Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-03-15
Virginia Legislature.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
ABOLITION QUESTION.
Speech of .Nr. BERRY Of Jsdwson--


| and consists Of land and slavc,-under these
circumstances, hope shall be excused by
any eastern brethren for saying few words
en- this important, and deeply interesting
| subject That slavery is a grinding curse
upon this State, | had supposed, would have
been admitted by all, and that the only ques-
ton for debate here, would have been the
POSSIBILITY. of removing the evil But sir,
| in this, ] have been disappointed | have
been astenshed, TO find that there are advo
Gates here for slavery, and all its effects.
Sir, this only proves how far, how very far,
we NAV be carried by pecunary interest; it
proves what has been said BY an immortal
bard
That man is unco weak,
And little to be trusted.
If self the waverng balance shake,
IT'S rarely right adjusted.
Sir, | believe, that no cancer on the ply.
steal body was ever more certain, steady,
and fatal in its progress, than is this cancer
on the political body OF the State OF Virgi
MIA. 1t is eating ints her very vitals. And
shall we admit that the evil is past remedy?
Shdl we act the part of a puny patient. snf
fering under the ravayes Of q fatal disease,
who would say the remedy is too painful, the
dose is too nauseous, cannot bear il, and
who would close bis eyes IN despair, aud
give himself up 10 death? No sir, would
bear the knife, aud the cautery, for the sake
of health would never despair Of the Re-
public. For myself. would abandon hope
on this subject, and the State together. But
sir, as leng as there is hope that this evil
will be removed will stick to the good Old
Dominion and believe there are thousands
in the State, who feel as do on this subject
IL VIC do not give ii up what shall we gain
by the delays Is the evil being diminished?
No Sis. Like mighty avalanche, it is roll
ling towards US, accommodating weight and
impetus at every turn. And, sit, IL we do
nothing TO arrest its progress, it will ulti-
mately overwheln aod destroy us forever
The gentleman frsm Meckienburg, whs
opened this debate, seemed to think, that
great excitement, and strange decisions had
been produced by the action of his House,
before this debate began. .hiak the gen
tieanan was entirely mistaken: whatever ex
citemenis or delus.ons may have existed
anlang the people, before this debate began,
were prodaced by causes anterior to any mo-
tlon on the subject in this House. The ira.
gedy OF Sou.han pton, had aroused the pes
pie ofVirginia, from fatal lethargy on this
subject, and ardently hope il may produce
same glorious results for this State. as did
se,ae of the tragedies recorded in the an
mails of antiquity fer ancient Rene. II the
gentleman from Geckenburg. is not entitled
to the merit of producing this debate, he is
certainly entitled to the merit Of accelerat-
ing il, and probably Of giving to il a much
more expansive and discursive character,
than it would have received, had il been de-
ferred until the committee had reported T..
for one, am grateful to him fer it believe
it is high time that this subject shsald BE
discussed, and considered by the gcorIe eff
Virginia. believe that the people are AyvAK.
ESEp on the subject. but not ALARMED: |
believe they will consider it calmly and dc
eide upon it correctly Sir. | have no fears
now for any general results, from any efforts
al Instruction, 10y this unfortunate class of
! cur population. / KNOW, that we have the
power TO crush any such effort at blow.
know that any such effort on their part at
this day. will end 10 the annihilaton of all
concerned in it And believe our greatest
security, now. is in their knowledge Of these
things. in their knowledge of their own
weakness None but the most ignorant and
fanaticsl will attempt il NOW --the better in
Termed knowing the effort to be hopeless,
desperate, will not make it The Southamp
ton affair was the work of the most Ignorant,
deluded, wretcbes on earth That was a
small affair. as il affected the general safety
OF the State; but il was a most horrible TRACE
dy. The attitude of the citizens OF this
State, in relation TO this danger is one of the
most distressing insecurity individually. We
are like crowd of people. towards whom a
single man should point loaded gun, with
the apparent intent TO fire upon them. They
know he cannot kill them all but each feels
that his own life is in peril. So here we
know not when, how, or where, this evil NAV
assail as
admired the philosophy. (not to use q
harsher term Of the gentleman from Bruins
wick, which enabled HIM to turn The Who'll,
Southampton affair into ridicule He tsIe
us be had witnessed that tragedy or a par
oft Sir, had witnessed that tragedy, | an
sure could never have thought of il anC
smiled But Sir, although have no fear
for any general results from the efforts o
!, this class Of cur population ROW. still sir, tn
Z time may come, when there viii be immi
. nent general danger. Pass as severe law
, as you will. to keep these unfortunate crea
tures in ignorance, it is in vain, unless yo
can extinguish that spark OF intellect whic
God has given them. Let any man who ad
yocatss slavery, examine the system OF law
that we have adopted (from stern necessit
il may be said) towards these creatures, an
he may shed tear upon that, and would |
: God, sir, the memory OF it, might thus
blotted out forever Sir, we have as far |