The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-10-27
LOCAL MATTERS.

BoAap MONEY The following memorial has been
prepared by committee of the tobacco manufsc
surers OF this city, and signed by the manufacturers
generally against the passage OF the 9th section OF
the ordinance concerning negroes reported by the
Committee of Police in September last, obliga'ing
owners and hirers of slaves to board ard lodge
them II will be noticed by the Council this even
ing when the ordinance referred to is taken up for
consideration.
The memoriasts state that they are fully aware
that it s the high prerogative and duty of the Coun
Gil to pass such ordinances as they may deem nee
essary for the welfare of the city-but that expe-
renee has demonstrate ed to the tobacco mauufac.
turers that the system proposed by the Council is
wholly impracticable, impoltic, and far more inju
rous in its tendencies than the present system, and
that they consider the evils attached to the present
system have been vastly exaggerated and can be
efectusy suppressed by the present police regula'
tons, if properly executed The memora. pro.
ceeds:
We do not object to be compelled by ordinance
to provide accommodations on our premises for
our slaves in Sickness, or those Of them who have
not homes elsewhere, but we pray you for the
| privilege to discriminate between those who may
| have board and those VINO should not. large
number OF the owners of slaves in our employm ut
reside in the city and desire their slaves to be fur
| nished with board money to enable them to come
husae to eat and ledge, and many owners in the
country prefer the board money system to any
other, believing it to be conducive to the general
| welfare of the Moreover, some pers ons
| engaged in the manufacturing of tobacco cannot
provide for all Of their slaves in the manner pre-
| scribed for want of space, and therefore must
sort to an evasion OF the law throw them tOgeth
er in some place apart from the factory, either Of
which courses would lead to ends not to be desired.
Suppose that some 300 or more negroes in com.
| panies of So rs and $50 each congregate at fifty
different places throughout the city on ,he Sabbath
three times day at meals, idle and without en-
poyment, perhaps with no white person to restrain
| Them and in like numbers huddle together every
night for sleep, what may not be the consequence
esi Contentious Fundamentally arise among them,
| qusrreis, fighting, and even murders would likely
| ensue, and another evil not less to be dreaded,
disease perhaps contagious would be almost GER
| tain consequence. Neighborheods would be thus
| subjected many annoyances from these gath.
| erings that property would become deprecated 10
value and in come cases rendered valueless, except
to draw retailers and other trstckers with slave
| In come parts Of the city there several tobacco
| factories within stones throw Of each other-what
will be the result of this aggle gaion under your
| systemi
| The memorial further states that experience
proves that the present system enures TO the bene-
fit of the slaves regards their health and self-re-
| spect The slaves have wholesome exercise in pass
|
more freely the fresh air than if kept the lots Of
the factories; and by comparing the medical bills
under the present system with those under the
system proposed, which was in some years
| since, and was experienced by some of US, we find
| them lighter by at least rs per cent.
Let the records of the Mayors court be searched
and the cases of misdemeanor by factory hands, of
| whom there are some 5000, summed up and com.
pared with the of negroes other than factory
hands, and you will be convinced .hat the factory
slaves are not immoral and debased as repre-
scented, but the contrary are a well-behaved and
| orderly class. The memorial concludes by stating
the. factory hands are not dependent on board wa
| ges for means to debase thems elves but IT ceive
monies in other ways by over-work, &c; and that
by the present police regulations slave can &c
upon the premises OF private families without an
| endorsed pass, and every owner of premises can
| prohibit the admission of slaves by law
| Signed by the committee, Messrs. Grant, Wal.
thall, Thomas, Hardgroye, and 25 other manufac-
| turers of tobacco