Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-02-09

HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

hOOcE Of DELEGAIES.
lFIrrH DAYl-JNonday January 49,
DEBATE on Mr.. GoopE's Resolution M RANpoLp,,
Substitute, the Report Of the Committee on Slares
ana ir PREsToN's Motion to amend
Mr. PRESTON rose and said,
mr. Speaker-The closing remarks of the gentleman
rom hibemarle has called to mind the manner in which
oo vi ue greatest parliamentary debaters of the age
commenced his most distinguished efforts If dare ri
low ms example in this particular would ask that the
quesuoh DC now reported by the Chair, that we might
make some small calculation of our departure rIere
inc speaker reported the Resolution.1
MT, W.T. 0peaker' am admonished by very many conside-
c . on ms occasion ought not to obrulc N.Y.
sen upon us Rouse or join in the discussion of this mo-
mentous and all-absorbing question am aJ,'on;shI
In the hrst place, by deep thorough conviction of
om ;oy 70 aud any new light, to throw any new
matter o 'at extensive field of debate over which this
discussion has travelled. farther adnonisheJ bv nv
age ana neNpcrcnce, that this matter demanln, ,ho
most profound experience, and the greatest cnuon a
decacy; and that therefore have neither ot tbo -,
sites necessary for lis decision. am still further adn
isheG by inc ateness OF the hour and the great ssde
anu nugue winch every individual Of this House mus,
feel at this time But, Mr.. Speaker In disohed;cnca :"
all these considerations, feel that as the indivdnI @
whose mou3n the proposition which now before YOU
submitted would not be in the discharge of that d,
winch owe TO myself TO this House. and to those whom,
my honor to represent this floor were not 10 sub
nit TO them the views and opinions which haya
me to action on this occasion. 'f
1. mas oeen SAID by the gentleman from Brunswick
that the TACT that tho Virginia Legislature werc Nov
sI us.ushg the question of an abolition of slavery
WIN open uoos, ana 10 crowded gallery, was one of the
most remarkable events in the records Of her hior,
nat IN the of the republic this question could
not ana would not DO tolerated; that solemn silence
would have pervaded this halt that our doors ,vouIJ
been closed, and the voice every man snnrossod I'm =
ueoae SO startling in its results and so unusual in its char
acter, IN this hail. Sir, admit with the gentleman ron
brunswick, the result is most astonishing and mraco,s
admit that for near 200 years. the thoughts words and
vo 81 'irgihahs nave been suppressed and that So
ieh solemn silence has closed the mouth and sled all
investigation on this subject But Sir will NOT concur
IN ne opinion that those the better days of the re-
PG put hahk God Mr. Speaker the spell is broken
from, III
uoos' ha' attentive audience prove to mo that am At
oerty 10 speak any and every opinion, which entertain
o % ihis question OF slavery, Mr. Speaker is
one when seems In all countries and ages in which il has
ever been tolerated, either directly or indirectly IN have
CARED 10 It's aid mystic sort of right and spersttous
sor' OF Venerauon tina has deferred even the most ntre
pa ind from an investigation into the RIGHTS and an
Posure OF the wrongs which it has been sustained
IN England where has been said that the moment
save touches the English soil he is redeemed and re
generaed; even there, Mr.. Speaker within the lac,
century, IN me great commercial town of Liverpool
oSn had driven from the stage George Coemans
eauuu play oil lnke and Yarico that the land was
not Tree one, or that tho laws forbid its rehearsal h h
IN that port and by that people, the slave trade was
carried on and their interests had controlled evory
esnS6aq&h HhGb PAf jPtfssst affected or their
now before our eyes, and the aspect which this
nall at this moment presents the grandes revolution of
inc age, great moral revolution, in which our minds and
opinions nave rumphod and interest and left
free to decide and tongues free to sneak
me principles OF justice, and the voice of humanity Sir
that freedom which we all feel-and Mr. Sncaker
hahH inc country Tor that opinion by which am permit
ted thus to speak, in that frankncss which hone is
part OF my nature-I will not withhold on this occasion
any opinion which entertain, principles by which am
governed know full well, Mr. Speaker that many Of
the opinions which entertain and intend TO announce are
new ana startling TO the ears of many gentlemen They
are however, my deliberate opinions They are opinons
winch conceive founded in truth and in Justice and
lead 10 results imperaivcy demanded by the public ext
gehcy. we have been told, Sir by many gentlemen in
the course oil this discussion, that subject in which
the west were not interested That we ought TO
ms whole question into the hands of Eastern Brethren
Nay or mat we had by the declaration of of our
Western Representatives, already declared that was
matter in which did intend to concern ourselves
MT speaker 1t was not necessary that we should be re-
minded on this floor of the fact that we were NOT and
ought not TO be heard this question The most casual
observer of passing events had long since been
that the west II possible, should be heard In the
organization OF the Select Committee raised on this sinh
Ject we clearly oreslw that were not considered
being parties to this transactions and that our course was
one oil perfect submission to the voice and will of those
VINO Grained TO be more deeply Interested than they as
serted we were But, Mr.. Speaker, with all due defer.
Shce 10 nose opinions and indications, claim TO be
heard We will be heard. A voice has already beer
heard from the W esta voice which shall never lorpct
WINE memory holds her seat: the voice of the gentleman
from Berkeley Nor, Mr. Speaker, do we come unbidder
mo the discussion; the gentleman from Hanover ha.
called ON us ior aid He invites all portions of this Com
monweath to join in this sacred cause TO relieve bcrr
from me impending danger In the language of hi,
venerable ancestor, he might have said deliver ne from
that danger which, while we hold the deusvo nbanon
OF nope to our bosoms, permits enemies to bind u
hand and foot. ~ "
representatives of Virginia; of the whole Commonwealth
at large we ought TO be heard. AS the representative
OIL e western portion Of the State think that fber,
are reasons ana causes operating upon u.s. which give N
most vtaland absorbing interest in this question /, ba
been said, Mr. Speaker and repeatedly said d,rin iii
discussion, that the West producing the exciemcn
winch IS here showing ITSELF that this is sectional ones
lon; That 1t IS struggle between the East and West f
party purposes Let us Mr.. Speaker, examine this mat
ter what, Sir, has been the history of This discussion
When the petitions from various counties of This
wealth were presented, motion for their reference ,,
opposed by the gentleman from Mecklenbure mr. GooIo
on the ground that the object which they had in view
was one which il improper to legislae on that M r
ference calculated TO alarm and disturb Tho nub
MIND, when no earthly good could result from sucb
course; That the very reference of the matter TO Com
mltee, endangered the tranquility and safety of Easter
virginia. On that occasion, Sir, all that the West said o
Su was mat as the question the greatest deli
cacy, they disposed TO give the East cGrIe bncL
on Tue subject But, Sir, that OCCASION the pentea
WHO'S az the head OF that Commee-he gentleman from
Dlnwiddie, (Sen. Brodnax) assured this House that il
socuon oil the state he represented thc sense of secu
my was gone and that the interest Of the State emphat
CARY demanded that something should be done:J tina
some effort should and ought TO be made 10 ouict IN
Alarms and remove the evil from amongst the peopIe
oher Eastern gentlemen maintained the same opnion am
sustained the course The result was Sir aq vn
viii remember. that but twenty-seven gentlemen vote
against the reference OF the petitions. The West Sir
mas uene nothing TO produce this result and can do moth
ing OF herselt but assurcdy she will be permitted TO de
cue ths question in accordance with her interest an
principles; question made by Eastern gentlemen; a dan
ger ielt by Eastern gentlcmen; and relief asked for
Eastern gentlemen.
Mr. Speaker, two questions present themselves at IN
threshold and upon their decision depends the scco,
Of any scheme which may be DEVISED either now or here
after. " NOV
The first is whether or not there are any constitution,
restrictions or projections thrown around this kind of prr
! PeFy' winch will protect il from any system of emancps