The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-06-19

166Kent,toky Colonization ,Soeie.
~. ~ NLSP resbulerian Church. Frank.

15f1ltP Presbyterian Church. Frank
|or., By Hon w. F. BULLOCK
The condition of the African race. as a
1r1 Of our population, and the consequent
duty Nhieh devolves upon US as citizens, is
|M (which your attention is invited.
III be admitted that the questions
cessarily involved are eminently practical.
i des,iRmRf large class of our popula-
- - effects which that population
Efting, and must continue to exert upon
character of our institutions, present a
Aestlon which forces itself upon our serious
Ia anxious consideration.
What Is our duty in reference to the free
<o,ored population of the United States
EIEat is Ghe question. | speak of our duty
:. !. enlarged ,sssad comprehensive sense.
':..clI vincludes all our Obligations-our
.<6tv 10 ourselves. TO our fellow men, and TO
God. ID is. therefore, necessary that We
should nightly understand our own interests,
and at the same time have a Just and en-
y hghtened appreciation OF the rights OF others.
=. The political condition of this class as
pfesented TO the eye OF the statesman and
philanthropist, IS a subject Of serious dith-
Ecnlty, if not OF Apprehension and alarm.
1ch is the nature and force of public SEN
1seni, that though relieved from personal
daee. the man Of color is excluded from
vi the essential rights and immunities Of
/ the citizen. A free and equal participation
ia the rights Of citizenship is not only de-
+ -lied 70 nm, but every attempt to assert the
iustce Of the claim is hercely denounced,
and nor unireQuently accompanied with acts
81 Oppression and outrage. Even in those
communities where there is supposed to exist
the greatest sympathy for this class, he is
excluded from that full participation in the
privileges Of the government, which confer
character and dignity upon the citizen. 1t
might be supposed, from the loud Glamour
Of the AbohuonIstS, that the people Of the
nora were fast approaching TO that period
when the blacks were to occupy the broad
platform Of equal rights. Ii is not doubted
thai such is the wild dream OF the enthusiast.
But such is not the result of q calm ard
sober observation OF passing events. On
the contrary, there is a fixed and unalterable
determination TO widen and deepen the poll
ucal distinctions between the two races.
Such is the inevitable tendency of the laws
Of nature, and of the current of human
events Notwithstanding the ardent zeal
and indeGatgable efforts which have been
made, to extend to the blacks an equal par
uciPation in the privileges Of the Govern
ment, nsPercepuble progress has been made
even n the free States, towards the accom-
Plishment Of this purpose.
4 9 L 4. A.
by the mistaken zeal, and ill-directed efforts
Of the Aboliuonsts, has been the deep agi-
taton Of The public mind, resulting IN an
increased and accumulating weight Of pre-
iudice against the unfortunate objects Of their
sympathy and regard.
For more than half a century, in many Of
the States Of this Union, the man of color las
been freed from the shackles of personal
bondage. and leftto struggle with his destiny.
What progress has he made in the elevation
Of his caste' Where have his equal rRhts
been practically recognized ? b.
The pages of our history are barreA Of
the evidences Of his social and political ad-
vancement. Whilst our Government las
afforded an asylum to the nations Of the
=
leges are freely bestowed upon all, he
African, brought here against MS will is
made to occupy In his best estate, a cod
ion of unqualified inferiority We are
forcibly reminded Of the prophetic G -se,
God shall enlarge Japheth, ard he tall
dwell in the tents Of Shem and Cat an
shall be his servant.
Political degradation is the inevitable ate
Of the African, so long as he remains d der
the influence of American institution -
The difference Of color, the recollectif of
bis origin, his natural instincts, the bcu-
liar habits impressed upon him by bong
course Of servility and bondage, even the
memory Of his wrongs mark him as the
victim OF political and social prosecution.
This is a truth which cannot be disguised.
We cannot fail 10 see it in all the clients
which are passing around us. Look at hat
spacious edifce wrapped in fumes L is
the Hall of Freedom, erected for free dis
cussion. and dedicated TO liberty of SPEECH.
Men snc women, who had peaceablI as
sembled to exercise the dearest Tigffs OF
spiritual and intelligent beings, are driven
forth by sn infatuated populace. The man
Of genius, whose thoughts burst from bis
soul with the fire and indignant energy Of
an ancient prophet the woman, tn EN-
bodimeni of all that elevates and sdoDs
her sex, and who religOusly believed thai
she was engaged in a mission Of Chrlstian
sympalhy-these, and such as these, ere the
victims Of popular indignation. 1t was a
meeting of those who honestly believed in
the night Of political and social equality,
and advocated its unqualified extension to
the whole human family. That confagra-
ion is not the work Of a midnight incen-
diary. Itwas not done in a transport Of
iuy. Ii was the fearless execution Of the
deliberate purpose of great majority Of the
people.
Such a manifestation of popular preju-
dice cannot be mistaken. Ii is evident
that there must be a powerful and sufficient
cause, which lies at the root Of this public
i sentiment. The most corrupt political
party, a convention Of atheists, might have
assembled within the same walls with per
feet security from external violence. Il
. was not because they were fanatics. There
is nothing peculiar in the fanaticisln Of the