Charles Crenshaw represents that Capt. Izard Bacon died on 8 January 1815, having previously expressed his desire to emancipate his slaves "as soon as a law can be obtained giving them leave to remain in the state." Crenshaw reveals that Bacon "manifested great concern at the alteration of the law putting it out of his power to execute his steady & known intention." The petitioner further discloses that said slaves "are willing & anxious to leave the State rather than remain in their present situation." He notes that "it is believed to be the policy of the Legislature & the interest of the state to diminish its black population & that consequently a law liberating them upon condition of leaving the state would have for its broad basis the humane will of their master living & dying, the anxious desire of his faithful Slaves, the policy of the Legislature & the interest of the state, the passage of which is therefor hereby solicited." The petitioner also requests that a trustee be appointed "to take charge of these People with power to collect the money due for their services since the death of their Master, as a fund to defray the expenses of their removal & to assist them in settling."
Result: Reasonable.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
