Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-11-22
To ruE GENERAL ASSEMBLY or vrRo,x,,.

10 riiE GENERAL ASSEMBLY VIRGINIA.
The petition of the undersigned citizens residents
rty-hoders of the of res
pectfully represents
That the maintenance OF the institution of negrosla
very with the due subordnation of slaves to masters
and of the inferior black the dominant as
heretofore existing in Virginia, is all important the
wclbcing aud interest of the Commonwealth and of eve
~ considerable and useful class of our population:
That the and most operative causes of the cor
ruptng of the habits and morals of slaves and of in
lsing into their minds discomfort and the spirit of in
subordnaton, and consequently of producing discomfort
and unhappineSs to themselves and loss or injury TO
their masters and to all honest and aw-abding citizens
10 be found in two existing and widespread evils
via: LIST the shops other places for the unlicensed
selling of intoxicating liquors slaves or carving on
with them other illegal traffic generally including the re-
ceivng of stolen goodS-and I'D the intercourse with
slaves land also with free negrocs) of persons whether
Migrants or temporary soiourners who in many cases
are either voluntary agents hired emisSaries of
northern associations individuals laboring to DESTROY
slavery in the Southern States by nsgatng desertiOn
or conspiracy and inSurrccton-and which persons gene
rally as itneants and mostly also tramping Migrants
and all OF them coming from the Northern States are
spread through Virginia and probably have operated in
every county thereof in other OF the yari
Gus characters OF avowed beggar solicitors for sub
scrPiions to northern publications ofcontribuons to
some proessed public pious works. pedars (gene-
rally without legal icenSe,) and evcn in some cases as
travellers religious agents, preachers of the gospel
That whenever through either of these two different
means for corrupjing slaves piagng property and in
ducing INSTRUMENTATION immortality and crime slaves are
thus operated upon by white persons no matter to what
extent or how frequently, there rarely be obtained
any legal evidence of the facts because negroes only are
prvy to such offences and the evidence OF negroes un
der our present law is not admissible against white
person, even though such person be universally
pued to be receiver of stolen goods, or Northern
abolition emmiSsary and conspirato melting slaves TO de-
sertion, or to revolt and Therefore both of
these dangerous aud infamous classes of offenders are
almost entirely safe from prosecution and conviction and
NAV securely pursue their Ubiquitous courses
Therefore, pray of your honorable body that such
ne" measures OF prevention and punishment NAV be
he isl l,.r,I
billions OF the offences of yagnncy unlicensed dealing
with slaves and pedlug; and also the extending srn
gent repression aud certain and sufficient penalties TO
all other protested pursuits of neaut strangers having
neither sufficient vouchers for good character and Oh
yeciS nor license visible of support bv honest
labor. Aiming only TO present in general terms the
existing evils and TO pray for relief in general we do
not presume TO prescribe special precise remedies
but submit 10 the wisdom and discretion of the Lecisla
inre the deviSing and adoption of such enacments as
will afford sufficient remedies for the great and GROWING
evils and dangers under consideration