The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-12-04

her cities burned or occupied by our tro,,
her means so exhausted that she is unoIJoH
pay even her own armies. And every lazy
prosecution of the War, while it womb "!l'
ment the amount of our indemnify, wonld IS
sen the ability ofMexico to payit. We bos
seen, however, thut there is another form "
which we are TO demand indemnity. Il i.a
be territorial indemnify! hope,Gor reoso,'
already stated, that that firebrand will no, 10
brought into our country.
Among the resolutions, which it is nv +,
tention to present for your consideration ~
the conclusion ofthis address, one proDose.
in your behalf and mine, to disavow, in M
most positive manner, any desire on our p,n
to acquire any foreign territory whatever,
the purpose Of introducing slavery into it,
do not know that any citizen of the United
States entertains such wish. But such
motive has often been imputed to the sIoyo
States, and therefore think it necessary n
notice it on this occasion. My opinions On
the subject of slavery are well known
They have the merit, lift be one ,ofconsislep
cy, uniformity, and long duration. haveey
er regarded Slavery as great evil, wrong
for the present, fear, an irremdiable wrong
TO It's unfortunate victims. | should rejoice
if not single slave breathed the air or was
within the limits of our country. But here
they ure, to be dealt with as we'll as we can
with due consideration of all circumstance
affecting the security, safety and happiness
of both races. Every State has the supreme
uncontrolled, and exclusive power 10 decide
for itself whether slavery shall cease or con
tinue within its limits, without any exterior
intervention from any quarter. In States
where the slaves outnumber the whites as ia
the case with several, the blacks could not be
nd inUnGfpH oil IL -.
of freemen, without becoming the governing
ruce i'm those states. Collisions and conflicts
between the two races, would be inevitable.
and utter shocking scenes of rapine and car,
mage, then, the extinction or expulsion
of the blacks would certainly take place. Iu
the State of Kentucky, near fifty years ago,
thought the proportion Ofslaves, in compari.
son with the whites, was so lnconsideruble
that we might safely adopt a system ofgnd.
ual emancipation that would ultimately Grad.
icate this evil in our State. That system was
totally different from the immediate abolition
of Slavery for which the party of the Aboi.
tonists ofthe present dag contend. Whether
they have intended it or not, it is my calm
and deliberate belief that they have done in.
calcuable mischief even 10 the cause which
they espoused, to say nothing of the dscOrd
which has been produced between different
parts of the Union. According TO the system
we attempted, near the close ofthe last cen!u-
nv, all slaves in being were 10 remain such;
but all who might be born subsequent 10
specifed day were to become free at the age
of twentv-eight, aud during their service
were to be taught TO read, write aud cypher
Thus, instead of being thrown upon the CON-
munity, ignorant and unprepared, as would
be the case by immediate emancipation, they
would have entered upon the possession
their freedom, capable in some degree oteH
loving it. After hard struggle, the system
was defeated, and regret il extremely, asst
it had been then adopted, our State would
now be nearly rid Of that reproach
Since that epoch, scheme OF unmlXed be.
nevolence has sprung up, which, IT 1t had
existed at that ime, would have obviated one
of the greatest objections, which was made TO
gradual emancipation, which was the con-
tinuance ofthe emnncipated slaves TO abide
among us. That scheme is the American
Colonization Society. About twenty-eigtt
years ago, few individuals, myself among
them, met together in the City of Washing
ton, and laid the foundation of that Society,"
II les gone on amid extraordinary difficulties
and trials, sustaining itselfalmost entirely by
spontaneous and voluntary contributions,
from individual benevolence, with scarcely
any aid from Government. The Colonies
planted under its auspices, are now wen es-
iablished communities, with chnrches,schoois
and other institutions apperiainlng to me cW--
ilized state. They have made successful war
in repelling attacks and nvaslons by their par-
barous and savage neighbors. 1hey nave
made treaties, annexed territories 10 'helr uo-
minion, and are blessed with free represent
tative government. | recently read mes
sage. from one of their Governors TO Their
Il, -, mr. nj
and in careful attention 10 the public affairs
oftheir Republic, would compare advana-
geousy with the Messages of the Governors
of our own States. am not very superst''
tious, but do solemnly believe that these
Colonies are blest with the smiles OF ProNl-
dence, and if we may dare attempt peneua'
ting the veil by which He conceals Ills ALL
wise dispensations from mortal eyes, tIla'
He designs that Africa shall be the refuge
and the home of the descendants OF lis sous
and daughters, torn and dragged from their
native land by lawless violence.
It's plilanthropic and consoling renee
ton that the moral and physical condIua"oi
the African race in the United States, eVehm
n state ofslavery, is far better than II Wouu
have been if their ancestors lad never g !s%
brought from their native land. ana Ella !"
should he the decree ofthe Great Ruier TtI Lo
Universe that their descendants shdn
made instruments in His hand in the es'aw
lisbment of Civilization and the Christian
Religion throughout Africa, our regrets ,,, TU
account of the original wrong, will be g'eO''
mitigated. ..,.:,c the,
1t may be argued that, in admitting n,f
Injustice ofSavery, Iadmit the nece !,sI,ice.
an instantaneous reparation oiIhat my"S cafe.
Unfortunately, however, it is not away move v
practicable or possible, in the sreISs Nations,
ments of States and public affairs .. nrsvious
to remedy or repair the infiic!lon Oh p mov op.
injustice. In the inception Oft, we ,,rs1,ous
pose and denounce it, by our mos. .; s"' there
a..;e,,s. h,,t afinr its cOnSummallOn, "" l.