The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-20
From The Charleston .Mercnln.


The CoLoRED PoPULATIoN.-W publish the
report of the House Committee on the co!ored pop
ulaton, so much Of the Governors message
as relates to the removal from the State Of the
free colored people. The committee very decided
ly oppose the recommendation, and in that opu-
ion entirely concnr. The fact, mentioned by
his Exceency, thatthere had been expression
of public opinion on the subject, would aonl be
a very grave objection to any decisive action by
the legislature, and it rather led us to anticipate
that, amid the many pressing matters before them,
this suggestion would be suffered to remain I'M
touched, and we therefore pass it without cr-
csm. We doubt not that the motive Of /, was
good and patriotic, and that his ExcelIency
thought only Of protecting the State bv r, moving
a supposed element of danger. Bur is it really
an element ofdanger; We are strongly convinced
that it is not.
AS long as our laws placed no restriction on
enamel patton, the free coored population was a
rapidly increasing one, and being constantly re-
cruited from the slaves, was thus in relation
hip to them, and in measure confused with
them in feeling, without being sub ect the same
wholesome restraints. But since the change in
laws, the two classes have become more and
more distinct. They have now 70 common
ground. The intermediate links are removed -
The free coored population is kept up on. from
within itself And un err this restriction it will
be found that it is undergoing n steady process Of
extinction. The Charleston census shows de-
this decrease, which believe to be in different
'Iegrees general throughout the State, comes
from their voluntary emigration to the North. If
they leave the State they cannot return.
But there is another cause for it. The mixed
race, (Which the largest part Of the free-colored
population belongs to,) is not fruitful Its vitality,
general rule, is neither equal to the white nor
the black race. 1t is an exceeding doubtful uues-
ti)n, whether by itself it could survive beyond
three or four generations. We do not assert this;
but common observation favors it, and scientific
researches have gone some way to sustain ohser-
walton. We could desire that the elucidaton of
this interesting point should form feature in any
law the legislature may enact on the subject of
this population, and the committee have re-
ported bill for taking census Of them, we sug-
gest that 1t might be so enlarged rs to provide for
inquiries into their condition. classification as to
blood, intermarrages, increase, &C., by compe-
tent persons, and that thus a mass of authentic
information might be collected, bearing upon the
question of their probable future relation to the
State.
AS to the present, theyar in numbers so small,
that their force would create no uneasiness, if
they unfrendly. But they are not SC. AS
far have observed, they are u very peaceabie
and orderly people, and we have seen no reason to
suspect them either of disposition to conspiracy
or to riot. Their sympathes with The whites
rather than with the blacks. Many of them are
savehc lders, and good proportion ndustri
Gus, sober, and Useful members OF the commune
ty. The Legislature, We are persuaded, will act
in accordance with the feeling Of very great ma-
ority oflheir constituents by leaving them in the
quiet possession Of the place they occupy.