Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-05-18

"N I'NoNhN u oluNlu hdNb III ullllCulNN WHAT
ever in saying the few things | have to en-
press. But if they hear me at all i, must lie
through my audience, and Of course it can
only 90 to them at secondhand.
That the entire people Of color are opposed
to The Colonization Society | do not believe.
And apprehend that there are those present
this evening who are not prepared TO sub
scribe TO the resolutions which have Just been
introduced. TO snch ] have a few thoughts
to suggest, and whilst ] shall do so, | shall
endeavor to make a distinction between the
spirit which prompted the American Coloni-
za,lon Society into being, and the spirit
winch prompts many colored persons to 90 TO
the colony of Liberia, in the spirit of enter
prise and adventure. With his class | have
no war, so TO express myself. And | wish
TO be distinctly understood, that | believe in
the largest exercise Of individual opinions,
individual ambitions for elevation and wealth.
And ] also recognize the fullest right in COL
ored persons, as well as in white, TO 20 where
they shall choose to 60, for the purpose Of
6etieTlng their condition either morally, So
cla'iy, politically or roligiously. ] say, sir,
am here, not TO oppose, but 10 give my
conntenance TO action OF this kind. But !
feel iitat the spirit Of the American Colonial
ton Society, from its origin 10 the present
moment, has been 10 break up that exercise
OF our individuality. | hate it, sir, net so
much that | believe 1t ever can remove the
people Of color from these United States, but
because | believe that so long as it shall en-
list, its tendency is 10 make more rabid the
spirit of caste and prejudice against the col
ored people in this country. And | think,
sir, that it is honest in this expression, that it
came honestly by this spirit. have, how
ever, felt that the Colonization Society origi-
mated in American Slavery, and coming from
such a source ! do not believe that any good
can come out Of il. Therefore, | have ever
warred against il, and must be permitted to
do SO now. Why, sir, there are those at the
present moment who can blink the charges
which the American Colonization Society
have from time TO time preferred against the
people Of color, and in the face of these char
: ges can insist that there is, nevertheless,
charity and even Christianity in the move
ment. Well, if the charges have not been
+. sanctioned and subscribed 10 by the parent
3 Society, ! could allow mig charity 10 60 out
] to that extent; but as long as ] can remem-
n Der having heard the speeches of the leaders
: of the Colonization Society, | have either
found those charges directly or indirectly
mess ef subscribed TO by the different mem
: bers of that Society. And what have those
| charges been! Have they conveyed the
idea that The free people of color should be
recognized on an equal footing with other cit
liens, in any part of our country, under any
\ circumstances : On no occasion have | seen
it,. On the contrary the endeavor has been
from beginning TO end 10 prejudice the Amer
lean mind more deeply than it was before
/ through the efforts of American Slavery it.
self. Now I need not intimate, Mr.. Chair
: man, the CrossnPss of these charges, the un
: truthfulness of them, nor their bitterness, ha
tired, enmity and jealousy. But, sir, how arr
: they 10 be met? | hold that the presen
meeting is the place 10 put again the seal o
O.. condemnation upon all such charges, by thu
adoption of such resolutions as have been OF
fcred.
Now I know that the American Colonial
y ton Society through its auxiliary in my ma
tive State, massachusetts, has been bla
c zing forth these charges. Some of the mos
influential Of our statesmen as well as cler
gymen have subscribed TO them by thei
p countenance, by their support, by their con
tributions, by their appeals, and by thei
prayers in behalf of the parent Society. Ant
. hence it has ever been my endeavor 10 NEE
the Society as found at its birth in 1871
And | can no NOR re welcome the advocate o
Colonization that stands forth in Park stree
Church, in Boston, than | can Henry Clay
when he delivers al anniversary Grafton II
the city Of Washington. | hold the two II
be identical in this matter, be their position
what they may in my native State or else
where.
Why, sir, | remember well when the ques
tion was being discussed concerning the alb
d clifton Of the remnant Of that old slave law
in the city Of Boston, that when we, as a pee
pie, found fault that we were not at libert
10 exercise one of the first prerogatives cor
T. tered upon us by our God and Creator, W
or were told in public as well as in private, thu
il we did not like the customs, usages an
laws of our native State, we could 60 TO OF
, fatherland in Africa, under the auspices
the American Colonization Society. | aske
them 10 repeat the charges. | asked The la
g~islature of that State, when it was my pri'
ilege to stand before them, if we had evt
" sacrificed our rights by our vices, or whetht
we had not acquired them by our virtues
70 and that Legislature remained silent, an
has remained silent from that time TO thi
:. And, sir, | hope the day is not far distaI
when upon that question being put in oIh'
? parts of our country, the only answer thi
shall be made, shall be one of silence. S
n lence, in many instances, is ominous, and !
this it is ominous in view Of the internal mi
chinations of the American Colonization 81
ciety from the very moment Of its inceptlO
n to the present time. Hence, whether in til
abstract or in the concrete, it is ever TO be de
tested by us, as a people, it is ever to be OF
re- posed, and if necessary, to be resisted eve
10 the shedding of the blood that %necessit
pr will find a place in our hearts. applause
Now, sir, a word with regard to thes
: charges. ! see before me this evening a larg
number Of people of color. What says tn
if Society? That we are "low, vicious, idle
70 besotted :" in a word, that we are %''nulsar
ces, and consequently that we must be re
moved" But in The very next breath the
tell the patrons of the Society and thos
ar whom they would convert TO their cause, ''Gf
,s move these low, vicious, idle, besotted nuI