The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1847-12-04

intervention from any quarter In States
vArle he slaves ou,number the whites, as
is the case with several, the blacks could
not he emancipa:ed and invested with all the
rights of freeman, without becoming the
governing race in those States. Collisions
:nd conflicts. hetwee.i the two races. woul,
he inevitable, audi after shocking scenes
Of rapne and carnage, the extinction or en-
pulsion of the blacks would certainly take
place. In he Safe of Kentucky near fifty
reals arc. thought the proportion of slaves,
III comparison with Tie whites, was 50 i'll
considerable tina, we millt safely adopt Il
system of gradual ena!,ci patton that would
ultimately eradicate this evil in our State
That system WAS totally different from the
immediate abolition of slavery for which the
party cf thc Abo,i,ons.S of the prcse'i day'
contend Whether they have intended or
rot, j, is my calm and deliberate belief, lImt
they have done ncalrulable mischief even
10 the very cause which they esporsed: TO
say nothing of the discorl which has been
produced between different parts of the Tn
Understanding to the system. we attempt
cd, ncar the close of the last century, all
slaves in being were 10 remain such. but all
who mi.h, be born subsequent to a speci-
fled day, were to become free a, the age of
twenty eight and during their service were
TO be taught TO read, write and cypher Thus
Instead o. being llnowu upon the commnn-
~, ignorant and mprepared, as would be the
case by immediate emancipation, they
would have entered upon the possession OF
Their freedom, capable, IN some degree, OF
enjoying it. After a hard Struggle the system
was defeated, and | reg.el i, extremely, as.
if it had been then adopted, our State would
be HOW nearly rid of that reproach
Since that epoch. scheme of unmixed
henevocnce has sprung up, which; If ii had
existed a, that lime would have obviated
one of the greatest objections, which was
made to gradual Emancipation, which was
the continuance of the emancipaied slaves
10 abide among Ms That scheme is the
American Colonizi ton Society About lwen>
ty-cight years ago. a few individuals. my
self among them. met together in the city of
Washington. and laid The foundation OF that
Society. 1t has gone on amidst extraordinary
difficulties and trials, sustaining itself almost
entirely, by spontaneous and voluntary cons
tributions: from idividuai benevolence, with
out scarcely any aid from Government. The
Colonies planted under its auspices, are now
well established communities, with churches
schools and other institutions appertaining
TO the civilized state. They have made
successful war in repeling attacks and in
vasions by their harharous and savage neigh
bors. They have made treaties, annexed
territories 10 tl.eir dominion, and are blessed
with free representative Government.
recently read message, from one OF Their
Governors 10 their Legislature, which in
point of composition. and in careful ailen-
ton to the public affairs OF their Republic
would compare aAvantaoeously with the
messages Of the Governors of our own States
am not very superstitious, but do solemn
" believe that these Colonies are bIest
with the smiles of Providence. and, if we
may dare attempt penetrating the veil, by
which he conceals..hs allwise dspensalions
from mortal eyes. that he designs that Africa
shall be tie refuge and the home of the de,
scendants of lis sons and daughters. torn and
dragged from their native land, by lawless
violence.
1t is a philanlhropc and consoling rcllec-
lion that the moral and physical condition of
the African race in the Udited States, even
in a state OF slavery, is far better than j,
would have been if their ancestors had
never been brought from their native land.
And if it should be The decree of the Great
Ruler the Universe that their descendants
shall be made instruments in His hands in
the establisImegt of Civilization aud The
Christian Religion throughout Africa, our
regrets, on account of the orgidal wrong,
will be greatly mitigated.
1t may be argued that, in admitting
the injustice of slavery, I admit the ne
cessity Of an instantaneous PREPARATION of
that injustice. Unfortunately, however,
it is not always safe, practicable or pos
sible, in the, great movements of States and
public affairs of nations, to remedy or re-
pair the infection Of previous injustice.
In the inspection Of it, we may oppose
and dcnouncc it, by our most strenuous
cXertionS, but, after its consummation,
there is often no other alternative left us
but to deplore its preparation, and to &C
quicsce as the only alternative, IN its cX-
istence, as less evil than the irightiul
consequences which might cnsue from
the vain endcayor to repair it. Slavery
is one of those unfortunate instances.
The evil Of it was inflicted upon us, by
the parent country Of Great Britain a.
gainst all the entreatles and rcmoEsran-
ces Of the colones.-And here it is a.
1nongst and amidst us, and we must dis
pose of it as hest we can under all the
circumstances which surround us. 1t
continued by the importation Of slaves
from Africa, in spite of a colonial rcsis-
1nncn (nr :, nnrind Of nnnrn tLn,, n cnnt,,-