Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-01-14
RICg;ssu.Ay ENQsliRss s.
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY IL
FREE NEGROES.

! places
Of equally ba character their numscrs We're not on me
Increase ne.,as evil might DO borne wiIh but WHEN We
rsec, upon ,vir enj rapid augmentation among
MS we cannot, without the serious apprehension ana
concern con paio the difficulties which will have &c ue
met by future generations The subject has often eheee'"
the attention OF our and legislators end e i'e
Convention was so convinced OF the prop1!e'y OF 'e
moval, that n cause was inserted IN the ne" So'S'"'
authorizing Ito requisite legislation for that purpose,
We have becn requested 10 rcpublish memorial u ''
virginia Cvloniz ltlon Society 10 tho General asse'''
which first appeared, believe, In the Sou'heh
Messenger pr yIng further legislation on The sh'jP :"
moving free negroes from the State % C0'0n'-a''''
ont uronouncine upon Tho merits Of the scheme We comply
with tho reones, with great pleasure ae IL Is very a''
crcdabe production aud porays The evils 81 'e eAS'
snce and rspi increase of free negroes amongst W. III "'
vi,id and striking coors and woad respecuuNy h'c
N II the attention OF the Legislature. II was prepaed we
learn by john Howard. ESQ., our feisow'o"Sa"' UNI 'o
chairman OF The committee appointed io 'ia pc'l"se' '.
Howard is gentleman Of fne talents ana literary a'S'
meu,s; and but for his constant and aae' oe'o'oh ~
the legal profession in which he lie successfully ehgsa
we doubt not that he would win name iot h''se IN e
erature.
tn THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA
The memorial of John Howard, Vim. II. mcfarland, u ~
Johnson S S Baxter Thos H. Ellis, and John FLOYD.
10 the General Assembly Of Virginia, In behalf OF the
|
The nndersyno have been appointed blythe Virginia Col
onizatjon Society committee to ask from the General
Assembly further legislation upon the suntc OF Coio
Sug in Liberia. the free persons 0! c"of III 'hi' O
wealth.
remove is daily growing in musni'see an" n'a:H
From the existing political and social condition o the Tree
negro Indeed naturally and inevitably follow ms moral
corruption of tho community In whch ne fcs
Placed benea tn the white the one hand, and nominal
y above the slave the other in contact WIN ooh ou' IN
union with neither he be reached by the strong
motives which mpcl either class TO e1eron ana 10 ohcs
courses All of the lucrative and honorable pursuits
cf life are virtually closed to his admission For egricunr
for manufactures commerce. he las neither tie tequ
site capital intelligence. For the mechanic arts ~
which "a much as in any of the industrial pursuits engh
ened intellect necessary 10 skill and success he is unhea
by that general ignoIence which the polcy ot ue Ia" III
puses and the safety society requires even Inc naura
prcudces Of whites admitted him 10 .qua!
The learned professions and The avenues 10 pnica prT
men, are alike beyond his hopes Even ID nose hune
trades and mcn empuymcn's 10 when me asI necessity
dives him hn contends with educated white labor the
land and with well and systematic slave labor on
the other. ~ 49,,
enhance the wretchedness his condition. He has
Kind master like the slave, provide literally for him in
s,kness and health infancy and old age He knows
ming OF the moral influences of well regulated domestic
eminent He feels from his position none OF those nobcr
scntimens nature which, even IN servGde
bid US cling with grateful reverence and aiectonae le-
gard 10 our beneactors and supcrio He feels not even
that sautay though abcc fear Of Impending punishment,
which, while may not in itself morally elevate Tue saves
honest and orderly habits Crushed by the combined ngen
cies of suc capital Of superior Intelligence, and the
power organized ave labor ts. welded by
intelligence and aided by capa crowded out even OF The
humber OF life, and oil from all high
couagema honorable TOLL with nothing OF liberty but
s nnuc ;,.! all Of slavery but tl-sslngs with set
He'd honcr 90 conmuniiy country OF his own, social
uu;cast ard political outlaw, The tree negro, conscious OF
the rredeeabe degradation OF his lot grows reckless :"
future from wch has nothing 10 :pre ur fear becomes
his feelings dlsoIdcrly and dishonest IL his
habits mischiesous, daring and desperate In his Crimes.
II. Is drawn nwn he is kept down and must continue te
scendins sl deeper degradation by The strong endGnc
OF his position and the powerful impulsors OF moral laws
irnu,uabe their operation whole being sra'ltaes
uumped.d toward cnuptiontbeTe is room for him 10
he can only sink compelled TO sink, and that Win
acceerating velocity forever.
Ii amid this class Of persons, under peculiar crcum-
stances many comendabe examples found o upright
industrious aud valuable men, II Is only one oil those strong
facts which go show that encced by proper Influences
in better position congenul home these people are
susceptible high degree of responsibility, OF cultivation
and Improvement But, class, il Is beyond all question
that The tacs of pgnin have becn still are and must
continue most idle, tho most vicious inc mast cor
ruo and cotrung element OF our population The criminal
statistics of the unite with general observation in cs-
,sblishns fact BY calculation based upon Tho ave'-
age number OF convictions In the Slate disclosed BY the
Peni,entia.y from 500-whcn the institution was
oueneJ-,o 1929, il shown ny Governor Giles tina,
ctnes among he blacks than three times
as numerous among the whites, and four and hall times
more numerous than among the slaves From 529 to the
present time proportion has regularly increased az VIII
appear In part oy the following from t last annual
epor, Of the intelligent Superintendent OF the Pcni'cntay
10 tho Board al Directors:
"In ten years from 1881 ls40 inclusive 4O white p-r
suns md l4 Tree pei Of color Imprisoned in this
institution. The white population in lS4O amounted 10
7IO $685. ana consequently person was Imprisoned annu
ay tor every Is 072 The population was i9e42 and
or person so imprisoned !u every 1885 From 1911 IL
1850 inclusive 37l whites and liz free negroes were mp
suned The White population in 1850 was os5567 The Tree
ne gro So 537 So thar white was Imprisoned an
uuly Tor "a AL and free negro for every U9o
Thus IN The period crime uzno7g the free groes ua
5l per ces greater dian among the hs in proportion
Il in
raa, is other words while during the first period OF cT
wears the Tree negro population than ID times less
Than the white population Ii committed more than ore hlr'
many crimes and DUNG me second period heius NOR
than 10 times less, comrlted nearly one nan as many
crimes III will be observed Also adds me superintendent
these periods the receipts Of white di
ushed per cent while those OF the free negroes ncreas
I'd q" Annual report of The Board OF Directors ~. ih
P.uitcuuy institution 1851, page l2-Do&. iIo. hlE.l
II il true that in regard negroes the criminal a~
are unusually stringent II is also true that those laws arr
administered with great rgo But heso lacis DO not Ut
nin The force OF The conclusions deducibc from the above
calculation They give the strongest possible corruborans
proof Besides showing the unequal condition and the dse
degradation OF The free negro they indicate inc intensity an
the prevalence Of his depravly The protection OF proper
" security Of he the and preservation OF al ina
is dear 10 man. very civil and social necessities q" GU
position demand that severity OF the law, which, even WI"
NH the cur faithful administration Ia not adequate Il
keep In check the vicious tendencies the corrupt passion
and habits Of these unfortunate people,. Frm them 10 tn
great expense aud annoyance OF the Commonwealth GU
ais are filed with prisoners our courts are crowded VIII
criminals Psnicntiary Is populated WIN cohHics AM
l The ccna.s Of Jaw and the certainty oil tei. exc
culion. .
The tendency of go vicious and degraded population
corrupt society large is too obvious 10 require c3'cndt
cnark IL notorious that hesidce The crimes with which
they are directly chageabe the free negroes are The cou
ding agents, the secret instruments aud tccompiiccs h
which INSCRIPTIONS white men carry on le5t and demo
razng traffic with slaves and penetrate, wh mpuny, con
slant and syscratc violations Of the most salutaTy laws
The land Aor HE public highways and In our village
ans, cltio amt liz immediate vicinity these evils are eci
liary felt r party these ;hreenld crimcs-thr whit
nan the fire.. ncslo the sl.veis personally corrupted o.
their co,nmissun while society in general Injured anu d.
rauicd Mu,h moreover, OF the growing tendency TO IDLE
ness AMI sulen characterization Observable In on! Slaves
caused ~ nightly association with free ncgroes In
snavd or rewarded by ihcp melted by their bad exam
pie an influence powerful in ignorant minds, many
those petty nos und those ~aseu GepedaIions upon III
possessions the kindust masters, committed
which de,racI much from the value Of property n slaves
Il would not much 10 that many CT The l
grant and ercer OF violence and boodshcE
enacted in ejs and Workshops and around residis
ar. attributable the Nor shou! il be forgot
ten that tie presence in midst 90 large and vicious
black population non!nay Free circulating In slant in
ercuuse aud frequently n;ernarryng with servants
must nfuss minds falacious notions OF liberty
all those poisonous thoughts and feelings which Northern
htNh1 hnttft