Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-19

trails; for the desire of freedom is so deeply impIan,ed in
inc human breast, that no time or treatment can entirely
eradicate 1t, and they will always be disposed TO avail
themselves ola favorable opportunity of asserting their ma
tural rights. 1t will consequently be necessary IN en-
Pioy acertMh proportion OF the efficient force of the whites
10 Keep them in subsection. What that proportion will he
L VIII moi undertake exactly 10 determines; but it NAV be
safely assumed, that, wherever the slaves areas numer-
Gus as the whites, it will require one half of the effective
lorce oil the whites TO keep them quiet; and such is the
fact as to the whole of Eastern Virginia. And i'm those
countless such as Amelia, Nottoway, Greensville, Charles
City, King William, and some others, in which the slaves
are more han double as numerous as the whites, the force
OF the latter, as TO defence against an invading army. may
be considered as wholly inefficient. And, for the same
reason, the counties OF Brunswick, Charlotte. MeckIen.
burg, and many others, in which the slaves are nearly
twice as numerous as the whites, could spare no part Of
their forces TO contend against an invasion of the State.
nope, sir, nat my mentioning the counties have enume-
rated, ana the proportions of their different kinds of in
ihhaoitahts' VIII not be attributed 10 any disposition in me,
to shew the slightest ~disrcspect either to the people of
those counueS or their representatives, on this floor
L am contending that, where the proportion of slaves IN
the freemen is as great as it is in those counties, and as |
can satisfactorily shewit will be throughout the State. i'm
less than thirty years, unless we do something 10 pet clear
oil the former, that it wholly incapacitates a country for
defence against a foreign enemy, and | mention those coun-
ties by way OF. illustrating my argument. And, Mr..
Speaker, l think it can hardly be contended. that | have
estimated the force necessary for keeping the slaves in sub
lection toohigh, when tits recolected that thew are init
mately acquainted with all the secret passes, strong holds.
and Businesses OF the country, and being restrained bv no
moral or patriotic considerations, will ever he ready 10 not
as guides to an invading foe, and to flock to his standard
whenever he may be disposed to tempt them TO il. Inv hold
ing out the strongest temptation which can ever be pre-
scented to the human mind-namely, the possession of Ii
perry III must be remembered, too, that we may often
have enemies who will not be too magnanimous TO avail
themselves OF advantages which cost them nothinq.-If
our enemies should be of that description of men, who are
but little disposed 10 perform their engagements in rood
faith, they will be tempted to seduce our slaves from our
possession, not only for the purpose of injuring us, and add
ing to their own strength, but for the more criminal object
OF making a profitable speculation, by disposing of them
in the West India market. The conduct of the British
armies and their commanders, during the last war and the
revolution. proves the the latter motive. disoraceCuI as II
is, has not faiteuoo have its full operation.
l will now briefly advert TO another consequence of sla-
very, which is highly detrimental TO the Commonwealth.
which is, that it rctards and prevents the increase of Tho
population ofthe State. As proof of this, / NAV direct NM
attention to the simple fact, that, in the whole district of
country lying on the east of the Blue Ridge, the white non.
ulation has increased but 81 1882 in forty years, much les,
than either of the cities of New York and Philadelnbia
have increased in the same length of time. Tho great eff
be- i6ac1a HEEXI Is roy COIN obnpaahng the number Of inbh.sd G;t s;h
IN Virginia WIN inc number in New York at different Pc
RODS. In 100, the population of Virginia was at least
from two TO three times as great as that Of New York Tn
1880, the whole population of Virginia was I,Is6, 299: that
ofNew York was 34,409. From which, il appears that
the inhabitants of New York have increased at least five
or six times as rapidly as the inhabitants of Virginia. and
the former has one-third more inhabitants than The latter
at this time, notwithstanding the territorial extent of the
former is one-third less than that of the latter. If we
compare the population of the other slaye-boIdino with Tho,
OF The non-slavo-holding States, we shall find similar re-
results, arising from the same cause; andif we institute the
same sort OF comparison between some of our Oldest and
thickest settled counties and some of the counties in the
dSttI uDidltS, we sndii Hnu, mat The inhabitants Of tho
former never exceed tlirty-nine whilst those ofthe latter
amount to from one TO two hundred TO the square mile
These facts are within the knowledge, or reach, of every
member OF this House, and those who have attended to
the facts have stated, as to the carelessness of the slaves
in cultivating the soil, and the incidence of the whites in
all slave-hoiding countries, can readily account for the diff
terence which exists as to population, between the slave
holding and non-slave-holding States.
Having now, Sir, (n a most imperfect manner. T admit)
attempted 10 depict some OF the many evils of slavery
which we already experience, let us inquire what must
be the ultimate consequence of retaining them amonr II
10 my mind, the answer TO this inquiry must be both OBJ
vious and appalling. II is, Sir, that the time will como
and at no distant day, when we shall be involved in Ill
the horrors of a servile war, which will not end mil botb
sides have suffered much; until the land shall every
where be red with human blood, and uuYl the slaves or
the whites are totally exterminated. Shall | he told Sir
that these are unfounded apprehensions? that tbcy arc N y
thing but the exaggerations of a heated imacination?-
such a reply will not convince me that am in error. mr.
satisfy that numerous class of our fellow citizens yyho
concur in the opinions | have expressed. Let NOT Gentle,
men put the fattering JUNCTION 10 their souls, =" that L is the
voice oil lear, and not OF reason, which is callinC n n Them
from every quarter of this Commonwealth TO remove from,
the land the heavy curse of slavery. If, Sir, gentlemen
VIII hS'en 10 me remarks l am about TO make on this
branch oil the subject, i humbly hope that | shall succeed
in satisfying them, If there be any truth in history. and if
the time has not arrived when causes have ceased TO pro-
ducc their Legitimate results, that the dreadful cataltro.
pho in which ] have predicted our slave system mist 20
SUIT IL persisted in, is as inevitable as any event which
has not already transpired.
i lay it down as a maxim not TO be dispufed u,at om.
slaves, like all the rest of the human race. arc nov aud
VIII ever continue 10 be, actuated by the desire of liberty
dmu IL Is equally certain, that, whenever the proporton of
saves IN this State, TO our white population, shall have he
come so great as TO inspire them with the hone of bcino,
aOlc TO throw off the yoke, that then an effort will he made
by them TO effect that object. What the proporfion he
tween the slaves and the freemen must be which will en-
bolden the former to make such an ATTEMPT, il il NOT ma
tenal for Inc TO enquire; for if il be admitted. that any die
proportion however great, will have that effect. il is sus-
cePtIble oil the clearest demonstration, that il must be made
within a period so short, that many of us may expect to
witness 1t. And | need not go into an enquiry whether
OF not such an attempt can. at any time, or under any cir
cumstances, be attended with success; for lis certain. that
whenever 1t is made, it will be the beginning of the SER
vic war; and from what we know Of human nature &c
neraIiy, and from what we hear of the spirit manifested
ny both parties in the late Southampton Rebellion. II is
very evident, that such a war must be one of determination
happen when il will.
laklng 1t for granted that the positions have taken
cannot DC shaken or controycrted, j proceed to make a
statement oil facts, and TO submit n table 7 have made ont.
containing several calculations, showing the relative in
crease oi the white and colored population in Eastern yir-
gina and in the counties of Brunswick and Halifax in tbc
last Iorty years, to the consideration OF the House: and
rom which expect tobe able TO prove very satisfactorily:
IlrS', mat the colored population are rapidly gaining on
the whites; Secondly, that that gain must be much more
rapid IN time to come than ii has been in times past; And.
thirdly, that In a short period the proportion Of the slaves
10 the whites, must become so great that the conseq1en-
ccs winch i have predicted, and which are so much 10
be deprecated must ensuc.
In I'gV, the population Of Eastern Virginia was,
OF WHITES, 3I4,523
SOo.ed' 2s9,425