Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-02-10
The Free Negro Bill.

The Free Negro Bill.
A bill is now pending before the Legislature
of Virginia. having for its object the expulsion
of the free negro population from the State, or
their erslavement, after the lapse of certain
time, in case of their failure to remove. As orr
ginaly offered, the bill allowed them three years
from the 1st Of January next, but it has been
mercifully amended so as to allow the poor crea-
lures twelve years time to prepare for the exo-
dus. So many amendments have been proposed
and adopted that we do not know the precise
nature of the bill as it now stands, but enough
can be gathered from the proceedings to show
heartless aud relentless hostility towards the
free negroes on the part of many members otthe
Legislature, aud determination to get rid OF
them by some means, however harsh and I'M
just. The plan proposed by the BILL as we I'M
derstand it, is cruel and barbarouS, and not to
be justified by any evils to which the white peo-
pie of the Commonwealth are subjected by the
presence of this class of population. Its doubt
less true that in many portions of the State the
free negroes are thriftleSs and worthless, doing
no good for themselves nor those around them.
In some localities they are doubtless a positive
disadvantage, especially as regards the influence
of their example upon the habits of the slave
population with whom they are associated. But
this is by no means the case in all sections OF
the State. Wherever they are found some o.
mong them, and often the greater number, are
bab oyra1 ncaful A.
borers, and in many places where laborers are
scarce, essential to those who are unable to own
a full complement of slave hands.
1t is forcbly argued by the Richmond Wing
in regard to this bill, that the removal of the
free negro population, Independent ofthe money
required to accomplish the object, would result
in the diminution of the power of the State IN
the halls of Congress- end be equivalent to the
loss of one member. This is view Of the mat
ter which ought to be weighed well.
Independently of these considerations OF ex-
pediency and policy, however, the expulsion OF
enslavement of these people strikes US as unjust
and inhuman. However degraded and triting
some of them may be, they are human beings
and have rights. If we are to exile or enslave
all the worthless people in the State, whose NOR
ais are bad and whose example is perncious
our legislators could find an abundant field Of
operation among the white population. But this
movement might be reconciled with the prin'
ciples of common humanity, if it were not indis
crilninate in it operation-involving by It's SO
we're provisions large number of decent and
respectable free negroes, who, as men and q;
citizens-morally and intellectually-are far SUI
perior 10 many whose complexion is of tsirel
hue. Such men are known to everybody. We
have them in this community, and so far as oui
citizens are concerned we feel satisfied that they
would rather endure all the evils inflicted by the
bad free negroes, than perpetrate the tagrsnt
outrage of forcing such men as we have alluded
to into exile with the most abandoned OF theil
class, or subject them TO bondage. "Better thai
ninety-nine guilty men should escape than one
innocent man be punished" is wise and hu
name maxim of the law. These poor free ne
groes-a helpless minority-are now before the
bar of the Legislature, aud it is proposed to en-
force against them all, innocent or guilty, the
same harsh measures. We hope the representa-
tives of the people will not perpetrate the deco
of inhumanity which will make thousands o
human beings mourn. If they do, perhaps they
will not be sustained at the bar of public opin
ion.
Since writing the above we notice that the
House has adopted substitute for the free negro
bill, an abstract of which will be found in the
Legislative proceedings, 1t is yet open to a
mendment by addition, aud has to be advanced
to its engrossment before the final vote is taken
on its passage.