Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-26

possession and the property of the state miles
he istaken beyond its limits. ft he will be debarred
from this alternative. Other States WILL in sedeence
prohibit the importation of slaves into their territoesma-
have already done It, and the you pass this
luton, not single avenue will be open for them. The
ter then, will be obliged hold slaves these hard
terms or leave thcm and leave then, nc will The pas
sage Of .ns OBNOXIOUS substitute would be decree OF
phesy OF the gentleman from Rocsbrdge would be fully
realized; and We might indeed expect, Mr. Speaker see
the chair which you occupy, filled by black, presiding
anAssembly Of sable Legislators Ihaye no he sta,
onn expressing asmy deliberate opinions that the effect
of every system Of emancipation that can now or NAV
hereafter be DEVISED will be drive our free white pop,
a'ion to the distant and xpored regions of the West
But let us suppose that the advocates OF tho
emancipation had the power OF removing this populations:
suppose that by the speaking of word, this dark and
dense cloud could be foated another heins phcrc,
what then would be the situation of Virginia Is
II true, as gentlemen imagine, that we should be every
where greeted by white faces and smiling villages; or
should we not ON the other hand find our country desert,
ed ana rlands wilderness? There but cir
cunstances that invite the redundant population of
other countries among The first is large accumua-
dcapai whereby labor is attracted and rewarded
second Is cheap and fertile lands by the cultivation of
which plentiful subsistence is gained with little labor
There is perhaps less active capital in Virginia than i'm
any State OF the Union. The little commerce within its
limits-and God knows that is little enou~h--is almost all
carried by foreign capital Labor therefore can expect
but little encouragement from this source and induce
mcnt here offers itsefto the emgran Our soil, fear,
oilers still less 1t is almost every where exhausted Its
Character Is written in indebc letters every side
In the commonwealth he who may read and the ra-
veier needs no interpreter 10 tell him. that all is
oil ouer NATIONS, on reaching shores, would mistake
tbs Tor the land of promise, and attempt wiring hard
earned subsistence from barren so No. Sir; he would
LOOK around him but an instant, and larry moment
ory his resolution for still further enterprise He would
cast ms eyes to the wcsto that fertile REGION
where his labor would be and his cbcon
There, too. population would ro the abstract love
oil natal soil would be the only barrier liz and
need not say TO this House how weak it is when interest
invites beyond il.
1t does appear to Mr. Speaker that interest policy
ana every consideration that ought weight with
i tnt.,,
ton Of the gentleman from Meckienburg What aulho-
y have, we Sir to cgsate this subject! for one have
no from the people represent and have not
yet Vcen so fortunate as to hear any gentleman declare
that he had These instructions ought not 10 be mplcd
they ought to be plain, ineligible and direct The
VIII OF inc people ought not TO be guessed or derived
ny implication but explicit and known The truth cannot
Tor moment be disguised, that have here as an
ordinary legl stature Tor the purpose of ordinary cgation
instead OF which boldly assuming power not within
the most distant contemplation of our constituents Instead
OF evying taxes arc DESTROYING the most fruitful source
OF taxation, instead of passing laws for the well being of The
State we are deliberately destroying ninety millions
property We are here triumphanty asking if we would
sumo enquiry and suppress all investigation. know Sir
that there magic in these names they more formda
bic than all the argument that has been brought to bear
on this subject 1t will readily occur, however to every
man oil reflection that this is speculative subject that
may be mooed with mPuniy 1t addresses itself to the
feelings and the passions OF il is species of proper
y that owes its security to the public opiDon it based
here and the moment you shake this foundation the whole
fabric will tottef and fall.
But, Mr.. Speaker, investigation is and
cannot conceive what possible good from it
The ingenuity OF man. the mind of man-nay Sir the ina
ginaton OF man, has devise scheme
which bore upon its face the sembance of plausb
ty; and yet we are gravely asked refer 10 the com
mttec. am humble member of that (omn,it,ee r,js
ed io he purpose oil devising plan for freeing
State from its free colored population. What Sir has
been done 1t has laboed faithfully, diligently and labo-
rousy Tor two weeks and it is doubtful whe-
Their it can the Grspncple action on whichits
future proceedings 10 be based The subject which
we now propose to discharge them from, is hundred
nay, a uoussna nmes more difficult | speak not the
language oil hyberboe, but OF soberness yet gentle
men still say, go on and report.
But Mr. Speaker, this enquiry is not only unnecessary
butt sdangerous-not to property alone which nothing
in the opinions OF some gentlemenbutt the Of men
ne gentleman from buckingham few days ago. sketch
ed with graphic pencil, and in glowing coors all the
horrors OF instruction he pointed the coses of men,
women ana children, butchered by the ruthless assassin
With this horid spectacle before us torng our maeina
tons and narrowing our feelings charge gentlemen to
dismiss this subject This is speculative danger with
us; is papable and appalling: and gentlemen are found
on this oor openly advocating general system of eman
cpaon need be surprized at the result; To those
reside In parts oil The country where slaves not nmer
ous with the best feelings their part and with the most
phanhropic motives, it is impossible estimate the ex
tent OF the danger: here it is reait is felt You arc
citing in the minds OF black population hopes that can
never be realized You holding up their deluded
and is then obscured forever Their happiness is convert
ed TO misery their changed to discomfort and
soon this nPens into rebellion. For their sakes them if
not Tor ours beg gentlemen push this matter no far
Their.
=, There are some among us, Mr.. Speaker. who while
they dsclaim all expectation any benefit 10 be derived
from the views of the committee, insist upon the ree-
renee az an experiment from unwingness to suppress
investigation To all such, beg leave here TO remark
that the enquiry is dangerous enquiry, and the expert
men full OF hazard Our wises Legislators and most ibe-
raj and enlightened phanopss, while they have de-
precated slavery have, at the time, uniformly c
Cured in its necessity. They have always resisted any
nvesgaon believing useless and way subscribing
the interests policy humanity. II this reasoning was
Just then, how much more now while we are tread
ing as 1t were on the heel Of recent Instruction The
public mind is excited and ought he pace; fears
s and they ought TO be allayed Instead pouring oil
on the waves exciting storm in this House which
will abroad and be beyond the control of those
who have excited it, To those Mr. Speaker who believe
that emancipation is safe, is practcabc-who honestly
think they see their clearly through this dark Iaba
rynth, have nought 10 say but God speed YOU" YOU
succeed, you will have earned lasting honors from CRATE
u country. For my part, my expectations fall far
short OF this fear have already pushed discus
SION beyond the limits of prudence fear the rrnour of
this debate have already gone abroad among our slaves
and shall not be at all surprised il next breeze that
sweeps by Capitol should be charged the tdngs
oil Instruction. One thing do feel assured Of that no
good possibly arise FROM this discussion but much mis-
chief and in giving this public expression my senti-
nents to the House, confident that have pursued
the line ofmy duya duty which my constituents
and my country.
BTGGERSC