The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-04-05
VIRGINIA SLAVERY DEBATE IN
1882.


GINA Legislature, involving the expe-
diency of the abolition Of slavery, and
10 which Mr.. FAULKNER has recently
called attention by an amendment and
some remarks made IN the Convention
last Friday, occurred about forty years
ago. The subject excited much inter
eat at the time, and the extraordinary
ability with which it was discussed on
both sides, has given to it a worldwide
Reputation. There was condition OF
The public mind at that time IN the
State of Virginia more favorable to the
tree discussion OF that question than
has ever existed since, at least up to the
time of the extinction OF the institu-
lion. An account Of the circumstances
Of the debate may be interesting as an
historical Renaissance.
All the great minds OF Virginia
such as WASHINGTON, Mason, JEFFEE-
son, MADISON, MARSHALL, WYTHE and
PEypLErox-looked with decided dis
favor upon slavery, and their writings
abound in sentiments hostile to its con-
,inuance longer than it could be got rid
Of without too great check to the in
dustrial interests OF the State. 1t is
believed that among all the distinguish
ed men OF Virginia who fourished prior
to 1892, there is not one in whose
writings or speeches a single sentence
can be found eulogistic OF this lnstltu'
ton. 1t is not matter OF surprise
that sentiments so universally expressed
by such commanding intellects should
have had their full influence upon the
generations that succeeded them.
At the period when this debate &c
CURED slavery WAS not Il rrolltahIc
institution in Virginia. Mot Of the
Southern planting States had, by s:e:n
and memorable legislation, either ah>o,
lutely prohibited the importation OF
slave, into those States for sale or had
embarrassed the commerce IN that
article with such restrictions As greatly
discourage the tralc; the consequence
was that there was no demand for the
surplus slave labor OF Virginia, aud the
colored population multiplied within
its limits 80 rs to he Il drug 10 the mar
ket. Agricultural produce OF every
kind was at that time low, and the
farmers and planters OF the State were
staggering under the burden OF support
ing an idle and unproductlvc popula'
ton. Able bodied negro men could
then with difficulty be sold at four
hundred dollars, and women at two
hundred and fifty.
1t was under these circumstances
that a negro msurrection, headed 10y
the notorious Nat. TURNER, broke out
in the county of Southampton In
August, 1881. In single night seven
,y.one of the white inhabitants OF the
county were brutally and inhumanely
butchered. The alarm and trepldation
which this event created throughout
the slaveholding counties OF Eastern
Virginia can only be realized by those
who were contemporaries with
that event. No one knew what might
be the extent and ramifcations ct this
terrible conspiracy. a sense Of univer'
cal distrust pervaded the public mind
and all began to speculate upon the
mode by which the State could be
relieved of an evil threatening such
tragic consequences to the unprotected
portions OF the country.
Public meetings were held in several
of the largest slaveholding counties OF
the State, calling upon the Legislature,
thea shortly to assemble, to devise
some mode OF giving relief to the asl-
lated mind of the people. TWAS under
such circumstances that the Legislature
of 1872, since become so celebrated
in the history OF Virginia, assembled IN
the city OF Richmond A committee
was appointed to whom the memorials
addressed TO that body, touching the
subject of slavery, were referred. Mr.
FAULKNER, then very young man, was
amember of that committee. He sub
mitted for its adoption a plan for the
gradual and prospective extinction oil
slavery in the State. This plan was
published few days thereafter in the
Richmond papers, and caused the Hon,
WILLIAM o. GoopE, OF Mecklenburg, to
introduce a resolution into the House
OF Delegates, revoking the references
heretofore made to the committee, aud
discharging it from the further consid'
Grafton OF the subject OF slavery. 1t
was this motion Of Mr.. GoopE that led
10 that debate now so famous in Nir
ginia history. Among the speakers
most prominent in defense of the instl
tuition of slavery were WILLIAM IT,
BRoDNAx, JOHN THOMPSON Brown
JAMES ii. GHoLsoN, WILLIAM Q. GooDE,
JOHN SHELL and WILLIAM DANIEL.
Amongst those who favored some grad
ual and prospective system for getting