Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-07

must again call your attention to the pain
full and distressing tact, exhibited in our GRIM
inal statistics, that The free negroes, cons!l-
tu,ing about one lweniy-fihh OF our entire
population, perrelrate about two iiirhs OIL Inc
crimes OF The Stale. Does net this establish The
TACT that The free negroes are disordeiiy aha eVi
disposed persons and as such dangerous 10 our
peace and Tranquility, 10 whom general scspi-
cion attaches, and whose deportation IS caEeo LOT
by the highest Considerations OF public dGtyt
believe that this statement of the relative proper
lion Of crime in our Stale is in favor Of The Tree
negro. His soc al rosi,ion-bis nocturnal habits
The interested influences which are TOO t!e-
ouenily brought 10 operate in eflecling The con-
cea lment of crime in which he participates, pre-
vent very large proportion OF offences from be.
ing exposed and brought under judicial invesli.
ealiCn. The existence OF class among us so
extensively demoraliZed is well known. Can We
therefore delay Undertaking 10 remove hem} In
The emphatic language OF The preamble 10 The
Northampton act, is il not called 10! By our re-
gard for The correct government oil our slaves and
the peace and sae'y OF our socletyf
The removal of this unhappy race is called
for by other considerations il is well known,
gentlemen 10 YOU ALL that this race is idle,
lhritlless and unproduclive; that as general
! rule they abor only from necessity, content TO
pull up with The nest meaere supply OF their in
dspensabIe wants. and, not content with their
! own labor in pursuits OF homes! industry, they
HNwl in the dead hour OF night and lllch the la
! boz others Again, they perform thousand
! Ii lev cnial services 10 The exclusion OF The White
man, preferred By their employers, because Of he
authority and control which they can exercise,
and frequently because OF The case and facility
with which they can remuneraie such services.
venture The opinion that larger emigration OF
our white laboIers is produced by our free ne
groes than by the institution of slavery.
But il is objected by some thai The removal of
our free negroes would be cruel and inhuman,
and offensive 10 the benevolent feelings OF the
age. | will briefly examine this objection. The
free negro is a mere denizen, not entitled 10 the
rights Of The citizen. He is the object of pecu-
liar and rigid legislation. Even if he resent in
suit al the hands OF a white man, he is liable 10
severe punishment. The intelligent and enlight-
ened being Of proper feelings and spirit would
Instantly abandon community of which he is
the subject Of so marked discrimination; yet the
free negro clngs 10 his birth. place. Can he there.
fore be regarded as competent Judge Of his
INTEREST," And ought his feelings 10 be allowed
10 rule that policy by which those interests will
be promoted? Is il cruel and inhuman 10 permit
The free negro 10 learn 10 read and write, 10 vote,
To bear arms, 10 resent insults in short, 10 exer
else all the rights and privileges OF the while
man? Surely not. Yet our policy will not al
low him these high privileges. And il there be
| in his natural character the elements 10 make
him great and good man, il is hopeless 10 ex.
pect that they will ever be developed under our
policy. The inhumanity then consists not in
sending them from our Stale, but i'll retaining
them among Us. Ii is 10 me unaccounIablc
how there should be a difference OF opinion on
this question. Here the free negro is degraded
rnI. oil nh nlo
ard il is 10 our power 10 send him 10 other
countries where education, society, and all the
agencies that contribute 10 the advancement and
improvement of mankind, are within his reach,
and we are 10 he deferred from this benevolent
undertaking By the cries Of those who affec! a n
overwrousht tenderness and humanity! say
to those who sympalhise with The negro who
mourn his moral degradation, and look forward
with hope 10 The day when he will be elevated in
The scale OF humanity, and placed on footing oil
social equality with The white man, that their
hopes, wishes and symPaihies can never be ara.
tilted here consider then, that il is cruel and
inhuman not to send the free negro away. We
are bound TO do il as benevoien, men, and as
faithful guardians Of The best interests Of our good
old Commonwealth. Thoroughly convinced thai
this is wise policy, and is called for by The best
dictates OF humanity; that il will be blessing
10 Tie negro and 10 our Stale, earnestly recon-
mend immediate S;cps 10 be taken 10 efftc. this
important purpose.
recommend the passage Ct a law providing
that the free negroes shall be removed by coun.
ties. In removing them bv counties, no social
or domestic lie will! he broken. That il be pro-
vided when a law acts upon county or coun-
ties, i, shall be final and complete: no ice negro
ever thereafter Ia be allowed 10 reside herejn.-
That they be sen! al the public e2pease 10 the
countries where slavery does not exist, as pas
serecGs in merchant vessels, and particularly to
Liberia, if acceptable 10 her authorities. Such a
aw, provided with the proper details, would lie
perfectly easy OF execution, and would not COS,
the State, am satisfied, sum per year greater
than hat which was for many years appropriated
in aid of oar colonization society Indeed have
received ar Informal proposition from The island
of Trinidad that She VIII pay "aii 'he ca I'",,''" 20
all that NAV be sent 10 her, AZ vel %
E Ets9 9!R Paed quarters '''a' TIT
The penilcnliary institution is not as produc-
tive, il seems 10 me, "a ii should be. Il rs diff
cult 10 understand why oil convicis, coarse!y fed
clothed and KEEP, ft hard labor without receiving
any remuneration, should not ray profit. Yet
such is the fact: they are charge 10 the State
and have bcen believe, from The foundation Of
the institution. After some examination | fad
that the penilenliar cost in its erection, from the
9Th of MAY, 1887 TO the lst OF October, 1906 the
SUN Of Sl35 5i6 H. and from October 1916, 10
October 1886 Inc sum Of Sos $50 80, an aggre-
sa;e of SOB 6S3 10. ] have no, been able 10
find any charge on account U! ihe buildings for
The len years Gom 1876 TO 1916. The total dis.
buTscmenls or account vi this institution charetd
10 The penilenlaIy from 1850 lS47, after deduc
lae The liens charged within that period for build
ings is $50 sjG So, whilst The receipts are only
3l9,S23 dollars cents, showing loss OF 43l O33
dollars AZ GEMS. This enormous and alarming
result does no present lhr sum TOTAL OF Our loss,
The period from leu6 10 1916 not being embraced
in this statement. Every year this balance is in.
creasins. Nor is this ALL The necessary secu-
rily Of This institution calls for standing guard
of thirteen soldiers from the armory, equivalent
to one SIKH OF the csposable parl OF the whole
command. ia The States OF New Hampshire and
| Massachusetts, practice prevails, attended with
highly benefci j results, OF renting out the Cfie-
rent workshops and HANDS 10 the highest bidder.
entertain but lille doubt that it could be done
here 10 great advantage. Indeed, have strong
reason 10 believe that oIr institution could be rent
ed out for ten thousand dollars per annum, Te-
tanning It's present Police and superinendenoe -
| As something must be done 10 prevent this
| continual lax uIon tie easuty, | hope you will
adopt some early and efficient REFORM
| cannot part from this subject without again
calling your attention 10 the practice which pre-.
walls in this institution OF uniling black and
while in one common association. Ii can be
productive oil nothing clse but mischief il ne
| cessarily makes the negro insoleni, and debases
The wbilc man il is offensive TO our habits AND
prejudices as well as 10 our feelings and policy,
and oueh, to be discontinued. Such persons are
separated by law in the common jails Of the
country where imprisonment is necessarily OF
short duration, and why similar policy should
no, be adopted in The psniieniary where conline-
men is to endure for years. it is ifficulI 10 per-
ccive. In my judgment TO free negro should he
sent 10 the repcn'aIy. L. is a punishment but
lightly regarded by him, involving no loss Of
character or comfort. earnestly recommend
this whole subject 10 your consideration. (See
Doc. No. g
In my last message spprised yen OF several
small parcels of public properly daily diminish
ing in value and oI no public use, and recommen.
dcd tina! law should he passed directing their
sale. again respectfully call your attention 10
the subject.
Our usury laws are, in myjodgmenl, immoral
IL