The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-01-02
From the Ohio Statesman ,
From the Ohio Statesman.
Governor Bebb's Proposition
to make Ohio the depot for
the Free Blacks ofthe South
accepted by the Governor
Of Virginia.

oeoSPtSu " IuC oUVoEuOI
Of Virginia.
1t win be, nc doubt, recollected, by many ofour
readers that, during the canvass in Ohio. last sum-
mer, for Governor, Kentucky paper desired the
election of Governor Bebb, and hoped that he
might induce the Legislature of Ohio to so amend
our laws, as to encourage the emigration of free
negroes to our state--that there were vast mum.
ber of free blacks in Kentucky who were very an
noying to the shareholders, and they desired their
removal for their vicious habits.
Well, in the course OF federal humbug and false.
hood, Bebb was elected, and in his Inaugural he
announces to the people of Ohio and to the Legis.
lature his wishes in these words:
"Let those enactments very properly by univer.
sal consent denominated 'the black laws of Ohio,'
be repealed. They are impolilic, unjust, and in
human, at war with the genius of our free insti
tutions and the spirit of the age in which live"
Here was the bold hand held out to the South
to open their pententiarIes and pour into our State
the liberated convIcts and all others that choose to
come.
The Governor of Virginia anticipating, from
our election, the repeal of all laws in Ohio on the
subject OF negroes, and knowing the sentiments OF
the wings in other States, in his annual message
to the Virginia Legislature, thus presents the SUBJ
ject to that State. Read and reflect, citizens of
Ohio, before it is too late--before federal whgge-
ry in is madness, brings your great State TO ruin
and degradation.
[Ertract from the Annual Message Of the Coz.
ernor Of Vngania, Dec 7, 1851
The penltentary is system which contem-
plates the reformation Of offenders This should
not be forgotten in our legislation. 1t not I'M
| frequently happens that man of excellent char.
acter, in a moment Of excitement, commits crime
for which he is made to suffer the penalty of the
| law Boys too, with characters Uniformed become
inmates Of this institution; and such are thrown in
daily and close association with negro convict, land
the vllest and most degraded malefactors, subject
ed in all respects to the same treatment and disci
pline. The consequences are obvious Many of
| the better are degraded to the level Of the worse
class Of con'icts, and only few, of al frmer and
higher style of character, escape the demoralizng
influences OF the practical working of the system
The first step | would recommend in the reforma-
ton Of this distressing evil, is to remove the negro
convict. thoroughly degraded in his social and
political position. The pen,enary is to him no
punishment. Abundantly ted comfortably clothed
nursed in sickness, in health worked moderately,
and for the tlme in all respects the equal of the
white man, many, have no doubt, regard their
condition as decidedly improved. The white man,
freed from his negro associates, would not feel so
hopelessIy his moral degradation Less restless in
consequence, he would more cheerfulIy obey the
laws of the institution. With increasing self res
pect and reviving hope, he would with more alac-
rity perform his duties, and thus the discipline of
the institution would be more easily maintained,
and its productive industry, doubt not, material.
ly enlarged. The will Of God has declared the
separation of the negro and the white man, and
our laws and feelings approve it. Yet, most re-.
markabe, this fundamental difference Is entirely
disregarded in our punlshments, and black and
white are thrown into penitentiary in all res
poets upon terms OF the most entire equality.
inal code in relation to free negroes aud muattoes
"On the 3Oth Of September last, we had in our
penitenliary 236 convicts, 50 of whom were free
negroes and mulattoes l07 white convicts born
within Virginia, and 36 DO I'm beyond ourmts. -
By the census Of 1910 we had in our State 40 S42
free negroes and muattoes, and 740, 1868 white. -
Yet the free negroes and mulattoes, constituting
about one sixteenth of our free population (ex-
cluding foreigners,) contribute largely over two
fifths of the convicts Of our penitentiary BY the
same census, we he'd 44s,4s slaves; of this num-
ber fourteen only were transported for offences
committed within the past year. The free me-
groes constitute only about one tenth OF our negro
race, and yet they perpetrate about six-sevenths
of the crimes committed by it. Our criminal sta
tistcs develope these results which am satisfi ed
are substantially correct They demonstrate the
moral degradation Of the free negro, the hopeless
ness Of this reform, the mischevious influences of
his association, and the necessity Of his removal.
Occupying here the space which separates the
white man from the slave, he corrupts portions of
both races. That he IS a moral leper is demon.
strated. That he will prove the ready instr umen
of those, to be found in certain sections of the
Union, who would kinde into fame our social ed
iice, cannot he doubted. And thus It is due to
our dearest and most sacred interests that he should
be removed. The right to do so cannot be ques.
toned The great and eternal law ofselt.protectiou
puts it beyond cayil or discussion.
"In certain sections af our country the free ne
gro is regarded as an American citizen, and enti-
tied to all the rights and privileges Of that proud
and lofty station. We can send him to those pla-
ces. Indeed, am assured that he will be receiv-
ed with pleasure. Removed by communities, his
domestic and social ties would be preserved; and
emmgrated to such communities, while we would
be relieved from most intolerabe evil. he would
have his prospect Of betterng his condition great
ly improved. a 1.,a.
"I regard our free negro population as one oI
our greatest evils, and to get rid oft Of our
s.tn l..l.. I1sl H. Il