Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-01-27

lis session Of 18l6l7, evidently with the intention
OF resorng to this cXpedient, renewed an effort it
had made without success early 1900 procure
through the General Government an ASYLUM on the
coast OF Africa, for the reception of its cooured no.
puatlon. This object, for reasons which it is unne-
ccssary to enuincrate, was never accomplished
But, Society of intelligent and patriotic intvidu-
ais, with scarcely any other resources than such rs
were supplied by private charity, and their own GU
crprsing spirits, have, in the mean time succeeded
III exploring the most Important parts Of the western
coast of Africa, III procuring settlement of a,mos.
indefinite extent, and planting within It's limits "a
thriving Colony OF more than twelve hundred people
tDc,, Unfortunately from the different States of the
onion. The doors of this settlement are now OPEN
cd to the co.ourcd population of Virginia and it rests
with the Legislature To determine whether wise
policy and the best interests OF the State do not re-
Gurc that suitable stuiulants to cmgration should
he offered to those, for whose especial benefit this
valuable Asylum has been prepared.
1t is deemed unnecessary TO repeat what has arca
dy been said, OF the character of the population in
question: of its hopeless degrudaion and its banefu
influence, the situation in which it is now placrI
The advantages that would result from it's removal
not only to ITSELF but to the country it would leave
and to tic country Of its adoption, may very safely
be assumed as matter no longer admitting OF doubt
Dut, there Is one consideration connected with the
SUBJECT ntereSiing and sustained by SO many of
the most imposing sanctions drawn to the suppor
OF Legislative cnactlnents That your committee would
feel itself guilty of the grossest neglect were its
present lahors terminated without clain,inr for it the
attention it so Justly merits.
Under tho influence of policy already REFERRED to,
and justified by the necessity from which it spr,,nr
the llws OF Virginia have prohibited emancipation
within tire limits Of the State but on condition of
the early removal Of the individual ernancipased-
DO not justice and humanity require that the reors
Of this condition should be softencd as lar as nos
BILE, by legislative interpretations And how can this
be 50 cfccually accomplished as By providing sufi,
and suitable Asylum together with the means of O.
migration to it, for those whose removal from the
State Is positively enoined, There cal, be no Doubt
OF the wisdom and proprlcty of controlling and even
entirely depressing the operations of benevolencc and
philanthropy, when inconsistent Wit, tho public suf-
" o. I've Puohc welfare. But, that Government
would be justly chargeable with the extreme of dos
Po..H, that should attempt, without necessity to in
tcriere with the kind and generous feelings OF the lpi-
man heart; or where the necessity exists without
tempcrng the rgor of its DEGREES with such cnoients
as Charity may suggest, and the means at its disposal
may supply
On the present occasion, however, policy fortunate
~ points to the very course which humanity would
require In providing for those whose removal from,
the State is made condition of their emancipation
the means of emigration to Africa the General As
semby will be applying, i'll the opinion of your CON-
mIttcc, the only safe and efficient remedy TO an evil
whose presence and magnitudeis acknowledged and
whose future increase is dreaded by all. IF the effect
OF this operation should not be, as some have san
gunely hoped the entire extinction of slavery in the
end there can be very little doubt that Will at least
open drain for our coloured population, of which
individual Immunity and legislative wisdom NAV avail
themselves, to an extent amply sufficient for all the
!
its results the anticpations that have something's been
formed III relation to it, and draw from U.s. without
single interference with individual rights, or singlc
vocation OF individual wishes the great mass of our
/ coourcd population then indeed, may virginia look
to it. us the surest means of restoring her to that
ascendancy among her sister States, of Which it NAV
be safely affirmed, that slavery only ias deprived
| her.
Entertaining these sentiments YOUR committee can.
not hesitate to recommend, in compliance witEthe
suggestions of the memorials referred to them the
provision OF permanent fund fo- dcfraying, with
proper limitations, the expenses of such free colored
people, may choose to cmicratc from the State ~
Virginia TO the settlement at Liberia. They are thc
more earnest III this recommendation, from having
learned; that there are at this moment, nearly six
hundred applicants for emigration, large portion OF
whom are nrtives of Virginia. On two former oc-
casons, the Legislature did hesitate to contribute
from the public funds towards the cncoura cement OF
TINS patriotic undertaking. and it is among the least
pleasing OF the recollections connected with the O.
vent, tnat while they thus directly promotinr so
important an object, the effect of their example was
10 excite IN some OF their sister States, spirit which
mas resulted IN one OF them at least, III an animal
appropriation for relieving itself from its free coloured
population.
Your committee are aware, that this whole bust
ness Is, as yet, in some degree matter of expcri
nent; anu they would of deem it ineXpcdeDt
Tor the State oi Virginia at engage in it. To
the full extent that may ultimately be required
| OF hcr But enough has been demonstrated 20 usti-
~ beginning by small annual appropriations at all
times subject TO the controul of the Legislatures and
this appropriation may hereafter be either withdrawn
or increased, as its results shall be found injurious or
beneficial.
In looking around for some special fund that may
most properly be set apart for this object the attc-
ton OF your committee has been particularly drawn
to that portion of the public derived from the
annual sales of cooured convicts. Though small in
amount it's nevertheless sufficiently large for the ex
pertinent proposed and its peculiar origin, spriuginp
as 1t does from the crimes and the nlisorunes of our
colourcd population, would seem to recommend it as
particularly appropriate forimproving the condition of
that population and for gradually relieving the State
from ITS existence and probable increase within her
limits, Your committee accordingly recommend the
adoption Of the following rcsolutions
j. ResotOed That it is expedent to provide for Che