The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-13

naticism would array against those whom their
arms were ready to defend in the hour OF uire
extremity
ain another point of view, we think that the
participation of the colored veterans In the cere-
monies Of yesterday viii have q favorable result
We have no doubt that it will produce an ex-
tremely salutary effect on the free coIoreu innao-
itants Of the city. They will know that adher-
ence to correct line Of conduct must secure 70
them the respect Of the community, as surrey as
contrary course will condemn them to suspicion
and disgrace. As class, they are peaceable, or
derby, and respectable people and many Oh them
own large amounts of property among US lheir
interests, their homes, and their afections, are
here, and such strong ties are not easily broken
by the force of theoretical philanthropy, or imagi
native sentimentality They have been true NTH
erto, and we will not do them the injustice 10
doubt continuance of their fidelity. While they
may be certain that insubordlnation VIII De
promptly punished, deserving actions Will always
meet with their due reward In the esteem ana
gratitude of the community"
The free State of Indiana may learn lessons OF
common sense and humanity from the slave State
of Louisiana The negotiating politicians OF the
former would not be tolerated in the latter. Lou
isiana has the good sense to see that it shelter to
attach her thirty thousand free coored people to
the State by giving them an interest and respect
able position in it, than to convert them into
Preside foe by cutting them off from all hope ex-
cept by revolution.
South Carolina is another slave State that can
teach the majority of our free States lesson in
true philanthropy. Governor Means, having
probably been corrupted by reading some of the
newspapers from Indiana, and other States Of kin
dred humanity, lately proposed to the Legisa-
ture of South Carolina the removal of her free
colored people. The subject was referred to a
Select Committee which reported point blank
against the Governors recommendation, and for
reasons honorable to the People Of the State
"Your committee are free to admit" they say,
that il would be much to be desired-that there
were but two classes in slaveholding country
the masters On the one hand. and the slaves on
the otler-that an intermediate class, possessed
of some legal privileges, besides being anomalous
presents constant source of discomfort to those
who are lower down in the scale that slaves, see
ing the privileges and immunities enjoyed by the
free negroes, long to be elevated to their condi-
ton, and discomfort and dissatisfaction ensues in
regard to their more servile condition. The only
plan to be adopted as a remedy Of this condition
cf the solhect would Do 5ao ois1afSs4 81 f2at
tire-class Of population this would operate with
peculiar hardship and in Justice on some. Many
are the owners of land and slaves and are bound
10 Nne soifsSy ali those associations NGongn IN
less refined degree) which characterize the feel
ings of the white race-we have extended to them
civil and legal privileges, which have cultivated
and strengthened these feelings and suddenly,
without fault on their part, they are to suffer the
severest Of all punshments - namely, expatria-
ton - because we have chosen to change our
policy.
g Ii cannot be denied that there are in the State
many free negroes, who from bad character idle
ness, and dissolute conduct have become nuisances
to their neighborhoods. These cases can be met
by judicous penal legislation sufficient to repress
the evil without resorting to the extreme meas
ure indicated by his Excellency"
This is all admirable The Committee recog-
nizs Freedom as q condition to which the slave
naturally aspires-the right of the free colored
people to continue in the enjoyment of liberty,
property, aad their homes-the injustice and cru
city Of dispossessing them-the fact that, though
less refined, they have the same feelings, affec-
tions, and aspirations, as the white race-and
that even to them, expatriaton would be the Sc
verest of punishments. We rejoice sincerely to
see such doctrines emanating from South Carroll
ma and her Legislature in sanctioning the views
of the report, and adopting its conclusion shows
itself to be more under the control of Justice and
Humanity than the miserable batch of constitu-
who are revising the fundamental
law of the free State of Indiana.