Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-10

ne sat w.
The question then REQUIRED on the amend
meDt ofs7td b. ~. MoEEls, and II Ta5 re
jected.
Dir. CuAMpLIsa-I move u amend the l9.i
section by adding thereto ihe follc@inG:
But eI:Hc pIted slaves, VINO had nor Tor
fcited their right 10 freedom on the ls'h @
April, 1881, shall not incur the forfeiture
! their Tree iom ii they remove from this Com
m5nweaish in twelve months next alter tn
termination o: taa existing war between TIL
United States aud the Confederate States
America"
Mr. SHErrEr Allow me To suggest that th'i
clause only apples to slaves hereafter enanci
pated. 1t doss lot apply 20 slaves heretofore
emancipa:ed.
The amendment vas rejected.
MIR. BgooEE.-I desire to occupy the atten
ton Ct the Convention but for moment.
desire 10 read proposition which ! shsi! So ,
NIT g. substitute for ne whols clause
Ireccgnizs the full fires Of the objections
which have been urged upon this subject.
likewise see the evil Of leaving any part OF the
decision Of this question to the Legislature.
es;.ashat Re UJnve5:,u should uudcrsts
4 hFt ia . b. ;rat.::r: # this = -use utoo
-. >:.-r-.. =. - IL opposition
- :, - ~..--.... i,:yes noc4lng III ambigul
3, ....a .ils: the Convention will give it due
attention, ard sjopt it, if in their judgment il
meets the difficulties which seem 10 exist in
The minds Of gentciuen in reference To the
other propoSli>ns which haze been 'f-red /;
reads: III s1y slive heretofore tnanci2attd
shall remain N the Commonwealth more than
twelve moths after bee ming actually free,
such emancipation shall become void, and the
condition f suca slave sha! thenceforthbe and
coriru; q # 40 srcn emancipation had been
UaGe"
The proposition merely declares that if a
slave reyans in the Common veal: N ,re than
tsei9o uonihS, be shall be restored IL the same
Condition that be would be in if that atteu pted
emancipation had not oeen naie; and is no!
mat ,h' o. jet that we ale seeking - acoon-
pls;?
hr. 1ArNosD.-I would ask the gentleman
to whU, .he ucgIo IS TO btlong after Re is re
stored o his IorGer condition!
Mr 3SocKE.-Iia a slave remains !onsr- :han
t~@lse months in the Cnnm5u7eslth zf!er he
is eua2cipa!sd by decd, he belonya sc bic cTi
glnhi owner. II the emancipation ko hy Till,
aud Ire slave remain in the Common eaith
more than twelve moalhs, then h;s freedom is
forfeited. and The slave passes 20 the residrary
leg7iee, if there De orr; ard If no:, 10 the ais.
tributes at large Of tie tee a.cr.
Mr.. sHEFFLr.-I nave ont single objection
to the proposition o. he gentleman.
II yO1 declare deed void which is made by
irsa il a., III: Linz, erauc;ra:iag his slaves
md lis slave actE IL months ia returned to
hi' usa:e7, IS is bere proposed, lbe master has
out the hcs: CO.; 70 make another deed Of
euanci pdt;JD. aEd after twelve months u,ore
the Constitution ls.in restores to hin the own
elsh'p Of the slave, ard thus might this or.
Go,t ri eE1arc.pa:i0n and ownership proceed
to Tie ED oi time. So that 7cu would fs,sb
lish by tlis s,nencment a status intel mediate
between state Of slavery ard state of free.
dom. hcn w1ull Dc found very iaconVenient,
and at var with the institution e slavery
This seems 70 me TO be serious ohjsction to
TIC proposition CT the gentleman ircm EGu-
qpier, lAr BRooss)
Tns substitute WIS r. acted.
T"c section, as amended, was then adopted
The ?Q.h section was then read. as follows:
The Gerr:al Assembly MAJ impose such
restriciiona and conditions as they shall dselr
proper on the power OF slave owners to enan-
cipa'e their slaves, AID ray pass laws fog ,he
rs.,e. 1rn 1t suascn IH o. removal or otherwise"
MIR. boti.DiE move the following amend
men. 70 come 10 after tie word may" IN the
Grst line:
"Pfohibi! the future emancipation Of
slave, o." SO that that par: Of tho section, if
amended. Eil read
The General Assembly may prohibit the
cs SNnreC jrDr EIIch
restrictions" &c.
Mr.. BoULoIS.-1 do not desire to mako any
argument upon this question. This amend
which genti"trca S EN- 10 have 10 the propcsi.
tons 15ich hsvo been rfj:ced I have intro,
dneed i: with yiew 10 give to the General
Assembly = povtr which several gentlemen
seem 10 think they hsd not ucdsr the oher
provisions.
TIE anendneA: TaS adopted
Mr. TnCDs Il mere 20 strike c.: n the 9rd
line tho word may" aad irsert the word
shall" 90 that Tho section, il the amendment
is adopted. will read
"The Genera! Assembly mag prohibit the
future emancipation OF slaves. or impose such
Restrictions and conditions as thoy shall deem
proper on The power OF slavo oeners 10 enaa.
cipatc :heir sls7cs, end shnl! pass laws for the
relief OF the Common n~sal,h frcn the free re-
gro population 81 E;ncTGi OF othcrwis-."
Mr. CaIMBLl9s There are /: seems to me,
sens reesons rhy thin matter should be left
to Inc xisdoa, Of tae legislature without any
sucA restriction as is here proposed. II you
impcse restriction, and roTap.l the Legisla.
:ure 70 remove thr trsseat free regro pcpula
;ion, YOU ril iHcur tao evils E.rst you
will open the door 10 much worso
population than tie FIRE negrosE. You
tnust have labor, and tie vacuum which
the removal OF the free eg7oes will create,
will inevitably De filled up hy scother, and IN
my opinion worse clsss. will ssy that OF
nox;pis aa the free tlfgrrts are to me, end de-
letericui IS they are TO thes!avss, would pre-
fer them to The low and vicious class which
would undoubtedly thkc their pace3 n The
lower regions Of Virginia, there are vast NUN.
bars OF free negroes ~ho supply the labor re
quirements of tao:e 81 40 do not own slaves. -
lacy hsrc nc others to do the drudgery OF
taeiT firm3 and in their household. Snd have
no doubt you would create dissatisfaction
throughout this cl!s5 Of our population if you
force me free uegrces 70 leave, for the oct will
.: once ts attributed to the ioaueEce Of the
s!svs o1IeTs who are setklog 10 enhance the
7slus Of thoir slaves
The situation Of our people on the border
is ver7 peculiar in this respect. A great many
sllTe o~nsrs vii! not permit their slaves to 60
down upon the borders because Of the facili-
ties which they have to get a~py. There ore
ia that eecs:on great naoy wood cutters, who,
fro:n th's cause, will be compelled to employ
FREQ nsgross, rod if they leave. why, nothing
Is Lost.
Ir view Of these facts: aud Others which |
have rot now tlrne to present. it seems to me
that The proper course IS 10 leave this matter
to the Hisdom Ct The Legislature. II the evils
bec2ma in,olsrable, it will be competent for
the Legislature at any time to remedy 1t by
prescribing proper regulations for sae removal
of this class IRON the State.
There sro great many Of the free negroes
of the Stlte who have volunteered their ser
vices to put up breast works and perform ctheI