Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-08

her institutions the utmost aSinabe point of xcelence
regretted that there should remain what the most tas
udous might consider bemis the goodly edice. It
was the day-drc0m OF the patriot and the phanth ropist.
mo oil u.s. has not at times, been bcgued into the
lovely anticipation! And yet who look around on things
as they are and not awake 10 the reality that it call but
drean: Had Mr. Jefferson thought emancipation prac-
icabc, why did he attempt its accomplishments?
He spenta long aud glorious life in the service his coun
try and much OF it, in her legislative eounclsat time
too, when this "monssr was yet in its infancy. Look
through your statute books and records and them fill
ed with the monuments OF his genius and industry. When
did he relax in his efforts promote the welfare his
couny When did lac grow weary in devising measures
for her honor and happiness: And when let me add did
his daring spirit shrink from the execution Of what his
Judgment approved? yet, Mr.. Jefferson lived and died
without proposing emancpS And is il for us TO buckle
ms manly arnor our STRIPPING limbs and attempt work
which he would never venture embark in? With lust
as much modesty and wisdom, might aspire 10 mount
the chariot oil the sun, and, with feeble hand and giddy
head to guide his horses along the heavens. But all
this is not the plan of Mr.. Jefferson. Ee always rocog-
ned the right oil property in slaves and admitted that they
must be purchased from their [Sec letter Ja-
red sparksl He evidently hoped, that at distant
day, the increased of the country aided by the
proceeds oil the public lands, might supply the OF
compensation
have dwe thus long the proposition of the gentle
ruan from Abemale, because confident in the belief
that uisand will continue to behe iavorite measure of
the abotouis II is recommended to them by the fact
that Gispenses with the troublesome necessity of proy
ding means for the purchase of slaves; and has cover
gained currency and popularity from lis in Penn
'yNana, although the circumstances under which tile
experiment was made there, totally different from
these which exist here. Slaves constituted but an ncon
siderable share of the wealth Of that Statea still smaller
proportion oil her populatou-and the loss was sill further
acviaed by the sxpedien selling slaves TO the South
ern states before the act of emancipation took effect
tiem.
pensaton to the savehoder have been suggested in the
course of this debate. The gentleman from Kanawha
proposes 10 ras0 the money for purchasing the slaves by
taxation and to apply it in the most economical
ual manner, according To certain rules which he pre-
sc'bes to the removal in the first instance of slaves of
certain ages and sexes He avows it as his belief,
that the people will pay the tax cheerully. Sir the
people may pay this axthey may pay willngly-they
may respond the demand gain and agan-to The TWEEN
ueth time-aS long they able TO pay. But at last
Sir they will be able to pay longer. To purchase and
remove the slaves ia exisence you must them
cordng to previous estimates to the OF sis 900
OOO How far will you have advanced towards this OBJ
ject before their will be exhausted their peck
cts empty? But, suppose your efforts confined TO the
purchase aud removal OF the annual increase of the slave
populations That increase is about $500 slaves which, at
$500 EACH are worth $500 900. The OF their reno
val at $40 each the estimate OF the Colonization Society,"
isabout notwithstanding in all TO lI32 600 per an
nun. Can the Cou monwealth bear even this burden
which from its nature be perpetual inasmucb as e
necessity which calls for will continue 20 exist The
present annual amount OF taxes lands slaves and other
property, is less than $s00,oo0 The whole annual ex-
penscs ofthe Government less than $3.50 600 What
WIN be the consequences OF an additional weight of more
than million yeor' B"t. Sic, "LtL a. aae
part TO be purchased and removed does escape the
sagacy of the gentleman from Kanawha, that those who
are mainly TO pay these taxes the very whose
slaves are TO be purchased The money levied in the
shape OF taxation to-day, and tho expenses OF collection
being deducted the balance is TO be returned TO-
morrow in payment for their slaves. Iwould be better
10 surrender herprOpcy at once and ,s the fees
and commissions of the tax gatherer.
We are told by other gendenen that the proceeds of
the public lands will afford ample fund and that the
general government will cheeftly dedicate them TO the
purpose shall not question the right of that govern
ment tomake absolute gin of those proceeds to The
States. But, to distribute them upon condition that thew
be applied TO specified object is the same thing in effect
as to make direct appropriation 10 that object, the au
thority for which may well be doubted. Admitting how
ever that the general government has the power and
the will TO devote these funds The purchase and reuo-
val Of slaves, what will no accomplished by III The
annual proceeds OF the sale OF these lands, has not
averaged two millions OF dollars. Il will assume, how
ever, as the annual average, the moximum of three
distributed according TO the ratio Of Representations IS
nearly one-eleventb, about $27O 900 per annum And
will this fund supply 600 for the purchase and
removal fall your slaves? will il furnish annual
y 81 OO0-thc sum required TO buy and carry away
the annual increase of ybur slaves Let not lattcr
ourselves with the belief that Virginia will receive more
than her ?roportonate part of that fund. Justice
she may obtain at the hands of the general govern
ment, but beyond that, she has nothing TO expect.
Mother rule of distribution will be adopted unless per-
aps ii be to give up the lands their proceeds the
holding states exclusively. 1t a moment
supposed that Virginia 10 be the sole object of nation
al bounty What then would he the aspect The case?
There in the United States, according the CEN
sus 100000 slaves--to purchase and remove which
the rates before assumed, would require rather than
$it 900 600. The annual increase in the United States
is about A 600 the purchase and removal of which, alone
would require upwards of gil 900 900 annually The
fund at disposal, applicable 10 this purpose, would be
$3,O00000 per And it is worthy of considera-
ton, that this yearly produce of the public lands will not
be augmented On the contrary, you withdraw slave
labor from the cast you create opening for white men,
which viii check emigration to The westlessen the de-
mand for the public lands and thus diminish the fund upon
which the whole operation depends.
We are assured, however, that although the public
lands may he insufficient, tie Golfers OF the general CO.
vernment will be thrown open TO us-and, presume, in
like 10 the other save-lOldng states. Know
that accustomed consider the resources of That
government ineNhaustibe, and indeed they seem So
when compared to the dimnutve resources Of oir own
commonwealth. But will the common treasury of this
great contedcracy be able TO furnish 7f 900 900 for the
extinction of savcryor ii Afford even 81 900 900
annually for keeping down the increase? Surprising the
surplus of The general government TO be ample
imports, and II is well known fact, that the burden would
rest chiefly the southern states 1t would be nothing
less, than dra wing from the pockets of the slave
holders. by indirect taxation, the money with which hec
slaves eventually 10 be purchased II would be better
economy 10 abandon them 1t without nsaion
than 20 through tho troublesome and expensive cere-
mony OF furnishing the 10 have them bought But
whatever may be the of the federal government
bowsocver obtained, they at the command of the
sovereign staesl II is true the legislatures Of several
states, IN to the resolutions Of Rufus King have
declared hcr Willingness dedicate The public lands and
other resources TO tie extinction Of slavery There IL
security that they will fulfil this PROMISE aud when Vir
GINA shall appear the bar OF Congress, supplicat-
ing assistance, presume she must before she will
receive it, ii entirely certain that she will be re.
fused Sir confess myself incrcduous that subject
The southern States have heretofore maintained that slave
~ within their respective limits is their own peculiar do
nestle concern They have promptly repealed every eff
fort the part Of the federal government their
states, to interfere with the subject The frnness and
guarantee that admits OF doubtful construction has
kept intrusion a distance. Should Virginia como