Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-07-30
For III.
PUNISHMENT OF SLAVES

A public document giving u statcmcn Of slayaa
and tfansioF'td ioF crime, " thin tie last ten yr,,s .t tu'
some curious Acts. X appears that slaves ar. SHOW
nately executed or transported for the same kind ~ "%:-,sclmI
One list exhibits a number OF these persons es.c,n..encts
murder, arson, poisoning, conspiracy, assault, WIN .ei 10
Kill, &c. Another list is given OF the names of .I,mMNhtG
ported lor murder, arson, attempting 10 poison. a..sSI,"''.
intent Ia Kill, robbery, buralIry. conspiracy, l,rccny VII.
II ihs' punishment amounts Only 10 a change d M,
aho, "neh fts'Etee 10, the slave unGeraoGs no Other ,,,ftt
hi"ht man mat oi being sol! by the Governor : '"sI
MS master. When the master sells. the n.s,n i eau 6
so"!e southern Stat" ana SOLD 10 4 planter. When ,,.
po.''u' 'He "''eFh"F sell, hIm 10 some person, who prom.
Is 70 carr HIh out II The United States, but who wI -
NC uo'e!Hof knows toll wei transport him INTO n S,.V,'
EN- State, Tor sale, rs any other negro. But no mau... -
negro g@cs u%nwhipped Of Iusticc-tht master is paid :, =
price Tor hlm-lhe State bears the loss on The sale, -"
Is practiSed on II sister Statc-Gnd the negroes lei, 49,.
laugh AZ III" silly operation Of the law.
Thus The eravcst tragciy enrolled upon The criminal =.
ent!1 may en-! IN i poor farce, and bTn2 the LAYS into o.,
tempt among a population requiring strict and apnr,rri,"
pun!>hmcnts. There i sometime. wrong III the law 4,
lis execution -tDr il can hardly be contcndrd by ,r VI
abolt!OniSt among ", that murder, poisoning, arson ,nss
-, burglary. larceny &c (iJT which white men a+
negroes are freely sent Ia the penitenta:y1 shuu.t "a ''
lir.ly unpunishGA when committed by slaves ana 49, ="
see that sgra Is n" case. As for conspiracy, and ,,rs-'
20 KIN wnI,c pc;suns, and eases of resistance To mas,c,.
overscer., of course, all abolliioristS, here as vel. a, :, y
North, ~Ni justify >uch offences. By this justification y
my weaken public opinion, ana slIvrs may be rnI,,@, I
more turbulent aGd lmsu5Orilnarc. !! the hsI.latp,e
not mean 70 have slaves executed for these offence. :, /
ought 10 provide something which will be REGARDED h.
negroes rs i punishment. Many masters, ami lp,,.
sI..rs, 30 Mt maintain proper control Over them. lam 4
fear d! having their property burned and destroyed ~
families poisoned. or ii!eiast Ives RESISTED. ii PREFER mas"
b.. rtsu:oi -, to check the misconduct; .: ma.c1gs
wicked negroes. Tie !ntcrTrcd!ns o! Abu!!'iuIt. :
the Eegrocs here, and the incitCleEcy d! the puaI..ns,,
transportation, .0! fi4h crimes, have done more d .e.,,
the value, The morality and happiness Ui The sine. j, :,
State, and 10 fcncsr them lnsO!ent, insubo!cInaie AID M.
tcious, than all the movements oi The enemy 1t III. N,r,
We have people among " WHO begin 10 moot the Gue.r,,
whether 4 slave has not u Ilght to determine %: MIN.
whether he ought tO be- punished. ard how mguh. 81 Il
master or OvclseCr. tor any d!>Ub.iIgHcc o. other Ultnn.
AlunstTGus as sGCH a doctrine may appear in 4 Save )
Il is insrplratly connected win the feelings, symg4iny ~,
Gior4l~ .; every ibD!it'1E!st. here and elsewhere. The So
l. not cNcG.i i:OiE these M;a!!ef>, ANA the law Shout: les
thc!.. 10 room Ia impair il. 1911 :oIcs. OBSERVER