Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-24

I've dollars per head i. .sunasient to a.fr.y tn.
Expenses incident to tho African voyage, and
for six months after arrival. The
whole sum necessary for tho removal Of 6,900
persons would DO S2l0,000; but AZ time
must unavoidsbly clapse before the plan could DO
carried into full and success sfnt operation, ono
fourth ofiha, s would suffice forthc present year,
Il half for the next. A gradual inerosss oftnxos
will lie necessary; and as the benefit of tho scheme
~ progressively developed, will no doubt 10
paid with incrc ,sng chccrfuln-ss. But u question
occurs-Tp what place shall we look for u suitable
asylumI None presents itself at present but i.i
IBERIA, tho western coasts of Africa. whore tho
colony il in actual possession of a Tertiary OK
tending 80 miles along the coast, aud running 30
miles into the interiors whore nature riots in the
richest In Xuriance; and which! is destined at
distant day to become the scat Of arts, commerce.
s. civilization. Already has it attained populati"n
of about 220O, at expense of less than 5O, OOO
whereas tina e,rly settlements OF Virginia did not
reckon that number. after interval of Is yc,rs,
and an expenditure Of more than 650.0 900 dollars.
Tho present state Of the colony will not admit
greater addition to it's population than 1000 during
tho present year; next year it's capacity will be So
far increased asto receive 5000 morc 40 every
year. in arithmetic, II progression. but no limit in
fact can DO assigned to the growing capacity of Il
aourishing settlement, after it attans vigur and
stability. Th. number Of cmgrants into the u.
States in 1927, from Groat Britain aud Ireland
alonr, wa, %, 900; and this accession was not
scnpbly perceived, although, comncd to the north
ern section Of the union. Mr.. NJ. was by no
dcs,rous to restrain enig ration to Liberia. IIe
would ask the u. States Gorcrnn,cnt,to procure
some additional place or places to which color.
ad enigrants might go. A, siAilar application
was once made whila Mr.. Jcif-r. on was President
sftlio U. States, aad C.l. Monroe Governor of Va.
Thers can Do reason why it should not now
he renewed.
Auxiliary to this scheme, but not necessarily
sonnscted with it, il plan for tho purchase and
removal Of Slaves. If \ fund for this object
from its use. Many masters arc Unable to give
away their slav-s, who would be content to sell
thcm at very reduced rate, perhaps at half
PrIc", for this benefit of tao slaves thom-
selvos. They require some fund 10 hire la
hour in the cultivation of their land. Huma-
who purchase for tho southern markets, and thus
they continue TO hold property of which they
would gladly diyest themselves. Offices for pur-
chasing could be established in different counties,
and msximum price for various ages DO fixed by
law. Tho effect would be immense; and in no
other way could any given sum produce such great
results.
But here ag,in it will 10 asked in what way shall
the money be obtained for making these pur-
ohases. Sir, the proceeds of the public lands arc
at the disposal Of Congress. Tho Constitution of
the Uni'o States has expressly. placed them un.
der their control, and they bound to uso them
for the public good Distribution, in various
modes, has been suggested; and it 10 proper that
Virginia, in the event Of distributions should indi
cate tho mode which would he acceptable TO her
There is not a member of Congress who has man
iesed any other feeling than that of the most scru.
pnlous dsicscy in regard to the subject of slavery
a. who has not considered it so vitality
to the Southern members of tho esnfcdcracy that
they alone have the right to suggest the policy
which it requires. Lot an intina,ion como from
Virginia. and it will be l,siled with delight. Tho
fund TO be appropriated will he readily subj sctod
in it's application, to her exclusive management
and direction. 1t was not his intention, how
evcr-far from ito hold out the idea that dstri-
button of those proceeds among tho several States,
would be proper measure in itself. On the con
trary, a just and enlightened policy demands that
they should DO kept together, and applied to some
great obJcet of national concern. What object he
would ask, can DO more worthy Of this nation, or
TIM. age than ths removal from tho several States,
with their voluntary concurrence, and under their
control, of as many slaves as the mas.
ters may choose to part with and tho fund is com
potent to purchase? Tho annual sales of tho public
lands arc estimated at $4,000 900; sum sufficient
for the purchase, in families. and removal to
Africa, OF 10000 slaves per annum. Our Just
proportion of this sum, if applied this single OBJ
Jcct, would he more than sufficient 10 purchase and
remove the whole annual increase of slaves in this
Common ~salth--hut lot not reliance be placed on
this resource -alonc. Our citizens have asked that
met sursS may be taken for amending the Con-
stituton of the United States as to invest Congress
with tho right OF nppropratng money fo. the re-
moval Of free negroes; and in some nsiancesthe De-
titioners have required that the powers Of Congress
should be so enlarged a. to purchase and remove
slaves likewise. 1t may be laid down as prnci-
pic, from which no departure is admissible, that
Congress has no right to interfere in our domestic
concerns IN such manner as 10 affect the rela.
tons of master and slave. They must not be per-
mitted TO disturb that relation But certainly there
is wisdom enough in Virginia to devise, and cou.
rage enough to propose, such amendment to the
Federal Constitution. as would give to Congress
the power of appropriation for this vast and mo.
mcntous object, and to the States, the applicant
of tho fund. The. benefits which may flow from
this source are incaleulabc. There is no limit 10
the power and resources of tho nation, devoted to
the execution Of plan which wisdom and huma
atty concur to recommend. Virginia would have
the honor, the impcrsablc honor of having led the
van in this noble enterprise-her son, would cease
to emigrats--tho eSis would return 10 his patsr
nal heds-and millions yet unborn will rise to
cell her blessed.
,SDrr-h of M RO 4 Ny NJ U,..