The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-26

nitude.
Foremost in the ranks of the emancipation
party was the distinguished editor of the Rich
mond Enquirer, Thomas Richie, Esq, gen.
tleman of high character, cool, cautious, and
wary politician, whose influence was, perhaps,
at that time and subsequently, greater than
that of any man in Virginia. Side by side
with the Enquirer stood the Richmond Wing,
edited by the gallant and impetuous John
Hampden Peasants, man of brilliant genius,
who, for dashing and racy editorial writing,
has never been excelled in this country. The
press of Norfolk, Charlottesville, and other
places, responded in manly strains to the Rich
mond papers; and we believe we shall not be
invidious in saying that majority of enlight-
ened men in the State took 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, Mr. Rives of
| Campbell, General Brodnax of Dinwiddie, Mr..
Powell, Mr.. Faulkner, and Mr.. Summers
latter of Kanawha.
From the Richmond Enquirer, Jan. Z, 1892
Editorial
| 1T is probable from what we hear, that the
Committee on the Colored Population will re-
port some plan of getting rid of the free people
of color. But is this all that can be done2 Are
we forever to suffer the greatest evil which can
scourge our land, not only to remain, but to in
crease in its dimensions? I'VE 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 it
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 difference
nothing short of ghtful-between all that ex-
lists on one side of the Potomac and all on the
other, is owing to that cause alone. The disease
is deep-seated-i is at the hearts core-it is con-
suming, and has all along been consuming,
our vitals; and could laugh-if | could laugh
| on such subject-at the ignorance and folly
| of the politician who ascribes that to 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 some
thing must be done
ayes, something must be done, and it is the
part of no honest man to deny it-of no free
press to affect to conceal it. When this dark
population is growing upon US; when every
new census is but gathering its appalling num-
bers upon us; when, within period equal to
that in which this Federal Constitution has
been in existence, these numbers will increase
to more than two millions within Virginia
when our sister States are closing their doors
upon our blacks for sale, and when our whites
are moving westwardly in greater numbers
than we like to hear of when this, the fairest
land on all this continent, for soil, and climate,
and situation, combined, might become sort of
garden spot, if it were worked 10y the hands of
white men alone, cap ace, ought we, to sit quiet
ly down, fold our arms, and say to each other,
Well, well; this thing will not come to the
worst in our day; we will leave it to our chill
dren, and our grandchildren, and greatgrand-
children, to take care of themselves, and to
brave the storm Is this to act like wise men?
Heaven knows we are no fanatics-we detest
the madness which actuated the Amies des
NOirs; but something ought to be done.
Means, sure but gradual systematic but dis
Greet, ought to be adopted, for reducing the
mass of evil which is pressing upon the South,
and will still more press upon her, the longer
it is put off. 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 will do anything at the present ses-
sion to meet this question, yet we say now, in
wisest men cannot give too much of their atten-
ton to this subject, nor can they give it too
sOon."
Such were the views and such the Demo
cratic spirit of the Richmond Enquirer twenty
three years ago, at a time when it was edited by
the honored father of the present editor, who
was himself the disciple and friend of Jeffer-
son, and the ardent supporter of all the Demo-
cratic Administrations. In fact, the Enquirer
was, at the time the above article was written,
the trusted Virginia organ of General Jack
sons Administration. But the son has forsa-
ken the generous faith in Freedom which actu
ated the father, and now revels in the spirit of
Despotism and Slavery-and, worst Of all, the
beggarly Northern allies of the Virginia De-
mocracy, true to their allegiance, have recanted
the creed of Freedom at the bidding of their
Southern masters, and have become the willing
instruments in upholding and extending the
curse and plague-spot of Slavery.
We might illustrate further the great changes
in the nature and character of Virginia De-
mocracy, by extended quotations from the de-
bate above referred to, but we have only room
for few brief extracts.
Mr.. MOORE of Rockbridge, said:
" If we look back through the long course of
time which has elapsed since the creation to
the present moment, we shall scarcely be able
to point out a people whose situation was not,
in many respects, preferable to our own and
that of the other States, in which negro Sla-
very exists. True, sir, We shall see nations
which have groaned under the yoke of despot-
ism for hundreds and thousands of years; but
the individuals composing those nations have
enjoyed degree of happiness, peace, and free
dom from apprehension, which the holders of
slaves In this country can never know"
Mr.. RIvEs, of Campbell, said:
"On the multiplied and desolating evils of
Slavery, he was not disposed to say much The
| curse and deteriorating consequence were with
| in the observation and experience of the men,
bers of the House and the people of Virginia,
and it did seem to him that there could not be
two opinions about it."
Mr.. POWELL said:
III can scarcely persuade myself that there
is solitary gentleman in this House who will
| not readily admit that Slavery is an evil, and
that its removal, if practicable, is consumma-
| ton most devoutly to be wished. 1 have not
| heard, nor do expect to hear, a voice raised
in this Hall to the contrary"
Mr. PRESTON said:
"Sir, Mr.. jefferson, whose hand drew the
preamble to the Bill of Rights, has eloquently
| remarked that we had invoked for ourselves the
benefit of a principle which we had denied to
| others. He saw and felt that slaves, as men,
were embraced within this principle"
MIR. SUMMERS, Of Kanawha, said:
ID