Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-01-03
METROPOLITAN.
ron THE srAuSroS SPECTATOR.
LAGOON NO. I.


was referred that part of the Governors Message,
which recommends the removal of the free people
Of color from the Commonwealth, will soon call YOU
TO deliberate on n subject of grave import. You
will give ii, doubt not, your well studied and ma
tured consideration, holding il neither too delicate
subject 10 be approached, too difficult for le-
gislalon. The time has fully when, if we
do not boldly grarplc the difficulties and control
them, they will control us.
Slavery not of voluntary adoption by those
who constructed the clements of society in this
Commonwealth. Introduced by the authority of
Great Britain, il was found at the period of our
dependence constituent OF the body polite was
subsequently recognised by the Federal and State
constitutions, and became part of inheritance.
1t is, therefore, politically and socially, constitution
al. Yet like all other things human and earthly il
has difficulties and evils. These were so distinct
ly perceived by the foresight of ancestors that
they resisted the introduction of the system itself
and sought 10 avert it. When introduced, they
labOred 10 mitigate lis evils to both races, and make
the institution, if possible, blessing TO each How
far this christian effort has been faithfully and sue
cessfuly pursued are willing our enemies them
selves should tell 10 the world in the facts they are
compelled 10 record. and out of which ages 10 come
will form their estimate Of our character. Let us
leave all feversh anXietles on that subject and go
boldly forward in the high duty imposed by provi-
dence on us now.
Among the evils that contingent to slavery
may be reckoned large class Of free coiored people,
the descendants of slaves, constituting orer caste
in society and yet elevated above the slaves whence
they originated. This evil was early contemplated
by far-reaching and patriotic minds, defined and
sought TO be modified or averted.
Mr.. Jefferson as early as l777, proposed TO the
Legislature of Virginia 10 be Incorporated in the
revised code Of the State, plan for colonsing the
free colored population. This is the earliest con-
cepton, distinctly announced Of plan for African
| Colonization. The magnitude OF the enterprise
and the state OF the country then at war, prevent
ed at that time, the prosecution of The plan. DR..
Ihorton, native of Virg MIA and resident at ASH
lngton, attempted ten years afterwards 10 form a
company of free blacks to emigrate and establish
colony on the coast of Africa. This also proved a
bortive for want of means. The Legislature of Vir-
ginla took action on the subject in the year 1900.
and again in 1916 and Mr.. Jefferson continued TO
agltate it until the formation of the Colonization
Society in Dec, 1916, at the city of Washington.
Although eminent and good men from other
States were concerned in the construction of this
noble Society, and to the honored name of Finley
is correctly attributed the principal insirumenali.y
in lis actual organiZation-yet the mighty concep-
ton may be found in Virginia, the "Mother of
States" and the embryo of this great political
structure may be traced TO the brain Of the author
of the Declaration of Independence, who is now
seen 10 be the rea! Jupiter Of that political Minerva,
the young "Repubic of Liberia" Liberia is indeed
asserted III lne same
declaration and though of longer CESSATION is now
triumphaDtly born, and destined like TO regulate
and govern continent, with our liberal constitution
adopted as hers, and the Bible as her great moral
code.
Standing by the birth of the Colonization Society
or aiding in its incipency, we find Bushrod Wash
ingiOn its first President. and Henry CLAY its Sc
cond-John Randolph, jefferson, Madison, Mon
| roe, Judge Marshall, Bishop Meade, John Taylor,
of Caroline, Andrew jackson, G.. f. Mercer, +. S.
Key, f.. b. Caldwell, and others, Virgnans by
birth and in feeling, though citizens of the world by
their works. We will seek in the labors of that
Society cooperation suited TO the part took in
its formation and TO the inheritance we claim in its
| fame. But for the present return.
| The free people of color, numbering not less
than oU,OOO IN Virginia and increasing more than
four hundred per cent. in fifty years will, without
some action to prevent ii, form population of 240, :
! QUO in the year 1900 period that will arrive du-
ring the natural life Of cur children In 1850 our
grand children will encounter this population in
creased TO a numerical force Of about one million
thirty per cent creator than present white pop.
/ ulaton-and our great grand children viii see Il
free black population of 4 ,O0O,CG0 in Virginia. In
order TO realize bow near in time this result is TO
our own day, we have only to reflect that the ac-
/ i've men OF the present tme-maDy whom ! adj
dress as legiSlaOrs-aTe descendants of the fathers
of our independence of only the second and third
| generations. Some, who now live, may, before
they die, see the free black population of Virginia
/ greater IN number than the present white pUpula.
| ton
is readily admitted that various causes may oc
cur to modify these calculations. But it is enough
that they seen to be the natural results of an
uninterrupted progress Of existing causes and there
fore possi5e-even probable. For, while the wide
west and southwest inviting with still strong
er motives the emigration of sons, the barriers
to the emigration Of our free blacks TO other States
are multiplied and strengthened. both by legislation
and popular expression. While, therefore, our
white population may be stationary, or decrease bv
emigration, the free blacks will be steadily advanc-
ing in an increasing ratio. But | have no time 10
multiply these and similar aspects of the subject
Every rejecting mind will deveIope them.
Connected with this series of numerical cacula-
tons however, ask the consideration of the fact
that history furnishes instance of one people re-
siding in the midst of another people as lower
CASTE, and excluded from an equality Of civil rights
that have stopped short of violence and rebellion Sc
soon as their strength gave reasonable hope of a
successful struggle.
Mr.. Jefferson perceived distinctly this evil when
I the cloud was not yet larger than mans hand
and nc endeavoTed to brush it away. 1t has, how
ever, been suffered TO increase till II lowers now on
the horizon, and before childrens children shall
occupy our places it will obscure the sun and settle
/ upon our fair land a darkness that may be felt
Those degenerate sons of illusrious slres who say
"let posterity take care Of that, should be rebted
/ tlci- Iiycs I;L,r,;e-