Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1853-03-24
( FREE NEsRoEs.

The Auditor Of pablo accounts, in his LAST an
nnal Iepbrton The revenues Of the State reports
lke capiasn Ia on free negroes tsr the fiscal year
ending The a3oth September, 1859 81 s7,i29 70;
and the II on seals affixed 10 reg listers, al 81 723
30, making an aggregate Of sl2, 1877. ItaPpears
by the same report, that 8,9s7 male free negroes
were assessed with The tax OF enc dollar each ae-
cording 10 taw consequently, ,55T Of those as
sessed, we're deiipqusnl-rnueh too large a proper.
ton It will be irecoIlecttd that males between 81
and SIS, are the only class now taxable by The
colonization law Of 1850. II can hardly be Geaied
thaia populzloh, so negligent Il 9hiy, 50 easily
performed ior the benefit Of their fellow creatures,
is not worth retaining in The State, 1t isconclu-
sive evidence, lkat firm and effective measures
should be taken 10 rid the country Of H.
BY lheICensus OF 1850 the free nFsfo population
Of Tirgiaia mug bered So $780, yel 10 defective is
the act d 1850, providing for The ievy and collec-
lion Of this small tax, That less Than nine thousand
males OF the TAI ablq class have beea found, and
less ihs lhQlsaaJ dEe hssqlEGe haze We; paid
miauie details y the bill, now before the Senate
could bel brought TO bear upon them. AT least len
thousand male gould be made sopay lie tax The
females ofAite ases woald be quite as numerous.
and much morerunciual in the 5aymen, Of any
reasonable levy made upon theni II, then, the
Senate bil.should pass in its present form, and a
tax Of iFe dollars be leyied on The males between
i2l and So, and 1pne dollar on he fmales Of like
ages, it would mot be unreasonable TO expect a
revenue .of S5OO0o ftpm The former and SO coo
from he Latter making $50 eco.
Bat suppose VIE allow for deli1anencies and ex.
Penses " collection $40 GEO. and aat really there
viii be realized for the purposes pf| colonization
5000 and five add 10 this mi annual appro.
priation,of $50, Geo. We shall have the handsome
amopni " $50. coo besides HE tax en- seals This.
at an average cost Of IS each flor collecting.
transporting and sustaining six mouths would be
snfiieieni 10 remove 1866; or al IAN average of
$50 eaeh,| il would remove 1000 annually. Il is
probable .thatahe cost would exceed the fast men,
toned sum as il is the Board wound be under the
necessity Of incurriDg some expehses in bringing
the c9lonisis from the various counties ~ TIE
points decentralization. This sum ii judtciously
expended wonld transport number mole than
equal 70 the current increase, tsnpposed 10 be
about GOO annual vi which, in lew years, being
applied CENTRALLY 10 the young and enterprising,
would cqt 81 The sonHe. ard a 6pal extinguish-
ment Of the eYilsot The population would Soon be
efectet. Those who would refase Or neglect to
pay lhe taxes according 70 the provisions Of the
bill for three years would forfeit their right re-
main in Abe State, and would be compelled TO
leave, or be sold While this bill would not op-
crate w.ih ny immediate hsrshDe.s. it wopd most
certaialy ctf.ct IFS object lis Influence eyer free
n rgrpes would soon b. manifek,ed BY thSm in
more jusi appreciation of their true condiisn with
proper efforts 10 avail themselves of permanent
homes, wherelsAey can enjoy whatever OF freedom
and civilization their owp Sense Of justice morali-
", Industry and capacity for civil gOyefnn,eni will
nrn.i nee efrIu ,olr6 En,ystf61~