Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-04-06
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
SPEECH OF MR. BAYLY OF AoooMAcK,
TTaufjuupH


of the origin of her measures, beg leave now TO cali
the attention of the House the character OF the re-
medy proposed In discussing IT. shall adopt the or,
der of the gentleman from Fauquer, (r. SCOUT ana
follow him step by step through his argument.
What we complain Of is, that the policy OF New
York endangers our slave property, by offering npu-
nifty those who entce away and carry OIL our slaves
and by encouraging the slave himself to run away, ny
making his recapture impossible The remedy pro-
posed meets the mischief by providing against their
running away and against their being stolen from US
will not 90 into minute analysis of the bill II rs
in the hands Of members and its provisions are snple
and plain. 1t provides that New York vessel shall
depart from until she is inspected, to see that
no slaves concealed on board IL requires the cap
tain or owner, some person for them OF all vessels
owned in New York, 10 give bond with security, that
they will not take any slaves out of the State without
the authority Of the master And II oilers standing re-
wards all pilots and other persons who shall detect
any such vessel in carrying or attempting TO carry any
slaves out OF the State All Of the expenses OF The in
spec,on &c TO be borne by The master owner OF the
vessel.
The direct effect Of the law will be TO prevent the
escape of slaves i'll vessels and that IS their principal
avenue of escape The captain and owner oil oil New
York vessels, having given heavy bond not TO take
any slaves ont of the Commonwealth, will not attempt
il for fear of detection Though may not be very pro-
bable) by which he will forfeit his bond lie "ill
know that high reward is offered TO any person, even
one of his own crew, who shall detect Inn IN any snch
attempt; and that all pilots, under strong pecuninry
stimulus TO vigilance, made centlnes 10 guard our
property; and the standing reward will make every
man in society a watch upon him. The indirect effect
Of the law will not be less beneficial II VIII nave
tendency to create in New York counter party to the
Aboltionsts The commercial portion OF the COM
munity will see that they subjected TO harassing
and expensive regulations in consequence oil lnea-
snres adopted by their State authorities TO concaie
them they will insist that their interests sha not be
injured that the Abolitionss may be INDUCED IN Te!a-
ton TO n matter with which they have nothing 10 DO
and over which they can assert no righn control.
have already shewn that the great source OF strength
Of the Abotionists is their position. Their support be-
ng necessary party success The politicians have not
been fastidious 10 the means OF securing H. lhey
were willing do any thing 10 please them, as long rs
it did offend any Of their constituents even though
in doing il they violated the Constitution oi The w. y
But as soon they find that they cannot indulge the
Abolilions,s without offending another and more
worthy class of society they will pause in their ag-
gresson Nay, they will be forced to repair those They
have already made. When the commercial men find
that the burdensome regulations Of this bill Will be re-
pealed as those measures OF New oak which
have made them necessary abandoned, they Will re-
aure that justice shall be done rs. They Will see that
We are right in protecting ourselves against unconstii-
tutional aggrcssons, and they will not complain Of
those measures Of protection, but of those acts which
made them necessary Bat if the influence Of the bill
will not be sufficient TO New York to retrace her
steps and il shall be carried INFO effect It will cncou
rage our coastng trade And as soon as the trade
thrown into the hands of our own people, our property
will be comparatively saie Tor we are In no danger Of
their carrying 1t oil.
Having thus shewn the principal features and
commentators of the bill, will turn TO the objections
made to it by the gentleman from Fauquler And ]
withhold The expression Of my regret that in his
long argument, heard little 10 approve, and so
much TO which must attempt n reply.
The gentleman, very early in his remarks with
view presume Of giving weight to them SAID that his
constituents had large interest IN this question as
the constituents Of my other member upon THIS floor
and complained that though they were thus interest
ed, the bill afforded them protection. take issue
with him. ] know his county is large slavcholGng
county, but its geographical position secures il from
most of the mischcis emanating from the course Of
New York. His county not only does not lie upon any
water course but there popuous counties between
him and navigation. Though the negroes in his
ty may run away, they do not frequently, presume,
escape TO New York. and they do must be BY get
ting to the rivers and escaping in vessels. They can,
from his county, much more easily get to non-slaye
holding States. 1t is different with US who are near
the sea- the bay and navigable rivers which
inp with New York craft. We directly exposed
to all the msclies resulting from the Of that
State.
But does the bill afford the county of the gentleman
and Others similarly situated no projections IL GER
tanly tends TO prevent the escape of slaves 10 New
York in vessels This ia admitted. Will they 90
there in any other manner They cannot get there,
except in vessels, without going through non.slave
holding States and after getting TO Pennsylvania, for
instance as those from the gen,lemans county would
do or to Ohio, there would be no motive TO go to New
York If they feared pursuit, they would sooner go
to Canada. They could do it ensy, and there they
would be more from reception. Besides, if The
effect of the bill will be, contend it viii, 10 open
the eyes of the people Of New York. and cause her
authorities to rerace their steps, will not his consttu-
ents equally with mine reap the advantage Of il,
think that this bill will anrd protection every
section of the Commonwcaltl-a protection which will
he in the ratio of their exposure. 1t is the hest mca
sure which has suggested Itself TO mc, md have anx.
iously pondered upon the subject Nevertheless, am
not welded to it. My only wish is, TO adopt The mos,
efficient and least Objectionable remedy. H. therefore,
the gentleman will propose better plan, one which
shall afford greater protection to his people, pledge
myself TO 90 for il, and with zeal too lie will not
find in me an opponent prepared "to find or forge
fault" but active and Jealous coadutor.
Sir, will give up my own bantling with pleasure,
the gentleman will present me with one more come
". But put it TO him, fit is not unphilosophca
some action is necessary, until he prepared to offer
better?
But he seems to think that action is necessary or
proper for US at this time; and in reply to remark of
mine made in u former stage Of this debate, that We
were pledged By the resolutions of last winter to e
icicni action, he said that he did not consider that
we were so pledged, and that he certainly not.
do not know, Mr.. Speaker, whether the gentleman
considers himself pledged or not to action At the last
session, he made speech against the I'd resolution,
which, in my estimation, does pledge TO efficient &C.
ton, and then voted for it. Now, do not know which
he regards obligatory upon him. his speech or
his vote But, no other member is in his stuation
and the resolution, in its very terms, contains what
/ esteem a pledge, think may still insist that are
pledged to some alton. The I'd resolution adopted by
the Legislature is in these words:
"Resoiced, That the course pursued by the Eyecu
tive of New York cannot be ucquesced in and fsanc
toned by that State, and persisted in, it will become
the solemn duty of Virginia 10 adopt the most decisive
and efficient for the protection of the proper
ty of her citizens, and the maintenance of rights which
she cannot and will not, under any circumstances,
surrender or abandon
Can language be clearer or more explicit put it
to the House if this resolution is not direct COM
INITIAL TO adopt efficient for the protection Of
the property Of the citizens of this State the event
that New York should persist in her course, legs
lative body could make ? Has the State of New York
sanctioned the of her Governor, and is that
coursr have hDt LITTLE IN add ~ hat