Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-04-03

HOUSE OF DEIECATES IAN 3


HOUSE OF DELEGATES, JAMS
Remarks of MIR. DABNEY, of King Hiiiian on prc-
senting memorial from large and Intelligent portion
Of the people IF that county, demanding Inc removal
Of the free blacks, and lie adoption IF plan IF ADO
lition.
Mr.. DADNEY, in presenting this Memorial said-Tha,
he had received on the day score the Memorial which
held IN his hand, signed by alarge aud highly respectable
and intelligent portion of the citizens of the county had
the honorto represent in relation the the
colorcd population oil this Commonwe cath. That he
srecd exceedingly that the communication had not
cd him soonertha it had reached him least before
the action and report of the special Committee that
absorbing subject. asst might have influenced in
the which he had heretofore pursued, it
must necessarily influence his course i'm the absence of
any farther advces on the subject which lie felt him
sell called upon pursue reference this delicate
and cariuy Important matter lie could not but view
the Memorial indicaon-a strong Indication Of pub
lie sen ment i'll his county. He recognized in the long
list of signatures appended the Memorial the names OF
many gentleman, who, he aware, had thought much
and felt much OH the subjects embraced by the Memorial
He too had bestowed small degree OF reflection on this
'omentous matter, and entertained deep aud painful
hcitud9 in relation to ita socue that has daily in
creased by the debates in which the house week past
has been engaged The monstrous principles EXPRESSED
ana inc deep ana angry excitement produced by those de-
bates. He had felt and always acknowledged as was
known both here and in bis county, the many, the APP
pal'ing evils of slavery, which gentlemen here have re-
Gently expended much time and labor in cnumerang
and nprcssing the minds of this house. He deemed
II desirable above all things TO get Ii il possible OF this
curse, IA il has often and justly been enomnaed But
whom and how he asked, is dis, ''consumnaon 20 de-
vouty 10 be wished for, 10 be nltaincd The quan0o
and the q"o mod, Were enquiries that had puzzled
his humble mind and he believed OF the strong
est heads both in and out of the House. He er
himself free to declare them that he had the
euson to which the Special Committee the subject
OF the coored population OF the State had already cSmc
and reported the House, that inexpcdcn at this
time, at this session at least egate all SUBJ
joct of emancipation and removal of slaves. The reasons
tor this opinion had been too fully and ably urged by
gentlemen who have advocated here that side OF que
ZION to need or to justify repetition OF thcmby bin He
had been warned impressveiy warned by the novel
astounding doctrines, principles and opinions that had
been avowed, and the spirit and temper that had been
manifested in that hail. since the agitation and discussion
OF this great subject commenced He believed, lac
satisfied, that nothing efficient, nothing expcden would
oil the funds of the State that could be spared for such
purposes ought to be first applied towards the
the free blacks-a his humble judgments and
IN ms ne was sure ms constituents would heartily
with him) oiintnitsy paramount and primary Importance.
This end SO highly desirable might b. accomplished in a
tow years. certainly ought TO be accomplished spec
Oily possible 1t is obvious, however, that this will not
be tho ii the that may be furnished by the
State to be divided aud applied towards carving
on both schemes at the ;inelhe removal of the free
Blacks and the gradual emancipation and removal Of the
sayes When the first of these objects shall have been at
tanned it would then be time enough, seemed TO him
for the State 10 its attention resources towards
the Accomplishment OF the latter In the meantime FAX
ing pass such laws for the governments discipline
md control OF the slaves, the times and circumstances
might require 1t was evident that there could only
gwen number oil coored persons annually removed by
the furnished by the States and he one greatly
preferred la this number should consist altogether OF
free blasks, until all such removed. Any legislation
at the present session of the legislature, the subject
oil emancipation, would be attributed to improper un
tlst mOuveS--it would be attributed by the
themselves; it would he attributed to fear, a degrad
Ing fear that he by solitary mem
Dor OF that Houses fear Mr. ID. said, arising the
recent occurrences in Southampton, which had been so
much talked Of and so much magniicd he believed
abroad Under such an Impression it natural that the
slaves should become restless and look with eye of inn
patience 10 the slow aud distant operation Of the gradual
system Of emancipation which had been so much spo-
ken Of
opinion which lie clearly and sincerely entertained, that
II his constituents had been there with him. eye Witnesses
and witnesses what
and attempted and hat might farther he attempted TO be
done in regard to the important question alluded (thc
most important Of all subjects he believed that had ever
engaged the dclbcraOn Of the legislative councils of
Va) there would have been, lac could not but
think, the slightest difference of opinion this subject
between himself and tho whom was his pride and no.
there TO represent Ie hoped that in due time all
would before the people, all would ultimately come TO
hc know iedge oil The peoples and 1t would then be
whether he mistaken in the opinion he had lust ex
pressed As was the memorial a9 been formally placed
IN his hands, signed by portion of the citizens of King
William, whose numbers, weight OF character and intcIl
gencc, forbid that he should disregard i-ford dat ne
shOud hesitate, NJ ua lime, about the pro-
per for him 10 pursue lie should rejoice, always rejoice
50 long c had the honor OF seat at floor that the
voice OF those whom he had honor represent whom
ever uttered should be heard; d.sir will when.
evcrt was expressed, should be done there, lis
30 far as the memorial went said Mr. d. i'm relation 10
Che removal Of he free blacks he deemed
az That time at least 10 say thing. il regarded the
saYes, he begged leave 70 state, that the memorial
did not IN any manner, whatever, impuen the ripbt
OF property o. the necessity OF obtaining the consent
Of the owner before he could be deprived of it.
P'nVP,S'' w. "'s sure the memOrdlists held
sacred and inyioabc. But there two propositions
presented by the memorial which he not sure were
exactly contained in any similar memorial that had been
submitted TO the propositions he considered that
were well worthy the grave and attentive debcraion Of
the House well as Of tho Committee, if should be the
pleasure OF The House TO refer the memorial As these
proportions we're very brief he begged leave 10 state
them, and indong TO refer 10 the language the
mortal selEist, that the Commonwealth should raise by
tax on the blacks, free well slaves reasonable
sufficient TO delray the expense Of the removal and
maintenance Tor time, Of such slaves individuals nay
voluntarily surrender to fIe Stale. and
. chase Of few hundred Of young and lIcaiby oil
both sexes, aud for their removal in like manner |
And secondly, 70 prohibit by law the emancipation
Of slaves BY Individuals except conAiop Of removal