Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-03-02

Gentlemen of the CoIini=alioa Society,"
have been committed to say few words on
this occasion, rather against my own wishes,
and quito unexpectedly. Indeed. believe ~
has benn advertised in some Of The papers that
| am 10 make an address this evening. Now,
though have no reproaches 10 make against
lhosJ who have thus placed me in S" conSpIru'
ous position, have no expectation ol being
able TO fulfil their anticipalOnS or III do justice
TO the subject. have just terminate an ariuon'
Journey OF many hundred miles, made in mil
winter; and wherever ! have been 1t has InVa'
raby been my lot to be surrounded by Ihrons'
which did not leave to me time necessary 10
make that preparation which should ever pr
ceda the atIempl to address an auditory so III.
teigent and so highly respectable Us this.
have come here without solitary note; with
no prepared or elaborate speech, and with but
lula mental preparations; and rs have no for
NAL and highly finished address 10 deliver
would advise all who have cone with any ex'
peclalion Of IL speech 10 leave the hall.
And YET own there is some proprlety that
should say few words to you this evenings;
apart from the circumstances which has been
more than once alluded 10, lhatl was one otlhat
company which met some thirty years ago, met
TO form this Society.
/, is now some years since had The honor Of
siuing in your Socielya as now do, AMI allow
me 10 say that in all human probability this i
the last instance in which shall ever b. per
mtted to do SO. Gtaal events too have happen.
ed TO the colony since was last here.
You have been told by the eloquent gentle
men who proceeded me oClhe formation oIlhis
association. 1t is now nearly thirty years 81 ice
Mr.. Findly, Mr.. Caldwell, and some Other N
tlemen met by agreement with view to form Il
Colonization Society. was one OF lhe num-
Der. We did not intend TO do more or less Than
establish Oh The shores of Africa colony, IL
which free colored persons with their own vol
un,ary consent might go. There was TO be nc
constraint, no coercion, no compulsory process
10 which those who went must submit, all wa.
TO be perfectly voluntary and unconsrained in
any matter or degree. Far, very far, was i
from our purpose TO interfere with the slave, o.
30 shake or effect the title by which they arr
held in the least degree whatever. We saw ant
were fully aware Of the fact that the free whit
race and the colored race never could live to
gether on terms of equality. We did not sto
10 ask whether this was right or wrong: W
looked ACHE fact, and on thai fact we louade,
our operation. ! know, indeed, that there ar
men, many of them Of high responsibility, VIII
hold that all this is prejudce; that it should b
expelled from our minds, and that We ought /,
recognise in men, though Of diilercn, color iron
ourselves, members of one common race, enti
lied IN all respects to equal privileges with our
selves. This may be so according to thei
view OF the matter; but We went on The broa
~ tnaO hlaE IL. Il
not, on equal terms, live in The same communi
~ UNANIMOUSLY together. And we though
that The people Of color should be voluntorIl
removed, il practicable 10 their native country
try, or to The country at least of ancestor.
there they might enjoy all those blessing
of freedom and equality of condio
which to them were impossible here
Our object, lei me repeat it, was limited TO tn
free, we never thought of touching in any man
Der The lille to slave properly. We hoped t