Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-08-26
THE AFRICAN RACE.


The following letter was recently addressed, with
liberal donation, by the Hon. N. APPLETON, Of
Boston, TO friend of the Colonization Society:
PIrrsrIELD, AUeusT 8, ls4s.
DEAN Sin have yours Of yesterday calling my attention
the colony Of Liberia and asking for donation to encour
age emigration to it.
consider the establishment Of that colony very interest
ing event. and now, as have heretofore done cheeruy con-
tribute TO its support. consider interesting making the
experiment how far the African capable of civilization
and regularly organized government This is question OF
deep interest This colony has made good beginning,
der circumstances highly favorable u the full development OF
the powers of the race and hope may continue to fulfil
the sanguine expectations of its founders moderate in
by emigration from this country would seem most favor
able calling into action the self reliance necessary to
The effect of this colony vzng the large native
population under their government influence is the crcum
stance which will be looked with The greatest soctude
do not consider the efforts of the Colonization Society
having any appropriate bearing on the question Of the extnc
ton of slavery in the United States The power Of emgra
ton is SO small as to be but drop om the bucket compared
to the annual increase OF the black population II is relief
to be sure, aordng asylum for the few slaves
ally emancpated in the slave States But the want Of educa
ton and OF moral character most these emancpaed slaves
makes questionable whether great increase Of their number
would be favorable to the experiment of civilization which
50 important to carry out.
have been surprised to little attention paid TO the
question Of emigration ofblacks the West Indies especially
to the English islands, where free labor is much wanted
and to which the expense Of emigration is so tng compared
to that of Africa. appears to subject well worth the
attention Of the Colonization Society.
African slavery is the exciting topic Of the day. 1t is
curse which has been entailed upon consider it re
mendous social and political evil 1t degrades labor, the
very foundation of all civilization politcay element
Of weakness in the State which adopts it, But of New
England free nom II, and ought to be able to look at IL
coolly and calmly think the South wrong in claiming the
right to introduce slavery into territory free. Their
guments appear weak and baseless II difficult to
M Ella i'm
should be resisted matter OF principle by the whole of the
free States. At the same time, as practical question: it is
probably unimpoan since there apparently no nducement
introduce slave labor in either Oregon, California New
Mexico. The whole ground was yielded with Texas.
As the existence of slavery the slave States secured
by the constitution why OF the free States
should make ourselves very unhappy about it. Why not
leave 1t TO the parties Immediately concerned 1t matter
sufficiently troublesome without interference Interfe
in The affairs of others is always distastef sometimes
hateful especially when accompanied by the denuncaon Of
sinulness. Such denunciaGon with i'll grace from
ble humanity The question Of sinulness should be kept
where ii belongs, between the individual and his Maker
As political question: the abolition Of slavery in the slave
States has difficulties apparently insurmounable at present
As question of property, it involves amount Of about
thousand millions Of dollars for, whatever may be said,
slaves property to all ntents and purposes in the States
which have established slavery. Property is essentially the
creature of legislation Was such amount of property
voluntarily relinquished annihaed Would it be
possible to make the ndemnication any principle
of law or equity still greater difficulty remains the ques
ton of political rights Let Missionaries say what they will
there is impossible gulf which separates the two races the
African and the Caucasian There is something abhonent
to people in the mixture Of their blood At all events
matter Of fact amagamaton is impossible. Can the
live together with equal social and political rights
is believed to be impossible. Without change in human
nature, the powerful will Cypress the weaker Wit
the actual state Of The Jews in the midst of chstendom
AT the time, without foreign interference there lit
tie doubt that slavery will gradually be abolished in the most
northern of the slave States II may be abolished in all Of
them when slave labor be poable-when labor
in the cotton growing region of value than it is in
many parts of Europe No one would accept slave white
or black, in Ireland.
On the whole, consider the question Of the abolition Of
slavery in the United States of those great and difficult
problems entirely beyond the power Of man to solve.
Fortunately, events kind controlled by higher and
wiser powe which may rely with perfect confidence
that they will work together for good
You will thus perceive that have complied with your
quest that should give you my opinions the whole Of this
subject.
remain, very respectfully, your ohedient servant
NATHAN APPLETON.
Rev J. ~ DASFoRTH.