Resolved, That the call of this meeting be approved of, and that the

colored citizens of this town have with friendly feelings taken into

consideration the objects of the Colonization Society, together with its

movements preparatory for our removal to the coast of Africa; and we

view them as wholly gratuitous, not called for by us, and in no way

essential to the welfare of our race; and we believe that our condition

can be best improved in this our own country and native soil, the United

States of America.

Resolved, That we hold this truth to be self-evident, that all men are

born free and equal; and we are men, and therefore ought to share as

much protection and enjoy as many privileges under our federal

government as any other class of the community.

Resolved, That we will be zealous in doing all that lies in our power to

improve the condition of ourselves and brethren in this our native land.

Resolved, That there is no philanthropy towards the people of color in

the colonization plan, but that it is got up to delude us away from our

country and home into a country of sickness and death.

Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be returned to every friend

who vindicates our rights and interests.

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the Chairman

and Secretary, and sent to Boston, to be published in the Liberator.

ARTHUR COOPER, Chairman.

EDWARD J. POMPEY, Secretary.

A VOICE FROM PITTSBURGH.

PITTSBURGH, (Pa.,) Sept. 1, 1831.

At a large and respectable meeting of the colored citizens of

Pittsburgh, convened at the African Methodist Episcopal church, for the

purpose of expressing their views in relation to the American

Colonization Society, Mr J. B. Vashon was called to the chair, and Mr R.

Bryan appointed secretary. The object of the meeting was then stated at

considerable length, and in an appropriate manner, by the chairman. The

following resolutions were then unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That 'we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men

are created equal, and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable

rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of

happiness'--Liberty and Equality now, Liberty and Equality forever!

Resolved, That it is the decided opinion of this meeting, that African

colonization is a scheme to drain the better informed part of the

colored people out of these United States, so that the chain of slavery

may be rivetted more tightly; but we are determined not to be cheated

out of our rights by the colonization men, or any other set of

intriguers. We believe there is no philanthropy in the colonization plan

towards the people of color, but that it is got up to delude us away

from our country and home to the burning shores of Africa.

Resolved, That we, the colored people of Pittsburgh and citizens of

these United States, view the country in which we live as our only true

and proper home. We are just as much natives here as the members of the

Colonization Society. Here we were born--here bred--here are our

earliest and most pleasant associations--here is all that binds man to

earth, and makes life valuable. And we do consider every colored man who

allows himself to be colonized in Africa, or elsewhere, a traitor to our

cause.

Resolved, That we are freemen, that we are brethren, that we are

countrymen and fellow-citizens, and as fully entitled to the free

exercise of the elective franchise as any men who breathe; and that we

demand an equal share of protection from our federal government with any

class of citizens in the community. We now inform the Colonization

Society, that should our reason forsake us, then we may desire to

remove. We will apprise them of this change in due season.

Resolved, That we, as citizens of these United States, and for the

support of these resolutions, with a firm reliance on the protection of

divine providence, do mutually pledge to each other our lives, our

fortunes, and our sacred honor, not to support a colony in Africa nor in

Upper Canada, not yet emigrate to Hayti. Here we were born--here will we

live by the help of the Almighty--and here we will die, and let our

bones lie with our fathers.

Resolved, That we return our grateful thanks to Messrs Garrison and

Knapp, publishers of the Liberator, and Mr Lundy, editor of the Genius

of Universal Emancipation, for their untiring exertions in the cause of

philanthropy.

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the Chairman

and Secretary, and published in the Liberator.

J. B. VASHON, Chairman.

R. BRYAN, Secretary.

A VOICE FROM WILMINGTON.

WILMINGTON, July 12, 1831.

At a large and respectable meeting of the people of color of the borough

of Wilmington, convened in the African Union Church, July 12th, 1831,

for the purpose of considering the subject of colonization on the coast

of Africa:

On motion, the Rev. Peter Spencer was called to the chair, and Thomas

Dorsey appointed secretary.

The meeting was addressed by Abraham D. Shad, Junius C. Morell, Benjamin

Pascal and John P. Thompson, after which the following resolutions were

unanimously adopted.

Resolved, That this meeting view with deep regret the attempt now making

to colonize the free people of color on the western coast of Africa;

believing as we do that it is inimical to the best interests of the

people of color, and at variance with the principles of civil and

religious liberty, and wholly incompatible with the spirit of the

Constitution and Declaration of Independence of these United States.

Resolved, That we disclaim all connexion with Africa; and although the

descendants of that much afflicted country, we cannot consent to remove

to any tropical climate, and thus aid in a design having for its object

the total extirpation of our race from this country, professions to the

contrary notwithstanding.

Resolved, That a committee of three persons be appointed to prepare as

soon as practicable an address to the public, setting forth more fully

our views on the subject of colonization. The following persons were

appointed: Abraham D. Shad, Rev. Peter Spencer and W. S. Thomas.

Signed on behalf of the meeting.

PETER SPENCER, Chairman.

THOMAS DORSEY, Secretary.

_Address of the Free People of Color of the Borough of Wilmington,

Delaware._

We the undersigned, in conformity to the wishes of our brethren, beg

leave to present to the public in a calm and unprejudiced manner, our

decided and unequivocal disapprobation of the American Colonization

Society, and its auxiliaries, in relation to the free people of color in

the United States. Convinced as we are, that the operations of this

Society have been unchristian and anti-republican in principle, and at

variance with our best interests as a people, we had reason to believe

that the precepts of religion, the dictates of justice and humanity,

would have prevented any considerable portion of the community from

lending their aid to a plan which we fear was designed to deprive us of

rights that the Declaration of Independence declares are the

'unalienable rights' of all men. We were content to remain silent,

believing that the justice and patriotism of a magnanimous people would

prevent the annals of our native and beloved country from receiving so

deep a stain. But observing the growing strength and influence of that

institution, and being well aware that the generality of the public are

unacquainted with our views on this important subject, we feel it a duty

we owe to ourselves, our children and posterity, to enter our protest

against a device so fraught with evil to us. That many sincere friends

to our race are engaged in what they conceive to be a philanthropic and

benevolent enterprise, we do not hesitate to admit; but that they are

deceived, and are acting in a manner calculated most seriously to injure

the free people of color, we are equally sensible.

We are natives of the United States; our ancestors were brought to this

country by means over which they had no control; we have our attachments

to the soil, and we feel that we have rights in common with other

Americans; and although deprived through prejudice from entering into

the full enjoyment of those rights, we anticipate a period, when in

despite of the more than ordinary prejudice which has been the result of

this unchristian scheme, 'Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hands to

God.' But that this formidable Society has become a barrier to our

improvement, must be apparent to every individual who will but reflect

on the course to be pursued by the emissaries of this unhallowed

project, many of whom, under the name of ministers of the gospel, use

their influence to turn public sentiment to our disadvantage by

stigmatizing our morals, misrepresenting our characters, and endeavoring

to show what they are pleased to call the sound policy of perpetuating

our civil and political disabilities for the avowed purpose of

indirectly forcing us to emigrate to the western coast of Africa. That

Africa is neither our nation nor home, a due respect to the good sense

of the community forbids us to attempt to prove; that our language,

habits, manners, morals and religion are all different from those of

Africans, is a fact too notorious to admit of controversy. Why then are

we called upon to go and settle in a country where we must necessarily

be and remain a distinct people, having no common interest with the

numerous inhabitants of that vast and extensive country? Experience has

proved beyond a doubt, that the climate is such as not to suit the

constitutions of the inhabitants of this country; the fevers and

various diseases incident to that tropical clime, are such as in most

cases to bid defiance to the force of medicine.

The very numerous instances of mortality amongst the emigrants who have

been induced to leave this their native, for their adopted country,

clearly demonstrate the fallacy of those statements so frequently made

by the advocates of colonization in regard to the healthiness of

Liberia.

With the deepest regret we have witnessed such an immense sacrifice of

life, in advancing a cause which cannot promise the least advantage to

the free people of color, who, it was said, were the primary objects to

be benefitted by this 'heaven-born enterprise.' But we beg leave most

respectfully to ask the friends of African colonization, whether their

christian benevolence cannot in this country be equally as

advantageously applied, if they are actuated by that disinterested

spirit of love and friendship for us, which they profess? Have not they

in the United States a field sufficiently extensive to show it in? There

is embosomed within this republic, rising one million free people of

color, the greater part of whom are unable to read even the sacred

scriptures. Is not their ignorant and degraded situation worthy of the

consideration of those enlightened and christian individuals, whose zeal

for the cause of the African race has induced them to attempt the

establishment of a republican form of government amid the burning sands

of Liberia, and the evangelizing of the millions of the Mahometans and

pagans that inhabit the interior of that extensive country?

We are constrained to believe that the welfare of the people of color,

to say the least, is but a secondary consideration with those engaged in

the colonization project. Or why should we be requested to move to

Africa, and thus separated from all we hold dear in a moral point of

view, before their christian benevolence can be exercised in our behalf?

Surely there is no country of which we have any knowledge, that offers

greater facilities for the improvement of the unlearned; or where

benevolent and philanthropic individuals can find a people, whose

situation has greater claims on their christian sympathies, than the

people of color. But whilst we behold a settled determination on the

part of the American Colonization Society to remove us to Liberia,

without using any means to better our condition at home, we are

compelled to look with fearful diffidence on every measure of that

institution. At a meeting held on the 7th inst. in this borough, the

people of color were politely invited to attend, the object of which was

to induce the most respectable part of them to emigrate. The meeting was

addressed by several reverend gentlemen, and very flattering accounts

given on the authority of letters and statements said to have been

received from individuals of unquestionable veracity. But we beg leave

to say, that those statements differ so widely from letters that we have

seen of recent date from the colony, in regard to the condition and

circumstances of the colonists, that we are compelled in truth to say

that we cannot reconcile such contradictory statements, and are

therefore inclined to doubt the former, as they appear to have been

prepared to present to the public, for the purpose of enlisting the

feelings of our white friends into the measure, and of inducing the

enterprising part of the colored community to emigrate at their own

expense. That we are in this country a degraded people, we are truly

sensible; that our forlorn situation is not attributable to ourselves is

admitted by the most ardent friends of colonization; and that our

condition cannot be bettered by removing the most exemplary individuals

of color from amongst us, we are well convinced, from the consideration

that in the same ratio that the industrious part would emigrate, in the

same proportion those who would remain would become more degraded,

wretched and miserable, and consequently less capable of appreciating

the many opportunities which are now offering for the moral and

intellectual improvement of our brethren. We, therefore, a portion of

those who are the objects of this plan, and amongst those whose

happiness, with that of others of our color, it is intended to promote,

respectfully but firmly disclaim every connexion with it, and declare

our settled determination not to participate in any part of it.

But if this plan is intended to facilitate the emancipation of those who

are held in slavery in the South, and the melioration of their

condition, by sending them to Liberia; we question very much whether it

is calculated to do either. That the emancipation of slaves has been

measurably impeded through its influence, except where they have been

given up to the Board of Managers, to be colonized in Africa, to us is

manifest. And when we contemplate their uneducated and vitiated state,

destitute of the arts and unaccustomed to provide even for themselves,

we are inevitably led to the conclusion that their situation in that

pestilential country will be miserable in the extreme.

The present period is one of deep and increasing interest to the free

people of color, relieved from the miseries of slavery and its

concomitant evils, with the vast and (to us) unexplored field of

literature and science before us, surrounded by many friends whose

sympathies and charities need not the Atlantic between us and them,

before they can consent to assist in elevating our brethren to the

standing of men. We therefore particularly invite their attention to

the subject of education and improvement; sensible that it is much

better calculated to remove prejudice, and exalt our moral character,

than any system of colonization that has been or can be introduced; and

in which we believe we shall have the co-operation of the wisest and

most philanthropic individuals of which the nation can boast. The

utility of learning and its salutary effects on the minds and morals of

a people, cannot have escaped the notice of any rational individual

situated in a country like this, where in order successfully to

prosecute any mechanical or other business, education is indispensable.

Our highest moral ambition, at present, should be to acquire for our

children a liberal education, give them mechanical trades, and thus fit

and prepare them for useful and respectable citizens; and leave the

evangelizing of Africa, and the establishing of a republic at Liberia,

to those who conceive themselves able to demonstrate the practicability

of its accomplishment by means of a people, numbers of whom are more

ignorant than even the natives of that country themselves.

In conclusion, we feel it a pleasing duty ever to cherish a grateful

respect for those benevolent and truly philanthropic individuals, who

have advocated, and still are advocating our rights in our native

country. Their indefatigable zeal in the cause of the oppressed will

never be forgotten by us, and unborn millions will bless their names in

the day when the all-wise Creator, in whom we trust, shall have bidden

oppression to cease.

ABRAHAM D. SHAD, }

PETER SPENCER, } Committee to prepare

WM. S. THOMAS, } an Address.

A VOICE FROM HARRISBURG.

HARRISBURG, Pa., October, 1831.

At a large, well informed and respectable meeting of the citizens of

Harrisburg, convened at the African Wesleyan Methodist church, for the

purpose of expressing their sentiments in a remonstrance against the

proceedings of the American Colonization Society, Rev. Jacob D.

Richardson was called to the chair, and Jacob G. Williams appointed

secretary. After singing and prayer, Rev. Mr Richardson in some concise

remarks,--equalled by few, and exceeded by none,--expressed the object

of the meeting. The chairman called the house to order, and the

following resolutions were unanimously acceded to:

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. This is the language of America,

of reason, and of eternal truth.

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. 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 by us. We have never done any thing worthy of

banishment from our friends and home: but this we would say--if the

Colonization Society will use their best endeavors to get our slave

brethren transported to Liberia, when we as a free body of people wish

to go, we will give the colonizationists timely notice.

Resolved, That it is the firm and decided opinion of this meeting, that

were there no free people of color among us, or if those who are free

had remained in the degraded character of slaves, (or, as they sometimes

call us, monkeys, apes and baboons,) they would never have got up the

chimerical scheme for our transportation to the burning shores of

Africa, with the fancied vision of elevating us, as they say, to dignity

and affluence.

Resolved, That we cannot remain inactive while colonizationists are

straining every nerve and racking their inventions to find out arguments

to persuade our free colored brethren to migrate to an unknown land,

which we can no more lay claim to than our white brethren can to England

or any other foreign country.

Resolved, That we reject the inhuman and unchristian measures taken by

the Colonization Society, for the illumination of the colored citizens

of the United States, their appropriate home, in a land of sickness,

affliction and death, when they are not willing, with few exceptions, to

give us a christian education while among them. We would wish to know of

the colonizationists, how, in the name of common sense and reason, do

they expect to do any thing for us thousands of miles across the

Atlantic, when they oppose almost every measure taken by our white

friends and brethren to improve our condition here?

Resolved, That it is the united opinion of this meeting, that the

enemies of our race, who are members of the Colonization Society, see

that the great Author of universal existence, who 'is no respecter of

persons,' who taught Balaam's ass to speak, and taught Solomon wisdom,

is now enlightening the sable sons of America: hence their object to

drain the country of the most enlightened part of our colored brethren,

so that they may be more able to hold their slaves in bondage and

ignorance.

Resolved, That we object to leaving the land of our birth, as there is

sufficient land in these United States, on which a colony can be

established that would be far more consonant to the wishes of the

colored population generally, and would be more adapted to their

constitution: neither would it involve the country in such expense as

would be incurred by sending them to a howling wilderness, far away from

the graves of their forefathers, unknown to us in every respect, unless

by geography, which few of us understand.

Resolved, That this meeting look upon the Colonization Society as a

vicious, nefarious and peace-disturbing combination, and that its

leaders might as well essay to cure a wound with an argument, or set a

dislocated bone by a lecture on logic, as to tell us their object is to

better our condition; because its members acknowledge slavery to be a

national evil, and use no means to annihilate it, but are exerting all

their energies and influence to persuade the free people of color to

remove to Africa, whose rights to Columbia's happy soil holds good with

any other citizen in America.

Resolved, That we look upon the conduct of those clergymen who have

misled their respective congregations with the preposterous idea of the

necessity of transporting the free people of color to Africa, as highly

deserving the just reprehension directed to the false priests and

prophets by the true prophets of the Most High; yet we gratefully

acknowledge the respect we entertain for those who have defended our

cause--we mean our white friends.

Resolved, That this meeting appoint Mr George Chester of Harrisburg, as

agent for the Liberator, and will use our utmost endeavors to get

subscribers for the same.

Resolved, That we will support the Colony in Canada, the climate being

healthy and the rights of our brethren secured.

Resolved, That the gratitude of this meeting, which is so sensibly felt,

be fully expressed to the Editors of the Liberator and Genius of

Universal Emancipation, Messrs Garrison and Lundy, whose independence of

mind and correct views of the rights of man have led them so intrepidly

to speak in favor of our cause.

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the Chairman

and Secretary, and sent to the Liberator for publication.

JACOB D. RICHARDSON, Chairman.

JACOB G. WILLIAMS, Secretary.

A VOICE FROM ROCHESTER.

ROCHESTER, N. Y., October, 1831.

A large number of the colored citizens of Rochester having convened

themselves together, for the important object of taking into

consideration the anti-republican principles of the American

Colonization Society, the Rev. Mr Johnson was called to the chair, and

Mr A. Lawrence was appointed secretary.

The meeting was then briefly addressed by the secretary as follows:

Countrymen and Brothers--When viewing the inhumanity and anti-christian

principles of the American Colonization Society, in plotting our removal

to Africa, (which is unknown to us as our native country,) it seems as

though we were called upon publicly to express our feelings on the

subject. We do not consider Africa to be our home, any more than the

present whites do England, Scotland, or Ireland. This is the land our

fathers have tilled before us; this is the land that gave us our

birthright.--The meeting then

Resolved, That we never will remove to Africa; but should any of our

brethren wish to emigrate, we would recommend Canada as a country far

more congenial to our constitutions;--that we give our most sincere

thanks to our friendly advocates Messrs Garrison and Knapp, and Mr

Benjamin Lundy, who are crying unto their fellow men, night and day, to

let their countrymen go free: they will be called blessed by many

generations yet to come. The Colonization Society say that they cannot

treat us as men while we are with them; but if we will go out of their

reach, they will begin their charity. What should we think of such

religion as this? Because our skin is a little darker than theirs, they

say they cannot think of treating us as men. The scripture says, 'Beware

of wolves in sheep's clothing'--and such they seem to be. We earnestly

believe, with our generous friend Garrison, that it would not be a hard

matter to exceed them in doing right. Our blessed Lord said, that we

should do to all men as we would have them do to us. Now what would they

think, if we should tell them that they would be better off in New

Holland or in Tartary?

Resolved, That we will do all in our power to support the Liberator,

printed by Mr Garrison, and all other works in our behalf.

Resolved, That the foregoing proceedings be published in the Liberator.

HENRY JOHNSON, Chairman.

A. LAWRENCE, Secretary.

A VOICE FROM PROVIDENCE.

PROVIDENCE, November 1, 1831.

At a respectable meeting of the colored people of Providence, R. I.,

duly appointed and publicly holden at the African church, on the 31st of

October, 1831, to take into consideration the objects and motives of the

American Colonization Society, Mr George C. Willis was called to the

chair, and Mr Alfred Niger appointed secretary. The meeting was then

addressed at some length by the chairman, stating their object in

assembling together, and exposing the injustice and prejudice by which

he believed the friends of African colonization were actuated. The

following preamble and resolutions were read by the secretary, and

unanimously adopted:

Whereas our brethren, in different parts of the United States, have

thought proper to call meetings to express their disapprobation of the

American Colonization Society; we, concurring fully with them in

opinion, have assembled ourselves together for the purpose of uniting

with them, in declaring that we believe the operations of the Society

have been unchristian and anti-republican, and at variance with our best

interests as a people. Therefore,

Resolved, That we will use every fair and honorable means in our power,

to oppose the operations of the above mentioned Society.

Resolved, That we are truly sensible that we are in this country a

degraded and ignorant people; but that our ignorance and degradation are

not to be attributed to the inferiority of our natural abilities, but to

the oppressive treatment we have experienced from the whites in general,

and to the prejudice excited against us by the members of the

Colonization Society, their aiders and abettors.

Resolved, That we view, with unfeigned astonishment, the anti-christian

and inconsistent conduct of those who so strenuously advocate our

removal from this our native country to the burning shores of Liberia,

and who with the same breath contend against the cruelty and injustice

of Georgia in her attempt to remove the Cherokee Indians west of the

Mississippi.

Resolved, That we firmly believe, from the recent measures adopted by

the freemen of the city of New Haven, in regard to the establishment of

a College for our education in that place, that the principal object of

the friends of African colonization is to oppose our education and

consequent elevation here, as it will deprive them of one of their

principal arguments for our removal.

Resolved, That as our fathers participated with the whites in their

struggle for liberty and independence, and believing with the

Declaration of that Independence, 'that all men are created free and

equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable

rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;'

and as we have committed no crime worthy of banishment--Therefore

Resolved, That we will not leave our homes, nor the graves of our

fathers, and this boasted land of liberty and christian philanthropy.

Resolved, That, our unfeigned and sincere thanks be tendered to Messrs

Garrison and Knapp, and to every true friend to our cause, for their

unwearied and truly benevolent exertions in our behalf.

Resolved, That we will earnestly recommend the Liberator, published in

Boston by the above mentioned gentlemen, to the patronage of our friends

throughout the country.

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the Chairman

and Secretary, and sent to Boston, with the request that they may be

published in the Liberator.

GEORGE C. WILLIS, Chairman.

ALFRED NIGER, Secretary.

A VOICE FROM TRENTON.

TRENTON, November 30, 1831.

At a respectable meeting of the free people of color in Trenton,

convened in the Mount Zion church, November 30, 1831, for the purpose of

considering the subject of colonization on the coast of Africa--On

motion, the Rev. Lewis Cork was called to the chair, and Abner H.

Francis appointed secretary. The meeting was addressed by Messrs

Gardener and Thompson; after which, the following resolutions were

unanimously adopted.

Resolved, Inasmuch as we, free people of color, have done all that is in

our power to convince the white inhabitants of these United States, that

it is our wish to live peaceably with all men; and inasmuch as our

general demeanor has been that of industry and sobriety, notwithstanding

there are some among us to the contrary, as well as among the whites;

therefore we do most solemnly declare, that the statements made to the

contrary by the Rev. Mr Crosby, in his late addresses in this city, and

all statements by petitioners to legislative bodies, and by the

Colonization Society, or any thing of the same nature, are a positive

libel on our general character.

Resolved, Whereas we have lived peaceably and quietly in these United

States, of which we are natives, and have never been the cause of any

insurrectionary or tumultuous movements as a body, that we do view every

measure taken by any associated bodies to remove us to other climes,

anti-christian and hostile to our peace, and a violation of the laws of

humanity.

Resolved, That if, in the opinion of government, our stay or liberty can

no longer be granted in the States in which we live, we see nothing

contrary to the constitution of these United States, or to christianity,

justice, reason or humanity, in granting us a portion of the Western

territory, as a state, with the same franchise as that of Pennsylvania,

New Jersey, or any other free State; for we challenge the Union to prove

that, as free men, we have ever given the least ground for the

uncharitable censures that have been cast upon us.

Resolved, That we view the American Colonization Society as the most

inveterate foe both to the free and slave man of color; forasmuch as the

agents thereof, and its members who have petitioned the several

legislatures, have unequivocally declared its object, to wit, the

extermination of the free people of color from the Union; and to effect

this they have not failed to slander our character, by representing us

as a vagrant race; and we do therefore disclaim all union with the said

Society, and, once for all, declare that we never will remove under

their patronage; neither do we consider it expedient to emigrate any

where, but to remain in the land and see the salvation of God.

Nevertheless, if any of our brethren should be compelled or see proper

to emigrate, we would recommend to them Upper Canada or Mexico.

Resolved, That we view with the highest emotion of gratitude, the

benevolence of Great Britain and that of the Canada Company, in

affording an asylum in the Wilberforce settlement, in Upper Canada, for

our oppressed brethren of the South, who have been or may be forced, by

unconstitutional laws, to leave their rightful home and place of

nativity, without any cause except that of having a dark skin.

Resolved, That this meeting approve the establishment of a college, as

recommended by the Annual Convention held in Philadelphia last June, and

that we give all possible aid to that institution.

Resolved, That we view the Liberator, edited by William Lloyd Garrison,

as a great herald in the cause of liberty, and that we recommend to the

colored citizens of Trenton the utility of subscribing to the above

named paper.

Resolved, That there be a committee of three appointed to draft an

address more expressive of our views on the above subject.

Resolved, That the following persons compose that committee--Sampson

Peters, Robert Thomas, George Cole.

LEWIS CORK, Chairman.

ABNER H. FRANCIS, Secretary.

ADDRESS.

We, the undersigned, in conformity to the above appointment, beg leave

to present to the public, in a calm, unprejudiced manner, our decided

disapprobation of the American Colonization Society and its auxiliaries,

in relation to the people of color in the United States. We are well

convinced, from the mass that has been written on the above subject by

those who have preceded us, that it will be difficult to avoid

repetition; nevertheless; we hope to touch some points which have not

been fairly understood by that Society. They have supposed that our

objections are to civilizing and evangelizing Africa; but we beg leave

to say, that it is an error. We are well aware, that there is no surer

way to effect this great object than to plant among the heathen,

colonies of Christian missionaries. We wish, therefore, to be

understood, that we highly approve of the evangelizing of Africa, but

disapprove of the present measures of the American Colonization Society,

if their motives have not been misrepresented by their agents and

others, in some previous addresses in this city and elsewhere. But

viewing them as we now do, we must say that, in our opinion, their false

representations of our general character--their recommending our removal

from our native land--their opposition to our having a part of the West

appointed to us--their objections to our proposed college, and of our

march to science--their false statements in relation to the health of

the colony at Liberia, with a variety of other subjects of the same

nature--all lead to a conclusion, that it is our greatest foe.

We would here ask the public a few questions. First--Is the gospel of

Jesus Christ calculated to lead to insurrectionary measures? If so, why

then send it to the heathen? Second--What gentleman, who has set his

slaves free, has been murdered by them for so doing? Third--What have

those States, who have washed their hands clean of the cursed stain of

slavery, lost by it? Fourth--What neighborhood, where education and

general information have been disseminated among the people of color, is

the worse for it?

In closing our remarks, we would say, that we do think that the subjects

looked to by the Colonization Society, to civilize Africa, are

incompetent; for we do suppose that men selected for such an important

enterprise, should be men of deed and sound piety--men of regular and

industrious habits, of scientific knowledge and general experience: that

such men can be obtained, we have no doubt; and if there cannot, let us

first prepare some in this country.

SAMPSON PETERS, }

ROBERT THOMAS, } Committee.

GEORGE COLE, }

A VOICE FROM LYME.

LYME, Ct., January 9, 1832.

At a respectable meeting of the colored citizens of this place, held

pursuant to public notice--Mr Luther Wright was called to the chair, and

Mr Daniel R. Condol appointed secretary.

After some animated remarks by Messrs Wright and Condol, it was

Resolved, That it is the sincere opinion of this meeting, that the

American Colonization Society is one of the wildest projects ever

patronised by a body of enlightened men; and further, that many of those

who support it would be willing, if it were in their power, to drive us

out of existence.

Resolved, That though we be last in calling a meeting, we feel no less

the pernicious influence of this Society than the rest of our brethren;

and that we will resist every attempt to banish us from this our native

land.

Resolved, That we place unshaken reliance upon the promises of Jehovah,

and believe that he will take our reproach away, and give freedom to

those who are held in captivity.

Resolved, That we are not for insurrection, but for peace, freedom and

equality.

Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be rendered to Messrs Garrison

and Knapp, for their benevolent exertions in behalf of the oppressed

descendants of Africa; and that they be requested to insert these

proceedings in the Liberator.

LUTHER WRIGHT, Chairman.

DANIEL R. CONDOL, Secretary.

A VOICE PROM LEWISTOWN.

LEWISTOWN, Pa., January 9, 1832.

At a numerous meeting held by the free people of color of the borough of

Lewistown, in the African Methodist Episcopal church, Samuel Johnston

was called to the chair, and Martin Johnston appointed secretary. The

following resolutions were then read, and unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That we will not leave these United States, the land of our

birth, for a home in Africa.

Resolved, That we will strenuously oppose the colonizing of the free

people of color in Liberia.

Resolved, That we are willing to emigrate to any part of the United

States which may be granted to us.

Resolved, That we will support the Liberator, a paper published in

Boston, edited by William Lloyd Garrison; and also the colony in Upper

Canada as an asylum for our oppressed brethren.

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare an address to be

published in the Liberator.

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the Chairman

and Secretary, and forwarded to the editor of the Liberator for

publication.

SAMUEL JOHNSTON, Chairman.

MARTIN JOHNSTON, Secretary.

ADDRESS.

We, the undersigned, in conformity to the above appointment, beg leave

to present to the public, in a calm and unprejudiced manner, our reasons

for opposing the scheme of African colonization. This is the land of our

birth. The Declaration of Independence declares, that 'all men are born

free and equal:' it does not say that the _white_ man or the _black_ man

is free,--but all, without respect to color, tongues, or nation. We

therefore consider all laws to enslave or degrade the people of color as

contrary to the letter and spirit of this Declaration; and that

according to it we are freemen, and have as indisputable a right to

enjoy our liberty as any white man. To deny it to us, because we differ

in color, is oppression. To say that Africa is our native country is

untrue. Here we were born, and here we mean to die; for all men are born

free.

We wish to return our grateful thanks to our friends, and to the friends

of the abolition of slavery. We consider slavery a national sin, which,

if not speedily overthrown, will cause this nation to mourn and weep;

for God has declared that Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hands unto

him, and he will hear her cry.

We would say to colonizationists that we consider them our foes instead

of our friends. It is vain for them to say that we would do better in

Liberia; for we do not believe it. There is room enough in this country

for us; and if they be our friends, let them meliorate our condition

here. Let them join in the work of immediate abolition of slavery. Let

them wash out the stains which disfigure the national character. And

then let them tell us about Liberia.

One reason why we are opposed to leaving these United States is this:

you have so long denied us the enjoyment and protection of the laws of

God and man in this country, that you wish now to oppress us still more.

But thanks be to Him who holds all things in his hand, we believe He

will plead our cause. Your skirts are already dyed with the blood of

millions of souls. 'Vengeance is mine--I will repay,' saith the Lord.

Awake, ye wolves in sheep's clothing. Your cup is now full. You are

daily causing innocent blood to be shed. How long, ye slavites, ye

kidnappers, ye that traffic in human flesh, will you sleep? When will

you awake to your best interests? For remember that you will not always

be able to hold your victims in servile chains.

J. G. SMITH, }

M. WALKER, } Committee.

M. JOHNSTON, }

A VOICE FROM NEW-BEDFORD.

NEW-BEDFORD, January 23, 1832.

At a meeting of the people of color in New-Bedford, January 23d, for the

purpose of considering and giving their opinion of the American

Colonization Society, and the actual evil or benefit of that Society to

the objects of its supervision, the free people of color, Mr Richard

Johnson was called to the chair, and Richard G. Overing appointed

secretary. After an address from the chair, it was moved that

resolutions expressive of the views of the meeting, respecting the

Colonization Society, be drawn up, and published in some newspaper not

adverse to the rights and well being of all men, be their color what it

may. The following are the resolves of the meeting:

Resolved, That in whatever light we view the Colonization Society, we

discover nothing in it but terror, prejudice and oppression; that the

warm and beneficent hand of philanthropy is not apparent in the system,

but the influence of the Society on public opinion is more prejudicial

to the interest and welfare of the people of color in the United States,

than slavery itself.

Resolved, That the Society, to effect its purpose, the removal of the

free people of color, (not the slaves) through its agents, teaches the

public to believe that it is patriotic and benevolent to withhold from

us knowledge and the means of acquiring subsistence, and to look upon us

as unnatural and illegal residents in this country; and thus by force of

prejudice, if not by law, endeavor to compel us to embark for Africa,

and that too, apparently, by our own free will and consent.

Resolved, That as great a nuisance as we may be in the estimation of

that Society, we yet have a hope in Him who has seen fit to continue our

existence through days worse than which we do not fear, and which

emboldens us as peaceable citizens, to resolve to abide the issue of

coming days in our native land, in which we ask no more than the age in

which we live demands, and which this nation, as republicans and

christians, should not refuse to grant.

Signed in behalf of the meeting.

RICHARD JOHNSON, Chairman.

R. G. OVERING, Secretary.

The foregoing resolutions and addresses are given in plain, it may be

occasionally in severe language; and display an intensity of feeling, a

depth of abhorrence, and a firmness of purpose, honorable to men who

appreciate their rights and love their country. Before I proceed,

however, to comment upon these important proceedings, I shall make some

quotations from the essays and addresses of colored writers, in order to

sustain my assertion that the American Colonization Society is directly

opposed to the wishes of our free colored population.

'A COLORED BALTIMOREAN'[AH] records his sentiments in the following

style:

'We believe, sirs, that the people of color in the United States

will never be prevailed over to abandon the land of their birth,

and every thing vernacular with them--to forego many advantages

which they now possess, and many more which they have in

prospect, for the imaginary, or if real, the fleeting and

short-lived honors held out to them by our "Americo-African

empire." Why should we exchange a temperate and salubrious

climate, adapted to our constitutions as Americans, for one, to

us, fraught with disease and death? Why should we leave a land

in which the arts and sciences are flourishing, and which is

beginning to yield to our research, for one, where the

irradiating beams of the sun of science have yet to be announced

by the bright star of hope? Why should we leave a land

illuminated with the blaze of gospel light, for one enshrouded

in pagan gloom? Why should we, who are in tolerable

circumstances in America, who enjoy many of the comforts of

life, and are evidently on the advanced march of mind, cast away

these certain, real, and growing advantages, for those which are

precarious and chimerical? Why should we abandon our firesides,

and every thing associated with the dear name of _home_--undergo

the fatigues of a perilous voyage, and expose ourselves, our

wives, and our little ones, to the deleterious influences of an

uncongenial sun, for the enjoyment of a liberty divested of its

usual accompaniments, surrounded with circumstances which

diminish its intrinsic value, and render it indeed "a dear

earned morsel"? * * * * * *

'But "it is the hope of accomplishing the entire subversion of

the slave trade and Mahometan superstition, and all their

subsidiary concomitants, that has actuated the Christian and

stimulated the philanthropist." Noble objects indeed! And who

are those christians and philanthropists? Our friend tells us,

without distinction, that they are "those noble and heroic men

who have enlisted under the banner of colonization." But how

happens it that some of the most distinguished of these

_christians_ and _philanthropists_ are themselves slaveholders,

and so far abettors of the _slave trade_ as to be actually

guilty of selling into a cruel and interminable vassalage the

hapless victims of their tender mercies? Again, how is it that

none but the free people of color have been chosen to evangelize

Africa? Is it because they are under an exclusive moral

obligation to dispel the "gloom of Mahometan superstition?" Is

it because they are pre-eminently qualified in point of morals

and information for the missionary enterprise? None will say

this. Perhaps we shall be told, that the identity of their color

gives them a decided advantage over every other people. But how

is it that those wicked white men, who are in the habit of

resorting thither for the most nefarious purposes, have access

to these people? And we have not forgotten that during the visit

of the Rev. G. R. McGill, in Baltimore, he informed us that

colored men from the United States, being thought by the natives

to be men of information, are received and treated as white men,

and denominated by the same epithet. Since then it does not

appear that we are pre-eminently qualified for this work, why

should it be pressed upon us? * * * *

'Tell us not that the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, who is

not a respecter of persons, whose "tender mercies are over all

his works," will _never_ elevate us to the dignity of men and

christians, unless we emigrate to Africa. Tell us not that in

this _christian_ country, this "land of the free and home of the

brave," we must _for ever_ remain a degraded and proscribed

race--that we must _for ever_ be treated as the outcasts of

creation. We are aware that this doctrine has been asserted with

all the confidence of inspiration by _some_ of our gospel

ministers. We have heard them proclaim it in a tone calculated

to strengthen the prejudices existing against us. They seem to

forget that there is a superintending providence--that He, who

"sits upon the whirlwind and directs the storm," has ever

manifested himself a friend to the oppressed of every clime.

They seem to forget that the religion of Jesus, wherever it

reigns with unrestrained sway, demolishes every partition wall,

and exterminates out of the heart all those bitter prejudices

which impede the march of the Messiah's kingdom. We should like

to have these prophets give us their ideas in relation to the

millennial reign of Christ. We should like to have them inform

us whether or not the general prejudices and their inseparable

accompaniments, which now lie upon, and operate against us, on

account of our color, will be consistent with this glorious

reign of _peace_, and _love_, and _joy_. Let these ministers

consider that much of our degradation is chargeable to the

indifference (to say the least) that they manifest in regard to

our situation--that if they as patterns of piety hold us at a

distance, it is but natural for the inconsiderate to follow

their example. Let them recollect that while they are making

powerful and irresistible appeals to the humanity of the

American people in behalf of the oppressed of other climes, they

have a people among them whose claims upon their liberality are

paramount to those of any other. Let these ministers tell us how

often they make it their business to visit those portions of

their flocks whose crime is, their color. Nay, one of them said

not long since, to be familiar with the people of color would

destroy his _usefulness_ among the whites. But whether they do

their duty in relation to us or not, we indulge in no fears in

regard to our future condition. We are not distrustful of the

goodness and power of Him who has overruled the evil designs of

those men that first tore our ancestors from their native

shores, who is still overruling, and who will continue to

overrule the designs of all who would treat us as the

offscouring of the earth, because our Creator has not given us a

color as white as their own. If ever there was a people who

could look up to Heaven with unshaken confidence for protection,

it is that people whose sufferings are not the consequences of

their crimes; it is that people whose misfortunes work in them

the graces of faith, patience and hope. And why should we not

cherish these invaluable graces? We are told by high authority,

that "_all things_ shall work together _for good_ to them that

love God"--that "He will give grace and glory, and _no good

thing_ will He _withhold_ from them that walk uprightly." You

see, sirs, we have one straight forward course to pursue--one

marked out by the hand of unerring wisdom. This course we intend

to pursue, without giving ourselves any uneasiness as to the

issue; this we leave to Him who has the administration of the

universe in his hands, and who has declared for our

encouragement, "even the very hairs of your head are all

numbered." Tell us not of the wisdom, and power, and number of

our enemies; He who has given us a hope, which at least makes

our condition tolerable, will say to them, as He did to the

tempestuous billows, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further;

and here shall thy proud waves be stayed."'

* * * * * * * * *

'What effect have the evils of slavery in this _happy_ land upon

the mind of the liberal, the unprejudiced, and philanthropic

Lafayette?

'Hear him, he will speak for himself: "When I am indulging in my

views of American prospects and American liberty, it is

mortifying to be told that in that very country a large portion

of the people are slaves. It is a dark spot on the face of the

nation. _Such a state of things cannot always exist._" It was a

sight of the evils alluded to, and their inseparable

concomitants, that extorted from the pen of Mr Jefferson that

comprehensive and soul-thrilling sentence--"I tremble for my

country when I reflect that God is just, and that his justice

cannot sleep for ever." But may we not indulge the hope that

the evils spoken of will yet awaken the sympathies of the

American people--soften their cruel prejudices--arouse their

slumbering energies--and produce in them an unconquerable

determination to wash from their "stars and stripes" one of the

blackest spots that ever cursed the globe, or stained the

historic page? Shall we be told that _invincible_ prejudices

render this great desideratum impracticable? And what is this

but a libel upon the American people? What is it but to say,

there is in them a moral incapacity to do justice, love mercy,

and walk uprightly? Colonization orators, designing politicians,

ministers of Jesus, tell me, how can you thus libel your

countrymen? Surely, there is a regenerating, a redeeming spirit

in the land--a spirit transforming misanthropes into

philanthropists--bondmen into freemen--abettors of slavery into

champions of liberty--a spirit that will yet drive from America

the demon of slavery, and render it indeed "the land of the free

and the home of the brave."'[AI]

* * * * * * * *

'I have just found time to notice a few very exceptionable

features of a communication over the signature of "A

Marylander," published, a few days ago, in the American of our

city. The writer is unquestionably entitled to the credit of

being a thorough-going colonizationist. He writes in the _true

spirit_ of the cause. He seems to be under an excitement

produced by the publication of our anti-colonization

resolutions. This being the case, it is not to be expected that

he would, throughout his communication, avail himself of the

guarded, accommodating, and conciliating language usual with

colonization writers and declaimers. After being convinced that

the people of color are not to be persuaded to leave the land of

their birth, and every thing vernacular with them, for "regions"

which he tells us are "now dark as the valley of the shadow of

death," he says, "I would propose then that Maryland should

colonize her own free blacks." He does not add the usual

qualification, "_with their own consent_:" he knows this will

never be obtained. He therefore says: "I earnestly _hope_ that

the time _is now_ come when our state will wake up to all the

importance of this subject, and will instantly commence _a

system of measures_ imperatively demanded by the _sternest_

principles [colonization principles?] of _sound_ policy." We

would tell this precocious statesman that we are not to be

intimidated into colonization "_measures_" by the angry

effusions of his illiberal soul; that we had rather die in

Maryland under the pressure of unrighteous and cruel laws than

be driven, like cattle, to the pestilential clime of Liberia,

where grievous privation, inevitable disease, and premature

death, await us in all their horrors. We are emboldened thus to

speak, not from a reliance on the mere arm of flesh; no--it is

the righteousness of our cause, a knowledge of the attributes of

Deity, combined with a consciousness of innocence under

suffering, that have inspired us with a moral courage which no

oppression shall shake, no fulminations overawe. Our limits will

not permit us to expatiate, at this time, on the import of the

terms, "_a system of measures--the sternest principles_," &c. We

would barely remark that the climax of injustice and cruelty,

here suggested, nay, recommended, is the legitimate fruit of the

operations of the American colonization societies relative to

the free people of color. We have always believed that the

"_system of measures_" here recommended, would be the dernier

resort of these _christian_ associations. The unmerited abuse,

that has been so unsparingly heaped upon us by colonizationists

for expressing our opinions of their project as connected with

our happiness, their manifest determination to effectuate their

object regardless of our consent, abundantly corroborate the

opinion we have long since entertained. We turn, however, from

the contemplation of the persecution and oppression, which, it

seems, are in reserve for us, to notice, briefly, the moving

cause of this virulent and relentless attack upon our rights and

happiness. "The _census just taken_," says A Marylander,

"_admonishes_ us in the strongest manner, of the necessity of

prompt and efficient measures to drain off this description of

our population." Here then is the _patriotic_, the _benevolent_,

the _christian_ principle, by which the colonization societies,

throughout our land, are actuated. This is the selfish policy of

which we complain, and which should be execrated by all _true_

patriots, philanthropists, and christians. Our increase is

represented as an "_alarming evil--an evil_," said one of our

colonization orators in the pulpit, not long since, "which

_threatens_ our very _existence_." Now, if all this be true, how

can they, on their own principles, say we can _never_ be a

people in this country? Surely, they are taking effectual steps

to convince us, that the enjoyment of our rights in this, our

native land, is not only possible, but highly probable. This we

have always believed. And we hope and pray, that it may be

accomplished in a way sanctioned by the gospel of peace:

"without confused noise, or garments rolled in blood." But this

glorious victory over pride and prejudice, by gospel weapons,

will never be accomplished by colonization principles. Nor will

those ministers of the gospel have any part or lot in this

matter, who solemnly declare, in the face of heaven and earth,

that we can _never enjoy, in this country_, those inalienable

rights of man, whose inviolable preservation promotes the

welfare of the whole human family. Such ministers virtually

declare that they do not believe the doctrines they are bound to

preach; that He, from whom they profess to have received their

commission, is, indeed, "a hard man, reaping where he has not

sown, and gathering where he has not strawed;" that He requires

of them and their flocks, that which they are morally incapable

of performing; that they _cannot_ love their neighbor as

themselves, or do unto others what they wish done unto

themselves, because their Lord, in his wisdom, has given some of

their fellow creatures a different color from their own. These

temporising, retrograde reformers are doing a serious injury to

the people of color. They heed not the warning of Heaven: "Do my

people no harm." They are doing more to strengthen the cruel and

unchristian prejudices, already too powerful against us, than

all the slaveholders in the Union. They hesitate not to declare,

that, in America, we are out of the reach of humanity. They seem

to think that the religion of the benevolent Saviour which

enjoins, "_honor all men_," and which explicitly says, "if ye

have _respect to persons_, ye _commit sin_," is nothing more

than a dead letter, or must _for ever_ remain powerless, in the

United States of America. And have these men the face to contend

with the infidels of our land? Why, one infidel, with the bible

in his hands, would "chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand

to flight." But notwithstanding these discouraging

circumstances, our cause will yet triumph. He who is for us, is

stronger than all that are against us. "The rulers" of the land

may "take counsel together," and some of the professed ministers

of Jesus may "come into their secret," but "He that sitteth in

the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision."

Fear not then, my colored countrymen, but press forward, with a

laudable ambition, for all that heaven has intended for you and

your children, remembering that the path of duty is the path of

safety, and that "righteousness" alone "exalteth a nation."'

If excellence of style, a dignified carriage, sound logic, a high and

abiding faith, and fervent piety, confer credit upon a writer, few have

ever better illustrated these traits than 'A COLORED BALTIMOREAN,' or

deserved a nobler tribute of praise. He who would be ashamed to

acknowledge such a man as his countryman and brother, has yet to learn

his own insignificance and what constitutes the majesty of human nature.

The following is an extract of a letter from a colored gentleman of

wealth and respectability in Philadelphia, whose friendship is courted

by honorable men, and whose usefulness is scarcely exceeded by any other

citizen:

'Is it not preposterous to one, like myself, whose family has

resided in the state of Pennsylvania ever since the great

lawgiver, William Penn, came last to this state from England;

and who fought for the independence of my country, whose

Declaration asserts, that all men are born with free and equal

rights--is it not preposterous to be told that this is not my

country? I was seven months on board of the old Jersey Prison

ship in the year 1780, "the times that tried men's souls;" and

am I now to be told that Africa is my country, by some of those

whose birth-place is unknown? Is it not a contradiction to say

that a man is an alien to the country in which he was born? To

separate the blacks from the whites is as impossible, as to bale

out the Delaware with a bucket. I have always been decidedly of

opinion, that if the Colonization Society would take but half

the pains to improve the children of color in their own country,

and expend but half the money that they are devoting to

accomplish their visionary scheme of christianizing Africa, by

offering premiums to master mechanics to take them as

apprentices, they would do more to destroy prejudice than any

thing else. When I look at this globe, containing eight or nine

hundred millions of inhabitants, and see that they differ in

color from the frozen to the temperate and torrid zones, and

that every thing is variegated, I am astonished that any man

should be so prejudiced against his fellow-man; but we pray for

the aid of the Almighty to take the scales from their eyes; and

that the Liberator may be one of the instruments in commencing

the work.'[AJ]

'I would ask some of our pretended white friends, and the

members of the American Colonization Society, why they are so

interested in our behalf as to want us to go to Africa? They

tell us that it is our home; that they desire to make a people

of us, which we can never be here; that they want Africa

civilized; and that we are the very persons to do it, as it is

almost impossible for any white person to exist there. I deny

it. Will some of those guardian angels of the people of color

tell me how it is that we, who were born in the same city or

state with themselves, can live any longer in Africa than they?

I consider it the most absurd assertion that any man of common

sense could make, unless it is supposed, as some have already

said, that we are void of understanding. If we had been born on

that continent, the transportation would be another matter; but

as the fact is the reverse, we consider the United States our

home, and not Africa as they wish to make us believe;--and if we

do emigrate, it will be to a place of our own choice.

'I would also mention to the supporters of the Colonization

Society, that if they would spend half the time and money that

they do, in educating the colored population and giving them

lands to cultivate here, and secure to them all the rights and

immunities of freemen, instead of sending them to Africa, it

would be found, in a short time, that they made as good citizens

as the whites. Their traducers would hear of fewer murders,

highway robberies, forgeries, &c. &c. being committed, than they

do at present among some of the white inhabitants of this

country.'[AK]

'Colonization principles, abstractly considered, are

unobjectionable; but the means employed for their propagation,

we think, are altogether objectionable. We are deprived of our

birthright, and pointed by the colonization partisans to another

country as a home. They speak of the prejudices which exist

against us, as an insuperable hindrance to the improvement of

our situation here. We are sickened by the constant reiteration

of "_extraneous mass_," "_African inferiority_," &c. which tends

immediately to justify the slaveholder in his crime, and

increase already existing prejudice. The Colonization Society

never will effect the removal of slavery. The God of justice

will never, in my opinion, let this nation off so easily. It is

in vain to hold back. The eyes of all will ultimately be opened

to see that nothing but universal emancipation can possibly

avert impending wrath.'[AL]

'How long, oh! ye boasters of freedom, will ye endeavor to

persuade us, your derided, degraded fellow countrymen, to the

belief that our interest and happiness are prized in high

estimation among you? Be it known, that we are not all such

misguided, deluded mortals as to be duped by your plans; that we

will not suffer ourselves to become so infatuated as to "hurl

reason from her throne," and succumb to your glittering, showy,

_dissimulating_ path to eminence. We spurn with contempt your

unrighteous schemes, and point the finger of derision at your

fruitless attempts. You have commenced them in a day, when

liberty, justice and equality are claimed by almost all, as

nature's rights; for behold! a beam of science, lucid as the

sun, has divinely fallen upon the lightless intellects of a

portion of that ignoble part of your fellow creatures, who have

been so long the victims of your fell injustice and inhumanity.

Would to God that conscience might subdue your malignant

prejudices. Tell us not that our condition can never be bettered

in the land of our birth: you know it not. Make but the attempt

in consecrating a portion of your time, talents and money upon

us here, and you would soon find the cause of Afric's injured

race vindicated by her descendants; and the day which now dawns

would be speedily ushered into blazing light, declaring in its

effulgence the joyful sound of Liberty--Justice--Equality, to

all mankind.'[AM]

'There is much to be surprised at, little to admire, and nothing

worthy of imitation, in the "bubbles" of our friends, the

colonizationists. They have enlisted the prejudices and the

support of the wealthy and influential in their favor; they have

succeeded in sending some two or three thousand to Liberia; and

they are flattered with their partial success, and no doubt look

forward to the time when they will behold the whole of the

colored inhabitants of America, in the far distant land of

Africa. But let them not anticipate too much; they have yet one

obstacle to overcome which threatens to overthrow their

"baseless fabric;" or at any rate impede their progress. Their

proceedings have not obtained the approbation of those, whose

approbation is most needed, _the colored people themselves_.

They are most strangely mistaken if they suppose that it is an

easy matter to win them, either by _sophistry_ or _force_. The

press has begun its revolutionizing work, overturning in its

progress every thing calculated to suppress inquiry or to blind

the understanding. Already have the intrigues of the designing

been exposed, and already have the colored people set their

faces against oppression.

'The Colonization Society has erred in matters of _policy_; for

instead of exerting themselves to gain the confidence of the

colored people, and thus by persuasion to have rid the country

of them, they have acted in a manner calculated to disgust every

humane mind, and have rendered it an utter _impossibility_ to

remove them; and it is most fortunate for the unfortunate, that

they have detected those intriguing spirits in their _humane_

and _charitable_ undertaking.

'How many hours of anguish, how much incalculable misery has been

prevented; in short, how many human beings have been saved from

an untimely grave, by the timely interposition of the PRESS! It

has said, let it be so, and it _was_ so; its thunders have been

heard, and the oppressor trembles like the earthquake: it has

overthrown, yea, totally demolished the sharp-edged sword of

the Colonization Society.

'Support the PRESS then, ye people of color, and the result will

be a total overthrow of all the darling schemes of the aforesaid

darling Society; it has accomplished wonders, yea, wonders

already; much more can, nay, will be done; again I say, support

the PRESS.'[AN]

'The African Colonization Society declares that we the people of

color shall have no part nor lot in the free institutions of

this country. Why? Because the Creator of all--the sovereign

Ruler of the universe, who holds in his hands the destiny of

nations, thought fit and proper, in his infinite wisdom, to

tincture us with a darker hue than the paler part of community!

or, if I may say, because the lot of our predecessors happened

to be cast in the torrid zone, beneath the scorching beams of a

vertical sun! These are the objections the African Colonization

Society offer to this community to our remaining in this

country--in the land of freemen! These are the considerations

that prompt them to tell us that we the descendants of Africa

can never be men unless we abandon the land of our birth, our

homes and people, and submit to that uncongenial clime, the

barbarous regions of Africa, amidst unyielding contagion and

mortality! O, that man would remember, that knowledge and

virtue, not complexion, are the emblems that constitute the

value of human dignity! With these, we are worthy--without them,

we are unworthy. By the acts and operations of wicked men,

shielded under a cloak of religion, we the people of color are

doomed to all the miseries that the human body is able to

sustain--deprived of light, knowledge and social intercourse, by

the colonization gentlemen. With all their pretended zeal and

love of liberty, manifested towards the African race, I count

them as enemies, not friends. I do not solicit their love, nor

regard their friendship. I speak for one: I never did, and never

will court an enemy as a friend, knowingly, let him be whom he

may--let him belong to church or state, I feel the weight of

their predominant power, and the finishing blow they are about

to strike. Thus we move by them, poor and pennyless, despised

and forsaken by all; creeping through your streets, submissively

bowed down to every foot whose skin is tinctured with a lighter

hue than ours--thus we sojourn in solitude, not for our crimes

but color.

'I came here for the purpose of showing to this community, that

the people of color of the United States disapprove of the

African Colonization plan. They do not wish to emigrate to

Africa. These six hundred or more, that the gentleman tells you

are now waiting for a passage to Liberia, are not the free

people of color of the United States; they are, if any, the

poor, old, worn-out southern slaves, freed on the condition to

go to Africa, or die in the tracks of slavery, no more fit for

their cotton and rice fields--for the laws of those states

forbid the master, let him be possessed of all the fine feelings

that the human mind is able to contain; unless he banishes them

to some distant region, across that "mighty ocean" they speak

of, they cannot be free. According to the laws of those states,

and the basis on which the Society is built, the emancipated

slaves are not free until they stand upon the shores of Liberia.

Thus the Northern and Middle States are called upon for

donations to enable the monarch of the south to bury his slaves

in the sands of Africa; thus far, northern capital is

instrumental in parting asunder parents and children--no more to

meet, until Jehovah will stand upon the four corners of the

earth, and proclaim deliverance to the captive!--when the arm of

tyrants shall cease to sway the rod of tyranny over the heads of

their helpless children--until all creation shall vanish and

crumble into nothing.

'About the time of the formation of this Society, the people of

color, in different sections of the Union, took the alarm--they

thought there was something wrong in the views of that combined

body. So, the free people of color of Richmond, convened

themselves together in the state of Virginia, where the

gentleman says the African Colonization Society first

originated. They assembled themselves together for the purpose

of ascertaining each other's feelings with regard to that

combined body, and after mature reflection, they petitioned

Congress--I will give you the words of their memorial, which are

sufficient evidence to substantiate in the mind of every

rational person, that the people of color wish to remain in this

country.

'"At a meeting of a respectable portion of the free people of

color of the city of Richmond, on Friday, January 24, 1817,

William Bowler was appointed chairman, and Lentey Craw,

secretary. The following preamble and resolution were read,

unanimously adopted, and ordered to be printed.

'"Whereas a Society has been formed at the seat of government,

for the purpose of colonizing, with their own consent, the free

people of color of the United States; therefore we, the free

people of color of the city of Richmond, have thought it

advisable to assemble together under the sanction of authority,

for the purpose of making a public expression of our sentiments

on a question in which we are so deeply interested. We perfectly

agree with the Society, that it is not only proper, but would

ultimately tend to the benefit and advantage of a great portion

of our suffering fellow creatures, to be colonized; but while we

thus express our approbation of a measure laudable in its

purposes, and beneficial in its designs, it may not be improper

in us to say, that we prefer being colonized in the most remote

corner of the land of our nativity, to being exiled to a foreign

country--and whereas the president and board of managers of the

said Society have been pleased to leave it to the entire

discretion of Congress to provide a suitable place for carrying

these laudable intentions into effect--Be it therefore

'"Resolved, That we respectfully submit to the wisdom of

Congress whether it would not be an act of charity to grant us a

small portion of their territory, either on the Missouri river,

or any place that may seem to them most conducive to the public

good and our future welfare, subject, however, to such rules and

regulations as the government of the United States may think

proper to adopt."

'WM. BOWLER, Chairman.

'LENTEY CRAW, Secretary.'[AO]

'The _colonization craft_ is a diabolical pursuit, which a great

part of our christian community are engaged in. Now, brethren, I

need not enlarge on this point. You that have been observing,

have already seen the trap under the bait; and although some of

our population have been foolish enough to sell their birthright

for a mess of pottage, yet I doubt whether the Colonization

Society will entrap many more. It is too bare-faced, and

contrary to all reason, to suppose, that there is any good

design in this project. If they are willing to restore

four-fold for what they have taken by false accusation, they

can do it to better advantage in the bosom of our country, than

at several thousand miles off. How would you do, brethren, if

your object was really to benefit the poor? Would you send them

into a neighboring forest, and there deal out that food which

they were famishing for? Now we stand different from beggars.

Our ancestors were stolen property, and property which belonged

to God. This is well known by our religious community; and they

find that the owner is about to detect them. Now if they can

slip away the stolen goods, by smuggling all those out of the

country, which God would be likely to make an instrument of, in

bringing them to justice, and keep the rest in ignorance; by

such means, things would go on well with them, and they would

appease their consciences by telling what great things they are

doing for the colored population and God's cause. But we

understand better how it is. The deception is not so well

practised, but that we can discover the mark of the beast. They

will steal the sons of Africa, bring them to America, keep them

and their posterity in bondage for centuries, letting them have

what education they can pick up of themselves; then transport

them back to Africa; by which means America gets all her

drudgery done at little expense, and endeavors to flatter the

Deity, by making him a sacrifice of good works of this kind. But

to the awful disappointment of all such blasphemers, they will

meet the justice of God, which will be to them a devouring

sword.'[AP]

'Though delivered from the fetters of slavery, we are oppressed

by an unreasonable, unrighteous, and cruel prejudice, which aims

at nothing less, than the forcing away of all the free colored

population of the United States to the distant shores of Africa.

Far be it from me to impeach the motives of every member of the

American Colonization Society. The civilizing and christianizing

of that vast continent, and the extirpation of the abominable

traffic in slaves, (which, notwithstanding all the laws passed

for its suppression, is still carried on in all its horrors,)

are no doubt the principal motives, which induce many to give it

their support.

'But there are those, and those who are most active and

influential in this cause, who hesitate not to say, that they

wish to rid the country of the free colored population; and

there is sufficient reason to believe that with many, this is

the principal motive for supporting that Society; and that

whether Africa is civilized or not, and whether the slave-trade

be suppressed or not, they would wish to see the free colored

people removed from this country to Africa.

'Africa could certainly be brought into a state of civil and

religious improvement, without sending all the free people of

color in the United States there.

'A few well-qualified missionaries, properly fitted out and

supported, would do more for the instruction and improvement of

the natives of that country, than a host of colonists, the

greater part of whom would need to be instructed themselves, and

all of whom for a long period would find enough to do to provide

for themselves, instead of instructing the natives.

'How inconsistent are those who say, that Africa will be

benefitted by the removal of the free people of color of the

United States there, while they say, they are the _most vile and

degraded_ people in the world!--If we are as vile and degraded

as they represent us, and they wish the Africans to be rendered

a virtuous, enlightened and happy people, they should not

_think_ of sending _us_ among them, lest we should make them

worse instead of better.

'The colonies planted by white men on the shores of America, so

far from benefitting the aborigines, corrupted their morals, and

caused their ruin; and yet those who say _we_ are the most vile

people in the world, would send us to Africa, to improve the

character and condition of the natives! Such arguments would not

be listened to for a moment, were not the minds of the community

strangely warped by prejudice.

'Those who wish that that vast continent should be _compensated_

for the injuries done it, by sending thither the light of the

gospel and the arts of civilized life, should aid in sending and

supporting well qualified missionaries, who should be wholly

devoted to the work of instruction, instead of sending

colonists, who would be apt to turn the ignorance of the natives

to their own advantage, and do them more harm than good.

'Much has also been said by colonizationists, about improving

the character and condition of the people of color of this

country, by sending them to Africa. This is more inconsistent

still. We are to be improved by being sent far from civilized

society. This is a novel mode of improvement. What is there in

the burning sun, the arid plains, and barbarous customs of

Africa, that is so peculiarly favorable to our improvement? What

hinders our improving here, where schools and colleges abound,

where the gospel is preached at every corner, and where all the

arts and sciences are verging fast to perfection? Nothing,

nothing but prejudice. It requires no large expenditures, no

hazardous enterprises, to raise the people of color in the

United States to as highly improved a state, as any class of the

community. All that is necessary is, that those who profess to

be anxious for it, should lay aside their prejudices, and act

towards them as they do by others.

'We are NATIVES of this country; we ask only to be treated as

well as FOREIGNERS. Not a few of our fathers suffered and bled

to purchase its independence; we ask only to be treated as well

as those who fought against it. We have toiled to cultivate it,

and to raise it to its present prosperous condition; we ask only

to share equal privileges with those who come from distant lands

to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Let these moderate requests be

granted, and we need not go to Africa nor any where else, to be

improved and happy. We cannot but doubt the purity of the

motives of those persons who deny us these requests, and would

send us to Africa, to gain what they might give us at home.

'But they say, the prejudices of the country against us are

invincible; and as they cannot be conquered, it is better that

we should be removed beyond their influence. This plea should

never proceed from the lips of any man, who professes to believe

that a just God rules in the heavens.

'The American Colonization Society is a numerous and influential

body. Would they lay aside their _own_ prejudices, much of the

burden would be at once removed; and their example (especially

if they were as anxious to have _justice done us here_, as to

send us to Africa,) would have such an influence upon the

community at large, as would soon cause prejudice to hide its

deformed head.

'But alas! the course which they have pursued, has an opposite

tendency. By the _scandalous misrepresentations_, which they are

continually giving of our character and conduct, we have

sustained much injury, and have reason to apprehend much more.

'Without any charge of crime, we have been denied all access to

places, to which we formerly had the most free intercourse; the

colored citizens of other places, on leaving their homes, have

been denied the privilege of returning; and others have been

absolutely driven out.

'Has the Colonization Society had no effect in producing these

barbarous measures?

'They profess to have no other object in view, than the

colonizing of the free people of color on the coast of Africa,

with their _own consent_; but if our homes are made so

uncomfortable that we cannot continue in them; or if, like our

brethren of Ohio and New Orleans, we are driven from them, and

no other door is open to receive us but Africa, our removal

there will be any thing but voluntary.

'It is very certain, that very few free people of color _wish_

to go to that _land_. The Colonization Society _know_ this, and

yet they do certainly calculate, that in time they will have us

all removed there.

'How can this be effected, but by making our situation worse

here, and closing every other door against us?'[AQ]

'My attention was forcibly attracted by a communication in Mr

Poulson's Daily Advertiser of the 16th inst. which states, that

Mrs Stansbury of Trenton, N. J. has presented _one thousand

dollars_ to the Colonization Society. Now I think it is greatly

to be regretted, that this highly generous and benevolent lady

has been induced to make this donation for the purpose of

conveying some of the superannuated slaves to Africa, when

objects of much greater importance could be attained by offering

a premium to master mechanics to take colored children as

apprentices, so that they would become useful to themselves and

others. It is an inquiry becoming of the utmost importance, what

is to become of those children who are arriving at the age of

manhood?

'I am greatly astonished that the ministers of the gospel should

take so active a part, in endeavoring to convey the freemen of

color to Africa. Even in Boston and New-York, they have taken

the lead in support of this object. They cannot be aware of the

great injury they will be the means of inflicting on us: instead

of doing this, they should endeavor to remove prejudice, to

ameliorate and improve the condition of the colored people by

education, and by having their children placed in a situation to

learn a trade. I hope, through the assistance of Divine

Providence, that the Liberator may be the means (especially in

Boston, the Cradle of Liberty and Independence) of guiding the

people of this country in the path, which equal justice and the

public good so evidently indicate.

'I have never conversed with an intelligent man of color, (not

swayed by interested and sinister motives,) who was not

decidedly opposed to leaving his home for the fatal clime of

Africa. I am well acquainted with all the masters of vessels,

belonging to this port, who have been to the coast of Africa;

and they all agree in representing it as one of the most

unhealthy countries in the latitude of 40. In the months of June

and July, the thermometer is at from 88 to 90 degrees. What must

it be, then, in the latitude of 6 or 7, under a vertical sun,

and where, after the rainy season, the effluvium which arises

from the putrefaction of vegetables is productive of the most

fatal effects? Sir James L. Yeo agrees with their account, in

his statement laid before the Admiralty of Great Britain.

'Has any one, in either of our southern States, given any thing

like a thousand dollars to promote emigration to Africa? Not one

has shown so much compassion for the oppressed slave. General

Mercer,--who is, I believe, the President of the Colonization

Society,--promised to emancipate his slaves, and to sell his

large possessions in Virginia, and to remove with them to

Africa--(my friends inform me, and I believe him to be one of

the most humane and best of masters.) Mr Key, the great

advocate, and the late Judge Washington, promised to liberate

their slaves: I believe that neither of them has performed his

promise.

'According to a statement made by Mr Key, they have removed in

fourteen years about as many hundred emigrants. I will venture

to say, that at least a half million have been born during the

same period. We ask not their compassion and aid, in assisting

us to emigrate to Africa: we are contented in the land that gave

us birth, and for which many of our fathers fought and died,

during the war which established our independence. I well

remember that when the New England regiment marched through this

city on their way to attack the English army under the command

of Lord Cornwallis, there were several companies of colored

people, as brave men as ever fought; and I saw those brave

soldiers who fought at the battle of Red Bank, under Col. Green,

where Count Donop the commander was killed, and the Hessians

defeated. All this appears to be forgotten now; and the

descendants of these men, to whom we are indebted for the part

they took in the struggle for independence, are intended to be

removed to a distant and inhospitable country, while the

emigrants from every other country are permitted to seek an

asylum here from oppression, and to enjoy the blessings of both

civil and religious liberty, equally with those who are entitled

to it by birthright.

'I think the ministers of the gospel might do much towards

destroying the domestic slave trade, which breaks asunder the

sacred ties of husband, wife and children. Not a voice is

raised by them against this most cruel injustice. In the British

colonies, this is not permitted; yet it exists in the only true

republic on earth.'[AR]

'_My Friends and Countrymen_:--I trust, by this time, you have

known well my sentiments in relation to the American

Colonization Society; and the great objects, which have been set

forth, of a general union of interest, in funds and education,

for the permanent establishment and furtherance of our

prosperity, in this our native country.

'In addition to what has been already said on the subject, I

shall briefly set forth some of the leading causes of our

wretchedness and misery; and the prominent motives of the

Colonization Society in sending us away. Much theory has been

used, in the discussions upon our civil and political situation,

in this country. We have been branded, in many instances,--may I

not say, in the highest courts of the nation, courts of justice

and equity, in public and family circles?--as being an inferior

race of beings, not possessing like intellect and faculty with

the whites. We are represented as being incapable of acting for

ourselves; consequently not educated and qualified to be

admitted into public places, to vindicate the integrity of our

race, and the qualifications we are capable of acquiring. Many

of our noble statesmen, orators and lawyers, have made our

capital ring with the empty sound of

inferiority,--degradation,--the impossibility of tolerating

equality with the blacks. Sacred writ has been carefully

examined by these gentlemen of science, and construed to suit

their narrow consciences. Prophets have arisen among them, who

hold forth to the people the continuation of our political

thraldom, unless there be a general removal of all the free

among us to the coast of Africa. Others argue, that, although

they have good feelings towards us, and would do any thing for

us, if we were out of their sight and out of the hearing of

their slaves, yet to admit us into their circles would be to

pervert the present order of society, and the happiness of the

good white citizens of the country. These are generally bible

men, such as hold forth the true oracles of God; yet deny him,

in their actions and words, the supreme control over all his

creatures. There is hardly ever an action performed, whether

good or bad, but there is generally a reason given for so doing;

and he is a wicked, daring character, who cannot find a cloak,

at any time, to cover his hideous crimes. The men who have been

foremost, in withholding from us our dearest and most sacred

rights, have always held out false colors to the community at

large, (such as, inferiority, degradation, nuisance, pest,

slaves, species of monkey, apes, &c.) to justify their inhuman

and unchristian acts towards us, and to deaden the severe pangs

of conscience that harass them. They would wish to appear

innocent before the world; as doing unto all men as they would

they should do unto them. Do they base their objects, in full,

upon such frivolous excuses as these? No. The truth is, actions

speak louder than words. It is my candid opinion, there would

have been no Colonization Society formed for our transportation

to the western coast of Africa, had there been no free colored

people, and did not our numbers increase daily. If we, as a free

body of people, had remained in the same character with slaves,

monkeys and baboons, there would not have been so much

excitement in the community about us; but as they see by our

improvement, (a great improvement, indeed, within forty years,)

that the period is hastening on, 'when there will be no other

alternative but we must rank among them in civilization, science

and politics, they have got up this colonization scheme to

persuade us to leave our slave brethren, and flee to the

pestilential shores of Africa, where we shall be in danger of

being forced to hang our harps upon the willows, and our song of

liberty and civilization will be hushed by the impelling force

of barbarian despots.'[AS]

'And in pursuit of this great object [the elevation of the

people of color] various ways and means have been resorted to;

among others, the American Colonization Society is the most

prominent. Not doubting the sincerity of many friends who are

engaged in that cause; yet we beg leave to say, that it does not

meet with our approbation. However great the debt which these

United States may owe to injured Africa, and however unjustly

her sons have been made to bleed, and her daughters to drink of

the cup of affliction, still we who have been born and nurtured

on this soil, we, whose habits, manners and customs are the same

in common with other Americans, can never consent to take our

lives in our hands, and be the bearers of the redress offered by

that Society to that much afflicted country.

'Tell it not to barbarians, lest they refuse to be civilized,

and eject our Christian missionaries from among them, that in

the nineteenth century of the christian era, laws have been

enacted in some of the States of this great republic, to compel

an unprotected and harmless portion of our brethren to leave

their homes and seek an asylum in foreign climes: and in taking

a view of the unhappy situation of many of these, whom the

oppressive laws alluded to, continually crowd into the Atlantic

cities, dependent for their support upon their daily labor, and

who often suffer for want of employment, we have had to lament

that no means have yet been devised for their relief.'[AT]

'The Convention has not been unmindful of the operations of the

American Colonization Society; and it would respectfully suggest

to that august body of learning, talent and worth, that, in our

humble opinion, strengthened, too, by the opinions of eminent

men in this country, as well as in Europe, that they are

pursuing the direct road to perpetuate slavery, with all its

unchristianlike concomitants, in this boasted land of freedom;

and, as citizens and men whose best blood is sapped to gain

popularity for that Institution, we would, in the most feeling

manner, beg of them to desist: or, if we must be sacrificed to

their philanthropy, we would rather die at home. Many of our

fathers, and some of us, have fought and bled for the liberty,

independence and peace which you now enjoy; and, surely, it

would be ungenerous and unfeeling in you to deny us a humble and

quiet grave in that country which gave us birth!'[AU]

'Sir, upon the whole, my view of the operations of the

Colonization Society, in relieving the slave States of the evil

which weighs them down more than a hundred tariffs, is

illustrated by an old fable, in which it is stated, that a man

was seen at the foot of a mountain, scraping away the dust with

his foot. One passing by, asked him what he was doing? I wish to

remove this mountain, said he. You fool, replied the other, you

can never do it in that way. Well, said he, I can raise a dust,

can't I?

'Sir, I do not wish to censure the motives of this Society, but

surely they are visionary. Its supporters are bewildered in

their own dust, which is well calculated to injure the vision of

good men. The Commercial Advertiser says they do indeed wish to

wipe away from the national records the stain of slavery, "but

hope it may be accomplished (as the Virginia Enquirer has it)

surely but quietly." Yes, Sir, and quietly enough!

'Our ambition leads not to superiority, but to our _freedom_ and

_political rights_. _Grant this!_ we ask no more! If the places

in which we dwell are too straight for us and the white

population, place us in a state far to the West--take us

into the Union--give us our _rights_ as _freemen_. Let the

southern states make all born after a date not two years

distant, free! and let the Colonization Society turn its

attention and energies to the removing of liberated slaves

there: the free people will go without their aid. But if the

Government is fearful of retaliation, it may allay its fears by

a consideration of the fact of there not being one freeman

engaged in the late insurrections--of freemen informing against

slaves--the peaceable manner in which we live in the

neighborhoods of the south, and throughout the whole Union. The

meetings that have lately been held, and resolutions passed

expressive of our disapprobation of such measures, may all show

that such fears are groundless. I repeat again--_Give us our

rights--we ask no more!_

'Yes, Sir, if I possessed the Indies, I would pledge the whole

that if such measures were taken, and such grants made, no

retaliation would be made by us as a body for former evils.'[AV]

'In no age of our existence have there been more pains taken by

priests and people, in public and private, in church and state,

to give them currency, than at present. The whole theme of that

wicked, persecuting combination--the Colonization Society--is

calculated to impress upon the mind of the public these

atrocious maxims which every day strengthen a prejudice not only

cherished by the whites against the blacks, but by the blacks

against the whites. That foul fiend of hell, that destroying

angel who hath power to take peace from the earth, and to kill

with the sword, is gaining a commanding influence very fast over

both parties. And who, but the advocates of the Colonization

Society, receive him as a welcome guest? Who but they have built

him a temple, and cried, "Long live Prejudice against free born

Americans of sable hue!" Who but they are continually crying,

"The free blacks are dangerous! the free blacks are dangerous!

Away with them--away with them to Africa!" Who but they are the

apologists for murder, theft, and all the horrid concomitants of

slavery? Who but they have defiled our temples of worship

dedicated to God for his service, making merchandise of the

souls of men by transferring them over to the keeping of

prejudice?'[AW]

Other extracts might be recorded, but these must suffice. I have given

the sentiments of the people of color as expressed individually, in

public orations, in conventions of delegates, and in popular assemblies.

Their proceedings evince a keen discrimination between true and false

philanthropy, and an intellectual ability successfully to defend their

cause. Their instincts are more than a match for the specious sophistry

and learned sense of colonizationists: they meet them on every point,

and on every point achieve a victory. Conscious of the fact that in

their complexion is found the only motive for their banishment, they

clearly illustrate the hypocrisy and injustice of the African crusade.

Their union of purpose is such as cannot be broken. How intense is their

love of country! how remarkable their patient endurance of wrongs! how

strong their abhorrence of expatriation! how auspicious the talents

which they display!

Every humane and honorable man will assent to the proposition, that no

scheme for the removal of a numerous people from one continent to

another, ought to be prosecuted contrary to their desires. A scheme

cannot be benevolent which thrives upon persecution. Benevolent

oppression is a solecism.

Another self-evident truth is, that no such removal can be effected

merely by the presentation of selfish inducements, or without resorting

to coercive measures. To show that coercion is openly advocated by some

of the prominent supporters of the Colonization Society, I make the

following extracts from the speeches of Messrs Broadnax and Fisher,

delivered during the 'Great Debate' in the Virginia House of Delegates a

short time since. Mr Broadnax said:

'IT IS IDLE TO TALK ABOUT NOT RESORTING TO FORCE. Every body

must look to the introduction of force of some kind or

other--and it is in truth a question of expediency; of moral

justice; of political good faith--whether we shall fairly

delineate our whole system on the face of the bill, or leave the

acquisition of extorted consent to other processes. The real

question--the only question of magnitude to be settled, is the

great preliminary question--Do you intend to send the free

persons of color out of Virginia, or not?'

'If the free negroes are willing to go, they will go--if not

willing, they must be compelled to go. Some gentlemen think it

politic not now to insert this feature in the bill, though they

proclaim their readiness to resort to it when it becomes

necessary; they think that for a year or two a sufficient number

will consent to go, and then the rest can be compelled. For my

part, I deem it better to approach the question and settle it at

once, and avow it openly. The intelligent portion of the free

negroes know very well what is going on.--Will they not see your

debates? _Will they not see that coercion is ultimately to be

resorted to?_ They will perceive that the edict has gone forth,

and that it must fall, if not now, in a short time upon them.'

'I have already expressed it as my opinion that few, very few,

will _voluntarily_ consent to emigrate, if no COMPULSORY MEASURE

be adopted.--With it--many, in anticipation of its sure and

certain arrival, will, in the mean time, go away--they will be

sensible that the time would come when they would be forced to

leave the State. Without it--you will still, no doubt, have

applicants for removal equal to your means. Yes, Sir, people who

will not only consent, but beg you to deport them. But what sort

of _consent_--a consent extorted by a series of oppression

calculated to render their situation among us insupportable.

Many of those who have already been sent off, went with _their

avowed consent_, but under the influence of a more decided

compulsion than any which this bill holds out. I will not

express, in its full extent, the idea I entertain of what has

been done, or what enormities will be perpetrated to induce this

class of persons to leave the State. Who does not know that when

a free negro, by crime or otherwise, has rendered himself

obnoxious to a neighborhood, how easy it is for a party to visit

him one night, take him from his bed and family, and apply to

him the gentle admonition of a severe flagellation, to induce

him to _consent_ to go away? In a few nights the dose can be

repeated, perhaps increased, until, in the language of the

physicians, _quantum suff._ has been administered to produce the

desired operation; and the fellow then becomes _perfectly

willing_ to move away. I have certainly heard, if incorrectly,

the gentleman from Southampton will put me right, that of the

large cargo of emigrants lately transported from that country to

Liberia, all of whom _professed_ to be _willing_ to go, were

rendered so by some such severe ministrations as those I have

described. A lynch club--a committee of vigilance--could easily

exercise a kind of inquisitorial _surveillance_ over any

neighborhood, and convert any desired number, I have no doubt,

at any time, into a willingness to be removed. But who really

prefers such means as these to the course proposed in this bill?

And one or the other is inevitable. For no matter how you change

this bill--sooner or later the free negroes will be _forced_ to

leave the State. Indeed, Sir, ALL OF US LOOK TO FORCE of some

kind or other, direct or indirect, moral or physical, legal or

illegal. Many who are opposed, they say, to any compulsory

feature in the bill, desire to introduce such severe regulations

into our police laws--such restrictions of their existing

privileges--such inability to hold property--obtain

employment--rent residences, &c., as to make it impossible for

them to remain amongst us. _Is not this force?_'

Mr Fisher said:

'If we wait until the free negroes consent to leave the State,

we shall wait until "time is no more." _They never will give

their consent_; and if the House amend the bill as proposed,

their consent is in a manner pointed out by the gentleman from

Dinwiddie--and it is a great question whether we shall force the

people to extort their consent from them in this way.--He

believed if the compulsory principle were stricken out, this

class of people would be forced to leave by the harsh treatment

of the whites. The people in those parts of the State where they

most abound, were determined,--as far as they could learn

through the newspapers and other sources,--to get rid of the

blacks.'

What a revelation, what a confession, is here! The free blacks taken

from their beds, and severely flagellated, to make them willing to

emigrate! And legislative compulsion openly advocated to accomplish this

nefarious project! Yes, the gentlemen say truly, 'few, very few will

_voluntarily_ consent to emigrate'--'they never will give their

consent'--and therefore they must be expelled by force! It is true, the

bill proposed by Mr Broadnax was rejected by a small majority; but it

serves to illustrate the spirit of the colonization leaders.

The editor of the Lynchburg Virginian, an advocate of the Society, uses

the following language:

'But, if they will not consider for themselves, WE _must

consider for them_. The safety of the people is the supreme law;

and to that law all minor considerations must bend. If the free

negroes will not emigrate, _they must be contented to endure

those privations which the public interest and safety call

for_.--In the last Richmond Enquirer we notice an advertisement,

setting forth, that "a petition will be presented to the next

legislature of Virginia, from the county of Westmoreland,

praying the passage of some law to _compel_ the free negroes in

this commonwealth to emigrate therefrom, under a penalty which

will effectually promote this object." So, too, at a meeting of

the citizens of Prince George county, in Maryland, it was

resolved to "petition the next legislature to remove all the

free negroes out of that State, and to prohibit all persons from

manumitting slaves without making provision for their removal."'

I close this work with a specimen of the sophistry which is used to give

_eclat_ to the American Colonization Society.

In the month of June, 1830, I happened to peruse a number of the

Southern Religious Telegraph, in which I found an essay, enforcing the

duty of clergymen to take up collections in aid of the funds of the

Colonization Society on the then approaching fourth of July. After an

appropriate introductory paragraph, the writer proceeds in the following

remarkable strain:

'But--we have a plea like a peace offering to man and to God. We

answer poor blinded Africa in her complaint--that we have her

children, and that they have served on our plantations. And we

tell her, look at their returning! We took them barbarous,

though measurably free,--untaught--rude--without

science--without the true religion--without philosophy--and

strangers to the best civil governments. And now we return them

to her bosom, _with the mechanical arts_ ... _with science_ ...

_with philosophy_ ... with civilization ... with republican

feelings ... and above all, with the true knowledge of the true

God, and the way of salvation through the Redeemer.'

'The mechanical arts!'--with whom did they serve an apprenticeship?

'With philosophy!'--in what colleges were they taught? It is strange

that we should be so anxious to get rid of these scientific men of

color--these philosophers--these republicans--these christians, and that

we should shun their company as if they were afflicted with the

hydrophobia, or carried a deadly pestilence in their train! Certainly,

they _must_ have singular notions of the christian religion which

tolerates--or, rather, which is so perverted as to tolerate--the

oppression of God's rational creatures by its professors! They must feel

a peculiar kind of brotherly love for those _good men_ who banded

together to remove them to Africa, because they were too proud to

associate familiarly with men of a sable complexion! But the writer

proceeds:

'We tell her, look at the little colony on her shores. We tell

her, look to the consequences that must flow to all her borders

from religion, and science, and knowledge, and civilization, and

republican government! And then we ask her--_is not one ship

load of emigrants returning with these multiplied blessings,

worth more to her than a million of her barbarous sons?_'

So! every ship load of ignorant and helpless emigrants is to more than

compensate Africa for every million of her children who have been

kidnapped, buried in the ocean and on the land, tortured with savage

cruelty, and held in perpetual servitude! Truly, this is a compendious

method of balancing accounts. In the sight of God, of Africa, and of the

world, we are consequently blameless--and rather praiseworthy--for our

past transgressions. It is such sophistry as is contained in the

foregoing extract, that kindles my indignation into a blaze. I abhor

cant--I abhor hypocrisy--and if some of the advocates of the

Colonization Society do not deal largely in both, I am unable to

comprehend the meaning of these terms.

Of the whole number of individuals constituting the officers of the

Society, nearly three-fourths, I believe, _are the owners of slaves_, or

interested in slave property; not one of whom, to my knowledge, has

emancipated any of his slaves to be sent to Liberia!! The President of

the Society, (CHARLES CARROLL,) owns, I have understood, nearly _one

thousand slaves_! And yet he is lauded, beyond measure, as a patriot, a

philanthropist, and a christian! The former President, (Judge BUSHROD

WASHINGTON,) so far from breaking the fetters of his slaves, actually

while holding his office offered a large reward for a runaway female

slave, to any person who would secure her by putting her into any jail

within the United States! What a mockery it is for such persons to

profess to deplore the existence of slavery, or to denounce the foreign

slave trade! for they neither cease from their own oppressive acts, nor

act much more honestly than the slave dealers--the latter stealing those

who are born on the coast of Africa, and the former those who are born

in this country!

FOOTNOTES:

[AE] John Neal.

[AF] _Vide_ the Fourth Volume of the Genius of Universal Emancipation

for 1829.

[AG] Alexander H. Everett, Esq. vide his work entitled 'America, or a

General Survey,' &c. &c. pp. 212, 225.

[AH] Genius of Universal Emancipation for November 27, 1829.

[AI] Genius of Universal Emancipation, January 29, 1830.

[AJ] 'The Liberator' for January 22, 1832.

[AK] 'A Colored Philadelphian'--vide 'The Liberator' for Feb. 12, 1831.

[AL] Correspondent of 'The Liberator,' Feb. 26, 1831.

[AM] Correspondent of 'The Liberator,' March 12, 1831.

[AN] 'African Sentinel,' Oct. 8, 1831, printed at Albany.

[AO] Extracts from 'An Address to the Gentlemen and Ladies of the County

of Otsego, N. Y., delivered on the 30th September, 1830, by Hayden

Waters, a man of color.' The proceedings of the colored inhabitants of

Virginia, incorporated into this Address, are those referred to on page

8 as having been accidentally mislaid.

[AP] 'Address delivered before the colored population of Providence, R.

I., November 27, 1828, by Rev. Hosea Easton.'

[AQ] 'A Discourse delivered in St. Philip's Church, for the benefit of

the colored community of Wilberforce, in Upper Canada, on the Fourth of

July, 1830. By Rev. Peter Williams, Rector of St. Philip's Church,

New-York.' Mr Williams is a clergyman of superior talents and great

moral worth, and beloved by an extensive circle of acquaintance.

[AR] From the pen of the Colored Gentleman in Philadelphia, referred to

on page 58--vide 'The Liberator,' March 12, 1831.

[AS] 'Address delivered before a Colored Association in Brooklyn, N. Y.,

August 5, 1831,' by George Hogarth. Vide 'The Liberator' for August 27,

1831.

[AT] Conventional Address of the People of Color in Philadelphia, in

1830.

[AU] 'Minutes and Proceedings of the First Annual Convention of the

People of Color, held by adjournment in the city of Philadelphia, in

June, 1831.'

[AV] 'Philadelphia Evangelist'--vide 'The Liberator' for November 26,

1831.

[AW] Correspondent of 'The Liberator,' December 17, 1831.

END OF PART II.