The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-27
Free Negras. q the slays states,


legislature to Danish from that State the free
colored population: and append the report made
by the committee 10 whom the matter was re-
ferred, AS we stated, in previous editorial de-
voted to this subject the resort to such vicarious
punishment as this visitation of the sins of the
guilty on the heads of the innocent, should
only be had when an imperious necessity shall
call for, and the common safety demand it,
That the refractory, the vicious, and the danger
GUS among this class, might be expelled from
any community whose safety they might i'm
peril, no one can deny-but of this each CON-
munity can best Judge for itself We object,
however, to the general principle which under
lies the proposition for the unconditional expul-
sion of this entire class from the Southern
States. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof
A similar proposition has been made in the
North Carolina Legislature, speaking of which
the Wilmington Commercial says
PEoPLNG VERMoNr.-A resolution is before
the legislature Of North Carolina, referred to
committee, to inquire into the cost of transport
ing the free negroes to the State of Vermont
That State will be much obliged to the South
for peopling her territory with population SO
much admired in that region
The New Workers, or some Of them, are Of a
different opinion. An Albany paper gives fair
notice to South Carolina, that if their free peo-
pie are sent among them, "ioe will net receive
them. The Tribune very aptly asks "Who
are zoe, and how are zoe to help themselves.
Very true. All slaves who "touch the SOIL" say
they, are free and the South now proposes to
give them sufficient quantity of citizens who
are already free, and who can enjoy all the priv-
leges Of citizenship without violating the Con-
stitution. II the New Workers object to this
peaceful and honest mode, it cannot but be par
ticularly agreeable to the Vermonters.
What the condition of this class may be in
North Carolina, we have no means of correctly
ascertaining- doubt not that her Legislature
will act with due regard to the promptings of
humanity and justice.
LEGISLATURES OF South CARoLNA.-The
referred so much of the Governors message as
relates to the removal of the free negroes from
the State ask leave to
REPORT:
That they regard the subject involved in this
inquiry, as one of the very gravest import-and
surrounded bydifiiculties. of great embarrassment
1t is comparatively of novel impression in our
State, and has never been to any extent consi-
dered by our citizens. TO carry out the recon-
mendations of the Governor, would involve the
existence and recognition of the principles Of
the Colonization society, an institution which has
never been in any favor in South Carolina.-
About twenty years ago there was feeble effort
made to establish one Of these societies in the
State, i, fingered out sicky existence, and in
n short time expired, and with it the discussion
of the question 1t is fact not to be overlooked,
that the spirit of abolition at the North first
commenced its operations under the patronage
and authority Of the colonization societies, and
most of the advocates and promoters of those
measures are now violent Aboitionists-so that
the pubic mind in this State, so far from being
directed towards it, may be said, since the agita-
ton of the slavery question at the North, to
have been entirely diverted from Its considera-
ton. And the conclusion very legitimately and
Justly to be drawn from these facts is that there
is no settled policy indicated on this subject in
this State
Your committee are free to admit, that it
would be much to be desired-that there were
but two classes in saveholding Countrywide
masters on the one hand, and the slaves on the
other-that an intermediate class, possessed of
some legal privileges, besides being anomalous
presents a constant source of discomfort to
those who are lower down in the scale; the
slaves seeing the privileges and immuntics en-.
joyed by the free negroes long to be elevated
to their condition, and discomfort and dissatis-
faction ensue in regard to their more serve con-
dition. The only plan to be adopted as remedy
of this condition of the subject, would be the
dismissal of that entire class Of population; this
would operate with peculiar hardship and in
| Justice on some. Many are the owners of land
and slaves, and are bound to the soil ny all those
associations (though in the less refined degree
which characterize the feelings of the white race
We have extended to them civil and legal
privileges, which have cultivated and strengthen
ed those feelings, and suddenly, without fault on
their part, they are to suffer the severest of all
punishments, namely: cxpatriation, because we
have chosen to change oar policy.
1t cannot be denied that there are in the State
many free negroes, who, from bad character,
idleness, and dissolute conduct have become nui-
sances to their neighborhoods. These can be
met by judicial penal legislation sufficient to re-
press the evil, without rcsorting to the extreme
measure indicated by his Excellcncy.
| Your committee are also impressed with the
great difficulties which would arise, as to the
mode and measure OF the removal OF these peo-
pie. Is it proposed to confiscate their property
to raise the MEANS or would the State incur this
expense! 1t would require large amount of
expenditure to effect it properly: and it is very
much to be doubted, whether our people are
prepared or willing to sustain this expense at
the present time.
In conclusion, your committee are Of opinion,
that it would lily comport with the true charac-
ter of South Carolina, whilst she was strugg-
ling for her rights in the property Of the Afri-
can race as slaves, that she should be found imi-
tating the example of a selfish and heartless
people, who, whilst they commit robbery and
plumber Of our property, under the pretenSe of
sympathy and attachment to the African race,
are the perpetrators of the most cruel and I'M
feeling conduct to those of the race who have
the misfortune Of being part of their popula-
ton Let us hold out TO the world, whilst We
assign them a subordinate position, both in our
political and social arrangements, we regard the
obligation rot less binding, to extend to them