Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-26

1
VIXEN our constitution formed Every species oi
property personal, rna! az mixed, ovor things or
persons, is in my opinion projected Ivy that Con
sttut,on, no matter from what title 1t may be do
duccd.
You may provo if you that slavery is I'M
Skorsl, unjust and unnatural that i, originated in
avarcc and cruelty, that ii is an evil and cSc;,
and you still ,ssnot convince inc that our slaves
arc not property, aud such protected by our
! Constitution.
| But ad,ui,,ing that the slaves in pos
session our property, 1t - gravoly contendeU
that this adrnis sion does by yicld TO IT'S
tho right of property those not now IN esse, the
future increase. 1t is said, that though the foun
tam he polluted, it docs not follow that thero
may not be point at which the stream which
flows from il may become pure. Sir tho figure
is beautiful one, but the idea which it conveys,
is not altogether in accordance with tho priHci-
p!a' by which rights and property ars guarded
and protected. Tho rulo of law, "partus seqntur
von;rom," which establishes thu, tho increase shall
be tho property of hnr who owns tho mother, has
boon fully cIrI,incd, and its iusce ably sustained
by gont!omcu who have preceded me in ths dchsto
Inc rule is ono which both the civil and common
law have adopted: it is founded in justice, and
guarded by reasons which readily present them
solves to tho mind of ovory ro!iccting man. i
should scarco.y have believed that gentlemen were
s.rous in tho proposition that the future increase
OF our slaves could, by any Legislation of ours, he
como the property of the oommonwctlth without
making their owners proper compensation, II
the subject which we nre discussing, was not too
grave ono FOR mcrriIacnt. Tho onl, apparent
difficulty that presents i.sslf in tho examination Of
the subjo it, that slaves for certain purpo-
SOS, regarded rs persona, scntient beings. But
this difficulty at once vanshos. when recollcct
that they arc thus regarded by oar laws, for purpo
scs Of protection only. Tho same laws tina, pro
tcct thom in the enjoyment of a portion OF tleir
personal rights, dcbar them from tho enjoyment of
one OF those rights, upon the absence of which,
depends their existence property. When our
laws regard them persons, they oxtcna to tho m
with tho poaco and safety o: the Commemorative:
" hen they regard them property, they subject
them to tho same rules that govern all other per-
soma! property. has boon shewn that the rule OF
"partus scquitur vcn,rcIn," is which governs
that property. The laws which declare them to
! he property, were in existence when coustitu-
ton was formed If then, You deprive of a
right of property in tho future increase, you
guilty of an nfraction of tho Constitution, BY
changing the rules upon which the value Of this
species Of property is almost entirely dependent.
would ask then, why will you submit proro.
sItion 10 the people, which carries uFon its face Il
constitutional defect? Do gentlemen believe that
the people so ignorant not TO understand the
meaning and intent Of tho great charter by which
thoy arc protected! or do they believe, that seeing
tho nnconstitutonality Of tho measure, they will
then be rash TO adept Il! that they will bre Tx
their constitution, and pull down the beautiful fla
brio which they have just erected, ut much cx-
penso! Sir. this proposition obtain the
support of the intelligent citizens of Virginia Do
then tho advocates of the gradual abolition of sla
very by Legislative enactment, expect to dcvise any
scheme, to fix upon any plan, that will moot with
tho appreciation Of this Legislature? Do they be-
ovo that this body will take upon itself the high
responsibility of acting this subject, without
farther communication with their constituents?
Sir, we Cannot, we dare not, ought not to pass
any law affecting property to the immense amount
of ninety millions of dollars, without the most OK.
plcit assurances that snci step is taken with the
full knowledge and appreciation of tho poople
| Every rule that the conduct Of
towards his principal, every principle Of our demo
cratic institutions, every tie that binds the repre-
sentative to his nstituents, forbids present
action OH the subject. Why not then discharge
the committee at once from tho further ccnsidera
ton Of the subject? Why shall we await from
them the presentation of schemes which we can
not a,opt Why ondanger the peace, dopreciatc
tho property, icopardize tho livos of our citizens
by the repeated declaration of sentiments, the most
revolutionary in thoir character, and upon which
VIC know, we dare not act?
H. Sir, much has been said about the miserable
condition OF our slaves. They have boon repre-
scented poor, degraded, and wreciled class of
the community. If gentlemen will look to the cen
dtisn OF tho poorer classes Of society in those very
countries, whcii have boon held up TO our view as
bright examples of the prosperity and happiness
that attend nations FREQ from this bighting evil of
slavery which has been made the thcmo Of 50
much ooqucncc in this House. they will find OBJ
Jcc's possessing much higher claims 10 ,heir COM
inSeratIon than the slaves in Virginia. i.st them
turn their eyes TO Great Britain, and they will be-
hold in that NEST powerful Of the M tons OF the
earth, mass Of corruption and Of misery, over
which the Ph!anthropist may Indeed mourn In
fact, the lower orders Of almost sycry nation in
! Europe, would benefit by the exchange of lhoir
condition for that of slaves In the possession
and enjoyment oftlosc comforts, with which libcr-
ty, aye, life is almost a curse, rnthor |
than blcssng-thoy yield to our slaves, |
who well treated, and all sir, now are
well treated. SoIfnc,est, the laws of the
land and the powerful influence Of public SEN
un'ent, all combine to procure for them in abund
nnce tho comforts and nccossares, and even many |
Of The Injuries Of life They happy and feel
lngs OF gratitude have, in most instances alta CHI
ed them to us, and they would continue to be hap
py and to loyo US, ii modern philanthropy did not
use many arguments TO convince them that
! they arc miserable, and ought 10 hate as :her
opprcssors. Show mo, sir, n happier man than
ono Of these domcslCs, in tho possession Of a kind
and indulgent owner. Proud Of bis master, no
assumes his name, apes his manners, puts OH his
air of dignity, and is has been said by n most
observant writer, conc of the vorics Aristocrats
in tlie worldly TIeso remarks, it is true will not
apply to most cf them, but we confidently believe
that ma JorIty OF tlom would look upon it as IN
act OF cruelty part to break asuiider tho ties
which bind them to their masters and their fami.
lies, and TO send them, unproydod for 10 STRANGE
aud distant land. We TOO, sir, are comparatively
happy in the possession Of them. Show ire a ma
ton whore the petty ia etious Of It's FREQ citi
Zens, tho mobs and riots of It's lower orders have
not caused more distress, and spread more alarm
over the fCe of tho country, than has bcsn vet
occasioncd by this class Of our community In
| the crowded and poPulous countries Of Europe
few months pass away without Witnessing dstur
! Dances Of u much wider cxtent and moro Alarming
character than tho which has bccn Justly ro
garded the exciting eanse of the present discus
sion. The breaking up of factory in England
tho introduction of some new labour-sayiug ma
chine, sudden reduction in the wages of the la
bourng classes. frequently and unc1 pr ciady
D