Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-05-22
SATURDAY MORNING, MAY 81, 1859.
Col. Netherlands Policy with regard to
Free Persons of Color.

1t has been the settled policy in this State from
the earliest period of its history to discourage and
prevent the increase and accumulation of free
cOlOred population in cur midst The wisdom Of
this policy is stte3ted by the experience of every
save-holding State in this Union, and the enforce
ment of the most stringent laws on our Statute
Books against the domiciEstion Of Free negroes in
this commonwealth has scarcely been sufficient for
the entire removal of the evil Our Legislature
has wisely provided against its growth, however,
by requiring that every slave emancipated in this
State shall be removed beyond its limits. But for
this proydent legislation we should have been over
run long ago by an idle and worthless population
Of free negroes who, coming into daily contact with
our slaves, would render them nsubOrdnate, vicious
and vslueless.
In 1881, the Legislature Of Tennessee passed a
law, chapter 102 entitled Gan act concerning free
persons of color and for other purposes" The first
section prohibits, under penalties, any free
negroes from removing TO this State to reside there
in, and remain therein twenty days.
The second section is as follows:
"That it shall not be lawful from and after the
passage of this act, for any court any owner or
owners Of any slave or slaves, to emancpate any
Rlave or slaves, except on the express condition,
that such slave or slaves shall be Immediately re-
moved from this State, and every person or persons
30 desiring to emsncpate any slave or slaves shall,
before such emancipation be allowed, enter into
bond with good and sufficient security in a sum
equal TO the value Of such slave slaves to be
emsncipated, conditional that said slave slaves
shall forthwith remove from this State which said
condition shall be part of the judgment Of such
court"
1t may well be doubted whether aDy law ever en-
acted by the Legislature has contributed more TO
the peace and welfare of the State, the security
of slave property, than that to which We refer
above. Yet Col. NETHERLAND while q member Of the
State Senate of 1884 voted to "repeal much of
the act Of 1881, concerning free persons of color,
as requires the emancipation of slaves TO remove
them without the limits OF the State" [Ses Senate
Journal page 1891
The proposition which Col NETHERLAED sup
ported to repeal the Law Of 1881, defeated after
full discussion, and the law now stands on our
statute book, contrary to Col. NETHERLANDS vote
and efforts, secure defence against the increase of
a free negro population in this State.
Again, st the same session Of the Legislature
bill was introduced to authorize ANTHONY FOSTER
to emancipate certain slaves. The bill being read,
Mr.. CANNON offered the following amendment, to-
wit:
provided said slaves be not permitted to remain
in any county of this state"
Against this amendment requiring the removal Of
the liberated slaves from the stlte Col NEITHER
LAND voted aud finally voted for the passage OF the
bill authorizing the emancipation Of the negroes
and allowing them to remain in the State. See
Senate Journal, pa ge244.
1t will be seen from these and other votes Of a
similar character, that Col NETHERLAND has been
steadily opposed to the policy adopted Ly the Legs
lAture to prevent the increase of the free colored
population in this State. If the Law requiring the
removal Of emancipated slaves had been repealed,
according to Col NETHERLANDS desire, the State
would have long ago been filed with class of in
habants destructive to all the best interests of its
citizens ana dangerous to the existence Of one OF
its most delicate and valuable institutions.
The value of slave property in Tennessee would
have been materially diminished if Col NEITHER
LANDS policy had prevailed in 1888; if his party
should succeed now, in their efforts to overthrow
the Democracy and place the Opposition in power,
the result will be still more disastrous to the rights
and interests of the South. Col NETHERLANDS
present position is perfectly consistent with his pO-
Sition when q member of the Legislature. The
policy which be then favored would have aided and
advanced the nt-slavery cause. The movement
in which he and the other leaders Of his party are
now engaged will, in any event. give encouragement
to the Black Republicans, and if successful Will
PROSTATE the South at the feet Of her enemies.