Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-12-16

Ou tut cptIt Vi ssepttElUSl last OUT pRDtbu-
tiary contained 2ll conyicss, a diminu,ion Of
fifteen within the year. OF this number Isl
are whites, and so arenegroos. Ofihe whites
90 are Nirginans; Of the blacks rs were born
within our state. BY comparison with the
preceding year, the number Of white convicts
born in Virginia has been reduced s in mum
Der.
The free negros. although numbering by
the census or $40 only iorty-nne thousand
eight hundred and forty two, perpetrate near
ly two fifths Of the crime of the state. although
we have therein seven hundred and forty
thousand nine hundred and sixty eight whites
and four hundred and forty eight thousand
nine hundred and eighty-seyen slaves. This
is mournful demonstration. II proves be-
yond human doubt thai freedom 10 the ne
gro is curse, and his presence in our mdsi
is an evil of the most fearful magnitude. Els
sen,ially and hopelessly degraded, he corrupts
the slave with whom he habtually associates,
and becomes the ready instrument of the IN
principled white man, and too frequently his
shield. And is there no remedy2 Are we
bound TO bear this cancer in our bosom, and
see its slow but fatal poison difuse itself with
out an effort to remove it
The right of self-preservaton Is universally
conceded 10 every community. lis the foun-
daion upon which rests all police regulations,
and by which alone they can be Justified
The subjects or citizens o. a beligerent power
at war with the country in which they are
temporarily residing may be removed there
from or to the interior thereof al pleasure
Nc enquiry is made whether such persons are
acting an unfriendly part. The general sus-
picion which attaches 10 them as aliens is a
full justification of this exercise Of power,
however personally oppressive or destructive
of private fortune. Even in peace, this pow
er can be and frequently has been exercised
In Prigg o. The commonwealth Of PenRsyluG
min, decided by the supreme court OF the Uni-
ted States at their January term 1912, chiel
justice fancy recognizes the right Of a state,
in the exercise of her powers over her internal
police, Ito remove from her territory disorder
" and evil disposed persons, OF those who
from the nature OF her institutions are danger
Gus to her peace and tranquility" And MIR.
justice Story, in delivering the opinion Of the
court referring TO the free states, says, 'ihe
court entertain no doubt whatsoever, that the
states. in virtue of their general police power,
possess full jurisdiction 10 arrest ard restrain
runaway slaves, and to remove them from
their borders, and otherwise TO secure them
selves against their depredations and evil ex-
ample, as they certainly may do in case OF J.
clers, vagabonds and paupers." Within our
own state we have frequently applied this pc
lice principle TO our free negroes. It's en-
bodied in many Of our statutes, and indeed IN
relation TO them constitutes our general policy.
WHY are free negroes from other states pro-
hihi,ed from settling here2 Why is it that
when they do venture within our limits the
law siernly demandslher immediate removal
Why is il that since 1876, those who may be
manumitted and remain within our state over
twelve months, are sold into slavery2 Why
is il than we do not allow Them TO be taught 10
read and write, to possess weapons, 10 bear
arms, to give evidence against white man, 70
intermarry with whites, TO vote, and 10 teach
The word Of God to their own race IN public
assemblies tits because long experience has
taught us that they are evil disposed and de-
graded, idlers, vagabonds and paupers. In
1881 or 1882, the citizens oil Northampton
county petitioned the legislature for leave &c
remove their free negIoes, and that body pas
sed the requisite law, preceded by preamble
in which il is reci,ed, sit satisfactorily appears
that il is absolutely necessary not only 10 the
correct government of their slaves, but also &c
the peace and safety of their society, that the
free people OF color should be promptly re-
moved from their country" Can then the
right, Il repeat the word, the right to deport ouI
free negroes be questioned Is it not based
on the universal law, fully recognized in this
regard ty the supreme court, and The solemn
aud off repeated action of the general assem-
by2 1t cannot be denied, the right unequIy-
ocaly exists the question Is, shall 1t now bt
exercised
In presenting my views upon this subject,
must again call your attention 10 the palniu
and distressing fact, exhibited in our criminal
statistics ,thattheffe negroes, constituting abou
one twenty fifth oioureniire population, perpe
trate about two fifihs fthe crimes Of the stale
Does not this establish the fact that the tree
negroes are disorderly and evil disposed per.
sons, and as such dangerous TO our peace and
tranquility, to whom general suspicion a.
taches, and whose deportation is called for by
the highest considerations of public dutyi
believe that this statement OF the relative pro-
portion Of crime in our stale is in favor OF the
free negro. His social position--his noctur-
nal habits--the interested influences which
are too frequently brought TO operate ia affect.
ing the concealment OF crime in which ne par
,icipates, prevent very large proportion OF
offences from being exposed and brought I'M
der judicial investigation. The existence OF a
class among Us SO extensively demoralized Is
well known. Can we therefore delay under
taking 10 remove them7 In the emphatic Ian
guage of the preamble TO the Northampton
act, is il not called for by our regard FOR the
correct government OF our slaves aud the peace
and safety OF our society,"
The removal Of this unhappy race is called
for by other considerations. tits well known,
gentlemen, to YOU all, that this race is idle,
thriitless and unproductive; that as general
rule ihey labor only from necessity, content 10
put up with the most meagre supply OF their
indispensable wants; and no, conten; with
their own labor in pursuits Of honest industry
they prowl in the dead hour Of nigh: and hlch
the labor Of others. Again, they perform a
thousand little mental services 10 the exclusion
OF the white man. preferred by their employ
ers, because of the authority and control which
they can exercise, and frequently because OF
the ease and facility with which they can re-
munerate such services. venture the opini-
on that larger emigration ofour white labor
ers is produced by our free negroes than by
the institution Of slavery. :.
But il is objected by some that the removal
of our free negroes would be cruel and inhu-
man, and offensive to the benevolent feelings
of the age. will briefly examine this oblec-
tion. The free negro is mere denIzen, not
entitled 10 the rights of the citizen. He 10 the
object OF peculiar and rigid legislation II.
ven if he resent insult at the hands OF the white
- Ia.