Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-02-08

ding priest, upun whose weakness and vanity t"e co
,agnn Of every moral disease from Europe hIsl se'zes
il mey be sci down 10 arcation, or 10 auo'h oene
violence.
If uttered hy any gentleman here, 1t would be pro-
nounced false sca:danus aud brllous but coming from
sovereign Stale. might not be th"'ght decoFons 70
characterize it in this way; and therefore, The report
should not BE- received Ivy the Senate.
Mr. President, Of the South have Of late been 5"
habitualy subjected to attack that we grow hardened;
but what is worse, the Of gentlemen accus
toned to hear denounced that they listen to II as
matter Of course and really surprised ii any little
symptom of sensbilty be manifested by us 1t is thonsh'
strange, and indeed repIcErnsibe in Us to use The words
incrndury nnatic &c while the known moderation
and sond temper of the Senators from Vermont not
oil shocked by The language applied TO us IN inns me-
mortal! Mr.. President, the justice and the pnIiGy' 'he
courtesy, had almost said The humanity oil TINS oouy
should not suffer us 10 he thus calumnuled aud Vied'
We cannot stand it; ought not; you arg1a"e 'ie
body by listening such attacks. and you 1oice upon
The melancholy truth lha, our rights and feelings De-
ing disregarded here, must look 10 ourselves in pro-
lection; and am compelled 10 say mat my ue!ioetde
conviction is lIa, the South must protect herself IN TIL.
matter of abolition BY her own separate aEo secoha'
acon. -,
ar President do think that this legislative libel
should be recorded your journals. 1t nothing else
should deter you from poliung the records ot lie Be-
nate ty this full asperSion OF many citizens and SO
many States let the Senate reflect that It makes tse
party the libel by nscrbing it upon the journals una
prrp.tuaes an account of large portion OF this Nation
whicI, is altogether untrue for. Sir, must be permit
ted to tell YOU that there is not one word OF ruth IN
This defamation Of gu: country. On the contrary, Tor
honesty and honor for private and public tath Tor mo
rails and religion for good order and obedience TO tie
laws neither this any other age country has sur
passed the Southern States. There has not been WIN
in their borders much blood and burning, either from
serye insurrectiou popular frenzy us deiaced the
peaceful city of Boston in night and IN their
whole history all their irregularities put together, have
not equalIed the frenzy and violence which at this IN
tramples down all law human and divine, along
the whole Canadian line of Vermont
Mr.. White, Of Tennessee, made some remarks OF ''e
same tenor
Mr. Pren,iss said that, in stTctness the resolutions
only could be considered as the proper acts of the
Legislature. The Legislature is not Responsible 'or
every unguarded term, if there are any SUCH usea IN
the report Of its committee. IT, on severe scfu'hy'
nice verbal criticism, it may be discovered thh'
the report contains some excepl!onaoe phrase"'ogE,
it is sufficient 10 say, that the Legislature IS not
nnswerable for every expression which the tervof
of the committee may have led them 10 ADOPT II
cannot be supposed that the Legislature OF any su'
in any Of its proceedings would intend 10 treat with
disrespect any portion Of The Union. The presump'
lion is and should be, the other way But, Gcon'
tnued MIR P nothing in the report al al I'M
pcachinC, intending 10 impaach IN The slightest de-
gree the general charac'erof the South either for viz
tue intelligence, patriotism 1t speaks, to be sure
Of the evils Of slavery and notices. in epha
tic TERMS some instances Of lawless violence aud out.
rage growing out Of il, but does not mention these
outrages general charge against The People Ut urge
them as at all characteristic OF The South
do not feel myself called upon (said Mr.. P) to de.
fenh any Of the propositions contained in the resolutions
II they need any Defence which am b. no means Will
ing 10 admit it would be quite useless to enter into any
discussion Of their truth correctness at this time and
particularly of the proposition which asserts the power
Congress abolish ssv very this District That cues
ton was fully argued and debated here two or three
years since. ] then delivered my opinion upon 1t al
length and have inclination 70 argue ii now espe.
ciay the Of this body expressed in favor 81
the power by very decided vote.
n "a unCOUre
remarks. Though may lament this, shall mel
ther complain, al!ow myself to make any uncour-
teous reply. But must be permitted 10 say, that II
all ae fanatics md deserve to be called, who hold
principles and entertain opinions adverse slavery you
mus, number among this condemned repudIaed. and
cast.od class, of the soundest leads and purest
hearts in every civilized country. England, with all
her buas,ed fame for learning, with all her high renown
for literature and science s according 10 the conccp-
tons of gentlemen the very seat OF ignorance and ana
tcism Her poets ind orators, and philosophers md
divnes, with her long and luminous list of enlightened
3ursts and sagacous statesmen, arc, alter all but ISno'
rant fanatics miserable agators Nay, more, Europe,
most Of the entire Christian world, canno, escape
domination. Even The people OF this savclo!dlng DIS.
trict not exempt from the mFuia,inn. They. too.
must in their share Of denuncalio as gentle
men will see from document 10 which will for mo.
rnent ask their attention. The document ls nothing
less than petition TO Congress from citizens
of the District OF Columbia, presented IN lS2S praying
for the abolition Of slavery the District The petit
oners after promising that they beg leave to call the at
tenon Of Congress ",o an evil Of serious magnitude
which greatly impars The prosperity and happiness OF
the flee institutions established among us, proceed 10
say
'While the laws Of The U. States denouncc the 70.
reign trade piracy, and punish with death those
who found engaged in lts perperaton there exists
in this District, the seat of the National Government
domestic slavetrade scarcely less dsgracelu in its cha
racter, and demolazing in It's influence For
this is not like the former, carried against barbar
oua uuti ifS mn he
Of this country educated in the prece OF the
ligon, aud imbued with similar domestic attachments
These people are, without their consent torn from their
homes; husband and wife frequently separated and
sold into distant parts children taken from their pa
rents witEuu, regard 10 The ties Of nature and the most
endearing bonds Of affection are broken Forever Nor s
this traffic conmed To those who legally slaves for
life Some who entitled to freedom and many who
have limited time To serve, sold nln unconditional
slavery; and owing /" the Effectiveness Of laws,
they generally carried out of the District before the
necessary steps be taken for their release We he
hold these scenes continually taking place among Us,
and lament cur inability to prevent them.
Sir you have here picture of the evils of the slave
trade, carried in this District, drawn by who
could have had conceivable nducenen to give it too
high too strong colorng. They lived in the midst
ofthe lratck, knew its abuses and had possible
tive to misrepresent exnggerae, After speaking Of
its enormilics its detcstahle atrocities which, fear,
have undergone mitigation since, they odd
I'VE are Of the difficulties that would attend
any attempt 10 relieve from these grievances BY
sudden emancipation of the slaves in this District and
we would, therefore, be far from recommending rash
a measure But the pursued by many OF the
States Of this Confederacy that have happily succeeded
in relieving themselves from similar burden, together
with the bright example which has been set us by The
South American Republics, proves, most concusvcly.
that Of gradual emancipation, 10 commence a,
fixed period, and 10 take effect only upon those
who may thereafter be born removed into the Dis
trict, might be pursued without detrment 10 the pre-
sen, proprietors, md would greatly rebound TO the
prosperity and honor of country. The existence
among of distinct class Of people who, by their
condition slaves, deprived OF almost every in.
centive virtue and industry, and shut out from many
Of the Of light and knowledge. has evident
tendency corrupt the morals Of the People, md to
damp The spirit of enterprise, by accusomng The rising