Sixty-four residents of St. Helena Parish are "convinced of the pernicious condition resulting to the State of So Ca from the number of Free persons of colour within her limits," and they "beg leave respectfully to bring the subject before" the Legislature. They contend that the state "not only derives no Strength from the class of which we complain, but is essentially injured; the example of indolence and vice exhibited by the coloured free persons is perpetually before the slaves; they encourage insubordination by principle as well as example"; they also cite that "coloured labourers" take jobs from the "white mechanics." The petitioners "cannot believe that you will permit a class so useless, pernicious, and degrading to the character of the State, to Supplant the intelligent industrious" persons who would be so essential to the State's "physical and moral strength." They therefore pray "that you will take the whole subject into consideration, and make such provision for the removal of the free coloured persons."
Result: Tabled.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
