Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-11-18
RICHMOND, NOV. rs.
70 he Editors of the Richmond Enguiycr.

10 The Editors of tie Richmond Enquirer
GENTEEMEN: In advocating an application OF
the powers and the RESOURCES of the general govern
meni, TO the gradual removal oi the nee people of
color from Our country, amawaie that some de-
gree Of risk and expenditure must, necessarily he
incurred in lis accomplishment But as this would
be more or less the with every measure of &C.
neral policy that could be proposed, cannot con-
slider il an insuperabe objection The one now
under consideration. All that I ask, is that ON
this, all other subjects, the evil and the good
may be fairly weighed against each other. s that the
measure be condemned Of approved, as the Or
the other shall preponderaic.
Against the colonial systems of the nations of
Europe, very decided anu well funded objection
has ever prevailed amongst American politicians.
The advantages occasionally afforded by the colo
MES, 10 the commerce and navigation OF their mo-
ther countries, have been more thar coun;eTbaaac-
ed by the fierce and proracled contests 10 which
they have so often given rise. And the continued
restlessness and ultimate struggle Tor relief that
have sometimes resulted from a long continued
state OF colonial dependence, have rendered il
doubtful, whether remote settlements, established
for commercial purposes, and egIialeS on CONNER
Gil principles, are productive OF very great advan-
tsges 10 any nation An early te;nplation OF
The evils inseparable rom tbem has, all events,
produced decided impression amongst ourselves
that the systems OF which they hive grown,
would be wholly unsuiied TO the character of our
Institutions and the habits OF our Citizens. And il
VIII be matter OF very serious regret, should the
pride Of foreign conquest the spirit of CONNER
cia enterprise ever seduce Us from the Wholesome
Principles which lave hitherto regulated our con-
duct on this sualefi. But ii viii mo lie fr 10 con
sler the proposed establishment at Liberia a de-
Walton from these principles. Wholly unconnec-
ed with views oil national ambition, and designed
neither 10 crafty pride, TO foster nayi "a
ton, nor 10 vary and enlarge the channels of our
commerce, it furnishes, In ils origin, no food for
ealousy 10 other nations. AnG should il be con-
jlued IN the spirit, IN which it begins, of steady
tdevoton 10 the purposes of christian beney oeuce
and national justice, il cannot fail draw around it
the synpathies OF mankind, and fad la the OBJ
ects oil It's creation, lis suiest protection against
the enmily OF any portion OF the civilized world.
These very objects, too, by requiring for their ac-
complishment course OF legislation, adapted ra-
ther to the permanent prosperity oil the colony than
b 10 any temporary interests OF own, will guard
Us against the reslessness and distrust of parental
authority, inseparable from the colonial systems oil
Europe And the obvious advantage 10 Ourselves
oil dissolying as soon possible, the connection
that may be created, Will furnish us at all times,
with certain means OF protection against struggle
for independence on the part CT the colony, the only
additional danger that has ever been suggested.
Such, then, j. fair estimate OF the actual risk
10 be encountered in the contemplated removal OF
the free people OF colour from the United States 10
the western coast ot Africa. W. have vel 10 a.
certain the probable amount OF expenditure that
would also be involved This, however, must de-
pend so much on contingencies tia, cannot be cal
culstei. and SO much on ti.e extent TO which s;he
government may think proper interfere that ali
et!males On the subject must be indefinite as the
Contingencies on which they rest are uncertain.
We have, uesefIllciess, data for calculating
the mo-, material expenses 10 be inchrIed; and a.
val myself OF these, to sheS, that in relation to
expense, there is IN reality, nothing 10 alarm
the fears OF government possessing The abundant
Resources that belong 10 oars. Land in A irica is
OF so little value that the acquisition of territory
sufficient for the whole negro population of the u
States. would hardiy constitute a serious item OF
expense. The proceeds oi single years sales OF
western lands OF lie co7t OF single Indian settle
0uld procure ain Airi, an dominion of indie
finite ex;en'. Nor wouc he expense OF DIVIDING
and maintaining ~ force, . the neediu rules and
regulations" Tor The gov OF the territory be
OF q more serious character. Judging from the o.
perations of the Colonization Society we NAV
consider an annual appropriation OF ten thousand
dollars as fully csmue asuTase with tie demand.
created by the civil list and the military establish
ment OF he colony in its earlier stages. And this
appropriation, so far from increasing, would in tie
course of very fe, years, be entirely supplied bv
the resources OF the colony itself
But the great expense 10 be incurred, vvold he
that of transportation, and although considerable
portion 81 il might, heretofore, be left to the
contributions oil particular communities, 10 the ge-
neral beneyoencc Of The nation, and in many in
stances, to the individual means of the negroe.
i themselves, we WILL nevertheless, in forming our
estimates, consider the whole oil il as falling on the
government of the u. States. Tie expenditures oil
tie Colonization Society under this head have been
continually diminishing as the attention. and expe-
rence OF lis agents have increased In the expedi-
Sen OF last spring, the cost per head including a
supply OF provisions Tor several months did not
exceed twenty dollars; aid, if mi.take not the
present intelligent agent oil the Society. anticipates
still further reduction, possibly to ten dollars.
But thaiI may err OF err at alb on the right
side Will assume the average cost of the transport
taion Of the coloniss to be twenty-five dollar: i.
aud Aus Gracious himself will probably be sur
pdsed TO learn, that, at this rate, the whole black
population of the country might be removed 10 the
SHORES OF Afriea for fifty millions of dollars, while
that portion o. 1t, already free, would cost some
thing less than six millions oil dollars
take it FOR granted, however, that the ,nost
jealous advocate for the scheme of colonisng he
people OF color, would hardly think it practicable
60 effect, at once, their entire removal And even
ia miracle should render it practicable, apptebend
that but few would scquesce in the propriety OF
attempting so sudden and so great a revolution in
the condition and habits Of our country. Whatever
is lone must be done gradually. Time must be
allo .ved not only to give security and additional
happiness 10 the blacks to be removed, bat also 10
form the habits aud TO accommodate The circum-
stances Of the whites who will remain to the new
order Of things that must necessarily ensue If it
were in contemplation, therefore, 10 remove the
whole coloured population of the country contain
ing two millions Of individuals. every considera-
ton Of humanity well az policy would suggest
the propriety Of eiecting II by an operation 30 gra
dual as 10 require not less than twenty or thirty
years at least for It's accomplishment And such