Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-07-03
FOR THE vIRGINIAN.
To the People Of
This Congressional District.
COL. PHILIP A. ROLLING

Charges have been made against the
Wing candidate for Congress, in this Dis
trct, which exhibit an effort not to do JUS
tice to Col. Philip A. Boiling. but, on the
contrary, by one sided argument. with
garblcd extracts, to prejudice the minds Of
the people against that gentleman, because
he, as the representative Of the county OF
Buckingham, in the Legislature Of Virgin
ia, in 1881, dared to obey the voice Of
his constituents of both political parties.
on question which at that time, and under
distressing circumstances, aroused and
engaged the attention of the whole people
of Virginia. We shall content ourselves
by giving the facts of the case in extracts,
of the proceedings Of the Legislature at
that time, and we ask the candid consider
alton of every man, in order that Justice
may triumph, and the loud mouthed SLAM
dcrers may find that they shave reckoncd
without their host" At the period refer
red to above, the Southampton Insurrcc-
rection had just taken place. and a deep
and solemn concern for the lives of all, as
well as property, filed every mind. all
wished some plan adopted. or some laws
enacted to prevent a repetition of such
heart-rending scenes. The Legislature
had assembled and to that body all look
ed for relief John Floyd, (the father Of
the present Governor) filed the guberna-
toral chair, and called the attention of the
Legislature in a detailed statement to the
whole affair. The opening paragraph ofhis
message was in these words. THE deep
interest which the citizens in every part
Of this Commonwealth have felt and mani
tested in relation to occurrences Of grave
and distressing character, which have tn
ken place since your adjournment, new,
unexpected and heretofore unknown to
the State, all conspire to cause the people
to turn their eyes upon you at this time
with profound and fixed attention You
alone possess the power of accomplishing
all the great objects which the public dc
sire, and much of the future welfare Of
this Republic, depends upon your present
deliberations, deliberations which will
doubtless be turned first to the meanchol
ly subject, which has filed the countr,
with affection, and one of the faircst coun
ing"
On the 9th day Of December, 1881, OF
motion Of Mr.. Fisher, it was ordered tina
80 much ofthe Governors Message as re
lates TO the lnsurrectionary movement o
slaves, and removal ofiree persons Of colo
beyond the limits of this Commonwealth
be referred to committee of Brodnax
Fisher, Cobb, Wood, Roane. Moore. New
ton, Campbell, Smith Gholson, Brown
Stillman, Anderson of No.toway, Witchcr
Booker, Keller, Faulkner, Brice of Gooch
land, Smith Of Gloucester, Bruce an,
Marshall, with leave to report by bill o
otherwise.
On the 14th of December, Mr. Roanc
from the county Of Hanover and after
wards Senator Of the United States, fror
Virginia. presented petition Of sundr.
citizens Of Hanover, "praying the Legisla
ture to take into consideration the proprie
ty of providing means for the removal o
the free people Of color, from the Com
monweatb, and such slaves as may b
liberated by individuals" also a petitio
from the county of Charles City for TIT
emancipation of the slaves by some grad
ual scheme, which may be adopted, an,
the removal ofthe free negroes and slaves
from the Commonwealth"
A motion was made by Mr.. Goode o
Mecklenburg, to reject the petition from
Charles City County. But the reference o
the petition to the committee, and the pro
Prlcty, and expediency Of considering thu
matter Of the petition, was advocated by
Roane, Moore. Williams, Jones Of Eliza
beth City. Brodnax, Brown of Petersburg
Boiling, Chandler of Norfolk, and Haly
burton. And to show farther The state
feeling in the Legislature, which was caus
ed by the then restless spirit of the commu
nifty, Gen. Brodnax, on the motion oil
MIR. Goode, to reject the petition said
alt was evident
that something must be done, and although
measures for the removal Of the evil nigh
not, perhaps be arrived at Immediately
yet, some plan for its gradual eradication
would probably be hit upon--a system
might be concocted by degrees, to en-
brace the whole subject, and it was there.
fore necessary TO consider it,in all its bear
ings. Let US
discuss it coolly and fully, and compare o.
pinions, that some beneficial results may
arise, from our deliberations. .
Perhaps the Legislature, might do some
thing which might form nucleus, or to
speak more cmphatically, an entering
wedge, towards the ultimate cmancipa-
ton of the slaves at a distant period,
So spoke the leading democrat of the
Virginia Legislature. Gen. Brodnax, n
pure and excellent man, who was reflect
ing the wishes of his whole section Of coun-
try. But let us hear what the talented and
able John Thompson Brown Of Peters
burg, said on the same subject at the same
time. He said: "that be was in favor of
referring the petition 10 the committee
He admitted that slavery was an evil
the greatest perhaps that an angry provi-
dence could inAict on shining people
His-own opinion was formed on the sub
ject, and he had no expectation that it
would be changed. He would not shut
his ears TO the views and opinions of 9TH
ers, nor close the doors against the petitions
and representations of the people. He
was willing to hear all that could be said
on the subject, and would be happy 10
hear that abolition was expcdicnt and
practicable. There were no objections
to the consideration Of this matter by our
own Legislature 1t was expected and
desired by the people, that the whole SUBJ
ject in all OF its relations should be exam
media that the General Assembly should
decide, not TO do something, but whether
any thing can or ought to be DONE"
The vote upon the motion to reject the
petition stood as follows:
AYEs-Booker, Gholson, Patterson of
Buckingham. Daniel Wilson &c Cnrnl,a,-