The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-04-08

has never been computed at more than
5000. But the annual increaseof the free
people of colour, estimating il a'thc rate of
three per cent. is now about ! 90, and the
annual increase of the slaves sat the same
rae, $4,000. After making the most iibe
raj allowance fer the utmost extension OF
these remdies, we can never Expect 10 see
them equal to keeping down Tie arcesslons
by natural increase.
have, therefore, long sincs come to the
conclusion that all attempts a reduce the
numbers Of our colored population are
! hopeless, unless some place Tor coiouZing
them cou be found on this continent. A
portion Of our territory, lying west of the
Rocky MouDta,ns, seems to have stronger
recommendations, or, if you prefer it. to
/ be liable ~ fewer objections, than any 9th
er. TouId, therefore, set apart portion
ct this territory for their exclusive USE, aid
Ing them with the benefit and protection of
territorial government, until they were
able to govern aud protect themselves =
and, to invite them topraft by our bounty,
| would make road through the inttrye-
ming wilderness, and establish pests a
long il for their accommodation, aud safe.
~.
When such settlement WAS once form
ed, and those cheap and simple accomn.o
datlons afforded 10 travellers which are 10
be found even on our least freqnented
roads, have no doubt, from what | know
of the present cost of transporting slaves
by land, il would be Il less expensive mode
OF removal more than any other. 1t
sometimes costs not more than a dol
lar to pay the travelling expenses of Il
slave an hundred miles--this sum, in or
abundant country, providing him with an
ample supply of bread and meat. The a
verage cost of conveying person OF CO
lor hey the Rocky Mountains, would,
therefore, probably MT e. coed ten dollars.
Besides, local attachment would not Ope
rate SO strongly against their migrating 10 a
settlement on this continent as 10 one be-
yoad the sea and there are ten. perhaps
"a h4ndred, who would be willing 10 I'M
deftalte a journey, for one who would en- |
COULTER sea voyage. A soon as the set |
Element tegan 10 flourish, the INDECENT peo-
pie of color amOng US would be invited to
II by the prospect of easy subsistence,
and those who had property, hy the pc
iitiedl privileges, that they would there at
quife.
| am aware that objections readily pre-
sent themselves To such a settlement on
any part of this continent think, howe
Yer, that these will he found on a nearer
survey, to be either unfomled or insigui
fcant, compared with the object 10 be at
tanned II is said, that colony OF free ne
groes would be place Of refuge for our
slaves. But II would probably be much
less 81 than our great northern towns now
are, because the col0nlsts would know
that such protection would he leas tolers
ted in them, and that it would be more in
the power of the shareholders rs enforce
those rights which the constitution haas
cured. against them, tban against the cit
gems of our sister sta;rg. 9csldrs, srpa
rated as we should be from them by q
mountain and wide desert, tie few ~ ans
of communication between US and the CO.
lony might be subjected 10 such cauliouary
regulations as would eGcctually prevent he
escape of our slaves.
Nor could we ever have cause to dread |
them AZ formidable or troublesome neigh |
Dor. They must always continue weak
aud Insignificant compared with us, and
the dread Of our superior power would en
u
our services should fail to command it.
But, on this subject, we have only achoice
of evils, aud this is evidently the least. The |
whole Of the conDtry, between The Pacific |
and the Rocky Mountains, will be settled |
at no distant period, if in no other way, by |
the progressive march of our own popula-
tinn, and it cannot reasonable be doubted |
that. as soon as the Western settlers, are |
able 10 maintain their Independence, they
will assert il. The country lying east OF
those mountains, vast as liz extent, Is bound
togrtherby the strongest ties. They carry !
on foreign commerce with the same Nations,
they have still mote extensive & beneficial
traffic with one another. They have the same
outlets for their supri fiuous commodities,
and they l0nk To the same naval defence
for It's protection. But with the country west
Of these r"ountains, the case is widely diff
frcnt. Their trade must b. partl, with the
South American port, ON the Pacific, but
principally with China, Japan, aud the
PHILIPPINE isles for commerce IS never so
gainfui as when ii Is carried on between
ooe nation possessing the raw prodace O
the soil 10 abundance, and another, IN
which denseutss Of population has made
labor and manufactures cheap.
Their distance Itself f,om the Seat of
Government is a strong ohIccliau; but,
when We add to this complete separation
Of interests, what is thrre 10 bind these
countries in permanent Union The sc
olu. OF oar o,ernmrnt forbds that system
of restraint winch may supply The place
of commonly of interests. To rcman
so cucumstanced, under one government
would be an incanvenient clog both upon
them and upon rs separation would linen
BIZ the inevitable consequence. NOW, as
the country mus IN time, cease to t'e ours,
4 certainly seems better for us that II