Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-07-03

n
Gilleland, Sand. Stands and Carter Of
Prince Wiiliam--27.
NoEs-Banks (Spcakcr.) Grinslds.
prummond, Persingers Garland Of Am
cers'' mcCuc, Cameron, Campbell Of Bed
iord' Fate, Faulkner, Goode, Anderson of
oote'ourt Wilson Of Botctourt, Campbell
Of Brooke Shcel. Boiling. Riyes Or Camp.
bell, Tod, Halyburton, Patterson of Ches-
terfcld. Pendlc,on. Broadu.. Brodnar..
Jones, Bacl, Chiffon, Mar.hnll. S,;Iirr.s, y
Wood Of Frederick, Bryce u Frs3cr;cL.
Snidow. Bryce Of Goochl.nd. H.ll =
Grayson. Erskine, Spencer, Carsksdoo..
Porter, Roano, Mullen, Williams Of M.
rison, Johnson. Williams Of Hcnrieo. Jor.
dan, Shield. Gallaher, Berry, Summers.
Hooe, Dabncy. Carter Of Richmond. Al.
len, Hays, McIlihancy. Cordell. Cald.
well, Smith of Mason. Billingsley, Henry
Kelley, Preston, Byrdc. Webb, Cabcll.
Chandler. Leigh, Fiizburgh. Parriott, Ro..
berson, Hines, Miller linn, Dupuy, Hart.
Moore Mcdowell, Mcmahon, Cline, Bare.
Carson, Cobb, Powell, Moncurc, Har.
grave. McCay, Gillespie, Nee ulloch, KEEL
Ter, Norton, Morriss, Crockett, and Ruth
erford Of Richmond.--93.
Soft will be seen at glance that nearly
the whole Legislature determined to con-
slider these petitions, which are now de-.
nounced by party dcmagogues to be abo-.
lition petitions. But let us proceed far
thor. On the ilth day of January, 1885,.
Mr.. Goode Of Mecklenburg submitted tho
following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That the select committee.
raised on the subject ofslaves. free negroes,
and the melancholy occurrence growing
out ofthe tragical massacre in Southamp-
ton. be discharged from the consideration
OF all petitions, memorials and resolutions.
which have for their object the manumis-
sion Of persons held in servitudc. under
jhc existing laws Of this Commonwealth,
and that it is not expedient to legislatc on
the subject"
A few days after this motion was made
by Mr.. Goodc, Gen. Brodnax on tho 10Th
of January, 1892, as Chairman Of the COM
mittcc referred to above, made this report.
"The select committee to whom was
referred certain memorials praying the pas.
sage Of some law providing for the gradual
abolition of slavery in this Commonwealth
have according to order had the same I'M
der consideration, and have come to tho
following resolution thcrcupon;
Resolved. As the opinion Of this COM.
mittee that it is inexpedicnt for the present
to make any Legislative enactmcn,s for tho
abolition Of slavery"
But we continue the history Of the pro-
ceedings.
Mr.. Preston moved to amend the rc-
port of the committee by resolution in
these words:
Resolved. AS the opinion Of this COM
mittee that it is expedicnt to adopt some
legislative cnactmcnts for the abolition Of
slavery"
On the 25th January motion was mado
for the indefinite posiponemcnt Of the re-
port of the committee and Of Mr.. Prcston's
amendment. On this motion the vote was
60 in the affirmative and II in The negative;
Messrs Drummond Of Accomnc. Wood
of Albcmare, Randolph Of Albcmarlc.
Garland of Amherst, Boiling of Bucking-
ham. Rives of Campbell, Jones Of Eliza
beth City, Marshall Of Fauquier, Bryce Of
Goochland, Roanc Of Hanover, Mayo Of
Hcnrico. Mclllhcncy. Cordcll and Cald-
well of London, Chandler and Leigh Of
Norfolk, Moncurc of Stafford, and Powell
of Spottsylvania, voting in the negative.
The vote then REQUIRED on the adoption
Of Mr.. Prcston's amendment. which was
los, by a vote Of 5S in the affirmative and
70 in the negative; Mcssrs. Drnmmond.
Randolph, Garland, Boiling, Jones, MclIl.
hcncy, Cordcll and Caldwell, voting in tho
affirmative.
Mr. Bryce Of Goochland then made Al,
amendment to the report Of the Committee
by way Of preamble, which was adopted
by the House, aud caused the report to
read thus:
"Profoundly sensible of the great evils a.
rising from the conditioned the colorcdpop-
,iation ofthis Commonwealth, induced by
| humanity as well as policy to an immediate
r effort for the removal, in the first place. as
well OF those who are now free, MS ofsuch
as may hereafter become free. believing
that this effort (wliIc it is in justaccordanco
, with the sentiment Of the community on
, the subjcct) will absorb all our present
means, and that further action for the re-
movnl Of the slaves should await more
definite development Of public opinion.
Resolved. GAS the opinion Of this Com
, mittce, that it is inexpcdicntfor the present
, to make any legislative enactnents for tho
. abolition Of slavery"
I'm this form it WIS finally adopted by a
vote of 65 to So; Mcssrs. Grinal of Acco-
mac, Randolph of Albemarlc, Garland oil
Amherst, Boiling of Buckingham. Rivca
of Campbell, Jones Of Elizabeth City, Mar
shall Of Fauqucr, Bryce of Goochland,
+ Roanc Of Hanover, Mayo Of Henrico, Hooc
of King George, McIllhcncy, Cordcll and
Caldwell Of Loudon, Chandler and Leigh
Of Norfolk county, Powell ofSpo,tsylvania.
Moncurc Of Stafford, King ofNorfolk city,
and Rutherford Of Richmond, voting in the
affirmative.
+ To use the language ola distinguished
member of that body, IF there be any sin
chargeable to the House Of Delegates Of
1881, it is a sin attributable to the state oil
public sentiment at that time, excited by
extraordinary events which had then re-
Gently occurred"
That state Of public opinion does not
exist now, and no man who figured in tho
Legislature at that time, ought to be held
accountable, particularly when he was car
rying out the wishes Of his constituents.
No one was considered an Abolifionist
then who was dcvising the best means to
still the public voice rs it called SO loudly
upon the Legislature to net andac Ut once.
There were leading Democrats in that
body, such as Brodnax, Rome, afterwards
U. S. Scnator) Halyburton, Bryce Of
Goochland, Hooc Of King George. Mon
| cure of Stafford felecfed Jndoe lasf winter