Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-26
Speech of MIR. DANIEL of Cany5cM

suppose, that the lew remarks which am about 10
submit, destined 90 effect any material change
in the sentiments of those To- whom they will be
addressed. But inasmuch as al,usion has been
niadc to the sentiments oftlc people, whom ha We
the honor in part To represent and that too, by the
gentleman with whom / am associated, | should
feel that had been guilty of a dcrcction of duty
If failed TO assign The reasons that induce mo To
pursue course different from tho one which he
has thought proper To advocate. And ho-c permit
TO remark, that believe few persons are gene
rally better acquainted with the wishes of thur
constituents than that gcn,lcmin, or more dispo.
acd 10 advocate them, when asccru mined. This,
fact that hc has enjoyed thoir confidence for so
long time, is of itself sufficient to convince mo
that lii this belief | am not mistaken. But on tho
present occasion, acting as do, from the solemn
convictions OF my own mind, guided by tho best
dictates OF my own judgment, and wholly unin.
formed as To their Wishes bv any instruction, or by
any communication whether public or private !
deem ii my duty ono of the representatives of
Camphcll, to protest against the which tho
advocates OF the amendment, have thought pr epcr
10 adopt. And upon subject OF such vital import
amcs, aud upon which hut little time has been ri.
ven for the action of our judgments, I think that
n few moments will not be unpro.i,aby .pont, in
hearing from any who choose 10 express them, the
views and opinions by which thoy will be 60
vcrned.
When the petitions from the county Of Prince
" iIiin'n were presented, of the mno-
rity that opposed their lcfcrcnco-not frsm any
cwrcspcct To the petitions themselves, for they
nor to tho sect with whom they orignntcd,a
class cmncm,ly endowed with most of the virtues
that adorn society, and ever active in tho promo
ton OF schemes which thoy regard as objects Of
Christian charity. But because | believe that such
course would lead TO results much TO DO de-
plorod. The grounds upon which my opposition
to tho reference of these petitions was founded,
form in part, the basis upon which rest ruy sup.
port of tho original proposition now before tho
House. The arguments which were thcn 30 ably
urged hy the gentleman from Mecklcnhurg, were
OF themselves, apart from all other considerations
sufficient 10 convince mo that the subject of tho
petitions was of n character too dangerous for the
discussion and dolbcratioL of tho present Lcrisla.
ture. lIo clearly forotod-it did not REQUIRE the
spirit OF prophecy to toretelthc results that would
arse from tho present itation of the Question:
1t was naturally to he anticipated that the rcfar.
once of these petitions, an exhibition on the p.r,
ct our body to enter gravely into the consdcra.
ton OF the subject, would tho ono hand cx-
cite hopes which could not be realized and OH
the other create alarms which, / much fear, no
1uluTc act OF ours can entirely quiet. | confident
ly believe that tho Legislature has, by this act
claimed and advocated by as one OF courtesy
and by the discussions which have arson from i,
dono more to excite the well grounded fears of our
citizens, than all OF tho inccndarv pamphlets
which have issued from the northern press Yes
Sir, 1t has shown that the representatives Of Vir
Cinia, al least Il largo portion of them, were vii.
Ing, without any tuthor demonstration tho y.i,h-
es OF the people than what haa bean exhisitcd in
the distorted features of n momentary fear to en-
ter solomnly into the investigation of schemes
which, a few months ago, locke cd upsn as tn .
vague dreams of enthusiasm, the ILL founded hopes
the underlined visions of misguided philanthropy.
Sir, this debate has taken direction which tho
friends OF the original proposition had not antci-
Paied, and the amendment now proposed has fo r.
cod tie advocates of that proposition, into dis
cuGsion which ii their earnest desire to have
avoided. Not because they would shrink from
meeting the subject in all the aspects which it
might present, but because they believed that dis
cushion OF 1t now could bo productive of no good
result. 1t was hoped that gentlemen would not
cinh"rrass tins subject with any further difficulties
than such as necessarily attend ii, which arc OF
themselves of the most pcrplcAing character, but
nave pernIttcd the fate of the original propositions
IN test the sentiment of this House with REGARD 10
the proprIetr OF any action the subject at all at
TINS session. But, sir, we have been disappont ed
IN TINS hope, and thrown pTcma,urely int" the ex
ANIMATION OF scheme with all its details, when
we were declaring by course, that VIC deemed
II dangerous and Impoitic, TO discuss any scheme
whatever. To the advocates Of this course will be
due all tho honor and glory which may arise from,
the present action Of this body, and 10 them also
belongs the responsibility of werinp for ths
evils which may flow from it. Since, howe YER ths
amendment is before ii becomes us 10 meet il,
with such weapons as most readily pre>ent
then scvcs And Sir, permit me in tho first place,
10 remark That the course pursued by its friends
win regard TO 1t, argues but little for it's merits
lis patron had scarcely brought il TO Epht-ho
had hardly permitted the first ray o argument to
play upon It's features, before he was williDc to
Withdraw 1T from the gaze which he well knew it
would attract. lie saw that its misrIapon
form, could not stand the scrutiny which il would
receive; md it was not until appeals had been
made which he could not resist that he forcboro
to draw around it the curtains of forpe,fuInoss
which should never have been raised. No ono
can entertain higher respect for tho source from
viii IA it originally cmanatcd than do | Weld to
mono i'll admiration of the talents, or in graft.
tude Tor the services of tho great man who was
the father OF this schomo. But trust that these
feelings will never induce mo to advocate n men
subvcrsiyo of the great principles lof orr
government, destructive in it's operations ia
the peace and happiness of country. IL was
well said by tie gentleman from Dinwiddic that a
scheme, which might have proved most sanitary
In It's operations at tho tImo when this was devils
ed, might now lie most perncious nd destructive
Yes Sir, a measure which might have agreed well
with the times, and circumstances that rave if
birth, might now be found wholly inapplieablc TO
the existing state or our country. But there is on
the very face Of this proposition an objection
which TO my mind seems to ensure its defect at
audo TO the fact that ii contravencs tho
great principles Of our Constitution, and invadss
the sanctty Of private property.
Every thing goes to show, Mr.. Speaker, that
this is the age of change and revolutions tina
fruitful period of conventions and speeches. the
day Of excessive and visionary lcgislution but
had never expected 10 have the Legislature
of Virginia gravely debating the question whether
not the slaves which we have inherited from
gu! fathers property. I never had expected
that in any Legislation with regard to them, We
should bu called upon to exhibit the title by which
held them. 1t is true that the old writer's On the
law OF property mention but two modes by which
can become the property of his fellow. The
onc where there is voluntary surrender of Lii.
bcrty, and the other, when in war, i party is cap
turcd, and his services arc demanded and cxtorted
by tho captor asa compensation for having spared
the life which from tie situation of tho captive, il
l. presumed by could have DESTROYED IL is EirtEer