Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-02-02

~ as not to iniure the property, stili less the
lives and the happiness Of your neighbours.
And the moment even IN the best regulated
communities, there is 10 prsctice depar
tnre from this principle, ysu may abale the
nuisance. II may cause loss-but 1t IS what
our black letiered gentlemen term = deDnur.
o5so,m inipfsa-a loss for WHICH the law ai
fords no remedy,
Bot sir. II IS said that society having con
ferred this property sn the slave holder,it can
not asle take II from him without an sae-
quate c0mpensatioB--by which is meant full
value I may DO singular ~ this opinion,
but ] DEFY the legal research = the House
10 point me 20 principle even recognized
by tha law. where the community pays ior
property which is removed or destroy ed be
cause IL IS a nuisance and i0und injurious
10 that society There is hutnbiy appre
bend no such principle. There IS no obiga
lion upon society 10 continue your right one
moment after It becomes injurious 10 the best
Interests cf society nor 10 compensate yon
Tor the loss a, that, The deprivation OF wlrcb
is demanded by the safety Of this State and
IN which general benefit you participate as
member Of the community Sir, there Is
TO my mind manifest distinction between
cendenpIng private property to be applied
to some beneficial pubic purpose, and con
demning or removing private property which
IS ascertained 10 be a positive wrong to socie
~ IL is the law and is founded upon the
idea that any man that holds property irju
nous 10 the peace el that society oi winch
he IS member, thereby violates fbe only
condition by the observance OF which, his
right to the property IS alone guaranteed
For property OF the first class condemned
there ought 10 be compensation - but l1f
property Of the latter class none can be de
maaded upon princtpie--none accorded as
matter Of right. although considerations Of
policy considerations Of humanily---and "a
spirlt Of compromise may dctaIn some CON
pensation
Sir, docs not that plan of emancipation
which proposes freedom at future period -
and which guarantees TO the slave hofder The
preseat enJoymeht and profit Of that most
pernlcions species OF property contain within
lIsel, a principle of compensation?-a lair
and just proposition OF comp omse? | think
II does, and exhibit my views thus II IS
conceded that at this precise moment q our
legislation slaves are injurious 10 the inter
ests and threaten The subverson aud ruin Of
this Commonwealth. Their present plumber
Their increasing number, all admonlsh rs Of
this. la different terms AMI IN more measn
red language the same fact has been CONGO
dsd b. all who have yet addressed th,s House
"Something must be DONE emphaiicAliy eX
chained the gentleman from DshWiddie. and
thought could perceive a response to that
declaration IN the eouatenanee OF ms ority
OF this body. And why mast something be
done: because IL not. says the gentleman
from Campbell, Ne. Riyes) Che throat, of all
the tchite people oil Virginia will he cut---ND
says the gentleman from Dinwiddie--s' he
whites cannot he conquered throats eli
the biac,S will be cat" |, rs "A triaing dlif.r-
esce TO be sure Sir, and matters not to the
argument For The fact is conceded that one
race or the other must be eXtsrninated.
Sir, such being the actual condition of this
Commonwealth. ask il we w0'lld not be
justified nolr--supposiDg all considerations OF
policy aud humanity coucurrcd--wlthout G
ven moment's delay in staving III this APP
paliIng aud overwAeimies calamity? Sir, il
this immense negro population were now in
gathering into olack and iormy1abi,
masses OF attack-would that man be listen
ed TO, who spoke about property--who pray
ed you not to direct yoor artillery 10 such or
such point for yea would destroy some Of
his property? Sir to the eve Of the statesman,
as TO the eye Of Omnisclence, dangers press
Jog, aud dangers that must necessarily press,
are alike prcsept-with single glance, he
embraces Virginia now. with the elements ef
destruction reposing quietly upon her bosom
and Virginia lighted from ono extremity 10
the other, with the torch of scrvic insurree-
ton and massacre. 1t is suifh:ient for him
that the match Is not yet applied. 1t is
nough that the magazine is open-and that
ha tel W. II sbaxfIt h.. a,.,,{,,4
Sir, / think am then justified in contend
ing that the community might noe, by the
strong necessity pressing upon us, remove
this population. Bat do we propose il, pre-
sent REMOVAL No, Sir, we know the awful
which such a step would cause.
| mean CONFUSION in trade--la,i in the value
of property. and other rcsHIts, equally to he
summed and avoided. We propose, there
fore to guarantee to the slave holder his
right 10 all the slaves now born, and which
may be born before the Attn Of July, 1910.
upon the condition HAT he reiinqnishes his
right TO those born after that dav Is this.
Sir, not fair ground of compromise?-Is it
not the only compromise which the safety and
resources 9th State viii admit DIP
Sir, it is as true in national as il is in nri
va'e contracts, that loss and injury to one
party may constitute as fair a consid, ration
as gain to the other. Does the slave hohler
while he Is enjoying his slaves. reflect upan
the deep injury, and lncalculable loss, which
the possession of that property inilicts upon
ihe true interests OF the country? and does
be not perceive that society, in tolerating
that evil, say for thirty years longer, for his
bc'iJa, is il the shape of in jury to herslf and
benefit to him, giving him iu!l and adequate
L IS the only communication