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

UHUHU UVVT 10 UtH Ut OWT WnIU pCOVHC ~ HIIV CnOOsc
to enter them. On the other hand, many of these States
have been long closed against our colorcd population; and
even the Southern States, to which, in times past, SO many
thousands OF slaves have been carried, have at length be-
come alarmed atthe immense numbcro OF slaves among them,
and are taking decisive measures for excluding any more
of them being carried there in future. The Legislature
OF Louisiana has recently passed an act to exclude
slaves from that State, under very severe penalties.-
The gentleman from Mecklcnburg, (Mr. Gocde) attribut-
ed the passage Of that act TO the action of this Assembly
at Its present session. upon the subject of slaves; but UNI
fortunately for that idea, the act OF the Legislature of Lou
isiana was passed a short time before this Legislature con-
vencd. i also learn from the newspapers, that the Lcgis-
laturcs of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and the rest of the
slave holding States, are about 10 adopt the same policy
with Louisiana. The market for slaves may be consider
ed then, as closed forever, and the inevitable consequence
will be, that the blacks will continue to increase without
any check whatsoever; the slave holders will be compelled
In order to find them employment TO dive oil their poor
white tenants from their lands; the small shareholders will
be compelled to sell out and remove, until in the course
OF some twenty or thirty years, the disproportion be
tween the blacks and whites, will become so great, that
the slaves will attempt to recover their liberty; and then
the consequences which | have predicted, and which is so
much TO be deprecated, will inevitably cnsuc.
l have so far, MI. Speaker, confined my attention TO he
injurious and dangerous consequences of slavery as they
affect tho white population exclusively: [ must now take
n short view oil slavery rs ii affects the slaves themselves.
"That all men are by nature free and equal is a truth
held sacred byevery American, and by every Rcpubli-
can, throughout the world. And | presume il cannot be
deniedin this Hall, as a general principle, that it is an act
OF injustice, tyranny, and oppression, TO hold any part of
the human race in bondage against their consent. That
circumstances may exist which put it out of the power of
the owners for a time TO grant their slaves liberty, / admit
TO be possiblc; and if they do exist in any case. il NAV ex-
cuse, but not Justify, the owner in holding them. The
right to the enjoyment Of liberty, is one of those perfect,
inherent and inalicnable rights, which pertain to the whole
human race, and of which they can never be divested, ex-
cept by an act otgrosS injustice. | may be told, Sir, as
an argument In favor OF retaining ourslaves, that their con-
dition is preferable TO that of the laboring class of people i'm
Europe. And, Sir, it will afford me the most heartfelt sa-
tsiaction TO declare my belief, that such is the fact; at all
events, IT is certain that slavery exists in a milder form
than 1t has done in any other portion of the world
But at the same time it must be remembered. that slave.
nv Is at best. but an lntOlprablp OWL and CON pouo.I aanI
mitted TO, except from stern necessity. 1t must also be
confessed that although the treatment of our slaves is in the
general as mud and humane as il can be, that il must al
ways happen, that there will be found hundreds of indi-
duals, who, owing either to The natural ferocitv of their dis
positions or to the effects OF intemPerance, wiIshe guilty of
cruelty and barbarity towards their slaves, winch is almost
intolerable, and at which humanity revolts. But even if
slavery was not injurious to ourselves, and the condition
OF the slave was ten times as happy as it is, it is enough
for us TO know, that we have no right to hold them AGAINST
their consent, TO induce us TO make a vigorous effort TO send
them from among us. Liberty is too dear TO the heart of
man, ever TO be given up for any earthly consideration.
One Of the most distinguished orators that this country ever
produced, said at a time of imminent peril give me lber.
~ or give me death;' and | cannot believe there is one
member OF this House, who would not rather meet death,
with all his sins full blown upon his head,' and with the
hveilest anticlpauons OF those ills which lie beyond the
grave, IMAM TO submit to slavery, even in its mildest form.
No consideration then, arising out Of the humanity with
which slaves are treated in this country can have any
weight with me. for palliate it aud soften it as YOU will. il
Is a monster, ON which freedom cannot look without alb
horrence.
must, before | take my seat, be permitted 10 view this
y VI 9h"NSty III Z announcer aspect. Let me cnQulrp.
Sir, what must be the estimation in which we shall he held
by foreign nations, if we fail even to make an effort to send
2r slaves to some country where they may enjoy the
as a moral, a Just, a sincere, and a magnanimous people,
that we should yield obedience to those principles contain
ed in our Bill Of Rights, and which we have solemnIy do
clared to be applicable to, and obligatory on, all mankind?
Can we be justified in the eyes of man, or of Heaven, in
withholding from our negroes, rights which we have de-
ciared to be the common property OF all the human race;
and that too, IN violation Of the fundamental principles of
our own Government? What must be thought of the zeal
which we profess 10 feel in behalf of those nations which
have been struggling for freedom across the ocean, viii
not the admiration we expressed at the heroic exertions nj
the Parisians, in their recent struggle for liberty. and the
sympathy we protested to feel for the suffering Polanders, be
regarded as mere hypocrisy and Discrimination, by those
whoknow we do not practice the doctrines " hich we preach;
Ii matters not, Sir, whether oppression be exercised over
n few individuals, or over many millions; itis rs much tvran-
ny in the one case as the other; and in a moral point of
view the Autocrat OF Russia is not more deserving the
name OF a tyrant, for having sent his hordes of barbarians
TO plant the blood stained banner OF despoism upon the
walls OF Warsaw, amid the ruins of all that was dear TO
freemen, than the petty tyrant in any other quarter of the
globe, who is equally regardless of the acknowledged
rights OF man. Itis due, not only 10 our own character,
but 10 the reputation OF our ancestors. that we should make
a determined effort TO free our country from the odium of
slavery. On the 10th day ofJunc, 1916, our ancestors, in
order to escape the odirm which would attach to them,
In inc estimation oil foreigners, as the owners of slaves, So
lemnly declared in the preamble to the Constitution which
they then adopted, that the King against whom they were
then IN rebellion had prevented them from excluding ne
groes from among them by law, by an inhuman use oCbis
negative: and assigned that a. one ofthe grounds on which
they justified their rebellion. Should we now refuse Oven
TO consider oil the means of sending from among us. those
very slaves whom our ancestors expressed so much anxi-
ETY. TO have excluded from the State, every intelligent for.
eigner viii conclude, either that our forcatIers grossly
illuminated the King of England, or that we are the de-
generate offspring OF more worthy ancestors.
In conclusion, permit nue. again to express the hope that
TINS House VIII not consent TO discharge the Committee
from the further consideration OF the memorials referred
to them, until they have enquired into tie practicabiIity of
removing the great and insupportablc evil of slavery from
our beloved country. II may be that they will advise tbe
adoption by this House of the scheme of emancipation.
presented IN committee some time ago, By the gentleman
from Berkeley, (Mr. F~aulkner) or the scheme now prc-
scented by the gentleman from Albemarle. CAIr. Randolph
or some other scheme by which it may be provided. Chat
all slaves born after a certain period, shall, if not emanci-
pated or removed before they attain a certain age. be seiz-
Cd and sold by the officers of the Commonwealth. nj pub-
lie auction, TO be carried out Of the State, and the pro-
ceeds paid over TO the former owner Other schemes
may be presented, and we should not despair as LONG as
any hope remains, that any practicable plan for the reno
val oil the slaves can be offered for our adoption.
One word, Sir, as TO what the gentleman from MeckIcn.
burg has told us about the intelligence of the slaves i'm this
country. II, Sir, they be as intelligent as the gentleman
s,uPposes themto be, every prccaution TO conceal from them
the extent OF their natural rights is in vain And il is use
icss 10 cut short the discussion on a subject upon which. ac-
cording TO his ideas, they arc nearly as well informed ne
we are. The gentleman ascribcs much of the noise which.
has been made upon this subject Of slavery To fanaticism -.
whether he IS right in that opinion or not, is a matter of M
Importance for, whether the zeal in favor of cmancipa-
ton be fanaticism or not, certain it is, that il is a feeling
or motive. bV which thnteands in omr ..t. ri a ?