Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-28
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

| Tho SPEAKER presented a communication from
the Governor, enclosing letter from Cen Lafay
| eue' enclosing petition from J. Atkinson, u. S
consul at Lyons, in relation TO certain Lands
. Mr. NUTHERFoosD presented tho petition of lisa az
solomon Tor dvorcc-also, the petition of hume
rOus citizens OF Richmond, for the Improvement
OF The lower navigation of James Rver-Mr. PAT
| TEsoN of c., the petition Of Beverly Ron.
uoiph' John Heath, and others, proprctors of Coa
Mines. TO be incorporated into joint stock com
pany Tor carrying on the business of Golfers.
| On motion OF Mr.. CRUMP, the Militia Commit
tee was directed to enquire into the expediencv n,
allowing the officers of Volunteer Companies at
tached to any Regiment, the right to vote in 4
election OF field officers in the respective re.iments
to which they may DO attached.
| Bills passed., To amend the 18th section of
INC act entitled an act to establish Court of Law
and Chancery in each Of the counties of this Com.
inohwealth' and in certain corporations therein
mentioned-2, Establishing separate election NJ
the Little Store i'm Goochland.
ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.
| On motion of MIR. WILSON of Botetourt the
| House resumed the consideration of this question
MIR. KUrHERFooRD briefly addressed the House IN
explanation OF his opinions; declaring his conyic
ton That slavery ought to be abolished and his
hope that it would be abolished; but deprecatinr
at this time, any further Legislative action thar
the adoption of the Report of the Committee pre-.
raced by such Preamble AZ that suggested by the
gentleman from Goochland (Mr Bryce1
| Mr.. BOILING succeeded In reply to various sneak
ers, and in explanation of the mode of action he
wished
MIR. PArrEsoN of Buckingham, spoke briefly in
decided opposition to abolition.
| MIR. BOOKER followed on the same side and On
tertained the House with u short speech of much
humor, and downrightness
MIR. BRoDNAx entered into explanation of his
course, and replied incidentally TO various mIsap
PrehenSions OF his former argument.
| Mr.. JONES called for the ayes and noes, Sustain
ed) and made few explanations.
Mr.. BALL of Fairfax, addressed the House in
Driei explanation OF his vote, and expressed his
decided disapprobation of the amendment and of
abolition in animated terms.
| Mr. GALLAHER of Jefferson (fnding himself ,liffe
ring from many of his Western bretl,ren) explain
ed the reasons which induced him to vote against
immediate Legislation, while he expressed abhor
renee of slavery. and would, if he felt himself at
liberty. to act if he thought his constituents ready
for 1T, vote with pleasure to abolish it.
MIR. RoANE, while he entertained all the opi-
mons heretofore expressed and which he would ne
yer retract. declared his purpose of voting agains
| Mr. Prestons amendment, us believing this House
not now IN temper tie act on grave subject
| MIR GHoLsoN occupied the House for short
| space in replication TO Mr. Moore.
| Mr.. RIvEs called the attention of the gentleman
from Montgomery, Mr.. Proston) to the situation
IN which the House was placed by his amendm. mt.
Decided as he was himself, and as many were, for
abolition, he did not believe that single member
was In favor of it at this session. This being the
case he hoped that gentleman would Withdraw
his amendment
| Mr.. MOORE made short rejoined to Mr. Ghol.
| son.
/ Mr. PRESTON in response to Mr.. Rves, declined
| TO withdraw his amendment.
/ MIR. RvEs then suggested that the gentleman
from Montgomery, should modify his motion by
substituting proposition for recommtment
MIR. WILSON of b., said, that voting for the
amendment would imply no pledge to vote for any
particular measure that would take from the citizen
| his property, he should vote for the amendment
| A large number of the citizens of Botetourt were
Irnn fl,,ft L.
evil, and desired the adoption of some measure
which should tend to it's ultimate removal. They
had asked that something should be done-nor
could he return to them and say that he had made
no oxerton to meet their wishes. He should
therefore, vote for the amendment.
| Mr. WITcHER moved to postpone the Report Of
the Committee and the amendment indefinitely
stating as his reason, that if the amendment las
he believed it would) should be rejected we should
be engaged afterwards in farther discussion on
| the Report.
/ The question taken on this motion and ne
| gatived as follows:
AYEs-Messrs. Banks, (spcaker.) Grinalds,
| Booker, Campbell of Bed, Pate, Gholson Shell
Patteson of Buck, Daniel, Hayburton, Richard.
son, Patteson of Ches., Pendeton, Broadus, Will
son of Cum, Brodnax, Richie, Ball. Chiffon
Stillman, Hale Of Frank, Woods of Frank, Bryce
of Fred Smith of Fred, Smith of Glou, Spencer
Bruce, Sims, Mayo, Jordan, Sheild Gallahor, Har
wood, Booe, Dabney, Carter of Ian. & r.. Poin
dexter, Street, Hudgins, Goode OF Meek Knox
Webb, Cabell, Fisher, Harvey, Anderson of Not.
Davis, Witcher, Swanson, Miller, Dupuy, Land
; Shands, Carter of Pr. VIM, Carson, Cobb, Crump
Hargrave, Newton, Brown-60.
NoEs-Messrs. Drummond, Wood of Able.
Randolph, Persinger, Garland. M'Cue, Brooke
Cameron, Faulkner, Goode of Berk Anderson o
Bot Wilson of Bot, Campbell of Brooke, Bol
ling, Spurlock, Rivcs, Jones, Marshall, Stephen
son, Helms, Wood Of Fred, Snidow, Bryce O
Gooch:, Hail of Grayson, Erskine, Carskador
Poston, Roane, Mullen, Williams of Har., John
son, GIavely, Berry, Summers. Allen, Hays, Law
son, MIlhaney, Cordcll, Caldwell, Smith Of Ma
. 81 Jack, Billingsly, Henry, Vawter, Preston
Chandler, Leigh, Fitzhugh, Parriott, Robert
= son, Hiner, GillilaDd, Zinn, Hart, Moore, NJ
Dowell, MMahon. Cline, Jesse, Kilgore, Bare
Powell, Moncurc, Gillespie, M'Coy, M'Cullocll
= Keller, Morris, Crockett, King, Rutherfoord.-71
! The question recurring Mr.. PRgsToN'
amendment, Mr.. BERnY said his object had bee
effected-he wished the question submitted TO Oh
peopIc--that had been done. lie was in favor G
abolition, but not now. lie wished public opinio
TO act upon it first.
- The question was then put, and Mr. Preston
i amendment rejected as follows:
= AYEs-Messrs Drummond, Randolph, Persin
ger, Garland, MCue, Brooke, Cameron, Faux
ncr, Goode of Bcrk., Anderson of Bot, Wilson q
II Bot, Campbell of Brooke, Boiling, SPurlocl
|, Jones, Stephenson, Helms, Wood Of Fred
Snidow, Hail of Grayson Brskine, Carskador
70 Poston, Williams Of IIar., Johnson, Mayo, Sum
II mers, Allen, Hays, Lawson, MIlhancy, Cordel
= Caldwell, Smith of Ma & Jack, Billingsly, Her
ry, Vawtcr, Preston, Fzhugh, ParriOtt, Rober
70 son, TIiner, Gand, linn, Hart, Moore, II
e Dowell M'Mahon, Cline, Jesse, Kilgore Bare
l. Gillespie, MCoy, MCulloch, Keller, Morris, Crocl
ou-55.
NoEs-Messrs. Banks (Speakcr,) GrinalJ
Is Gaolson, Shell, Patteson Of Buck, Riye
Daniel Hslrhurtau Richardson, Patte.on