Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-10

ty, bu: is in itself tine abolition the destructio
of property. Rm for preserving this pro
perty, for pcrpetusting this domestic institl
ton, believing, whilst it ia benefit to th
master, that 10 is at the same time the best Do
siole government for the slave; aud / aI
therefore prepared to say to tho master, 20
shall not after hsVing enj,yed the benefit {
the slaves services ell your life. mako wi
which is 20 condemn him to exile on the hate
full coast Of Africa, there 10 live a cennibal Q
die the early victim of disease. As measure
then, OF humanity, and for the sake Of the slave
let us adopt this amendment LIT US, for hi
welfare, prohibit future emancipation, and kee
the African slave in ths very best condition
possible; for The black man, state Of dones
tic slavery. Apart, then, from any ci5er req
sous OF policy or expediency, oppose enan
cipstion bacauss believe state Of slavery I
bs the bes. form Of Government for the nrgrt
race-the only Government under wh ich b
can be secure and can rise il ths scale OF hu
manity; and we have no,right 70 deprive hin 4
that government.
Mr.. kINDRED.-Ons more word rpcn this
subject
Ny friend who has inst taken Lis seat hs
misrepresen:sd me- am not opposing re
stric.ion upon the right to emenopa.e and r,-
main in the State am in favor Of IT, ! beie7t
that we should not a!lnw emancipated g!avcs
to remain in the SLs'--t - .r OIL, oon2sirl
the i:netriue which .':-aibits .no ,ignr o
emancipation.
Mr.. TURNER, of Jackson.-T would sugees,
to the gentleman from Amelia (Mr UARviR,
that probably tee following amendment would
meet his views:
"sia7cs shall 10: 5e emancipat.tl in this
Commonwealth alte: the adoption of this Con.
stitution."
Mr. HAsrlr II accept that proposition in
lieu ofthe one nave ofrred.
Mr. FIsHEg -Gentleluen seem to tsre argu
ed this esiion as il it vas taking IRON lhc
o~ne: the right tc dispose Of his property as
he may Sea f. The chjact Of that amend
uent as understand it, is 10 inhibit the
owners OF slaves frcn eDanc pa.ing :hrn with
in this Sls,e. |: is not proposed by thar
smendneEt tc impair the right Of the owner To
take his slaves TO any other S.nte and emsnci.
pate them By leaving thsm there l. being
the policy Of the Common wea!th Of Virginia
to Restrain emancipation within ier borders. il
is not only right as l conceive, but the dGt5
.! the Convention &c impose such restrictions
in regard 10 emancipation within :hs Com
ss will carry out this policy OF the
State. Any individual may take his slaves 20
any country he piesscs and abandon his right
Of property 10 theu; but the object OF this
Is to prs7sat slave owners from
Foist;ng upon the Commonwealth ciaas CT
persons who have bcec found 50 be luxurious
both to the white n.n and tho slave.
Mr. HARvlr-I Cal, io7 tts yeas aud oa7s
upon that amendment.
The call was sustained.
Mr.. GsAy.-I would ask to be excused from
7oting upon this question. did no: bear the
discussion upon it and DO moi, therefore; Jun
lers:Sad it sufficiently TO enable nie 10 vote io
eligently upon it.
The Con7en,o. agreed 10 excuse him The
question was then taken GPon the amendment
~ yeas and nays, and resulted-yeas 81, nays
'4-ss follows:
YEAs-Mes.r.. Montague (F'e.iden.), Amber, A,tru,
alss Barbour, Blskey Blow. Bou din, Boyd, b7avEsr,
ont, Brooke, Csbel, Campbell CHAMBERS, Cotnau,
,van, Robert T. Conrad, Dornan, F;s e, F!7u!aoy,
ugre. Graham, Grsv-y, Goode. Jr, Hat, L s Hall,
lsrv's' asnds.n usck, uosonSe, hssi, 'Oln.ton
iofrtt, Morris. Sebls; Ns!sea, Parks, Pr-,.ou G. W
ian !opb, s.srls, :u;ceElla Tsylce, TrsdTay, L. H.
y; ner, h;e, Reots-32.
sAu-heasrs ArmsUoa6, oa5ior, Fsrlin, Branch,
yros. Carer, Chanbl.t, c. Ionrad. e, Cooper
ox. c!esp Gusts Ds,kns D1'say Gsrlald titles PIE,
oxsin: Addison \. cErp, Itsl' H.ym,.d. Ho'i.d.S,
.ei .st.ry 1a5n ;. ~ as;.as .,.Sys sr, &-- H. STR
.o, M1ur. o.Srru, pend prIco. Push kre,, Sam
EAR sas
Is!d, Wy'o:, YoRng-aL
So the amendment was rejec!ed.
Mr.. HoLLApAY.-Is |: ia order to offer an
lmendmsntf
The PSEsIorST.-Y Yss, sir.
Ar. HoLLApAY.-1 movs TO amend b. s.riS
,It all after the word free" In tie third iGc,
Ind inserting the following:
"Aad shall pass to the distributes of the
:eststor, 1ben the emancipation va, by will,
md when by deed, to such persons as would
10 the distributes cf the granto- we're be- dead
It the time"
Mr.. HoLaAnAy--Tt Is evident nor, from the
manifestation CT opinion 5y the Convection
his morning, that differences eIis! between tie
members upon this question.
i, is cieer that the Convention IS indisposed
% pass constitutional provision prohibiting
emancipation in the Safe oI Virgins altoge.h
sr. 1t is clear tbs. all, o: nearly al, who cp.
;osed ths:, are in favor ofimpos;ns restrictions
upon emancipation, are opposed 10 allowing
Slaves emancipated to remain within the Com
moowesllh alter they are emsacipated. Ii
strikes me that the atnendnen; proposed obvi-
.tss the difficulty that exists under the Laws as
.hey now are. We have already IN the Code
If Virginia provision which requires all ne.
sroes 70 be sold into slavery who remain 10 the
more than twelve months after
.hey are ensnopsted. And yet it is known
that that law is imperative, because Of an in
disposition to enforce it
Mr. HAYxosD.-l desire to know whether
that amendment proposes 70 change the pre-
sent !sw7
Nr. HoLLAnAT.-It does, sir; the present
law directs lega! proceedings to be instituted
against those negroes ~ho, having been eman-
cipated, remsin In the Commonwealth Contrary
to law. The smendment here proposes to yes;
directly In the dist,ioulees o! the tts:4tor or
grantor, considering him dead, the right Of
property in the slaves. This is the main dis.
tinc:ion between tie lsw as it now exists ard
the law as il is proposed to make it. Under
the law as it stauds, no proceeding is had, and
sn opportunity is afforded to the negroes to
avoid the penalties of the law. Make 1t the
interest of the distributes of tha testntor to
secure this right Of property il the slaves
pa,ed, aud the result will BE-, that in
every case tho law will be fully enforced.
Thus, whila facility will be extended to the
citizen to emancipate, direct interest will bs
created by which the persons interested will
see that tue provisions OF the law is enforced
vi hich prohibits slaves frcm renaiciag within
the Oommonwe ealth after twelvo nontns from
The date of emancipation. This, thitk, will
accom-, nlish the object Of all
Il seems SC me, Slr, that this provision is
wise and just, beeause;f they are reduced to
the condition of slaves, /: is proposed that
they will go to the heirs of the origlna! owners;
snd think it is better that they should g. to
them st the period indicated, that ss the period
desired by the gentleman. Fo. in thai case
no opportunity would be Afforded at all to the
party ensncipsted to make his escape FROM
the Common wealth.
Mr.. S7uARr.-E think the argument and tie
OF the gentleman are proceeding
upon an erroneous assumption. They proceed
- Al kL.k ~ l.,