Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-07

standing. But it is unnecessary to discuss that
question. An amendment OF tho Constitution
could AS well bc solicited To embrace that source
of revenue as the other; and from recent informa
ton. on which | place implicit reliance think
Congress at this time has every disposition to
aid us on this subject, or acccGc to any ncccsSu-
~ amendment of the Constitution for the pur-
pose, that we could desire. Indeed, sir,
have seen letters from ScrcrGl distinguished
members OF that body lately, which cxprcSs
the confident belief that such an application
would readily prevail. | should rot, of course,
consent tina, any funds from the general govern
meat should bc appropriated within our State to
the purpose OF removing oar free persons OF color,
or purchasing and dcporting any portion of our
slaves, except ON the condition, that the object
was to be effected exclusively under the control of
the State acknowledgements regulations OF it's en-
2ctmcnt--0ud by agents of it's appointment. With
these safeguards, can perceive no objection Mr..
hing, OF New York, introduced, ii will DC rccol-
lectcd, few years ago. in the Senate OF the L. )
resolutions Tor Ipproprin,ing the proceeds of the
public lands % these purposes The movement
was denounced through all the Southern States as
an alarming indication of the disposition of North
Crn politicians to interfere with the relation be-
twCCu master and slave, and the resolution and It's
mover held up 20 vindiCtivc Reproduction. But the
event Inns passed by long enough for us to examine
ms project more coolly, and it bears intrinsic evil
dcnco OF dsiutcrCStcdncss and patriotism. Il did
not Pl oppose the compulsory abolition OF slavery in
Il single lnS;ancc-but its gradual reduction, by
apPIyIn" these particular funds to the purchase
and removal of such slaves only, as their owners
might wish TO sell. confess have ever believed
that had the same proposition proceeded from 4
Hou'hcrh Statesman, it would have been hailed
with applause through all the savc-holdng States.
II was calculated surely to have increased the va
Tue OF our slaves by throwing into the market an
additional fund for their purchase, and the benefit
OF the operation would obviously have bccn pri:
morIy and most exclusively on us; while the only
henoit which could have resulted to the North,
irom the surrender of fund in which they pos
ScSScd common interest, would have been the
Eratihcaton OF seeing the gradual extinction of an
evil, which, though it did not immediately affect
them, they had contributed originally to Introduce
and the higher qualification of Witnessing an
amcHoratIon IN the condition OF the United States
as an Whoic. Whatever political hcrescs Rufus
\'nS may have committed, |, for one REGARD Ibis
as Il rcdeeming ACT in his life. Should no other
member do so, 1T is my intention at IA proper time
10 Oier resolutions lnStructing our Senators, and
requesting our Representatives i'll Congress, to pro
pose tho amendment TO the Constitution which
may Dc neceSsaryto authorize this disbursement OF
the federal funds.
FOR the transportation of our free NEGROES alon
I'avc enucaVorcd to shcw our State resources arc
amply sufficient Let us, then, commence in
eftccilng That about which mos, of us are agreed
ANA winch is all shat could for the present he
effected whatever may be the Interior object OF
any-thc removal of the free persons of color
When TINS shall have been completcd-if in its
process 1t shall have demonstrated the practicable
" oil inns plan OF gradual dcportation-and if tho
mems ShalI by that time be within our control
with which TO effect it, as hone have shawn ,y,s
at eaS; probable, what is TO prevent our going on
WIFE the system, by the removal, annually, of as
many as u,O0O OF those who now are slaves?-
"e snail have the MEANS trust of purchasing
this number 1T fair prices Bat il is NV decided
belief that this will mt bcco,no nocassrrv or ., :
any rate, beyond limited extent. There are
numbers OF shareholders Mt this very time in Vir
g!nia--l do not speak from yaguc conjecture. brt
from what know from the he's, informntio n-,nd
this number wouId cop,inro I'm i,,croso ,,I
would voluntarily surrender their slaves if tbo
State would provide the means of coloniZino Them
elsewhere. And there would be aoain smoker
cIaSS-i have already heard of manv-who while
they could not afford TO sacrifice the entire value
o! their slaves, would cheertuliy COMPROMISE with
inc State for half their value And if in these
various modes the State could acuuire-insrsod NJ
o,OuO yenr-lO, 600 year, and it should then be
deemed desirable to accomplish such an end il
VIII be seen by 4 simple caiculatiop allowing 10,
all the intervening increase that in less thnn S0
years there would not he left one single slave or
ifce negro IN all Virginia.
But MIR. Speaker, many, al first 81 ght, are appal
lcu at what they consider the magnitude of such
an undertaking. There some persons OF san
Suihc tcmperament-and, perhaps L may be one
VINO regard few things as impracticablo or unat-
'"Iia"le' winch are sought with determined, but
coo" and patient perseverance, while there are others
VINO either despair without an effort, are put
"o""' oy t..o hrst obstacle they encounter. They
can see aihcu!ties and objections TO every thing
tnat requires eHcrtlon The people, Sir, have cal.
&c, T" upon HS|and they expect us to do something.
.Ahn we LOLA our arms and say to hem, 'thc eff
10Y Is 700 great we nave not the means nor the
Po"C' ana we can 90 hothing' Something might
nave been done perhaps some years ago, but it is
now 700 late, and there is nothing left TO us but
10 sit down IN despair" ''for nation to be free
IL IS Suicieht that she 'cHIS it, was the mcmora-
D'c Ion'o'N OF one OF those patriots whose writ
inSs e.n'ncntIy contributed to our glorious Revolu-
,i'". Ana the same success is equally sure to follow
'"' "''eriI'hou cl,oftS OF indydualS societies, or
na,ioHS' In the biography Of distinguished indi-