Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-09-21
THE COLONIZATION scHEME



We are requested by gentleman who takes
a lively interest in the objects OF the American
| Colonization Society to publish the following
letter from distinguished yentlemsn Of vir-
| gnla, late Senator OF that Slate, aud hlu,seli
an extensive proprietor Of slaves. The person
! to whom It IS addressed desires It's publication
from belief that II places the views OF the SO.
| ciety IN clearer light than that in which they
have been generally regarded, and removes
| some objec Ions to their operations which have
been suggested and urged.
Rarensworih, august III, 1896.
Ny DEAR Sir: received your let
ter of the 9th last night. Nothing would
| have given me more pleasure than to
join you in New-Y York, and to unite my
efforts with yours in bringing about a
proper understanding oil the real views
of the A. c. >. in tina, City, as well as IN
Philadelphia. hope yet TO be able. oa
some future occasion, to devote por
4 ton OF my time to so interesting work;
but you will feel the imposslbhty Of my
doing so at present, wheny on learn thai
my house is now full of friends, who are
with me on temporary visit, and whom
| could not, in common politeness, leave,
as long as would be necessary TO render
my cooperation with you, of any avail
am not surprised at the difficulties
you encounter in the North. encoun-
tered the same in the course Oh the last
Summer. found that intelligence and
practical men every where, considered
our whole plan as chimerical in the ex-
| ire me--as the idle dream OF mad enthu-
siasts. And well indeed might they
think so, IT it had, at any time, embra,
ced the absurd idea OF accomplishing
through the fundamentally of our So
ciety alone, allthat was proposed to be
accomplished But who ever caleula-
ted on ehecting, with means so limited,
purpose so grand? Who ever looked
to the Society as any thieg more than an
| humble instrument for awakening the
public mind to the Importance of the
subject, and preparing the way for the
introduction of powers and resources at
once adequate and necessary to realize
all our anticipatlons3
Our design was, by providing an a
]
nishing the necessary facilities for re-
moval to the People of color, 20 induce
the voluntary emigration OF that portion
of them already free, aud to throw open
to inviduals and the states wider door
for voluntary and legal emancipation.
The operation, we were aware, must
be--and, for the interests of our coun-
try, ought 10 be- gradual. But we en-
tertained hope, founded on our knowI-
edge oil the interest as well as the feel
ings of the South, that this operation,
properly conducted, would in the end,
remove from our country every vestige
of domestic slavery, without a single
violation ofindiyidual wishes or indiyid-
ual rights.
The whole work we propose to leave
to the authorities of our country; and
we hope, by a combined and harmoni-
Gus operation of the State and Federal
Government all the powers and resour-
ces of the nation. And will it be deni-
ed that these powers and resources are
fully adequate TO the deitaking? VIII
it be doubted, that even the speedy re-
moral, If necessary, of the whole color
ed population of the country could be
efecteds But we ask for no such trial
of our strength-~e ask for no such
speedy removal--we seek only an oper-
alton SO gradual that, while it prevents
the Increase of the population in ques.
ton, it shall imperceptibiy draw off the
capital, the fund, from which that in
crease grows. Such is the course which
wisdom and humanity unite in recon-
mending--and such is the plan, on the
details of which we now ask the practi-
cal judgment of the North.
The annual increase of the colorea
| population Of the country does not ex-
| coed 100000; so that the ann. of $4,000
would not only prevent the increase,
hut would, in the course Of very few
years, leave not a vestage Of the popu-
| lation IN question Indeed, the annual
removal of much smaller number
would answer every purpose: for, as
the emigfants would, in the nature of
things, consist of the younger, and
healthier, and more productive classes,
it is obvious that the rate of increase of
those remaining behind would be very
much diminished. / have no doubt, in
| deed, that the most economical mode of
etfecting the object in contemplation
would be to apply the means TO be used /,
as far as possible, to encouraging the en-
| - Al L Il IL.