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

Governor Wise has issned his annual ma..
sage 10 the Legislature of Virginia, aud. as va,
to be expected, it is a good deal longer ,ba,
the long.winded message Of Presiden. Buaban.
an. He daells at length upon the free neOroso
of Virginia, their condition, ard the legislst;o,
needed respecting them. We quote:
"But what is to be done with them. :, ,bo
question, aud it is difficult to ae'te it iu.tIv orS
to cur satisfaction. Several modes lave been
proposed. One is to send them, in one exodus
out of the State, TO the non.saveholaiag Sio,e9
Of the Union. | doubt both the policy and Inc
justice of this plan. It's reason assigned i
III vind;ciive spirit, 70 teach Abolitiol;s,s bs,'
ter how TO epprcca-9 the nature OF !he ragr,
But that spirit, always blind, is apt to nis,ake
in this, and the result would be rather 70 MI
so many missionaries among the foes to our IN,
stitutions and 70 our people-to harden them
against US, rather than to convert them in onr
favor. Besides, they would, On this plan. have
to be sent north, 10 a climate not suited to their
habits or natures; and it would be harsh TIM, tn
subject them to Wholesale dispersion. diqeasa
and extinction. Such is their fate in FREE State.
and in cold climates. They are not fl for fraa.
dom or frost, unless they are amCng frjends
who will provide for them; aud slsyehoIders AZ
last ere the best friends 10 the African rare
and their climate and location arc most kindly
to their natures and habits. l. would be mora
humane, and more just to then, to t,k- IRON,
them their liberty at once, ana cell them whole.
sale into Slavery, without their consent. But
the moral sense Of our people would revolt sta
violation of individual and personal rights Ike
this, and no such usurpat On would be tolerated
by public sentiment. WHAT then if thew
ought net to be cent north, to free Stat4s. and
the tender mercies OF fanatics aad frost, u5r 20
the South and Slavery? The answer is. that va
ought to coonize as many as we can to Libe.
ria TO take back under masters aG mauv a.
are vii Jog 10 return to the pa;Uiarchal pr5tac.
ton of Slavery; to encourage the virtu9Cs and
| industrious among them, By seeing that ;hey are
compelled to learn valuable trades and arts
and to reform our penal code so as 70 punish
capitally certain of their higher offences; 70
punish their secondary offences with solitary
Imprisonment and to condemn the minor O..
tenders and the idle TO labor on the public
works. A code Of discipline would soon ria us
of all the vicious and dissonte, and retain to rs
the trustworthy, the virtuous, and industrious"
1t seems, then, that the moral sense " orths
people of Virginia would revolt a: the enslave.
ment of free negroes. This ia encouraging.
coming as it does fem the lips Of Gov. Wise.
But be proceeds to tell us thai. at present, the
free negroes are specially taxed to help the Col.
onizatiou Society. This barbarous Law the
| Governor condemns. lie saJs:
The law was passed before the rev C1Hs.i.
/ tuition went into operation, aud the Constitution
/ provides tia, all taxes shall be equal anil uai
! form. Now, this is not equal. aud not uniform
1t is special and partial, and on one class alone;
and capitation tax is provided only 10 be lev.
! led on schite male Inhabitants of 81 years Of
! age. Under this Law, about 81, 900 per annuu
/ is raised from free negroes, aud a59u, s 600
| per annum only is expeL Did for is prciessed
purpose Of colonization. The balance gees into
I the general treasury n addition to oth1r taxes.
! | therefore recommend the repeal of this law
! levying this tax. | recommend also thu free
negro be allowed in future, after q given ds7,
to hold no lard or real estate beyond smal
number Of acres for homestead and 10 house
or lot in g city or town aud that they be pro.
hibited from lending money On interest to a
white person at all. and from holding slaves.
AS ;Lis proposed legislation is no worse than
that Of several free States upon the subject, we
will not critcise it.