Petition #11683612

Abstract

Fifty-five residents of Northumberland County assert that they "labour under the most serious disadvantages from the free negro population among them." They further declare that "this class of people as is well known to your honourable body is every thing that is the very opposite of honesty and industry." The petitioners aver that "their intercourse with the slaves is of the most corrupting character and renders many of the laws passed for the protection of the citizens of the commonwealth perfectly inoperative"; in particular, they oppose the sale of ardent spirits to free blacks and they suggest that "free negroes and mulattoes be prevented from selling grain or other agricultural productions without being licensed in some way." They therefore pray that "further enactments as in the Judgment of your honourable body will correct the evils complained of."

Result: Rejected.

10 people are documented within petition 11683612

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Citation information

Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia

Subjects