Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1850-11-06

CITY OF RAJ
FREE COLORED PERSONS AND SLAVES. |
PublicSttention in North Carolina has been for
some time past directed to the importance Of devising
some plan for preventing the increase of free persons
of color, and of ultimately removing them entirely
from the State. course of this sort has been rem
dersd the more necessary, BY the aggressiona of the
free States upon rights aid interests, and by the
constantly increasing obligations upon to keep
strict watch the habits and morals of slaves.
1t is due 10 candor and justice to say, that have
among some free persons of color who are worthy
and industrious citizens. and who deserve the respect
and confidence of the communities in which they res
pectivey reside; but general rule this class Of
population vicious, idle, and disodery, and there
fore dead weight upon the body polite. They con-
sumo, but produce nothing; and in addition to this
they corrupt slaves, and render them, in many in
stances, insolent and insubordinae. Any law, look
ing to the removal of free persons of color, would
necessarily operate hsrshly upon that worthy portion
of them already referred but law for this pur
pose would most probably be general, and they, we
apprehend, will be ultimately compelled to share the
same lot with the vicious and disorderly. We pro-
pose no plan on the subject. We merely allude to
it, in obedience to the demands of public sentiment,
leaving it to Legislators to devise the plan and
apply the remedy for this growing evil. 1t may be,
however, that some measure may be adopted, which,
while it will rid the State of the great mass of this
class of population, will at the same time permit
those to remain, of certain age, (say beyond sxy)
who can establish good character, or who may be
able to show with good character, certain amount
property the result of inheritance or honest earn
ings. This would operate a reward for we'll doing
the industrious and deserving, and also cut Oft, by
the restriction age, any chances for an increase
of this kind of population.
| One of the free States-Illinois-has already, by
Constitutional enactment, excluded free persons OF
color from coming within her limits; and Ohio is
about follow the example. The day is not distant,
in our opinion, when most Of the free States will
adopt a similar course.
AT the last session of the Virginia Legislature
law was passed approprating $4,000 and levyng
a tax of one dollar each free coored man, to be
applied to the removal of this class of persons from
that State. This appropriation of 100000 is an an
nual one, and it will no doubt be increased in the flu
,ure, if any increase should be necessary.
friend at our elbow suggests that nothing would
please him better than every free colored per-
son in this State taken up bodily, and set down in
the old-fashioned d,cand-order State of Massachu.
setts Such an event would create delectabe stir
among the descendants OF the Puritans. 1t might
serve to cool their affection for fugitive slaves and
incline them to restore the stolen property of the South
n. upo r,;rht uie than this score in
another shape, by Offering premium of three or four
hundred dollars cash, be paid on due proof from
the State Treasury to each free negro who would re-
port himself within certain time safely landed on
the soil of free State. This would diminish the
evil in out midst, and at the same time please and
crafty our Northern fellow-citizens.
1t is of the first importance to the value of our slave
property, as we'll as to the welfare and happiness of
the slaves themselves, that our laws in relation to
them and to free persons of color, should be rsdly
enforced. We call upon the Magistrates, County
Attorneys and the officers of the law to be vigllant
and diligen in this NATTER and to see that the laws
are observed. We demand this of them. in the name
of the people, and by every consideration connected
with this subject, which address itself to their
sense of duty and their consciences. Our space will
not permit US at this time to point out the various
laws on this subject but they well known to those
charged with their execution. Among them, howev-
er, we may aude to two evils: One is the hiring of
their own time by slaves; and the other, slaves 60
ing at large on Sundays and at night without written
permits from their masters These evils
ought to be corrected at and if the present law
on the subject is not stringent enough, let it be
amended at the ensuing session. By the s6th Chap
ter of the Revised Statutes it is made the duty OF the
County Courts appoint Patrollers once in each year,
whose duty it shall be to patrol their respective dis
tricts and preserve order among the slaves DO the
Courts perform this duty7 Do they see to it that
Patrollers, thus appointed by them are active, vigi.
liant, and faithful!
We take the liberty of calling attention to another
provision of our laws, this subject. BY the 18th
section of the Chapter on Crimes and Punshments.
it is enacted that any person who shall knowingly
bring into this State with intent to circulate, Of
knowingly circulate publish within this State, any
written OF printed pamphlet paper, the evident ten
dencv whereof would be to excite insurrecton, con
spracv or resistance in the slaves or free negroes
and persons of color within this State, or which sha
advise or pursuade slaves free persons of color
insrreetion conspiracy, resistance -such person
90 offending shall be guilty OF felony, and on conv'c
ton thereof shall, for the first offence, be impr'son
ed not less than one year and be put in the pilior
and whipped at the discretion of the Court; and 10
tho second offence shall suffer death without bench
Of Clergy" Now this section ought to be altered
in our humble opinion, so as to take away from suc'
,erson his benefit of Clergy and thus subject him