Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-05-03
DEBATE ON ABOLITION
Speech of Mr.. BROW.N, of Petersburg.

Speech Of Mr.. BROWyN, Of Petersburg.
Mr.. SpEAxER-When the subject under
Consideration was 6rst brought to the notice
Of this House, in the ostentatious form of a
petition from Hanover, felt but little appre
hension about the result. | avowed, at that
time, my firm conviction that no sche me of
emancipation was practicable, and that none
should be attempted Yet, was willing
that the petition should be referred to a
Committee, and disposed of, with all becom-
ing respect, 10 the ordinary manner. be-
heved the discussion Of the subject to be
unavoidable, and was DESTROYS of giving it
such direction as would be best calculated
TO settle and to sink it forever. know that
some intelligent gentlemen who concurred
with me in the object, were of the opinion
chat il would be better attained by differ
ent course, and that the petition ought 10 be
selected at once, as the most effectual means
Of arresting thu inquiry doubt not these
gentlemen are now convinced that the agita
ton of this question was inevitable. II sup
pressed in one form, it would have arisen in
another. Even the effort made by the gen.
tlemen from Mecklenburg, to arrest its pro
gress, has been seized by the advocates OF
emancipation as favorable opportunity for
the full expression Of their sentiments. The
very character of those sentiments and the
zeal with which they have been urged,
must be sufficient to satisfy every one that
they could not have been repressed 1t is
useless to talk Of avoiding discussion. 1t will
befortnnate five can prevent Gction-imihe
date and decisive action-on the subject OF
emancipation.
I have listened to this debate with the
most anxious and painful interest. The evils
Of slavery have been again and again emu
merated and set in appalling array before
our imaginations. Its impoyerlshng effects
Its immoral tendencies and the dangers to
which it exposes our lives and property
have all been the theme Of eloquent and
exaggerated representation We have beer
told that the body polite is languisblng IN
der disease; that it is ga mass OF corruption
THAT there is hidden in its bosom, pest
hence more fatal than that which "wastett
at noon day. the sufferinss Of the unhappy
patient have drawn forth successive expires
sions Of pity, reproach and scornful sarcasm
1t might have been expected that, with sc
perfect knowledge Of the malady, the
physician could have recommended an ef
fectual remedy. None has yet been pro
posed that commands my confidence. have
examined the various schemes which have
and with an unaffected wish to find then
worthy of adoption. have analized then
as far as nv mind is capable Of doing it, ant
have endeavoured to trace through the mist
of futurity, their probable operation and con
sequences. 1t has resulted in the conviction
that they are all visionary and impractical
BILE. There are few leading considerations
of paramount importance, which seem to M
to constitute a standard to which we may re
fer every plan of emancipation, and D.
which we may test its merits. There are nov
IN Virginia about 470, 900 slaves-their as
gregate value is about one hundred million
Of dollars; the assessed value Of all the lands
houses. and lots in the Commonwe alth, Is 2O'
millions Of dollars Other kinds of persona
property bear but small proportion to thes
three principal items. Paper currency ant
credits add nothing to the actual resources o
the community; and it is apparent, ina
slaves constitute one third of the Who'll
wealth of the State The value Of lands
houses, and lots, in Virginia, East OF tn
Blue Ridge, is but little more than 100 NIL
lions of dollars The value of the slaves |
the same district, is about 30 millions, Q
nearly one half of its entire wealth. Ines
slaves constitute the nett proceeds oil tn
labor of our ancestors and ourselves, iroi
the foundation of the colony at jamestown
to the present moment We found the SO
where Il is; it was no acquisition OF ours v
GUILTY. ted it, and it has yielded US 100 m,
lions of dollars. which have been graduail
invested in slaves Many think it bad II
vestmen; an Improbable investment; an " =
righteous Investment. But whether 1t DC Il
good or for evil, the Investments mace.
now forms our capital stock. tbs the su
total Of the hard earnings Of successive gen
ra;ions, during the long and to'isome zap
Of more than two hundred years we
rive our subsistence from the lahour oil o
slaves precisely in the same manner that
would live on the interest of our money
the 100 millions had been invested IN ba
stock From the annual products OF th'
labour, we obtain the necessariesof life, a
have surplus Of more than four millions
expectation. Take from US these slaves val
out compensation, and what have we lie
Our land. Ills true-but even that would
81, deprecated to great and incaleulaole
INT BY depriving US OF isRouTess'