Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-03-15


} think thsta man might raise what he pleases
ON has own land, aud enjay rhateverhe d.,
raise; but, here toe, sir. we arc controlled b,
the same rule No man would be permitted
10 raise any thing on HE own land, ,hs,
would be dele;erious 10 the pahlic--he might
be engaged in raising the far lsmcd Cpas
tree; but he would certainty be checked ia
thls too. Twill give another familiar Illus
I,raton Of the supremacy ofth,s RUE, IN re.
lgard to the public safety. IL man builds a
valuable mill on nis own land, aad has a
rond annexed TO Il, which happens TO affect
the whole neisbourhood with disease, a. Is
very oiten the case, what is the conseq ucnce?
The mill pond must come down. even
though al, the owner may be worth may be
vested in the mill. and he II Is not cent OF
compensation What are The laws against
usary, and many OF the laws with regard to
slaves themselves, but illustrations of the
control which the Legislature exercises over
ali properly, for the public safcyp II might
be SAID with plsusibiIity that man is enti-
lied to the increase that sny sum OF money
he may have viii bring hun, If IL will Yield
him go. so, or so per cent /, he ought TO have
II; having the capital stock. be ought ts have
the ,acredse; bat We know that all persons in
this State are prohibited under severe ne.
nait,es, from receiving more than percent.
And presume Il will be admitted that the
Legislature might prevent the taking OF any
increase or interest On money. la this the
use and enjoyment Of property are control.
led by what is deemed the public veal Sup
pose we declare that all the children oil
slaves which shall be born after the year
1910, shall be entitled TO their freedom on
their birth subject to the following cond,
tons: that they shall serve tho owners of
their mothers for 20 or IS years, or such
length OF time as may be deemed necessary
TO remunerate them for the expense Of nar
tnre; then TO be hired out for such length Of
'ime as may DC necessary to raise money
u transport and settle them; and lastly, that
is-s shall leave the State IN some shsrt time
alter all these things are done. Here the own
CT oil the females will not lose any thing; he
vii only be prevented from making gam by
the raising Of slaves, which would cndanger
the public safety Here we prevent a rich,
from vestibg. because il 10 dangerous 10 The
public, we donot dipest vested right. Sir.
shareholders may object 10 such an enact
ment, because il will prevent them from max
ing gan by the raising Of slaves; bat in nv
humble Judgment, there is no sound consti-
sot.onai ciJection 10 such an enactment If
slave owners should not choose to bold fr
male slaves thereafter. subject to such con
'iisions, they could sell them before or sffer
The commencement OF the operation Of the
rule do hoi believe thst the adoption OF
such plan woaid lessen The present value
oil slaves We secure to the present own
ers The whole oil the present stock absolutely:
IL certainly would not lessen The value Of thr
males III the least. All the children Of the
females. for eight years 10 come, would DO
slaves forever, and those born after that.
must remunerate the master, by service, for
their nurture The adoption Of such sys-
ten would give stability and security to
their property; it would trauquilize the rub
lie niino, even the coiorcd classes. seeing
that settled policy was adopted towards
thea. would become more quiet and recon.
clled. and would abandon all vain hopes and
imagination Of any general or Immediate
emancipation This process would remove
tae evil gradually, and certainly would pro.
dnce no shock to society Tho places of the
slaves would Ne gradually filled by freemen,
and the habits Of the people would be gra-
dualy adapted 10 the change. Our posteri-
~ will be most interested IN ibis matter, aud
think you. sir they will regret The adoption,
by US, OF such system? No, sir,--itw will
be the best legacy that we can possibly leave
them Had this been done thirty or fifty
years ago, would we now regret il? No, Sir,
we should now be The happiest people on
earth. sir, am sorry have not confidence
IN the scheme of the gentleman from Dinwid-
die, to remere this evil from among US. He
states that the annual increase Of the color
ed population, bond and free. now, at about
5000. and he proposesto raise the sum Of
two hundred thousand dollars annually. 10
detray the expense ofremoying and setting
this number in Africa He estimates the an
nual increase Of slaves now at 4, 800, and he
seems 10 aatter himself tina. this number will
be gwen up annually by their owners to be
colonzed What will these slaves be worth
at the time they will be fit 10 be colonised?
(it wall not do to take the very old or very
yonng)-They will be worth at least one
million OF dollars; and il / may Judge from
the tone OF this debate, / cannot believe that
property Of this value will be given up gratis.
annually, by the slave owners But this
would be emily taking of the annual increase
lit would leave The capital stock about sta
tionary And | cannot believe il will even
do thls-yet. sir, am for adopting the
scheme OF the gentleman from Dinwiddie; il
will DO some good Sir, believe that the
Iannual increase ofslaves in Virginia, will be
lin few years much greater than IT is now
The annual increase OF slaves throughout the
Il United States, is about three per cent: it may
he inferred that the increase is as great in
Virginia as elsewhere. The gentleman from
Petersburg estimates the whole stock oil
LII IN Vsrr.nsa a. h<s..f 470 ana . haf