Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-05-17
DEBATE ON ABOLITION.
Speech Of Mr.. BROWN. Continued.

Speech OF sur. 6hOFpJS, CoffulHe0.
We are assured. however, that although
the public lands may be insufficient, the cof-
fers Of the general government will be thrown
open to us-and, | presume, in like manner,
20 the other slaye-hoiding states. | know
that we are accustomed TO consider the &c
sources of that government as inexhaustible,
and indeed they seem so, when compared to
the diminutlve resources of our own Com
monwealth. Bot will the common treasury
of this great confederacy, be able to furnish
Ala millions Of dollars for the extinction of
slavery-or can it afford, even, eleven mil
hons annually for keeping down the increased
Surprising the surplus revenue Of the Gener-
al Government 10 be ample, it must be OBJ
tanned through the medium Of high duties on
Imports, and it is q well known fact. that the
buFthen would rest chiefly on the Southern
etates. 1t would be nothing more or less,
than drawing from the pockets of the slave
holders, by indirect taxation, the money with
which their slaves were eventually to be pur.
chased. 1t would be better economy 70 a
bandon them at once, without compensation,
than to 60 through the troublesome and ex-
p~ensive ceremony Of furnishing the means to
have them bought. But whatever may be
the resources of the Federal Government, or
howsoever obtained, are they at the com
manu- Vi tu6 SOUtfltID SLd1GSr AZ Is true, Tie
Legislatures of several states, in response to
the resolutions of Rufus King, have declared
their willingness to dedicate the public lands
and other resources, 10 the extinction of sla-
very. There is no security that they will full
III this promise, and when Virginia shall ap
pear at the bar of Congress, supplicating as
sistance, as | presume she must, before she
will receive 1t. is it entirely certain that she
will not be refusedp Sir, | confess myself in
ercduious on that subject. The Southern
states have heretofore maintained that slave
~ within their respective limits, is their own
peculiar domestic concern. They have
promptly repelled every effort on the part of
the Federal Government, or their Sister
States. to interfere with the subject. The
Ermness and consistency of their conduct,
sustained by a constitutions guarantee that
admits of no doubtful construction, has kept
Intrusion at a distance. Should Virginia now
come down from this moral eminence-this
~impregnable stand; [and let me tell you, that
when she once abandons it, she can never re-
gain 1T and invite the Congress OF the U.
States TO take charge Of her slaves, how viii
she be treatedp Congress will doubtless, be
willing TO abolish slavery, If it were for no
other purpose than 20 lessen the political
weight of the South. The operation you'd
take from Virginia more than five members,
and from the slave holding states, in the ag-
gregate, twenty four members, or one fourth
part of their representation. But by what
means, and upon what terms, will the work
be conducted? Sir, when the general gov
eminent shall have obtained the ~controul Of
this subject and the slave holding states lie
detenceless at her feet, you will hear no more
OF the purchase and removal OF slaves. You
will then be told that they are persons and
not things-that they are not property-or if
property, that they are dangerous and the
public safety requires their seizure and re-
moval. The Bill of Rights will be quoted to
prove that they are men and entitled to their
freedom. They viii be removed and slave
~ will be ~extinguished, but it will be with
out compensation, and at your expense. If
the general government has a surplus tlea-
sure to hest0w on the states-be 1t so Nirgt
MIA will know to what purposes to apply her
portion. But If that gift is to be subject 10
q condition, which gives to the Congress OF
the u. States, a virtual c~ontroul over this
delicate question, let the offer be promptly
ard unhesitatingly rejected.
1 have now examined all the schemes OF
emancipation which have been presented in
the course Of this debate, | have said moth
ing Of the removal of people Of colour who
are now free. That is \ measure wholly in
W. ~ VI AK NV AsO
II cannot with propriety be blended with it.
rs very object is adverse, being intended as
a means Of e%nai,ling the slave owner TO re-
tain his property in safety and tranquility
Neither Is II necessary 10 allude TO voluntary
manumissloD. The owner OF a slave has am,
PIE power to send him beyond the limits o.
Tie state and there TO sell him or hberate him
no legislative authority is required foI tina
purpose. Even ii manumission within the
state DC permitted, and the government as
sumo The responsibility of removal, it is still
merely a provision respecting negroes a!read,
Jrte. | be true question, which we are nov
considering IS. whether the whole or a par
OF our siat'es, shall, by the coereive operation
Of law, be removed beyond our limits. eithe
with or without compensation to their own
ers. And on this question, it is my clear an,
settled conviction, founded on the reasons al