Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-21
Ntctssso,ID 1Sab{n
Friday Ecelst,,s. Jan. 20.
ABOLITION.


good hulnor Of the House restored, by speeches
from Messrs. Williams and Shell. There arc indi.
cations OF the Debate drawing to u close.
IL Is worse than useless to speculate upon the
decision of tho question now pending, which is
upon the adoption Of Mr.. Preston's amendment,
declaring 1T oxpcdient 10 lcgslatc upon aboli-
'on' I'm opposition to the Report of the Committee,
that it s inexpcdcnt now to legslatc. Possibly
that amendment may be carried by few votes;
perhaps it may be rejected by several. We consi-
der 1t OF infinitely more moment, that the friends
of gradual abolition should remain united among
themselves than that Mr.. Prcston's amendment
should be adopted. than that the Legislature should
noao act, or than that any, the most perfect scheme,
should be mop adopted. OF all possible occasions,
this is that on which precipitation is to be most
avoided; when the delay which is necessary to the
most advised and deliberate action is most indis-
pcnsable.
Such question ought to receive the mature
consideration ofthc public mind. II ought first to
decide if there shall be action no, well as the
time, and tho manner. The deliberations of the
General Assembly have furnished il with the ma.
terals of thought, and have excited it to think,
seriously, and profoundly. What the utimote
conclusion of the public Judgment will be, we
anticipate with the most unhestating confidence
That judgment may and will 10 deferred for
years. the interests of the large slave holder the
habits Of community formed upon tho exist
cnce of slavery, the prejudices of hum an nature
which upon the suggestion Of change, are ever
found to cling with fond tenacity to what u.s. will
struggle long and fcrccly. But. mark the predict
ton-the large slave holder will last be left alone
TO fight the battle, in which he only is interested
enough, to make him prefer self and self interest,
to the good of his country. He will, in the pro.
gress of the controversy, be the only person not
convinced that slavery is curse-that no commu.
nifty can flourish under its crushing & annihilating
weight-that to tolerate it, is to shear Virginia Of
her strength, and in those mighty conflicts which
at no distant day will convulse the States of this
Union, and when, the obligations of law and
constitution forgotten. the strong hand will govern
all, make Virginia the newer of wood and the
drawer of water, to the more powerful States
which approach northern border. What
man is SO Steeped in ignorance and infatu-
alton not to know that these conflicts ,cW come
or that having come, we cannot with one hand re-
pei the northern invader, and with the other curb
the more dreaded foe in our bosom? Can any thing
but SELF interest, or the blind bigotry which wed.
some to the "manners of our ancestors" let those
manners have been what they may, make men o.
vcrlook this prospect, this black and fghtful and
inevitable prospect, which awaits this State ahead?
Yes-mark the prediction-ihe people of Virgi-
MIA toH see this prospoct-will provide for twill
guard against its fatal menaces--will clear her soil
of that, which suffered to remain, will palsy her
arm in the hour Of trial, and lay her an easy con-
quest at the feet of the North. All will see it, but
the large slave holders, and many of them have
seen and will see it. And, can any thing be more
amusing, than the idea, which some have had the
hardihood to advance. that erery citizen is not ntc
rested in this momentous qucstion--that slave ho-
ders alone Interested? We will not stoop to
combat suggestion ridiculous and untcnable.
We say it again--thc large slave holder
will at last, be left alone to combat for
slavery, against united Virginia. The small
slave holder, the yeomanry, the mechanic,
the merchant, the youth of the country, will
ultimately, combine to remove it, These classes
will not consent TO live in perpetual jeopardy
they will not consent that their wives and children
shall live exposed to fate too terrible for descrp.
ton, and which though metaphysics may prove
that it ought to be less dreaded than any ill to
which human nature is liable, because it has occur
red but once in 900 years, they know may hcreaf
ter occur at any midnight of the year, and which
though it never may occur at all, the certainty is
hidden in the obscurty of the future. They do moi
desire TO leave their poserity soil exposed to
such catastrophes, do they desire to be forced
into an abandonment of their native country be.
cause the great slave holders insist upon clingng
to that property. Are not tho1sands of the poorer
and midding classes year after year removing off
and would this be the if they could live at
home-if slaves did not eat the bread which other
wise they would earn, and which would enable
them TO tarry with the bones of their fathers? Are
patriotism and strong arm every country finds its
safety, daily diminishing from this cause, and is
not lower Virginia, like Jamaica, becoming a
country Of large plantations peoplcd with slavos7
Ycs-all this is true-the free sons of Virginia
are flying to the West-the slaves multiplying
in fearful ratio--the national strength is decay.
ng--the great slave and land-holders are uniting
to their plantations all the little farms around
and is Virginia, under these circumstances, to he
question: Would to Heaven lie were alone inter.
estcd.
But, VIC again express our fervcnt hope, that the
Legislature may do nothing now beyond the adopt
ion of Mr.. Brycc's Preamble. If public opinion is
prepared to act, next winter will be in time; if not
prepared precipitation will but nnct prejudice,
and retard the consummation.
AFRICAN Communicable recently noticed
the improved prospects ofthc Colonization Society,
resulting from the events Of the summer and the