Seventy-seven residents of Culpepper County represent that "the large increase of that portion of the population of the County of Culpeper, known as free persons of Colour, of late has created a grievance which they think ought to be removed -- indeed unless it can to some extent be relieved, it is difficult to tell what will be the condition of the white people." They decry that "free negroes congregate in and about our little Towns and by [idling] their time indeed entirely neglecting to work they show no visible means of support, and must steal or perish." They further assert that "the great number of slaves in Culpeper (more numerous at the last Census than the whites) furnishes them very readily with the means of obtaining supplies at the expense of the industrious farmers and merchants." The petitioners are fully convinced that their grievances "cannot be relieved but by sending free negroes away." Proposing that they "do that at their own expense," they submit that, "as the details of a bill to effect their object, they willingly and cheerfully leave that to the wisdom and justice of your honb body."
Result: Referred to committee for courts of justice.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
