Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-12-10

reoucsled 10 use The form Of petition here
offered, ior anv Other that may be pre-
pared. nl like general purPor',l TO eoian
SIGNATURES thereto IN their nerghboIhoods'
and as many as tie short time now re-
naming will permit, and p ace snch signed
copies in the charge Of lheIr resPeciive
representatives, to be presented speedily
To the LEGISLATURE
To The General assembly Of Virginia
The petition OF the undersigned cltI-
zens. residents or property owners ol the
-o(--, respectfully represents
That tie maintenance of the INSTITUTION
e negro slavery, with the due subord'nn-
finn of slaves TO masters, and generally ot
the inferior black to The dominant white
class. as heretofore existing in Virginia,
Is all important 10 the well being and m
,eresis Of the Commonwealth. and ct eV-
erv considerable and useful class ol our
population,
That the prest and most operative eau.
ses Of the corruption ot the habus ana
morals OF slaves, and of iuIusIne INTO lheIr'
minds discomfort aud lhe spinI OF nsuoof-
dnallon, and consequently OF producing
discomfort and unhaPPln,ss 10 'he@se''e';
and loss or injury to their masters, ana 10
he found in two existing and wlde'spreah
evils, VIZ: lst-The shops or other pia'
ces for ,he Unlicensed selling OF in'oxioa-
ling liquors 10 The slaves, or carrying on
with them other illegal traffic. including
generally the receiving OF stolen goods
and 2nd The intercourse with slaves
land also with free negroes) OF persons
whether vagrants or temporary solourh-
ers. who, in many cases, are e''her v"l"n-
lsrv agents or hired emissarlcs of Norih-
ern associations, or individuals, la00fing
ITO DESTROY slavery in the Southern States,
bv inslgaliug deserIon. or csnsrlracy,ln-
surrectlon and which persons, generally
as itineranis, and mostly. also, as tamP-
ing vagranls, and all OF them coming from
tie Northern States, are spread through
Virginia, AMI probably have operated IN
every county thereof, IN srme one or 9th
er Of the various characters al avowed m
Idividual brggars, or solicitors 'or subscrip-
lions To Northern publications., or OF con-
tubutions to some proiessed public or
pious works, or pedIars, generally with
out legal license TO sell and even, in
some cases, as teachers, religious agents,
and preachers Of the Gospel:
That whenever, through either Of these
two different means for corruPllng slaves.
|pllaging property, aud inducing lnsubor-
Idlnalion, immortality and crime, slaves
are thus operated upon by White persons,
no matter to what extent, or how ire
ouenllv, there can rarely be obtained any
legal evidence Of The facts, bt cause
negroes only are priyy to such offences,
and the evidence OF negroes, under our
present law, is not admissible against
white person may be universally rrpnied
| to be a receiver of stolen goods. or a Nor
/ theTn Abolition emsssry and conspirstor,
inviting slaves to dCseruon, or 10 revolt
and massacre. Therefore both OF these
dangerous and infamous classes OF ofien-
ders are almost entirely safe irom prose-
cutlon and conviction, and mny securely
pursue their iniqulous courses.
Therelote, we pray of your honorable
body that such ne& measures OF preven.
ton and punishment may be enacted as
will make operative the existing legal
prohibitions Of the offences Of vsgrancy,
unlicensed dealing with slaves. and ped
ling and also by extending sIIngent re-
presssion, and certain and sufficient pen
allies to all others prolessed pursuits of
lunefant strangers, having neither suff-
cient vouchers oI good character ind OBJ
ieCis. nor license, riOr visible means ior
support by honestl labrr. Aiming only
10 present, IN genetaI terms, The exis'ing
evils, and to pray iqr relief III general. we
DO 20, presume To prescribe special or
precise remedies /: Hui submit 10 The WIS
dom and discreliOns sbl The Legislature the
diyl,ing and sdopIkn Of such ensrimen's
az will aGord sufficient remedies for the
great and growing fVlls and danger under
consideration.
The AbOlIliODiLs, 10 show ueIr de-
yuiun to treason, de. all over tie country,