Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-31

this then the time Tor the friends of the Country and
OF the Constitution TO desert Gen. Jacksons banner;
He may do them much service-But if they suffer
him TO be struck at and weakened, whom can thew
look TO, to aid them?
The first moment that the rumor of the rejection
reaches Philadepia,an Opposition paper exultingly
eXclaims-Po td te commencement du fin.
IT
FOR THE EJN-QUYRER
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE
GENTLESEN:-Permit an old Planter and a, SJore
holder TO say few words YOU He will make no apo
ogy for taking this liberty, is usual with writers who
occasionally address younor shall compliment you
the score OF your wisdom, is also customary
temenl shall speak you plainly because il is your
duty 10 attend 10 whatever said on the part of the Peo-
le whose servants and Representatives you really
do not think that when leave your respective homes
and assemble at Richmond it necessarily follows that all
the wisdom of the State concentrated among you on
the contrary, believe you leave behind with the People
al large, greater share oil wisdom than you carry
your honorable body.
Residing up the country, and being in the City at this
lime attending 10 the sale OF few hogsheads tobacco
have witnessed with modification the debate on the
abolition OF slavery. say with morication-aye with
disgust, have listened your long winded and empty
defamation upon this subject. Now, Gentlemen, this
question has been discussed and again, with an
eoquence and force that OF you pretend to equal
Fox, and Burke and Sheridan have exhausted this subject
None OF you able 10 throw any light upon it
The People all understand it very WELL and want
your aid TO enlghten them. They have clothed you with
no power, TO be thus intermeddlng with their property
You should not therefore, have constituted yourselves
their exclusive guardians, and taken important
unuer your special management. You
Richmond to egsate upon ordinary airs; and al
though the Southampton instruction had occurred
the time OF your election yet you should not infer from
that that the People would wish you NEEDLE at present
with the slave question. All the People anxious for
you 10 do TO devise the best plan you can 10 get rid
of the free people of color alone their slaves IL
is question have business with; and if the People
had wished your interference upon that subject they
would have met in their respective counties and specially
instructed you thereon.
differ with the Editors of the Wig who said little
time back that although you not chosen from among
the People to meet any great question, yet having
presented ITSELF in the discussion of which you have ga
thered many ocers Of eioquence any OF your pre-
decessor &c. Now Gentlemen, the People of Virginia did
not send you 10 Richmond gather any such RotceyS
but simply TO do their business home as soon
as possible. One why they consented to amend
their Constitution, was TO have fewer members your
body suppong their business would be done with more
expedition and prevent those long and expensive sessions
with which they had been often cursed and burihcned
But the course you have pursued, and are pursuing
Is not likely TO fulfil their expectations in that respect
In truth, Gentlemen your sessions should commence al
ways the LIST OF January, for you generally tre away all
December, waiting Tor Christmas 10 be over: And Too
many, am afraid, go TO the Legislature look for and
gather those f0toerS about which the Wing spoke |
again repeat you nothing TO do with the slave
ton at this time Sufficient for the day is the evil there
Of Subsequent Legislatures will be as wise as YOU and
they will have the advantage OF knowing the sentiments
oil those whom they represent, and accordingly. So
Gentlemen pray NEEDLE no more with that qucstionGa-
Their no more flowers of eoquence-Do what YOU were
sent to do and do nothing more, and home. Give
us no legislative action (ayethat the fashionable
phrase nowD upon subject vitality important TO the
People of this State, until you return to them again; and
when the action commences let proceed from The peo
pie: they are certainly wise you possibly be;
nor they much alarmed some of your honorable
body appear TO be- Many Of your speeches upon this
slave question will be doubt hailed with peculiar &C.
stacy, and read with delight by the Northern fanatics
The columns of the Lberato and such other nccndarv
prints in that quarter will TEEN with their publication. In
act Gentemen the only effect that your discussions can
possibly have, may be 10 produce another partial massacre
and hold out TO the slaves the idea, if they will but act
and then the over that occurred in Soutbamp
m, he off tod NO,,r
speeches can have other effect.
No. gentemen-the people want none of your lcgisla-
tive action at this time, upon that subject For as yonr
action be but PARTIAL TO take effect at distant day il
would only be inviting the slave population further iu
surrection and massacre They would justly say, that
the southampton affair had frightened you all So as 10
compel you to adopt partial for their free
DOM that they would those scenes and that
then they would bring their own terms TO wit: uni
versal and Immediate emancipation. That these will nat
rally be the reflections of this populations no one can
doubt So, therefore, gentlemen, let property alone
When II is necessary, the people will and the
evil. In the mean time, they will take care of them
selves and their slaves also. We really think that il
such question could be fairly put TO the slaves them
selves they would rather remain with their than
10 be free and sent away. The wretched condition
which the free people of color exhibit forms great
trast TO the happy condition of the slaves who are well
fed and well treated which now the case and has been
for years, with all the slaves of this State Yes, Gentle
men, direct your attention TO the free people of co!orre
ieve us from their prcsencepass laws TO make
once at least in every two monthswh guns, not sticks
which only for the negroes laugh aenlorce
slcicr discipline among our savcSDo this and the long
session you appear about to bless with will be
vain. Depend upon IT, the sentiments speak, arc
the sentiments OF the people at large. Their
deep and indignant at your unmey interference with this
important question. You actually sporting with our
property, our dearest righs-nay, very ves,-and
done more injury TO the tranquility and prosperity Of the
State, than all the legislatures that have gone before YOU
have done good since the establishment of govern
mcnt. You have thrown frebrand into the country,
from the baneiul effects Of which supplicate kind
Providence 70 shield and protect But for your unfo
unatc agitation of this almporant question, ST.
eny selling Off and getting rid Of our slaves, and les
senng the evil as fast possbcbut now you have
rested our career, destroyed the value Of property,
and plunged us into state Of feeling, which had
IDENTIFY aud ondly hoped never to have experencedLct
me here draw TO conclusion, and hope you also will put
an end TO your impoc aud fuitless discussion Again,
Gentlemen let me entreot you, to revise our
laws with respect TO the government and discipline Of
avesaPply the best remedy you TO get rid Of the
free copured Popuationcompo US 10 muster rs in times
OF Old with guns In handsdo but this, with the
binary business Of the session. homc and he people
will be satisfied They do not wish you TO refer any
question TO them When II is necessary, they will act.
Richmond, January TO- a PLANTER.