The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-13
IMPROVEMENT OF THE COLORED PEOPLE.

The Nerp York ErniHg Post publishes some
important official documents respecting move
ment in England in relation to the emigration OF
the free people of color from this country to the
British West Indies, the object of the movement
being to obtain an adequate supply of labor for
the islands The following is copy of circu-
lar despatch, transmitted by Lord Grey, Secre-
tary of State, to the Governors Of the Colonies
"DowYINo STREET, October lG, 1850.
SIR: have TO acquaint you that IL has been
suggested to me that desirable class OF emil
grants for the West India Colonies might be in
duced to come to them, from among the black and
coored population of the United States, whose
arrival aud location If they choose to come, would
| have no doubt, be advantageous both TO them
selves and to the Colonies.
81 am not aware Of anything which can be
done BY the Colonial Governments to encourage
such immigration, beyond showing a readiness to
pass acts giving the privilege Of naturalization to
any such persons who might come to settle there,
and providing that bounty should be payable on
such immigrants, under such arrangements rs
may be thought desirable.
& | woald also suggest as deserving Of consider
alton, whether laws might not be passed, render
ing binding, on certain conditions, engagements
10 pay sums Of money which may have been
agreed upon by immigrants although such en-
gagements may have been contracted in America,
aud while parties were in state of slaeery,
al have, &c, GREY.
To The Officer administering he
Government of The Leerdrd Eldnds,o SC.
1t is proposed that the emigration shall be
carried on chiefly by individual enterprise, but
such legislation is advised as shall promote it
and the attention of the Colonial Legislatures is
directed to the following points:
a. The settlement Of American planters hav.
ing capital and experience, as well as of colored
laborers, should be encouraged, by affording them
the utmost possible facility in obtaining the privi-
| leges of British subjects, by naturalization.
"2. With the same object, provision should he
made by law for giving legal vitality to engage
ments entered into by Immigrants previously to
their leaving America to repay money advanced
to enable them to settle in the British Colonies
"3 The Colonial Legislatures should pass
laws similar in principle to those which have
been passed in Mauritus and Trinidad to allow
of money being granted from the public revenue
to pay for the introduction Of immigrants, but
providing that all immigrants 80 brought 10
the Colonies at the public expense should he re-
quired, for five years after their arrival, either 10
enter into yearly contracts to labor, on which a
stamp duty should be charged, or else TO pay
small monthly tax-the object Of this regulation
being both to stimulate the industry Of the immi-
grants and TO obtain from them, directly or indi-
recty, the repayment of part at least, of what
they had cost the Colony.
"Wihout any further interference on the part
of the Colonial Legislatures than would he af-
fOrded by the above measures, the proposed i'm
migration might, it is conceived, be carried on to
dividuals, provided this were attempted judi
ciousy"
As necessary preliminary, measures will be
taken to ascertain whether the Government of
the United States will make any objection to the
scheme.
We have little faith in the efficiency Of Govern
mental schemes Of emigration or colonization.
The Government of Great Britain has been en-
gagged for nearly fifteen years in the transporta-
ton of laborers to the islands, and in all that time
the whole number introduced by its efforts has
scarcely equslled the voluntary emigration from
Europe to this country for one month.
We could wish that the colored people had
more of that spirit of enterprise which anmates
the Anglo-Saxon race, making it the great colo
nicer and civlizer of the world In our opposi-
ton to all projects of compulsory colonization We
fear we have unintentionally repressed the spirit
Of voluntary emigration among the colored peo-
pie African Colonization, at an early period,
took such form, and was advocated in such
way, as to array against it the hostility Of O ma
jorty Of active AntiSlavery men, 1t became in
too many instances the ally Of Slavery, excusing
or ustifyng its existence, setting its face against
Emancipation unless connected with transports-
ton, disparaging the free people Of color, dis
countenancing efforts for their elevation in their
native land, and finding in proscriptive legsla-
ton against them not fit subject for indignant
rebuke, but reason for their Punishment.
These and kindred considerations were enough
to decide our opinions against African Colonial
ton but they had nothing to do with the ques-
ton of the voluntary emigration Of colored peo-
pie. 1t were we'll for them, had they more of the
spirit Of self-colonization They see the white
people about them with restless energies, con-
stantly in motion, going from one place to an
other from the walks of civilized life to the path
less wilderness, from the Atlantic to the Pacific
They must become possessed with the same
spirit of self.reying enterprise, before they can
expect to command a respectable position any
where. Passive submission to contumely and
wrong will degrade and parayze any race of peo-
pie II is no virtue to suffer when we can right
ourselves. The colOred people should go pre-
cisely where they can live most comfortably, not
bearing degradation, when by changing their
residence they can acquire respectabilty. The
Pole who will not crouch under the hoof Of Rus
sian despotism must seek freedom beyond its
power. The Epglshman, intolerant Of the AFRO
weared with the dead level OF his monotonous
existence, the Irishmsu, disguised with filth and
starvation, abandon the old familiar places and
begin new life in n new world, where they may
realize their highest aspirations and their ex-
ample does more for their countrymen whom they
have left behind, than century of suffering
and degradation in common with them. Were
we colored man, we would never rest from our
wsnderings till we had found place where our
children might grow up into the dignity Of q
noble manhood, unconscious Of inferiority, un-
taught to bow, except before the face of their
Creator. II degraded in the city, we would flee
to the country IL prosecuted in one State, we
would try another; if without hope in the States
we would pitch our tents in their uninhabited
territory.
Let the colored people arouse themselves
" Who would be free, themselves must strike
the blow" Let them educate themselves--rely
upon themselves--act for selves-learn to
move In concert, and emulate the enterprise
that is diffusing the Anglo-Ssxon race over the
world God helps those who help themselves
Why should they remain still when the whole