Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-11-21
ALEXANDRIA. D.
MOND1Y MORNING. NOJ'EHBER 81. 3 /


Cured in the Southern part of our parent state.
have produced a singular change in the tone Of
discussion adopted With regard to our black po-
pu!aIion. There formerly existed almost NOR
bid sensitveness with US on this subject, which
prevented its being approached, much less han
died with energy and boldness. There was
caution used. which, athouga it did nat deserve
the name Of ,imidity, sufficiently showed that the
appalling nature. Of the ey! was. apnfehended
and acknow lodged. In this state ag the case.
our newspapers rarely. if ever, exhibited aly es-
saws designed to direct public attentcn to rs
magnitude, or devise means for its suPrre-
Our public writer's and speakers referred lair
indeed, occasionally; but in indistiuct terms, oHy
in remote manner. They preferred to stand
afar off, rather than view it face TO face; HEY
avoided the contest rather than met. and Crap
pied it with the spirit which marked their intel
lee lual ,igor IN other undertakings. We were
all taught to think, and cid think, that this
was matter about which the least said was the
best said; that its discussion would be productive
Of no good; that we had better shut our eyes to
the magnitude Of the evil, than waste time with
its examination; and, finally, that '.suiiciept
unto the day was the evil thereof" But the
.'evil'' and the ''day' did at last conc And
that, too, with such startling and fearful realities.
that aroused US at once from state of forced lie.
thargy or suietude, to one Of busy, active aud
stirring resolution-to one of steady detcrmna-
tim, not to rest until there is possibility here
after Of another such inroad upon the happiness
The wound which once was thought to be too
deep and vital for any physicians art, aud there
fore never submitted to view, is now exposed to
public gaze, aud remedies recommended and an
of those interested. The public mind is made
fully alive to the importance of the subject the
newspapers TEEN with remarks and suggestions
relative to it: the rich and the poor, alike con.
cerned, are alike active in their measures to Sc
cure the desirable object we have just mentioned.
In consequence If this state Of public feeling,
two things will Immediately ensue. There will.
in the course Of the next year. be established
more strict police over the slaves, and preparato-
~ steps will be taken to lessen the number most
materially, or entirely to remove the free negroes
from Virginia. The FIRST Of these measures is en-
tirely practicable, and no false humanity will
prevent its being adopted. We cannot yet say,
how it is contemplated to fill up. the plan to be
chosen; but it is certain that the strong arm of
the law will be further strengthened. The slaves
will be kept more constantly on the plantations,
and at the houses of their own masters: they
will be required to keep regularly at their work:
they will be allowed to hear the rawlings of 10
more fanatical Preachers Of their own colur: they
will hereafter worship God alongside Of their
masters; they will be constrained to be indus
trious, attentive and obedient, as far as il is IN
human power to make them. That this course
will, in the end, conduce more to their happiness,
as we'll as to our peace and security, no one, after
candid examination of the subject, can doubt.
The most difficult task, however, remains be-
hind. By the petition Of the citizens of North
ampton to the Legislature Of Virginia, published
in the Gazette last week, can be seen something
Of the feeling which exists relative to the free
county, and with some others 10 the state, the
urgehcy of the case is considered SO extreme, as
to induce the inhabitants, at every hazard and at
all cost. to remove the evil from amongst them.
This feeling. modified by circumstances and les.
sened in degree by peculiar situations, pervades
nearly every county of the state, and especially
those which lie east Of the mountains.
We have often seriously reflected upon the
subject. We have read much and thought much
upon the different projects for removing the free
black population from the country. Many of
these we have at once rejected as idle and
visionary; others we have been constrained to
dismiss from notice, from an entire conviction
of their utter impracticabili'y. But on such
subject the hopes Of the phiIanthropist must al
ways be excited. lie cannot give up the idea
that something maybe done for his county
Amongst all the schemes which the benevolencc
and spr, Of the age have called into action, that
Of colonizing the free blacks on the Coast Of
| Africa ia fhe mnst striking and impOrt.nt And