The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-04

application of any remedy which, under the
great law of State necessity, we might consider
advisable.
"Sir, am gratifed to perceive that no gen.
tleman has yet risen In this Hall, the avowed
advocate of Slavery. The day has gone by Dhen
such a roics could be listened to Nth patience,
or ecen ,ciM forbearance. even regret, sir, that
we should find those amongst us who enter the
lists of discussion as its apologists except alone
upon the ground of uncomfortable necessity.
And yet, who could have listened 10 the very
eloquent remarks of the gentleman from Bruins
wick, without being forced to conclude that he
at least considered Slavery, however not to be
defended upon principle, yet as being Invested
OF much OF Its enornity, as you approach 1t In
practice?
Sir, if there be one who concurs with that
gentleman in the harmless character of this
institution, let me request him to compare the
condition of the slaveholding portion of this
Commonwealth-baYren deSolate, and scared
as it mere by the arenging hand Of Heacen-
with the descriptions which we have of this
same country from those who first broke its
virgin soil. To what is this change ascribable
Alone to the aoithering and blasting effects Of
Staoery. If this does not satisfy him, let me
request him to extend his travels to the Northern
States Of this Union, and beg him to constrast
the happiness and contentment which prevail
throughout that country, the busy and cheer
full sound of industry, the rapid and swelling
growth of their population, their means and
institutions of education, their skill and pro-
fciency in the useful arts, their enterprise and
public spirit, the monuments of their COM
mercial and manufacturing industry; and,
above all, their devoted attachment to the
Government from which they derive their pro-
lection aoih the divisiOn, discomfort, Incidence,
and poverty, file Southern country. To what,
sir, is all this ascribable? TO that 0ice in the
organization Of society, by ohich one half Of
its inhabitants are Gsrayed an interest and
feeling against the other half-to that unfortu-
nate state of society in which freemen regard
labor as disgraceful, and slaves shrink from it
as a burden tyrannically imposed upon them
TO that condition of things in which half
million of your population can feel no sympa-
thy with the society in the prosperity Of which
they are forbidden to participate, and no at
tachment to Government at whose hands
they receive nothing but I'M Justice
|" If this should not be sufficient, and the
curious and incredulous inquirer should sug-
gest that the contrast which has been adverted
to, and which is so manifest, might be traced
to difference of climate, or other causes dis
tinct from Slavery itself, permit me to refer
him to the two States of Kentucky and Ohio.
No difference of soil, no diversity of climate,
no diversity in the original settlement of those
two States, can account for the remarkable
in their natural advancement
Separated by river alone, they seem to hare
been purposely and prooidentially designed to
exhibit IN their future histories the difference
,ohich necessarily results from country free
from, and a country afflicted acith, the curse Of
iStaUery. The same may be said of the two
States of Missouri and Illinois.
Sir, if still he should hesitate in the appre-
hension of this important political truth, that
Slavery is curse, which no local advantages
can counterbalance, let me invite him back
again to his native State, and point to the
tragedy Of Southampton. There sir, undis-
guised and clear to the vision of all men, are
the evils of Slavery written an blood. There
may be seen a practical commentary upon that
institution, as it actually exists among us.
The gentleman from Dinwiddie has called it a
petty affair." 1t does not appear 80 to me.
The more reflect upon it, the more am con-
vinced that it is an important, a most moment
GUS affair Sixty-one white native inhabitants
Of Virginia, in few hours, in the face of day,
in a county as well protected as most of the
counties east of the Blue Ridge, attacked,
butchered, mangled, in style of which the
records of atrocity can scarcely furnish par
allel. This is petty affair? Sir, it may suit
the mOdesty of those whose valor and energy
that instruction, to underrate its
Importance; but to the statesman, who knows
that like causes will produce like effects, it
must appear fraught with useful and important
instruction. Let it not be said that these in
surrections rarely occur, and that a similar
mo m no fol- r,o for bolf 70
come. To us, no more than to the murdered
citizens of Southampton, is it given to know
the day and the hour. IL is sufficient that such
an evil may occur; and that no vigilance of
your police can prevent its recurrence.
Sir, the cells Of Slacery stand confessed be-
fore as. The only question with Virginia
statesman should be, Is .here any remedy, and
what shall that remedy be? The gentleman
from Albemarle has exhibited one scheme, the
gentleman from Dinwiddie has presented
another. Other and perhaps less exception
able prcjets will be submitted, as soon as it is
understood that we are disposed to apply some
remedy. THE ONLY QUESTION nOW before as
IS, Shall zoe be PERMITTED to make the iaquirup
Shall we be allowed to prosecute our investga-
tons in the select committee? Let us manifest
the will-the means will assuredly follow. l
never could despair, sir, in cause so just as
this. | never could despair of accomplishing
that which eight States-although, it is true.
under more favorable crcumstances-hav
already accomplished. | never could despair of
doing that which the venerable fathers of our
Republic have told us is not only practicable,
but have admonished us must be done, If are
mean to sape the Commonwealth from ruin.
With q steady perseverance, failure is impos.
sibe. The sympathies and support of the
world would gather around us. The smiles of
Heaven and our honest feelings would sus.
tain u.s.
SIN conclusion, Mr.. Speaker, permit me again
to repeat, that although am decidedly in favor
of some scheme Of manumission that will ulti-
mately relieve my country from the catastrophe
whtch threatens 1T, let no gentleman suppose,
from what has fallen from me, that | am in ia
vor of any rash, violent, or hasty legislation.
am for action, but it must be sober, circumspect.
wellconsidered action am for no plan which
which is not mild, gradual, prospective in its
operation. / shall advocate no scheme that
does not respect the right of property, so far as
it is entitled to be respected, with Just regard
to the safety and resources of the State. | would
approach the subject as one of great magnitude
and delcacy, as one whose varied and moment
GUS consequences demand the calmest and
most deliberate investigation. But still, sir,
would approach it-aye, delicate as it may be,
encompassed as it may be with difficulties and
hazards, would still approach it. The peo-
pie demand it. Their security requires it. In
the language of the wise and prophetic Jeffer-
son, You mvst approach it-you must bear it
you mast adopt some plan Of emancipation, or
,corse uciU .tollow.'"
Governor Randolph, in his address to the
Virginia Legislature, in 1920, said:
"We have been far outstripped by States to
whom Nature has been far less bountiful 1t
is painful to consider what might have been,
under other circumstances, the amount of gen
ersl wealth in Virginia"