Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-04-05
DOMESTIC.
REPORT
On Coiom-ing the Free People IF Colour Of
tie United States.
REPORT

| TIC DiciHoiict OF tie president dLN BCdsU
of Managers of the . American Society
tor Coioniziile the Free People OF Colour
of the United States, nave had the same
| under their deliberate consideration. The
subject is oil suci, magnitude, aud aiten-
| ded with SO many difficulties, ii IS with
much dltidence they present their views
of il TO the House.
Were 1t ,inply a question Of founding
a colony, numerous and well known pre-
cedents shay With what facility The work
might be accomplished. EEery new ter
riiory established by our goVcrnment CON.
stitutes, indeed, COLONY, iormed wnh
great ease +; because, II IS only an eXteIi-
sion Of homogeneous settlements. But,
| III contemplating The colonization OF The
free people OF colour, ltseemed obviously
necessary TO take a different course.-
Their distinct character aud relative con-
dition, render an entire separation from
our own states aud territories inGlSpensa-
bic. And this separaiipa must be such
as 10 admit of Az iu6etuite continuance.
Hence, IL seems manifest thai these pe0-
Pile cannot be coloniged within the limits
Of the United States. Ii they were not
tar distant, the rapidly extending settle
menls OF our white inhabitants woald soon
reach them and The evil new felt would
he renewed probably WIKI aggravated
mischief. Were the colony 10 be remote,
IT must I've planted ON lands now owned
and occupied by the native tribes OF the
country. And could a territory be puT-
chased, tue trans porting OF the coloniSts
tlUther would be vastly expensive, their
Subsistence for time difficult, and d
body OF troops would be required for
their projections. And after all, should
these diilicGltIes be overcome, the origi-
nal evil would q length recur, by the oX-
tension OF our white population. In tie
meantime, shonld the colony SO increase
as 10 become a nation, i; Is not difficult
To foresee the guarrels and destructive
wars which would eSsue especially ifthe
slavery OF people of colour Should contin-
ne, and accompany the whites lii their ma
grations.
Turning our eyes from our own ccun-
try, 10 other adapted 10 the colony in
contemplation presented itself to Our
view nearer than Africa. the native land
| OF negroes; and probably that IS the only
county on the globe 10 wlichit would lie
practicable to transfer Our free people of
colour with safety and advantage TO them
selves and the civilized world II is thc
country, which, in the order o.! Proyi-
dence, seems t. have been appropriated
TO that distinct family OF mankind. And
while it presents tie fiiieSt asylum FOR tic
fee people of colour, Il opens L WIDE field
for the improve menis iii q, ilizaii0n, mo-
rails and religion, which tic iHmane and
enlightened memorialists have conceived
II possible III process OF time TO spread O.
yer that great continent.
Should the measure suggested be ap
proved, an important question ocCurs-in
what way shall its execution be essay
ed
A preliminary step would be, TO pro-
vide for the periectneulrality of the colo
ny, by the explicit assent and engage
ment OF all the civilized powers, whatever
dissentions may at amy time arse among
| their selves.
Tie next important question is-Nill if
be expedientto attempt the establishment
OF new colony ia Africa, or TO make to
| O. Britain proposal 10 receive tie cnii-
| grants from the u. States INTO her colony
OF Sierra Leone2
AZ Sierra Leone the first difficulties
| have been surmounird and "a lew free
people OF colour from the United States
have been admitted. a gradual addition
| from the same source (and such would be
| International prOgress) would occasion no
| embarrassment, eitlierin regard 10 their
| riAoiNIutIt u t.VfftItN'iAts tfOllN tilt
! British government consent to receive
such an accession ofemigraufs, however
eventually considerable from the Unitea
| States Would tliat government agrcc,
| that al ihe period when that colony shall
| be capable of selfgovernment and self
protection, il shall be declared i1degend-
enii ln the meantime, Nl ii desire to
munopOllZe the commerce OF the colony
| This WOulG be injurious 70 the co,ODisis
as well as to the United States. Should
that county, from the nature Of It's soil
and other circumstances, hclh out sUsfici-
eni alluremcnis, and draw 20 il from The
| United States tie great body Of tic free
! people OF colour, these would form It's
Strength and It's ability TO rcnderits COM
mcrcc al objectof consideration. Now,
as the great and permanent benefit Of the
coloaists was thc fundamental principle Of
the establishment--wil the British gov
cgpmcat decline proposition calculated
to give TO illat benefit the important extern
sion which will arise from fire dom OF
commerce, tothOse OF least afwhose eN-
pense and by whose means the colony
shall be essentially extendedy Should an
agreement with G.. Britain be effected, nc
further negotiation, nor amy CxiraOrdind-
| ~ expenditure of money, viii be yedur-