Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-17
COMBINATION.

To THE LpGIsLATCRE.-The existence among
US hat class of population denominaed "the free
people of colour" has been always deemed evil
of great magnitude. To prevent its increase, laws
have been passed, annexing the condition of Danish
!neut to the emancipation of slave This hard al
ts:atvc of Punishment or Il return to a state of
slavery presented totlo poor negro whose faithful
services had obtained his freedom at the hands IF
grateful master can be justified only by the plea of
.;,5ceSsiiJ. But however imperious that cessity,
wiiuh conpcs to measures at war with all the bet
Ter feelings of nature it offers plea which can
sexoncratc The StateGfem the obligation to supply to
the unfortunate victim of her policy the means of
"a compliance with the acquisitions OF her law. The
offer of an alternative where there is an inability to
chooSc, is a cruel mockcry. In other countries,
where the policy of the government the crime of
The Individual sentences the latter TO BAN shment,
the government provides the means of compliance
with its mandate. Great Britain, at her own en-
pense, transports her felons TO Botany Bays and
even i'll Virginia, the wretch whose neck is saved
from the halter only by the humanity of the laws is
TRANSPORTED from the renotest county in the Com
rnonwcalth, and supported in the Penitentiary, at
public expense. The fajlure of our law to provide
o home aud the means of reaching it, for the freed
nan whom II sentences TO Punishment, only be
excused upon the ground that the State could not
procure such home.
This obligation seems to be clearly recognized in
the course pursued at various times by the Virginia
Legislature More than twenty years ago, the
General Assembly with great uuauiInity, passed
resolution, iu,tructing the Governor to open cor
rcspodence with the President of the United tates
ana .cqucst the aid Of the general government to OBJ
tain suitable territory, ont of the limits of the u
iitcd States, as an asylum to which might be sent
such free persons OF colour had been, might he
cnancipated in Virgiaia. This correspondence was
laid before Subsequent Legislature, and by it, the
subject was again pressed upon the attention of the
general government. Succeeding Legislatures have
pursued the same course, till that of 1876 when the
last resolution upon this subject passed tne lower
house with Only nine dissenting voices, and the Sc
nate with but only And to give more formality
aud face this expression Of the wishes of Virgil
MIA er Senators were instructed and her represen-
tativcs in Congress requested exert their best eff
forts to aid the President of the United States in
the attainment OF the desired object.
Since the passage Of the resolution Of 1916.
through the agency of society of most enlightened
and patriotic individuals in the U. States suitable
territory on the coast of Africa has been obtained
and colony has been planted at Cape Measurable
consisting Of more than 2j0 individuals, one half
OF whom have cmigated from Virginia. This CO.
1ony offers that asylum" for the free people Of CO.
lour of Virginia. so long, and often petioned a,
the hands of the general government. 1t offers to
Virzioia an opportunity Of reconeiing her humaui-
Is and her justice with her policy. 1t will receive