Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-02-14
Legislative Dcbatc---Continu
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.


[srxTH DAY]-Tuesday January IT.
DEBATE on Mr.. GooDE's Resolution, Mr.. RANpoLrns
SuosutWe me Report Of the Committee Shares
and Mr. PREsroN's Motion to amend.
Mr.. SUMMERS of Kanawha rose and said:-I pra,
you, Mr. Speaker, to believe that make no idle decar
ton, when confess the peculiar the almost overpower-
ing sensations, with which rise take humble part in
TINS debate Every feeling Of my heart, pleads Tor ut
tcrance, while ii pursued the dictates Of my Judgment
should perhaps remain silent. am well aware thai
the question before the House. swelling i'm magni
tude the longer and the intensely it
Is much beyond any feeble abilities which possess
Yet may not with just regard for the interests and
nights oil those who have entrusted with their conf
dence, fail TO express the opinions which entertain
and which will govern the vote about 10 give IL
have mistaken their interests and wishes Is proper they
should know feel, and deeply feel, the responsible
ties imposed, by the novel and condition in
which the House finds itself placed Seldom has it be-
come the duty OF any Representative Assembly TO con-
slider proposition of higher moment or more CONSUMING
interest," than that which has absorbed the thoughts and
The feelings, OF all around us for the last ten days
whether the magnitude OF the interests involved in this
dscussion be considered in reference ourselves and the
fundamental change proposed to be wrought in own
policy and condition, whether the mind be permitted
include in the results which follow, the whole
southern portion OF this considered
in relation TO the race for whom freedom is sought to be
secured or with eye TO the interests of poscrty
never there higher OCCASION for collected wisdom for
firm, cool, but free enquiry.
An attempt has been made TO give TO this proposition a
sectional character and the gentleman who has Just taken
ms seat (r Knox has contributed his full share effect
that end Permit me in the outset say that any such
hence the Where
is its birthplace! Who gave it life? who are thew who
have nuscd and reared it, and impaired to it strength
and vigour which they cannot now control who sent
the petitions out of which il has grown Eastern citizens
Who advocated the reference of that petition TO Select
Committee! Eastern members; and above all others he
who by common CONSENT was placed at the head of that
committee; he who, however he may differ from the
friends OF emancipation, TO time and mode done
more to open the door TO the present dscuson than
member on this floor. Who invited debate by prema-
ture motion TO discharge the Committee from the consde-
ration oil all petitions and memorials having for their object
inc gradual abolition OF slavery! The gentleman from
Meckenburg, (Mr. Goode) who with the protested OBJ
cct of alaying excitement asked the House declare that
inexpedient which had directed agents TO ascertain
The debate itself, in its commencement was sustained
chiefly by Eastern gentlemen. They called for assistance
from every quarter OF the State without reference TO To-
cation We come at their request to lead and con-
duct the struggle but 10 labor side by side with them
contribute whatever may, the success of the good
cause in which we find them embarked, and which we
ieei to be the cause OF all hope, Sir that the people of
the est are yet permitted 10 entertain kindly interest
In the common safety prosperity and happiness this Old
Dominion of which they form integral part. l hope
the time has not yet arrived, when question can be
presented affecting the interests of portion of the people
OF this Commonwealth, IN which the residue NAV not
claim TO feel and exercise the rights and duties
and fellow citizens 1t is true, Sir that the people of the
est in addition 10 the general which they felt in
ms great question: as members ofthe poitiai
~ nave peculiar interests of their own which their re-
representatives. fail to regard they abuse the high trust with
which they clothed, and become the unworthy deposit
tories OF the public confidence We now comparative
ly free from this population The entire district of coun.
ty, stretching from the Blue Ridge to the Ohio contains
o3i6o slaves That portion OF TIE State lying Oh the East
contains 4l6259.
We are impced by every consideration of duty TO our
Selves and TO those who shall come after us TO avert if we
the progress of this evil while vet at distance we
see that by the operation of natural causes the neGua
ty existing between the white and black population
in our quarter of the State must daily diminish The in
crease below the mountains, must find outlet some
direction. The channels through which its redundancy
has heretofore been partially kept down, are annually
closing upon usour sister States, with the prudence and
forecast of thinking people, enactng laws prohibit
ing the tansportion of slaves to their
isiana, which has heretofore furnished the principal market
for this property, has adopted this measure What disno
son is TO be made of the future in Eastern Virgil
MAJ Necessity must compel their removal from that sec
ton OF the State where their labour will not find employ
ment, where the soil has already been wasted by svs-
TEN OF cultivation, which slavery induces and in which
their continuance must only impoverish their owners
western Virginia will offer the BEST perhaps in few
years, the only situaon to which they be ranspaned
they will be sold there, at reduced prices for the
simple reason, that they must be parted from-Eastern
gentlemen, will quarter them with their ovcrsccrs i'm the
mountain districts, continuing themselves reside with
part OF their Estates i'll the lowland countrya system
OF management, already adopted some extent par
uculary In the counties OF the South West We see
that ours must necessarily become slave holding COM
munlty-not from choice, but from inability 10 prevcnt
it. We do not take the disease voluntarily but by
injection from our proximity to- and connection with YOU
can erect no barrier 10 its approachesWc can estab
sh not even QUARANTINE. You would enact for us no
statute, by which the transportation of this population IN
The esten counties should be forbidden Did the coun
try lying West of the Blue Ridge compose separate and
independent State, she could annhate this evil at blow;
Son, would constitute difficulty which the govern
ment would pause. Interest and the public sentiment
would believe, alike demand the total extirpajon of
slavery within its borders We know and feel the MANY
advantages which free abour has that of opposite
character We do not desire that the hardy independent
tenany Of country, should be made to give way for
those who have other rule than 10 work little and
waste as much as they can-whose only impulse fear
and whose only interest is TO avoid the punishment of
their employers We cannot desire to mountains
backened with the slave the fresh grass of our
vallics should wer beneath his are not pre-
pared TO render labour dshonorabIe by associatine il
with involuntary servitude We dare not by any act of
ours contribute TO provide for children that state of
things which now exists in Eastern Virginia and most of
the Southern States, or consent TO aid in transmitting
them the evils Of this system, and the appalling horrors of
an overgrown, preponderant slave population
Our Eastern brethren cannot in Justice, censure the
course which the cearcst OF duty has prescribed
This occasion TO the members from the West We claim
but the right to attempt defence Of people, from hat
they themselves have acknowledged i'm this debate TO be
the "sorest which offended Deity ever visited upon
a SHINING people" understood the gentleman from AL
bemare, Mr Woody 10 admit indeed the of
this courses and to intimate that, did he represent West
ern county, lie should feel himself urged TO adopt the
II has however, been said that by a general diffusion
of slavery throughout the Commonwealth unaninity Of
sentiment and interest would be sccured and that the OBJ
jcconabe, will add, the tyrannical features Of the
amended Constitution made TO protect this property,
would no longer be necessary Sir dsdain to pur-
chase political power by the acquisition Of this property
We never can, will recognize II, either in our
selves others, the basis of political power. We pre-
fer TO remain horn Of strength, trusting the inter
position OF that Providence which protects the liberties
the yruous rather than participate in the odious doctrine
that wealth. either exclusive combined is the proper
basis Of representation in free Republic The essential
attributes Of popular government may be disregardcd
and temporary triumPbsochieved the rights Of the