Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-02-24

Gentlemen of the Coiai=ation SocietW |
have been committed 10 say few words on
this occasion, rather against my own wishes,
and quite Unexpectedly. Indeed, believe il
has been advertised in some Of the papers that
am 10 make an address this evening. Now,
though have no reproaches 10 make against
those who have thus placed me in so conspicu.
Gus position, have no expectation Of being
able TO fulfil their anlicpatons or TO do justice
10 the subject. have just terminated an arduous
Journey Of many hundred miles, made in mid
winter; and wherever | have been it has inva.
riably been my LOT TO be surrounded by throngs
which did not leave 10 me lime necessary 10
make that preparation which should ever pre-
cede the attempt to address an auditory so in.
teligent and SO highly respectable as this.
have come here without solitary note; with
no prepared or elaborate speech, and with but
lilIle mental preparation; and as | have no Tor.
NAL and highly finished address 10 deliver.
would advise all who have come with any ex-
peclalion of speech TO leave the hall.
And yet own there is some propriety that I
should say few words to you this evening;
apart from the circumstance which has been
more than once alluded To-, that was one Of that
company which met some thirty years ago, met
to form this Society.
.lt is now some years since | had the honor Of
sitting in your Society as | now do, and allow
me 10 say that in all human probability this is
the last instance in which shall ever be per-
mirted TO do SO. Great events 100 have happen
ed TO the colony since was last here.
You have been told by the eloquent gentle
men who proceeded me The formation oClhis
association. Ii is now nearly thirty years since
MIR. FindIy, Mr.. Caldwell, and some other gen.
lemen met by agreement with a view 10 form a
Colonization Society. was one OF The num-
Der. We did not Intend to domore or less than
establish on The shores Of Africa colony, 10
which free coIored persons with their own vol
untary consent might 60. There was 10 be no
constrant, no coercion, no compulsory process
10 which those who went must submit, all was
10 be perfectly voluntary and unconsIralned in
any matter or degree. Far, very far, was it
from our purpose to interfere with the slave, or
to shake or effect the lille by which they are
held in the least degree whatever. We saw and
were fully aware OF the fact that the free white
race and the colored race never could live TO-
gelher on terms Of equality. We did not stop
10 ask whether this was right or wrong: we
looked al The fact, and on that fact we founded
our operation. | know, indeed, that there are
men, many of them Of high responsibility, who
hold that all this is prejudice; that 1t should be
expelled from our minds, and that we ought 10
recognise in men, though Of different color from
ourselves, members Of one common race, enIl'
| Il - Ill vii
selves. This may be so according to their
view Of the matter; but we went on The broad
and incontestabe fact that the two races could
not, on equal terms, live in the same commune
~ harmoniously together. And we though
that The people Of color should be voluntarily
removed, if practicable TO their native country
try, or to The country at least of ancestors
there they might enjoy all those blessing;
Of freedom and equality of condition
which to them were impossible here
Our object, let me repeat it, was limited TO the
free, we never thought of touching in any man.
ner the lille to slave properly. We hoped tc
be able 10 demonstrate the praccabilily of col
onizing them; and when that should have been
demonstrated, those who owned. slaves nigh
avail themselves of it or not--might send lib
Grated slaves to Africa or not, precisely as they
pleased. All our purpose was TO establish, /
we could, a colony of free colored men, ant
thus to demonstrate to the world that coini
zation was practicable.
1t has truly been stated, that, from the day 0
its formation 10 the present hour, the Societ,
has been surrounded with difficulties. 1t ha
had TO stand the fire of batteries in front an
rear, and both flanks. Extremes of opinion
and of action which could unite in moth
ing else, united in assaulting us. Those VIII
feared for the safety Of the Institution Q
slavery assaulted US on one hand; while the Ab
olitionlsts assaulted us on the other. But o
what ground should either oppose such an en-
,erprisel Our ground in regard TO both was Io