[1] _The African Repository_, XXVI, 246, and XXIX, 14.
[2] Jay, "An Inquiry into the Character and Tendencies of the American
Colonization and American Anti-Slavery Societies," p. 26 _et passim_;
Stebbins, "Facts and Opinions Touching the Real Origin, Character, and
Influence of the American Colonization Society," p. 63 _et seq._; _The
African Repository_, and Colonization Society Letters in the Library of
Congress.
[3] Garrison, "Thoughts on Colonization," 8.
[4] Colonization Society Letters, 1826, Letter of J. Gales, of Raleigh,
North Carolina. Niles Register, XXXV, 386; XLI, 103.
[5] The leaders of this meeting were: James Forten, chairman, Russell
Parrott, secretary, Rev. Absalom Jones, Rev. Richard Allen, Robert
Douglass, Francis Perkins, Rev. John Gloucester, Robert Gordon, James
Johnson, Quamony Clarkson, John Sommerset, and Randall Shepherd. See
Garrison's "Thoughts on African Colonization." Niles Register, XVII, 30.
[6] Stebbins, "Origin, Character and Influence of the American Colonization
Society," 194.
[7] The address was as follows:
"Relieved from the miseries of slavery, many of us by your aid,
possessing benefits which industry and integrity in this prosperous
country assures to all its inhabitants, enjoying the rich blessings
of religion, by opportunities of worshipping the only true God, under
the light of Christianity, each of us according to his understanding;
and having afforded us and our children the means of education and
improvement; we have no wish to separate from our present homes, for
any purpose whatever. Contented with our present situation and
condition, we are desirous of increasing the prosperity, by honest
efforts, and by the use of the opportunities, for their improvement,
which the constitution and laws allow.
"We, therefore, a portion of those who are the objects of this plan,
and among those whose benefits, with them of others of color, it is
intended to promote; with humble and grateful acknowledgments to
those who have devised it, renounce and disclaim every connection
with it; and respectfully and firmly declare our determination not to
participate in any part of it.
"Nor do we view the colonization of those who may become emancipated
by its operation among our southern brethren, as capable to produce
their happiness. Unprepared by education and a knowledge of the
principles of our blessed religion, for their new situation, those
who will thus become colonized will thus be surrounded by every
suffering which can affect the members of the human family.
"Without arts, without habits of industry, and unaccustomed to
provide by their own exertions and foresight for their wants, the
colony will soon become the abode of every vice, and the home of
every misery. Soon will the light of Christianity, which now dawns
among that portion of our species, be cut out by the clouds of
ignorance, and their day of life be closed, without the illumination
of the gospel.
"To those of our brethren who shall be left behind, there will be
assured perpetual slavery and augmented sufferings. Diminished in
numbers, the slave population of the southern states, which by their
magnitude alarms its proprietors, will be easily secured. Those who
among their bondsmen, who feel that they should be free, by right
which all mankind have from God and from nature, will be sent to the
colony; and the timid and submissive will be retained, and subjected
to increasing rigor. Year after year will witness those means to
assure safety and submission among their slaves, and the southern
masters will colonize only those who it may be dangerous to keep
among them. The bondage of a large portion of our members will thus
be rendered perpetual.
"Disclaiming, as we emphatically do, a wish or desire to interpose
our opinions and feelings between the plan of colonization and the
judgment of those whose wisdom as far as exceeds ours as their
situations are exalted above ours, we humbly, respectfully, and
fervently intreat and beseech your disapprobation of the plan of
colonization now offered by the American Society for colonizing the
free people of color of the United States. Here in the city of
Philadelphia, where the voice of the suffering sons of Africa was
first heard; where was first commenced the work of abolition, on
which heaven has smiled, for it could have had success only from the
Great Maker; will not a purpose be assisted which will state the
cause of the entire abolition of slavery in the United States, and
which may defeat it altogether; which proffers to those who do not
ask for them what it calls benefits, but which they consider
injurious and which must insure to the multitudes whose prayers can
only reach you through us, misery, sufferings, and perpetual slavery.
"James Forten, _Chairman_,
"Russell Parrott, _Secretary_."
[8] Garrison, "Thoughts on Colonization," p. 10.
[9] _The African Repository_, II, 295 _et seq._
[10] It must be borne in mind, too, that _The African Repository_, in which
appeared most of the letters of Negroes favoring emigration to Africa, was
the organ of the American Colonization Society.
[11] _The African Repository_, VII, 216.
[12] Ibid., XII, 149-150.
[13] During these years conditions were becoming intolerable for the free
blacks in the South.
[14] _The African Repository_, VII, 230.
[15] Colonization Society Letters, 1832.
[16] _The African Repository_, XXIII, 190.
[17] Colonization Society Letters, 1848-1851.
[18] _The African Repository_, XXVI, 276.
[19] Ibid., XXVI, 194.
[20] Ibid., XXVIII, (July 12, 1848).
[21] Colonization Society Letters, 1831, _passim._
[22] Letter of T. H. Gallaudet in the Colonization Society Letters, 1831.
[23] Jay, "An Inquiry into the Character and Tendencies of the American
Colonization Society," 28 _et passim._
[24] Garrison, "Thoughts on African Colonization," 22.
[25] Garrison, "Thoughts on Colonization," 22.
[26] Ibid., 23.
[27] Ibid., 11.
[28] The resolutions were as follows:
"_Resolved_, That this meeting contemplate, with lively interest, the
reported progress of the sentiments of liberty among our degraded
brethren, and that we legally oppose every operation that may have a
tendency to perpetuate our present political condition.
"_Resolved_, That this meeting look upon the American Colonization
Society as a clamorous, abusive and peace-disturbing combination.
"_Resolved_, That this meeting look upon those clergymen, who have
filled the ears of their respective congregations with the absurd
idea of the necessity of removing the free colored people from the
United States, as highly deserving the just reprehension directed to
the false prophets and priests, by Jeremiah, the true prophet, as
recorded in the twenty-third chapter of his prophesy.
"_Resolved_, That this meeting appeal to the generous and enlightened
public for an impartial hearing relative to the subject of our
present political condition.
"_Resolved_, That the gratitude of this meeting, which is so sensibly
felt, be fully expressed to those whose independence of mind and
correct views of the rights of man have led them so fearlessly to
speak in favor of our cause; that we rejoice to behold in them such a
strong desire to extend towards us the inestimable blessings in the
gift of a wise Providence which is deemed by all nature, and for
which their valiant fathers struggled in the Revolution.
"ROBERT ROBERTS, _Chairman_,
"JAMES G. BARBARDOES, _Secretary_"
--Garrison, "Thoughts on African Colonization," 20.
[29] Ibid., 13.
[30] Garrison, "Thoughts on Colonization," 23-24.
[31] Ibid., 28-29.
[32] Ibid., 30-31.
[33] Garrison, "Thoughts on African Colonization," 31-32.
[34] Ibid., 34-35.
[35] Ibid., 49. Among the resolutions passed were:
"_Resolved_, That we hold these truths to be self-evident (and it is
the boasted declaration of our independence), that all men (black and
white, poor and rich) are born free and equal; that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these
are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
"_Resolved_, That we feel it to be our duty to be true to the
constitution of our country, and are satisfied with the form of
government under which we now live; and, moreover, that we are bound
in duty and reason to protect it against foreign invasion; that we
always have done so and will do so still.
"_Resolved_, That we view the efforts of the Colonization Society as
officious and uncalled for. We have never done anything worthy of
banishment from our friends and home."--Garrison, "Thoughts on
African Colonization," 41.
[36] Garrison, "Thoughts on African Colonization," 40-41.
[37] Ibid., 33-34.
[38] Ibid., 45-47.
[9] Believing it his duty to aid any free person or persons of color who
thought it best and wished to emigrate, instead of opposing them he had
given his personal support in their efforts to leave the country. Records
would show that he had helped the most prominent men of the Colony to get
there, among them being John B. Russwurm and James M. Thompson, two
excellent men and good scholars.--_African Repository_, X, 187.
[40] Cornish and Wright, "The Colonization Scheme Considered," 7.
[40a] _African Repository_, XXIV, 158.
[41] _The African Repository_, XXIV, 261.
[42] Reference is here made to the "Black Laws" of Ohio, passed to prevent
the immigration of persecuted blacks from the South into that commonwealth.
[43] Proceedings of the Third Annual Convention of the Free People of
Color.
[44] At this time the free blacks throughout the country were being urged
by Abolitionists to redouble their attacks on the American Colonization
Society. The Negroes merely needed to follow their lead.
[46] Having the idea that the colonization scheme meant the expatriation of
the free Negroes, several of their eminent leaders and anti-slavery friends
advocated the colonization of the colored people on the western public
lands.
[45] _The African Repository_, XX, 316, 317.
[47] _The African Repository_, XXII, 265.
[48] Ibid., XXVI, 221.
[49] Stebbins, "Facts and Opinions Touching the Real Origin and Influence
of the American Colonization Society," 196.
[50] Ibid., 197.
[51] Ibid., 202.
[52] Ibid., 199.
[53] Ibid., 200.
[54] Ibid., 201.
[55] Ibid., 206.
[56] Ibid., 206.
[57] Stebbins, "Facts and Opinions Touching the Real Origin, Character and
Influence of the American Colonization Society," 207.
[58] Ibid., 208.
[59] Ibid., 208.
[60] Cornish and Wright, "The Colonization Scheme Considered," 7.
[61] "Having now done what we could," said they, "we ask you in view of the
whole case whether you ought longer to take advantage of our weakness and
press on us an enterprise that we have rejected from the first? Whether you
ought to persist in a scheme which nourishes an unreasonable and
un-Christian prejudice--which persuades legislatures to continue their
unjust enactments against us in all their rigor--which exposes us to the
persecution of the proud and profligate--which cuts us off from employment,
and straitens our means of subsistence--which afflicts us with the feeling
that our condition is unstable--and prevents us from making efforts for our
improvement, or for the advancement of our own usefullness and benefits and
with our families."--Cornish and Wright, "The Colonization Scheme
Considered," 8.
[62] Stebbins, "Facts and Opinions Touching the Real Origin, Character and
Influence of the American Colonization Society," 208.
[63] _The African Repository_, XXVI, 294.
[64] Douglass, "Life and Times of Frederick Douglass," 260.
[65] Crummell thought so well of it that he went to Africa for this
purpose. See _The African Repository_, XXX, 125.
[66] Ibid., LXIII, 273.
[67] Niles' Register, LVI, 165 and 180.
[68] _The African Repository_, XXIII, 374.
[69] Ibid., XXIV, 243.
[70] Mr. Washington had been active in securing the assistance of a few men
of superior ability and high ideals and finally entered into negotiations
with the authorities for a tract of land in Mexico on which he proposed to
colonize the free Negroes of the United States, but the war in that country
prevented the execution of the plan. He was compelled finally to abandon
the plan of a separate state in America, but gave all his time, voice and
pen and means to the cause of emigration to Liberia. See _New York
Tribune_, ----, and _The African Repository_, XXVII, 259.
[71] Anthony Bowen, who was at that time a messenger in the Patent Office
at Washington, D.C., was the uncle of Nathaniel Bowen. See _The African
Repository_, XXVIII, 164.
[72] _The African Repository_, XXI, 285.
[73] _The Cincinnati Gazette_, July 14, 1841.
[74] Stebbins, "Facts and Opinions Touching the Real Origin, Character and
Influence of the American Colonization Society," 200-201.
[75] _The Baltimore Sun_, July 27, 28 and 29, 1852.
[76] Stebbins, "Facts and Opinions, etc.," 200-201.
[77] Cromwell, "The Negro in American History," 42.
[78] _The North Star_, 1853.
[79] Letter of Bishop Holly in Cromwell's "Negro in American History,"
43-44.
[80] Ibid., 44.
[81] _The African Repository_, XXIV, 261.
[82] Letter of Bishop Holly in Cromwell's "The Negro in American History,"
44.
[83] _The Liberator_, 1833.
[84] _The African Repository_, XXIII, 117.
[85] United States Census, 1850 and 1860.