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

""ote lVhhage OF The country. one
twelfth Of it would be more than sutIi.
cient-that one half, in fact, of that
which belonged to New York alone
would furnish TO $4,000 emigrants.
Nor is there any ground tor alarm on
The score OF expense. Even in the mode
IN which the Colonization Society is
compelled 10 conduct its movement. the
cost OF transporting So 900 individuals
could be only Si,00o,000; and there
can De no doubt that under the auspi
ces OF the Government, and in regular
commercial Interchange with Africa. a
system might be devised. in which this
item of expenditure might be reduced to
almost nothing.
But suppose the expense 10 be 81
ooo,0oo, or, II you please, 100000,
would 1t either exceed the means OF the
government, or be diSproportioned TO
the subject TO be accomplished, We
gather from sundry speeches during the
last session of Congress, that the dow
ernnient will, in the course Of few
years, have at its disposal an annual
surplus of $4,000 600. A fair proper
ton OF this viii be applied, trust. To
the internal Improvement of the coun.
try. And education, too, will very pro-
badly (and certainly very property
command It's share. Bun, after provi-
Ding most amply for those two important
interests, would not enough, and more
than enough, be left to cover every ex-
penditure that the most jealous advo.
cate for colonizing the People of color
would ask at the hands of the General
Government And can any object be
presented more national in its character.
or more intimately connected with "tbe
Common defence and general welfare
OF ourcountry,". than the removal of the
population in question:
will not touch on those high consid-
erations of morality, religion, humanity,
and justice, by which the measure IS
recommended. | will say nothing of the
claims of Africa, nor of the debl4that is
due to those who are to be more imme-
dlately affected by the contemplated
change. | am wiling to view the sub
lect wholly in apoltieal point Of view,
and Independently Of the high and en-
vlable character it affords us an cppcrtu-
nifty OF acquiring among the nations Of
the earth. see enough in its effects on
our internal prosperity, our morals, our
politics, our individual worth, and our
national strength, to Justify every ex-
penditure that can possibly be requi.
red.
Contracted indeed must be the views
Of that statesman, who does not see in
our colored population abundant sour
ces of corruption to our morals, and A.
bnndant matter of feproach, as we'll as
danger, TO our political institutions. VIII
fully blind must he be, who does not
draw from the Northern and Southern
sections of our Union an inference un-
favorable to the value Of slaves labor.
And that man would be an anomaly in
creation, who would venture to deny
that, in war, the population 10 question
must be source of weakness, not less
appalling than scanty revenue, an I'M
disciplined army, or an unfortifed coast.
Is not its removal, then, a subject Of
deep interest, and of general concerna
Or can any expenditure for its accom-.
plishment, within the compass of our
means, be considered disproportioned
TO its importaLces
But question, as important as il is
delicate, presents itself, in relation tn
the powers of the General Government.
And deep and sincere as is the interest
L have ever felt on this subject great
and unlimited as are the personal sacri-
fees am willing to make in relation to
til feel no hesitation in saying. that,
rather than see the General Govern
ment transcend its authority; rather
than see it 60 single inch beyond the
powers with which it is invested, I
would abandon the whole scheme, and
rest contented in the wretched condition
in which find my country involved.
But on this subject have no approhen-
sions. The Colonization Society has
distinctly designated the extent 10 which
it seeks the interposition of the Govern.
ment of the country. 1t asks only the
provisions of a place and a government
for the reception and protection OF such
persons of colour as are already free,
and such others as TIE humanity of indi-
sidaais and the laws Of tie different
Statss,maybsreat fer iibsrafe--the neces-
sary encouragement to, and the neces-
sary facilities for emigration-and, as