Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-05-17
Tuesday. May II.
HOUSE,

The Speaker announced the following Us
the JOINT committee under the preamble and
resolutions in regard to the recent outrage com.
United upon the Executive mansion:
Alessrs. Goode of Bedford. Robinson of r.
City. Lewis, Echols and TaliafeIro.
Mr.. Browne. from the Committee on Slaves
and Free Negroes. reported bill providing
Tor the removal Of free negroes and .mulatiocs
from the Commonwealth"
The bill provides that the County and Cor
poration Courts, at the commencement oftheir
terms on the LIST ofJanuary in every 2 years,
shall appoint persons to be called, and who
shall act, as overseers of free ncgt oes and mu-
iatos. their number and districts to correspond
with that of Commissioners Of the Revenue in
each county and corporation-said overseers
to kept list of all the free negroes in book.
10 be keep in the Clerks Office of each coun-
ty, and corporation-said lists to be corrected
from time 10 time-the overseers to hire out
the free negroes and mula,toes of their re.
spccive districts. TO the highest bidder. at
public auction or otherwise, with the appro
baton of the Court the money arising from
the hires to be paid into the Treasury Of the
State, TO constitute a fund to be expended for
the transportation Of said free negroes and
mulatocs from the Commonwealth-the over.
seers. whenever the fund from their respective
distrlcs be sufficient, to cause to be transported
from the Commonwealth such free negroes and
muattoes as they shall deem most fit to be
transported; making II their object, SO far as
practicable. TO apply the proceeds Of the hire
OF each free negro to his or her own transporta-
ton to the place or country of his or her own
selcction.a and always having regard to the nom
separation Of families and Of those connected
by ties Of affinity. and consangunity, and to be
delivered to such persons or authorizes as the
Courts may appoint. The bill also provides
ior such free negroes as may have property
md gives the privilegeto hire themselves in.
certain cases. and to take, If practicable, their
property with them. Police regulators are
also provided for carrying into effect all the
provisions ofthe law, and provisions and reg.
ulations made for children. AT the end of 1--WE
years from the LIST Of January. 1853, such free
negroes as remain in and Of the districts. to be
sold into slavery to the highest bidder unde,
regulations prescribed. and in certain cases tc
have the privilege cfchoosing their masters
The following communication was receivec
from the Governor, and presented 10 the Hous.
l.y the Speaker.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
May IL, 1882.
To the General Assembly Of Virginia:
On the 18th day of March last. Jordan
Hatcher, a slave. aged abont IL years. charg.
Cd with having killed one VIM. P. Jackson
was tried in the Hastings Court of this city
found guilty and sentenced TO be hung on the
Esd day Of April, 1859. Shortly after his con-
viction. and during my late visit to the county
Of HARRISON. papers relating to this subject,
were sent to me, which failed to arrive before
my return, and were not received here until
after the day upon which the execution was to
have taken place. Desiring to see those pa.
peers before making final decision, | grained
respite of two weeks, and after mature and
deliberate consideration, l. on the 9th instant,
commuted the sentence against the said Hatch
er to .sale and transportation beyond the Uni
ted States" And las it is made nay duty to
ly communicate to the Legislature my reasons
for said communication.
That Jackson's death Yves caused by a blow
'nfi'cted by Hatcher, there can be ne doubt; bu,
the testimony, and all the attending circum.
stances. so far from sho wing that the upfortu.
nate result was contemplated or desired bv the
slave. rather prove that he had no intention ~
committing murder. or of taking the NE of hi,
overseer. DIR. Jackson. in any way; aud tina,
the unfortunate casualty was one Of those re-
suits which. though deeply to be dcplored by
al. was not contemplated by any one. The
injury VAS inflicted by single blow. given al
moment of great excitement and suffering
and without any effort to inaict further injury
The boy ran from the building in a manner
showing that his effort was but to escape from
the chastisement he was receiving. The grea
and essential ingredient to constitute murder
to-wit: intent or malice prePense. was. there
fore. wholly wanting. That the penalty unde'
such circumstances should be death. though,
perhaps. authorised the by letter. is. l believe
against the spirit Of ourlaws.and of the age. as
srs de''sned for and exssaded only TO the IN.