please publish the following
account Of what transpired in the House Of Dele
gates on the 29th Dec. and obge citizen Of
Prince William and subscriber.
MIR Carter of Prince William presented petit
ton from Prince William, on the subject Of free
negroes. Sc. which he accompanied with the fol-.
lowing remarks:
MIR Garter said he rose to present memorial
from Prince William. asking that application be
made to the General Government, for its all IN re-
moving the Free negroes to some suitable destlna-
ton. The petition was signed by large aud re-
spectabepurrion of the citizens OF Prince William
and while he presented it, he felt it necessary to
state, that il had been directed to the honorable
member OF Dlnwiddie, Gen. Brodnax. to whose
courtesy, and not to any particular confidence
reposed in him on this occasion, by his c0nstitu
ens. he was indebted for the honor--for he felt
il to be such-oi presenting their wishes to the
House. He appreciated that courtesy most high
". and he hoped he might he permitted to flatter
himself that it was not merely sentiment OF cOur-
tesy which actuated the gentleman from Dinwd-
die, but consciousness likewise, that he commit
ted 10 disrespect to the people OF Prince William.
in cop6ding their petition to the bands ot their
r--r,~ ...i .hat .i~t Rae~.ss'-
him by the gentleman from Dinwiddie.
At the same time that he faly appreciated the
courtesy he had received, he was agerieved-deep-
" mortifiet-at the attitude in which he was pla-
ced; and this modification would be. greater, if
he was not convinced. that the individual who
was the organ Of the people Of Prince William,
in giving the petition the direcuonl,e did, iabored
under mistake as to what had occurred here.
This led him to make some explanations
Ii would be recOleCted that two memorials had
been presented by the gentleman from Hanover
MIR. ROane) on the subject Of slaves and free ne
groes. These petitions were of character totally
different. One, signed by citizens Of Hanover.
proposed nothing which was not based on recog-
milton Ct the right of property in slaves. The
OF er, signed by single individual, though IN the
name Of the Society of Friends, pressed emanc-
patton upon the Legislature, without any refer
ence to the question of the right of property
The difference between them, would be at once
seen. He rose at an early period after their pre-
sentation, when the subject had been little dis
cussed to enter his veto against the reference of
the memorial of the Misunderstanding at the
time, to feel the highest respect for that Society,
and for the great right of Petition. He spoke
briefly and his remarks we're briefly reported; and
hence the mistake under which his Constituents
labored, as to his sentiments. He now declared
himself ready 10 60 as far as any man, to relieve
ourselves of the colored population, having refer
ence to three great principles; lst, The rights Of
property; Cd, The public resources; & Sd. A pro-
per regard to the situation OF that population in
their new condition. At another time he should
claim to deliver his sentiments more at large.
Mr.. Brodnax. briefly expressed his gratiIica-
ton at what had fallen from the gentleman from
d.. bo al CIV
highest respect for the citizens of that County,
who had honored him by entrusting their petition
to him, expressed his pleasure in having trans
ferred their petition to the hands of their Repre-
sentative.