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

that power which is supreme. Bot, sir. sair
ana iuie y every effort 10 straugle this en-
curry You might as well attempt 10 chair
the ocean, or avert the asenging thunder
ssits OF Heaven, as to drive the people from
any enquiry which may result IN their bet.
ter condition. This Is too aeep-.too engross
ing subject Of Consideration II addresses
itseii too strongly TO our in,erests--to our
passions. and to our feelings There ID not a
/ county--not town--nut a hewspaper-uot
! hreslde M the State where the subject is
! not fully and ieanessiy canvassed: and shall
we, the constitutional inquest Of Tie Com
monwesith, sworn TO make a TRUE enquiry
INTO all The grievances ul the tpeople, and 10
The best oil our abilities apply the remedy--
snail we, alone, be ieund 10 shrink from this
enquiry Add here permit me TO advert TO
aremark which fell, am sure inadvertently
from The gentleman from Brunswick BE
cause, iorsooih, IN asking this enquiry, we
nave chosen TO depart from the folly of our
ancestors, and TO discuss this quesiion--not
with closed doors not in low and breathless
whispers-not with all the numuety OF an
rental Divan, We have been told that we are
treating the subject '.aippcnay'-not a. was
done IN The better days Of the Commonwealth
II h'PPancy, sir. IA tlie vocabulary ofthat gen
tleman, signifies free and open discussion
Oh that which concerns the people, and which
they have right to know. | plead g,ity 10
MS charge-most certainly not otherwise.
CIR, There Vas one idea adversed 10 by the
gentleman from Brunswick pressed Upon us
yesterday by the gentleman from Dinwlddie,
tMr, Brodnax,) and not pnirequebtly an
nouaced upon the floor of this House, which
feel constrained TO notcet--a ttew If nv
n at m 4
true, will take the liberty OF shelving the
House is now no longer 20. | aliude. sir. TO
the in,ination thrown out, that the whole
question OF slavery is exclusively an Easter.
question question Over which tie gentle
men iram the East should enjoy and excr-
else exclusive legislation, and That we Cf the
West should content ourselves with being
mere "lookefs on IN Nenicc"--not actors or
speakers IN this thrilling and important drama
Sr, upon this delicate question OF juris-
diction between the two portions OF the State,
shall make bot single remark Ii shah be
explanatory oil my coulse-i will not under
take 10 speak for others My course is this
that at the same time. that am disposed to
accosd 10 the East, exclusive legislation up
on this and every other question, where the
consequences of that legislation can alone
aitct themselves, so IN the same spirit OF /,
beraIity and justice, do claim TO be heard
upon ANY and every subject, where the eff
feet Of your legislation most fundamentally
and ,iially concerns my own people Upon
any question touching slavery, perhaps in
Difference 10 the eXclusivei.m which nv pre-
sci,ption the east has heretofore enjoycd w
on that subject, | might make my creed still
more liberal Thus IN the Valley we have a
large slave interest, yet greatly subordinate
10 amount TO the same species OF property
held ~ The country east oil the Blue Ridge.
In all the details then ofany scheme of eman-
cipai'on; IN providing the requisite clrecks
and guards for property, 4 should be d,.pos
ed to defer much to the wishes, opinions, nav.
II you Will have It, even the pre- JUDGES ofthe
east But when you approach the simple and
naked question shall lhere be some scheme of
emancipation? shall there be some ,ifeck
gwen to tins growing and all dlfinsing evil, 1
VIII surrender TO u" man: for maintain il,
there IS no portion Of The Commonwealth
more deePly-ndOre vitaliy interested in that
question than The country west oil the Blue
RidSe-niore particularly The valley country
cia'in 10 know The interests oil my constr
tuents, and knowing them. | feel myself
bound fear:essiy TO maintain them, We are
now IN the situation in which your section OF
wy S""'hJ Fu' ~ ooHICth!bE IKE cen
tnry ago, when impressed with the growing
evils Of slavery, you impIored the British
throne to forbid the further introduction OF
slaves into this State That petition was
spurned. And history records the conse-
q4ences-tbe consequences 10 them-the
consequences TO you This is the crisis OF
oar fate We may now arrest the further
march OF slavery to The west--we nav strsn.
gle the infant Hercules in his oracle. I, is in
my judgment The solemn duly of the Yves
tern Delegation TO do So or we prove faith
iess 10 the people whict has entrusted il.
dearest interests 10 our saiokeepne
Sir, can it be possible, that correctly IN
defstood gentleman from the Valley 10 sa,
on the first day OF tins debate, that he wa
instructed to vote against any aud every pos
sible scheme of emancipation which nigh
be brought forward this winterP MAY | b.
pardoned for asking that gentleman bv whom
and when those Instructions we're givenP
ask for information only, for dd not sup
pose there vas that SINGLE individual west o
the Blue Ridge, who was not disposed to co
operate with their eastern brethren In the &C
compishment ol this great and benefcien
object-still less Sir sld ! expect such recre
ancy from the vital policy OF the west. IN til
great sHd public spirited county OF Frederick
IL | am correct, and the gentleman is ~
structed, and Frederick has arrayed herse
against this noble ami benefieent cause, the
Sir, will say, of the wide extent of countr
! west OF the Blue Ridge. she stands alone,
|, a spot upon our resta! robe,
The loOlse for tsLsf she soiIs