The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-07-03


4. Every free negro shall be regis
tered in the books of the Clerk of the
Parish to which he belongs. This
Register shall contain minute descrip-
ton of such negro; copy of which
shall be taken by him, and which he
may be required to produce at any time.
That the State of Georgia has lately
passed law, imposing an annual tax Of
twenty dollars upon every free negro
in that State; and in case of inability
to pay, such negro is Immediately ex-
PEELED the State.
That the state of South-C Carolina has
lately passed law, allowing no negro,
emancipated, Gas your committee be-
lieve,) after the first of March, 1921,
to remain in the State.
That the State of Ohio has passed
laws, requiring all negroes, coming to
reside in that State to furnish security
to the amount of five hundred dollars,
that they will lead quiet and peaceable
lives, and will never, in any manner
whatever, become chargeable.
And, lastly, that the city of Wash
ington, on the 14th of April, 1921, adopt
ed a city ordinance, requiring all free
negroes, living in the city of Washing
ton, or coming to reside there, annual
ly to report themselves at the Mayors
office-to show their certificates of
freedom, and annually to furnish secu-
Tity, in one respectable householder,
that such negro will never in any way
become chargeable on the Corporation,
and will always behave in sober and
orderly manner. In default of such re-
port and security, such negro may be
tined-confned in Jail, in the work
house, or expelled the city.
or Your committee have thought 1t
useful to all,ide particularly to the laus re-
cited IN the Gbope-,amed instances, IN or
der more clearly to illustrate that princi-
pile of Legislation, 70hich already IS, or
doubtless 1Oiu soon be adopted IN the great
er part Of the States Of this country, IN re-
iation to ttis portion Of o'sr population. 20
AT the same time,. these facts are suffi-
cient to demonstrate, that great hostility
is already manifested to this description
of population, and that many States, at
this early hour, have thought it wise to
resort to strong and speedy measures,
in order to prevent its increase. And
your committee think it proper here to
state, that this increase has hitherto
been singularly rapid and alarming, in
asmuch as it appears from statistical doc
uments, that whereas free white per-
sons have increased from 1890 to 1910,
only in the ratio Of IS 26-1O0 per cen
tum; all other free persons, except In
dams, have increased in the same period,
in the ratio of 313 45-10O. 1t is not to be
supposed, that this description of popu-
latiOn will continue to increase in the
ratio aforementioned but it would
not be difficult to show that the two
most abundant sources of emancipation,
will be little affected by the laws be-
fore recited.
From the foregoing statement of facts,
your committee feel well grounded in
the opinion, that in the course of ten
years, great proportion of the free
negroes of the South will be driven
northward, to the New-England States,
where, at the present time, persons of
colour not only possess and exercise val
liable rights and privileges, but where,
also, from the habits of the people, a
greater regard and tenderness are man
ifested for them. On the contrary, in
theslave-holding States, and those which
border on them, the habits of the peo-
pie and the policy of the governments
both unite to depress and discourage
this class of individuals:
Your committee do not think it nee
essary to make particular mention of
the evils which will accompany this de-
,scriptioh of population. Those which
are most apparent, are,
|. Increasing the number of con-
victs and paupers.
2. Collecting in the large towns an
insolent, disorderly and Corrupt popu-
lation.
8. Substituting themselves in many
labours and occupations, which, in the
end, it would be more advantageous to
have performed by the white and ma
tive population of the State. Your
committee, in finishing this part of the
Report, think it due TO the subject, to
state that the good order and tranquiIli-
ty of this town, has of late years
been often and much disturbed, by vi