The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-08-30

In our efforts to elevate the condition
Eof the colored people, we owe It to our
selves and to them to avoid the conse-
qucnces Of a too precipitate apr oxima-
ton. They are not qualified to bear II
with humility and discretion, and its inJu-
rious effects on them will but serve to con-
firm the prejudice against them and
against our benevolent efforts for their
good. 1t revots also the public senti-
nent on this subject, which need not be
outraged, and cannot, with impunity, be
set at defiance. The prejudice of color
is doubtless the result Of condition and
character. Had Africans been the op-
pressors, and Americans the slaves, white
complexion and straight hair would have
been the badges of scrvitudc and the oc-
casions of prejudice /; but since prejudice
| is the result Of condition and character, 1t
| is invincible till the causes which created
it are removed II condition has created
the chasm, the aiinities of intellectual
and moral character can alone fill 1t and
produce a reasonable approximation. In
this way only has it died away in Europe
and other places, where color, coupled
with talent and moral worth, is no OBJ
strLctan to social and civilized inter-
course, and all attempts TO hasten approx
imation without these intervening quallii-
cations, will but augment prejudices und
repeilances.
1t is alike obvious, that all attempts n,
Emancipation should be conducted with
| L.. ri c
of language. The evils Of slavery are
such as to make it easy to awaken sym
pathy and rouse up Indignation, while the
means Of their most lelicitous removal are
those of meekness, patience, and untirIng
effort.
The Importance Of the cause affords no
dspensation from the laws of prudence,
or justification for heaping hard words
upon the head Of the sluve owner. 1t is
he who must emancpate the slave and
he, by our instrumcniality, will do it only
us we conciiate and convince him, i'll
stead Of rousirg up his pride or anger
1t is his duty to cmancipate them IN the
shortest practicable period, and If by our
rashness we arouse his Indignation and
protracl their bondage, we are par,akers
in his sin.
In this connexion, may sny that we
Ought by no means, 10 dcnouncc one Il.
mother az the abcttors of slavery, be-
cause we do not accord in all respects as
Ito the ways and the means Of accomplish
ing emancipation.
To denounce, therefore, all those who
do not accord with us, as the patrons OF
linsurrection, on the one hand, aud the a.
Ibettors of slavery on the other, proceeds
on the modest assumption that every Jot
and little OF our Judgment is inIalbly right,
and the smallest deviation, justification
of war.
Such are the conclusions to which a
long and careful observation has brought
me, and cannot but hope that they may
commend themselves to the judicious
of all classes, and avert the calamiiics OF
ruthless cont, oversy But should this
Ihope not be realised, and the unrelenting
war of extermnation he turned upon us
then, mournful as the alternative may be,
we stand, with great kindness, (ior many
OF our opponents are among our most es-
teemed frends,) but with unaltcrable de-
cision, for the protection and deliverance
of Africa. Having doubled and quadru-
pied our prayers aud contributions, and
efforts we persevere till age chilIs the cur
rent of our warm blood and lays our head
low IN the dust. We feel assured that
God has called us to build up the desola-
ton of that dark continent, and we cannot
believe that he has forbidden US to finish,
what he called us TO begin.
The prayer which have been offered,
the substance which have been given, the
sacrifices of life which have been made,
the territory which has been gained, the
experience acquired, the confidence oi
the natives secured, elements OF civil and
religious institutions brought together,
are not recklessly to be thrown away
That it should be demanded, might seem
wonderful but that it should be- conceded,
would be more wonderful still.
God has called US to colonize Africa,
us significantly as he called our fathers
to coonize at Plymouth, or our foreign
missionaries to sit down at Ceylon, or
Owhyhee-and has he reversed the call |!
Has the trump Of God warned us to de-
sist? Have the elements made lnsurrec-
ton against us, or the stars in their cour-
ses fought against us, or such lniatuation
been poured out upon US ns indicates his
purpose to destroyi No voice from heav-
en- has warned us from Africa, and no ca
Ian1lties which did not more powerfully
obstruct the primitive Christians and the
puritan coonists, and no mistakes have
happened TO us but such as are common
to men in conducting difficult and distant
enterprises.
Why then should we abandon Alrco
who would take up The work under better
auspicesl No visible associations exists,
and plan tested by experience, while an
effort is making to divert MI thought and
| interest and effort from Affica To he