Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-02-18
The Free Negro Dodge.-The Figures
from tho Census
rProu the WolIsburg Hsra!d.l


The Bstteruuts, Just now, are exercised
upon whether II is best TO insist the strong
est, 10 their opposition to the war, upon
the injustice and impiety Of enAncpating
tho slave, or the deplOrAble consequences
that will result from tho influx Of free ne
grOes in an industrial point Of view. SOnC-
times they advance one argument, some
times the other, sometimes both, just ac-
cordiug as circumstances seem to rCuder it
advisable. People who know better, know
that Il is oil sham, that their real Auimus
Is not whit they pretend, but deadly hoStil.
ity to the Government Of the United States
ia It's efforts at putting down this rebellion.
Their hearts are with the South, and the
find 20 difficulty 10 tFumplng up 1hams.--
Shams though they are, they are not with
out on the credulous and ignorant, who
are, of all others, the most sensitive
and at the same time the easiest OF all
Others to be imposed upon. An idea seems
to prevail lhat IL West Virginia be adj
mItted into the Union as free State,
she will At ouce be ovGrrun by horde OF
free negroes, innumerable as the frogs OF
Egypt, and that the labOrers on our streets
aud farms, and the cooks in our kitchens,
will be at once thrown out Of employment
by this army Of negroes. There is no ex'
aggsration about ibis, 1t is seriously be-
lievrd aud for purpose, the idea Is sedn-
lOusly encouraged. Could anything be
more unreasonable or unfounded. Leaving
out Of the question the fact, that the negro
is not particularly Ru industrious or euer-
ertic animal, that he is not generally Il
skilled workman, that the natural tendency
Of the race is 10 migrate sOuthwa d Instead
OF 10 the North, u little observation Of NC.
lual affairs ought to SAtisfySAuy one, that
there need be no fears Of Troublesome in.
tuI Of free negroes into Western Virgi mia.
10 the lirst place, the law Of the State
positively and under heavy penalty forbidS
their importation from without, while there
is nothing 10 tho constitution to prohibit
severer ones, II necessary, or TO interfere
with the rigid execution Of what We have,
II the people desire it. Nor Is 1t rcasouA.
bic that the increase Of those already with.
in the State, or to become so under The
free State clause OF the Wiley bill, will
ever become formidable. 1t is probable
on the contrary, that before that clause car
go into effect, very large proportion OIL
the slsyes will be converted into money
aud started Southwark. At any rate
their increase will be no greater undel
the Wiley bill than otherwise. Not
withstanding the fact, that Ohio Is free
State, has been for more than half q
century, borders on slave StaleS, hnt
been branded as hot bed of abo'
litiunisLs and free negroes, the number o.
free negroes all told Is only y little Ovel
$4,000, in a white population Of two aud Q
quarter million souls, 10 some entire
counties there is not black man or womaE
to be found; aud even among the YaukeoS
| Of the Reserve, their number is surprising.
" small. In the large towns aud citiel
they cOngregate and there is the bulk o.
the negro population. Yet to hear the iu'
Rubrious prophecies Of the opponents OF a
free State, Ohio should before this time
have beVn crowded with free negroes. Ia
Pennsylvania the proportion is about The
same-l negro to every 50 whites-hardIy
enough for boolblackS.
We have compiled table from the pre-,
liuiRary report Of the census Of 1860
which puts the matter in fair light:
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