posterity that I oppose this wicked clause.”  Mr. Johnson said, “The principle of emancipation has begun since the revolution.  Let us do what we will, it will come round.”—­[Deb.  Va.  Con. p. 463.] Patrick Henry, arguing the power of Congress under the United States’ constitution to abolish slavery in the States, said, in the same convention, “Another thing will contribute to bring this event (the abolition of slavery) about.  Slavery is detested.  We feel its fatal effects; we deplore it with all the pity of humanity.”  Governor Randolph said:  “They insist that the abolition of slavery will result from this Constitution.  I hope that there is no one here, who will advance an objection so dishonorable to Virginia—­I hope that at the moment they are securing the rights of their citizens, an objection will not be started, that those unfortunate men now held in bondage, by the operation of the general government may be made free!” [Deb.  Va.  Con. p. 421.] In the Mass.  Con. of ’88, Judge Dawes said, “Although slavery is not smitten by an apoplexy, yet it has received a mortal wound, and will die of consumption.”—­[Deb.  Mass.  Con. p. 60.] General Heath said that, “Slavery was confined to the States now existing, it could not be extended.  By their ordinance, Congress had declared that the new States should be republican States, and have no slavery.”—­p. 147.

In the debate, in the first Congress, February 11th and 12th, 1789, on the petitions of the Society of Friends, and the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, Mr. Parker, of Virginia, said, “I cannot help expressing the pleasure I feel in finding so considerable a part of the community attending to matters of such a momentous concern to the future prosperity and happiness of the people of America.  I think it my duty, as a citizen of the Union, to espouse their cause.”

Mr. Page, of Virginia, (afterwards Governor)—­“Was in favor of the commitment:  he hoped that the designs of the respectable memorialists would not be stopped at the threshold, in order to preclude a fair discussion of the prayer of the memorial.  He placed himself in the case of a slave, and said, that on hearing that Congress had refused to listen to the decent suggestions of the respectable part of the community, he should infer, that the general government, from which was expected great good would result to EVERY CLASS of citizens, had shut their ears against the voice of humanity, and he should despair of any alleviation of the miseries he and his posterity had in prospect; if any thing could induce him to rebel, it must be a stroke like this, impressing on his mind all the horrors of despair.  But if he was told, that application was made in his behalf, and that Congress were willing to hear what could be urged in favor of discouraging the practice of importing his fellow-wretches, he would trust in their justice and humanity, and wait the decision patiently.”