Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-05
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.


sss, presented this subject foT consideration. and
was denounced from difalehi quarters Tor The III
humanity OF my proposition. | now repeat II;
and The question IS, who is lu.ty liable 10 this
charge, h. who wishes 10 remove The free negro
10 other places where he will b, freed from cur
soul-dcsrating legislation, and where he would
have right 10 learn 10 stand up and feel and
say am man or he who persists in retaining
him IN cur midst, subject 10 The memorable le-
sislalion 10 which have advelcd7 Thi, ques-
ton leave with you, and with The country, with
out uneaslness or apprehension.
But The objection 10 The removal OF cur free me-
sroes, upon The ground of its inhumanity, is not
we'll considered in other respects 1t is impos-
siale that such population can have strong 10.
cal attachments. Indeed il is a feeling very
much weakened with all classes OF our popua-
lon, from The habit OF emigration, which has
long extensively prevailed. Scarcely family
oil The highest responsibility and wealth which
mas not sent OUT one OF more OF their members 10
people our western valleys. Our slaves too with
better habits, and with feelings of purer and
more domestic character Than those usually
possessed by our Tree negroes, ale daily emigra-
tel T. the South and that, frequently, Qrom the
necessities OF masters with III regard 10 domes-
tic lies. BY our law, il a slave be freed, he is
compelled - leave The State no matter how
be sundered. We are also familiar with The po.
Icy CT removing Indian tribes by force, upon
large scale, and within few years pasr; and in
deed We are indebted 10 this pncy for the homes
We occnp:, and the noble Stale OF which we are
soInsty proud With all proper Difference, then,
TO The opinions nl hers, conclude tina! there is
in this objection nothing tina. presents any real
difficulty.
But the Tree negro seriously affects the value
OF our slaves He aWakens in the slave new ap.
peliIes and wants, teaches The road TO crime
makes him restless and dissatisfied, increases the
spirit oil INSTRUMENTATION, and consequently inn
poses severity which Otherwise would he I'M
necessary. OF the eish;y-one negro conycts
now in The PenRen'iaIy, Ten ale there Tor the
crime OF stealing and enicing away slaves.
Nor IS this The only way in which the free ne
gro acts inlurously. In every community OF
whites, there are some III b. founi with vicious
and immoral propensiles who are tempted 10
commit crime from tie ease with which they can
obtain IN The Tree negro convenient tool. In
this way, and IN many hers which il would not
DC proper, perhaps, 10 enumeIale the beauty and
purity OF our social STATE is seriously demoralized
Although The hty thousand free negroes in our
Stale, with few EXCEPTIONS are known 10 be thrift
less and uLproduclive, and live mainly by depre.
dalton upon the labor OF others, yet they consre-
gate in orr villages, and do The little Jobs that
arise IN The progress OF ordinary labor, wholly
superseding, by The smallness OF their compen-
sation, and The character OF It's payment, the EN-.
ployment oil white men; thus creating moral
necessity for the emigration OF no inconsderable
portion OF our aborins white population. can
appeal with confidence TO the experience OF every
member OF the General Assembly, in support OF
The truth OF the above view; and ask il This of
itself does not give this subject claim 10 your
favorable consideration
The legislation, in relation TO The free negro, 20
which have heretofore adyerted, is the result OF
long experience and intimate knowledge OF the
tree negro race, and canno, be relaxed. And We
must deliberately AMI calmly ask ourselves whe.
Their we will not al once, in bold and compre
hensIye spirit, adopt the policy | have recon-
mended, which is plainly requisite Tor his happi-
ness, and The true interests and prosperity OF the
State II IS difficult TO imagine policy more in
Ieresting 10 the country or more ffaught with
good 10 all concerned. To US, The good will be
broad, deep and al-peyyadng Not an element
in our character, not an interest OF our people, but
will feel lis refreshing influence. May not then
hope, gentlemen, that in pressing this important
measure, for The third lime, upon your attention,
shall not have done so in vain.
OF the right 10 consummate this measure
entertain no doubt ! attempted 10 make that
plain in my last message. The details of the
plan are few and simple, and can be easy exc.
cuted. Nor Is there any difficulty in finding
places TO whish to send them. Liberia, the
French and English islands, and some Of the
free States, especially New York and Massa-
chusstss, are eager, if am to believe the
evidences before me, 10 receive them. The
British islands, have no doubt, from iniorma-
ton in my possession, would pay the expense Of
all those sent TO them And Massachusetts
few years ago, in on elaborate exposition 10 the
American people, admitted and undertook TO
convince others, that the free negro is an Anne
rican citizen, and entitled to 20 and come a,
will. With this acknowledged right he could
there find home, and not vessel would sail
from our shores for that ancient and prosperous
Commonwealth, bit would be happy TO take
at a cheap rate from fifty to one hundred pas
sengers. Then where is the difficulty' In ten
len years, at an expense Of 900 year, our
State may be freed from the curse of our free
negro population. Profoundly convinced Of the
wisdom and humanity Of this measure, and its
all pervading Importance to our beloved Com
monwealth, earnestly recommend II TO the Ge-
neral Assembly.
herewith conmu nicae The report Of the Re.
gisler OF the Land Office.
| communicate also The report OF the Superir-
enden, Of Weights and Measures Nothing has
been done yet towards supplying the several
lowns and counties OF our Stale wi lhi, impor-
tant standard; and | am satisfied nothing can be
efficiently done under our present laws. The
room in the basement OF the Capitol will not an.
swer for this service on account OF its dampness,
thorough dryness being indispensable. The
weights and measures are OF the incest and
most delicate mechanism, and should be place;
in charge Of man with some knowledge OF me-
pho piN / nm nd haI
this duty be conf led 10 the Captain 81 the Public
Guard, who could. with small additional eI
pcnse, have them made in his own workshops
and under his eye and superiniendence-a duly
which be would chceriully undertake, without
cha &c, il relieved OF the duties oil superintendent
Of public edfces, which might be very advan.
tageously assigned 10 The present Superinter-
dent Of Weights and Measures, at The salary now
received by him. Or Course the Legislature will
require these weights and measures 10 he made
witnin our own Stale.
herewith communicate the report Of our
worthy vaccine agent His Operations during
The last year have been quite important to the
State.
also herewith communicate the report Of
the weighmaster Of live stock.
The reports of the register of the land Office;
Of The superintendent of weights and measures;
of the weghmaster of live stock, and OF the
vaccine agent, are not now required by law, but
were called for by me, that ] might present
complete view Of the condition of the common
wealth recommend that a law be passed, re-
curing in future, annual reports from those Of
hcers.
BY act passed March l4th, 1910, providing Tor
the payment OF slaves condemned 10 death or
transportation" il IS enacted, that "the Justices
who shall condemn 81 h slave, shall value him
or her at the cash price for which he she would,
in heir opinion, sell at public sale, under
knowledge OF his or her guilt" This law regards
the slave condemned 10 death, as diminished in
value by his sentence, and designs 10 pay to his
owner only such value Practically, however,
this nention is disfegafded, and price is gene
rally fixed upon condemned slaves, that they
would not command 10 our best market, il free
from all exception. The slaves who were con-
demned 10 death, and Ieprieved for transportation
during The last five wears were priced by the