Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-09
REMOVAL OF THE FREE NEGRO POPULA.
TON.

The House of Delegates, on Friday, adopted thu
substitute proposed by Mr.. Duckwall, the delegate
from Morgan county, to the bill for the relief OF tht
Commonwealth from the free negro population W.
suhioin an abstract of the provisions of the bill al
thus amended 1t is yet open to amendment by add
tiou and hss to be advanced to its engrossment before
the hual vote is taken on it's passage:
/. The county and corporation courts shall each ap
point one or more discreet persons who shall act a.
overssers of free negroes.
g 1t shall be the duty Of said overseers to furnish
the clerks of the courts with list Of tbs free nrgroe
in their several DISTRICTS enumerating III separate col
umns the males aud females and classifying them &C
cording to age, ETC. Also, TO designate such free ne
eros az do not maintain and support themselves bJ
their labor or skill in some vocation or business usa
full to the public have no visible means OF support
This ist shall be recorded in BOOK 10 De open le
public inspection.
g. Any free negro appearing from said list to bt
without visible means Of support etc., 10 to be SUN
moned before the county or corporation, at the tern
succeeding the Issue of rule against him, to show
cause why he shall not be proceeded against IN &C
cordance with the provisions Of this law.
A. Upon the return Of the summons, the court shall
unless good cause be shown tor continuance, pro
oeed to the trial of the cause, and It It shall appear
to the satisfaction of the court that the said free ne
gro has no visible of support etc. and that the
interests Of the Commonwealth require 1t, the cour
shall orde, said negro to be hired out for term no
lees than six months nor more than two years. or sen
tence him or her 10 labor for like period on the
county corporation roads or Streets and any eucl
free negro upon second conviction for such offence
shall be ordered by the court 10 DO s2ld for any pc
Rod of time which to it may seem proper, or for le
provided however, that If the said negro elect TO re-
move from the State six months shall be allowed him
or her for that purpose, and It, at the expiration OF
that period such free negro shall not have removed
from the Stale as aforesaid, the original sentence
shsl DO executed, etc.
s. The Governor 10 authorized to commute the
punishmeut free negroes hereafter convicted under
existing laws. by directing such free negroes to be
Sold as is now provided in the cases Of slaves under
sentence of death, or to be transported beyond The
limits of the United States, to be condemned TO
labor on the public works Of the State. etc.
g. A free negro convicted of an offence not berein
before provided for, and not punishable by coofno-
meut in the peneutiary, death, may be hired out
Orsentenced to labor on the county roads or corpo-
ration Streets for term not lees than three nor more
than ten years.
jurisdiction Of offences committed by free negroes,
the warrant for the apprehension Of the Offenders
shall be rsturnsble to the county or corporation
Court.
8. The hiring or sses provided for shall be made
by the said overseers at the court house, at puoc
auction. The sale to be made for cash, etc.
These are the essential features Of the bill. The
emaining sections contain some further details,
which 1t is unnecessary TO insert at this time Should
the measure become law-and lift passes the House,
the Senate will yet have to act upon its provisions
We will publish the law In full.
As
EDWARD EVERETT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Mr.. Everett has accepted an invitation to deliver
his great Grafton on Washington. in the city of
Charleston, signed by many of its principal citizens,
including the Editor of the Charleston "Mercury."-
We end the following items In the Charleston Sou
rier":
EDWARD EvERErr-The Edge6eld advertiser"
says; Tbis distinguished orator and statesman of
sachusetts has consented to deliver his celebrated
Grafton on the character of Washington in Charles.
ton, at some time during this winter. We will try
and be the look out for his coming, for it is the
rarest Of intellectual treats to listen to graceful
tor discourse upon subject that is near and dear 10
than eloquent upon 80 inspiring theme. We trust
that many Of readers will avail themselves Of the
occasion to do honor to tie living and pay patriotic
respect to the great good, noble and honored Dead"
HoE. EDWARD EyERKrr.-The Charleston cores
popdent of the Columbia Times, writing of Mr.. Eve.
res contemplated visit to this CITY, deliver his ora
ton on Washington, says:-"Our citizens are look
ing forward to that event a. treat in its way, equal
to that We have enjoyed in the rsyishng mslody Of
inaberR's master touches.
will be most interesting event in this city,vken:
on the morning Of the I'D of February next. Col g..
W.Muntord will present to Mr.. Everett the cane OF
washington, and to Mr.. VIM. l.. Yancey, the spy
glass Of the Father of his Country, With glowing and
eloquent speeches on both sjdss