The southern press., 1850-07-29
The Blacks = Labor - Independeuce = F.
Douglass

We were rather sharply febuked, not many
months ago, by MFR. Frederick Douglass's Nori
Stdr, ior urging on the Coiored Race the dut,
and policy of taking an independent, separate
position, and proring therein their ability and
disposition to support, govern and educate them
selves. We firmly believe they can do all this
may, we arc sure they must. There are really
no serious obstacles in their way. They might
easily and quietly buy up a whole county OF
good land this Fall--not all wild and houseess
land settle it exclusively with their own people
LAS farmers mechanics, artisans, and in every
other needfu or useful capacity. That county
if cultivated and improved as It might be, would
be strongerand more effective argument against
slavery than five hundred Abolition orators
could supply 1t would create in the blacks
that sentiment of Independence that losthing OF
servility and beggary, which they now too gen.
orally lack. We see with pleasure that the
North Star has come part way to our position
Mr.. Douglass has himself written pointed in
yitation to his race to devote themselves to ag-
Wagcner) writes in his tact as follows: s4
@I'o come out from large cities and towns, and
to become tillers of the earth, Gas many Of us
ean,) is what we ought TO do; this looks like
beginning at the right place for, in order ever
to become anything more than mere floating
class, Gas we undoubtedly are at presently we
must become engaged in the three grand pur-
suits, in which all civilized nations are said to be
engaged, namely: Agricultural, Mechanical, and
Commercial pursuits. The first begets the see-
ond, the second the third, sc. AT present. we
cannot be said to be engaged many of the three
pursuits named I; for we are, as it were, only
floating between them-touchng here and there
upon the shores as we pass by.
5a" AT present we are almost all of as engaged
in unproductive labor. In order ever to become
anything in this country we must become far
mers, tiers of the soil, producers-we must
make others depend on us as well as we upon
Others mean, instead of depending upon us
to shave faces, cut hair, and black boots, we must
have Others depend upon us for the staff of life
their bread, &c. And this can only be
brought about by portion of our people be-
coming farmers ard mechanics. This would be,
to say the least oft one step in the way of our
own elevation. But am aware that the want
OF means is great hindrance in the way of our
taking this step. Let it be remembered that
wherever there is will, there is way" And
further, let US remember that whenever we de-
sire to accomplish any object that it is essential
to our success that we make all our energies
and movements bend in that direction We
Shouiu Ih ol tHeSc things III our private circles,
and thus induce a union Of sentiment among us,
and in this way a movement in the matter
would be the result. g He who would be free,
must first strike the blow.n-New York 1ri-
6une. at E 81
The Tribune is becoming reasonable. The
success of "a single community of blacks would
be worth a thousand arguments for emancipa-
ton All experiments hitherto made have failad
And it is remarkable that Frederick Douglass
and William Wells Brown, the two leading men
Of intelligence among the blacks, have recently
emerged from slavery, which has thus produced
more talent than the boastcd freedom OF free
black institutions in the North. 5