Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-01-04

= separations Of the two races Of our pop
slss,oe; that The evil Of discordsnt cad
incongruoas elements must continue,
unless sosue more powerful agency il
discovered: aud that the American Co
lonizaiion Society has been able 10 ac-
comPlish nothing deserving Of any Sc
nous considerations,
Those who assaii Us seek ~ try us by
an imaginary standard or then own
creation. Thry argue, that the whole
Of the black population amounts 10 some
two or three millions; that in o period
Of twenty years NE have been able TO
cclcnize only a few thousand. and
hence they inferthat c Colonization can
not exercise any sensible. influence
upon the mass OF the African elemen,
oftbe Americas population. Now, all
that we ask Is 70 be tried by the stand.
ard OF our own promises sad .pledges.
Have we ever held out TO the commu-
nifty that this Society, wiibouts power.
without even nm act Of incorporation
from the General Government. without
any regular revenue. could separate the
two classes ofthe American population,
and colonize fbe Afncsn portion Of il !
Have We not invariably discIaimed any
purpose. on our part, TO interfere, in ans
manner whatever, with the larger part
OF 1.-THE shves1 Have we not, on
The contrary, constantly ayowed ouI
intention 10 be 10 colonize only free
persons Of color, with their voluntary
consents We have tho't. and We have
SAID, that we believed that the principl,
Of colonization was susceptible Of being
applied To the extent Of a total sepsra.
ton OF the two races. Butwe have moi
attempted it, We have left that 10 the
care and the judgment Of those who
alone can righuully and constitution
ally decide the matter. We promised
only TO be the pioneer. and to show the
practicabiliiy OF the principle. And
have we not, with he blessings Of Pro-
violence, already successfully fulfilled
every just expectation that we ever au-
thorized,
Those who Complain of the tardy
operations Of the Society should recol-
lect that great national enterprises are
not TO be speedily executed, like those
Of individuals, in the short span Of the
life OF one person. Many years. some
times more thana century. may be ne
cessary TO their completion; and this
Is emphatically the case when VIC reject
upon the. magnitude and the duration
of the wrongs inflicted upon Africa
Near two centuries elapsed, dming
which her sons were constantly trans
ported TO the shores OF the New World.
doomed 20 state Of bondage. 4 period
OF similar extent may POSSIBLY be me-
cessaTy 10 restore their descendants 10
the parent country, with all the bless
ings OF law and liberty, religion and
Icivilization. A sudden and instanta-
neous separation Of the Two races, il II
were possible, would be good for neither
nor for either country. We should be
greatly affected by an immediate sb-
.straction &c such vast extent, from
.the labor and industry Of our coontry;
and Africa could not be prepared. mo-
rally or physically. TO receive and sus-
tain such vast multitude ofemigranis.
For both parties and Tor al interests.
the process OF separation, like the orr.
ginal unnatural onion, had, perhaps,
better be slow ard gradual, And tho
consoling reflection may be entertained
that, during every stepin its progress.
good viii have been done.
The surprise should not be that so
little has been Effected. but that so much
has been achieved By the Society. with
such scanty and preraFioe means at its
command. There stand the colonies.
on the shores Of Africa, planted under
Its auspices. With but little or no aid
from this country they now possess in-
heEenily the power Of sustaining them
selves aud protecting their exis,enee.--
Tho praeticsbiliiy ofco.ob;zaiion is for
ever demonstrated. Let US then, per-
severe ia the great good aud cause; and
let Us hope that the same Providence
which has hitherto smiled upon Us. will
continue 10 extend 20 our labofs His
countenance and blessings. ! promise
a jealous and hearty CO. operation.