The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-24
THE NATIONAL ERA.
WASHINGTON, APRIL "a, 1851.
THE COLORED POPULATION OF THE UNITED
STATES.

uluerenCe OF opinion all NOulu unite III OppOslnS
it. But they are here, to the number Of between
three and four millions; their ancestors were
brought hither without their consent; they
have been born here in the order Of Nature. They
cannot be enslaved always, and ought not to be,
if they could They cannot be deported from the
country, and ought not to be, if they could.
What course, then, should we pursue towards
them? What does Duty, what does Policy, re-
quirel In this, in all other cases, Christianity
furnishes clear, infallible rule of conduct" DO
unto others as ys mould that others should do 10 yOpi
We must treat the colored people as we should
wish to be treated, were we in their condition
If slaves, we would ask our freedom; if free, the
enjoyment Of our freedom. In divesting others,
innocent Of crime, of their liberty, or in making
liberty to those who are free, burden, we are
doing precisely what we should resist to the DEATH
as oppression, were it attempted towards us
This point is too clear for argument: multitude
OF words would but obscure it,
Bot the path Of Duty is the path Of Safety
Obedience to the Golden Rule never yet worked
evil, and never can. We may not be able to see
clearly, if at all, the consequences of our own
acts, but we know that the fruit of righteousness
is and must be peace.
This is summary method Of disposing of the
questions of Duty and Policy in relation to the
Colored Population; too summary to correct the
misapprehensiOns, to expose the sophistries, to
overcome the prejndices, which surround and per-
pick the subject. Let US examine the Question
in its details, addressing ourselves to those who
believe the perpetual ensavement and the de-
portation of the colorcd race equally impractical
BILE.
The colored race is an improbable one, wheth-
er so rapidly or to such degree as the white
race it Is not necessary TO inquire. But, it is
improbable to an indefinite extent Its history
shows that like other races it is amenable to the
Law of Progress No one will deny that Ameri-
can slaves have advanced in all respects far be-
yond their ancestors, imported from Africa, who
were mere uncivilized Pagans, of british igno-
rance and loathsome practices. Their descend
ants, even under the system Of slavery, have been
redeemed from barbarism and heathenism. They
have been trained to habits of regular, methodi-
cal labor; they have acquired the use of tools;
they have been initiated into the arts of civilized
life they have imbibed some ideas of selfgovern-
ment they have been indOctrinated into some
general notions of Christianity and the present
generation is much superior in all these respects
to the preceding, as that was to the immediate de-
scendants of the imported Africans. We have
never conversed with a STAKEHOLDER who did not
acknowledge, and take pride in acknowledging,
this steady advancement Of the race.
Similar progress is observable among free peo-
pie of color We know how common it is with
thoughtless or prejudiced persons to revile this
class of population, lazy, thievish, and lcen-
tious. A few considerations will suffice to show
their injustice The question is, not whether
these people are as elevated as white people, but
whether they give evidence of improvement A
little more than century ago, their fathers were
Pagans. They themselves have been slaves, or
they are the children of slaves. Can you ex-
pect to see among them the same intelligence, re-
fnement, and comparative exemption from vicious
practices that characterize the white people, who
have enjoyed the benefits of ages of civilization,
country for their own special benefit Suppose
YOU do find more poverty among them, more ig
norance, a greater number Of them in our jails
and houses of correction it only proves that their
release from slavery has been too recent and
their disabilities are too heavy to allow Of their
easy ascent to the elevation of People whose
fathers have never known the yoke of bondage,
or the degradation of caste legislation.
Let us compare the free people of color now
with what they were generation ago, and every
intelligent man must admit their improvement.
They are less puerile and barbarOus in their
tastes not so strongly marked by ridiculous pre-
tensions; more sedate and self-respectful; more
bent on selfimprovement The number of prop
erty-holders among them has greatly multiplied;
they have more schools, more churches, more be-
nevolent associations. Let any one observe the
good taste in dress, and the quietness Of demean-
or, which mark our resident cOlored population in
this city, in their attendance at their various
churches on Sundays, and he cannot doubt that
they have taken a large step in advance of slaves
What is true of them here, is true of them in
other places. Everywhere they show evidence
of progress Nor should we wonder at their
slow growth in civilization, for never had any
people to struggle against such obstacles. In ad-
diion to the degrading memories Of their prison
house, look at the relations they sustain to the
community generally. In the South, the labor
is performed by slaves The owner of planta-
ton of one hundred negroes or more needs no
but repes them, especially if they
be of the same race with his slaves. Even poor
white men find it almost impossible to obtain
work, and maintain position in a region where
the system of slave labor prevails what chance
is there for the free colored man /? Now, what is
the laborer to do, if he can find no employment
In the free States the labor is monopolized to
great extent by the white race which is constant
ly receiving vast accessions of laborers from Eu.
rope. This formidable competition limits the
field of operations, aud lessons the opportunities
of the colorcd man OF less native energy and
tact, laboring under legal determinations against
him, he must seek employment in a labor market,
crowded with more enterprising and highly
fIvored competitors.
The common argument against emancipation,
drawn from the condition of the free people of
color is grossly unfair Nowhere have these
people been placed in circumstances favorable to
their development. In st. Domingo, when the
civil war commenced, the blacks were scarcely
more civilized than when brought from Africa
They were in fact a savage people, and, having
accomplished their emancipation by series of
bloody struggles, calculated to bring into terrible
activity the worst passions and vices Of savage
nature, what could be expected of them subse-
quently but succession Of failures in their at
tempts to govern themselves Besides, we must
remember, that the only colonies, 80 far, that
have succeeded in the great work OF self govern