Daily national era., 1854-01-06
WASHINGTON, d G.
DEBATE ON EMANCIPATION,
TN THE LEGIsLATURE or VIRGINIA, In 1882


The debate in the Virginia Legislature, at
the session of 1873 -'32, on the suffice Of Eman
cipation, was occasioned by the southampton
insurrection, which occurred in the preceding
August. The minds Of the people were ava
kened by that event 10 the continual insecurity
and danger Of state cf society in which one
half Of the people are made tho natural enc
mics Of the other; and the press almost unani-
m0usly broke forth in condemnation Of q sys-
tenn to which they justly traced the dilapida-
t0n and decay OF agriculture the absence tf
arts manufactures, and internal improvements
and the prevalent ignorance among the body
Of the people. The condition Of Virginia was
contrasted with that Of the Northern States in
these particulars, and her poverty and degene-
.raey demonstrated on tho iucontostabIe author
ity Of official statistics. The debate occupied
many consecutive days at the session, and mutt
be regarded, by all who pernse II, as one Of the
ablcst, and, owing to the vital Importance of
tho subject, one Of the most interesting that
has ever occurred on the continent The Vir
ginian Of the present day, who would bury in
oblivion all recollection OF this debate, is untrue
to the honor and ren0wn of his country. No
where has genius and liberty been more close
ly allied than in the O.d Dominion. It would
be difficult to find one illustrions name in all
her history, which is not identified with free.
dom in tho broadest sense of the term; while
those who have signalized themselves as the
champions of Slavery are stars Of a lesser mag
nitude.
Foremost in the ranks Of the Emancipation
party was the distinguished editor of the Rich
mond Enquirer, Thomas Ritchio, Esq, gen
tleman of high character, a cool, cautious, and
wary politician, whose influence was perhaps
at that time and subsequently, greater than
- 80. l. -. Il.
with the Enquirer stood the Richmond Whig,
edited by the gallant and impetuous John
Hamden Peasants, q man Of brilliant genius,
who, for da<hing and racy editorial writing,
has never been cxcellcd in this country The
press of Norfolk, Charlottesville, and other
places, responded in manly strains to the Rich
m0nd papers; and believe shall not be in
vidious in saying that a majority Of enlighten
cd men in the State took n decided stand in
favor of Emancipation.
Among the most distinguished advocates Of
Emancipation, in the House Of Delegates, were
Mr. Moore of Rockbridge, Mr.. Boiling Of --,
Mr. Randolph Of Albemarle, MIR. Rives of
Campbell, General Brodnax Of Dnwiddie, Mr.
Powell, MIR. Faulkner and Mr.. Summers of
Kanawha.
From the Richmond Enquirer, Jan. I, 1892
Editorial
II is probable, from what we hear, that the
Committee on the Colored Population will re-
port some plan for getting rid of the free people
Of color. But is this all that can bc done Are
we forever TO suffer the greatest evil which can
scourge our land, not only to remain, but to in
crease in its dimensonsf sWe may shut our
eyes and avert our faces, if we please, writes
an eloquent South Carolinian, on his return
from the North, few weeks ago. but there il
is the dark and growing evil at our doors; and
meet the question we must at no distant day
God only knows what it is the part of wise
men TO do on that momentous and appalling
subject OF this ! am very sure, that the diff
ference nothing short Of frightful-between
all that exists on one side Of the Potomac and
oil on the other il owing 10 that cause alone.
The disease is deep scated--it is at the hearts
core--it IL consuming, and has oil along been
consuming, our vitas and could laugh-if
could laugh on such subject--at tho igno-
rance and folly OF the politician who ascribes
that 10 an act of the Government which is the
inevitable effect Of the eternal laws Of Nature
What is to be done Oh my God do not
know, but something must be doneD
Yes, something must be done, and it is the
part OF no honest man TO deny it-of no free
press To affect 10 conceal il. When this dark
population Is growing upon us; when every
new census is bat gathering it, appalling num-
bers upon us; whcn within period equal 10
that in which this Federal Constitution has
been ia existence, these numbers will increase
TO more than two millions within Virginia
when our sister States arc closing their doors
upon our blacks for sale, and when our whites
arc moving westwardly in greater numbers
than we like 10 hear Of when this, tho faircst
land ON all this continent, for soil and climate
and situation combined, might become sort Of
garden spot ifit were worked by the hands Of
white men alone, can ere, ought we, TO sit quiet
ly down, fold our arms, and say 10 each other,
"Wcll, we'll this thing will not come to the
worst in our day we will leave il to our chill
dren. and our grandchildren and great grand.
children. to take care Of themselves, and H.
brave the storm y Il this to act like wisc men ?
Heaven knows we are no fsnatcs--we detest
the madness which actuated the duises dss
Noirs, but something ought b be done.
Means sure but gradual, systematic but dis
Greet ought to bc adopted, for reducing the
mass Of evil which Is pressing upon the South,
and will stIll more press upon her, the longer
il is put or We ought not to shut our eyes,
nor avert our faces, and, though we speak al
most without hope that the committee Of the
Legislature viii do anything at the present
session to meet THE question, yet We say now,
in the utmost sincerity Of our hearts, that our
wiscst men cannot give too much Of their at
tcntion 10 this subject nor can they give Il too
soon.
shall give only few extracts from the de-
bate:
Mr.. MooRr, OF Rockbridgc, said:
Permit me, now, SIR, TO direct your attention to
some of the evil consequences Of Slavery, by
way of argument in favor of our maturely do.
lbcrsting on the whole subject, and adopting
some efficient measures TO remove the cause
from which those evils spring. Ia the first
place, | shall confne my remarks 10 such of
those evils as affect the white population ex
clusively. And even in that point Of view, ]
think that Slavery as IL exists among us may
he regarded as the heavies calamity which has
ever befallen any portion Of the human race
A -. l..L haoL tbrn,,gh tha lonU onureo nf