Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-18
To THE EprroR OF TIE Vino

In the Editorial notice of my speech on m.
question Of giving TO the West equal representation
IN the General Assembly, in your paper OF The lib
instant, much stronger force Of expression in re-
laion TO the effect Of denying TO the West their
rghts, and its bearing the question Of slavery in
Virginia, Is ascribed 10 me than | used. This
however, should not feel myself called on 10 no.
lice, because sufficient correction OF any unfavo-
raole impression the remarks imputed TO me might
make, is 10 be found IN the context Of YOUR ,tce
and because, also shou ID not properly appreciate
the intelligence Of my counIrymen, to suppose that
they would hold me 10 a strict account, for every
form OF expression may have used in a speech Of
two hours and hat. on so exciting a subject
delivered, too, with TaPdty Of utteranee peculiar
TO myself. But in the same notice, you mention
an incident that occurred, without stating the at
tending circumstances, which does me, and think
the member from kanawhi also, iniustice. After
the member from Fauquier read the "la-onic note"
handed TO HIM, and had taken his seat the member
from han1wha made an explanation, in which he
thanked his friend from Wood for his abie speech
indicating the rights OF his constituents" and made
other remarks, generating me from the implication
which the "laconlc note" written by western man
handed 10 the champion on the other side, to be
used TO counteract laborious effort to Wind cate
the freeman OF the West to equal rights was GER
tainlY calculated 10 excite.
The Compiler OF the l2th, processes 10 give. from
the Wing, the narrative Of the same incident in a
notice headed the Esprit OF ANA a;" and after for
reasons best known to the editor, characterzing me
as an "impetuous debater" proceeds 70 give the ex
eepiionabe portion Of the article in the Wing, omit
ting the conmendatory notice of my speech by that
papeT The Wing article giving the ineidsn, con,
planned Of stated that my speech extoried "eulo-
gums from friend and foe" Had the Compiler nc
comp1ned his notice OF the incident taken from the
Wing, with the antido,e contained in the wbig
article, ! should have felt much less aggrievsd bv
the terms "impetuous debl:er," as also by the re.
aiion OF the incident referred to- In relation 70 the
latter, may add, that had the papers protesting u
give the proceedings Of the House when thew gave
10 the public the "ncidcni," accom- panied II with
the explanations that It gave rise 10 on the floor Of
the House, should not have had any occasion 10
complain, or to trouble you with this note.
The argument advanced was briefly this: Tba,
great political and moral struggle was now being
waged between the two grand divisions Of the Con
iederncy; that slavery the source the cause O.
tns contest that the North Western counties. in
virginia were on the frontier; that they had hith-
erio opposed an impossible barrier 10 an the efori,
OF abolitonism or mnnumission; TINT their exposed
position rendered slave abor valueless and such
we're tho preiudiees oifree lnbofers they would NJ,
i've or labor N slave State that in consequence
they were cursed with oil the evils Of slavery with
out one Of its Of any have) benefits thus depfivng
them Of both kinds OF labor; that while their conJi.
ton was thus almost beyond endurance-whiie ihs y
are thus suffering the consequences OF sympntbv
with Their Eastern brethren, and in reference TO their
peculiar property, with fcoity and attachment 10 tho
Commonwealth, burning with undated force 10
their bosoms-they come, at tho time and in tho
manner appointed by the Constitutions Cons,itp
ton forced upon them against their consent. 10 ask
for equal rights, and their suit is repealed with m.
reply, that their poverty renders them unworthy Of
confidence; that because lheWes have few slavesond
the East many, the East afraid 10 trust the West
with the power Of taxing them-thus disfrancbs.ng
The West, and sublec,ing them 70 a state Of political
inleriofty and vassalsge 70 thekas II was after thus
stating the c1se, proceeded 10 ndmonish nv East.
bfrfUren ri lrreoun ftrrteInd tr,t
and after referring and Illustrating my position BY
reference % the Stamp Act aud other facts in our
colonial history, proceeded 10 state, that il ap-
penred 70 me that strange faulty bad seized upo n
the minds Of our Eastern brethreu-that the course
they had adopted Ostensibly 10 protect slave pro.
perty, mus, Il peuevered in, inevitably result in
rs destruciion-that when the West and especially
The North West, who were now making 80 many
saerhces-moral, social and political-ior the pur-
pose OF protecting this property saw, they must
see hat lhcy we're pcrpetuaiing their own political
degrndatlon-that 10 resulted in their poitie,l vas
sange-ihal % was the Cause md the prete1t OF
oeptVing them Of equa political rights, would do.
as OIL mankad h1d done, under tie sime circurn
~ assert Their equality a sense Of injury
and resentment would surplant ia their bosor,s
lhe place hitherto occupied by fealty and attach,
ment-o nd prompted by the spirit Of their Z rvoip-
/ ionafy sirts, they would dash "ib, te, into a..
ocean," ard u they did not resolve 10 put si.vs,v
/ away from them, they would, al least. es,s. A., ~
| a barrier 70 the worm OF emancipation which vas
singing Of their d1ors-but with folded arms you'd
eomplaoenty suffer 70 roll on until Il reached fbs
Allegheny; and ii required no prophet then 10 AZ
that when Il reached there from causes too obviog,
| TO be mistaken, II would be too loie n arfss
That 70 would sweep ncrOss the Mountaire-
across tho Valloy-across the Blue Ridge, and 10.
progress be onward, until IL swept slavery from
TIE entire Commonwealth. This was the nrku
mont-ths course Of reasoning-thoso were IN,
woros VII eh excited such holy horror in the bo.
maaHT Ia - -
less as matter Of merimentJ the "laconio note y
+ ou' oi which grew the "incident" paraded with 81
hucn y mp and circumstance and n I am 10 IN.
oets'ano by The spirit Of Kanawhsn spirit which
WI etney submit, out Of Differences 10 the slave o,
A"y V"' interest," or personal consideration OIL