Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-28
'G'Flc Richmond Whig.
DEBATE ON ABOLITION.
Speech of Mr. PRIEST ONof montgomery
CONTINUED

Mr.. SPEAKER: Tho closin., remarks of tho gen
tlcman from Albcmarle, has called to mind the
manner IN which one of exc greatest parliament
ary dcha,crs of the age commenced his most dis
tnguishcd efforts. If | dare follow his example
in this particular, would ask that the question be
now reported by the Chair, that we might make
some small calculation of our "dcParturc." Here
the Speaker reported the Rcsoluton.l
Mr.. Speaker: ! am admonishcd by very many
considerations, that on this occasion | ought
to obtrudc myself upon this House, JON in the
discussion Of this momcntous aud all absorbing
question. am admomShcd in the first place, by
IL deep and thorough conviction of my own inabi-
lily To add any light, or to throw any new
matter into that extensive field of debate,
which this discussion has travelled. l am farther
admonishcd, b, NV age and inc experience that this
is Il matter demanding the most profound cxpe-
rIcnce, and the greatest caution and delicacy; and
that therefore have neither OF those requisites
ccSsary tor It's decision. L still further admo-
nlshcd, by the latcness of the hour, and the great
iaSSitudc and fatigue which every individual o..
this House must feel at this time. But, Mr.. Speak
cr, IN disobcdicnco to all these considerations,
feel that, as the individual whose motion the
proposition which is now before you was submit
ted, would not he in the discharge of that
duty which / owe to myself, to this House, and to
those whom it is my honor to represent on this
floor, were | not to submit TO them the views and
opinions which have impcllcd me to action on this
occasion.
1t has been said by the gentleman from Bruins
wick, that the fact that the Virginia Legislature
were now gravcly discussing the question of an
abolition ot slavery, with open doors and to n
croudcd gallery, was one of the most remarkable
events in the records Of her history. Tina: in the
better days OF the republic this question could not
and would not be tolerated.; that u solemn silence
would have pcrvadcd this ha that our doors
would have been closed. and the voice of every
NAN suppressed, in debate startling in it's e.
suits ana so unusual i'll its character i'll this hail.
Sir, admit with the gentleman from Brunswick,
INC result is most astonishing and miraculous.
admit, that for 900 wears, the thou hts,
words and actions of VII gnans have been sup
pressed, and that Il solemn silence has closed the
mouth and sttcd all investigation on this subject.
But, sir, ! Will not concur in tho opinion, that
those were the better days of the republic. But
thank God, Mr.. Speaker, the spell is broken and
the scales have fallen from Dyes. These open
doors, mat attentive audience, prove to me that
am NJ liberty to speak any and every opinion,
which entertain OH this subject. This question
OF slavery, Mr.. Speaker, is one which seems in
al! countries and ages in which il has over been
tolerated, either directly Indirectly to have
called To It's aid mystic sort of right, and n SUI
rcrstltious sort of veneration, that has deferred
even The most intrepid mind from investigation
INTO the rights, and all exposure of the wrongs on
which 1t has been sustained. Even in England
where 1t has been said that the moment n slave
touches the English soil he is s'rcdcemed and re-
gnmoratcd;' even there, Mr.. Speaker, within the
Hast half century, in the great commercial town of
L!"Crp"ol, public opinion had driven from the
stage George Coleman's beautiful play of Iuklc
n
or mat the laws forbid its rehearsal but because
IN that port, and by that people, the slave trade
was carried on, and their interests had controlled
every avenue through which that interest was to
ne Affected or their enormities brounh, TO view-
L esteem, Mr.. Speaker, the exhibition now before
our eyes, and tho aspect which this hall at this
moment presents, the grandcst revolution of the
age, great moral revolution, in which or minds
aud opinions have triumphed over error and inter
est, and lett our Judgment free to decide, and our
tongues Tree TO speak, the principles of Justice,
ana the voice OF humanity. Sir, that freedom
which VIC all iceland Mr.. Speaker, thank the
country Tor mat opinion by which permitted
thus to speak, in that frankncss, which hope is
part OF my naturc--I will not withhold on this
occasion, any opinion which entertain, or princi
pies by which | am governed / know full well
Mr. speaker, that many of the opinions which
entertain, and intend to announce, orc new, and
startling to the nay~ oN nrus p ..jouen Theu
are however, my deliberate opinions. ,..sy arc
opiuions which coucc.-- are !.un,,uG M tr,tt
and in Justice, ard lead to results mperative!y de-
mandSd by the public oXigcncr. We have been
told, Mr.. Speak. by many gcutlemen IN the
course OF this discussion that ihIs was suhsc,
In winch the West were not Interested That we
ought TO surrender this whole question into the
hands CT cur Eastern Brethren. Nav sir that wc
had ny the declaration of one of our Western Rc
personalities already dee Jared that il was no,tcr
IN "hich we did not intend to concern ourselves
UT. speaker, 1t was not necessary that we should
he reminded on this floor, of The fact that ,ve ,roro
not and ougii' not to be heard this question The
most casual observer of passing events had lopo
since been convinced, that the West if possible
shoald not be heard. In the organization Of the Sc
itct Committee: raised on this subject we clear
~ lorrSlw that IRE not considered ms boino
parties 10 TINS tranSa ctiol, and that our course
. as one OF perfect submission to the voice and
"n OF tnosc who claimed 10 be more deeply intc
rested than they asserted we were But Mr.
Speaker, with all due dcie renee to those oninions
ahH indications, we claim to be heard. We will
w. "G.ro. n voice has already been heard from
''io west "A voice which L shall never forget
waite memory holds her seat: Che voice Of ihc
gentleman from Bc:kclcy.) Nor Mr. Sneaker
60 we come unblC3cn into the discussion
The gentleman from Hanover, has called on
US Tor and. fic invites all portions of this
Commonwealth to Join in this sacred cousc In ro
icve them from the impending danger In tho
language OF his venerable ancestor, he might have
l'''f .''t't us irciii that danger which, while we
'''' ..'e ."i hSiVe Pnantom OF hope to our bosoms
perm. oor enemies to bind us hand and foot.
We believe that as members of this Losisloture.
' me repre- scntatlvcs of Virginia; of the whole
-oMn .on" calth at large, we ought to he heard
N ia representatives. of the Western portion of
I1e : tate, we think that there are reasons and
;dus' operating upon us, which give us most
vial and absorbing interest in this question II
has b cen said, Mr. Speaker, and repeatedly snid
'ur'I this discussion, that the West was produ
ing the excitement which is here showing itself
mat Tins Is "a sectional question; that it is a s;rug
gle eiwccn the East and West, for party purposcs
Lct Is Mr.. Speaker, examine this matter What
ir, rs been the history of this discussion? When
he EDITIONS from various counties of this Com
non Wealth were presented, a motion for their re-
ere zee, was opposed by the gentleman from
Wee s'cnburg, (AIr, Goodc) on the ground tbat
hc d'cct which they had in view, was one which
Is improper to lcgisate on: that its reference
NaS calculated TO alarm and disturb the public
mn J. when no earthly good could result from such
&C nrso: that the very reference of the matter TO
onmittcc, endangered the tranquility and safe
OIL Eastern Virginia On that occasion Mr.
t:- sr al hat tI,, ", "a u