New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-11-22
Free Nesroes in the pislrlcr Of Colnmhta.

free Negroes ia the District of Columbia.
The following important statements we extract
from the CORE spondeace OF tlc Pi4sb4rek Ga
.elte:
Many persons have observed with extreme
regret the returns 81 population ior what remains
ol the Federal District. Itis shown that the nam,
Der of slaves in thls city is over 600 and thar 80
far from decreasing, as was supposed, they have
increased BY several hundreds SINCE 1870. The
proportion of increase, il rccoIect in this class
Of persons is about 90 per cent. considerable
increase has also taken place IN Georgetown
The accessioDs to the number OF tree colored per
sons are somewhat greater
There are now about seven thousand OF tho
latter in the district. 10 is eommo" 10 hear these
latter spc ken OF as IDLE and worthless, and curse
to the neighborhood in which they are ioand, and
a charge upon public and private charity Ihese
harsh and llliberal allegations are manly untrue
AS class. they orderly, quiet, ana haru
working II is true they are low IN the soclal
state and one good and sufficient reason for their
condition IN that respect u.s. that by our laws and
customs and habits OF thought, they are virtually
q prescribed class Again 1t is true, that theyfur-
nish more than their due numerical proportion OF
conyicts for Jail and penitentiary but the rea'
son for that, also, Is dlscrcdtabe to US as the
fact is to them. Many acts innocent In a white
man, are crimes under the law IN & black. Take
as an example, the course pursued toward negroes
who are seeking to earn a livelihood IN so labori-
Gus and humble occupation as porters about
rail road depots. Ii seems 70 have been lately
resolved to exclude them from that employment
| have myself been frequently appealed to by
these poor creatures TO protect them from the
violence Of illdsposed rGttians, who appear to be
employ ed by more respectable persons, 10 Insult,
beat, and Cypress them IN every manner, Whlie at
tempting in this way to earn living The slightest
resentment or resistance upon their part IN cases
of even the srossest outrage, Is sufficient TO place
their names on the criminal records Here, too,
as they are not permitted to work they must, oil
course, in any instances, take TO dishonest
courses to procure the means OF itte. w nat more
eiectual means could be devised to multiply the
proofs OF the dleuess and worthessness oil the
free colored man.
Our Mayor. popular, humane and excellent
man in his private character has Just issued no
tice as required TO do under the law, that unless
the free negroes come forward register their
names and give good and sufficient bonds for their
good behavior, and to secure the city from the
liability of maintaining them they must be ex-
peled from the limits OF the Corporation. We
talk of Austrian and Russian barbarity, but what
can be more barbarous and cruel than tins order,
proceeding from the Chief Magistrate OF the capi-
tai city OF the greatest and treest hepuonc on
earth Where are the poor men to go 10 Iaey
cannot go to Virginia for on the unw arrantaDle
mutilation Of the District by the cession OF Alex
apdria County to Virginia, some four years age,
it is currently and suppose truly said, that most
OF the free blacks were driven over to TINS SIDE OF
the Potomac, by the operation of Virginia laws
They cannot flee to the other direction, for Mary
land has laws against their ingress and even
when they have the means, they cannot travel
on railroads, unless they are able to give heavy
bonds to secure the company against the liability
of conveying away fugitive from slavery what
the alternative of a failure 10 give the required
bond and security is, | do not know, but do know
that like requirement, in almost any OF the larger
cities OF the world would place immense mum,
bers of white men in the position OF outoasts anu
criminals"