The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-07


of Representatives, has met with the almost
unanimous support of the public press of both
sections and parties.
From the Pennsyipanian.
What Will be done with the Free Negroes!
The proper and practical answer to this question
will do more to settle the difficulties growing out
of the slave controversy than any other process no
matter how cogenly presented, or how philosophi'
caly argued. Our people are common sense peo-
pie. That suggestion which strikes them most
utilitarian-or, in other words, as most RATIONAL
they seize upon with avidty, and finally apply 1t
in practice. This characteristic of the Americans
will always save them from being led away by the
subtle sophstres of transcendental Missionaries.
This will protect them from the extreme nonsense
of crack GRAINED reiormers. This will induce them
TO receive with distrust the theories of mere poti
clans. And this in word, is the bulwark reared
by the people to arrest the success OF those wild and
undigested nnovat atoms constantly urged by the in
experienced and the impulsive. France lacks this
striking characteristic, and she Ia constantly
swayed between the extremes Of right and wrong
constantly in danger of being made the victim Of
every new folly excitement, bred among the
heated controversies Of the clubs OF her capitol.
IL is not often that we this trait of the Amer-
can character 50 fully displayed in the case Of
the recent report of the Naval Committee of the
House in favor of establishing line of mail steam
ships to the west coast of Africa, and thence, via
the Mediterranean, to London, designed to promote
the emigration of free persona of color from the
United States to Liberia. The project developed
and advocated in that report has taken hold upon
the public mind in all quarters. Other circum-
stances contribute to the extraordinary popular ia
with which it has been received. The difficult
ties growing out of the attempt to rescue ''fugi-
tives from service or labor" and the almost daily
announcement of the escape of numbers OF slaves,
have finally opened the eyes Of the people to the
fatal danger of letting the evil of coorcd popula
ton in the midst of the free and slave States go
unchecked. Fearful results are continually occur
fhnrn cit alHf toy w he
South the most intense excitement Is created by
the manner in which, too often, the rights OF the
shareholders set at defiance by the negroes and
fanatics of the North. But this is not all. There
is still more formidable difficulty behind ala
difficulty affecting the interests of both sections of
the Union, and filled with the most fearful and ia
tai forebodings Men in the South feel that they
robbed by fanaticism that pursues its object
with unbending fury; and they often seek in vain
to reclaim what the Constitution has declared to be
their property. On the other hand, the North are
startled by the increasing numbers of the negroes
in all the free States the competitors with the
white laborer not only, but the germ OF constant
difficulties and tumults.
Thus it is that fanaticism, aided by so-caled
sentiment against slavery, is enabled 10 Empower
ish the South by stealing slaves, and to Cypress the
North by making these slaves burdens upon her
treasury, and competitors with her masses. What
more effective way than this to effect dissolution
of the Union? What more infamous scheme could
be resorted TO break asunder the bands that unite
the North and the South? The result is inevitable.
Free negroes in the South are being gradually ex
PEELED from those States because II IL not TO be
pected that the people of that region shall conti
butte to the support of those who doing all in
their power to excite the slaves to insurrcction;
and who are, at the same time, the facie nstru-
ments of the abotionists of the North. OF course
the free negroes thus expelled go the free States
where they now clustering and organizing in
vast numbers Is it going too far to say, that if
they do not directly interfere with white labor in
the North they are either the main body of the idle
ofour great cities, the authors of plumber and of
tumulR That there many who do all they
10 acquire an honest support we are glad to know;
but that these are exceptions TO an overwhelming
rule is equally true.
No rejecting man can deliberate upon this sub
ject without feeling that il is that involves
siderations vitality affecting the perpetuiy of
political and social existence. II is intertwined
with the whole fabric Of our government and our
society. Every day increases the evil to which we
have alluded; and increases, ALSO the necessity Of
speedily and radically exunguishing 1t. In COM
parativey few years, IT may master us, If it is not
Immediately met. 1t is now an appalling and gil
gantic spectre in path; obstacle 10 legisla-
ton, to the public peace, and to the public securi
ty. We must make up our minds TO adopt some
cficacious measures before it is "too late"
The present condition of affairs was predicted by
that remarkable Statesman, Thomas Jefferson, as
long ago as 1901, when, with startling accuracy,
he drew picture of the future. The very plan now
embodied in the mastery report of Mr.. Stanton, he
himself Swallowed forth, the best and surest way
TO overcome evil which he foresaw was certain
TO be a monstrous one. We take the following from
his reply 10 Mr.. Monroe, who had suggested the
propriety Of procuring territory ON our western or
southern frontiers, for the purpose Of colonizing
these free persons of color.
IIe goes on to discuss the practicability and e1-
pedency of procuring territory on our western
southern frontier, and concludes with asking,
would we be willing TO have such colony in con-
tact with u.s. IL is impossible he adds, not TO look
forward TO distant times, when our rapid multipli-
cation will expand beyond those limits, and cover
the whole northern If not the whole southern con-
L..
and governed with the same laws. Nor can VIC
contemplate with satisfaction either blot mix
ture On the surface.
He then gives the preference to the Wet Indies
and among these islands, to st. Domingo in CON
siderat ton of its being already inhabited by peo-
pie of its race and color, and having climate
congenial with their tuition, and being insu-
lated from other descriptions of men. Africa, nc
concludes, would offer a last and undoubted re-
sort, if all others more desirable should fail us.
Those political casuists who have sssailed the
port OF Mr.. Stanton will be called upon to correct
their record, when they Ind how auspiciously II
originated, and how Overwhelmingly it is sus-
tanned by the opinions OF our statesmen and our
people,
objects proposed 10 be accomplished by the friends
of the proposition reported upon by the Naval Com
mittee of the House OF Representatives; and VIC
might fill columns with expressions in favor of IT,
The advantages to the free people of color, that
20 result from this project, will not fail TO
ttrike the most superficial observer
There arc about coo 900 free colored people in
the United States-a number equal 10 that of all
the slaves ut the time of the Declaration Of indie
pendence, in l776. The number of slaves manu-
United 10 be cent to Liberia will hereafter be very
large, especially from the middle States, if Con-
gross will aid the Of colonization in the way
proposed.
The following table shows the number Of the
free coored population OF the United States up to
1910
Year Total Number. actual liner.
fg-