Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-01-30

more uactable and more virtuous. Weshall rid
ourselves ola population dangerous in another
point ofview. The blessings conferred on the
free people ofcolour will be an entire restoration
of their civil and political rights in the land of
their forefathers and with this an incentive to
virtuous conduct; motive to improve their
minds and their morals. We shall indeed be
planting colony of freemen, and ditfusiny the
great principlesOf liberty through adistant coun-
try we shall be throwing at the door ofthe sa-
wage African, the means of civilization and in
struction and we shall be giving to that most
detcstable slave traffic, severe, ifnot death,
blow.
Nor, sir, is this benevolent scheme a visiona-
ry one. While all the good which have en-
deavourcd to point out it is universally admit
ed, VIII attend our success, yet there arc MANY
who deny the practicability of attaining the de.
sign. To such would make single remark
If you admit that the end is great and valuable
one, If such inestimable benefits are to result
rom success; tell me, if it is not worthy of the
experiment? If we fall, our condition is not
The worse; If we succeed, who can count the
value of our efforts But, sir, it can be de-
monstrated that what we have undertaken is not
wild experiment; that it is not without exam
PIE and that the experience OF past ages will
prove its practicability.
IN any new or adventurous undertaking and
hoped from its success any signal benefit; VIC
would naturally look around and enquire what
was the result of the efforts Of others under like
circumstances, and If thev had been crowned
with success, we should be stimulated to hope
for our adventure similar result. Apply this
principle to our conduct as an aggregate body /;
and let us enquire whether with the same adj
vantages and with less powerful stimulants TO
eNertions, we have not before us the success of
other nations, to cheer US in our labors. Before
the settlement of America by the civilized ma
tons of Europe, history affords US no instance of
a colony planted 5000 miles from the mother
country, In a savage wilderness and unpropi-
ti,is climate and yet those colonies by their
own unaided eXertiohs took root, and were per-
manently seated before any assistaoce of an i'm
portant character was afforded by the nations
from which they sprung. They have sine,
spread over an extensive and rich continent
and our own country, part only Of these colo
MES, in little more than two centuries, contains
now within its bosom population of little less
than 10 millions Of souls. These settlements
were formed prime ipally by individual adventu-
rcrs, and companies associated with that view
the great body of the people from which these
emigrants came, felt no motive and had no in.
terest in encouraging this emigration. Unike
us, they had no &c pcstilencen to remove but on
the contrary it was rather to their advantage to
retain this removing population, and to discour-
age rather than 70 stimulate these pilgrims in
their journey to foreign land. Nor had the first
settlers III Americas so strong inducements to re-
move, our free people of colour; yet thes,
colonies went on, grew and fourished, and from
them have risen up, several great nations. A
still stronger example, Mr.. President, is to be
found in the Colonies planted Oh. the shores of
that continent to which this Society have pro-
posed to remove our free people ofcolour. Not
quite 40 years have passed away, since 1000 emf
grants were by an association of individuals re-
moved to Sierra Leone on the coast Of Africa
and in the year 1922, but IS years from its first
settlement, the colony contained $4,000 souls;
n greater population, it is believed, than was to
be found in the Is old states OF this union, 81
years after their first settlement. Indeed, colo
MES ofDanes, English, French and Portuguese
are found scattered along the coast from the
Cape of Good Hope to Cape Vcrd, and most
them in fourishing condition. The emigrant
to these colonies have removed from higher
Northern latitude and ofcourse their consGtu-
tons not well adopted to resist the attacks
of the diseases peculiar to a country lying so
near the Equator, as the persons whom this So
ciety contemplate sending out as settlers. The
Southern point of AFRICA too, has considerable
colony of English and Dutch, covering an ex-
tent of Territory nearly, fnot quite, equal to the
who'd of Spain and Portugal.
Thus, Mr.. President, has the Colony of Sierra
Leone with about 1856 souls more than the number
which in 90 days you will have at Montserado COM
menced its operations, and has iourshed in degree
much beyond the anticipations of its most ardent
friends. The example is cheering one for, the |
location of your Colony is equally if not more add
vantageous the Harbsr, CountryAdjacent and its
heatefulness fully equal, if not SUPERIOR that
of Sierra Leone. 1t is said by some, that from the
experience of your Colonsts, the climate is so uu-
healthy that -four Colony will sink under disease
The public impression upon this subject, bas been
most enornous---two hundred and twelce emf
grants have gone out, Independent of those who
have recently sailed in the Cyrus of these, 1lOi
remain i'll good health in the Colony, leaving7 Ia
be accounted for--Of this number few have re-
turned 10 the United States, and others have
ed to Sierra Leone---there have been DC deaths
% of whom went out in the Elizabeth, and were
most unhappily located at Sherbro, Of the most
unhealthy positions on the coast since the settle
ment at Montserado 20 deaths have occurred, of
which number have been from casualties, and IL
by the diseases ofthe climate, being about one in
every thirteen. Contrast this loss with that sus-
tanned in the first settlement of our country, in that
four Southern border, of our Western wilds
and let the rcnectng and enquring mind answer,
whether indeed this is not loss far less than is fire.
quently met with in the opening of a new and e.
ven healthy country. 1t is sometimes obiected,th
the Society will be unable to procure emigrants,
that the most free people of color and especially the
most respectable of them will be unwilling sepa-
rate themselves from their friends and relativesand
abandon all their early associates. Experience has
saved me in great degree the labor of answering
this objection there has never been the slightest
difficulty on his head the contrary, more have
offered than can be well accommodated and hun
dreds are now ready to remove. ! speak, sir, from