Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-28

Invested of. 1t seems to result from the
power inherent in this body, of declaring what
should be considered property, and repeating any
laws which have heretofore declared what properly
| rs. The gentleman from Dinwiddic, Gen. Brodnax,
told us, the other day, that was not the value of
| the property involved in this question, that made
him tenacious of it-that 1T was the principle for
which he contondcd. lie adopts the language,
"millions for defence, not Il cent for tribute"
What is the principle for which he contends? Is it
the right 10 this property; which Inc says is higher
than all constitutional power above all law, anterior
to all civil society, right which he derives from
Cod? lie told us in another part of his two hours
speech, that something must be done to relieve
from this greatest of all evils. lie admits that
the SLiuS p0puii is the supreme law of all govern.
mcnts-and when we attempt To show, that this
supreme law demands, that something should now
bc done, this question: lie answers US, with the
decaration-'m!lions for defence, not cent for
! tribute" Sir, [ concur with the gentleman, in the
belief, that something should be done. think that
| it should lie done The voice of thunder
predicted the other day, by the gentleman frem
Brunswick has already been heard. We have nj.
ready heard the sound and seen the smoke The
people demand that something shall be done. Does
tina, gentleman suppose that tho time will como
when general emancipation will take place within
this Commonwealth on tho plaza which he
| proposes! Does he believe that the efforts
of the Colonization Society will he able to
effect this great work. or can 1T be done by gratu-
itous contributions! No Sir all such views are flu
tile. The monent the Society has decreased the
numbers to that point, AT which safety is felt TO
the persons and lives ofthc people, and ut which
the value of the slave has been increased by the
removal of many, then Mr.. Speaker, the scheme
will fall 10 the ground-thcrc will be no more vol.
untary contributions. But, Mr.. Speaker the idea
ofthe gentleman is, that all to be restored to
their much injured continent. How will he pIo-
coed in his enterprise! VIII he then resort to law
and TO this Body, for the means Of proceeding in
the work. No, MIR. Speaker, the Constitution is
again appealed to for protection, and its protect
ION is ample. repeat again Mr.. Speaker, that
ell, -,
any future time, without Infringement up
on the rights of property, if they such arc
assumed on the other sdc-a right both to those
now III existence and TO those hereafter to he
born, which is superior To all lar and a60re all
necessity. see, Mr. Speaker, by indications that
l cannot be mistaken in, that have uttered sem
tnncnt tina! gratics those who are opposed to me.
they are ready to accuse me with attacking
their Constitutional rights. l do attack them, o.
0 pcnly, boldly; and if they ask by what right |
attack them, L answer by the right which is given
q me by that great law of necessity, self preser-
= ration; which even By the gentleman from Din
wlddle, General BrodnaX) IS said tc be tho SUI.
prcmc law of the land The gentleman from
: Mccklonburg, air. Goodc) shakes his head
attack his property boldly, openly-lct him dc end
3: it if he My old friend from Halifax, MIR
Bruce told us that tho Virginia slave was happy
and concntcd-that his situation was preferable TO
s that tthc labourlng classes in Europe and that
E no danger was to he apprehcndcd. Mr.. Speaker
this is impossible: happiness is incompatablc with
l slavery The love Of liberty is the ruling passion
of man. it has been implanted in his bosom bv the
voice of God, and he cannot be happy if deprived
1 Off. That gentleman referred us TO Europo rs
= aHording example of moro revolt, disuuetude
and danger both to persons and property than had
: been experienced or need be apprchendcd here
< The examples, Mr. Speaker, widely different
4 THEIRS are revolutions which brought
, about by the operation of that liberal princple
which is ditPlsng itself over the whole face The
habitabo globo-a revolution in the moral cond
ton of man, which tells them every where that
they oushtto be free. rejoice Mr.. Speaker, in
such rovoutions-we all rejoice in them
We hail tho knowledge of them with low
; with speeches and songs, and dancings, and
merry meetings-wc all feel that they are revolu
tons, IN which those who have rights have dared
to assert them, and that those who have commit
ted wrongs arc made to feel them. The peasant
ofycstcrday is the lord of to-day. The lower class
of one day is the higher class of the next Look
Mr. Speaker to France. Though may de-
Pore The scenes through which she has passed
are there any here who does not rejoice at her re
volution? rcJoiccd Mr.. Speaker, when her op
pressed people tore down every monument of their
former kingly greatness. rejoiced when all tbo,
was venerable and ancient overturned and
Frustrated III the dust. rejoced when / saw
foreign Prince on the throne OF the Bourbons
And Mr. Speaker if those who are slaves here
were not what they are; if Mr. Speaker, thew
were white men in oppression and bondage, /
would rejoice IN revolution here. 1t is in the
Inc winch God and nature has drawn between
us IN their color, that tho appalling consequences
feared, so soemnly TO be dcplored, and 20 deci
Sivc!y to be provided against. Who Mr. Speaker
can bear the thought of seeing black speaker oc-
cupy that chair IN which you are now scatcd?-
mat result has been predicted in this Ha and
the gentleman from Dinwdiic has declared that
unless something was done, either the whites
would cut the Threats of the blacks or they would
ours" Sir, that will be the resultant Mr.
speaker, to avert such crisis, what is there that
ought not to be done? If we follow the exam
! pie, (and 1T is the only by which we are
guided from the lights of history on this subicctl
OF the deludcd planters of Saint Domingo we can
| see mourntul lesson, to whose truth we canuo
/ he blind If we shut eyes against those truths
IL we permit our interests to controul our u,lp-
ments, 1T is obvious to ALL that the day will never
come when we will accomplish that work of desc
iauon; while 1t is equally sure, from their RAPIDLY
increasing number, it Will come when thew are
able, from their physical strength, to accomplish
on us. And whore then will Won look for your srcu
rty? VIII it be in that love which fine 1entIorn,n
from Halifax says, the slave bears his master? rps,
IL not SIR The idea is dclusive. The day must
ana VIII come, when the results in this hall will
| prove the correctness of the forebodngs of the
gentleman from Campbell, unless something is
done' Mr. Speaker, gcntlsmeD say, that the coun.
Try IS tranquil, that no danger is apprehcndcd even
IN the East, and that the West have felt no alarm
on these subjects. |, Mr.. Speaker reprnscnt u
county which, by the last census contained about
l2OOO persons. of that number there r. but about
| lUO slaves we were III safety, amid our noun.
tains, and so secure that but few felt or acknov,
iodgcd The sensation of fear at the present time
! But, sir we trcmbIe for the future We Goresoe
| that INC day VIII come when we will be bcsc bv
! those dangers which surround Won. and many 81
our most iaIxabc citizens will flee to lands where
! they and their postcrity will escape the DANCER
| forever what, ask you, Mr.. Speaker will br
the result to Western Virginia, when every State
WhIch mas heretofore afforded this immense, Train TO
| your black population, amounting to s. Thousand
Y. l1u clO rI.o