The Daily Dispatch: June 29, 1861., [Electronic resource]

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The free negroes.

--As a general thing, these persons as a class are considered worthless as citizens, though there are many honorable exceptions to the rule in their ranks. The bad, however, bring discredit on those entitled to credit, and therefore, for the most part, in the eyes of the people, to be a free negro is to be idle, trifling and good for nothing. The judgment is harsh, but valid on the principle that the majority of a class gives tone and direction to the whole. The Mayor yesterday said in his court-room that not one-tenth of the free negro population of Richmond were charged with tithable, which one can well believe, knowing their universal objection to physical exertion, by which alone they could acquire sustenance. The officer in question has very properly, we think, directed the police to bring before him all free negroes who have not paid their taxes. Such parties will no doubt be committed as vagrants, and set to work either on projected fortifications for city defence or on the various streets that may need repairing during the summer months. Yesterday, John King, free negro, was brought up for the non-payment of his taxes and committed as a vagrant.--Bill Graves was committed for going about without a certificate of his freedom.--Scott Harris, Joe Gilpin and Kitt Scott were lectured as vagrants, and it is believed sent to jail, as the officers started with some half-dozen colored subjects to the lock up.