Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-01-08
FoR THE VINp1cATc
LAGOON, NO. /.

To the Honorable the Members of the House of
delegates and ofthe Senate Of puginia
The Report ofthe Special Committee, to whom
was referred that part of the Governors Messaue
which recommends the removal of the free people
ofcolor from the Commonwealth, will seen calf
you to deliberate on a subject of grave import
You will give 1t, doubt not, your we-studied
AMI matured consideration, holding it neither toe
delicate subject to be approached, nor too diff
cult for legislation. The time has fully come
when, if we do not boldly erapple the difficulties
and control them, they will control us.
Slavery was not of voluntary adoption b1 those
who constructed the elements of society in IL is
Commonwealth. Introduced by the authority Of
Great Britain, it was found at the period of our in
dependence constituent of the body polite was
subsequently recognised by the Federal and State
constitutions, and became part ofour inheritance
1t is, therefore, politically and socially, constitu
Itional. Yet like all other things human and
earthly, it has difficulties and evils. These were
$50 distinctly perceived by the foresight of our an
Icestors that they resisted the introduction of the
system itself < sought to avert it. When ntrodu-
ced they aboured to mitigate lis evils to both races
and make the institution, if possible, blessing to
each. How far this christian effort has been faith
fully and successfully pursued we are willing our
enemies themselves should tell to the world in the
facts they compelled to record, and out of
which ages to come will form their estimate Of our
character. Let US leave all feyersh anxieties on
that subject, and go boldly forward in the high
duty imposed by Providence on US now.
Among the evils that are contingent to slavery.
may be reekoned large class Of free colored peo-
pie, the descendants of slaves constituting {, loay-
en- casle in socely, and yet elevated above the
slaves whence they originated. This evil w as
early contemplated by far reaching and patriotic
minds, defin.d and sought to be modified OF avert
ed
Mr. Jefferson, as early as TIT, proposed to the
Legislature of Virginia, to be Incorporated in the
revised code of the State, plan for coonising the
free colored population. This is the earliest con-
ception, distinctly announced of plan for African
Colonization. The magnitude of the enterprise
and the state ofhe country, then at war. prevent
ed at that time, the prosecution of the plan. Dr.
Thornton, native Of Virginia, and resident at
Washington, attempted ten years afterwards to
form company of free blacks to emgrate and es-
tablish a colony on the coast of Africa. This al
so proved aborive for want of means. The legs-
laure of Virginia took action on the subject in the
year 1900, and again in 1916 and Mr.. Jeherson
continued to agitate it until the formation of the
Colonization Society, in Dec 1916, at the city of
Washington.
Although eminent and good men from other
States were concerned in the construction of this
noble Society, and to the honored name of Finley
is correctly attributed the principal insrumentality
In Its actual organzation-yet the mighty concap~
ton may be found in our Virginia, the 'lother Of
States 5" and the embryo Of this great political
structure may be traced to the brain Of the author
of the Declaration Of IndepeI dence, who is now
seen to be the real Jupiter of that political Miner
va the young ''Republic of LIBERIA" Liberia is
indeed our twin sister finds her rights assertedn
the same declaration and though of longer gesta-
ton is now trumphantly born, and destined like
us to regulate and govern continent, with our
liberal constitution adopted as hers and the Bible
as her great moral code.
Standing by the birth Of the Colonization Socie.-
~ or aiding in its incipiency, we find Bushrod
Washington its first President and Henry Clay
its second--John Randolph, Jefferson Madison,
Monroe, Judge RIasshall, Bishop Meade John
Taylor of Caroline Andrew jackson, C. f. Mer-
Ger, f. S. Key, e. b. Caldwell, and others, Vir-
glnians by birth and in feeling. though citizens Of
the world by their works. We will seek in the
labors of that Society cooperation suited to the
part we took in its formation and to the inheritance
we claim in its fame. But for the present re-
turn.
The free people of color, now numbering not lees
than $4,000 in Virginia and increasing more than
tour hundred per cent. in fifty years, will, without
some action to prevent it, form population Of
240, 0o0 in the year 1900, period that will ar
rive during the natural life Of our children. In
1880 our grand children will encounter this popu-
lAllon increased to numerical force Of about one
mlllion--thlrty per cont. greater than our present
white popuaton-and our great grand children
will see free black population Of 4,OOO,0 OOin
Virginia In order to realize how near in time
TINS result is to our own day, we have only to re-
1lect that the active men of the present time-ma-
ny whom address as leg islators--are descendants
OF the fathers of our independence of only the Sc
cond and third generations. Some, who now live,
may, before they die, see the free black popula-
ton OF Virginia, greater in number than tie pres
emf White population.
1t is readily admitted that various causes may
occur to modify these calculations. But it is e
nough that they are seen to be the natural results
of an uninterrupted progress of existing causes,
and therefore possble-even probable. For,
while the wide west and southwest are inviting
with still stronger motives the emigration of our
sons, the barriers to the emigration of our free
blacks to. other States are multiplied and strength
ened, both by Legislation and popular expression.
While, therefore, our white population may be
stationary, or decrease by emigration, the free
blacks will be steadily advancing in an increasing
ratio. But have no time TO multiply these and
similar aspects of the subject. Every rejecting
mind will develope them.
Connected with this series of numerical calcu-
lations, however, ask the consideration of the
fact, that history furnishes no instance Of one peo
pie residing in the midst of another people as
lower CASTE, and excluded from an equality of
civil rights, that have stopped short of violence
and rebellion so soon as their strength gave rea-
sonabe hope of successful struggle.
Mr.. Jefferson perceived distinctly this evil
when the cloud was not yet larger than mans
hand, and he endeavored to brush it away 1t
has, however, been suffered to increase till it low
ers now on the horizon, and before our chldrens
children shall occupy our places, it will obscure
the sun and settle upon our fair land darkness
that may be felt. Those degenerate sons of illus
trious sires who say, ''let poserity take care of
that" should be rebuked Those who periled
their lives for our liberties, said not so-else we.
now had been rveted to hopeless despotism.
The question which now requires your iuyestl-.
CATION is Hoac shall zee tegislate for our free col
ored population 2'' The answer, which instructs
the euisatnr is niven in I'LL IIstn... al i ..na