The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-17
VOL. XII.
GovEREoR WISE ON FREE NEGROES

Governor Wise has Issued his annual meg.
sage 70 the Legislature of Virginia, and, as wa,
to be exp ected, it ID a good deal longer ,bs,
the long-winded message Of President Bucban.
an. He dwells at length upon the free negroes
of Virginia, their condition, ard the legislation
needed respecting them. We quote:
But what is to be done with them. :, ,bo
question, aud is is difficult to ae'te Il u.tIv arJ
to our satisfaction. Several modes have baen
proposed. One is to send them. in one exodus
out of the State, TO the non.saveholIiug S!aiea
Of the Union. | doubt both the policy and Inc
justice Of this plan. Tia reason assigned +
III vindic!ive spirit, 70 teach Aboitiolis,s bet.
ter how to epprccia4 the nature of she ua,ro
But that spirit, always blind, is apt to mistake
IN this, and the result would be rather 10 uska
80 many missionaries among the foes to our in.
stitutions and 70 our people-to harden them
against US, rather than to convert them in opr
favor. Besides, they would, on this plan. have
to be sent north, 70 a climate not suited to their
habits or natures; and it would be harsh ,hu7 tn
subject them to Wholesale dispersion, diseas.
and extinction. Such is their fate in free States
and in cold climates. They are not fl for free.
dom or frost, unless they are among friend.
who will provide for them aud alsveholders AZ
last era the best friends 10 the African raoe.
and their climate and location arc most kindly
to their natures and habits. /. would be more
humane, and more just TO then, 10 take fro-,
them their liberty at once, and eel them whole.
sale into Slavery, without their consent. Bat
the moral sense Of our people would revolt at a
violation of individual and personal rights Ike
this, and no such usurpati IN would be tolerated
by public sentiment. What then If they
ought net to be sent north, to free Stata5. and
the tender mercies Of fanatics and frost u = 70
the South and Slavery? The answer is. lhss We
ought to colcniZe as many rs we can TO Liba.
ria to take back under masters ag nany a.
are vii icg to return TO the patriarchal prntac.
ton Of Slavery; to encourage the virtuous AID
industrious among them, by seeing that ;hev are
compelled to learn valuable trades and ara.
and to reform our penal code so as 70 punish
capitally certain Of their higher offences: n
punish their secondary offences with SOLITARY
Imprisonment; and TO condemn tho minor o..
Tenders and the idle TO labor on the public
works. a code OF discipline would soon I'D IA
of all the vicious and dissolnte, and retain to Us
the trustworthy, the yirtuous, and industrious"
1t seems, then, that 4" the moral sense oftbe
people of Virginia would revolt a. the enslave.
ment of free negroes. This is encouraging,
But he proceeds to tell us that, at present the
free negroes are specially taxed to help the Col.
onizatiou Society. This bacbarous law tie
! Governor condemns. He saya:
The law was passed before the rev Cors,i.
! tuition went into operation, aud the Constitution
/ provides that all taxes shall be equal anil am.
! form. Now, this is not equal, and 10, uniform;
1t is special and partial and on orc class alone;
and capitetion tax il provided only TO be lev.
led on 1chite maLe Inhabitants of Il years of
/ age. Under this law, about 81 900 per annum
I is raised from free negroes, and about 81 900
! per annum only is expended for is proessed
purpose of colonization. The balance gees into
the general treasury, in addition to other taxes.
l therefore recommend the repeal of this law
levying this tax. | recommend also that free
negro be allowed in future, after given ds7,
to hold no land or real estate beyond small
number Of acres for homestead and 10 house
or lot in a city or town aad that they be pro.
hibited from lending money on interest to a
white person at all. aud from holding slaves"
As Ibis proposed legislation is no worse than
that Of several free States upon the subject, we
will not critcise it.