State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-01-05
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMER
ICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY.
From The correspondent Of The Boston Tran
script
WAsnINGToN, Dec. IL.

The two past evenings have been occu-
pied with the deliberations ofthe American
COLONIZATION Society, who have Just held
their anniversary meetings. | rcjoiced TO
hear from their own lips the opinions of
such men as Clay, Southland, Mercer, Pre-
sdent Duer, Proudft, aud many other dis
tinguisled citizens from the four sections
of the Union. The Society does not con-
template Emancipation, but simply Colon
ization-not of slaves, of whom it is said
they are comparatively happy, but Of the
Free blacks, with their voluntary consent,
whom many of them, in the language of
MIR. Mercer of Virginia, one of the original
members of the Society, regard as NUS
ance-sprcoding contagion wherever they
are, whether in the east or the SOUTH
This, however, is a shareholders opinion.
At the meeting on Tuesday evening,
Henry Clay presided, and the venerable
Joseph Gales, father of the senior editor of
the National Inteligcucer, was chosen first
Vice President. Mr.. Gurley, the well
known vindicator and persevering Agent
ofthe Society was Secretary. After the
Annual Report was read, Mr. Atkinson, of
Virginia, offered and supported at great
length resolution vindicating the JencgO-
lencc of ,he Society. He rccounted its acts
of philanthropy during the nineteen years
of its existence, aud concluded by asking
triumphanLy, what had the abolitionisls
done
President Duer spoke next in defence
of the Society, and was followed by Mr.
Gurley, who presented series of rcsoIu-
lions, proposing that Congress be memori-
allied for assistance, OH the ground that the
measures of the society had therefore, been
experimental and preliminary to great re-
suits. The resolutions were laid on the
table.
Mr.. Clay then called Mr. Mercer to the
chair and took the floor. Hitherto the au-
dience, composed of three or four hundred
ladies and gentlemen, had not been remark
ably attentive. Now every car was open,
and every eye upon the speaker. All was
hushed to profound silence but the orator.
He had come, he said, with determination
not to address the meeting but had Yielded
to urgent solicitation. The Colonization
scheme was very dear to him. 1t had al
ways received, and would continue to re-
ceive his support From the North and the
South it had been assalled by two great
parties the one contendng with mad and
blind zeal for immediate emancipation, the
other as madly for perpetual slavery. The
Coonizationists held council with neither.
The Rev. Gentleman from Virginia had
asked, What have the abolitionists done p
They have forged anew the letters of the
slave. They have compelled the master to
exercise greater rigor- to watch more cir
cumspecty-to impose now restrictions
10 curtail privileges and make the slave
more slave than before. Have they ever
liberated the bondman ?-ameorated his
condition. multiplied his comforts? What
had they done? What had they not done
He was acquainted with many ofthese gem
tlenen in the North. Their motives, he
doubted not, were good. lie respected
them when he deprecated their acts They
were good men, blndfolded. From his
boyhood he admired the motives of every
man, wherever he found him, who con
tended for human liberty. lie had looked
to the North for information and had been
struck with the ground assumed by the
northern particularly with that
taken by truly philanthropic gentleman,
who heretofore had been of them and with
them. lie alluded to Gerrit Smith of New
York, who is now a member of the Adolf
ton Society," lie has, continued Mr. Clay,
connected himself with that Society, be-
cause, in its overthrow, one of our greatest
and best national blessings would be over
thrown-Free Discussion. Free discussion
What is free discussion Discussion is
antecedent to Observation-Disclosures to
decision. The people Of the NORTH hare no
right to decide-theref0re no right to deiber- .
ate or discuss the subject Of SLAVERY. What
think you of the syllogsm p He made !
some further remarks on the benevolent OBJ !
lect Of the Society, and concluded his /
speech, which was very brief by feryent
&c , Il, 10 Al
energetic language Of the west, might go
ahead
The society met again by adjournment
on Wednesday evening. When | entered .
Mr.. Mercer of Virginia, had the floor. He
is one of the best and most candid men |
ever heard, showing you honestly where he
is, and why he is there. The resolutions
offered by Mr.. GurIey, on Tuesday even
ing, were taken from the table, and dis
cussed four hours with much ability, the
morer standing alone IL, their defence. Mr..
Mercer, Mr. Atkinson, and Mr. Key, the
Attorney for the District of Columbia, all
Virginians, asked for their withdrawal
Mr. Mercer said that to Memoralize Con-
gress would be to throw fire brand into
National Councils and prove destructive OF
the Society. No good could possibly re-
suit and much evil would inevitably ensue.
AS to the greater measures the Society
might contemplate he knew nothing Of
them. Such language the stakeholder
would interpret us anticipating interference
with slavery. 1t would not do. The Stare
holder must be ,Oith the society or ii could do
nothing. He must be conCiliated--not Of
Tended. The society had nothing to DO ,cih
slapery. To touch ii 'OaS Jareign'to isPr-
pose.
lie was seconded by Mr.. Key. A deca-
ton of greater measures in prospective
implied abolition. 1t looked like an at
tempt to conciliate the aholitonist-to use