Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-08-25
TO THE NEXT LEGISLATURE.

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The agitation and excitement oi December and JAN
usry last, caused by report OF slave nsurrecon,
have, like those that have preceded II, upon the cause
ceasing that produced it. settled down III peaceful
quiet, no To b. aroused uutii another report
OF like character shall BIZ circulated, when the hearts
of many as OH former occasions. will be held IN rtquisi.
ton 10 perform service in quick tine. aud their Knees
Bsls,aZzar shifting. The ubolitionists Tree negroes,
and slaves, Row IN perfect quiet, chi'kIiS over
the trepdation the report caused, aud are now Per-
mitted, without let or hindrancs, To assemble CON
mupe with eacl other and concoct such plans tor their
future operations Us their better Judgment may suggest
We hav. had evidences enough OF Northern hostility,
to arouse ~ defence OF our rights, ana remoYai
of every which they caa WELD agains; our III.
tpres: aud security; among the most prominent Oi
which, is the free negro population, scattered III pro
fusion throughout the slavehodng Slater; cas- OF
beings reckless of character, too lazy Ia work. anu
too stupid 10 learn, roaming through our sla"e pop.
ulaun, living the surplus supplies oil our opered
slaves acting az carriers Of the plans suggested oy
the aboonists for the emancipation OF nn' slaves
and creating Dquietuds among he'n Gt seeing inose
OF their cour roaming at large without lnu!rslaioh'
Can We be regardless OF our lives and property as
TO permit them TO remain among Us |; may appear,
AZ the first view, TO bs high handed measure 10 re-
move them n Ct arms but seltprcservation IS me
first law Of nature, and requires their removal OF beng
rsLucei 10 slavery as they may choose Even though
removed To Liberia any other point thst nigh; be
selected for them they have not energy or capacity
tor se.t. government, and would soon return u ihe
state of burbsri.n, from which they We're / eed by
u severance from their foretatLerS. Should they 10
come slaves, their situation would b. benz Eed an
hundred fold; moderate portion OF labor would be
exac,ed Of them, es Is now Of our saves; rowing
through the Country in ldeness and contracting DAD
habits would be arrested; furnished with food ana
raiment and attended 10 in sickness are advantages
which they are destitute Of in their present condi"n
Hence say, IL; them make choice OF the alternatives
and enter upon their choice. Again, lock ut oar state
OF defence in case invasion Instructions our mi
litla dsbanted, arms Withdrawn, whatever Ut military
tactics once known now forgotten, no county police,
and disorder and confusion running riot The old ex
pluded militia system was imperfect, nevertheless II
was better than none, inasmuch rs the militia men
were armed aud called together from four to nix times
year. their members entered On roll, with ther ofil
GERS and subalterns, who could on all emergency, br
convened on short notice In view OF the foregoing,
may we not ask your honorable body, in your pstr'
otism and wisdom TO devise some means 10 arrest
the cyt enumerated and protect the good c,z -ns OF
thi. commonwealth in the enjoyment Of their lives
and property VIGILANCE
| Mount Landing, August II, 1857.