Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-19
MEETING IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY


citizens of Northumberland county, without dis.nc
ton of party held at Heathsville February 9Th, Free
derrick Downing, Esq, was called to the Chair aud
Ro. Hall requested 10 act az Secretary.
The Chairman explained the object Of the meeting
to be to hear the report Of a committee previously
appointed 10 draft resolutions expressive OF the SEMI
ment Of the people in relation To- the free negro popu
lstion in Virginia
Mr. Edwin Bette stated that the committee had met
and after interchange of views had requested him
to prepare report, but that the subject had been
introduced 10 the Legislature since the action OF The
committee, he had deemed it unnecessary to prepur:
report.
W. l.. Claybrook then offered, As minority report
Of that committee, the following preamble and
lutions which he supported in able and Interest
lug address, elicng frequent 8ppIaute.
In consideration OF the immense value which hiss
of late years attached to the slave neres we tbs
people Of Northumberland county, deem it equally
our privilege and duty citizsns o! Virginia. 10
press opinions fully aud freely relative to ny
means which may in the east tend to make fruitful,
enlarge and perpetua:e the Institution. Among al
the evils which counteract and retsrd these great
end. not one is more glaring obvious than the
tablishment Of free negroes as 1t now e1ists Cir
Gumscrbed in, and almost deprived OF, all those
things which pertain to freedom. and surrounded by
none of those wholesome restraints which affect TIE
slave the frss negro prows amongst US a mere out
cast source Of corruption, and an incubus upoG.
society. In fact tho evil has grown so great that
remedy must ut once be provided. To send him
away could by no possible chance benefit him; while
ut the time, the State would ose largely in its F-
deral representation and deprived of vast amoun
of material for labor. The only fnasble plan then, by
which We can relieve ourselves, aud ona too by
which both black and white will be benefited, is n;
once to enslave him. The free negro is accustomed
10 look upon slayery In all its phases TO be entirely
subservispt 20 the white man, and to consort with tho
slave The transition, therefore, from his freedom 10
slavery will be light and easy, and attended with
,:rcely any Inconvenience. rs to the morality OF
-Ich a disposition, the whole system Of slavery is
based upon the doctrine that it is right to esiave 'h
negro; that the institution, far from being evil
IL morally, socially and politically bessiDg As 10
is policy, II ia high time the South was taking her
true end proper ground. of show ng 10 the sbol
oniats of the North her unsltersbr determination 10
strengthen and extend her peculiar and cherished
institution and of never freeing the negro from bond
age. Therefore, be it
let. Resolved, That in our opinion the Legislature
ought 10 pass law providing Tor the immediate and
absolute sale OF every free negro in the State and go
proprating the proceeds OF sale TO the payment ct
the State debt and taxes
2l Resolved, That we conhder the Colonization
Society positive evil, and drawback to the ins,tu-
ton o!lslavery, and therefore, that Virginia ought T.
dissolve all connection with the same.
Sd. Resolved, That law ought to be enacted pro-
hbi,ing any from liberatng his s.aves either hy
will or deed.
After an interesting and animated discussion, in
which Messr,. Jones, Bette, BraItoD, Strsughsn
CIaybrook and GrefLam participated, Dir. DeshelG.
offered the following as substitute for the first reso
luton offered by Mr. Clay brook, which wac carried:
Resolved, That our Senator and Delegate III the
General Assembly, be instructed TO vote for law
r,sye the State OF the free negro population III tie
most speedy and humane manner And. as r-d-c:iug
our sentiments, they should vote for a bill which shh
yiye tbem specified time to leave the State. o-
choose msstsrs and they do rot avail Themselves
of thes. privileges, at the expiration of that tirne
.hsl be sold into slavery.
The question was then taken upon the second reso.
lutiou offered by Mr.. Claybrook, and it was carried
by a large majority. The third was then passed
unanimoxsiy.
On motion, the proceedings Of the meeting were
ordered to be published in the Richmond Wing, EG-
quirer, South and Examiner, aud copy Of the reso
utons TO be forwarded to representatives III the
Legislature.
On motion the meeting then adjourned sine de.
FREDERICK DOWNING, Chairman.
Ro. HALL, Secretary.
NoTE.-It is proper to add, ths; the sppareh. ci,.
crepaucy between that clause Of the preamble, rels
tive TO the immediate sale of tree negroes and the
resolution offered by Mr.. Deshelds, WIS overlooked
in the hurry of debate, but not considering myself
authorized to make any alteration, have given il ia
full. Il. II.