The southern press., 1850-09-02
No. 66.
For the Southern Press.
WAsmNc1 ON, 29th August, 1850.

One could scarcely have inferred the character
,f the article from its title. And as think the
imposing question with which ii is headed-'How
LONG, ABoLITIoNIsrs. WILL you CONTINUE TO
ABUSE SourHERN PATIENCE" is calculated to pro-
luce an erroneous impression IN the very outset,
will first endeavor TO show the falsity of the m
ference necessarily invnled therein
Ii am not mistaken in snpposing the writer
intended to stgmatize the scheme for line OF
mail steamers to the coast of Africa an aboll-
lion project, am sure he has done the author of
that report very great injustice, and has fallen into
an error which has poisoned all his reasonngs.
This fundamental idea, which runs through his
whole article, is at utter variance with fact. SO
far MS have yet seen any expression of pubic
opinion, the Abotionsts are more hostile To the
particular measure IN question than any other
party or portion of the people, unless 1t be
"Henry" and those in the South who think with
him. The Albany Alias and the Epening Post, the
two leading Abolition Journals in New York,
have made violent opposition 10 it, and In thus
they have been aided by the Evangelist, another
paper of the same character. think, sir, if you
will take the trouble to consult your exchanges,
you will find your correspondent "HENRY, to
have his most efficient coadjutors in the Abolition
press of the country, wherever il may be situated.
| invite "EIENRY" to examine the annual report,
for the year 1850, of the American and Foreign
ant-slavery society. He will find that the organ
lied body Of Abolitioniss hostile as ever to
the cause of colonization On page 1872 of that
report, he viii find the following passage
''The colonization scheme would meet will, lit
tie opposition on the part of intelligent people Of
color, If in It's inception It had not strengthened
the prejddice against them, and if its patrons had
confined themselves to aiding free people Of color
to emigrate to Liberia agreeaby TO the constitu-
tion of the society, without using directly or in
directly, any coercion. But when they under
take to say, that the two races cannot dwell to-
gether on this continent, and it is not desirable
that they should; when they urge upon the con-
sciences Of shareholders the duty Of emancpatng
their slaves only for the purpose of sending them
to Africa; when they speak disparagingly of the
efforts of Abolitonists; when the leading promo
ters of the plan are shareholders; when they hold
up colonization as a remedy for slavery; they will
be and ought to be opposed.
"But it has no special claims to nti-slavery
support, and we are fully persuaded as we always
have been, to use the language of Wilberiorce,
Buxton, Suffeld, Macauly, Lushington, Gurney
and their associates, that 'THE PROFESSIONS MADE
BY THE COLONIZATION SOCIETY, OF PROMOTING
THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, ARE ALTOGETHER DE-
LUsNE."
think it must be admitted, Messrs. Editors, that
your correspondent has committed gross error
when he supposes that the Abolitionists have any
sympathy with the objects of colonization; on the
contrary, they are, and always have been, decid-
edly hostile, and they have especially manifested
IneN OppOSltlOn I'D ue report OF the NaVau COnl-
mttee, recommending the African Steamers
have been among those Southern men, Messrs.
Editors, who haveopposed Mr.. Clay 'scompromise
bill, and did not deem it at all strange that in
this single instance, should be found in company
with the Abolilionsts. But if it should happen
that find myself frequently in their company
and often concurfing with them in opposition to or
support of measures, should unhesitutingly come
to the conclusion that had strayed from the path
Of duty. do not, however, object that your cor
respondent shall 60 with the Abolitionisis in OPP
position to colonization, but / have right to de-
mand that IN attacking the supporters Of the Re-
port of the Naval Committee, he shall place the
Abolitionists where they are in truth, on his own
side Of the question.
Without attempting to follow your correspond
ent through his various statements, and to correct
all his errors of fact or of reasoning, will pro-
long this letter only SO far as to state, in a few
words, the grounds upon which am induced to
sustain the Naval Committee in the proposed mea-
sure. a..gE...
The white and black races cannot live together,
in any considerable numbers, except in the condi-
tion of master and slave 1t follows from this
principles if it be correct, that the separation of
the races, when they exist in any other condition,
is indispensable to the welfare Of both. In my
Judgment, this can only be advantag effected
by the removal OF the free blacks TO Africa
! will not undertake to describe the evils likely
to result from the existence of large number of
free blacks in this country. To discuss that sub
ject, would swell this communication beyond what
you would be willing to insert i'm your paper.
But those evils are sufficiently obvious at the pre-
sent time, and are increasing daily. They are
known and felt in all sections OF the country;
and am convinced, that il there is any sentiment
which may be said to be anything like universal,
Except among Abolitionlsts and Amalgamation-
ists) it is the conviction that the free negroes
constitute bad and dangerous element in the So
cial institutions of this land
! have repeatedly heard the objection, stated by
!" HENRY" that the removal of the free negroes
from the Northern States would create a vacuum
to be filled by runaway slaves. In my judgment,
this is gross error. ! think the Abolitionists
have far better understanding of the effect of
colonization upon the Northern mind, when ihey
say in their annual report, above quoted, that sit
strengthens the prejudice against" the free ne
groes., In another part of the same document,
they say, "he great body Of he Intelligent colored
people in The free States hare been strongly opposed 10
e colonization schcpe because they Jeiiered IL fos-
tered prejudice against anercans called .4fricas
that detrimental 10 their present peace and ,cel
fare, and TO their future ,ceH being" / think
little reflection will satisfy any one that this is the
rue philosophy Of the case. IL the free negroes
of the Northern States should be colonized, it |
will be in opposition to the Abolitionists The |
after will not attempt to induce slaves to escape
rom their masters TO be sent to Liberia, because
hey inimical to the whole system. In add-
ion to this conceive it to be quite certain that
he greatest inducement and stimulus TO runaway
'aves, is the existence of large numbers of free
negroes in the neighborng States. These consti-
ute the attraction which continually operates to
educe the Southern negro to fly from his mas
er's home. If the slave should understand that
lis escape would only be for the purpose OF his
migration to Africa, believe he would seldom
uempt TO run away. Moreover, it is chiefly
rom the free negro Of the North that the fugitive
Il.
The nlobs which so frequently arrest the opera
ion of, the laws, and violate the Constitution ofl
he land in the free States virtually robbing the
master OF his property, are well known TO be
Mostly composed Of negroes, Can any one
oubt that the removal of the free negroes would
xert happy influence in preventing the escape
4 Southern slavesi
For the sake of brevty, | have confined myself
o positions, without illustration or argument be-
Iond what results from the mere statement of