Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-04-02
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.

the escape 81 persons charStd "tH Me eo""''s" ~
am crime, and in reply 10 Mr.. Scott Of fauqutr &C.
ieered in the House Of Delegates Of ITstnta, on inc
| 18th and goth Of february, lc4l.
| Mr. BAYLY said had hoped that this bill, which
is designed to protect the rights of the cItlzens OF VIZ
pinia from unconstitutional invasion by the State of ~
York. would be permitted to pass without opposition.
But as this could not be The case Ieoice that opposI-
ton to it has come from the gentleman from FauquieT,
| (hr. Scoit0 for in that genlemans opposition the
House has assurance that every objection to II has
been exposed. Ii, therefore, | successfully answer
every position which he has assumed in his minute ana
elaborate argument, may take 1t for granted Thai
have removed every ground Of opposition 10 the BILL
| congratulate myself that, in important measure
az the one now before the House, am afforded by the
argument of the gentleman, such an ample opportunity
Of indicating il.
Like the gentleman from Fauquier approach tie
discussion Of this measure with great embarrassment
an embarrassment growing out "f the immense import
unce of the subject, and knowledge OF the heavy re-
sponsblity that rests upon me as the Chairman OF lhe
Select Committee which has had It III charge but,
unlike the gentleman, do not approach it without hay
ing bestowed upon il much consideration SIR, nave
given the subject the matu'est reelection Of winch !
um capable. have viewed It IN lis every aspect !
have pondered upon Il again and again nave gwen
il consideration commensurate with lis vasl import
ance and with the ncnculable consequences Involved
in it, In considering IT, have schooed my passions
i have banished from my breast those feelings Of an
ger and resentment which the wrongs my country Las
suffered the hands Of sister Stale were SO wei cal
y culated 10 excite.
MIR. Speaker, this subject has many important con-
nec,ons which, at the first view, do not meet the eye.
With the indulgence of the House, will attempt 10
bring before i, most Of them and If III doing shall
be found to tax severely its patience, my apology must
be found in the importance nf the subject.
wish to trace briefly the history OF Abolition IN
England and this country, to prove that the feeling ~
favor Of il has increased III the slavehoidng States,
that il now prevails there to fearful extent, and that
it is still increasing. desire 10 show that Governor
Stewards course was taken, and tile law Of New OK
of the 9th of May last which discussed in the report
of the Select Committee was passed to carry out the
plans oi operation Of the Aholi,Ionsts. wish 10 eS-
pose rather in detail than done in the report Of
the committee, the dangerous aud unconstitutional cha
racter of what now seems to be the settled policy OF
the State Of New York, reference 10 the subject OF
slavery; prove the necessity Of our adopting eiirc
tual measure to counerac it, and demonstrate that the
bill before the House is such an one
shall ONLY make brief reference 10 the progress Of
Abolition in England. only refer to il al all because
it is the Of the great Abolition movement OF the
age
" engaged in The slave trade as England No nation,
for long time, adhered to II with such obstinate per
tinacty She not only would not prohibit it herself,
! but she would not allow her colonies 10 DO It, Tins IS
shewn BY the history of Nrg with which the House
is too familiar justify me in doing more than refer
ring TO the fact. The British slave trade had existed
in the House Of Commons, in 1910, a resolution de-.
claring "lhat the slave trade contrary 10 the laws
of God and the rights Of man.. This resolution was
promptly rejected. In l7S3, petition for the prohibit
ton of the trade for the first time presented IN the
| House of Commons It's consideration 1cdS refused.
The Quakers, with whom these efforts originated,
were not discouraged. On the 9Th of July Of that
year, six Of them met in London "o consider what
steps they should take FOR the relief and liberation Of
the negro slaves in the West Indies and for The dscou
81, q
The six Quakers soon joined by the same number
of philanihropis,s Of other christian denominations
"The twelve eld meetings in London TO devise means
Of revolutionzing the sentiment OF an empire. Agents
were appointed, among whom was the celebrated Clark
son. TO rouse the public attention to the subject Tito
puivt anil The press rcrc enlisted. Books pamphiets
and newspapers freely erru'0ed Within few
years, petitions to Parliament were multiplied, inso
much that commissioner was at length appointed by
the Government enquire into the African slave trade
and finally on the 9th OF May, 7s5, the House Of
Commons voted that they would at the next session,
take the subject Of that trade into considerations
Without pursuing the details further, suffice il 10
say, that this movement, originating in l7a6 with one
man. continued TO gain force, until IN leG1 Parliament
abolished the slave trade This man was regarded at
the time as u lnadman, and his twelve followers were
denounced as hypocrites and fanatics, and their pro-
iect as visionary and delusive Yet in few years
| they revoluonized an empire Az soon as they abo-
lshed the slave trade in the spirit of anatcism which
is never satisfied with one conquest, they commenced
agitation in favor Of the abolition of slavery in the
West Indies In this undertaking they had great OBJ
stacles to contend with in the first place, there
powerful British interests involved in it. Besides,
slavery had grown up under the sanction oil aw, IL was
thought to be repugnant TO the British Constitution to
abolish il without awarding compensation 10 The MASTER
and the English nation could not be easily induced 10 in
duIge It's philanthropy AT the expense OF lis purse
particularly time when IT was loaded with deb, con-
,rncted in its wars Of def.nce ambition. During
these wars the people were too much absorbed with
the cxctenens of them, 10 be interested in such sab
ec the Abolition of slavery 1t Gid not, for these
reasons become n serious matter, unit! about thu year
4 1924 and even then the West India planters
sured that their interests in danger. In that
wear, Mr.. Canning, who was minister OF Tie crown,
said in Parliament, " that If he were asked which he
would prefer, permanent slavery, or immediate Adolf
ton he would answer that he would prefer things re.
naming as they - and gave as reason for PEE
ferrng permanent slavery TO immediate cnianc patton,
the opacity of the negro to enjoy, from the want Of
mental and moral cultivation, the sweets OF liberty ;
and his duty TO guard the interests Of those who by
no fault Of their own-by inhcritance-ay accident
by encouragement Of repeated acts of the Legislature,
find their property invested in exposed 10
Vulnerable hazards and difficulties which do not belong
to property Of another as, they had
their option their ancestors had they doubtless would
have preferred.
AL that time the doctrine of Mr. Canning was the
doctrine of the English nation But how stands mat
tiers now RI reading, MIR. Speaker, from
say, written by myself and published in The Richmond
Wing, in September, 1893. At hat early time Of my
life had directed my attention to this subject, and
| have carefully noted its progress sincel In nine
brief years, when the circumstances of the case
stand unallered-when the negro is the same degraded
and ignorant creature he in ls24-his condition in
no respect ameliorated, how changed The scene !:
What language do ministers now hold. We hear Mr..
Stany "a minister of the CROWN saying "tha the time
had gone by when parliament could decide the question
whether slavery should should not be perpetual the
question 10 be decided was, what was the surcst.
the speedics and the most eectun mode of procuring
its final and entire abolition" Yes, in nine short
years, this unheeded rant of Infatuated fanatics has
been converted into 'pubiie opinion, which pressing
upon ministers with irresistible force, has compelled
them to yield it did in the matter Of Catholic
cpation and parliamentary reform, and 10 consent
projects equivalent to immediate Abolition. We hear
Mr. Stany, as minister, telling Parliament that ga
universal and extended expression of feeling pervaded
the country and there never was time when the de-
termination of the public more absolutely more
rresstiby expressed, because it was founded that
o;o,o Taoln1nn that solemn conviction of