Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1842-12-22
GOV. McDOWELL
Continuation Of srfraets from hs Speech. January 81
1892

"Slr, place inc slave Wucfc you ricort-you
may Cypress him you pcaseyou may dry up to the ut
ternost the fountain of his feelings the spring Of his
thought-you may close upon his mind avenue OF
knowledge and cloud il with artificial nght-you
may yoke him your labo the which hveh only TO
work and workcth only To livesyou put him under
any process which. without destroying his value slave,
will debase and crush him n rational bcingyou may do
this and the idea that he born be free will survive
all. is allied his hope OF mmoray-it is the ethe-
rial part Of his which oppression reach: IL Is
torch lit up his soul by the hand OF Deity, and never
meant to be extinguished by the hand of man."
at is this sir that the STARE holding interest Of the
country riu aud can eoaiesce ich other interest
ccpt suppose, their natural allies the Northern De-
mocracy--ED) and must, a consequence. be separate
and hostile all Others. But, sir il is for the
that this interest," whether embodied in in two dis
confcdences, is peculiar; for the very reason
that il impsrs the principle OF general utilization which
would unite and strengthen with the sympathcs
OF others the very that 1t produccsn every
munity that permits positive impocncy in its means OF
preservation; is for these that this interest
always n dangerous for these that crusade
the of liberty, but with the purpose plumber will
be preached against the States that protect -tat they
will be held up the enemies Of mankind, whom
it will be duty overthrow and justice despoi II
such shock be meditatcd, ask you would it be
possible for vrginie to stand it %
Look the dangers Of slavery resulting from its Pc
cuiar condition and growth, look them sinvolved
in the incidents which may change the political relations
of the Republic, and cmphacay warned prepare
for them in me-emphatcaly warned that destiny
people pledged upon the wisdom and the rgor with
which them"
Though irrelevant the object OF these quotations,
viii here introduce the compliment paid by the
who had preceded him in debate and resisted abolition
whom the times, the ascendency OF faction and the
Mooch he cd
il has all, who could perceive in that idol the
bues of Deity absolute nfalibiy and unqualified perec
ton. We John E. Shell of Brunswick)
MIR. Mcdowell continued: 81 turned aside this
point Mr. Speaker from the path fmy reflections by
the of the remarks which submitted the other
day by the gentleman from Brunswick Mr. SHELLY sir in
with every member of the House, and every lover
Of genuine pleasantly whose good fortune be here
am indebted TO that gentleman, and with hope my
part of making compensation for hour among the
entertained and delighted of any have spent
this body He, sir, has entered upon Debate the
Spring upon the Seasonssorm and tempest disap
pearng his approach and gaty and sunshine and flow
starting up around him. Ii reserved for him the
exercise OF wit playful pungen-as generous
Us it was keen-which probing earcssy and every where
carred notn heart stain away upon its blade-ii
served for him, Sir, thus exercising the faculty
double character of sporveness and strength dsspate
the gloom of discussion, soften its and
restore the House the kindness and temper losing
(We regret that space excludes the remainder.)
II am TO judge from the of debate, from the
concessions all hands expressed there is man in
this body perhaps that is represented here
who would have thanked the that gone
before if acting public men, they had brought this
bondage to a close-who would not have thanked them it.
acting private motives they had enqushed the proper
which their mistaken kindness has devoved upon u.s.
Proud as the for intellect and patriotism which
enrich the volumes OF our history, and eyerentaly
them this period of waning reputation that name
that man-above a parallel would have been the chief
who could have botted this from his Country
those above all Others would have received the homage of
eternal gratitude who casting away every suggestion of
petty interest," had broken the yoke which, hour had
been imposed and had translated, fireman. another
continent the and the wreched being who burdens
with his presence, and defes with his crimes"
But is needless multiply quotations all tending TO the
point and establishing what believe his friends do
deny, or himself, that Mr.. Mcdowell was and sup
pose STILL unqualified Abolitonist, by domestic auho
rity Elsewhere in this speech, he denies that .man can
hold property in man. and aiiis that the OF Virginia
slavery is at the suferance of the Legislature.
We have already said that ii is part of object
enquire into the soundncss unsoundness
the expedency the nexpedency the safety danger
Of the sweeping doctrines laid down in this speech by Mr.
Mcdowell We leave that those who have the taste and
the leisure for specuacns napt the body of the tme
and we have dsclamed, if have not now do So all
wish intention of censuring Gov. Mcdowell fr these
sentiments Of detracng from his reputation of bringing
him into odum their account.
lii due to him to the belief also, that he looks
with decided indignation any upon the machna
tons Of Northern fanatcsm, and would promptly "a
any citizen Of the Commonwealth repe the aggressons
that crazy and punish their intrusion the domestic
concerns of separate community and Independent
sovereignty.
With Mr. Mcdowell therefore, we have nothing TO do
and him have nothing say, for the propagation Of
doctrines which we have of doubt he sincerely
and ardenty enterains and which the time he
full liberty proclaim the Of 1891 having remov
ed pre- existing restraints and made this subject open for
the most public and the untrammelled debate.
We shall return TO the subject tomorrow.