Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-05
FREE NEGRO REFORM.

Messrs. Editors-That the present cond'i'rn o. w"
free negro population Of Virginia 10 unavo:"os ,,s
their own happiness and injurious TO the re-. W EN-
community, Is fact agreed by all: To reHu,s
difficulty either BY getting rid o. ,hsa hoh has long
engaged the public mind. The difficulties Sn.on n.e
met With 10 any PLAN heretofore suggested, naue
vented any efficient legislation or preptt
Although necessity and public safety ;yes negro from
the State, yet the public mind rev rsso" n,o o.
The enforcement of such plan. lhe p"I
pact OF accomplishing any material g oou W
untsry colonz alton enslavemsnt, IL saad az ,h
and hopeless Iii certain that any pia ,M.t f;I
Voluntary action Of this unfortunate class ~ han1
II II iust az certain that they o. "es
onardians for themselves Yet they exist anus s an,
In All their degradation and helplessnessi gu IL;
and know that some change In ther 5nes fnr bav
dspenssbls. We are responsible ond;,;on-and
inc some alteration in their unhappy cono,.o rs,srd
IL this can only be done by means Whc i.a ion;sncv
A a. b.rsb. We are responsible for fa'ee Ienie.oy
No plan can be adopted which is free ;dars,io
difficulty. venture to suRgesi, LOT sH.tsrn q,
that in addition to present legislation, y,
snnrsntioesbp be adopted and enforced. Us. every
free negro be made servant, by nue. hw q nro
term of years, and have master se'eo'eu lie sra
ner tribunal, who shall be responsible LOT .ne esss
and management of the apprentice: ! p,op s~o.t ="
each overseer OF the poor % reqa" osr and charac
the County Court the name, age seq ns 'nd
ter of every free negro in his 1:,to. Gnu
the court, upon such report and such iniorna.lon
as might be required order each free negro OF every
age and who may not be too young or 700 ole' vi -.
firm TO be bound as an apprentice for Term o yeas
70 some designated master Let the inas.er % 70
ou;red to enter into bond, with ample peney au 90
curity for the care and management Oh tee oPp.on
tics and for the payment Of such sums Oh money 90
NAV be adudged by the Court, as tair couPensa''o
for services. would have this money eaon yeal ooi
lected by the Sheriff, when due, in NE mannes o,
connty eyies and poor rates. Out OF this moneyiet
snch of the famiies of the apprentices as may
he too young or old, or inrm 10 labor be supporter
Anv s1rpus, after such an appropriation, and the
wages of any apprentice who may have no suGn ln'
cnmhrsnce. I would have paid into the State Trea'
snrv AT interest to the credit of each apprentice liza
hs - ba Maid ont for the benefit of such apprentice
or any part of his family may be ordered by the
County Court; and at any time he or she might Wlsn
10 leave the State any balance due TO be paid upon
such removal; and the odentures, II the term Dc an
expired, should be snnulled, and no res'ralnt exist
against emigration. Any such money az misnt re
main in the Treasury with its interest," at the DEAN OF
the apprentice should go into Coonlhaton tuna sno
be applied invoably to the colonization OF euch Tree
negroes as might 90 to Liberia as the terms OF ap
premiership expires, which should NOT 1e ess
seven years Let other ndentures be ordered by the
County Courta and would give peremptory right Of
appeal from any order Of the County Court 10 the
Circuit Court and assign the attorney for the Com
monwealh as counsel for the apprentice. Inere arc
serious objections to the proposed plan, because
harsh, and chiefly because it may be abused. ~
j, admitted that these and other difficulties cannot o.
obyiated; but what better arrangement can % maoe
respectfully submit the foregoing sketch, whion'
regarded as feasible may doubtless be improved ny
suggestions from others. -