Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-11-18

10 ensure tneH rapid decrease the country, II
hoped that II the government be induced to act
The subject at all, sach an appropriation will be
made, as will insure the removal in the course OF
ten years, not only OF those who now free and
Their descendants, but OF all such ALSO the hu-
mainly oil individuals, may in the course of that
time, hbera'e with view TO their colonization ON
the coast of Africa. And such, venture to assert
would be an annual appropriation of million OF
dollars calculated 10 deiray every expense connect
ell with the transportation and governm ent of thirty
thousand individuals. Whether such an appropria-
tion would exceed in value the object To be accom-
plished, will appear iron the consider a,ons which
ain now about 10 oiler.
In forming Just estimate of the objects of the
Colonization Society, aud OF their claim 'to the aid
and patronage" OF tie general government, il is I'M
possible to overlook entirely, their inluence on the
present degraded condition OF Africa, TO forget
how large sii-rs of the long continued suffeings of
that devoted seiion oil the world mi sht be traced to
thecupdiiy u lnlumanity of our own couatrymen.
should be sorry TO the energe = resources OF our
| government Withdrawn from objects OF importance
al home, and wasted ON Idle attempts civiizing
anu Improving the condition of foreign nations.
Bat cannot consider II an objection TO any scheme
OF domestic policy, that its benefits are TO be parti-
cipaiedn IN, by others Is well as ourselves And
when 1t Is Africa and her wretched Inhabitants on
whom these benefits 10 fall, envy not the feel
insS o. that man, who can contemplate with hos
ty, with cold indifference the effort OF his
country 10 carry civilization religion TO those who
have hitherto received at its hand, nothing but
stripes and chains and death. Amerca stands de-
sefsedly ioremos, in the noble struggle TO arrest the
injuries OF Africa. But she viii have accomplish
ed litte, II she stops here. Tie recollection oil the
injuries she has done, is yet fresh in the memory OF
mankind; and while the moral and political deera-
dalton OF Africa continues, she will find in it,
perpetual rememorancer to herself, of her former
deeds OF injustice and cruelty. Ii the plan of the
colonization Society, therefore, ed other
claim TO public consideration, the opportunity
which It oilers Tor removing from before us, this
horEid spectre oil early and unaoned for guilt ought
alone 10 secure to it the countenance OF the nation
and The pah onage OF the government. But, fortu-
nateiy Tor the cause OF huMarty, il addresses itself
10 feelings more powerful in their operation, because
more directly connected with our interests and more
Intimately associated with the ordinary pursuits Of
our lives.
| L will not stop 10 enquire into advantages mere
ly pecuniary IN their character l will not dwell
on The spur That must necessarily be given to our
navigation by the annual transportation of thirty
thousand indy duals TO the coast of Africa; or on
the additional employment to be afforded to our
enierpssing seamen; or the CONNER cia ad vanta-
ses 10 result to from an independent settlement
Oh the coast OF Africa bound 10 us not less by ba-
BITS oi early association, than by grateful recol-
iecucn oil the act oil national Justice 10 which il
Will have owed its origin. These are cousidera-
ions, that will oil course occupy the attention OF
N our statesmen, and if they do not furnish an induce
III ment Tor the interference of the government ~ i'll
nevertheless diminish, and perhaps entirely dssi-
pate the fears OF indefinite expenditure which have
ltliherio been allows ed too powerful an influence
Rut there ate other advantages 10 result from the
y colonization OF the free people of color that will
De ielt by ever? class oil the community, and will
operate alike on our morals, our habits our laws
Our wealth, and our engih 1t is these that have
already awakened SO deep an interest in the pub
lie mind, and II Is ON these that reliance must be
principally placed lOr an early application of the
powers and the resources oil the national govern
ment TO the great objects to be accomplished.
have endeayoured in my first number, very
briefly TO designate the evils thai must necessarily
result to as, from the continued presence of pop
uiation, differing from in habits; idle because
deriving from wealth, but few oil its most valuable
privileges; dissolute, because furnished with none
OF the most powerful incenGyes 10 moral rcctitude
animated by no paniouc sympathy for country
In whchl ieels itself oppressed and requiring for
It's special government system of laws adapted TO
It's moral and political degrad9Jion That have
moi been too ex'Tavagant IN my estimate of these
lewis, Is luiiy attested by the records of our courts
TO- the exhibitions OF our public lails and peniien-
iiarles, and b. the despotic character OF our laws
h concerning slaves, ITee Degroe, and Inuattoes.''
\ Whoever can contemplate these evidences OF the
unhappy Influence OF such population on our
society and Our pablo Institutions and not desire
It's removal, Is TO say the least,) unfit shiec
Tor reason and argument. Sc He would not be per
suaded though one should come to him from the
dead.''
But there is another and more interesting view
OF TINS subject, which cannot fail TO attract the al
teniion oil The public, and 10 elicit whatever oil Lu-
name and just and generous feeling vet exists i'm
the bosoms of our counrymen. The removal OF
the Tree people OF color from the country, under
Inc auspices OF the general government, while it
cannot tail TO amelioTate the present condition OF
our slaves, will furnish the only practicable means
lor their ultimate elevation TO the rank of freemen
Slavery, In its mildest form is an evil OF the dark
est Character; cruel and unnatural in lis origin no
plea can be urged in justification OF its coniinuance
but the plea OF necessity that necessity which
arises from habits, our prejudices or our
wants, but the necessity which requires US to sub
NIT to existing evils, rather than substitute by their
removal, others OF a more serious and destructive
Character. Ii was this which procured the recog-
milton oil slavery In the constitution of our country
lit is this which has justified ITS continuance 10
the present day--and il Is in this only, that we
can find paiation for the rigors OF our law
which might otherwise be considered as the cruel
enactments of dark and dismal despotism There
have not, am aware, been found wanting indiyid-
uals TO deny both the existence and the oblig atoms
OF such necessity. There are men, actuated i'm
some instances, by blind and mistaken enthusiasm
and in others, by spirit of misohievous intent,
loudly calling us, in the names of Justice
and humanity, for the immediate snd unqualified
emancipation OF our slaves. To men of this
description, IL is in vain to point out the new
table effects Of such course, well on the ob-
Jecs OF their real pretended solicude as on the
community IN which they exist 1t is in vain to
assure them, that while the preservation of the lat
ter would require policy even more rigorous, than
pertains 10 slavery itself, the short-veI and nom-