The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-05-30
The Heraio Of Freedom.
Lawrence. Saturday, May 80. 1857.
Colonization of Virginia.

Colonization Of Virginia.
Hon. Eli Thayer's scheme of buying up
the neglected plantations and ummproved
lands of Virginia, and settling upon them
hardy and industrious class of farmers
and mechanics of the Northern States may
now be regarded as one of the features in
the policy of this progressive age. The
discussion upon it has assumed such
character as to satisfy its friends that no
obstacle can or will now be interposed
which cannot be very easily overcome
u will be opposed of course-bitterly and
uncompromisingly opposed to the very
last, but that is nothing more than what
might be expected. Pryor of the Rich
m0nd South, the notorious Gov. Wise,
ct id onane gesaais, will oppose it, of course;
but all they can do will not amount to
much, and will rather help the cause for
ward than retard it. q
That there are few sensible moral and
well-meaning Virginians who now look
with disapproval upon this prospective
Yankee inroad upon the territory of the
"Old Dominion" we do not deny; but
little more reading, reflection and investi-
cation, will teach this class of opponents
that they are resisting the working of a
plan that will do themselves and their
State more good than anything else that
can possibly be conceived. Men of good
practical sense, whose mental vision is
not blinded by bigotry or interest cannot
fail to soon see that Independent free la
bor-and that alone-will soon redeem
the,nrc sssssssz..HSzsI iirginia from her
81 zdoubtsd go sments and con-
dittoil ee1zz5s,, "a cadse it to re-assume |
its former position in the front rank of the
States of this Union.
In the New York Post of the 18th ult., |
we find communication from Rev. DIR. |
Silas Totten, Professor of Languages in
William and Mary College, Virginia, in
reply to some articles that had previously
appeared in that paper upon the infatua-
ton of those Virginians who oppose the
introduction of free labor into that State. |
We have carefully examined this arti-
Gle. and we must say that, if one of the
ablest and most Influential men in the
State can advance no better arguments
than it contains, the opposition to Mr.
Thayer's scheme is about at an end.
He admits that Gov. Wises system of
internal improvements has proved fail
IRE in Virginia; that the State stands in
need of free labor, and that free laborers
--abolitionists even-will be welcomed
there if they choose to go. These conces-
sions are important, and we are gratifed
to have them upon such respectable au-
thority. We should have inferred nothing
of the kind from the tone of the Virginia
press.
We trust the Professor is nearer the truth
in these statements than in Others which
he makes. He denies the existence for
example, of any general dissatisfaction in
regard to the burden of taxation. If he
had read the journals of his State as
faithfully as we presume he has read the
classics, he would now know that the
complaints have been so loud and so Bit
ter they have amounted to threats of re-
pudiation. In proof of this we refer him
to the declaration made by the late Sen
ator Woolfork, of Orange, in recent
Congressional Convention, to the effect
that Reputation was inevitable, and paw
ment of the taxes already imposed i'm
possible.
The Professor denies that there exists
any considerable insurectionary spirit
among the slaves, or that there have re-
Gently been any risings, or any negroes
executed for participation therein. He
probably forgets that five were condemned
to death, majority of whom have since
been hung, for killing their master, Mr..
Green, on Christmas eve last; and that
the papers mentioned the facts as among
the results of the insurrectionary shirt
generally existing then. Many other
similar cases might be mentioned, were it
necessary.
The learned Doctor further denies that
the expense of patrols is very onerous: de-
mics that it is paid out of the State Treas
ury; says it is paid by the cities and
counties, and claims that it is often not paid
for at all, being volunteered by the citi-
gems, for their own and neighbors' protec-
ton. In reply to these statements, we
have to say that when the matter was up
in the Legislature, just before its close,
no less than thirteen Senators from West
ern Virginia opposed the payment with
great spirit, on the ground that these pa
trolls were of no service to anybody but
Shareholders, and that they should there
fore be paid by special tax on the slave
holders, and not by charge on the gen.
eral fund. He will also learn that these
thirteen Senators were defeated in their
opposition, and most soundly berated by
their eastern colleagues as no better than
Abolitionists and Black Republicans
And by taking the trouble to look into the
Western Virginia papers, he will find that
the people are very unanimous in s,ls-
tanning the course of their faithful repre- |
sentatives, and that the mutterings of the
non-siayeholding electors at this and !
other unjust exactions of the governing |
ciass, fully justify the reported fears of |
Governor Wise, that the instruction
most to be feared in Virginia is net of
the blacks, but OF the poor whites at the
Poiis-an instruction at which the whole
state would have abundant reason to
congratulate isself-Aton Courier. !,