Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-13

and unanimously recognise the sovereignty state
Eyes, sir, the sovereignty OF virginia Nv
ledge more than many Of your modern republicans can
adm, in behalf Of their State)-"t' egsate ex
clusively on the subject Of slavery wnch is tolerated
within its limits" We concede that congress, un'
der the yresen national compact, has no right 10 IN
terfere with any of the slave States IN relation 10
this nnomcntous subject" Docs the gentleman from
Goochland and his friends, admit as much !hey telI
YOU it is true sir that Virginia mas lhis exclusive lg1
=; rslotc .sorsr the saves"-thc word opcr is rather
awk ward sir And we are told, that any attempt TO
chanoc ir condition. whether made by the Federal Co
ycrnrnl or the other States VIII be regarded as an IN
vason OF hts under the feGcral compact any
nitc,upt TO do what: "To change The condition Of the
sIares" SAYS the substitute Is that ALL Sir: Contrast
this language with that of the Committee report What
does thI. report say Not that we regard only an al
TEMPT Ia changc The condition u the StareS as violation
OF our rirts-but that all interference with the subject
OF domestic slavery, either by Congress- the States, or
the People OF the slave holding States, would be
regarded as violating our rights Sir how narrow, how
f1c, how tame are the restrictions Whlch tle gchlie
man proposes TO lay the Abolluonsts! They may
read lectures sing psams form themselves into so.
ce,ies disseminate their iaacous doctrines of natural
cquaty-do in fact, what they please; but SO long as
they do not attempt to change the condition OF the
slaves they have full License, from this substitute
I'm how naiy ways, sir, may they not endanger our
prnncrty our peace, and lives, without actually
getting up n rebellion or changing the condition oil
the slaves How many PretcXs have they already re-,
S'~'''
and religious condition of the negro race in America,
by cnlirnenng their understandings, and teaching the
young idea how to shoot" This substitute might he
adopted in every Legislature at the North-nay, Sir,
by the Abolition societies themselves, nem con-, with,
ont word Of debate dissent. Gentlemen can tell
Us of the dangerous tendencies uf the Abolition debate
in this Hail. few years ago. but their resolutions invite
similar discussions in every noi-sluvc holding State
They place rights in such questionable shape as 10
invite discussion and disputaon respecting them Ii is
only the direct 0rert act of emancipation, that Is depe-
Gated by the substitute. They may denounce the slave
holder as land Observation-Disclosures the system OF Sa-
very as contrary TO the laws OF God, and their notions
of the rights OF man. and interfere with our domestic re-
alions in Il thousand ways if they will only oLhge the
member from Goochand and his friends here, BY not
actually setting the slave rcc-brcakng the letters from
his hands This is the language which gentlemen OF
nar,iculur uolitical complexion would have this Com
Ionwcu!lh hold the ubolillon!ss, anu to The word
They would not hold these abolIllonisls Responsible
through their local Governments, unless they VIII cX-
prcssy drclas that what they shall say and DO Is a;i
ATTEMPT IL change the condition OF the slave But by
whom is the attempt chnnge their condition to DC made
by Congress- the States, or the people OF the States: l
have shewn, think, former occasion; thai tlrre Is
no reason to fear that Congress or tc etat!
will ever attempt to ChangC the condition OF OFT slaves ID
Virginia. 1t is from the citizens OF the States alone,
that any danger is to be apprehended
Mr. DANIEL said, if the gentleman from Aibclla!e
would refer 10 the resolution which he (Slr ~ hao OIL
tered this morning, amendment to liIr substitute,
he would see that this branch OF the subject was provided
for
Mr. WATKINS asked if the resolution of the gentleman
from Campbell! did not satisfy The gentleman from A!Oe-
marie.
Mr. G. resumed. No, sir-this resolution is quite an
other affair 1t does not touch The subject; It Is ~ more
than We had the other day; but I'll come To that part OF
your scheme presently, good friend from Goochand
promise YOU will; Sill still and be easy AIN now
considering the first resolution oil tins substitute and
AGAIN ASH what il is that is there dcprccatcd assure
YOU it is only the attempt on the part OF Congress or
the State Legislatures to rinanclPatc our saTtS i"e
substitute fears nothing from the only source wiv:ice
danger will asr; the people at the Norli. 10
gentlemen suppose that Congress or Tic Stl" L"g.ai4-
lures will alr.mpt 10 emancple our slaves |" l"ini
Abolition s0cctirS Let Us Imagine The gcnt!ei'I" 5
fivurc STAT III New York, or his laVoritc GuIrr-
nor Marcy, his wOuld.ue President, MI! ' AL b"-
rem, bringing ls subject gravcly before teir assSH'-
Lied '!r.n,crac wisdom at Albany-lniagInc mat you
see all democrats icrc III solemn conciavetll yoG ste
the gentleman ro. Goochand enter with his rrsoul"nSr
..y would tel! him that they know better where their
bread is bultccd than to attempt to cdngc Mc c0hdHs0A
d St0rcS by resolutions or By laws NJ sir, tcrc Is
DANGER u! tic States doing this. The parliament OF
EAglanI las acd the slaves III the British c"!o'
mes; but until the time shall! arrlvr-and cunr 1t may
S.-wlcn Virginia is 10 more than colony OF The EIli'
pre- State of New York, such question: warrant yc,
wall never lie moved or considered IN any Legislature
Not! OF the Potomac We need fear nothing lron any
Government, If the citizens Of these Governments Will
t alone. Whence, then, to be- apPIe.
hcndrd? FROM the cltlzcns-and the citizens only, oil
the sISl lVeUlGnT NlltcS, unucr S!lccl Vi t'll 'Ic
Governments Now, read the substitute, and tell mt II
il dcpcatcs any thing bat attempt to change the c'n-
dillon oil the slave and that too in the only quarter from
which such atlrmp! can never be made:
Al WATKINS here rose and asked The E'"Liocr from
A. why there WAS danger TO tc unprecedented from
the States CunGrrSsl!lt resolutions OF The commit
tee drpr, Gated any:
Nix: tiIlaIR rlsumcd-l will answer my friend from
Coorland IN his ;igori;c Northern mode by asking him
another question: If there is danger from the citizens
OF tic Northern Stacs who alone have formed these Sc
rirl!rs why does he omit to provide against 1t: |
a nGt responsible Tor the language Of the co'nEttee,
but it proper. and the criticism Implied III Tie gentle
nla! question Is unjust care not IRON now many
quarters shall be deprecated, not YOU say to all
tn. world hands Of! but do object to the OmSSiOA oil
the only quarter from which danger may be expected
This omission is than the surpusagc OF the COM
milire-and my interrogation !as nude that OMISSION de-
lbvraIcly lie has provided with patriotic caution
AGAINST GanGrr where danger there is none anG failed To
saY word about it where i! is. Now, ask the gentle
man if he ever heard OF State, Executive Judclary,
Legislative and al!-iormng great abolition society =
Does he expect to hear Of such thing: ask him
10 tell me why he has omitted to include the citizens OF
free States in his deprccaon Mr. q. here paused for
Il lulc-and then continued -Ihc gentleman docs not
ready u answer questions as lie was just ITO" 10
usL them
Mr. WATKINS sad-Bccausc il is supposed that the
citizens under the control only Of their govern
,.t lie did not agree with the proposition OF The ma
,rllv that any interference OF the citizens was invasive
ui our riuhts. aud violation ollhc Constitution man
night from pcnnsy lrania or New York, and steal
his jMr VS. harse but would that be an invasion OF
the constitutional rights Of Virginia: Certainly not
They M ght demand Of the Stale To which the thief be-
angrd that c should be given up, and il that were re-
fused inr The State having taken The crime upon her
SELF they NIL l make it State aiialr The objection
Of the gculcli;i from Albcmarc to the substitute was
not well founded in The latter poron they called ON
the States 10 prevent thu movements OF these soclerS
hr. GIl%%H. | will ask ny friend from Gooch!and L
few urs:inns He says he has hot alluded to the
cilzrns the North, because lie considers them acna'
b! ~ their Stale GUrcruu, sand yet he Is not Will
linz to ask these State governments to protect Us
any farther than prohibits tic printing aud PUBLISH
ing OF abolition trasts