Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-06-25

Free Negroes
| Messrs Editors-Whlst am one of tho.e who denv
ue Sn' ehof OF the Genera or State Government by
system OF legislation to foster branch Of industry to
ho u.uhen' OF oher pursuits, yet that have
eecd our law gNes in tho next General Assembly think
may thus early invoke their attention to one o the many
grievances endured by the farmers of Eastern
hsna without mourning the charge OF being prejudieed
against any other avocaon. The poor farmers-those
VINO uuy get their living by the Of their
III hseuiaoio wisdom, seourged enough of God. in bad
seasons short &C. OF this they do not compl,in
bu Is TO save TO them the endowment of the
ef naiu oh 'nst they would demand the intcrposuon
OF tho strong of tho law in the enactment of more
vigorous measures than have ever been
IN VAN do they riso early and toll latein vain do they
devote much pains aud capital of their
os the want OF strong laws, their substance is to
be hched from them and that too by the mos.
pohsaie corrupt and corrupng class population that
ever cursed any people, the FREE NEaRoEs OF rms
CcNNoN~EaLrn. IL cannot be denied, Ky,s NY CASA.
SON HIMSELF that these people. for most part live by
tue AIT OF srkALNstor rng WORK all their
melr practice fully accords with their prin
epes In this State there OF 900 free black.
wen; lsuPposc 80 900 eat the ~
pae's oi corn eaohper annum. Here have 100000
barrels OF corn consumed by the fifty thousand mouths-
linen they must have another $4,000 furnish them with
meat clothing groceries, Sc (ot including whi.
key requiring tor their consumption all SO 900 barrels
OF corn yearly. Now, how do they obtain this M.
any who knows their character and bits believe h,
F 'het labor they raise or otherwise honestly acquire
oael ahead But allow this, and show 100 900 barrels
To be yearly iconousy taSen the cribs OF the honest
working people, which, the moderate price of a. woud
make an amount equal 10 three hths of the
the State Governmentor which would 20 very far
educating the 10000 children in the State NV attending
noschoo Observe here have estimated only "A hat a h.,
uteIy essential for the subsistence of these
Inc extent OF the larceny doubtless more than doubled
by the reward IN the shape Of bnbe they have 10 nav 90
our slaves ~ho IN this age OF speculation presume to be
too astue TO be satisfied with less half of the prt
Tor the benefits conferred by the half stolen And
herein consists one OF the evils vi the existing state
OF thngs-1ot that the free negroes their own proper
persons actually steal 50 much though they steal enough
bT tApir rkad
corrupt our slaves that OF these can be conded IN
as honest or trustworthy since frequently the case
mat the owners OF slaves have reason to believe that
through 'hem out OF THER granaes, the negroes pro
cure their supplies.
But is needless be reeounng evils obvious TO the
sense and purse OF farmer Let the remedies no in
dlca'ed All past legislation has been utterly abortye
The last attempt of the Legislature was To adopt reso
ton emendaiory OF some law Of 1894. AurHoRr.Ixo
rHE COUNTY CoURTs against free negroes sol,
mug wheat, corn Nc, without certificate of hayin, hon,
esty acquired the How many County Courts b,yo
exercised his MODERN TOWER THu 0RAcIoUsLY coNFERREp
upon them Perhaps not one One most effeciual way
OF staying tho hand Of these desoyers of agriculture,
prosperity would be to send them. It possible 10 the -.
motost Of the earth But then good I,rd hon,
our abolition friends az have any would mourn over
the loss OF the possibility OF ANAGANATINs Another morn
plausible method would be some perempt,ry law
requiring the Sergeant Sheriff OF each town and conn
OF the State New Years day, publicly to hire
out for the free negro are now hired
out the said Sheriff Sergeant tsking the bond p,ya
Die 10 himself IN for the benefit of the person n, f
ly thus hired out, be by him udciously dsburs,,
one hired TO be held bound year out m, prr
son hiring TO be bound feed cothe and otherwise well
treat the hired
But II the Legislature in its wisdom should nc, unoo
neither OF these suggestions, why then am sure every lar,
mSr IN the State would 1t and alter tho law
granting licenses retail ardent spirits The r,,0i.
ton OF eroggeres, under the present license law is ncreo
ing rapidly the most dre'u caamites the least of which
Is the temptation thrown IN the way Of and readily welded
by both slaves and free negroes to steal any and ever
thing rom bit OF old iron to the bread meat out OF
and the negroes mouths Every body believe, ,b,
both slaves and tree dealt contrary ,ola
al nne-ienths OF the slopshops ycept stores that are AGA,
tered Saie-and that these cousut, tho cbof
customers at such shops. IL be so ia the nature Of
hings for how often have observed srtsasre rad,,
men. With stock laid in OF few barrels OF whiskey liz
tie sugar and coffee, half box pig tobacco and f,
domestic coons IN the spring and fall Shipping more gr,i
than some OF our largest farmers by possibility do =
Ara yet II Is tue rafesi thing the world hear of the,
buying any single crop IN the neghborhood OF five b,rre
Ut corn or as many bushels OF wheat. Then where Goes
all their gram come from And how does come Let
not legislators wrap themselves their mantle and say
force existing laws They recollect that ...atcbn
Is before hanging" and that "wha every body,s bus
ness is no bodys" Hence the difficulty any portion Of
tue community OF arresng an evil, which IL their pow
er 10 do successfully and entirely by an equitable
or two Of positive character.
very important step towards stopping the evil rom
planned OF or that Of an ndscrmnate traffic IN ardent sn
rats IN small way, would, IN the judgment of many with
"h' nave conNersed, be TO increase the on yend.
up 10 500, $500 even. Of this none could rjebtn
complain The honest man, doing snug business as |
merchant, would not deal spirits with this Tar on
them or II he did thus desl he would furnish the evil
dence OF doing well whilst the fellow who yyoud n,ks
this his ehoi irlde would be efecuay esiopped Nor |
could ne properly complain Vt Interference with mercantile
tgnu As would puzzle his ingenuity prove that it is
sht that by hocus pOeus be should be- the only man IN
ms neghoofhod shipping grain by his business when the
farmers al around him buying may be Of him 10 spn
ply deficiency he himself may have been instrumental IN
bringing about Or, legislators have horror AT the idc,
OF nigh taxation, why much aid may be- extended 10 the
farmers by law requiring the applicants licenses to re-
.a sPuous liquors to enter into bond and security
neavy penalty to observe all the existing laws relating to
dealing with slaves free negroes and mulattOes.
But alter all the wisdom Of the Legislature may suyret
some plan more efficient than any herein in
dcaed IL Is absolutely necessary that something be done
remove the inducements TO slaves and others steal
The farmers will be driven from their employments No
better way be devised than hinder the sprnginU
aeYcy cross road, Of gTog shop gocery-the chief GA
irons OF which are obviously the negroes of the country
VINO would agree TO furn sh bushe Of grain # hard
ed Tor pint OF whskey. The farmers should urge this
subject upon the attention OF Legislature until tho
grievance is redressed, and hope to see many pens en-
gagged in its promotion. ESSEX