The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-29

The chapter Of Mr.. Glars experience in bis
own State, TO which he refers,) where those 80
devoted to him and his viii ordinarily. rose up
and repudiated his counsels under the strong in
stinct of elfprcservation--migh have sug-
gestcd to him TINT, instead of striding in advance
Of the present generation ia his schemes Of
emancipation, he had not kept pace with the
great progress made in the other direction by
the Southern pcople-the result OF more thor
ough investigation, and sounder philosophy
than that Of JEFFERSON, or his friends of the
French revolutionary school, with whom the
equality Of all men was the prevailing dogma.
Thus speaks Mr. CLAY:
The amount OF money received by voluntary
contributions Of those who favor this Society in
LIST objects has been greater than in any preceding
year and think do not mistake the signs Of
the times when say that degree of public in
terest has been excited in favor OF this Society in
all parts or the Union, to- an extent greater than
has heretofore been Witnessed. Indeed gentle
men, some Of the very causes which have led to
great agitation, 10 uncommon excitement, and ser-
Gus apprehension with regard to the institutions
OF our couniry-those very causes themselves, u
happy termination Of which | hope has taken
place, have cOnduced to the advantage Of the So
ciety, for, il am not misinformed that portion
OF the general community from which we expe-
rience the greatest opposition to the proceedings
and the success Of this Society," mean the Abo-
lltionlsts of the North---uness am mistaken, at
least all tie moderate and rational portion of them
have become satisfied that to agnate the subject of
slavery, with view to the extinction of slavery
within the bos0lns of the various States in which
It il tolerated and exists by Ia Is utterly Jr,itiess
and Jaiied effort; that further agitation OF the
subject neither benefits those whose interests are
intended TO be advanced, nor benefits the country
at large; that it is complete Rilure, and that
their exertions hereafter, If governed by motives
OF humanity and benevolence, should be directed
not to the unatiainable object Of the extinction of
slavery within the States, but for the great purpose
Of colonization, ,phich ia its ultimate consequences
WiH lead TO the final separation Of the classes Of
persons ,cho inhabl this country. applause
There are circumstances Of interest, and Of
great interest, to the society which have .ransrred
IN the course Of the past year. The first Of which
would advert to is The proposition submitted 10 the
House Of Representatives during the last session, aud
renered at dis to establish under The sanction and
auspices ofthc Gorernme,,t line Of steam-packets,
which, plying regularly between the United States
and Africa and other points, shall furnish the
means OF transporting emigrants from this CONT
nent to Africa. II ia not the mere submission Of
such proposition, but degree Of consequence aud
spirit srhich, think am authorized to say, riu
| succeed, whether it shall fell or pass during the
present session. Ifit fall shall never despair,
for, gentlemen, despair word not in the vocab-
ulary Of the COLONIZATION Society. (Applause.)
We resort to no formidable, rioleit measures, in the
pursuit Of our object. Mild, temperate, moderate,
exciting no approximations, it appeals to Heaven
for the continuation of the success and support
which it has hitherto designed to extend to us--
These are our principles, and that they will be
successful is eyonl all human doubt. The pro-
position for line Of steamers, repeat, has been
renewed, and am happy to say, what is general
~ known to the community of Washington, that
il is in the hands Of a gentleman from one Of the
| savehodng States, (Mr STANTON of Tennessee)
who has pursued it with earnestness and zeal
which entities him TO success-entles him, at all
events, to the thanks of his country for the efforts
which he has already made.
| have said, and recently, on another occasion,
that sincerely believe that, of all the projects Of
| the existing age, the scheme OF colonization ofthe
African race the shores of Africa is the great
est
| In saying this, did not look into its present
condition. ! do not look at what it may he ten,
ifteen or twenty wears hence; but endeavored to
throw myself IN advance, and looked into what il
will be fifty a hundred wears hence; what it
will be rhen the continent cC.4mer,ca shall hare dis
charged itself mainly Of The greater portion Of the If
rican race, aud shall hare returned them back TO the
continent Of africa, the original home Of their
| tors, and shall have rewarded Africa for the in
| jures which her have suffered, by sending
back 10 their original country race men en-
dowed with all the attributes Of civilization chris
,anity the arts and all the benefits, in fact, which
| belong TO our own race. In making this state
men, will, in order TO prevent misconception or
mIsapprehension state more specifically what
mean. The society has, with consistency, pro-
tested, from It's origin to the present time, that
IT ha, not, docs not, and riH interfere ,sih
the subject Of sarsry il crisis in the several S.aes
Ii is part of It's object Office to do that
But We know that the number of free blacks in
this country amount, in all probability, to not
less than about half million, and that it is con-
stantly increasing annually by natural causes and
voluntary emancipation on the part of slavehoId-
ers. We know, 1 repeat, that this number will
continue 10 augment from this time toward unless
1t is 'essened by the expectation of portion Of
the race 10 africa.
But this is not all mean. believe, and ] have
as much confidence in the belief as have in nv
existence that the day will come--distant, very
| far, perhaps, from the present time--but the day
when, by voluntary emancipation and the acis Of in
diriduals and States Ienseres, ,choui usupaion Of
pouer by the General Government, there ,rUbe end
to siarery. Slavery may be terminated in different
modes l, may by law; it may by the sword it
may by the operation Of natural causes; but it is
bu The operation OF natural causes 10 tchch look for
its ultimate crtinciion As to the sword, nobody,
| | trust, will think of The employment Of that to
put. an end to slavery. As to law hare had
some experience in my o,cn State, tchere the people
much agitaied The year before last and 10 uhose
decisions Ibo,c, Ibeiiere and that reconced me to
the decision Of my State, although contrary TO my
pisles, That no safe method or greater emapcipa-
l,on, by the operation OF law, terminate the
existence of slavery much sooner, IL any sooner,
than the operation Of natural causes. But may
be asked what mean by the operation of natura!
causes. Some twenty years ngo went nj
large into this subject than now; had gone into
the modus operandi Of the natural causes by which,
in long time, slavery may be extinguished.
There will be an extinction Of slavery whenever
the density Of the population of the United States
shall lie 40 great ihaHree labor can be procured
| by those who can command labor a, cheaper
rate and on less onerous conditions than slave la
| Dor can be commanded
| Although cannot FIX the time, can state the
causes and circumstances which will occur to m
duce voluntary emancipation Of slaves. Ii is moi
to be by the usurped and legal action of the Gene
raj Government, nor Of other governments, but by
the voluntary consent of States and individuals
who alone are interested in the subject Of slavery
and have the exclusive right to determine when
| .. ~ ~