Washington telegraph., 1856-12-03
Free Negroes,

report OF the proceedings had at meet
ing held in the Hall of the House of Rep
resentatives, with view to the expression |
of public opinion as to the steps necessary |
to be taken in the matter of the free negro
population of this State
a set of resolutions were offered by
Capt. PIKE, and on motion adopted unan
imously.
These resolutions set forth lucidly the
many evils which are brought about by
the intercourse between seditious persons
of the above class with the slave popula-
tion of the country and rightly assert that
the continued residence of free negroes
among slaveholding community is incon-
sistent with the interest of the master and
the servant. And taking this assertion as
the basis of numerous specifications, the
was resolved
First, That we do respectfully but
most earnestly and urgently request the
legislature of the State of Arkansas to en-
act, that hereafter no free negro or mulat-
toes shall be allowed to come into and re-
mitted, to remain here; and that all those,
without single exception, now within our
limits, be forbidden here beyond reason
able period, to be fixed by the law, and be
requested to move by that time under the
penalty of being deemed and taken IN law
to be slaves that have escheated to the
State, and of being dealt with accordin q
ly. E--i
I'd. ResolUed, That this legislation Will,
In our opinion, be liable to no constitu-
tional objection but it viii be merely the
exercise of an undoubted power, and a
regulation of police, which the free white
men of the State, by whom alone, and for
whom alone, the government thereof was
created, have a clear and unquestionable
right to enact, for their protection, welfare
and safety; it being entirely competent
for them, through their representatives,, to
determine what others, for whom and BY
whom the constitution OF the State was
not made nor government set on foot, 1t
will be consistent with their own interest
and safety to allow to remain within the
State; and that such persons are dangerous
to the commonwealth, and no longer TT to
be tolerated among Us.
Sd. Resofred, That the legislature be
also requested to enact more stringent
laws, entirely to prevent the hireing of
slaves of their time, and receiving wages
therefor, even for a single day; inasmuch
as such a custom is an evil which no
man can measure and also utterly to
prohibit all owners of slaves from allowing
them to live apart from and at distance
frOla them, aud not under their immedi-
ate supervision
/ 4th. Resotced, That our fellow-citizens
; throughout the State, as they suffer under
the same evils in their respects as our
selves, be requested to take speedy action
OH the subject and adopt like resolutions
with these urging upon the legislature
the imperative necessity of prompt vigorous
and thorough action. and the folly of hale
measures, or teEnporising policy, in deal
ing with an evil that every day eats deep
er and deeper and becomes more difficult
to eradicate.
| 5th. Resoiyed, That a copy of these
resolutions, signed by the chairman and
. secretary, be by tie former transmitted to
the President of the Senate, and one to
the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives, of this State and that they be also
published in the newspapers of the State.
The meeting then adjourned.
/ BEN. f. DANLEY, Prcs't.
t WM. ii. CAUsIN, .Secy.
, Now this is matter which very nearly
, and intimately concerns the peace and
we'll being of society. 1t is unquestiona-
bly, the duty of our law makers to redress
all public grievances which can be RENE
, died constitutionally and as the subject
before US is essentially one, in which the
question of right, inherent and vested,
will be fully mooted by the body now in
session at the Capital, before it is disposed
of, We leave the matter with them to de-
eide upon, aware that no suggestions which
we might offer would be of any weight
We are conscious that to very many the
measures proposed will seem to be arbitra-
~, but the principle of selfpreservation
knows, and should know, no other law
than that which relates to our own safety.
When the vested rights, and peace, and
quiet, and all beside which community
depends upon for its well being, are threat
ened by those who are melting others to
sedition and rebellion, there is then no al
tentative presented. The adoption of such
measures as will prove to the malcontents,
and ignorant, and in many cases worse
than ignorant, wilfully malicious would be
seeming philanthropists, that the Southern
people intend to take care of themselves.
would in all probability have the doubly
salutary effect of chastening the insane
disposition which SO many manifes. to
meddle with that which they have no
right to interfere with, and of bringing