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


by tcm 10 the full and free arb;iraincnt of the peo-
pic, to be ratified Or rejected, according to the
pressed will of ngiority oftac persons qualified 10
.utc for members OF the said convention.
RcW,ced, further, That the uIerubcrs of the said
convention, shall III like manner 'I considered, as in
structed by their constituents to provide adequate
means FOR the protection OF slaves within this con-
nCnwealth, from undue and unequal taxation, by tic
practical government to be- h ticu proposed; and
more especially TO adopt it constitutional princi-
F!e, that the rate Of taxes imposed such Slaves.
shall not at any time, exceed i'll just proportion,
cordng to value, the rate c taxes, imposed OIL real
and personal property.
: REPORT OF TIL. COaIAIIPTEI7.
10 caoa ,cerc referred SIi:-y .Vemm1als on tie sub
Jectg Cotonjsiagthc Free People ct coIosr et Pr
/ ginia.
! The committed TO whom Gre referred sundrv me.
ora.3 on the subject of coonizing, on the coast of
africa, the free people Of colour OF Virginia. having
given to the subject the attention Justly due to its
Importance and to its intimate connc!on with what
they believe to be the best interests of the State ber
leave report, that the object of an the cporasts
seems to DC to induce the General Assembly of Vir-
gina to avail itself Of the offer OF the American Colo
~allon Society TO receive anlprotcct within its set
Element On tho Coast of Africa, any portion ofthe
free colourcd population Of America. 70 this
course the nemorilsts think the Legislature of Viz
suia not only pledged by its previous acts but invited
also by the most powerful considerations of State po
icy and national iuece and they appeal with conf
dcncc to the wisdom and patriotism ofhos, TO whom
the interests fthc State are now confidcd. to com
meice at once the Important work Of providing the
necessity means for the gradual removal Of such por
ions OF the colourcd population of the State are
already Tree or may hereafter be liberated
/ Iour committee are aware of the delicate ratrrn
n the subject TO which their attention has been thus
.H'ectcd ana while they deem 1t their mperous duty
10 investigate IL the fullest manner its merits and its
consequences they ope to be able present the re-
SUIT OF their investigation in mode calculated nei-
her 10 alarm the fears, mort to excite the prcld;ces Of
! any Impartial mind.
! NO. oil
large and growing community Of individuals essen
Tally different from the great mass of its nha 5tants
you'd under any circumstances be matter of qucs.
tonaDlc c&pcdlcncy But if that community be dis
tlhgushed by the popularity of It's colour; be made
Up OF slaves, or of their Immediate descendants and
ne diftsed over every part of slave holding country
there is no longer room to doubt the banefu and dan
gcrous character of the influence it must exert Tho
distinctive complexion by which it is marked, ncces
sarliy deha!s it from al familiar intercourse with the
more avonrod society that surrounds it, and of course
denies to i al hope Of either social or political ccyo
tIon By means Of individual merit, however UreD or
/ individual cxertons, however unrcmitted. The
strongest incentives TO industry, and moral as well as
political lcc'itudc beng thus withdrawn il would
argue most extraordinary ignorace ofthc character
n the htimGn heart to anticipate from those in rolo
tor 70 WHOM virtrc and intelligence and patriotism
arc striped Of their most powerful attractions n
confS" oi conduct calculated either to eya heruscgos
or 10 ncnchS the country in which they live Rca-
son, on the contrary would ncint us to .l,e vor,, rc
suits which Our own experience has so filHv demon
stTatHd ignorance, idencss and profinacv must In,
tic INsePaTablc companions, the unavoidable consr
4uencc7 OF individual degradation and they who are
us unfortunate SUBJECTS cannot fail to be curse 70
the community with which they are connected de-
tracing at once from its general wealth. It's moral
character, and its political strength.
huS' the!c Is yet a more important and alarming
view. III WITCH this subject necessarily presents itself
70 the nnd OF every Firgipan. ) community of tho
cnaTactcr that has been described with this addition
al peculiarly, that it differs from the class from which
IL mas Sprang only in Its exemption from the whole
some resras OF domestic authority is found in tic
ifdat OF humorous and rapidly increasing slave non
UiitoD ana while its partial freedom trnmmand ne
Is by Inc necessary rigours of tie law is ncverbo
I' 9utichtiy attractive, to be source OF uneasiness
una dissatisfaction TO those who lave not attained IN
Us questionable privileges its exemption fror, tlo
prompt and efficient Equsition appcraininp to slave
~ makes an important instrument in the corfuptiou
H s:uuct.o OIL t1ose, VINO yet remain the property
OF 'hclr masters The eXtcn: of this evil NAV be fair
y estimated, by reference 20 our statute hook
1Llc laws intended either to prevent or 10 limit M
elects are Of character, which nothing, but the en-
o.vnc necessity OF me case, could ever justify, to
community OF republicans; and the obligation TO re-
sort to thcn IS sufficient TO command the serious ot
tentlon Of every enlightened patriot.
10 considerations such 9s these, may be traced the
olcy, n[st resortcd to by the Legislature of Virgin
Ia III lJ5 oi hrrcstne the rrorrcss of cnapcipafion
ny requiring the speedy removal from the State of
all TO whom its privileges might be extended; and
rigorous as this policy may seem to be; at war with
sS VI d Fciy large ana respectable portion Of
me community; and REFRESHING by lis rpandates some
oil the noblest principles ofihc human heart it was
nevertheless justified by tie most powerful consider
atoms OF public necessity it had become essential
wares preventing the rapid extension ofan evil that
threatened IN its progress to destroy thc peace and
tranquility ocfhc State.
But this unfortunately, was the utmost limit Of its
operation. Tho evil already in existence, and
possessed within Itself the means Of IFS own extern
SON. and accordingly the free co!oTed population Of.
'rGnia wh,ci In 1900 was only $1,000, had in 1890
.caahed the aHourt Of &C. $50. The only expedient
o. was TO prevent It's farther increase, and If posi-
n c.