Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-09-06
For the Enquirer.
TAKING FREE NEGRoEs-THE TERRITORIAL
QUESTION, &c.

,Y.szrs E1i.ors-I am soourning IN the
Snr;n,.. r,rion on both sides of the A'ieshnhy
,ao,,,,ius Whilst travelling Thinner on !he
I,on,r,l Railroad, listened to conversation
$500, ,wo gentlemen relative to free negroes
nnd cIaycs in Virginia. One OF them contend-
NJ ,L,, Il vas unconstitutional 10 tax the Tree
~ sn ner capita at higher rate than the
IL. ncnnje. and | have heard several argyll
,rcnts since at different places on the subject,
and rcrrct 10 find there are some Southern men
contentding that it is both unjust and nnconsti-
,utional to tax them in any way or for any pir-
ppsc a, higher rate than the whites, and
sonc contend that they should not be taxed
n.r cauita bv the States ai all, till per-
iinittel TO vote These arguments have as
tonishcd me- Tor | have never doubted the
constitutional right or the States to make
any disposition whatever Of negroes, Tree
or Slaves. which majority of the voters deem
no,tic and If my construction Is correct, they
can he taxed any amount their services Will
pay and for any purpose whatever. otherwise,
md if some Of the arguments have recently
heard prevail, every Sta.c in the Union Will
soon be abolitionizcd, and African slavery
cease to exist | pen and send YOU this note
FOR publication, promising myself that IL VIII
command the attention of the members OIL our
Legislature and induce them, when they assem-
be in our Capitol next December, to take the
subject up and show by the passage ct strin-
cent laws that Virginia sill not DC abolition,
iSeJ. or he cheated ont of African slavery; ana
that whilst she permits free negroes 10 remain
within her limits, she will tax thcln sufficiently
n mako thrm feel and know they are not
eoyI in my sense or meaning Of the TERM
Thc, should also provide by decisive and un-
cr.,;vocaI enactment that no STAKEHOLDER in
VIRGINIA shall clnahcipa.c siave BY Will
~. "a,,,or.is. and also provide that both
s.v.. he ,aycd rs slaves are for the use Of
,in STAT. Treasury. unless Il sufficient nunheT
NJ them to consume the tax imposed on them
hv The STATE, and collected yearly, desire 10 use
/, in having their transportaiionS to Liberia or
some other genial cline. suitable for them, be-
vcnl The limits of the United States, where,
,r;,hor, onpnsition, they may be pcaceabiy
c2,oniz.,l. They shonh also authorize the conn
tbs ,o ~, them rs much when they are SIX
teen wears Old, or arrive ut that age. as slaves
are taxed therein for county purposes; anH also
further provide, that both SEXES. uhc females
=. M. AZ, Of fifteen and the males at the age OF
,~:enty.onc wears. and all over these ages he
mshc slaves. hy the cortS Of the counties III
,l,;c;, ,hey have residence VIXEN they make the
..,rl;calion. TO whonsocvcr they may select to
o,n them, il their selections, in the opinion
- the Courts, are s,lch persons is can be rciica
on :. treat them hu;nanc!y, &c Those who
.,.,pc 10 and become slaves, shall not he mar
.,..bic. but continue slarcs To whom they give
= .osclycs. from generation to generation, ex-
c.n,, from levy or distraint.' except Tor the
/. x; IMPOSED on them b. the State ami The
r.n.,,v IN which they reside; end they shall
no, I've disraincd FOR their taxes, II tnelr OWL
c:s have ether property cut oil when inc? can
he male: INT, if their taxes can't bc madc
.; ',,.y;sr he collector cf their taxes may
tax. ,hc,n and hire thcn b. the day. rs Tree
negroes are now hired TO pay their taxes ~
many davs a may be ncccSsaryto pay their
taxes. and when their taxes are paid by their
labor by the day, tic collector Ia return them
to their owners.
Oar last Convention. which assembled ny a'!-
thoy.;y 81: The suycreignS 10 enact organic laws,
, Aid ;ie,v date ia respect 10 This SUBJECT, by
| oacin, il in the power and mahins It the duty
If the I.cc;>l,;,c to abolish emancipation "l
ayes and rid ;al Stale oi free negroes; ar'!
| consequently the i,iea that negroes, free or
s,avc: nosScSs constitutional or legal rights Is
,lsurJ The Constitution Of the United states
makes then. property; they were planted! IN me
. colonies OF North Amcrc.; rs slaves, by the
colouis;s. and we, the descendants oil the colo
nists. by the patriotism, suffering and courage
| Of the coloniSts. became the propr!etorS OF The
COLONY of Virginia, and all property and ris hts
appcrtaining 10 her All the negroes in her
| being part of the property, neither they nor
| ,hcir descendants nor ans that have been
! brought into her in all time, have any rights
but such as We have given them by statutory
enac,mcn:s. rcpcaiable III pleasure. IL RON
appearing plain that every act, pac!ic or pr
waite, releasing them from scrr;tudc, and placing
them in the position our free negroes now oc'
cupv. la, becu an error. because an injury to
the negroes and ourselves. proper and judicous
LEGISLATION will soon produce reformation, and
place Virginia in regard to negroes, in the r"-
! Sition from which it is lamcntable she ever de-
parted. At this time, Mt least thrcc-iourthS OF
all the voters have heard speak on the sub
icc.. think it is primary duty which our L.
eis,aturc Should attend to without delay.
As it NAV 50 happen that may never pen
another line for the public. embrace the pre-
sent moment to express my construction of the
diStractins subject of slavery in the Terrific
ries of the United States. hold that it is not
necessary for Congress to pass any lax or laws
Nebraska act, that act is construed b. some TO
give the people in Territory full power to cx-
clude slavery ;hcre.rom, whilst Territories.
claiming that this Kansas Nebraska act clothes
them with il; bit contend that Congress did
not and docs not possess the power to prohibit
African slavery in the Territories OF the United
States and consequently could not and cannot
delegate il. The Constitution Of the United
l. u.;tf IN
the limits Of the States, the joint property of
all of them, and my construction is, that con-
s;itutionally, the STAKEHOLDER in any Of the
States can take his shares into any Of the terri
tories within the limits Of the Union. and that
il is the duty Of the President Of the United
States to protect both the master and his slaves
against any aTl all cncroachmcnt on hirl
or them, whilst his location is in the terrific
", and until the territory nc is in becomes 4
sovereign State, and, by its Constitution. pro-
hibi,s slavery This construction renders Con-
grcssiona interference unnecessary, whether
;hc powcr exists in Congress TO interfere or
not; and, for one, | will not support any man to
ii any legislative or executive office whatever,
Who differs with nc ON this territorial subject.
Tie Missouri compromise, and the compromise
measures Of 1850, were both unconstitutional.
The first because it excluded slavery from ter
tory which bclonge:! As much to shareholders
a any others the latter because the Constitution
9. We all the protection 10 slavery, and the rights
Of Shareholders Us al act Of Congress could give,
and hence the &C. is SuperiluouS and should not
have been entertained by Congress, and there
fore unconstitutional And this brings inc again
20 tie Kansas Nebraska act. The clause in that
act relied to justify the settlers in Terrific
Nv. whilst Territory, II exclude, is found in
the Eth section Of the act, and the following is
the last clause Of that section: 'But 10 leave
the people thereof perfectly free TO form and
regulate their domestic institutions in their own
way subject only TO the Constitution Of the Uni
ted States" Now,l infer the act could not have
been passed without this l4th section, nor I'M
! l,rr Il LII llosnl ~ II docs .,xMhicri nnIn fO