The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-02-05
Assericsa Colonization seeiesy.
sPE.CH Of HENRY CLAY,


Reported rof th' New York Tribune
Mr. CLAY, on rising, was greeted with round
after round of applause. After this manif.s,a-
ton oil regard and enthusiasm, he proceeded as
follows:
Gentlemen Of the Colonization Society:
have been committed 10 say a few words
Rather against my wishes, and unexpectedly
TO myself, have been advertised in the news
papers, believe to make some address on this
occasion. have no approaches to make against
those who have placed me in this position. hut [
must present myself before you in no condition
10 fulfil the expectations that may have brought
this large and respectable assemblage together:
nellhersm prepared to DO justice 10 this gre at
subject or to myself. have Just terminates a
journey OF considerable lengthsnd srduousuess So.
performed in mid-winter, and surrounded al
every place where | have stopped, by thropgs
Of friends, leaving absolutely no leisure what
ever Tor that preparation which ought always
10 be made before &. man presents himself 70
address so respectable aud intelligent an audi
ence as this. | come before YOU without soli-
tary note, and with very little mental prepara-
ton OF any sort; absolutely with no prepared
ness for an elaborate, address. | will therefore
advise all who have come here with the expec-
tatioa OF hearing anything extraordinary, to
doubtless leave il with much fewer auditors
than a: first assembled. tCheer.) Yet con-
fess myself gratifieo with the opportunity of
saying few words, as well as with the circum-
stance repeatedly adverteo TO in the course Of
The evening, OF my having met here in compa-
ny with others thirty years ago for the fouhda-
iion Of this Society. Ii has been some years
since have had the honor Of standing or sitting
in the place which occupy this evening, and
YOU will allow me to say that, in all human
probability, il wall be the last instance in which
| may ever appear before you.
You have been told that about thirty wears
aso, Rev. DR.. Finney, of N. j., and others with
HIM, met here and consulted aad agreed upon
the great principles of the foundation of this
Society. was ono Of that number. AT first
We did not intend TO do more than to establish
a Colony on the Coast Of Africa, 10 which the
free people OF color in the United States might
voluntarily, and with their own free consent,
without the ieas, restraint, coercion or compul-
sion, proceed and enjoy untrsmmelled those so.
cial aud political privileges which, under the
circumstances of the case, they could not enjoy
here We submitted the whole to their uncon-
strained voliuon. Ii was very far from the
purpose OF those who came together on that &C.
casion, to interfere with the title TO slaves; we
Dad not wish to affect that title in the least de-
Test in the country, that the people of color
and the white could not possibly live te-
gelher on terms of equality. We did not stop
10 inquire WHISTLER this state Of things vas right
or wrong. We took the fact Of impossibiliiy,
for these two races 10 live together in equal So
eial conditions, aud proceeded 10 operate upon
that fact: know there are many respectable
individuals in the country who contend that this
is all prejudice, and should be expelled from the
bose of men; and that We should recognize
all n members OF the same race, entitled to the
sme privileges and immunities with ourselves:
This principle, in their view, may be right
Bot We weng on the fact that the two races
could not live together, aud on this iou nd aton,
We proposed, in view Of their religious, moral
and political degradation, that they should be
removed by their own consent, from the United
SetaI to "A country Of institutions and privileges
whichit woud be impossible for them ever TO
enjoy in this country. repeat, that We did not
attempt in the least 10 unsette the title
TO slaves. We hoped merely TO demon
srate the prsctlcabiiiy Of Colonization, in or
der that those who had the control of slaves
might avail themselves OF the policy or not, ac-
corolng to their viaws or wishes. Our obJec,
was nothing farther than 10 demo nstrate before
the world the practicsbiiity OF establishing a
Colony Of free blacks in Africa.
whole progress of our society from its origin,
il has been surrounded by difficulties, and bssei
BIZ enemies 10 front and in rear, and on both
TANKS. (Cheers.) The Abolitionists have as
sailed il, as well as those of the opposite eG-
IRENE. Both have united IN assaulting IT, but on
what grounds, cannot vet well understand
IL is no more part Of the object OF the society
TO int rfere with the title to slaves, than it is is
object TO interfere with the progress OF abolition
We contemplate simply the improvement OF
the condition of the blacks, and so. when the ob-
ect of the abolitionist should be- obtained, IN the
emancipation OF the blacks, IL would become the
object and employ ment OF this society TO colo
nize them, and thus cooperating together, q
vast benefit might accrue 10 the human race
which might consist with the highest purpose
Of abolition. But why should they continue IL
attack ps7 repeat, we do net Interfere with
them. utopisn and imprscticabe as We suppose
their project TO be. Their attempt is to eman-
cipste without a moments delay, the whole Of
the black race in the United States. Very well
TO accomplish this very object in another way
colonization was begun. We say TO them
gentlemen, we cannot hope TO accomplish YOU
object, end because OF the inability Of the black
race to come upon an equality IN social anS
political coalition with the whites, We vii
carry them where they can better ENJOY th'
immu mites Of fr-emeh-
But il has been said that this Society is inca
pable Of accomplishing 80 great an object; AM
| admit thai its founders have not supposed tina
without the aid Of Government, State or Ma
tic nal, they could found in Africa very large
colony composed wholly Of free persons of col
or. But their purpose has been TO show th,
practica biltiy OF The object--tbe power of Col
onization, in com pete ut hands, To carry out thu
in IA CemOQstrat,
this power throughout the whole extent Of tbs
Continent. II then those who have taken th'
! lead have been able to demonstrate the practr
cabilIty OF Colonization, who can doubt th'
competency Of Government &c transport e
the shores Of Africa ell persons Of color wh'
NAV be ems nc pated either by the authority %
States, or the disposition OF Individuals 1ha
Demonstration has been made.
But it hes been urged particularly by on
class Of our opponents, TO which we have re
ferred, that this is the country Of the bisoi
man, and therefore he should not be sent Il
Africa, which is not his country. In SOM
sense those blacks who have been born uPoI
the soil, may claim this for their country; am
SO could the Israelites claim Egypt for thei
country, because during long period of tim
they were captives in Egypt. so could all tn
IsraeIites born 10 the wilderness during thei
progress from Egypt to the Promised Land
claim the wilderness for their country; but still
in contemplating the beam which guided tn
progress OF that most remarkable OF all tn
families Of man, neither Egypt nor the wilder
ness, but Canaan was their home, and to tina
home they were finally led. Who, then, CA
doubt, IN a solitary instance, that Africa is tn
real home of the blacks, though they may hav
had casual birth upon this CONTINENT Their
they were placed, and remained originally unit
captured by the hands Of lawless violence, an
there they can remain happily in the falrest POI
ton of their original possession; and does II ne
seem u dsPensation OF an ali.w'se frovioenc'