Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-19


H. ana scared it-liclds once cultivated nro now
waste ana dcsolate-tho eye is no longer chcerod
by the rich vcrdurc that dccked it in other days
no' SIR pul iatgued by an intcrmh ablc will
oeIheSs oil worn-out, quilted, pny old field s..
30 exhausted is our soil-so depressed our mark
Ke's' ana so dear is slave labor that is much
us the master can do to clothe and feed his slaves
hoy' s", oitoh more than no can do; for, if you
VIII go INTO the credit stores and pop-shops with
which tho whole country is ihrongod,) YOU will
hnd that, with very few exceptions, tho slave
holder mas there become very deeply cntangled.-
tue e,noaf59e>nent mainly incurred to clo,hc and
iced ms siavessflle slave is clothed and fed that
nc may labor tor victuals and coihes-a beautiful
operation. Thus, sir, the master of the slave ALSO
lutcly belongs to the mcrchant-and has TO labor
~ iaoor hard-or their benefit. lie is literally their
tondsiDan Finally, when they have extracted
from hin, all they can, his account is put into the
lawycrs hand for collection. and ne has to raise
the money or go TO Jail. Then steps forward tho
paper shaver, (another fungus of our present con-
dition) and kindly procrs the money AT thriythreo
and a third per cent. Thus the poor devil of
master Is finally stripped of all In has, to swell the
importance Of these gentry. The very fact sir,
that we sec such cattle daily sprmgng irto import
ancc from tho drcgs of societv--ho did not mean
by drcgs OF society, the poor, but honest man-no,
but he meant men lost to honor virtue and TO com
mon honesty This, nc said, was II proof of tho
necessity OF Il change in condition. We have
been taught from our infancy 10 chime the stale
tune Yankee tricks" but he did not believe such
a character was to be found in the Eastern States
Gentlemen had said, that those who advocated
the examination of this subject, proposed forthwith
TO abolish slavery; but he was mistakcn-thcy only
desire that this House take ii into serious con
sidcraton, and cndcavour to digest some plan for
the gradual rddanca OF the State from its present
unfortunate condition. From the course the rem
tlcnan from Mcckcnburg had adopted, and the
tenor of his remarks, he had every moment cx
pected hun to cry out gentlemen, You are stand
ing on slippery rocks, while fiery pillows roll below"
Sir, the terrible picture drawn by that gentle
man, of our condition, if correctly drawn, is
strong, very strong argument that VIC ourht To act
and that speedily. Bat why multiply wor.ls-therc
is no point to which we can turn that this great
evil does not stare us in the facet dsturbs us OH
all sides--it is bone of contention between East
ern and Western Vrgiuia--bctwccu the slave hold
ing and the non-slavc- holding States
1t Is entirely vain for gentlemen urge that the
discussion of 1T will cndangcr the value of the pro-
perty-will violate the private right in that pro-
pcrty.
He rcckoned such arguments very feeble anainst
the great argument of dire ncccssity which is
pressing itself upon us.
He SAID property was secured by the laws of So
ciety, and that the same society which secured
property, had natural right to destroy it, when
ever 1t should become dangerous nuisance to that
society Yes, sir, they have right to abato any
and every nuisance.
Remarks of MIR. RANDOLPH of Al
bcmarlc.
Having offered u substi Ute FIR the resolution
OF Inc he.i'oef from Meckiemburg, ii might be
expected of me To say something in Jus Gcation
OF 1t. have witnessed with regret and concern,
the precirt ate manner in which subject has heeu
hurried upon Inc co:deratiou ct tins House had hos
pen, mat we should no; have hastily but with
ali inc cal deheralon the grave and serious mvas,ga
on that subject in It's conseru.ur.s so
"eePy interesting III It's results, should demand Lcg
la,ive wisdom The amendment had the honor To ci,r
was not intended as ire6rand thrown into ,h House
D" designed 10 put The SUBJECT quietly of from
da'a''on 10 that ofihe people. prepared to vote
Is moi IN b, >tl ,I,p
I" me he"p1 hen they have expires, ed their wishes
iht pois, thea can we act advIscGy, but ill then
ihis amendment, had hoped was fee Om most ui the
Leading objections 10 all propos'iI"ns upon Ihs
pCated and embarrassing subject Ii not bear
on ITS lace emancipation necessary Ience-s
'Ss""fc are co extensive win III demaud. 1t touches
'ht property c no man for twenty gh years, aud hGn
rot ne car send beyond ihe hunts OF ihe Common
wealth himself, aud Is To lie approved 10y people be-
lore II cen he aced on by the Legislature.
Gentlemen charge upon the discussion the temen
Of the puulIc mind. Is the dlscussiou Of ms subject
that Causes Virginia SIX per s,nrk, whose dividend.
are pad nh scrupuOms puucualiy, in iOieIgn
markets, FIVE per beoN Ono stock the same cha
a'er-a state hut OF yesterdays growth Is it 10 THIS
cause, that assurances are 35 pen higher here,
lhan IN the northern towns and Reluctantly ken at thai
nay one agent has been instructed decline absolutely
i"i'hsf assurances hat your capitalists have
tefy deferred iTom vcstng their funds estate
raj OF whom personally knew months aga, to lave
made liberal offers H. now declare to me liza, nOihn0
could induce Ihem a dollar in any real pIopetv
east OF the mountains That many of our best cirzen,
are awaiting with meuse interest, the operations ,n,s
BODY prepared no hope Is held tor better OF
'nsS i" transport mem ewes and then families To some
stale where the career Of the live, of offspring may
be under more hopeful and prosperous circumstances:
mus threatening alarming cductIUuS the value of yUuI
landed property DscIedIied abroad aud desuundmg al
home Is all this tn he asCfbrd Slight discussion To
Inc decent consideration oI the respectful memorials Of
your cnzens NC SIR, u Is she unfortunate occurrences
OF the last months which has awakened the public
n'nd To The grave circumstances of conditions is
me marx, lie appalling the dcspamug future. If expnr-
d''o ceases me slave population at lis hitherto ratio "i
increase must III 1860, lie ,023 coo in 1900 1910 GOO.
Is wise 10 fold our arms in Indifference upon it., AZ an
lrTemediabe evil To shut eyes in imiation the
sagacIy OF the Ostrich, whn If il hides IT'S eve behind
pebble, nagmes It's huge body conceal led from enfmes
Would silence restore the deaihke apathy oi the negroes
mind, might be wise To let sleep InIpur has
not It's dark chaos been iumlne Does II move and
feel and think Has ii no, existence? The hour OF erad
caiion 81 the evil is advancing II come whether
Is effected by the energy OF minds, or by the
bloody scenes of Southampton and St. Domingo is tale
Tor future history.
DEBATE TO Continued