Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-09

the meeting:
A declurat OH Of the sentiments and opinions os
public meeting of the citizens of Frederick
couni y, on the subject of our colored popu,a-
tion.
The people of Frederick county have ob,er.
we'd. with keen attention and profound ipteres,
the commencement and the progress of the OK
citeincnt nj W prevailing in the country cast OF
the ridge, on the subject of the colorcd popula-
ton OF Virginia. Deeply impressed them
serves, with the belief that the existence of SO
large colured population in Virginia, bond as
Wei MS Tree, Is the chronic disease which has al
!eooy aimoS. parayzod the body polite, and will
!" time inevitably destroy it unless remedy be
''"hu' 'ney yet iorcbore to make n public dccla-
ION oi thcir opinions until their fellow -citiz ms
haSta %. me mountains and in the great slave
holding counties, should lead the way. They
tild not wish to subject themselves To ;,c ;,,nu-
tat'on of exciting, by discussion a shirt of div
Content and INSTRUMENTATION in the colo. | no,u-
iat'on-"hIch, however unimportant here, miob,
produce serious inconvenience where that poDu-
lation exists in large masses
The time for entertaining these scruplcs b,.
passed by. Al5cmarlc, and other large slave
Ao'ding counties, have spoken out plainly i'm ia
Vor OF legislative measures for removing the.
entire colorcd population from the common
wealth. The press teens with free discussions
VI al .hose points and questions heretofore
deemed lnadinissib!e and perilous-tlo iniuoc
ton OF secrecy has been removed, and promo
sltlen Tor tho gradual abolition of slavery i. die
cussed with open doors by the legislature of Yir
GINA.
From the character of our institutions il cam
not out be cesrlble to the legislative bodies, at
such period and under such circumstances
to hear the voice ofthe people. We shall there
fore briefly, and without attempt at argu-
ment, express our opinions on this vitality mport
ant subject. They are,
l. mat no community can be permanently
prosperous, whose institutions make 1t the in.
tercst of one half Of the laboring men to do ma
little work possible, and tolerate the existence
OF another numerous class, large proportion of
whom are droncs, vagabonds. or thieves.
consuming without producing
z. That this Is precisely the condition of Vir-
gina, with this aggrayution, too, of the evil,
That these comparatively uuproductiye classe,
are increasing In number much faster than the
productive.
g. That the evils, therefore, under which we
labor, from the existence of these two classc,
among us,w,'l, if things be left to take their own
course, speedily glow beyond the reach of re-
medy.
a. That the people of this generation in y;r.
gina must bestir themselves manfully in the re-
moVal OF this evil, or bequcath poverty to their
children and scrvie war to their grand chill
drcn.
5. That the notifications, however, of our
institutions, which an imperious necessity thus
great caution and deliberation, lest we ap-
gravate the evils of our condition by gene
rating tcuds and bitter animo.ties between
the comparatively n-slave.holding and the
great slave-holding sections of the common
wealth.
6. That the people of the latter, even if thew
be the minority. should be permitted at present
10 give tone and character to all Legislative
action on this great subject For no change
can be made which which will not affect their
interests first and most.
7. That public opinion, in Virginia, is us yet
immature on the subject of direct legislative
invasion, even though protective, and on The
post-nati principle, of the right of property in
the slave. And when legislation. in republic.
outstrips public opinion, there is danger of re-
action.
g. That public opinion would not only sane
ZION. but loudly call for legislative enactments
making provision, out Of the public TREASURY, for
the deportation of all free black persons willing
10 efnlgrate, and OF all slaves emancipated by
their owners on condition Of their emgratinG.
out more especially of the latter class
y. Ihat public opinion, with a remarkable I'M
animity. has fixed the colony of Liberia. on tho
coast OF Africa, as the "promiEed land" of these
exles and that the most efficient stems should,
therefore be taken for the rapid expansion and
development of that infant COLONY that il nav
be enabled, ere long, to receive and accommodate
a large and continually increasing number of emf
grants from Virginia.
~. That board of deportation and colonization
should be created by law invested with power 10
make all necessary arrangements with the Amer
can Colonization Society, and, in short entrust.
cd with all the details of the subject And last
ly,
That the opinion of tho qualified voter, in all
inc counties OF the state containing a colorod DO
puation equal to one fourth or upwards of their
entire population respectively, should be taken at
the next general election on the question
OF prospective emanc pation, the post natl prn
cple, of the slaves of Virginia.
The propositions having been read-uno, tho
suggestion two three gentlemen who declared
themselves unpropared to advise any special course
to the legislature for its sanction or opposed to
such Amusement altogethsr,-the question was ia
ken on all tho propositions collectively sap. III.
tdst, and decided in tho affirmative unanimous
ly.
nc question then occurred on the last proposi-
ton, in which Messrs. Cooke and r. w. Patton
advocated its adoption and after some debate it was
oecideo IN the affirmative with but four disse nting
votes.
On motion of r. E. Byrd, Esq. it was unani.
mously
Res0tue@, That this meeting express it's decided
appreciation of the stand taken by the editors Of
the Richmond Enquirer, and Richmond Whjg on
the subject of our black population; and that it
regards tho denunciations which have been pro.
mulgated against them by those opposed to their
opinions, as an unwarrantable attack on the Hber
ty of the press and the freedom ef public discus
sion.
On the motion of John Heiskefl ESQ
ReSoIred, That these proceedings be published
in the newspapers of the town, and in such
others as approve the sentiments they promul>
gate.
JAMES GIBSON, Chairman.
SAMUEL II. DAVIS, Secretary.
$40 Reward, for George.
an the 18th dayof January last, we purchas~
W ed ofMr. Richard r. Booker of Williams