The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-17
THE COLORED POPULATION OF THE UNITED
STATES.


STATES.
, The third and last letter Of DR.. Drake, frou
} the grounds assumed in the preceding letters
reaches the conclusion that the safety Of the Ike
public requires the separation OF the white an(
black races and the transportation Of the blacks
to Africa that Al rican Colonization is therefore
the true and only remedy for the evil to which
the country is subjected from the presence Of the
colored population and, although he would pre-
fer that it should be voluntary, he still insists
upon it. voluntary or not For if the free States
are to prohibit the immigration Of negroes, and
the slave States to prohibit emancipation, unless
on the pledge that the emancipated shall not be
sent to the free States it is clear that the Colon
cation which the Doctor contemplates is to be
compulsory The slave is to have his choice
Slavery in the United States, or Freedom in Lii
IBERIA ~ NJ - roo -
The subject of the condition. relations, and des-
tiny of the cOlOred population is of national in
terest and Importance. 1t now numbers nearly
three and half million souls three millions
being held in slavery True, the great mass Of
this population lies within the slave States, but
there is a considerable amount of it at the North,
slowly increasing by accessions from the South.
1t is not denied that each State has right for
itself to regulate the relations of this class Of peo-
pie within its own limits, but every other State
may be sensibly affected by the exercise Of this
right.
The slaves constitute the basis of nearly one
fourth of the representative power Of the South
in Congress. Property in slaves gives birth to a
peculiar sectional Interest, which, being excep-
tional in a Republic founded upon the doctrine
of Equal Rights, and dreading the natural work
ing of its normal Institutions is forever seeking to
subjugate them to its control, by establishing its
ascendency in the National Government
Slavery is state Of war-at any moment the
Federal Government may be called upon to sup
press an instruction of slaves 1t is the source of
prejudices laws, and regulations, adverse to the
interest and commerce of the free States. The
prejudice Of the South prevents a recognition Of
the Government of Hayti, thereby subjecting to
great disadvantage our commerce with that island,
chiefly carried on by the North. The climate of
the South makes it expedient to employ colored
its ports; but its police regulations imprson
them, subjecting their employers to harassment
and loss Citizens Of one State without distinc-
ton are entitled under the Federal Constitution
to the rights and immunties of citizens in the
several States; but the law of slavery abrogates
this guaranty in the case of colored citizens
Slaves are constantly escaping from bondage tC
the free States, the sentiments and usages Of
which are shocked by the summary and barbsr
GUS mode prescribed for their reclamation Slaves
| liberated in the South are compelled to seek an
asylum in the North from reinstatement, the
penalty of remaining in the State where they were
emancipated and the North, had it the will
| cannot relieve itself from the unwelcome burden
Missionaries in behalf of Colonization visit the
North, appealing TO its charity to aid in convey
ing manumitted slaves or free people of color to
Africa, who are represented as source of evil to
whether in the North or South, whether bond or
Free belong to one race, the subjects Of COM
mon prejudice sustain similar relations, have a
common destiny, and whatever seriously affects
one portion affects all
We repeat, then, that, while each State has the
right to regulate the relations of it's own colored
people, the condition. relations and destiny of the
whole race in this country, is subject Of nation
al interest and Importance. Ohio cannot view with
indifference the laws that Kentucky may enact
respecting the disposition of her colored people,
nor can the South regard otherwise than with
deep concern the regulations Of the North on the
subject The attempt to suppress the agitation
of Question, 80 vital and universal in its interest,
so intimately connected with the welfare and des-
TIMES of this whole country, is sheer madness In
philosophy, in religion, in politics, it must con-
tnue to be subject of the deepest anxiety, the
most thorough examination, the freest discussion,
throughout the States.
Perpetual Slavery, Colonization Emancipation
upon Soil, are the three modes of disposing Of
the masses Of colored People, proposed by the
political economists and philanthropists.
What will be the condition of the slaveholdine
States at the end of the present century, should
they maintain the system of slavery In thu
year 1900, the free population in those States
counting New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylva
MIA as acknowledging, was 772 900 the slaves
100000 In $780, the white population in tn,
slave States is 6,llOOoO; the slaves, 3,O75, Oeo
We use round numbers. The increase Of tn,
free population during half a century has been a
the rate of 200 per cent Of the slave, 243 PEI
| cant Should tho anna ratio nreyail for the ne
half century, the free population will amount Il
23O72 900 the slave to, lO,5l3,OOO This calcula
ton assumes that all the States now holding