Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-02-19
For THE VINDIcAToR.
IgGen Of Augusta!

| A late writer has made a statement which is
startling to me. He reminds us that the Free
Negroes of Virginia have increased four hundred
per cent. in the last fifty years By a similar
progress, they will number 100000 in the year
1900! My child now in the cradle and his gen
Grafton will see that time. HIS children, my
grand children will see this class Of OIL poprla-
ton increased to a million
But it may be asked--will not many of them
enigrate9 Where? At the North, they are met
| by the fierce abolitionists who protect none but
rInaways. On the part of the population at
large, they are repelIed by natural public sem
timent, and by disabilities, which forbid them
to look there for home. Shall they turn to the
West or the South! The laws of all the States
there repel them. On the East they meet The
ocean. They will be compelled to stay in the
State of their nativity
But will not the whites multiply as well as
the free negroes Yes-but our SOILS are alured
to the rich and vast territories of the South and
West. Everything invites them abroad, and
there is no hope that Virginia can retain her
children for century to come to any extent
comparable with the increase Of her population.
They will be found i'll California, and in the new
States sprlnegllng up west OF the Rock Noun
tains But if not-What would our dense popu-
lation of IL, 900, then do with million OF
blacks added to six millions Of slaves! Or. if
you please, with this double race calculated at
the minimum, after all the drains that can be
made by pushing them into other States aoainst
the laws now existing there-then enforced with
increasing strictness! The prospect is full OF
fearful foreboding, take it as we may.
But old Augusta, happy in her mountain home:
may she not be happy still, with her small num-
| Der of free negroes! Let us see. By the census
of 1910, the free blacks of our county were 421.
Calculating below the rate Of increase before sta
ted, we will suppose they now Number 625. In
the year 1900 the generation of our children
will have 2500-and in the year 1850, our grand
children will have 10000 Of thenl,--equal in
number to one-half our present white population.
But will not many of these emigrate to other
parts of our State? Where? Where will they
find greater plenty! Where, better bacon in
smoke-houses more accessible? Where, corn
cribs more full and more free? Where, more
generous and indulgent people? They ac,N stay
here, and multiply, and live as they now live
a few by industry and honest labor-some
charity--and many by depredations on the earn
ings of others. 1t must be so. All experience
proves tall true history records it.
What shall be done? The Colonization Sc
ciety is doing something. But its means are
limited Liberal ard noble men among US are
contributing literally to that fund But that IS
not enough There must be united actlon-ie@-
islative action. Invoke the Legislature then.
Call on the State government to act. IL not Tor
others, ask them to empower youY County Court
to make an assessment which may commence a
work OF double benevoence to ourselves and the
Tree people OF color among lis by proUldang tof
tier remoral and settlement III their father
land where they may live under similar laws,
i'll a nation of their own color, and be men as we
are. In this way, we may do for them there,
what we can never do for them hsre-make them
men in their freedom.
Can this be done2 We answer, Yes. We mast
support them here-we cGas support them there.
Then we certainly can do what is less--we can
remote them there, where they can support them
selves.
Let US see how it is. One man from one part
Of the county, tells me he and q few OF his neigh
bors feed several families Of blacks settled a
round them. A similar report comes TO me from
another part OF the county-and so suppose 1t
is elsewhere Now for $3.50, the Colonization
Society takes an enligrant to Liberia and settles
him on a small farm, which is made his own in
fee simple Leaving off 1875, as children, whose
expectation might be made i'll the mass, without
cost, we have then to provide fer 500 at $50
each, which will be 1926 900.
Suppose the white population of the county to
be 26,000-a capitation tax OF a dollar and q
! quarter on the W hole number would do the work
at once. Is there man in the county, who
would not pay that sum most willingly Tor him.
self and his children He might well feel he is
making a splendid speculation on the day he
does it, and that he eonfers on his children a far
better Inheritance than the paltry sum expended
would be if increased twenty fold bearing inter
est for fifty years, No man can better afford to
pay such a tax than the poor man, who IS met
III competition Of labor and underworked at ev-
cry point by this class of laborers. The man of
capital is again enriched by the advance the
value OF property through every healthful action
of the body polite, and, therefore, may well af
ford to encourage property tax tor the object
proposed Especially may this be predicted OF
the owner ct slave property. Aside from all
mere pecuniary benefits, the moral advantages,
which would accrue to both races, are sufficient
to influence community like ours whenever
the subject shall be entertained and decided up
on its true merits Ii the object proposed We're
one of ordinary importance, the tax might be re-
garded as a heavy one-but compared with the
good purchased, it is like a speculation i'll which
a small outlay is made to secure q large and
permanent revenue.
1 But it Inay be inconvenient to remove them
all at once. Take, then, three Or .fue, or any
greater number of years. But commence noW, and
let the same law that empowers you to tax your
selves, for this object provide that the free ne
groes from other counties shall be prevented
from emigrating to this county.
act promptly, nosc qrlile the euil is get under your
control. The results will be realized to you in
pecuniary, civil and religious blessings, which
will flow down through all time, the rich inheri-
lance of your children, who shall rise up in their
generations to honor and bless you.
ARGUS.