Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-04-03


despiscd aud abused. Sir, there is but one opinion
in the country upon the question which divides the /
representatives Of this Commonwealth. No, sir, as
was told few days since by one who had beheld
the rise the progress and fall of parties in this and
other countries; who had marked the erratic wan
dercr i'm politics well as religion; who had wit |
messed the gradual exhaustion of the glowing zeal
of tho fanatic in the failure of all his splendid
schemes OF paper experiment. you cannot pass an
operative law upon this important subject without
the aid which the consent and cooperation of the
people would bring You may pass the law, but il
remains for your agent to out the balauce-it will
remain for him undertake the perilous task of Sc
vering, without permission, the relation of master
and servant. l should regret to an experiment
OF character so dangerous as fancy such would
be- hope may never live to witness such oura-
ges upon the constitution and laws of this land-l
Gentlemen say that for him who will come for
ward and enrol his name upon the list of
this crusading company-,he first and the fair
est pages OF the future history of country
will be preserved That it is evidence of intre-
pdity and statesman-lke sagacity in those that adj
vocate the principle which was wanting i'm all the
statesmen and patriots who lived before us. Jeiler-
son, Washington, Henry, Madison and Monroe have
had the character of doing some lille good, by way
OF advancing the national prosperity aud glory ofour
couniry-bu', had they been permitted to have been
entering now upon the public stage of their country
at what sigbtless distance would they have been
left, in ascending the heights of fame, by the patriots
which Mats revolution has produced. Let gentle
wen Dom 10 the rfght lett. In seeking
she credit of giving motion to The "ball ofaholition"
do they assume no responsibility in producing insub-
ordination, instruction and bloodshed? Sir, the
people will crush this modern spirit of fanacisrn
which is Intoxicating few of the discontinued of
our age with the belief that they effect great
and for their memories, glorious revolution. He
should be fatess to his trust, undeserving the con-
hdence or countenance of those who had sent him
mere, were he not solemny to protest against the
amendment of the gentleman from Montgomery,
Mr. Preston) lie rejoiced to the people, or any
portion OF them, speaking to their representatives
by petitions or otherwise. He was proud as one of
their servants, to obey them. But he was panied
he burnt with indignation, when he saw a small por-
ton OF the community whose interests is diverse
from that of the great body, attempting destroy,
or render worse than valueess the properly of others
If slavery be curse and a SIM land surely it was
not his purpose to argue that queson) it is one at
least which does not rest upon the "Friends."-
They are quit of it. 1t rests, if any where, with
the Shareholder. Let him, then, seek relief from
the burthen-would it, under such circumstances
he wise, would it be just for this Legislature in the
absence of all authority to divest, by single act
the people of this Commonwealth of property to the
amount of SlO0,000,000 with 100000 added for
deportation? Sir said he, it idle is vain TO en-
terrain the hope, until you have the permission-you
possess not the Means and what is still more mpor-
ant, you have not the rght,-you have not the pow
er Has any one, in the various estimates which
have been made of the slaves of this Common
wealth, computed their value at less than 100000
GOO of dollars, including deportation? None he
believed had ventured TO say less Mr.. Sneaker
do you not, then, perceive, and does not every
member OF this House at perceive that this is
subject fraught with too many important consi-
deratlons 10 the STAKEHOLDER, well the country
at large, even TO touch, without the aid and appro
baton of the people? Sir the few, the very few,
petitions upon your table, is evidence of what the
people of Virginia desire upon this subject Are there
five hundred-are there three hundred of all the
people of Virginia, who ask you to abolish slavery
either now or prospectvely? That number even
enn ha fnt,nH in f,x,N,
are they to outweigh the whole Commonwealth
upon the subject? 1t is evidence that the peo-
pie of Virginia at this time seek, or indeed are
prepared to engage in revolution important
so novel in its character the one sought 10
he effected by the amendment under consideration
The knowledge which he had of the people of Vir-
gnia, induced him TO believe that they as net con-
sidered their slaves their property secured TO them
by the constitution and laws of this land He too
was abouring under this delnsion, if indeed it was
one Yes, sir, he too believed it be their proper
ty, secured TO them and their postery by constitu-
tional force and sanction, which he could not which
! he would not, which he dared not to invade with
out the consent of the owners of that property He
stood here, not as the advocate of slavery as an alb
stract proposition. No-that is not the question for
us TO decide. He claimed to stand here however
as an humble advocate of the rights-yes the con-
stiutional rights of large portion of the people of
THIS Commonwealth portion Of them had sent
him here TO guard and to protect the rights and the
interests of ALL with his best ability; and humble rs
his efforts might be- they shall at all times be direct
ed to those means which in his judgment will best
tend TO that object as well as most to advance
their lasting prosperity and happiness. Mr.. Speaker
said he, my colleague has drawn a picture of the
waning fortunes and bighted prospects of Virginia as
the results ofsavery, to which he could not subscribe
lie believed there was none; for Virginia, he could
acknowledge no inferiority TO any portion of the
world, however favored in point ofintegence or the
moral elevation of the character of its citizens
His colleague and those who had acted with him.
have taken constitutional view Of this subject
which, if carried into effect, would convulse from
every extremity TO its CENTRE if not rend asunder the
foundation of that boosted and far-famed political
fabric which allows gentlemen convene i'm
this hail. as well as them and their proper-
ty from the ruthless hand oftyranny and oppression
Sir, said he IT is no light for gentlemen 10 lc-
gslate away the constitution of this land, and with
II the right to Sl3O000000 of your private property
Gentlemen may entertain and fondy cherish this
idea in this Hall, but at the touch of those who eel
greater interest i'll the matter, it will wither and
vanish away. Your Legislative enactments cannot
ride in triumph the Constitution and laws ofthe
land You cannot 'dbate' slave property as a snui-
sance,' az my colleague and others seem to believe
until you abate its hoders-and that YOU cannot do
until God abates their strength. The gentleman
syho has just taken his seat, (Mr. Bolling) said i'm
the course of his remarks that the people of Virgil
MIA are in the practice of eating their slaves. He
should not now inquire by what process of reason
ing his colleague had arrived at conclusion so
strange; but, coming he had from the same coun
ty, it might be proper for him to remark that il is a
practice of which he never before heard Virginiap
n l,I hoo, -, e.,