Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-04-06
apeecl, OF NEr. M'Cue,
OF AUGUSTA,
ON THE POLICE BILL.

pass upon the attc0uOA OF The House Tor n
single moment; in sincerity declare, that
II ~ with feelings of much embarrassment
! attempt TO address the House-more espe-
clally SO, upon the present occasion. as this
subject has been so fully discussed, both in
Committee and in the House, that it may be
considered by some almos, impertinent in
meto renew the discussion upon the final
passage of the bill.
But, MIR. Speaker, | cannot permit the
present occasion TO pass, without entering
my solemn protest 10 The passage Of this bill
containing provisions so uhwise, impolitic,
oppressive, and will add odious. am
willing TO acknowledge, that some Of the
provisions OF the bill are valuable. and
would have co-operated cheertully with its
| friends and patrons in their enactrnent-Sut
us whole, am most decidedly opposed to
| If.
My objections, sir, are strongest to those
sections OF the bill, which are intended cx-
cluSively 10 operate upon the free people of
color 1t will bc remembered BY the House
that but q few weeks since, when the bill
providing Tor the removal of free persons of
color from the Commonwealth, was under
consideration, the compulsory featuue was
stricken from that bill, by decided, yes sir,
by an overwhelming majority; and | call
upon all those who voted for eXpunging that
section, to vote agains. the bill in its present
shape, for | cannot avoid the belief, that in
its effect and practical operation, it will re-
suit in this: that the free negroes will be SO
harrassed and prosecuted that they will be
compelled 10 leave the country.
The section OF the bill, " hich declares
that those 10 whom the means of emigration
may have been rendered, shall not be per-
mtted to carry on any trade or handicraft,
nor take apprentices, except BARRIERS, (and
why this exception has been made, am at
loss 10 conjecture without first obtaining
permission from the County court, and such
permission entered of record, which per-
mission may be withheld at any time the
Court pleases. And the section which i'm
mediately precedes This, and which prohib-
its them from carrying to market, any COM
modify or stock, down to a dozen of eggs, or
chickens, no matter however honestly ac-
CURED, without a written certificate from a
freebooter, specifying the article offered for
sale, and that in his opinion the vender has
honestly acquired them; and without such
written certificate, subiecting the purchaser
to fine, and the vender to heavy penal
ties
say sir, take these sections in connexion
with others in the Bill equally unjust and
oppressive, as being we'll calculated 10 cut
offthe means of acquiring honestly, sub
slstence for themselves and families, and
from necessity, to urge them on TO the COM
mission of crimes that will involve them in
total ruin, and others with them.
Our blessed Saviour, when on earth, di-
rected his Disciples 10 task day by day, for
their daily bread, and that they might not
be led into temptation, and you are about 10
enact law SO rigorous in its provisions,
that the free negroes will not be able honestly
10 procure the means of subsistence deny
ing them their daily bread--tempting them
from necessity 10 steal; and steal they must,
or starvs.
But, Mr.. Speaker, this system of injus-
tice and oppression: does not stop here an
innovation is to be made in the general law
of the land, which has been in force since
the formation Of our government. The trial
by jury, and the right 10 peremPtory chal-
!enge which they have always enjoyed, is
now to be withheld from them forever, and
they are TO be tried as our slaves are now
tried. The trial by jury, has been held sa-
cred, and has been the constant boast Of
free governments, in every.age and country
How far this is violation of the Constitu-
ton, will not undertake 10 determine Il
am free TO acknowledge, that all my pursuits
through life, have been such as not to give
mo much confidence in my own opinions, as
TO constitutional questions; be this as it may,
ask the necessity Of changing their mode Of
trial and in what have they offended, that
they are to be thus perseCuted, and 10 be
made worse-than aliens, in the land Of their
birth TO be driven from place to place.
Well may they excloim in the language OF
the great Apostle, Of all men, wea are tbs most
miserable.
Mr.. Speaker, / stated or former occasion,
that the various statutes relating TO slaves,
free negroes, and mulattoes, were Of char
acter SO highly penal, and so revolving TO the
moral sense of the community, that they
cannot now be enforced, and ifyou pass this
Bill, the blood stained code Of Draco will
furnish the only parallel. 1t is more in ac-
cordance with the despotisms OF the old world,
than with our Republican form OF Govern
ment
But sir, there is another aspect in which I
must present this subject, before take my
seat Many of our wisest citizens and pat
riots, view some ofthe existing laws, in their
operations and tendencies, as going very far
TO cut off all sources Of moral and religious
instruction, from those classes Of our popula-
tion, (to wit, slaves and free negroes and it
is source Of painful solicitudc, TO many
christian and phianthropist You may call
them fanatics iiyou please--an epithet V hich
is so often used here, as we'll as elsewhere );
and perhaps may bring the imputation upon
myself-if / do, it shall not deter me from
the free expression ofmy opinions upon this,
as well as other subjects, which may feel it
to be my duty to discuss.
Should this bill pass in connection with
enrne Of the nvieIinor L. nnAv i'm fnrca do