The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-08-09
MR. nARRIsoN,s DISCOURSE,
Dthrered bejore Me Lyneibtrg C0fonisat,en
SoeteIn. NJ IL 1nmptfsaIN IN Jaly.

.
! Delivered tejore he Lynetburg Colonization
Soeietg. mHs dnHiUtrsary m July.
Txitsri froni the Mintiea---" Rtsoired THAI he h
requested 10 furnish copy thereof iT ppbifnion II
a. thu VreiniHn and n the African Colonial Jo4rps'
Mr. Preaifism and Gsntiemsn Of the sociciy--
| should ha We been well Content mad the honor
Of yonr choice. aud the responsibility Of repre-
,eiting ynn thu, day, fallen on som member Oi
our BODY better qualified to assert the true char
aeter Of our association and speak i9f II IA
fhc voice OF eloquent persuasion. At no time
smce the establishment Of the parent society
has is Cause demanded more jealous friends
or abnr advocates lhan at this mo1enI a.
sailed, ~ II Is, by all the arts Of ingenious mis-
representation, Or, if denounced IN sincerity,
then wiliHtignorance % tie true objects OF tie
ssri8ty. scarcely pafd9pable, because SO er#ss.
j. a tim 81 critical have mol the vanity be
iirvc me sir 10 be satisfied that you nave ,cs
yanr ofleuce on myself Yct am not uua
ling 20 do al that lies Ia my power aud Whit
ie the spciefy ! make an offering of my zeal
10 those WHO listen pledge NY candor Tor the
statement. aud sentiments winch shall utter
to-day
The present age IS distinguished above oil 3.
thers, not more by the wife diffusion o. know
ledge and learning. than It Is hy a diflslyc ao1
wide reaching spiiit Of philanthropy. Whit
nature has yielded upher,nost cautiously guard.
ed secrets aud shown brannful system Of fixed
lnyVs. rianng ,hro' all her works, nui wbilr
philosophy brought duan ffemI., h.gi unHglH'
ings and become " with mau, As with Ms ficiH.
familiar 3" has taught ns NOR aud m - opaF n.
cngiy, what think lie mos v3luaHlf oi' all hu.
man truths, namely that 81 systematic Is mo
nj obligation that there ~ no situation 10 hunap
life IN which mans duty eVai requires him -
act wherein hris prrmffcd 10 dispense wilI Tie
practice oi auth and Justice, that he mOrdit
ofpolitcs, for examples Is nno respect different
from the rnleof hpuschold duly, individuals have
gane on confirm 10y action this pure thcuI
Of bun4 al5utr have persuaded the va Id
now easy Il Is TO be a benetactoT Of or squeeze
an " thrH enlarged plans Il successful b"ne-
p1cncc tnyn approached near to denonHra-
tina Of The submest Of all conclusions, that here
s apibng, which, on a just view Of The Interest
II man, IS desirable. which IS not practicable.
Instances there are, without doubt, aud lone
vii be, in which the possibilities of amelora
ton are checked by blshneeessit,cs OF prudence.
lorarlraneo and long suffering but the WORLD
! IS beginning 10 listen 10 suggestions that thssa
instance, are not 50 numerous as has been ina
1med Take a few examples: the danger Of
universal education IS now mentioned only To
be laughed ~ : the danger Of unlimited tul era-
ton ia 'cIpion, 50 promotive OF picty, is no lou
ger spoken 81 hy the wise aud the ibotty of
unlicensed printing, now fluids It's opponents mol
among those who, troin liberal regard ior tie
welfare OF soelety, trrmbe al the laWlcssne OF
this public agent, but those rulers onlY whose
measures would uol hear 10 be cNposed 10 hon
est scrutiny. There is announcement IN the
examples 10 believe that thr world Is not dtal
u the voice ofreason. and that does not he
heve every scheme impracieabc which is grand
aud comprehensive, aud which cusis, ~ Us b.
half some Of the lofty sentiments Of genera
truth aud jnttcc, winch ia some minds, Is con
cluS evidence ofthe visionary nature OF ant
scheme: aud accordingly Philanthropy, thus
- eered las projected, x proposed 10 the world
many plans IN the prosecution OF wach lie
mosl honorable exhibitions Of individual enter
prize and the most gratifying displays Of pubic
rmpathy aud support have been shown. ST.
II IS chef CORY II on own inns TIM in the
lsonS oilhe Europenh aud American mis-
sionaries 50 actively, and tru,t successfully
engaged in sprcadnga knowledge flrlters and
al more benign religion IN the Fast. phil tn
tlrepy has filled up the vacancies aud made
lonhlv true the picture SO admirably designed
by MI Burke, ofthe labours ofthe great How
ard " to dive into the depths OF dungeons; 10
plnnge INTO the Infection of hospitals To
." survey the mansions OF SORROW and pain; Ia
" take the gauge md Dimensions OF misery. |
| depression aud contempt TO remember the
forgotten to attend To the neglected 10 vislt
" the forsaken aud 10 co ~ Z A colIate thrds-
treSSoS of all men IN all rnu tries" But never
ill onr own time could II be said Of the uhl.q
tnonlst, without eSaggcration, in his concluding
words, "hs plan was voyage OF discovery. a !
clrcumna'ieation Of charity = for The brnevo-
lence of our day has indeed travelled around the
glnhe.
Yet, this is not an aye Of enthusiasm, Far
from Il; too large part of the talent otthe age
IS devoted 10 carcature, TO rldicule Il scorchIns
,arcasm aud, what is more too large part
If the good sense aud good leaning of the day
S IN the hands of those who hook for the ludi
erons part of every plan; by much too
large to permit tie public mind to he heated
Wit unnecessary zeal even in the best cause, ~
| to uphold tor a long time, any grave fare
| u Is not the the age of enthusa IN aud hap
MY It IS not ;te the age of practical reason 81
2fealmora truths ,rlgidly estabIlshcdby cool prdc-
neal erpel7Hlcm; the age winch hds relieved hui
! man nature from the apprehension that any OF
the haneiul institutions IN society are sealed and
itihd ON us by our own imbecity. by proofs to-
Witch must -atiSfy the most ploddmg, the most
determined encmss OF novelty. Enthusiasm Is
not ht 10 be trusted with any great benc6cent
sehcmr. unsteady. blind and discriminating a
1t is The most anxious zealot is hlte wise who
would not rather tust his cherished plans To that
state OF devotion 10 principle so natu ls rising
up mths aye which, ten,peredby prudence 61res
trainedhy tear ofthe oha &c ofabsurdts ipStl, al
lesed akes its course, calm, collected, 4, like the
cloud of the poet " morclh altogether II il move
nj att Public opinion, when thus informed,
IS truly the voice OF God. Need add it IS ire
Slsubie
It's now many years since,the idea of cooni-
zlng the free blacks in the y. S originated a.
mons us, and as propose 10 address myself To
you wholly as VirgnianS, am happy 10 be
ab'e, IN the outset, TO Congratulate our state ON
the part she mas borue in the benevolent scheme
Tor the turtherauce OF which are associated.
state, then, that the plan originated ~ the
virginia Legislature about twenty FIVE years ago,
~ thal dr. Monroe, then goNernor,at the request
OF the Legislature, opened correspondence
win NIr. Jefferson, the President of the United
states, consulting him on the best mode of pro-