Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-08-28
Fer nc Ep3u'rsl
,ror<s iTS; : OF REMOVING OR
On nrbncISG 10 SLAVERY THE rREh Ne

Ill az our free negro population needs I'D 9" IS on,
IN make it manifest. IL is proved ny u pe'"'"'
State Constitution itself , r..,rir
The General Assembly may impose shcn ". on
tous and conditions rs they sha'i nee' lIavc-;
the power of Save uwnrrs i"ninanc,ph.n i,,,,uou.
and man pass lars for lie r,',fj n ne 49,, or
mralth from the free m.s'" p'r.'@''"". % ~
Otherwise Cons. If Va; urt !; sec ~ a. other.
Ii il evident the employment oil the 'eI'' no IN.
wise" contemplated, aud WA l"le"" ., ScN in
trainers of the Constitution, to v,st p Hinder tho
the Legislature. as 4 measure o Of ,hr Com.
authority Ito pass laws for the re'iei ~ no "a
from the free negro popua"o; 70 a,
moval or othrrwise 1.-The Legislature mar So. ,ha,
apy and every thing for the reli. OF ,he amd
they may decide upon They may nov" a,,v ,nann.r
sell the iree negroes, at any ii''e on" M nrdpr this
Under the Constitution, We have r'sn, W ho sn,J
,n I.ov, nm. State forthwith, ur ne s"u
within tbe next twelve months into slavery ino .u
sderstions then presented for cur h"so u g., h :;
free negro has no Constitutional 'isn.s.',; r.,
dpnird very uroperlv rights at citizenship, "
great decision in The bred Scott case, nec'ts h nv
ia mot a citizen of the United States. In virginia
was long ago decided that he could not pe
the Commonwealth. The Federal Court mas apPneu
to the Union what we long snce uecoeu, 90 "' az
Virginia was concerned. In removing lhe iiee NC
gro. them or in selling him, We violate no Cohs.u
Iioual provision. Ours is government VI "n'e
meu-lhe black man has no part OF po'uon =" H.
Whatever rights he possesses, our indueeuue nao ao
corded them, and we can take 'neni """J as","
}nt even if our Constitution did not hlio" US W ee
rid of our free negroes should still nave tne
to be FREQ from them, on those gren' P;, ~
mo-al and natural law that undero al consu'uionS
aud the jurisprudence OF every shu S;,os p ns
rights in common with every being OF ahlina!ea na
ture; rights which legislation cannot aect or sotidgt
and in the exercise of these rights, We coud De riu
of the free negro population. IL IL 10 t'e 'sn'' u
self defence and self-preservatlon mat We re'ei
il in the exercise of these rights That soce'ee oa'
frntD hair
or sends them to the gaOws; taking away ie, I'oe
~ and property from those whose lie ana conauo'
come in conflict with the public guou' ine ,eo nv
gro population promoting, AZ II does' 'nsuu'I e ,bs
among our slaves thereby endangerliS one W ,c
pillars OF our society, and, consequently, % i; +.
threatening the safety and welfare ot our " nhch
great aud growing mischief, for me ,euio S rn,ec
we may call into our natural risns =" 80 - ,b.
ton aud self-preservatlon Let us ni'e' and ,b.ir
nature and character OF some oil these M ~ 80
herring and application to our argument WI" oe SCI
"a nation is bound TO preserve hse a.u " iii L
after perfection. nation $ external slate m' &c y.
more or less perfect, according as II coHeu,' ~ -.
interior perfection OF the nation. -. :,
Since then a nation is obliged to preserve hseH, "
has right to every thing necessary tor lts Pres.rVa
tion. For the law of nature gives us rgh' 10 eve
nv thing without which we cannot fulfil our obiiga
tons. by al es ht go
fully to avoid, as much as possible, whatever ngn
cause it's destruction, that OF the State, when u
the same thing. A nation or State GAG O risnt 10
everything that can help to ward oil iEnmineh. dah
GER and keep at distance whatevers capaoe Oh cau
sing its ruin: and that from the very came reasons
that established its right to the things necessary
its preservation. .,e :,
The second general duty OF Eatnn towards ltseli'
TO labor at it's own perfection and that o It's sta!e.
Vate's Law of Nations, Book pages 4, ., Y. Also
Kent's Comm. and Wheatons Elements OF Inter
national Law, page lS-al TO the same effect.
When we consider how vitality important II IA ina
the institution of slavery should be preserved among
us; when we reflect how the influence OF the Tree
negroes assss the existence CT thai INSTITUTION I'M
pairipg ito value and spreading far and wide the Gle
ments of discomfort aud INSTRUMENTATION, the ques
tou becomes grave one; and we at once see tux
necessity and propriey Of employing those great ma
tura rights that are outlined above. to rid as OF ths
mischief and "ward off the imminent danger Fol
orr interiur perfection must get rid OF our iret
black population by removal, or "olherwise, which
means sale. We need not further note the nppca
tou of the extracts from the old law writers; It vii
be SEEM
And why is it that the Legislature has not, ere
this, passed laws for the "relef' Of the Stale, from
the free negro population? Some say it is because
most of the BARRIERS of the State and walters OF hotels
are free negross and the members of the Legislature
feared they would snffer great personal inconvehi
ence if they were ban;siei. We assure the mem
beers that ii they send OF or sel these free rascas
their places will be- very speedily supplied oI
slaves, who will probably shave and wait upon then
better and be les. incident ~ their peaiini
and offensive in their conduct. Moreover Legis
lators, ysu should consider that your person
al Inconvenience at tho loss OF tie free ne
proes would be email, compared to the grea
gain of your State, and the advantages that you
slays holding constituents would experience 81 oeni
freed froll the pernicous presence OF iree ~
But you say, you "ried to pass bill in 1872 for TN
removal OF this population, and it failed we know
YOU did, and you failed because the majority OF th
acting before s ddnH S tGa.s sy rspfs
ssnted. You need have no suoh fear now, joI We as
sure you that popular sentiment 10 more ready 10
the removal Of tree negroes now than in 1898, ant
will be more ready to remove you from tie Legislature
in IS than now if you do not remove tho tree ne
yroes. You failed in SO, did youi And il that
sufficient reason why you should not Try ageln, will
better lights to guide you' Will you never NOR
try To remove an evil because you failed the frs
timer In the vocabulary of legislative reform there
should BIZ no such wor4 rs "JaR" We are con
servAtive but favor not that epeces OF conservatism
which inculcdes submission to tee hoay evils OF TIT
past because OF want OF manliness anu Independence
to remove tien We are conservative, but GoGt tina
conservatism which, wrapping itself in the robes o
error shuns wholesome aud truthful reform, and pod
ding lazy along the path of life LET'S the future TAXI
care of itself aud cowardy avoids difficulties that liz
along the road. Mo- away with such conservatism
the conservatism Of error and timidty II has wreck
ed many States and empires in the past and is but an
other name for Indifference 10 the public veal, indca
ting the decay Of patriotism and virtue. Let Virgil
mia BIZ Commonwealth! OF white men and theil
slaves lot not the anomaly OF free negro population
exist among us be blot and haeOus slur upon the
fair escutcheou of our civilization, aud gsngrene
sore upon the body pOitc-a nosome ulcer Of The
face of our society. Let not this abandoned aud mis-
chevous class OF unproductve consumera, feeling
that they have rghe, Snd therefore, owe no oblga
tons TO society," remain aIong us to wound by their
coppet;torship the sef-respec ct poor but honest
white laborers and mechanics, the wages of whose Ia
Dor are cheapened by the necessities ~ tue free ne
gro, which, with HIS more limited wants, enable
him TO work for lees than the white man can, or will
do The interests Of both the rich man and tbs poor
lnau demand that the free negro should he removed
or sold 1.-The rich man because hs owns slaves aud
land and ts products the poor man because he owns
the labor o! ba honest arm, the wages OF which IN.
free negro diminishts by dividing il in his competi.
ton. Let the free negro he removed or sold, and the
poor white lSborer and mechanic will be better paid
for his work. If we pey for the support of the
poor, let support our poor white, oad not the poor
free negro population. Let our poor houses be the
asylum for those of our own color, whom misfortune
age or "the cold blast Of poverty hath chilled" aud
not the receptacle Of the free black who, in all the
darkness of his skin aud character, aprsy to every
vice and fun 10 every virtue, comes to share even the
bread Of public charity with the poor white man. who
however low sunk is still above the negro, and should
not DO his associate.
We say then, that duty both to the rich and the
DOOR, the safety and wellbeng of the institution OF
slavery, and true humanity to the free negroes them.
selves, demand their removal or sale. Who can you
find, who will not admit that free negroes are a
great evil and that they ought G be gotten rid Of
Ii every one is OF this opinion what i. the difficulty
Want of II beginning-of united action. Lot the
Deopis take this matter in hand. Let them hold meet
ings in every couny-pass resolutions the subject;
urging and demanding legislative action. This is
the only way to make a Legislature act, that con
stanty needs the whip of popular opinion TO make
them do their duty. We need never expect the Ls'
gsature to take the initiative step unless goaded on
by the people, Discretion is 80 much the better
part of vsior" in that body, that they will follow,
but never lead the advancing columns of refurm.-
Among them are fearless master minds to mske
the breach and lead the ASSAULT upon the citadel of
hoary eyils and abuses. seeking by their ehui to
benefit their race and win the psudits of poserty.
LIT the people Of TirgiHia delay 10 longer action
on this grave and important question Of free
gro population or from the depth. OF our prosperity
and fannie of our reatn.sa echoiug through thu