Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-09-17
FREE NEGROES Am INrGpS UT LIE Enquirer.

Inc community generally are much interested on ih.s.
'wo important questions, and what is remarkable. ,hev are
as dramatically opposite in their relative bearin.s on % %e
interests OF the people, as the North is from the Som,b, u"
, ne us Is admitted on all hands, to be a banelul nuisance
~ '-s ar III o'hsrwise happy land; while the other i,
Is generally acknowledged, will rebound immeasurabi, y
is prosperity and glory, and raise dear Old Virpini, aS,;r
among her admiring sisters. They bav. sinai, .pI e.
conjunction engrossed many of my thoughts. and after ,Ms
nos' serious and mature reflection. | have arrived at two
conclusions, one or both OF which will. in m y bu,nbIo
opinion, have TO be carried fully into oueraiion 10 iii
) me wi'hering influence which the free blacks
once Owe, Tvef our eolored population. | will premise at
on.e' ,"a' L am not at all disposed TO mince matters
with them; for j believe, and I say il deIiberaIsIv d.,
= mem IN .he aggregate, they are the most despicable
wha' was the cause OF il, surh is the fact. and IL il ;dio -
deny II. have no doubt, unless the evil can be go
,h g ut ma uey are the vui'ures, that are to feed upon
u V'",s OF the southern country, until they cause this
lar fabric TO tumble upon our heads, like The niuars oI
samson ana bury us in one general wreck. This hor,i.
ole result must be prevented at all hazards. I will sta..
TO my fellow citizens my propositions. and Ie, ,hen, 80 I've I've
what they are worth; for, these are time, In wL;ci, ~.
s "u"my eApeets every man TO do his duty, and | do not
ty. sio
IL Is well known, that our last Legislature appropriated
~ '"e purpose OF transporting the free negroes 10 the coast
o, AREA The sum OF $lS,0 900 per annum. This sum, The
commissioners appointed under the act appor,ioncd n
each county, according 10 their respective poruI,tion- and
honhed me county Courts of The fact. These Couris nro-
ceeded forthwith to appoint their Commissioners IN asrrer
am IN theiT respective districts, the number. any If
and people - VINO no. were willing TO take up their ~"noggins"
- '"hhSC Commission
ers' ! suppose, have complied with their appointment, and
yet we have not heard of one single negro who has been
Itn' om o a single one who has even expressed the least
disposition 10 embrace The offer; on The contrary. have
been told by some of these Commissioners, that ti,ev baye
nnos, ,nss"ge' w,,nih their knowledge, evinced the
we TO do: Alter the most thorough discussion of Inc ms,
,er' the Legislature fell upon this plan. as the only feast.
bic one 10 rd us in a quiet way Of this incubus, and il has
proven a palPatle failure.
i again enquire, what are we to do in this unpIeasani
smIms hre we 10 stand with folded arms aud be paralyzed
ny tner oostnacy! Permit all the money wasted in the
windy and idle debates of last winter TO be totally Ios, owr
Legis'ure, Governor and County Courts made fools nj and
mar 700, 'r ehdeavoring to better their de raded condition,
away with such silly thoughts and prepare for ac,ion-Cor
act we must. We have extended TO them ,he o,iv.
branch and they have rejected it, and it is time we should
look &c ourselves: Sell preservation is the first law of ma.
lure. me Legislature have laid down this plan. and il il,
our duty our interest prompt us TO sustain them. Their
movement on The subject will be worse than useless. I'm.
less they are assisted by the people. The Mr.. Freeme,
may take in tlieir heads that ihey are ys,v ;uno,tont IT,
RACERS al fhs tune, aud may not be disposed to enter into
any arrangement, Whereby we may get clear of them
VOW an Tor making Them come into our measures
The plan that | would propose to bring her, IN their
nghl minds Is his;-For every land holder in The State to
enter into an agreement with The other land .holIo,s ,a,
10 REM iahu 10 any Tree psrson Of color, or permit them In
i've on iheir land on any terms whstev yer. nor IN e,,Iov
them TO labor Tor them in any capacity. This can by,
suppose would answer the end TO shaving: for. so long "a
they can get a comfortable residence. win nlen,v If -
add water, you will never be able TO persuade I,or, ~ oo
10 an unknown land but make their situation in,oIe rab1e
here, (and nothing short Of that will do0 ,brn M, mas
bring them TO terms. my
My other proposition is this:-Supposingi the above p,,n
70 rave been carried iuiiy into execution, and they are
still obstinate, aud prefer TO be driven from pillar IN pos,
TO moving from the country, then 7 propose that they he
employed by tue State on our public works, such ss rail
roads, canals, sc. They must have some place 10 live Al,
something 10 subsist on, and we want Internal Improve
ments carried on. They must earn heir bread by Tire
sweat OF their brow"-aDd why not receive an eunivs.
lent for their labor from the State AZ from an individnaI ,
y tney don't get 1t in This way, how will they get IL? Tie
farmers WI nave shut their gates against them. NJ plan
viii provide them will good homes a ulcntv y o., s"d
a plenty oil work keep them in a 6ody, with good over.
IooNer9, ana merely render them a iolersble clsss Of Cit.
zens' whe'nef tney would or no. Hereafter ! will be more
oh! ye idnalics' open your mouths and below a, tbesc
propositions. Thunder from the very steenJe. d., re-
are high-handed and intolcrani, and therebv nrocI,i,n ~
loudly your own folly and madness. Saw VIVA, von Iii
but ] defy you to prove that the plan submitted. unJsr ,ms
circumstances supposed, would not be highly bens6e1,
both TO their souls and bodiss-stlsaa I ain Sonviocsd 100,
will ever be the opinion Of sOT0N