Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-03-30
Away with them.

The following resolutions were reported 10
the Ohio House of Representatives by the
Committee on Public Lands, and adopted {:
WHEREAS, the people Of color of the Uni
ted States have been oppressed and enslaved
by the several States and thereby degraded,
and believing 1t to he the duty of the general
government to do something for their eleva-
lion to that position natures God designed
Tor all men therefore be it
ResOlred by The General assembly Of the
State If ohm, That our Senators be instruct
ed and our Representatives in Congress be
requested 10 inquire into the eApediency Of
procuring the pass age of a law authorizing
the survey and appropriation of a portion of
the territory acquired from Mexico, for the
benefit of all free persons of color who may
become actual settlers of the same, and a til
tie of eighty acres of land delivered to each
of said persons free of charge, and also TO es-
tablish schools and provide for them a gov
eminent for protection.
ReS0lued, That the Governor Of this State
be requested to forward a copy Of the above
| preamble and resolutions to each of our SEN
ators and Representatives in Congress.
This is Colorphobia wearing the garb of
Philanthropy though we will not say that
all who voted for the resolutions were aware
of the motives that actuated them. 1t is not
love for the coIored man, but hatred of his
presence that would colonize him in the far
South West and though some who sustain
ed the plan above prop osed, may not them
selves desire his removal, they yielded to the
behests Of an illiberal, prosecuting spirit in
others.
The pale face said to the red man, "Game
is becoming scarce in your hunting grounds,
civilization is encroaching upon you leave
the land of your forefalhers, and | will pro.
vide a home for you in the wilderness be-
yond the mountains of the West" The same
spirit drove forth the Mormons, and compell-
ed them to seek a shelter upon the shores Of
the Pacific. The same spirit invites the col
ored man to be colonized in a distant land.
The means adopted to effect these ends vary,
being suited to the character and condition of
the class they are designed to operate upon.
With the Indian, it is Purchase and Fraud
with the Mormon, it is Fire and Sword
with the Colored man, it is Persecution at
home and Gratuity abroad.
If the plan recommended in the above res
o%lutions was presented in good faith, and
with a sincere desire TO benefit the colored
man, why did not the members of the Legis-
lature first atone to The colored man of Ohio
for the wrongs inflicted upon him? fist be-
gin to do justice at home? thus preaching by
example as well as by precept. Had trey
first resolved to present to the colored people
Of this State one or more counties as a kind
Of peace Offering, and then recommended
Congress to do a similar deed on a larger
scale, there would have been more evidence
of a philanthropIc spirit, although the mea-
sure would have been of doubtful expedien-
cy.
We wonder if the Preamble was designed
for anything more than a rhetorical flourish,
or whether the Legislature has really any
definite idea as 10 the character of that po-
sition natures God designed for all men,
We should like to have its views upon this
point. Did natures God design that colored
men should pay taxes, be forced to SUBMIT TO
a code of laws framed by those who have
strong prejudices against them, and yet have
no right Of representation in the government
Did natures God design that the poor color.
ed man should be excluded from the benefit
of those laws which gives support to his no
more worthy white neighbori If he did not,
then is the Legislature of Ohio fighting
against God, and striving to counteract his
designs and we call upon it to cease immedi-
ately from oppression, and admit the colored
man to the full enjoyment of all the rights
and privileges growing out Of ''that position
NATURES God designed for ALL mem"