Twenty-six citizens of Rockingham County "regard the residence of a free black population among us as already a serious nuisance, and deprecate its increase with fearful apprehension." The petitioners believe the "scheme of African colonization presents a certain -- cheap -- and humane plan of removing the free blacks from amongst us, and at the same time of vastly bettering their condition." With the act passed 4 March 1833 about to expire, the petitioners pray "that the General Assembly will make such a liberal appropriation in aid of the removal to, and colonization in Africa, of the free coloured people of Virginia, as the dignity of the commonwealth -- her resources -- and the great importance of the object demanded ... so as to place the appropriation more immediately under the control of the State Colonization Society" and enable the removal of "all free coloured persons, now residing in this commonwealth, and willing to be transported to Africa."
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
