Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/79

 WEBSTER and he will see with what freedom a proposition made by Mr. Jefferson Kandolph, for the grad- ual abolition of slavery was discussed in that body. Every one spoke of slavery as he thought ; very ignominious and disparaging names and epithets were applied to it. The debates in the House of Delegates on that occasion, I believe were all published. They were read by every colored man who could read, and to those who could not read, those debates were read by others. At that time Virginia was not unwilling or afraid to discuss this question, and to let that part of her population know as much of the discussion as they could learn. That was in 1832. As has been said by the honorable member from South Carolina, these abolition societies commenced their course of action in 1835. It is said, I do not know how true it may be, that they sent incendiary pub- lications into the slave States, at any rate, they attempted to arouse, and did arouse, a very strong feeling; in other words, they created great agitation in the North against Southern slavery. "Well, what was the result ? The bonds of the slaves were bound more firmly than before ; their rivets were more strongly fastened. Public opinion, which in Virginia had begun to be ex- hibited against slavery, and was opening out for the discussion of the question, drew back and shut itself up in its castle. I wish to know wheth- er anybody in Virginia can now talk openly, as Mr. Randolph, Governor McDowel, and others 69