Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-02-21
COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

COLONIZATION SOCIETY.
The Virginia Coloniz alton Society held its an
al meeting in this city on Thursday night
e did not hear the annual report read. and have
vet seen it in print, but we learn from the Wing
at according to this document, III emigrants
ere colouized from Virginia in 1852, at cost of
O,720. The money contributed in this State
the cause last year was about $1,000, incu-
ng IS, 100 of the State appropriation.
The question of re moving the free negro pop.
ation from this State has been much agitated
late, and is still under consideration in the Le-
Stature. We incline to the belief, however,
lat when our law givers shall have examined this
biect thoroughly in all its bearings, they will be
h to the conclusion that our true policy in rea-
u to it is to afford liberal aid and encourage
ent to the Colonization Society. A memorial
bm committee of this Society was laid be-
re the General Assembly several months ago,
aviug for further legislative aid, and shadowing
rth plan which, if adopted, the memoralists
ink, would relieve the commonwealth of its
% negro population at no very remote period,
no great cost and without resort to harsh
nd violent measures The memorial was pre-
red, we understand, by Mr.. John Howard, of
is city. and is an able and we'll written produc.
b. Deemiug the present fit occasion of de
cting public attention to this subject, we lay
fore our readers an extract from the Commit
les memorial, in which they explain the nature
their plan
Tie plan which your memorialists propose,
q L l. IL l..
BIZ the Legislature by one great movement, to
d the State of this population. Even were abun-
hnt funds lying idle in the public Treasury, so
hidden and wholesale an emf grafton should be
eprecated by ALL Besides other obvious reasons,
|hich must strike the good sense, and touch the
humanity of every intelligent man OF kind feeling
nd common Justice, the colony would be unprs-
AIRED to receive in so short a time, SO large and
romiscuous Il population. Your memoriasts
Especially ask the Legislature to grant IN annual
appropriation sufficient to defray the expense of
oouizing number equal to the annual increase
{ the free coloured population of the State
That population now nombers $4,000, OF which
he natural annual increase is supposed to be
bout one thousand and sixty. Should enancpa.
ion 60 on, and emancipated slaves be permitted to
|ernain ia the State the annual increase will of
curse, be much larger. But, no doubt, if the
State should once adopt systematic and perma-
ent policy of colonization, private individuals
Who might wish TO emancipate their slaves,
Outraged by the example of government, and
|ided by the better facilities afforded, would be
willing to furnish the requisite funds for their en-
grafton, and. indeed, to make emigration me-
Fessary condition of the freedom granted to the
lave. Should this course be pursued, or should
he law still further discourage emancipation
Without deportation, the number of the free blacks
o be annually transported by the aid of the State.
would be only the natural increase of the number
bow in our midst. By making selection only
If the young and vigorously between the ages
If fifteen and fifty years-and permitting the old
ind iufrm to lnger out the brief remnant of
heir lives ia our midst, the State might rapidly
id itself of this population. The Uniform expe-
fence of African colonization proves, that for the
and subsistence during acclimaton,
IF each emigrant-al ages and both sexes inclu
lowest average sum required Is flfty
lollars Say that the number annually sent
put would be 1000, the annual appropriation re-
luired would be $4,000. Should larger num-
Ter than one thousand be sent out, of course a
arger annual appropriation must be made. 1t
proper to state also, that in this calculation, the
expenses of collecting and conveying the emf
grants to the port of transportation. are not in
,luded. To accomplish the object in view, per-
maps an annual appropriation OF 100000 would
De the lowest amount required. But as the more
active and prolific of this population are removed,
he natural increase of those remaining will
grow less and less. The necessary appropriation |
would therefore annually diminish in amount
Ia this manner might this great social evil be ex
inguished, and the greatest earthly blessings
on those who now hopelessly de- |
graded, and must continue to descend in degrade
ion as population becomes more dense, and the
progress of society advances.
Your men orialists earnestly invoke your hon.
,rable body to take this whole subject into Sc
-ious consideration. and to pass some operative
md efficient measures in relation thereto. Here.
ofore, our legislation upon this subject has been
temporary and insufficient. The acts making ap-
preparations in behalf of colonization, were to
have effect for short periods, and have been so
clogged and encountered by restrictions. as to
be rendered almost null and void. Such WIS the
act of l533,-appropriating $4,000 annually for
the period Of years. Such more recently
was the act of 1850. By this last act, regular
appropriation was made of $50 900 for five years,
and per capita tax and n tax for registration,
evied upon free negroes, the proceeds of which,
(amounting annually, as appears by special
report of the 1st Auditor, to about Sl0,00G) were
devoted to the same object. (See acts of the !
General Assembly, la49-50: p. and lat Audi |
tors repOrt) Provision was thus made for the |
appropriation of the sum of $4,000 year for |
i've years to the purposes of colonization. With |
this sum. 900 emigrants could have been annu- |
ally sent out to Liberia and comfortably set
tied in congeniai homes. But unfortunately |
il was especially provided in the act that not |
more than S25 should be allowed for the trans
portation and subsistence of each adult enigrant
and not more than SIS for infants of and below
the age of ten years. The lowest average sum
required being $50, this act, therefore, allowed,
10 some cases only one halt. and in many others,
but little more than ne-third of the necessary
amount. This restriction, with other provisions.
has rendered the act almost totally inefficient.-
During the first year after its passage, only one
hundred and seven free, negroes were coonized.
which required an expenditure of $3.50, of
which, only the trihing sum Of 1878 was paid by