Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-12-06
Thursday Morning, Deer. 9th, 1S49
COLONIZATION OF FREE NEGROES.


There is undoubtedly rapidly growing opinion
amongst the people of our State that measures of
some sort must be adopted to relieve the commune
ty OF the burden and nuisance of the free negro po
puation. Many stringent laws have been adopted
Tor the purpose of preventing this obnoxious class
from introducing themselves from distance into
the several counties and towns. But it seems not
TO have been considered that the result of this DO
Icy must be, in one aspect at least precisely the
opposite of its principal object If the slave States
respectively adopt these prohibitory laws, as they
all have done, and are constrained to do it is OBJ
vious that the effect us to retain the free negro
upon his native soil He is only at liberty to emf
CRATE to of the free States; but if he knows any
thing of the hypocritical philanthropy of those
who pirate so loudly of the curse of slavery, he
will never place himself beyond the protection,
meagre as it is, of Shareholders. In fact, the
larger number do prefer to remain where they
were born. Hence, while the census shows that
it shows also that The free negro population is
la9gety on The increase. Our system of prohbi-
tions only tends to magnify the evil
What then, is the remedy? 1t must plainly 10
some new policy which will provide way for Sc
curing the emigration of the free negroes as we'll
as for prohibiting their immigration. We have no
right to drive them, pell nell, as Gov Smith first
suggested, beyond our limits. Neither can we
expect the neighboring States to receive passivey
such an accused influx. The only recourse that
remains seems to be the transportation of the free
negroes to country where they will be welcome
and where they can sustain themselves respeeta-
bly,.
We are sincerely glad to see that Gov FLOYD
has drawn the attention of the Legislature to this
important subject and has recommended the poll
cy OF transplanting our free negroes to the COLONY
OF Liberia i'll Africa. And Mr. Dorman, of Rock
bridge, has seconded the suggestion in the Hous,
OF Delegates, by moving for special commtte,
to consider the Governors suggestion. 1t reall,
seems to us to be the only scheme yet proposed
which is at all practicable, and we are persuaded
1t will only need the developments of the census Of
1850, to convince the people of the necessity of its
adoption.
we noticed short time since, the introductior
The Fredericksburg Recorder, referring to tina
subject, makes the following remarks:
we see nothing Objectionable or impractieable II
the resolution introduced in the lower House of the
Georgia Legislature to all the free negroes now
in that State to the Colony of Liberia The question
where are they to go ;" fairly and fully answered b,
that proposition, until good cause can be shown whv
na5i a n1t d n BE- adopted We recently proposed this
nor arguments have been adduced sustain the obec
ton The unfortunate condition of this people in ths
country and in every part Off, todby examples SIM
Lar to that afforded by the treatment Of John Randonhs
freed blacks in Ohio, well by the admission from,
the Warrenton Flag that they cannot pass from one
State iaso anether and be there received except in hu
initiating disguise. - . 'i1
DO not these facts, and such as these impress deeplv
upon the minds OF humane and rejecting men the ne
esssy that exists for sending them Liberia whers
they may be elevated to the condition of men and yyo
men, by the circumstances that will surround them ana
not be suspected and despsed of all men, and in many
instances convicted of crime Gas the News saws and
perhaps rightiyY where white man would escape and
not unirequently from the want of means to emnlov
counsel We enreat the Legislature Of Virginia to
aet upon this question speedily PREJUDICE it. nor to
se,te down IN the conviction that the thing can't be done
when they have not examined into it,"