Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-03
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE a..
DEFERRED DEB.aTE.-[CoxrIsurDl
HOUSE OF pELEGATEs- Saturday, Jan.

DEFERRED DEBAIE.-lCoSTINuED.1
HOUSE OF DELEGATEs.-S saturday, Jan. 16.
ABOLITION RESOLUTIONS. ,
MIR. SUMMERS said, that before he took his seat he
would briefly assign of the reasons which would
induce him to vote for the adoption of the resolutions
reported from the Committee rather than for the subs
tute proposed by the gentleman from Goochland AS 10
the question which he had already edvered to- it was
presented in each set of resolutions and in n much
more objectionable form in the substitute than in the
original report, inasmuch it there declared that
"any attempt to berae the slaves the District before
mentioned, would be violation of the Constitution
That, however, not the ground which he gave his
preference to the Report Of the Select committeeman
had, at length rid itself of those entangnp questions Of
order and parliamentary proceeding which had SO long
obstructed its action, and forbade examination
OF the real merits of the two propositions. The
difficulties which have embarrassed us, said he are
happily removed, and now fairly look ,lpon
this picture, and upon that and decide which is the
most faithful representation of Virginia sentiment
which set of resolutions speak forth her opinions in the
fullest and most manly tone-whch is most likely to
command respect and attain the great end which trust
we all aim at the peace ahd security of our beloved
State. The report of the COMMITTEES Mr. s. said comes
before the House in the usual way-throrg h the or.
ganlsed and appropriate channe-and unless il could
be shown that the substitute had rghtful claim 10
superiority he should prefer the report that account
alone lie reminded the friends of the substitute that
when another resolution under discussion in the
ly part of the session, (Mr Gilners resolution autho
rising the Governor correspond with the Execn,ives
of the nonslaye-holding Sutes one of the obect;ons
urged against H. perhaps the strongest was that it had
not been submitted To the consideration of committee
way-that select committee, of unusual intelligence
had been appointed for the especial purpose of takng
ehsrge oil all questions pertaining to this subject and
indeed the decaration that the committee referred To
formed talented division of the House was so fre
quen,y repeated and the charge of innovation made SO
loudly, In consequence of that proposition having
been submitted TO the aforesaid committee, that Mr. s.
said he naturally inferred, that any which should
10 the House. recon aided by the udon,ent of
majority that enlightened body would at once meet The
unanimous appreciation of the Rouse itself He suppos-
ed that 1t was scarcely claimed aow that all the talent
beb ho1h hoo,
among the minority OF that committee who had
the House with the very luminous report submitted
through the gentleman from Meckienburg. The rule
MIR. said hc understood 10 be this: that when subs
tue for the report off committee IS asked be adopted
the friends of The substitute bound to show its supe-
rority TO the original The OTaS prObanE, if he might
use legal phrase lay upon them Has this been done?
In what does the superiority of the substitute consist
In elegance OF diclon, strength of argnment-or in
its more striking conformity, to the demands of the cri
sis, and the proclaimed sentiments of Virginia. Let the
two papers be examined, in reference any and all of
these enquiries and the result of such examination must
he contended be favorable TO ie adoption of the ogi
nal report The second resolution of that report after
maintaining the sole and exclusive right of Virginia TO
control the subject of slavery within her iurisdic
onal limits, declares all interference herew with by The
General Government, the other States or the ciiizens
thereof TO be invasive of the rights of the slave olin
States, and violation of the Constitution The first
resolution Of the substitute, which is the proposition
competing with that above mentioned, also main
tains the exclusive right Of Virginia legislate upon
this subject aud goes on 10 declare, that any at
tempt TO change their conditions Chat of the slavcs1
nj tIe
other States, will be regarded an invasion of
rights under the Federal compact" The Substitute
wholly omts to declare that the action Of the citizens
OF other States having for their object the abolition of
slavery in Vrgna, is invasive of rights is con-
fined in its denunciatons, exclusively, to the action of
the General Government the action of the States
States In this il met his decided disapprobation
The history Of this clause is little curious said he 1t
IS to be found both in the report of the majority and mi
norty OF the committee; the only differences being that
the words the "ctizeHs thereof used in the former
ana the sui more comprehensive words, he people
employed in the latter The entire committee then
concured, he sad in the dcclaaton that any eo ri by
the citizens people of the nonsave holding States 10
affect the condition of our slave property whether such
effort were made uRder the sanction Of the Government
to which such citizens belonged, or otherwise was
"invasive of rights" and violated the obligo.
tons of the Constitution Still more decs;ve uaoo
this point, the vote of the House itself a dav
or two SINCE upon the motion TO strike these wods
from the resolution, which motion negatived by
a very large maority.-Yet, after all these maniles-
tabons OF opinion, IL was now gravely and zeaously
urged that this most essential feature of the report
should be given up and that, too, by Of those who
Heo heretofore united IN ITS support lie could but
regard the former action Of the House as having settled
the question conclusively The preference of The sub
Butute, with this material avernent omitted parcnlar
y in connection with the circumstances lust aIIuded IN
he said, would amount 70 TIC clear declaration on orr
part that did consider the movements "a the cit
zens OF other States, nPon this subject az al nfac
i've OF our rights in violation Of the obligations of
the Constitution. Indeed, that this was its eject and
thath was so intended had not been disgaised Gen
uemen opposed TO the report Of the Committee had ex
pressly maintained the floor the opinion that poasis
OF individual citizens, could amount 10 breach Of the
Constitution unless sanctioned and actted bv The STATE
Governments, Of which they neAbeFs Whence
those gentlemen derived their notions Of constitutional
law, or the law Of nations, hc did know, Bv tbc 49,
ter code governing the intercourse, and relations of dis
hnct nations in no wise connected wiih each other ifs
citizen or number Of citizens Of one Government com
mitied offences agaIst the citizens Of another invading
tbeT rgbts OF property otherwise lc Government If
the injured pary bad right 10 denaad redrezs sad rno
conceded u was 81 many cases just Of var How
much ssornger was the reason for tie recognition and
Observance Of those rights which depend moi uoon The
gencra and almost asdeGncd terms Of international law
ou upon the stpulations Of written Constitution r..
guating the relations Of associated States bound o,
Tor the purposes OF common defence lie held st the
ocuon Of an aDoiiiioniss IN New York ConnccGcst
aiming al the disturbance Of Che slave population or Viz,
gina was an offence, not Only against ske latter
"n Dnt against TIC peace aad interest Of that t. which
he might himself belong by tho terms Of s,tioa which
c0pDec these states, he said that which wss az aaek
Fp9p ono, was an attack upon AL lie who in one tst
lncss rebellion or InsnrrectOn in another il AZ ,o.cb
e enemy o. his own state Of that against which bis
uhnoY egofts are more Immediately directedand IL to
De held the common enemy Of al Whatever endao