Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-04
Gov. Wise. Opinions on the Free Negro
Question.

WIeeS last VI "ssdge 10 the Legislature:
"FREE NEGR jEs This class OF our popula-
tiOu Is causing great diff renee OF option as
TO the best mode Of dsposing Ul them. Do
the one hand, It is urged that It's existence AS
well "a condition, springs naturally and
necessarily from the institution OF slavery
that many Of them have been emancipatcd
either for merit in themselves or taeir ances-
tore, and deserve the affections which cling
to them 10 the bosOms Ut families to whom
they belonged; that if many OF them are cor
rupted aud degenerated since Icing left to
their own care, 1t il owlng not only 10 their
own imprOvidence, but u evil communication
with bad white men who associate and deal
VITA them and abuse their weakness, and
whu are not restrained by adequate penal
laws. Tnat their labor is needed IN many
parts OF the state where they are most
numerous ADD that 10 get clear OF them III
any way is considerably TO reduce pro hnto
our population, aud, Of course, oul federal
strength. Aud that if they are an evil III our
ludst, il is our duty TO put up with II In the
best way We can, under system OF salutary
Correction and restraint, and that we owe
them protection in the places of their Ia
tiSity, where they tOudiy love u remain.--
Ga the other hand, it is urged that they are
10 most cases set tree by spirit OF ianaticisin,
auG by persons who spoiled them and made
them unfit for treedom. That they are thus
turned loose = become idle and vicious and
destitute, and TO set an evil example TO slaves,
with whom their contact Is oauciui. That
tney are used as agent, Of runaways, and are
receivers for tneIt. That they tend to
degrade certain portion 0! the whites a.
well as to make the slaves discUntented, uu-
happy and vicious. Aud that they are
especially dangerous in these times OF asita-
ton aud excitement against our property and
our peace, Oh account ut slavery.
Butwnat Is u be done with them IS the
question, and 1t la difficult 10 settle II justly
and to our satisfaction. Several modes have
been proposed. OIe Is 10 send them, In ohe
exodus, out Of the state, 10 the nOhsiave-
holding states OF the Union. | doubt 10 Ia
the policy and rhe Justice OF this plan. Its
reason assigned Is, IN ylndctiye spirit, 10
teach abolltionists better tow to appreciate
the nature Of the negro. But that spirit,
ALWAYS blind, is AFT 10 mistake III this, and
the result would be rather to make 50 many
missionaries among the toes to our lhstltu'
tuus and to Our people, to harden Them
against us rather than to convert them IN
our favor. Besides, they would, on THIS
uian have to be sent north 10 Climate DOT
suited To their habits or natures; anu II would
be harsh thus to subject them to Wholesale
dispersion, disease aud extinction. Sucn -
their fac in free states aud IN CO d climates.
They are not ii for freedom or irJst, unless
they are among friends who VIII provide l"r
them; and shareholders, at last, are the
best friends 90 the African race, and their
climate and Locations ure most kindly To
their natures aud habits. 1t would be more
humane and more us: To them, to take
from them their lIte.ty at once, aud sci, them
wholesnl. into slavery, without their COR
scrt But The moral sense III our people
wvuld revolt az q VIOLATION Of Individual and
personal rights Ike this and no such usurpa-
ii ~ would he tolerated by public sentiment.
When then ?-Ii they gu Lht not ~ be seht
north to tree states and the tender mcrc!oS OF
fanatics and frost, nor u the eouth ana
slavery? The answer IL, that we ought to
cllgu,2e as many a. We can 10 Liberia u
t. he back under masters as many a. are
willing TO return To the patrlarchai protection
of slavery; To encourage the vlrtu"us auu IN
dustriuus among them, by seeing that they
are compelled 10 learn valuable trhues ana
arts; and to reform our pInal code 80 a. 10
vunlsh Capitaiiy certain OF their higher
licences to puuish their secondary offences
wi,h SOLITARY imnrisonment; aud to condemn
rho minor ofFanders and the idle 10 labu. on
tho ruhlir works A code of discipline
,.,,r,G s,on rid us Of eli the vicious and dis
- Into and retain tn H. the trustworthy, tbs
-, md rho industrious
VII
-. S,,,,.;,.,o,,gc,, oJ Coq- L,c,L Roy-
~" ,5'',,,','y =, : ma, tina or
or % '','''o" J., .,
to the prtjudce al tie various candidates whose
names have been presented tor me once 81 gu
peiIntemcent OF Gas, bu' sImry 10 express DIS "
consumer, MS entlle satisfaction WIN 'Ae pre-
sent incumbent ana 10 urge upon our Cl''"cuS
his reelection
Jacob Roxbury, during the time OF ms ON
ciai cUnnexIon with the Office has c"nitssedly
discharged ms dity with the s'f'c''s' hGei'F'
| and promises IN his card, announcing hiWse'i as
candidate tor Te-eIecton' 10 continue 10 40 80
with the strlclest eye 10 Tue Poonc S""u' LIE,
then the past he agd'idHIee Iof Tue '"'uIe anu
instead OF overlooking the claims OF one aS"Ile'
",.'F ,,S -" ;rcra,.ad ra,o,,y N order tina, he
,,,, ba anrnurayed hv TIN, renewed expression
~ :on6Isnca on the nart Of his fellow citizens
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