<petition><petition_analysis_number>11683702</petition_analysis_number><petition_url>https://dlas.uncg.edu/petitions/petition/11683702</petition_url><state>Virginia</state><county>Spotsylvania</county><location_type>County</location_type><file_day>27</file_day><file_month>1</file_month><file_year>1837</file_year><filing_court>Legislative</filing_court><result>referred to select committee</result><enslaved_count>0</enslaved_count><fpoc_count>0</fpoc_count><total_people_count>10</total_people_count><repository>Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia</repository><abstract>The presence of free blacks "must always be pernicious to the slaves and injurious to their owners," a group of one hundred thirty-nine Fredericksburg residents contend.  The legislature should support colonization to West Africa or "any other place."   Colonization would not only ameliorate the condition of free blacks, but as colonists they would spread "the blessing of Christianity and civilization" throughout Africa.</abstract><subjects><subject>State residency issues (FPOC)</subject><subject>Colonization to resettle</subject><subject>White affection (FPOC)</subject></subjects></petition>