Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-01-11

ty, at "a meeting held in Columbia, of which Judge
Smith was Chairman, and WIN. M'Willis, ESQ
Secretary.
Delays are dangerous. letter from Messrs.
brennan & Graham, the greatest sufferers by the
recent conRagration at Cincinnati, states, ''that
the policy Of insurance for $4,000, had expired
but few days previous to the fire which has de-
prlsed them Of nearly all the property which
they had accumulated by industry and enterprise
during the last years." The policy of iusur-
ance would probably have been renewed in two
or three days. Mr. Graham, one of the partners
was absent from the city.
The Richmond Enquirer has the following on
the subject of the Negro population Of Virginia.
This subject, important it is now considered,
will be still more engrossing hereafter. We
glad to fluid the Enquirer willing to be in earnest
in the matter:
1t is probable, from what we hear, that the
Comml,tee;on the Colored Population will report
some plan for getting rid of the free people of
,oior-But is this all that can be done! Are we
forever TO suffer the greatest evil, which can
scourge our land, not only to remain, but to in
crease in its dimensions? 1--WE may shut our
eyes and avert our faces, if we please" (writes
an eloquent Carolinlan on his return from the
north few weeks agol-" But there it is, the dark
and growing evil, at doors; and meet the ques.
ton we must, at no distant day God Only knows
what it is the part OF wise men to do on that mo-
mentous and appalling subject. Or this am
very sure, that the dference--notnng short Of
frigh,ful-between all that exists on one side Of
the Potomac, and all ON the other. is owing to
that cause alone The disease is deep seated
it at the hearts core-it is consuming, and has
= all along been consuming our vitals. and could
laugh, if | could laugh on such subject. at the
ignorance and folly of the politician, who ascribes
that 10 sn act of the government. which IS the
inevitable effect of the eternal laws Of Nature.
What is TO b. done? Oh! my God-l don't
know. but something must be dnne.'
| Yes-sOmething must b. done-a1t II Is tie
par, of no honest mau to drnv it-of tic free
press to conceal it. When this dark population
is growing upon US; when every new census Is
but gathering its appalling numbers upon US;
when within period equa TO that in which this
Federal Constitution has been in existence, those
numbers will increase TO more than two millions
vi hin Virginia; when our sister States are closing
their doors upon our blacks for sale, and when our
| whites are moving W estwartiy, IN greater num-
beIs than like 10 hear Of; when this, the farest
land on all this Continent tor soil ard climate and
situation combined. might become sort of gar
den spot. If it we're worked by the hands of white
men alone,-ean ire ought zoe, to sit quietly
down. fold our arms, and say to each other
Well, we'll; this thing will net come to the
worst in our day. We will leave it to our chill
dIen and our grandchildren. and great grand
children. to take care Of themselyes-and to
brave the st0rn?" Is this to act like wise men?
Heaven knows! we are no fanatics-We detest
the madness which actuated the .41His des Noirs.
But some thing ought to be done--Means sure,
but gradual, systematic, but discreet, ought to
be adopted, for reducing the mass of evil, which
is pressing upon the South. and will still more
press upon her. the longer it is put off. We ought
not to shut our ewes, nor avert oar faces. And
though we speak almost without nope, that the
Committee or that the Legislature. will do any
thing, at the present session, to meet this ques-
tion, yet we say now. in the utmost sincerity Of
our hearts, that our wisest men cannot give too
much of their attention to this subject-nor can
they give it too soon.