The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-11-19
A Good Enternrise.

Mr. Jefferson Fitzgerald, an intelligent and
prepos.essing colored gentleman, called at
our office few days since, and gave us an
interesting statement in relation to a praise
worthy enterprise in which he has been for
some time engaged. lie is a native of Berkeley
county Va, but has resided for the last eight
years in Michigan. About a year since,
while he was stopping i'll Green county, Ohio,
an association was formed, called Home En-
igraton Society, of which he was the project
or, and afterwards the agent The object
of this Society, was the home colonization of
the free blacks, the surest, as he believed, the
0niY means oftrue elevation. Since that time
he has constantly Travelled and lectured upon
the subject, passing through Ohio, Indiana
and Michigan Most Of his journeys have
been performed on foot, and he asks nothing
of the friends of the enterprise but so much
as will enable him to continue on his way.
In the course of the year he has travelled six
thousand miles and received only about sew
enty-iye dollars with which to bear his expen-
SEES.
1t was important to make good location
for the establishment of such colony, and
this has accordingly been done. Mr. Fitzger-
aid, in company with Lewis Fulton made an
exploration for that purpose in Michigan,
and finally pitched upon Oceana county in
that State as possessing o. eat combination of
advantages. They describe Tin an affidavit
published in the Cincinnati Herald some
months since, as we'll adapted to colonization
on account of the variety and fertility of the
soil, timber, &c., as well as of its commercial
facilities, salt springs, d full suAciency of
waterpower for all the purposes of colonization
Al ho Io,Io
ment land, with the exception of a few hun
dred acres, and it is proposed that each set
tier shall purchase according to his means
or inclination. Mr. f. has lectured in all the
neighboring counties, and the people profess
themselves friendly to the projected settle
ment Many Of the colored people of Ohio,
Michigan & Indiana, hold themselves in readi-
ness to 60 in the spring A considerable COM
pany are now at the Grand Rapids for the
purpose of making the necessary arrange
ments ofthe new settlement. MIR f himself
will Join them in the spring, and still.contin-
ne to act as the Agent ofthe Home Emigra-
ton Society. ....
Mr. Fitzgerald has with him sufficient tes-
timonials of his character from persons in
Ohio. For ourselves, his own intelligent, be-
nevolent countenance is sufficient.
We consider this enterprise as wise one
and every way worthy of encouragement
This is the only true lonization. So long
as the free colored people continue to be
scattered through our towns, as they now are,
so long will cruel prejudice deny them an
honorable place in society. Let them once
have firm footing upon the soil and be IN a
measure removed from the influence of this
prejudice, and they will have opportunity
for a free and harmonious deyelopement of
character, and the maintaincnce of true man
ly dignity The prosperous community of
of 10000 colored people in Canada, shows
what can be done in Michigan. We are glad
of the establishment of this colony fora rea-
son aside from its general advantages. 1t
will be a second city of refuge" to the hum
ted fugitive from southern bondage, and con-
siderably nearer than that in Canada. Once
there, they will be safe from all bloodhounds,
whether biped or quadruped; and it amt
very great distance across Lake Michigan
from Chicago -Western Citizen.