Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-03-31
TO ZONE OF THE PEOPLE"

beg leave to respond ~ your queries propounded
through the Enquirer OF the 25th instant, to MeGsrs
Winfree, Thweatt and myself.
Let. Are you in favor OF removing, under humane
provisions, the free negroes out os the State
AUS. I am Of opinion that the pence and security
Of tho community demand the removal o; this anon
aiuus class Of our population. II would be q
painful thing under the most favorable provisions
but a eeuss of safety iinreriously demands that the
blacks in Virginia and the South should all be or
the same footing. We must rid ourselves OF the free
negro or the slave. 10 remove the Turner is practica
and proper to remove the latter IL neither praetie
able nor deMra6k. The experience OF dt.y years
has demonstrated that In the slave S;ates neither the
moral, socinl nor physical condition Of the negro il
improved by freedom, but on the contrary this boon
to the 9kite ia e curse to thu 6lact.
In securing this 10 me most desirable ooJeef, II would
be proper so to frame the act for removal as 10 Gre
ate IS little hardship rs would in the nature Of the
case BIZ possible. Ample time and liberal facilities
should be afforded TO all whu would willingly emi
crate those refusing, or negieotlng to remove, with
in the prescribed period, should be reduced into
slavery; allowing all, who might 30 eject, 10 choose
their owners, under the act OF Assembly now in
force.
I'd. Are YOU 10 favor OF the reception OF Virginia.
quota under the distribution act Of lsll, and OF the
further distribution of The surplus now in the Tres
sury Of the United Statesi
Ans. I am opposed TO the reception of the quota
IN th. query referred to: l am equally opposed to
the distribution of any surplus funds in the Treasury
of the United States. These surplus funds mnst be
thu ro,ult Of tbs sales OF the public lands, or tie
yield Of the tariff. 1t is admitted on all hands that
Congress has no power 10 levy taxes for any otEsr
purpose than 10 carry on the Government. Oi
course, then, there are none who favor the distribu-
ton of any funds arising from the levyiEs A
tariff. In my humble opinion, it 10 clearly apparent
that the right to distribute the proceeds OF TIA sales
of the public lands rests upon no better oss!s. Al
least seven ,enths Of the vast public domain were 40
o,,irad b, ,,r.bsea m nav fOr which tbs DeODl6
nave been GENEROUSLY taxed. Then to admit the right
to distribute the proceeds of the sales of these lands,
Is TO allow Congress to tax the people, IN the shape
Of q tariff, for the purchase OF territory IN ORDER 10
cell and distribute the proceeds. why not aisirioute
the purchase money ut once, as II comes INTO Tue
Treasury from your customs houses
believe that every attempt to divert the proceeds
Of the sales of the public lands from its legitimate
purpose-the support Of Government-9ay be traced
to the advocates OF q protective tariff. / am IN favor
Of free trade, in its fullest practicable sense. IL you
divert a portion OF Its means from the support OF
Government, you must make up the deficiency come
how. II you lake away the proceeds OF land sales,
the deficit must be supplied by a tarif on inposts or
by direct taxation. II you retain the yield OF these
land sale, for the administration OF the Government
you avoid tho deficiency. If this yield, tcgtiher
With the imposts received from the tariff, or direct
taxation, exceeds the wants OF the Government, IN
the name of a people burthehed with taxes reduce
the tariff or the direct levy.
Sd. II elected, will you vote for q reduction OF the
taxes, If Il can be done without impairlrg the pledgeo
faith Of the State7
Ans. Most undoubtedly, for they " are worry griev.
GUS TO be borne" There Is but luEls room, hoT ever,
for INDUCING the hope that 80 happy Oh eVeat Is
near at hand.
On the contrary, there Is ground to fear an increase
of the present rates. II must be obvious to all ia.
mlIiar with the subject, that tue friends OF Internal
Improvement are not dishearieued by their rtpulse in
the last General Assembly, nor senslbiy affected by
the depressed state Of the Commonwealth S treasury,
but are prepared to make a more vigorous EFFORT al
next session, and It will require a dee'n.Hxa' nn'.
front to prevent a large addition TO the public debt
"a calamity deeply TO be dep!ored. l em OF opinion
We should clear ourselves OF our present iiaoil'
before We INCUR new ones, unless u DC tmpcF0'
'ireiy necessary to do so to save whathas aifeaoy oeen
"
So long a. the plIghted faith Of the State demands
The continuance Of the present rates OF ta4auon, 1
would no; consent 20 sbate them to the extent OF the
part OF a md. -u,:
emf
Ans.-I believe i. to be the duty of the next Legis-
aturs to rs.orraniIe and arm the militia-to eneour
7ye the establishment and promote the interests OF
companies, and to put the stare IN a COW.
condition to resist all aggressions, "hethef they
,oms from home or ABROAD. II IN the Legislature no
measure would command ny more earnest support
han that which would most speedily and moss surely
prepare Virginia against "faes raho.t aud foes ruth
H."
9Th, and lastly, will you support the nominee Of .
caucus for the Senate OF The United
Ans. To TIE DEATH. am In favor ~ holding q
,aucu. for the purpose Of selecting the Democratic
for a seat in that body; and II q member OF
he House OF Delegates, l will go into u, ,Prees inc
OF my preference, even IL l have the Know.
edge that he has no other friend there eut myee1'
md when the domination has been msds. IRON tna'
the Nominee shall be my FIRST eho'e<.
Having fully answered, l am. respectfully.