American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-05-04

son, W0ulU not cScbangc tne prOuu Satisfaction
which should enjoy for the honor of all the tr
umphs ever decreed to the most successful conque
| ror.
Having hope shown that the plan of the Society /;
not visionary, but rational and practicable that
Colony does in fact exist, planted under its ausp
ces that free people are willing and anxious tt
90 and that the right Of soil as we'll as OF sover
elgnty may be acquired in vast tracts Of country
in Africa, abundantly sufficient for all the pnrpo
ses of the most ample Colony, and at prices almost
only nominal, the task which remains to me o
showing the beneficial consequences which woult
attend the execution Of the scheme, is comparative
~ easy.
OF the utility of total separation Of the two incon
gruous portions Of our population, supposlng 1t to
be practicable, none hayeeycr doubted. The mode
of accomplishing that most desirable object, has
alone divided public opinion. Colonization in
IIayt, for time, had its partisans Without throw
ing any mpcdimcnts in the way OF executing that
scheme, the American Colonization Suclety has
steadily adhered to its own. The Hayden project
has passed away. Colonization beyond the Stony
Mountains has sometimes been proposed; but it
would be attended with an expense and difficulties
far surprising the African project whilst it would
not unite the same animating motives. There is
a moral fitness in the idea OF returning to Africa
her children, whose ancestors have been torn from,
her by the ruthless hand of fraud and violence.
Transpanted in foreign land, they will carry
back to their native soil the rich fruits OF religion,
civilization, law and liberty. May 1t not be one
of the great designs of the Ruler Of the Universe,
(whose ways are often nscrutable by short sighted
mortals,) thus to transform an original crime into
signal blessing, to that most unfortunate portion
Of the Globe. Of all classes OF our population, the
most vicious is that of the free coloured. 1t is the
inevitable result of their moral political and civil
degradation. Contaminated themselves, they ex-
tend their vices to all around them, to the slaves
and to the whites. If the principle of colonization
should be confined to them, if a colony can be
firmly established and successfully continued in
Africa which should draw oil annually an amount
Of that portion Of our population equal to its annn-
al increase, much good will be done. II the prin-
cpe be adopted and applied BY the States, whose
laws sanction the existence Of slavery, to an ex.
tent equal to the annual increase OF slaves. still
greater good will be done. This coed will be felt
by the Africans who 60. By the Africans who re-
main. by the white population OF our country, b
Africa and by America. 1t is project which re-
commends itself to favor in all the aspects in which
it can be contemplated II will do good in every
and any extent in which it may be executed. 1t
Is circle of philanthropy, every segment Of which
tells and tcstifes to the benclcencc OF the whole.
Every cmigrant to Africa is missionary carry
ing with him cledentials in the holy cause of civ
,lizatlon, religion, and free Institutions Why is
u that the degree OF success OF missionary exer-
tons is SO limited, and so discouraging to these
whose piey and benevolence prompt them? Is it
not because the missionary is generally an alien
and stranger perhaps OF different colour, and
from different tribe ? There is sort OF lnstlnc-
tive feeling Of jealousy and distrust towards for
eigners which repels and rejects them in all coun-
tries; and this feeling is in proportion to the de-
gree OF Ignorance and barbarism which prevail.
Br: the African Coonists, whom We send to CON
vert the heather, are OF the colour, the same
family, the same physical constitution. When the
purposes of the Colony shall be fully understood,
they will be received as long lost brethren restored
to the embraces Of their friends and their kindred
~ the dispensations Of wise Providence.
The Society sreproachcd for asitating this ques.
ton, 1t should be reCollected that the existence
Of free people Of colour is not limited to the States
only which tolerate slavery. The evil extends IL
self to all the States. and some OF those which do
not allow OF slavery, (their cities speciality ex.
perence the evil in an extent even greater than it
exists IN the slave States. a common evil contrrs
a right to consider and apply common remedy
Nor is it valid objection that this remedy is par
tlal in desperation or distant in its efficacy. 4
patient writing under the tortures Of excrucia-
ting disease, asks of his physician to cure him if
ne can, and, ii ne cannot, to mitigate his suerings.
But the remedy proposed, if generally adopted and
perseyeeringy applied. for q sufficient length OF
time, should it not entirely eradicate the descase,
will enable the body polite to bear it without
danger and without suffering
We are leproached with doing mischief by the
agitation Of this question. The Society goes into
no household to disturb its domestic TRANQUILITY il
addresses itself to no slaves to weaken their obi
cations OF obedience 1t seeks to affect no mans
property It neither has the power nor the will to af-
lect the property any one contrary to his consent
The execution of Its scheme would augment in
stead OF diminishing the value of property left be-
hind. The Society, composed Of free men, concerns
itself only with the free. Collateral consequences
VIC are not responsible for. 1t is not this Society
which has produced the great moral reyolutinn