The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-02-24
FREE NEGROES IN VIRGINIA.
TO the Editor Of the National Era:

To the Editor of the National Era.
The article you quoted from the Richmond
Wing, in your last issue, is sensible and just
but does not cover the whole ground.
The Punishment of the Free Negroes from
this State whatever other arguments may exist
in support of it, is urged by many shareholders
from purely selfish motives-such az intoler-
snce of opposition in the hiring business, and q
disposition to harass and annoy those who con-
scentiously believe that "the iaborer is worthy
of his hire"
The Free Negroes in this State are set down
in the late Census returns, at 54,333 Small
~ this number is, their presence in certain To-
calites is great public benefit In one neigh
borhood with which am acquainted, all of
them that are capable of labor are constantly
engaged and at those seasons in which extra
help il needed, slaves are employed, and their
owners and themselves are each paid in full for
their labor, by persons who win not unite in a
conspiracy to deiraud the laborer of his earn
ings.
To mortiiy and defeat the efforts of consci-
entious citizens who act in this manner. would
be deeply gratifying to many of those who sup
port the infamous measure of ex- OF extra Gov
ernor Smith, Mr. Brown OF King George aud
Mr.. Bottom of A.
or the whole number of Free Negroes, not
more, probably, than one-tfth, OF, in round
numbers, 10000, are adults OF these, not
more than one half are in any sense objection.
able to any portion of our people And be-
cause of the presence in this immense State
containing total white population of s94, 800
OF 5000 men and women, who are as worthless
and trihng perhaps, us many of their white
neighbors, We are to have them all "moye ON.
las the poor boy Joe, in Dickens's Bleak House
story, was required to dol without a place to
which to move, or to submit to the alternative
of being hired out or sold into slavery for the
benefit OF the eXchequer of the great sovereign
State Of Virginia-the proud Old Dominion
the Commonwealth of Washington, Marshall,
aud Henry-the mother Of heroes and Presi.
dents!
Admitting the whole free oolored population
OF Virginia 10 consist OF paupers and Migrants,
aud admitting each man, woman, and child, to
he subject of the sorest annoyance to the
community that poor, despised, and ignorant
person can prove-still, the means OF relief
suggested are vile and disgraccful and, if SUBJ
United to the decision of the people Of the State
will be rejected with adherence and disgust
But the time is coming in which the fears Of
our arbitrary brethren will be allayed. The
public works now in progress and soon 10 be
ommenced-thanks TO the true spirit Of Vir-
ginia--will bring about a new state Of things.
Free labor will be everywhere in demand, and
the population will DO 10 suddenly and 20
greatly augmented a. 10 render the present
number Of tree colored people Of little relative
moment even 10 their nervous and wary ene-
mics. Whist effect the new state Of things 10
to produce upon slaves, slave owners and sla-
very, we shall know in due time but IL may
DO safely predicted that with the new order ID
things, aud its certain attendant prosperity,
there will come an end Of all schemes ior tho
oppression Of frsemsn, Of all shades Of color an