Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-09
YVR1sIYaA EEGAsLATURE.
DEFERRED DEB.7TE.-[CosriSuEl
Saturday, December 10.

DEFERRED Observation-Disclosures
Sai.rday December 10.
DEBATE on MR.. GlLMER'S RESOLUTION.
Mr.. GIMER said: the remarks Of the gentleman from
Mecklenburr, render it necessary for Inc to trcspass
again on the patience of the House, while cndcaVour TO
do justice to my own motives The gentleman from
Mecklenburg who, it is we'll known, is the Chairman OF
the Select Committee to whom, his own molun the
whole Of the Governors Message the subject OF Abo
tion has been REFERRED here to-day to read US
letter suspicion, dstrus the suppressed zcrt, SuS
geso alsi and all that should have thought from what
the gentlemen has said that he totally ignorant OF
events which have occurred here and in winch he has
patcipated-hat he had come, like some Of his brother
Democrats, 'fresh from the People, unadvsed OF any
thing that has been said done here Now since The
gentleman has alluded to what passed between him and
myself may also be pardoncd for abiding TO It, lie, Sir,
being the Chairman Of the Committee, and gen.
teman between whom and myself there has always
existed the utmost personal good feeling however wide
may have been political differences, felt no
hesitation in consulting with him freely on subject
which had expected would have been met here with
very different spirit His position as chairman OF ths
committee the interest which he seemed to feel in this
subject the influence which he seemed to exert in the
deliberations of this House, induced me 10 regard him
a proper person to be consulted when contemplated
this movement | submitted 10 him the resolution sir
he had it in his custody at least one day and one night
and when | called on him for 1t with view OF submit
ting it here, he gave it to me with an amendment which
he proposed and which he wrote out the piece
of paper. It is in these words" that he (the Cover
no be also requested to include in his correspondence
inquiries, to the number, extent, character influence,
present prospects and designs OF the abolition societies
within their respective Sutcsuot desiring to detGct
aught from the body of the resoluton-no Directing to
any part of it, but urging this addition, enarging the
scope Of this very resolution which, he now tells U.s. is
to iulbruc hands in the blood Of our counrymen-
dissolve the Unon displease their maestles the Cover
nors the Norh and place the best interests and rights
Of this Commonwealth in Jeopardy. Sir, l would ask
him, whence came his suspicious? Are they really his
suspicious. they prompted BY some KIND and
hn ntisp rifnn If
his own intellect, have they been whispered TO him
by another? Why, when he voluntarily took all the
time have mentioned for deliberate reecon-when he
had been thus frankly invited to consider the subject
and when he had suggested this amendment, why ask
-7eH-4 ask him, why he did not then sec the dangers
which now haunt his mag inaon? The gentleman had
thought proper to say, sir that those who are the most
suspicious. themselves most to he suspected Really,
sir if this be the standard by which men are to be est
mated it does 10 me that the gentleman course
furnishes slight proof that at least faint
suspicion may attach to himself. What does he now
breathe bat suspcon-what ground has he to suspect
body but himself? lie has said something about the
cry Of :stop thief" Sir, did you observe that
there is certain nondcscrpt class OF politicians in the
Old Doninion-l will not ask if they now call them
selves the great Democratic Republican Pary tor rose
NAV smell as sweet by Us anotler-who, If
this poll ca cry Of sop theft is raised, arc sure to
clap their hands their pockes' They are like man
with hump his back if you smile, he is angry and
suspicious, because he lnagnes you laugh at linn II
thinks YOU are moved to sympathy by his dc!ormy.
Conscious Of inherent defects, knowing they deserve
suspicion; some men convert The most innocent ana
harmless word act of others into subjects of sns-
picion Let me tell tine gentleman from Nee len-
burg he ought not 10 have cast this stone. leave
the House to Judge when and how his suspicious
have been excited Who was eager to move the refer
cnce of the Governors message? Was it not the gentle
man from Mecklenburg? II he then discovered d gun
powder plot in that document why did he not pin it to
the table, But no. sir, he deemed the suggestions ofthe
Governor of so much Importance, that they must needs
be referred select committeeman he moved that re-
ference When were his suspicious excited: In his
room cir? his pillow, while lie reflected on this
lution-or here since the knel Of party has been "lcd
BY the gentleman from Buckingham and others: Is he
afraid that if he remains true to Virginia. he cannot be
true also to certain other interests which and
dear to his heart: He has said he the object Of this
resolution when it was first hewn TO him. lie did, sir;
and did not object to it, Does he say that he these
evils with his eyes has he since borrowed somcbo
dys telescope, that he microscopic, Invisible
objects loom like mountains before him. The gentleman
has compmentcd my forecast when he said that fore
saw the consequences which this resolution may lead
confess, sir that while do not contemplate quite
gloomy picture Of evils the gentleman inlagina
ton depicts, have been unable to or to guess
precisely, what may be the result Of that agitation which
has sprung up in this country have earnestly endea
vored 10 keep this subject out of the vortex of party.
had hoped, that when reason had resumed her throne
even those gentlemen who at first Indicated their party
prejudiccs strongly would have come to the consde
ration of this subject statesmen PATRIOTS and not
partizans. If have been mistaken in this hope, sir
wish it 10 be remembered that the fault lies not at
humble door The debate has taken wider range than
had anticipated and sub ects have been introduced the
connection Of which with the objects of the resolution,
am unable to discover. Sir, il is needless to go in
curing into the which have led TO these excite
mens on the subsc of slavery. 1t is needless to nsk
whether they have sprung from the natural differences in
the social organization OF the structure Of society the
North and the Soutsfrom the provisions of the Fe-
dera Compact giving to the slave property of the North
qualified representation in Congress-from the clash.
ing interests of free and slave labour-rom the menora.
bic and deep agitation the Missouri Question-or
whether it proceeds from that maniac spirit Of wild ia.
naticisn, that false and deusve philanthropy, which
yet boded good TO the destnies Of 1t mat.
tiers not whence this excitement comcs how-it is
enough that it exists and is duty legislators
avert it's dreadful consequences from Virginia, if
Whence do we apprehend danger? From Coas ress;
No. sir True in past times they have sought there to
NEEDLE with this subject and it is asserted by that
they have right to do-what does IT become US to
say on that point? Hands otf-touch not-spcak not
think not at your peril there Where the action 81
Congress be apprchendcd? Not surely in the slave
holding Staes-.or, trust there is not yet man even
here, Mr. Speaker, who will not maintain that the reu-
ton of master and slave is strictly and absolutely mum.
cipal and domcsc-that none but ourselves can Law
fingers weight Oh it, Is it unprecedented in the District
Columbia 1t VIII suffice then for this Legislature to
declare its solemn determination not permit any in.
reference through that with the slave
Of those who did once, and may again acknowledge a
Iegiance TO our State.
Sir said Mr.. G., for apprehend no dagger from
Congress- They have other fish TO fry-They are too
busiiy engaged in Presdent1naking They make Pre-
adents and Presidents in turn make them. When it
shall become necessary emancpae our Slaves in order
TO make President, then we may look with dread to
Congress But till then, land can tell how long
that may not till them need we fear any