Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-12-02

mmedIutc abolition of slavery, for which the
party Of the Abolltionists of the present day
contend. Whether they have intended or
not, Il is my calm and deliberate belief, that
they have done incalculable mischief even
20 the very cause which they espouscd. 10
say nothing of the dlscord which has bren
produced between different parts OF the u
mon. According to the system we attempt.
ed. near the close Of the last century, all
slaves IN being were To remain such, bul bli
who nigh: be born subsequent to specihed
day, were to become iIee at the age OF
twenty eight. and during their service were
TO be taught To read, write and cyphcr.-
Thus, instead Of beng thrown upon the
community. ignorant and nnprepored, rs
would be The case by immediate emancipa-
lion, they would have entered upon The pos.
session of their freedom, capable, IN some
degree, of enjoying il. Alter hard sirug-
Gle, the system. was defeated, and regret
It extremely, as, if it had been then adopted,
our State would be, now nearly rid OF that
rcproach.
Since tha, epoch, scheme Of unmixcd be.
nevoence has sprung up, which II It had ex.
istcd at that time, would have obviated
one Of the greatest objections which was
made To gradual emancipation, which was
the continuance OF the emsnclpated slaves
TO abide among us. That scheme is the A.
merican Colonization Society. About
twenty eight years ago, few Individuals,
myself among them met together IN the city
of Washington, and laid the foundation Of
THAT Society 1t has gone on amidst extra
ordinary difficulties and trials. sustaining
itself almost entirely, by spontaneous and
voluntary contributions, from individual be-
ncvoIencc, without scarcely any oid :rom Co
vcrnmcnt The colonies, planted under It's
auspices, are now well established communl.
ties with churches, schools, aud other lns,I
tutlons appcrtaining To the civilized state
They have made successful war IN repelllng
attacks and invasions by their barbnrous and
savage neighbors. They have mnde treaties,
annexed territories to their dominion, aud
blessed with n free representative Govern.
ment. | recently read message, from one
Of their Governors To the Legislature.
which. in polnt of composition. and IN care
ful attention To the public affairs OF their
Republic that would compare advantagcously
with the messages Of the Governors OF our
Town States. | am not very snpcr,l,'ous.
but | do soemnly believe that these Colo
MES are best with the smiles Ol Providence,
and It we may dare attempt 2ene,rsung the
veil BY which he conceas hls aIl-wise dis
pcnsalions from mortal eyes. that he designs
that Africa shall be the refuge and the home
ot The descendants Of its sons aud daughters,
torn and dragged from their native land, by
law less violence.
/ Il IS a phl!anthropc and consoling refec
ton that the moral and physical condition Of
the African race 10 the United Slatcs.even IN
a state of slavery, Is far better than 1t won Id
have been If their ancestors had never been
brought from. their native land. And # II
should te the decree of The Great Ruler of
the Universe that their descendants shall be
made INSTRUMENTS ln HIS hands IN the estab
llshment of Civilization and tho Christian
Religion throughout Africa, our regrets, on
account Of the original wrong, will be great
y mliigated.
1t may be argued that, in admitting the in
Justice OF slavery, admit the necessity of
an Instantaneous rcparation OF that injustice.
Unfortunately, however II Is not always safe,
practicable. or possible, the great movements
of States, and pubic affairs of nations, tol
remedy or repair the ln!llctlon of previous
INJUSTICE. IN the inception OF it, we may
oppose and denounce IL, most strenuous
Iy but atter its c0nsumatlon, there is Of
plorc us perpetratIon, and TO acqnlesce, as
the only alternative, IN It's existence, as
less EVIL than The frlghtiul consequences
which might ensue from the vaIn endeavor
to repair It. Slavery is one of those uniortn
nate instances. The evil of It was iuilictcd
upon Us by the parent country OF Great Brit
am, against all the en'reatles and rrmon
strances Of the colonies. And here 1t is,
mongst and amidst us, and we must dIsposr
of 1t rs best we can, under all the crcum
-tances which surround us. Il continued,
by the importation at slaves from Africa. ~
spite Of colonial resistance, for a period o
more than q century and half, aud it may
rcqulre an equal or longer lapse of lime be.
fore our country Is entirely rid of The evil
And in the meantime, moderation, prudence.
and discretion among ourselves, and The
blessings of Providence. may be all necessa
ry To uccnmpliah oar Ultimate dehvcrance
from it. Examples OF similar infection of
rreparable national evil and injustice
might be multiplied to an indefinite extent,
| The case ot the annexation o! YeXas TO the
| United States is q recent and obvious one,
which, II II were wrong, II cannot now be re-
paired Texas is now hn integral part of our
| Union with It's own voluntary consent. Ma.
ny Of Us opposed the annexation with honest
zeal and most earnest eXertlons. But who
would now think of perpetratlng the folly of
casting Texas ont ot the confederacy, and
throwing her back upon her own indepen.
dence. or into The arms Of Mexico? Who
would now seek to divorce her from this y.
Mon The Creeks and the Cherokee Indi.
ans were, by the most exccp,ionabe means,
driven from their country. and transported
beyond the Mississippi river. Their lands
have been fairly purchased and occupied by
inhabitants Of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi
and Tennessee. Who would now conceive
the flagrant injustice of expelling those in
habiants, and restoring the Indian country
to the Cherokeesand Creeks, under color Of
repairing orghT injustice During The
war OF our revolution millions Of paper mo.
ncy were issued by our ancestors. as the
only currency with which they could achieve
our liberties and independence. Thousands
aud hundreds of thousands of families were
stripped Of .helr homes und their all, and
brought to ruin, by giving credit and conf !,
dence to that spurious currency. Stern ne
cesshy has prevented the reparalion Of that
great national injustice.
But iorbear; | will not longer trespass
upon your patience or further tax my own
yolcp imDairpd hy n sDeCCh of more than !