Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-21
Remarks Of yWr. GHOLSON Of Eruns

| demonstrated
| determination of the House to discuss the uucs
t,on' Some gentcmes had been pleased TO sav
.'1' such course was rendered proper from cour,-
oy ana respect TO himself, who, by parliamentary
| usuSe was entitled tn the floor. He thanked item
| ou' II thoy conceived, ,at in granting him this
Pr,vhe2e, they either gratiiisd his feelings or con
| S"i'cu ms wishes, they mistaken-grcatly
| Ihistpkcn Those who know my sentiments
| SS"o Mr. Ghoson,) on this absorbing question best
| hhow mat L dcprecate the discussion of it, and
that have heartily CO operated in cvery cfor, "a
| 'Folu IL. IL is question, which, from its very
| nature, should never be openly discussed until W.,
"e ripe Tor prompt and energetic action. It's dis.
| c"ss"n now, can be productive of no beneficial re
>nH' but according to my best Judgment is fra,lcht
| "rh incalculable mischief The course of our
pre- eht deliberations is unique in the history Of our
| ieris!atlon. Our political fathers have set us no
| such example. SIR, we are ur,nindCul mud regard
less OF the prudence and mSpcction which
marx tho better days of the Republic Then sui,
Jects OF the delicate and raomentous character OF
this. were considered with chased dooys and secre,
Io"rnals- -noio they discussed with open doors
| !hronged galleries and busy reporters We debate
| 1.-THE Press debates i-cvery body debates il.
Ana all this is done, as if the slaves around us
! had neither eyes nor ears-or that having ears
they heard not, and having eyes, they saw not 1t
49, however, too late now to repine this discussion
| cannot be avoided-alrcady has the report of it..
| gone abroad. L then, call upon gentlemen who
| agree with me in thinking the proposition of the
gentleman from Albcmare, las monstrous and uncon
W meet III to discuss
it-publicy to expose il, and publicly to reject it,
In order TO present the question now under de-
bate In It's proper aspect, beg leave to sketch Il
bret history OF the progress of this subject Very
early IN our session, Memorial to this Body
from the Society of Friends, PRAYING the enamel
patton ofslaves, was presented to this Uorse Inv
the gentleman from Hanover (Mr. RoaneD a
notion was then made, to reject the Memorial:
but as such course was unusual, under our rules
otprocccdng, the House ccined considering the
he rinl o,,l
matter OF course. AT the first and second meet
ings OF uic Committee, grave and important reso
intIons were offered, favorable {, cna ncipation-
1 lie committee did not act on these resulut ions
out they found their way into the public journals:
they wore announced with due pomp and circum-
stance, and Il misguided public was led TO believe
that the Committee was engaged in anxious and
ooun'iui elaboration on the subject of the aho-
ton of slavery. Hence tho most anxious solicit
tude has filled the public mind-thc tenure by
which one hundred millions of property is held has
been weakened, and disrust and apprehension ha We
succeeded contid nee and reposc. Sir nearly a
month has elapsed, since the reference of this
subject, and 10 report is yet made: and VIC are in
formed by the Chairman of that COMMITTEES, tbot
we may not expect under week from this
time.
Such arc the circumstances under which the
gentleman from Mccklenburgh has offered his re- |
soluton-under which he asks this House to dis |
charge the Committee from the further considera-
ton OF this subject, and thus to alav public ex-
cltemen, and restore tho public mind to its wont
ea commence and tranquility. And such too, Mr..
speaker, are the circumstances, under which the
gentleman from Albemurlc (Nr Randorhl has
Snonght 1t mis- duty. 10 offer his proposition as
SUBSTITUTE TO the resolution of the gentleman from
McckIcnburg.
1t is this substitute which claims the immediate
consideration of this House, and which has al
ready elected discussion, unprecedented in its
character and objects, in the parliamentary annals
OF Virginia.
What Sir, is the substitute? 1t is proposition
that all our Starss born after particular dafe
ShaH at q particular dGtc Merea fter unless re-
mored beyond limits, became the property
a. the Sia!e. 1t proposes the conf;scation Of
property, without crimc-thc appropriation of pri-
vate property TO public uses without lust cOmpen-
Sdtl0n-l have pronounced this proposition NOR
Str0us and uncon&tHutioRai and though the cpl.
thets do not please the fasdous taste of some gen
tenen, shall undertake to prove il so.
L hope that, in Virginia, L NAV refer TO con-
stItutional provisions, of binding obliration
they have ever, heretofore, been thought tolcrabv
good authority with us; and, while have deemed
IL wise to abide by them ourselves, we have not |
forgotten 10 advise ncighbors to edo likewise :"
10y the 9th article OF the amendments to the II. !
- constitution, it is provided that "prvatc pro-
perry shall not be taken for public use without Just |
compensation" This, sir, was an amendment |
proposed by the people, through their State Con
Venton, and intended Il Sccuremcnt and protec- |
ton of indrid"aL rights GgainSt GorcrnmcnfaiI
uSurpGtion. The same provision, in the same
words, is Incorporated in the very body of own
Constitution; and If private property be not pO,c
secure in tho hands of its owner, know Of no vi
gilancc or clrcumspection which could shield it from
rapaclty or usurpGtion. But this sacred principle
OF "mCum ct tuum" does not derive its sanctions
from Conventional churtcrs-it has its foundations
deep laid In the principles ofjnsicc-it is the very
iigamcnt which binds society togcihcr and permit
me, sir, TO tell gentlemen, that, if they once sever
1T, society itself is no longer worth prescrvation-
nay, state OF nature would he dcsirablc-for there
minorcs Of rninortics there were) would be
spared the contumely and nockcrv of being tied,
hand aud loot, "seCundum lcgcm," at the caprice
and pleasure of triumphant and vindictivc MAORI.
ties; without this principle, there is no civiza-
uon--Eo Eovcrnmcut-so essentially does the very
existence OF society depend on IT, that the horrors
OF war; pcstencc and famine silence IFS demands
only Tor a Scason-neCCssIty only can triumph over
ii; aud when the necessity ceases, il springs up
again, with demands ofindcmniy ior the past, and
the assertion OF It's usual prerogaves for the flu
furc. Then, sit, "PrIvatc property cannot be taken
Tor public use, without just CoInpcnsatOn." But,
while gentlemen reluctantly assent to tho truth
Of this proposition, We have seen .hcm flying 10
various exrGdicnts, to weaken The force Of its OBJ
legations, ard divert its application from the prin.
CiplcS contained i'm the substitute now under dis.
custom. Among these oxpedcnis is which,
when it shall be announced TO my constituents,
will fill them with wander at the lights which Iu-
mine the present age, and with modification at the
shameful ignorance in which they live. They re-
ally believe SIR, that S}rucs prOPcrfy, and Tint.
they bcloBg IL their masters. beg leave to apolo-
Cze for their ignorance. This opinion sir, was
impressed on their minds at tender age. 1t has
been uninterrupted in its operation, and has grown
with their growth, and strengthened with their
strength. Their forctathcrs and political teachers
profoundly ignorant of the subject, instead of
awaiting the light which has just now dawncd TO-
crrod 10 tho authorities of stgfufee. constitutions
md bcafiss. II is true that Tire Statute Law OF
Virginia, under her Colonial Government, recorn;.
zcd slaves propeSty.t is true that they existed
property, at the date Of our revolution Ii j.
truo that they recognized as property by the