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


tN, it does upon the tacit and implied condition
that such property is not TO be dangerous or de-
structivc to tho community: no other guarantee
could be intended, for any other would be suici-
dial. Let us then apply this principle TO tho ease
| before us. The master has right of pro-
perry I'm his slave; but this right has no foundation
In nature, and can not he traced TO any source
! higher than the laws of the land. 1t is then
| right acquired under the laws of the Common
wealth, and hold alono by the authority of those
| laws. But those laws guarantee the right upon
condition that the safety of tho community is not
to be copard;zcd thereby. IL then follows, if this
safety is endangered, the guarantee ceases; & tho
guarantee ccasng, and there being no other found
alton Gil which tho right rost, it follows, as Il
conclusions that, in such event, the right Of poo
rcrty ceases i'll that population; and it then be.
comes question for the Legislative will to dotcr-
mine what is to DC douo with it. Upon this
ground, and this alone, was he willing 20 meet tho
constitutional objection. He believed tho ground
safe, and the principles no lad laid down as cor
rect; at least lie had not been able TO detect their
fallocy aud until that was made to appear, he
should feel himself justified III adl.ering to them
TO make out, then, the case complete and effect
| ually TO combat tho constitutional argument, it
only remains to enquire, is tho existence of slavery
such an evil, and does it threaten such disastrous
consequences to the community as to justify an
| appeal TO this supreme law of necessity? Upon
this branch of the subject, he might content him.
self with u mere reference to the remarks of those
! gentlemen who had preceded him in this debate
They have eloqucnty and faithfully portrayed the
evils and the curses of slavery. But ho begged,
especially, to call the attention of every member of
this House, to the facts submitted TO their notice
by the gentleman from Rockbridgc, the gentleman
from Dinwddie, and the gentleman from Kanow-
ha, and to the same facts forciby embodied in
petition this morning read by the clerk at tho table
These facts cannot deceive; they the results of
mathematical calculations, upon which the most
implicit reliance may be placed. He would not
weary the House with reeaptuation of those
facts--it cannot have forgotten them--they
of character calculated to make tho deepest inn
preston. With these facts, then, staring you in
! the facc--with slave population already enormous
and appalling and still rapidly and aalmingly in
creasing, does any man doubt but that the whites
or the blacks will be sooner or later compelled to
abandon this country, and that the safety of the
one imperousy calls for the removal of the other?
Add to this, the further fact that all the drains and
outlets by which large portion of the slave popu-
lation was heretofore carried off, are either now,
or Will shortly be stopped up. Other States around
us nave taken the alarm, and have closed arc
about closing, their doors against the admission of
that class into their borders. All the future in
crease of this prolific must therefore remain
pcnt up, growing, spreading and destroying in the
very bosom of our State. Remember, too
that your own citizens arc leaving YOU Charmed
by the inviting prospect i'll the mighty West, year
after year sees them leaving in crowds their ma
tive hills and plains, and seeking, in other coun
| tries, another home. Remember these things and
then tell me If there is danger. 1t is not a
phantom conjurcd up by the fcvcrsh and morbid
imaginlngs of timid mind, but reality that looks
the stoutcSt man in the face, and causes tcmcrty
even to pause and view the prccipicc on which il
| trcads. lie did not believe that any molabcr felt
any thing like personal fear operating upon him
at THIS tmne--he was sure he did not but does it
not become us, us leg islators, to whom are en-
trusted tho great interests of this great Com
monwcalth, to look in advance and provide against
events, which, according to unerring calculations
must come to pass? The melancholy catastrophe in
| southampton has been called a little affair II
| become n aft tbo I,,
| ger is removed, in comparison with deeper trage-
dies on wider theatre. The gentleman from
| Campbell told us if we attempt to carry a system
OF emancipation into effect, instead of addino
beauty and vgour to tho tree of liberty, we would
! destroy its fair foliage. Does that gentleman be-
lIcvc the removal of slavery will have that effect
Does he believe the tree of liberty will flourish best
i IN land of slaves3 For his own part he had
supposed in such land, it would resemble more
the weeping willow twincd around with ivy, bend
ing In sadness and In sorrow, its branches and its
bougis; and that it would only be in the land OF
the free, untrod by the foot of the slave, that il
would lift high, and spread wide its branches in rich
and wild uxuriance. .
The evils of slavery have again and again been
presented in bold relicfto the notice of the House
IL requires no aid from Imagination TO describe
them. They are both seen ard fc,:-Seen in the
rum OF our best hopes,-fclt in the deadeninp on
preston by which the swelling energies of the
olate are Kept down. Sir, Virginia might have
beer all that the heart of her most loya son coud
nave wished. Nature has been more than bounti
iul to her. With her hcalthful and mild eli.
matc,-wlth her rich and productive soil,-witl
her bold and beautiful rivers, ana her MANY advon
tagcs and llilmltablc resources, she might have
been garden spot,--thc farest land in this wide
conincnt.--But what is she? What is her prescn.
condition. He would not attempt to answer the
enquiry-lt is painful theme to dwell upnn
The hearts of all who claim to be her sons and
love her as sons, must saddcn at the contempla-
ton OF her present aspect.-In the Nav day of
lie, she wears upon her countcnanco tho evidence
! OF premature decay, and the yellow leaf of Au
! turnn has followed too soon the budding blossom
| OF sprIng.-And to what known cause can this he
assigned, but to the existence of slavery-this
cancer which destroys at the fountain the streams
of vigorous and healthfu existence? Her citizens
are as industrious, moral, and as talented.
as those OF any other State, and her natu.
raj resources are surpassed by none. Yet
all these gifts that have been lavishcd upon her
and ali the energies of her sons have in a proot
degree, been lost and paralized by this national
calamity. Like pcstilencc, it has swept over
land, whitening and blighting whatever if
brcathed upon. In this state of things what must
we do? Must we calmly fold our arms i'm patient
resignation? Must we bow in hopeless despo ndeu
cy, without an effort to saver For one, he was
disposed to put forth our mght;-he was willing
to mako tho effort, and he trusted it would be
crowned with success, to remove this curse from
our country,-to restore repose and sense of Sc
curity to Virginia, and build up the broken for
tunes OF the Old Dominion. But we are told this
effort will be attended with much sacrifice Sir
II is known to us all, that much of the capital of
this country is vested in slave propertv and !,
cannot be denied, that any effort at its romovol
VIII require individual, well as general sacriG-
ccs. But are not gentlemen willing to make
some, even great sacrifice, in such n cause2
we have bright and noble example be-
tore us-ono worthy of all praise Our IA
theirs offered on the altar of their country and
their fI,o;r a. a.