Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-03-02

control; and proper and commendable calousv
was exhibited against all attempts to interfere with
It blythe Federal Government. II was affirmed then.
as now' that was recognised and protected by the
constitution OF the United States, and was by no
means to be invaded by them. These opinions were
maintained with acute senstveness, and the whole
country, North and South, heartily concurred in
them. But still slavery was acknowledged to be
misfortune, great evil i'm the social BODY. II is
only OF late years that any Southern man has pro-
claimed it to be "a blessing If any one so
thought OF IT, in old time, it was not made known
to the world.
happen to have at hand some authentic mani
es'anons Oh this fact, of comparatively recent date
from which propose to cite some fragments Nv
reader Is perhaps, prepared to anticipate my re-
ference to the debate in the House of Delegates of
Virginia In the winter of 1892. propose to refer
10 few passages in that debate, because Virginia
may be considered an authoritative exponent of
Southern feeling then, as she is now.
A proposition was introduced into that House in
January OF the year referred to, to instruct select
committee I" to inquire into the expedency Of sub
mttng to the vote of the qualified voters Of the
several towns, boroughs, cities, and counties of
the commonwealth, the propriety of providing by
/" law that the children of all female slaves who
might be born in the State after the fourth Of
July, ls40, should become the property of the
Commonwealth, the males at the age of twenty
one years, the females at the age Of eighteen, if
detained by their owners within the limits of Vir-
gina until they should have respectively arrived
at the ages aforesaid, be hired out until the nett
sum arising therefrom should be sufficient to de-
tray the expense of their removal beyond the
(" limits of the United States''
This proposition was introduced by Mr.. RAN
DoLPH. There were other propositions of the same
character introduced during the session.
These grave questions gave rise to general de-
bate, which was distinguished by great ability, and
was repete with evidences Of the sober thought and
settled convictions of the speakers. The policy of
the measure was controverted and sustained with
conspicuous animation and eloquence. The propo-
sition was finally rejected by small majority. A
few passages, extracted from some of the speeches
on this occasion, will answer all the ends propose
by reference to this debate.
Mr.. BOILING, of Buckingham, said:
This is grave and important subject that ought
be- and will be- considered Its importance demands that it
should be considered and debated here and is not
gentlemen think that it should be passed in silence,
and acted upon secret No. sir, action should be calm
and dspassionae but open bold and manly Sir that it is
an evil great and appalling evil he dared believe
man would could deny Nor, sir, it be denied that
it deprives Of many Of those advantages facilities, and
blessings which should enjoy had dense white
population. That it is blghpg whitening upon this
Iand clearly demonstrated by this very discussion itself
notwithstanding Eastern gentlemen had waxed warm,
there many, very many in eastern Virginia who had
rather resign their slaves grautousy than submit to the ills
of slavery many who had rather them loose and leave
them behind while they should seek happier clime-a land
alike stranger to slaves and slavery"
Mr.. MARSHALL, of Fauquier, said:
The latitude of debate had already been tolerated,
and injury could from temperate expression
of his sentiments the general question. He felt himself
he SIo
evil He objected slavery, because implies moral
tupitude, because is sin be the Of slave If
it be SIM let fall those who introduced the evil and
have transmitted il to their offspring Wherefore, then,
object slavery Because uinous the whites, reards
improvement industrious population, banishes
the yeomarry of the country deprve the spinner the weaver,
the smith, the shoemaker the carpenter of employment and
support Our towns stationary, villages almost every
where declining and the general aspect country marks
the of wastefu idle reckless population, who have
no interest in the SOIL and not how much lis i'm
poverished." ~.
Mr.. CHANDLER, of Norfolk "
81 took occasion observe that believed the people Of
Norfolk county would rejoice could they the vista of
tme scheme for the gradual removal of this
from land desrous to report from the COM
mes declaring the slave population evil and recommend
ing the people of this Commonwealth the adoption Of
plan for its riddance."
Mr.. BERRY, of Jefferson:
"sir, believe that no the physical body
certain steady and fatal in its progress than is this
the political body of the State of Virginia adj
nit that we are blamed for the origin Of this evil
among be blamed for its existence but
shall deserve the if do not take
sures possible, to remove it."
Mr.. FAULKNER, of Berkeley:
"S, there point in which do most sincerely agree
with those who aayed against me in this discussion 1t
that the proposed inquiry of great decacy and trans
cenlent Importance The revolution which agiated this
Commonwealth fifty ago, great and important was,
involved in its results but change of political relations
with mother country This measure should prove
cessfuand that il must, later individual in
this House reasonably doubtmust involve in its
consequences moral physical and political revolution in
this State revolution which will be benefcialy felt by
great interest the Commonwealth, and by every avehod
ing State upon this continent shall reckon amongst
the proudest incidents Of my life that have contributed my
feeble aid forward revolution grand and patriotic in its
results The idea Of gradual emancipation azd removal of
the from this Commonwealth coeva with the decar
alton Of your independence Of the British yoke sprung
into existence during tho first session of the General Assembly
subsequent the formation Of your Republican Government
proper there fitness Of things in the fact that 20
benecent object the plan for the gradual extinction of
slavery in this should have been the twin offspring Of
that mind which gave birth to the bill rights and the