Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-04-15
nuo,ss arfna of VIRGINIA..
HoI1sE nF DELEGATES,
FetpAy, February 18th, 1853.

REMARKS OF MIR. PRETLOW,-e OF SOUTHAMPTON, |
On the Bill for tie Remopal Of Free Negroes, and
in rep1y 10 Mr.. Rutherford
MIR. Speaker: should prefer to remain quiet
in my seat, but it il due to my constituents and to
myself to say few words in reply to the elo-
quent gentleman from Goochand, who has just |
addressed the House. Sir, l shall necessarily |
speak to great disadvantage, as was not aware |
that this subject would come up to night When |
made my appea ance IN this Hall, the Clerk |
was reading the bill that is now under discussion
and find myself under the necessity of particl- |
pating in debate without papers or notes ofary
kind.
But Mr.. Speaker, feel it due to myself to
speak boldly and without hesitation the views that
[ entertain this subject. Sir, il represented
a county that had very few of this population
within its borders, then | might properly remain
SILENT but representing county containing
large number of free blacks aud as the bill, ad-
vocated by my friend from Goochland, is unne-
cessary harsh and severe, shall first oppose
it on the grounds of its inhumanity. This de-
81 AIDED class of our population are In the condi-
ton in which we find them, without any agency
on their part Having been brought among US
without their consent, and liberated in accordance
with the laws of the land and at the same time
Invested of all constitutional rights, it becomes US,
as liberal and generous men, representing an en-
lightened and Christian people, to mete out to
them some sort of justice. Sir whilst they are
the lowest order of population. they are in no
wise responsible for the degraded position that
they occupy, and from the very tact that we
have it in power to sink them still lower, and
to crush them, if need be, at single blow from
our ponderous arm, [ am inclined to be more
Ienient to them.
Secondly. Mr.. Speaker, it is unwise and impoltc
to pass law that would hastily SO large
class of laborers from any great agricultural district
You told by the gentleman from Goochand
that thrty-two thousand-considerabIy than half
of this populationare to he found in tide water
district
1t has been learned from sad experience that laws
which work hasty and radical change, at times
most Improbable.
Virginia where abour is already very high, and
you create demand for labor that must be supplied
from where, our fields must lie and un-
cultivaled-fo in this district the free negroes the
only hreling day laborers
Sir is needless for gentlemen tell us that foreign
laborers will not come in to supply this which
has been formed by the sudden removal of this large
number Of human beings who are known to perform a
great DIAL of lenia! servce-for aborers will come
where ready employment and prompt pay is to be had
And Mr.. Speaker it must be borne in mind that the
slave population is to be found in the hands of our
Weather citizens-consequently many of small farm
compelled from necessity to hire aborers by the
day, week montl year, for which they frequently
pay the products ofther farms Expel hastily this class
oflaborers-and worthless they may be, the increased
demand and high price FOR labor will be strong in-
ducement for foreign laborers to pour in among us.
Sir the gentleman from Goochand has told this House
that the free negro population exert most pernicous
fuence our slaves and to some extent agree With
him in ths-but, sir, let me ask the gentleman what
would be condition among population deadly hostile
to the institution of slavery? Who could stand eide by
| side with he polls, and could give many and
hard blows we could send?
Iapprehend this Of things should occur that it
would be but few before you would find, but
late that deadly blow has been stricken the insttu
ton of slavery i'll Eastern Virginia, and gene~
to be careful how they legslate subject which
produce radical change in the population of our
State Now, sir the time be careful for when the
knife Of he nd he torch
of the incendiarv has been lighted it will be ate
Speaker, Ifee bound TO speak frankly and boldly to
this House-tor after mischief has been done, there
be attempt made to hold the shareholders respon
sbie for it-and say here in my place. that neither the
Shareholders other portion OF the constituency
whom have the honor to represent have any agency
this sudden movement against the free negroes.
Mr.. Speaker, my friend from Goochland, (Mr. RUTH
ERFooRD has told us OF the thevsh propenstes of the
free negroes-and the slaves aided by them have plum
dered and plaged his county to wonderful extent.
1t might be fair to that it $50 ofths population
had SO despoiIed fair Goocaud, that my own county
containing the gentleman has told the House, 1875,
must be in a miserable and wretched condition, which
NV friend says he did intend to say that South
ampton the of SO much theft did under
speak only for his own county. Sir have never in all
my life heard of much stealing in any place before
he has aroused my warmest sympathies In his behalf;
for truly if the Sabeans and Chaldeans have not taken
his oxen, his she and his camels the Of Ham
have carried off pigs and poultry
Unfortunately for the gentlemans argument, he has
told us that he hogs for the free Sir
he could have consulted his Statistics if he would
that Southampton is the largest hog raising
county ofhe State, numbering thousands than any
other county in Virginia.
MIR. Speaker the gentleman told us the idleness
of these productive consumers. he calls them,
and he says they totally reproductive Sir. if this
argument be good, should suppose that those
ties having most of that population would be least pro-
ductye But such does not appear to be the fact for
the county of my friend does bear comparison with
my l do not mean to say that Goochland is not
good agricultural county; on the other hand am will
in tO fayyif i'm
the State that surpass Southampton in the value OF her
rcutura products in proportion population. The
ty of Northampton, with seventh OF the free
gro population, is more productive than Goochland-
The county of Accomac, with 5000 free negroes
fifth nearly of her whole population is almost twice
productive per CAPITA the county of Stafford that
only about three hundred and would be ridiculous
compare Stafford with my county, for peas and
cotton seed worth nearly much all her
agricultural products. The whole of the agrieul-
tura products of Stafford, at fair market valuation.
would amount to SSlsa3e9 whilst those of the county
that have the honor to represent will amount to 1851
$780, derived Immediately from the soil; besides APP
pie crop not reported, which is worth nearly quite
100000.
Mr.. Speaker do refer to the depressed state of
agriculture in any couhty from feelings of unkindneSs;
but egsa ors it is OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES all subjects
thatcome up here for action and the only object that
have ia view is to shed what little of light on it
that my humble ability will enable me to do.
will call the attention of the House to what to
to be little remarkable in the county of Stafford
There does not appear to be any perceptibe improve
ent in agriculture since s4O-and herfree negro popu
laton has declined 10 per cent. In 1910 find Prince
George gaspng almost for e in 1850 find her great
ly improved and presenting thrifty appearance and
there the free negroes have increased Is per which
shows that in Underwater there demand for this kind
oflabor where agriculture sin ourishng and healthy
condition.
Sir the member from Goochland has told US that the
amount of crime committed by this class is enormous
They just of that order of popu alton from whom
might expect much crime.
But whilst this ubect of crime. let me call the at
tenon of this House the fact that this very session
have been under the necessity of passing law for the
ut nf tn
tend sttings twelve days each court for the pur
pose of administering justice to about eight hundred for
egn laborers, that have recently into that county
Now suppose you had 5000 of these people Acconac
md 2QQni in Nansemoud and idle