Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-05-17
For the Enquirer.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA GENERALLY

BY recent statute, enacted By our Legisla.
ture in its folly, merchants and hotel keepers,
before they are licensed to retailed liquors, are
required TO take an auth that they will not
violate the laws in regard to dealing with
negroes, and to subject themselves therefor to
the enormous fine Of five hundred dollars
Now, Virginians. is this right We do not
pretend to defend the unlawful trading with
slavcs-we condemn it; but why shall our
statute book bear upon its face this gross i'm.
putation upon our merchants and hotel keepers,
that they are not to be trusted upon the sub
jcct Of complying with the laws of the land as
other citizens are, without being required to
take an oath to that effect, and run the risk of
five hundred dollar fine: Are our merchants
and hotel keepers less honest citizens than
others? Other persons may trade with slaves
in the most dangerous species of articles, and
subject themselves to fine of only tuenty dol
lars, without any oath being taken; but as to
the merchant or hotel keeper, he must be fined
five hundred dollars and incur the horrors Of
perjury. The private entertainment keeper,
| the lawyer, the a0n.rctailing merchant, can get
his license to follow his business without being
so fur suspected in character as to be forced to
S're"r beforehand that he will abide by the law;
but as to the merchant and hotel keeper,
in question, it must be taken for grant.
ell that he is bad citizen beforehand.
and be required to swear that he will
not violate the law. Fellow Tirginians, of
all pursuits, we appeal to you to know if this
is eY"0i Justice: Fellow merchants and hotel
keepers, is it fair dealing with us thus to pre-
sumo that nithout ooth and heavy, excessive
penalty we are naturally violators of the laws Of
the land, and must therefore be forced By cath
and penalty to do what is left to the choice and
free will of our neighbors and fellow citizens OF
other callings in life. Why cannot we be
trusted as others are. And, if we violate the
laws be punished as others are! We do not
ask for the repeal of the laws making it an of.
fence to sell liquor to slaves without an order;
but in justice to our sense of equality with
other citizens, and from self respect, We do
claim that We ought to be upon an equal
footing with .others-pass whatever laws
YOU please and pronounce whatever acts
you please rs offences against the laws,
yet deal with us as you deal with others. Let
US run the same risks run by others, as to vio.
lating laws, but no morc-let us be tried as
Others are: but, in the name Of justice and
equality, do not say IN ddrance of the violation
of the laws that rG uHL break them. and there
fore must be srora and subjected to excessive
punishment to prevent it. If that be good law
and good morals, then let every citizen be snorm
that he will not violate any Of our laws. Be-
sides does not this odious law drive the liquor
trade into the hands Of persons wholly insolvent
who will take no oath, take out no lincenSe.
thus niurng the State revenue and live and
daily violate the laws. Your court dockctS
fully answer this enquiry. Let us ALL, then,
in every county, resolve to vote for no man as
member of the Legislature who will not
pledge himself for the repeal of this abomina-
Bile law JUSTICE.