Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-27

an, Hanover Mr.. RoaneJ h"" f' '
i", the slavery question.
ufp'' ,,.mber Mr. Brooke presented petiton from
w inhabitants Of Augusta county ior an amend
suns" hc constitution Of the oniteu states, in.es'ng
men. with the power of approprlatns money iof
Co"s' and Gberating the slaves, anu Transporting
pure,, Tho free persons of color TO the coast oi Al
them ' IN was Augusta Mark you now mere are TWO
t"' -. nettions upon the subject Oh Sia,e nv" oue
W 'S, nresented by eastern menoe,s my so.ni
' II advance OF the eastern people Su ,ha tbs .nn
here vote and present petitions askls .''ma lily Con
dIret VIZ 10 United States should De so anehaeo as
un''n" .: -" tho Congress Of the United States to
20 "'s", INV slaves and send them away, N "as
pi fs,n, kauawha Mr srNAkRs'l WHO Ias
s N that legislature, gets up ne nnon # and
Why correct, ,SoS had given think my friend has
give more -, nr,,tv bad fix Laughter no tnink
s'' was 10 trv this issue no" oe I' -. e.
lha h western men would oe "ne md nn.;o. -,
p". ,hs, * no. ALL Herel sows what thsr
bu' ''' :, w,.ern members wh'cn sn'Ms , .ue
the part Of "'s', 80, NOT talking about the people.
feelings We ,a, IN. presentation oil pet1ichs 10 aH
am talking What were The feelings OF western
on hi. spbiec:. Whenyou tell me s'a. ,an,hars
Zion nnon the subiec, was begun oy III rho H,r
,cl Won that the record Is aS"'",. ~ Dn,,mber -
,hror.h What is the next move vi. w iii rood an
rrs o8crad a resolution which l VIII 'If'u 81
W. no rnn,lsn,on NAV see his own position; "u sh.s.
' before the gentleman from Hanover hoa.tel
VVi rcsened his petition This Is the leegto SA'v ne
,,sn,Isman was to amplify upon lAaush'e'l
lntlon l. rs follows:
p<so,d That the senate be respectfully reques'e"
), laid before this house copy OF the CORES
cause 70 h;"h took place in 1901, and subsequently
Poo's' .u.,.n lanes Monroe. then governor OF this
cc,nnr,alth and Thomas Jefferson thsu tfesiue"t
49, I,ned States. growing out ot resolution OF Inc
nsr, assembly adopted at the preceding session oy
, = wo nade the duty of the governor 10 cores
,sntu the subject OIL ODttluln5
Po"n m lands without the limit of this State to
!" rs,us obnoxious to the laws, or dangerous to
the peace OF society. may be removed.
,b record is not worth anything. II this Is not
,n,;lsred "a an answer to the questions that have
h,. M, here what is the use OF getting up mere anu
,eaking? IT the l4th OF December ,n!' Tue gen
.Ian from Hanover Mr.. Ronne presented his petton
,~,r;r,t that free negroes may be removed etc. All
III: ,oos Mace: the petitions came from the counties
y; par, and Augusta and the gentleman from hama
t. AZ SrMwrKs) offered his resolution before the
Gentleman from Hanover had said one single word, or
presented one single petition, ON the suo)ect:
Nr STrNNERS | wish to say word in reference
y, tha, resolution The gentleman is mistaken III refer
euce 10 ;hat matter. am very glad that he has re-
At the bee nning OF that session the great
object VA. tn. removal of the free people OF color mat
was the main purpose for which the committee was or
anized to which the gentleman has referred oAefeo
that resolution for the purpose OF calling tor the cor
rsnondencc between Governor Monroe governor ir-
,ina in 1901 and President Jefferson, which had been
communicated in confidence TO the Senate. but from
which the Injunction of secrecy had not been removed
had learned however that it related to the procuring
Of territory beyond the limits of the United States to
wrch fre, reuple OF color understand It, might be
removed and in that will be found OF the sources
OF the present African Colonization Society had no
knowledge o. the scope OF that correspondence though
believed it was restricted entirely 10 free people OF
color offered thar resolution, and upon it the cor
sh.l IN rho house of delpatcs
and was published by them and is now open to lnspec
tioa.
Mr. RIvT:s do not wish to do any injustice to the
gentleman and have only referred to the record by way
of answer TO the questions that have been put to east
crn gentlemen here BY members from the West | read
III" resolution that injustice might be done friend,
and have here ALSO the correspondence between Mr.
Jefferson and Mr. Monroe which had for its object the
removal Of free negroes and such persons rs might be
dangerous to The peace of society bv nSurrectionarv
movements otherwise referring to slaves we'll
free negroes which is shown hv the correspondence
Again. page 81 of the journal. it will be found
that the 4th of January, Mr.. Wilson, of Boutetort
eres MEDIA petition of sundry citizens of Bouetort ask
ing that amendment to the constitution of the Uni.
:c States may be procured to invest the Congress of
the Union with power to raise and appropriate money to
remove the free people of color to the Coast of Africa
and 10 purchase and remove the slaves in like
Now will remember that the question was emphat-
ca!v asked by my friend-and he thought he had, no
doubt blocked the game-if the west had ever sought
"neriere with the slave property of the State Here
have given you four instances in succession and
yet ere told that the west presented petition
similar 10 the from Fauquer praying that the con-
s;tuton of the United States might be amended as
to authorize Con gress to act on the subject.
Well upon the subject of referring these petitions
have already given the history of the action thereon in
NV remarks submitted previous occasion. These
petitions were all referred to committee OF 2l consist
ing with the exception of five of its MEMBERS entlrey
o eastern gentlemen and what was their report upoT
them. will read 1t:
The select committee to whom was referred certain
memorials praying the passage Of some law providing
for the gradual abolition CT slavery in this Common
wealth. have according to order, had the under
consideration and have come to the following resolution
thereon:
Rssorea, AS the opinion of this committee that it is
inerpeent for the present to make any legislative en-.
acln,ents for the abolition of slavery"
Now mark vou this is the report of a committee, a
large majority of which were eastern gentlemen lwish
YOU note the action Of western members in rela
ton thereto Remember that my point is that gov
exist where the legislative department
in violation the will and wishes Of their constituents,
should have in their power to strike out Of existence
Mt single blow l50.000000 of dollars worth of pro-
pertv That is my point, an say that we have in the
records of the past evidence that attempt wa,
made violation Of the provisions III the tuition
that private property shall not be appropriated for pub
With such fact staring him in the face, is it not the
utv of every statesman to that the legislative de-
partment of the government shall be constituted as
contain within itself infusion of interest with potrer
sufficient to guard against not only the power of the
tvrant but against hasty legislation in moments OF ex
element am not here alone to guard against the ex
ercise of tyranny in matters of personal right but
against improper and wicked Legislation of all kinds
and should fail to discharge my duty in this partlc
MAR should feel myself unworthy the constituent:
whom represent
Eu, 10 return to the record These memorials we're
all referred to the committee of 81 and have read to
You their report.
To their resolution. Mr. Preston, of Montgomery
moved the following substitute, to which my friend
omitted 10 refer:
"Rcsolred As the opinion of this committee that it
expeent to adopt some legislative enactment for the
aboii6i OF slavery"
Here was the issue made up. Here was General
Broinax and other eastern of the committee, de-
caring that in their opinion it was inexpedient to take
any legislative action the subject of the abolition OF
slavery. On the other hand there was MIR: Preston OF
osoucry, the part of the west, offering resoll-
ton declaring that it expedient to take some egls-
la,iye action 10 abolish slavery. Now, then what was
the on this substituted 1t was rejected by vote
Of ayc. IS noes 49, OF the IS members west OF the