Litchfield enquirer., 1844-03-07
FREE BLACE.

The Richmond lVa.,) Whigpeahs with great
holiness against the oppressivlc character Of the
laws touching Free people of dor in the Slave
States. The case which called these remarks Is
thus given by that Journal:
"It appears that some time ding the last sum-
mer, colored girl, born free, ply IA years old,
and a resident of the adjoining t&n of Manchester,
paid visit to friend in edmond. Either
through choice or necessity, sh8emained all night
on that side Of the river, witfnt, however, the
smallest intention of becoming $esident During
the night she was arrested by pc police, and not
having her free papers was lodsd In Jail. Being
perfectly ignorant of the law, an having no one to
counsel advise her, the unfortunate creature was
detained in Jail forty five days. and then, by order
of court sold for iail-fees SIN was sold for the
period of forty-ive years, to pat the sum Of $40
was purchased by negro trade5and carried into
captivity, in a strange land, whlr' she was sold
gain. We are informed that shsi, if alive, at this
moment in Louisiana. We do not recollect any
case ofoppresson of the helpless that ever wrought
more powerfully on our feelings"
And surely, when cases of til, kind occur, it is
enough to stir up the indignatjn of all humane
and honest men against an oppression so monstrous
Does color annihilate right. Because the skins of
some Of Gods creatures is black must injustice
wrong-a harsh and hard tyranny be practised up
on them? Are they. for this rason, to be robbed
Of their liberty by legal enactm@ts, which, for I'M
just equal the OlOCVeSL CUue tndL any
monster tyrant ever acted out! The blush of shame
should mantle the cheek of any man who would
thus crush into the earth the trsaken and down
trcdden.
Nor are the slave states alonein this kind of OPP
preston. In Ohio Eand New England event. the
the people of color are treatedas if they belonged
not to the human family; for opr black laws are
disgrace to the State. But one feeling should ami
mate the christian citizen andhonest legislator on
this subject and that Isl to gie to these unfortu-
nate people every opportunity which man may, or
ought to enjoy to improve Their condition, and ell
evate their characters. In this the case' Does
this feeling control? Far tpm it. Though a
handful, though meagre minority among us, free
people of color, SO far as the laws are concerned
are treated with open barbaity, and oppressive
cruelty.
The time has come, and we rejoice to know that
it has, when the public mindis in advance Of the
legislation of the State, and when no party in il
will dare uphold any legal violence or injustice to-
wards free colored people. What are we afrait
too much property, or obtain too much considera-
ton among us? This fear is not felt. Why then
hesitate to do full justice to them in all respects
While they thus abused, while all motive is Ia
ken away from them TO become honest men by
narrow prejudice and unjust laws, they will degrade
themselves, fill jails and renitentiaries, be.
come pests to society, and bnrthen upon the
State. The wonder is. indeed, that, so many Of
them continue we'll behaved-and trustworthy un-
der the accumulated wrongs which Cypress them.
This is no party matter. 1t concerns the char
acter Of the State, and OF every man, woman anc
child in it. And legislators of all parties who valut
this character, or desire to do justice to an aban
doned and oppressed few,-or to claim for them
selves the name OF honest men should exert them
selves to from the Statute Book, any and eve
ry line which tends to etter curtail their privi
leges in any respect Let all the rights of freedom
be theirs for by Gods fiat land the constitution ofth
State, they are free-and should be dealt with ant
treated as freemen.-C Cincinnati Gazette.