Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-08-04
A coLoRED coLoNY IN n11lo

we ndNS ieau WIN ueep interest a fecan.
manifesto from the Colony of Colored p .een'
at Catthsgena, Mercer County, Ohio ,.ope
roboraies the remark we had occasion ,o , uII-
few days since, that the right sprit--sn s aA
lighiened spirit of sell-improvement-a resol.a
determination TO do all that men NAV d. ~
country like this, TO redeem themselves h., !,
steady, unobtfusve cultivation of The ~; ~ 'uc
which minister 10 human advancemsn, :.
springing up among them. Ii appears no.,
interesting document before US thai n nt ne
meeting had been held at the school bonssVE
consider an invitation to send a Represen,s,,,.o
To the Convention 10 be held at Columhns.
August. for the purpose Of adopting mess Oo ~
for securing the right of suffrage 10 The colo'sS
people OF the State. This the meeting. aGa.
consideration, resolved TO decline, and annon,
ed Committee TO make suitable reply. and
10 communicate their views TO The Corm n.y., a.u
that sent the invitation.
After respectfully declining TO co-oner.,. :.
the proposed Convention, they proceed ~ ~.
forth the blessings Of their present en,ern,;ss
and 10 advise their brethren TO Join them n, :;
least to adopt some similar course of sel[.oJ
vancement. Having left The mental oeenns-
items (which popular opinion assigns TO coo,.
ed people," "Tesolved TO do sonIetbinon e..
themselves, they say they have abundant,
reaped the rich fruits OF labor, frnpailv ~
temperance. They have secured thousands 81
acres, built comfortable houses cleared farms
have cattle and sheep, and manufacture mos,
of their own clothing.
Nor have the sympathies and aid of The
neighboring citizens been withheld. "Tbev
attend our meetings, come TO our mill, emnlov
our mechanics and day laborers, buy our mo
visions, and we do the same by them. Tn,
is, I'VE all seek our convenience and interest
In polo -
But let them tell their own story (:
1--WE have good meeting houses, and
school house. We have had good school
most of the time for six years. Our chill.
dren have learned TO read, write and cypber.
We have Sunday Schools, where they are
taught the principles of morality and relip.
ion. We have saw mill and grist mill
We are striving to live quiet and ORDERLY
life. We wish to have our character plead
for us. We wish to have our property stand
out and ask for the protection Of the law.
We wish TO have those who oppose us. wit.
ness our quietness aud industry; that thew
may be satisfied of our character, not by
what we say, but by what we do. Our voice
has been beard but once at Columbus. bv
the legislature, asking repeal Of the "black
laws" And we may not now send dele
gate TO your convention not because we
disapprove Of the object, but because we
believe there is more excellent way"
Seven years ago when our settlement
hrst began, there was the common prejudice
against us, that we should not be able to
take care Of ourselves; and OF course, whai
we lacked in the supplying of our wants,
they thought must come off from them.
But that we are not idlers is now appa-
rent from the fact of our having cleared up
1000 acres Of wild land made and laid up
80, 900 rails, and built at least 200 buildings
Of different kinds, Ito say nothing of some
$4,000 which individuals Of us have paid
for our freedom besides having in our set.
Element halter, wagon maker, black
smith, tanner, shoemaker, carpenters.
masons, and weavers, most of whom we find
constant employment. We have also built
several brick kiIns. The means BY which
we obtain our livelihood, are seen and known
by all our neigbbors; and the result is as
we have stated We receive no more dam
ages from our white neighbors than we do
from one another.
And now, our colored brethren, we ap-
peal TO you, especially TO those Of you who
live in towns and follow those preca-
rious occupations for livelihood, which
prejudice has assigned TO you, would you
not be serving your country and your race
to more purpose, if you were TO leave your
present residences and employments, and go
into the country, and become part Of the
"A ~. e ~ .
Before the legislature will make laws to
protect us, one of two things must take
place. Either the white people must have
a revival of faith in their own principles Of
liberty" and make equal laws for the love
of justice, without regard to what they con-
slider bad character or we, the colored peO-
Pile, must become more valuable TO the State
We must help 10 raise revenue, and increase
its wealth, by throwing our labor into profit
able employments.
We must not only not be nuisance, bu.
we must seem not to be so. Our employ
ments must be Of that character, that PEG.
pie can see how we obtain our livelihood,
and that we are useful. What is it 10 the
State when waiter, or boot black, ora
cook dies What profit to the State is all
heir labor IL we then, as a people, are
useless class, and can show no fruit as the
result of our industry, why should we not
be suspected, despised, ridiculedi But, on
he other hand, if our labor is all honorable
both to ourselves and the State,
We shall have the increased satisfaction ola
good living, and good name, besides some-
hing to leave as an inheritance TO our chll-
iren. We see then, brethren, but these two
ways of obtaining our rights. The first pro-
poses change in the oppressor-the second
! change in the oppressed The one honora-
Die to our oppressors, the other profitable to
ourselves. Let us do our duty, aud leave
he event with Providence.