Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-03-22

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against this consequence, provision might be
made that the offspring of those who are to De
free at twenty five, should be free from their
birth, but upon the condition that they should be
apprenticed until they wore twenty one, and be
also afterwards liable to be hired out, for Pc
rod not exceeding three years, for the purpose
of raising money to meet the expenses Of the
colony, and their subsistence for the first six
months.
IL. The Pennsylvania act of emancipation
fixed the period of twenty-eight for the liberia
ton of the slaves; and provided, or her courts
have since interpreted the system to mean, that
the issue of all who were to be tree at the limit
ed age, were from their births free. The Penn
sylvania system made no provision for colonial
ton.
49, Until the commencement of the system
which am endeavoring TO sketch, I think all
the legal rights Of the proprietors Of slaves, in
their fullest extent, ought to remain unimpalred
and unrestricted. Consequently they would have
the right to sell, devise, or remove them from
the State, and, in the latter case, without the
latter being entitled to the benefit Of emancipa-
ton, for which the system provides.
IA. 2d-The colonization of the free blacks
as they successfully arrive, from year to year, at
the age emitting them to freedom, / consider a
condition absolutely indispensable. Without it,
should be utterly opposed to any scheme Of e.
Emancipation. One hundred and ninety odd
thousand blacks, composing about one-fourth Of
he population of the State, with their descend.
ants, could never live in peace, harmony and e.
Equality with the residue Of the population. The
color, passions and prejudces would forever pre-
vent the two races from living together in a state
of cordial union. Social, moral md political
degradation would be the inevitable lot of the
colored race. Even in the free States Il use the
terms free and slave States, not in any sense de,
rogatory from one class, Or implying any superb
GRITTY in the other, but for the sake of brcvity,)
that is their present condition. In some of thesy
free States, the penal legislation against people
of color is quite as severe, if not harsher, than
| it is IN some ofthe slave States. AS no where in
the United States are anal gamation and equali-
ty between the two races possible, it is better
that there should be separation, and that the
| African descendants should be returned to the
native lands of their fathers.
Is. 1t will have been seen, that the plan |
have suggested proposes, the annual transporta-
ton of all born after specified day, upon their
arrival at the prescribed age, to the colony
which may be selected for their destination, and
that this process of transportation is to be con-
tinued until the separation Of the two races is
completed. If the emancipated slaves were to
remain in Ky. until they attained the age of %,
it would be about "a years before the first annu.
al transportation begins if the system commence
in 1855, and about 80 years if its operation be-
gan in 1860.
1G. What the number thus to be annually
transported would be, cannot be precisely asccr-
tanned. observe it stated by the Auditor. that
the increase of slaves in Kentucky last year was
between three and four thousand. But, as that
statement was made upon comparison of the
aggregate number of all slaves of the State,
without regard to births, it does not, presume,
exhibit truly the natural increase, which was
probably larger. The aggregate was effected
by the introduction, and still more, by the ex-
portation of slaves. suppose there would not
be less, probably more than five thousand, to be
transported the first year of the operation of the
system; but after it was in progress some wears,
there would be constant diminution of the
number.
IL. Would it be practicable annually to trans.
port 5000 persons from Kentucky? There cam
not be a doubt of it; or even a much larger
number. We receive from Europe, annually
emigrants to an amount exceeding 100000, at a
cost of about $40 per head, and they embark al
European ports, more distant from the u. States
than the Western coast of Africa. 1t is true
that the commercial marine employed between
Europe and the United States, affords facilities
in the transportation OF emigrants, at that low
rate, which that engaged in the commerce DC.
tween Liberia and this country does not supply
But that commerce is increasing, and by the
time the proposed system, if adopted, would &C
into operation, it will have greatly augmented
If there was a certainty of the annual transport
alton Of not less than 5000 persons to Africa, il
would create demand for transports, and the
spirit Of competition would, | have 10 doubt
greatly diminish the present cost of the passage
That cost has been stated upon good authority
to be at present, $50 per head, including the
passage, and six months outfit after the arriya
of the emigrant in Africa Whatever may be
the cost, and whatever the number to be trans
ported, tine fund to be raised by the hire of the
liberated slave, for period not exceeding three
years, will be amply sufficient. The annua
hire, il the average may be estimated at $50, Oh
$3.50 for the whole term.
lS. Colonization will be attended with the
painful effect of the separation of the colonists
from their parents, and in some instances from
their children but from the latter it will be only
temporary, as they will follow and be again re
united. Their separation from their parents will
not be until after they have attained mature
age, nor greater than voluntarily takes place with
emigrants from Europe, who leave their parents
behind. 1t will be far less distressing than wha
frequently occurs in the state of slavery, ant
will be attendnd with the animating encourage.
ment that the coonists are transferred from
land of bondage and degradation for them, to o
land of liberty and equality.
~. And Sd, the expense Of transporting the
liberated slaves to the colony, and of maintain
ing him there for six months, | think, ought tC
be provided for by fund derived from his labo
i'll the manner indicated He is the party mos
benefited by emancipation. 1t would not be
right to subject the non.slaveholder to any par
OF the expense; and the stakeholder will have
made sufficient sacrifices, without being eXcu
slvely burthened with taxes, to raise that fund
The emancipated slaves could be hired out fol
the time proposed, by the sheriff or other public
agent, in each county, who should be subject
10 strict accountability. And it would be redui-
site that there should be kept register of all The
births OF all children of color, after the day
liked Tor the commencement of the system, en-
forced by appropriate sanctions. 1t would be O
very desirable regulation of law to have births
deaths and marriages, of the whole population
of the State registered and preserved, as is done
III most well governed States.
20. Among other considerations which unite
in recommending to the State of Kentucky a
system for the gradual abolshing of slavery, is
that arising out of her exposed condition afford
ing great facilities to the escape of her slaves
into the free States and into Canada. She does
not enjoy the security which some of the slave
States have, by being covered in depth by two
or three slave States intervening between them
and the free States She has greater length
OF border on free States than any other slave
State in the Union. That border is the Ohio
river, extending from the mouth Of Big Sandy
to the mouth of the Ohio, distance of near