Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-23
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURES.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.-Friddy,J an. Is.
4. ABOLITION RESDLUyIONS
DEFERRED DEB.4TE-[CosrlSUEp.1

HOUSE OF DELEGATES-Fridoy,J an. Is.
ABOLITION RESOLUTIONS
After Mr.. SraSARc had coac!uded there was strong
and general call for the question.
Mr. Parker said | am very sensible that the oaticnce
Of the House mast he nearly exhausted. might tie
mand nv right to be heard but that mi ht be cons
dered offensive, will appeal to the courtesy of the
House This is question: which should not be too has
tily decided. Let it he reinembered that whatever
necessary delay has occurred III It's settlement Is str
batable the political ority, and not to the ni@oy
of this House; perhaps might more properly say to
the leaders of that maj ory. And to none Is this delay
more ascrlhabe, than to the gentleman from Goochand
iMr. Watkius) When that gentleman introduced his
a,nendmcnt such the furious indifference be mani
frsed IS fate, that he understood by some Of
his friends to saw lie did not "''"" Give asterisss
sir will answc1) whcthcr it succeeded or not What
sir introduce proposition hese upon this vital aud
citing topic, and then such perfect indifference tor
its success! Why prelong this discussion by the in
troductioa Of amendment about which ne is totally
regardless:
When the genllemaR from Abemarle mr. G;lmcr)
some weeks ago offered his resolution it opposed
upoa the gtoend, that it did not originate witk the
lcet committee The resolution which II is now moved
to strike out, and the entire series Of which 1t is part,
came from that committee, and adopted after the
most mature consideration. Nay, sir, key received the
sanction Of some OF tho Administration members OF that
committee. They could not have passed without such
sancon for there is majority of that party upon the
committee When reported, the chairman of the COM
mittee (Alr. Gaand Of Alrcklenburg) is found first in
opposition to them; proposing, amendments which Ge.
stroyed their value, and taking his seat without offering
any reasons their favor Called upon for reasons he
objects the OF the word citizenS in the resolution
OF the committee and moved to strike It out, which
uSR jcccd upoa acall OF The ayes and noes, by
vote Of l0S 20 ~. On tae next day, the gentle
man and the gentleman from Campbell lMr. Dancl,)
wIest the whoI. subject from the minority Of the House
and take it into their special and mana cement and
the gentleman from Campbell aoved to strike from
the resolution offered by the genteH,sa from Mecklcn
buro us an amendment to the resolution of the
,nittee, the word "people, which was carried the
ayes and noes not being demanded Thus, sir, the
Of the preceding day reversed-"cltlEcns al pen
ple being equivalent far rs tins question: OF inter-
ference is involved shall not undertake 10 account for
this change in the opinion of members or search out the
motives for this change Do fear, To send back
the people Of the North their principles: At the
public meetings held by them in the last summer, they
admitted that any interference with the slave property
of the South, by the 'c,tizens or the "pe"pe OF the
non.sayehodiny States violation of ti;e coDSli
tutional obligations; and this, the gentlemen from Neck
lenburg and Campbell, and the party 10 which they be-
long, deny Sir, has {" this that Northern men
concedc more than Southern Inen-the Representatives
of Virginia in this hall, willing 70 do upon this sub
ject AT the Albany meeting expressly admitted
that "any a,cmptby the government, people OF any
other State TO interfere with slavery, would violate the
spirit of that compromise which lies the basis of the
Federal Government New York Park meetng), ''tlat
the citizens of the North have political right to inter-
fere with the slavery Of the Southern States" New
York Crammany HalD-"mc deem it not only uucou. |
su,ionn1 but highly improper, &C. that the citizens of
one State should lntermcddc, &c. New Haven ICON.
necticut-".fo conhination Of men in one State
has the right interfere, DC. Boston-rhat the pro
Die of the United States by the Constitution have So
pnnly agreed with each oher leave respective
States the jurisdiction pertaining TO the relations of as-
Ter and slave within their boundaries and that no man or
boy of ncn except the people governments OF those
States can of right do any uct to dissolve mpuir the
ohl,rat;ons ofhat contract" Other meetings irhl be
cited but will not detun the House by further refer
ences These principles, thus admitted and promuigat
ed by the Northern Subsequently, the wise oil the
East-urc renounced by the gentlemen from Mccklen
burg and Campbell and those with whom they act Yes,
sir while the North admits that the "citizens or the
"people of the nonsavehoding States cannot Interfere
with slave property, without violation OF their con
stitutionai charlottesville principle is dencds voted
down on this floor by those calling themselves the cham
pions of the rights Of the people.
There is another circumstance in the course of the
gentleman from Gooch!and, which gave me infinite sur
prse When the gentleman from Orange (r. Woolfolk)
Introduced his amendment declaring that Congress had
not the constitutional right abolish slavery III the Dis
trct of Columbia the gentleman from Goochland
stated that he had omitted this declaration in his SUBJ
stute for the sake of harmony-n order TO compromise
on;n;ons in this House. WHAT Sir, is that gentleman
to waive this constitutional question at time
like this when the entire South Is agtated and alarmed
at the almost incredible number OF petitions presented
to Congress- and which daily increasing ior the abo
itiou Il slavery in the District. hope shall be par
dsned fss an ausqn 70 tbs opinions OF MI Van Suren