Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-08-26
FOR THE ENG ULRER
TO the President and Members of the .duriliaru


FOR THE E.NQ UIRER
To the President and Members of the .4urIiar,
Colonization Society of Potchatan.
GENTLEMEN: In pursuance of the intimation
which gave you in my former communication,
beg leave now to pursue the examination of your
scheme in relation to the two remaining topic.
which there stated for consideration. And while
take pleasure in acknowledging my own opin-
on of the amiable motives ana feelings which
dictated the plan of your Parent Association;
shall, nevertheless, take the liberty of discussing
with freedom, the wisdom and policy of the mea-
sure, and of denouncing in suitable terms all the
mi-chiefs and evils which think must inevitably
grow out OF perseverance in your purpose.
Is 1t then true, that it is one Of the objects of
your Society TO produce general emancipation
Of siaccry throughout the United States, as well
as to COLOMBO the present free blacks Of the
country? Ii so, permit me 10 ask, have you
properly considered the Importance, the difficulty
and delicacy Of your entcrprize9 Have you duly
estimated the means by which this great revolu-
ton in the population of the South is TO be effect
ed! In word, have Yea well considered all the
political and social consequences which are to
grow out of it! If you have, your minds have
been led to very different result from any opIn-
ions of ny own; or, what believe, must be the
opinions of a majority of the rejecting people OF
ihis country. after your scheme shall have been
properly considered But lest should be charg-
:he style of .eur association does not imply, nor
the provisions Of your constitution declare, and
which believe but lew suspect you of entertaining,
consider it my duty in the first place, 10 fix this
purpose upon you and with that view, / shall
here Introduce portion OF evidence of the most
uneqnivocal character; and which presume, will
at least be regarded by you good authority, as
L derived from your own files. Let us then
consult in the first place the Sd Annual Report of
the Parent Association at Washington, page %. in
which will be found the following sentence: Z" For
although it is believed and is indeed too obvious 10
require proof that the Colonization of the free peo
pie OF colour alone, would not only tend to civil
re Africa, 10 abolish the Slave Trade, and GREAT
~ to advance their own happiness, but 10 pro-
mote that also of the other classes of society,
the proprietoFs and their slaves; yet the hope of
he gradual and utter abolition of Siareyy, in a
manner consistent icith the rights, interests and
happiness Of Society, ought nerer to be aban-
'ioned." Again in page 9S of the same Report,
appendix g., will be found the following extract
from the address of the President ie the Society
apon the same subject: " The effect of this ins,i-
.,,ion, if its prosperity shall equal our wishes will
re alike propitcu 10 every interest of our domestic
society ana should 1t Il al as IRE n,ay fariy hope
II 'oW, to the sio,r but gradual abolition Of siaue
~, It will wipe from our political institutions the
1niy blot which stains them; and in the palliaton
Of which shall not be at liberty to plead the
r-N-N''- ~ i'~Oi'' h''c'SiNJ, HtiH Wc STuN nave
honestly e,reTfed all tie means Which u c possess
Jor its extinction" Here then is a pretty dis
.nct expression of your object in this respect from
tlie highest sources But will not content nv
sell with this only, bat shew from the declarations
81 some ct your most distinguished votaries, that
such ~ well understood among them To be one of
the prominent objects of your association For
this purpose must again refer TO the same page
of the same Report, Appendix g., for the follow
ing extract OF letter written by General Robert
Goodloe Harper, lately of its Vice Presi-
dents, TO the Secretary of the Society at Washing
ton. Great, however, as the benefits arc which
we m5y promise ourselves from the Colonization OF
The Tree people OF colour, by its tendency TO pre-
vent the discomfort and corruption of our slaves
and 10 secure to them better treatment by rem
dering them more worthy oft, there as anotie,
6dpdnfaee infinitely greater IN epery point of
uieto to iohich IL may isad the aoaV. 1t teaas,
md may powerfully teod to rid as groGiuGiiy
ana enttreiyin the United States of siarcs and
siaDsry; grfht moral and political epH Of in
creasing prudence and erteLI, from, Which much
tHlschief as nOto frH and re,y greot caEamity
N future is justly 0Pprehended l. is in ths
point OF view, confess, that your scheme of Co
!onixation mus, strongly mmend ITSELF in my
opinion TO attention and support" But this is not
all. Let us see with what eagetncss this object of
your eociety is caught at by brethren 10 the
north, whose misguided zeal, and fanaticisin upon
late memorable occasion in Congress- excited
storm whose dreadful forebodings distinctly announ-
ced this one of the dangerous SUBJECTS upon
which the government, the people of This coun-
try could be called on TO act. And for that pur-
pose would beg leave 20 call your attention TO
the following extracts, from the Report OF the
Committee appointed at Boston, Sept. 7ih, 1922,
30 consult about the expediercy of aiIording aid to
: nc Colonization Society; and which VIII be found
appended to the 9th Annual Report of your Parent
Association at WasIIngtou, pages 40 and Co.
- Were the objects of this Society,"" say the Com
,rnittee, "extendcd farther than the colonization
ot such people OF colour in our own country as
are already free, nr who will become free in the
ordinary course of events, they would not in the
view OF the Committee, be such as TO ercite that
deeP interest among as, which is necessary to Sc
cure very active cooperation, )" and after enume-
rating its probable effects in the civilization OF Az
RIGA, and extension oil the principles OF christian
ity, it further says: " But if while thee ,,urposes
are accomplished, the Colonization OF the free peo,
pie of colour, will aid effectually in the suppress
OF the Slave Trade, so as 10 lead TO the entrc
abolition of TINT defesfnbie trdGici, and ut the
same time aGord such encouragement to the
emancipation of SLAVES, as to prepare the ,Cay
FOR tie gradtdk determination Of siaDery, II
leotdd become an object 1oorfhy ofattention and
dsss 'GHee Of the JChOie christian DOrid. .dHd
that sgeh are The designs and expectations Of
those who are most active in managing the con-
Germs of the American Colonization Society, the
committee have the fullest confidence Again, in
subsequent part Of the same Report the commit
tee expressly Declare that, +" II is only from the
p re- MS.ouii ooc.tios,