Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-04
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
DEFERRED DEBATE-TCoYT,snyD7
HOUSE OF DELEGATEsEMondav, jan. !,

ABOLITION RESOLUTIONS "
Mr.. PARKER said | rejoice very much that called
upon the gentleman from Neckleaburg (Mr Carlandl
to give to the House some reasons Tor his pronosea
amendment When il was offered a most profound and
awful silence pervaded the House as thouq, sor,e
mighty evil had fallen upon it. Seepg this IfIt ~ IS
DC my duty TO call upon the gentleman for reasons nd
sir 1t he should have better reasons for other
ments he may contemplate Offering would recoms,e nd
to him to cease his opposition 10 the report of the conn
mittee His reasons for preerring proposed subst
tute have been so completely demolished by the gentle
man from Richmond, that he does dare TO yindcnte
them-but has changed his ground lie tells US that enr
rights may be invaded by the citizeas of other States
without violation of the Constitution But what is
the right TO which he aludes His resolution does not
assume that we have right to hold slave propertv
and to control and legisate upon it, under the Con,
sutution Nor does he advance that opinion Now
Sir, what does the resolution which he seeks to
out declare Why, sir, that Virginia alone has The
right TO lcgsate upon the subject Of slavery within her
imts-a right which is recognized and guaranteed BY
the Constitution of the United States and that all
terence herewith by the General Government the other
states or the citizens Of those States and is invasive of
The rights of the States and violates the OBLIGATIONS of
the Constitution Does the gentleman mean nv his no
uon TO deny this constitutional guarantee Does he
mean to say to the people of the North that the
ence by the citizens of the other States with this subject
wthin the limits of Virginia, is a violation of the
obligations the Constitution? Such il the Main and
obvious inference TO be drawn from his amendmen, i;
consequence of the omission in of declaration of nr
constitutional rights Now, not only agree the prin
ciples asserted in the resolution the gentleman wishes
Jected, but DESTROYS remind the Northern peonle
OIL their constitutional obligations and To- announce To
tcih WiiaL dCtS we OelieVe violation of them
as oien as we can, bring to the recollection of our North
ern brethren the undenabe truth that they are hound bv
the Constitution to refrain from interference with our
social condition.. But if they shall forget their dr
y--if this warning shall not induce them TO nrovde
Tor our security, /, for one, ready TO resort TO
stronger measures-wbether they may be of that kind
contemplated by the gentleman from Meckenburo
IN such an event, L cannot say. IL seems TO me-
idle to say, that interference with our slave proper
~ may be violation of rights and not violation
of the Constitution. We believe that those ;I' aa
guaranteed to us by the Constitution: and WIN shond
we not carry home TO the bosos of our brethren this
important principle? Can there be any objection to th;s
declaration? Certainly not those who believe our
right to our slave property constitutional right
=, understand (said MIR. P) the gentleman from
Mecklenburg, TO deny right TO call upon the non
savehodng States to pass laws for the suppression of
the ncendaIy and sedous associations existing within
those States. ~
Mr.. GARLAND said we had no sucb r;ob, hooo,,.o
the Northern States had not the constitutional power 10
suppress slch societies
Mr. PARKER-Yes, sir, the gentleman not only sovs
we have right to make the demand hot thai tbo No.
slave holding States possess constitutional power 10
comply with IT. This is surrendering the whole oues.
uon lie not only says so, in explanation but he has
to-day declared that the slave holding States have
as much right to suppress, by law the female scwng
socieues Tor charitable purposes within their limits as
70 suppress uhese incendlary and seditous
WINE the ladies of The North attend 10 their apurop,,
duties, would not have their governments Interfere
but when they shall abandon their sbuule and d;s,e
and mnglc IN the internal fauaticism which aims blow
at our safety and happiness, will dcnounce then and
invoke the same punishment upon them from The GO.
NefHIheuLS uhueI WHICH tney 1--we as i would he
less iar portion OF the creation. The gentleman from
Meck!enburg, was member Of the Committee st a
public meeting In his own county, which prepared and
reported TO that meeting the resolutions connected with
this subject beg leave to call the attention of the
House to OF these resolutions 10 shev how ~,
terry inconsistent is the opinion now expressed by
the gentleman, with that asserted in the res,lu,ioy
to which refer: Resolved That we cordially re
sPond TO the sentiments and resolutions of our fell
low-eitizens of Richmond, expressed by public
meeting in that City, the 4th instant, and that W..
will firmly cooperate with them. and with our fol
low-ctzens OF the South generally in such measures
as may secure the undsturbsd eninvnent Of our cor
mon rights" To understand fully what is here de-
clared LET me call the attention of the obsa 10 In. d.
Resolution OF The citizens of Richmondit is in these
words hesotDed That we have inst eaiD on all the
non-slave-holding States for the enactment of s,gLJ
and Efficient facS 10 reprcsS and nut dozen ,
H"es5 az Weendt0ry a"d sedHtoEs Gss0ctaoHs whose
AVoweo purpose IS 10 disturb peace and Excite insur
recton among our slaves and eoafdenty rein ON The
ioisdom and Jrnness Of the General Assembly 5y bro
per appeal TO those States To- trocu,e k5e If l
iaDs. | wish the House md the poons r., sss - a.
present opinions Of the gentleman stand in reoti,, a.
this subject What now appears 10 the gentleman not
sanctioned by the claims OF right the authority of tbo
Constitution be assisted a member Of the co,,;,
IN asserting by The MccklenbuTg Resolution NV6c,o ~
tne gentleman Consistency On the ono hand we have
hrs declaration at Tie MeckenbUIg meeting that the Pc
pie Of this Stale have just claim upon the non sl,ve
holding States to suppress these wicked combinations ~
their citzens by penal enactmenfs and an f6s tt -
declaration repeatedly and deliberately made to-day that
we have no such claim, because the
states possess no such power thus 70 suppress these as
htlt i75 ~ ~ FNc3 some consistency in this
Tor tey nave not The constitutional power 10 PASS
such laws, we have no just claim upon them 10 do 60
IL wouo 90, indeed, perfectly idle aud ridiculous in as r.
assert claim for protection upon those NOT bav; 49,
constitutional power TO give IT, And the absurdiiy ~
the gentemans change Of opinion is slewn IN liz in
contr0vcrtible truth that deelorafio, a., | ~
right TO make demand is concession that fbosc an
whom the demand made have the power 10 grant Win,
70 demanded. and does the gentleman mean 10 s,v
that the members Of the Meckienburq mestino ,seygs
guilty Of this idle and ridiculous assertion of an nni,
Slain Sir, what magical influence has seized upon dc
tanned BY bis own constituents in public meeting