The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-14

From the Mobile Herald and Tribune.
CoLoNlzArIos.-There is doubtless vast
number of people who have no very clear idea
Of the objects of the American Colonization
Society. II Is not generally known that it is
based on the presumption that slavery is ma
tional and moral evil, which ought to be totally
removed. Yet snch is the fact, and it differs
from abolltonsm in the respect that il counsels
no violence TO effect its end and suggests no
means which shall interfere with the laws and
rights OF the States. Mr.. Clay, in his recent
speech before the society, explained these OBJ
jects in plain and satisfactory manner We
quote as follows part of what he said on that
occasion:
IL have said, and recently, on another occa-
sion, that | sincerely believe that, of all the
projects of the existing age, the scheme of colo
| nization OF the African race on the shores of
| Africa il the greatest.
"ln raging this, did not look into it's present
condition. did not look at what 1t may be ten.
| fifteen, or twenty years herce but endeavored
to throw myself in advance, and looked into
what 1t will be fifty or hundred years hence !;
what it will be when the continent of America
shall have discharged itself mainly of the greater
portion of tho African race, and shall have re-
turned them back to the continent of Africa;
the original home Of their ancestors, and shall
have rewarded Africa for the injuries which hcr
sons have suffered, by sending back to their
original country race of men endowed with all
tho attributes of civilization, christianity, the
arts, and all the benefits, in fact, which belong
to our race. In making this statement, will,
in orde: to prevent misconception or m sappre-
hension, state more specifically what mean
This society has, with consistency, protested,
from its origin to the present time, that it has
| mt does M md ;nt Al. Az
subject OF slavery. as it exists in the several
States 1t is no part Of its object or Office to
do that. But We know that the number Of free
blacks in this country amount in all probability.
to no less than about half a million, and that it
is constantly Increasing annually by natural
causes and voluntary emancipation on the part
OF shareholders. We know, repeat, that this
number will continue to augment from this time
forward, unless IT is lessened by the expectation
OF portion of the race to Africa But this is
not all mean | believe, and ] have rs much
confidence in the belief rs have in my own ex
istence, that the day will come--dstant, very
! far, perhaps, from the present tme-but the day
will come when, bv voluntary emancipation and
the acts of individuals and States themselves.
without usurpation Of power by the general
government, :here will be an end to slavery
Slavery may be Terminated in different modes.
1t may by law; it may by the sword lit may by
the operation OF natural causes bnt it is by the
operation OF natural causes to which look for
It's ultimate extinction.
"Sone twenty years ago went more ut large
INTO this subject than now; had gone into the
n,odus operand of the natural causes by which,
in long time, slavery may be extngushed.
There will be an extinction Of slavery whenever
the density of the population of the United
States shall be so great that free labor can BE-
| procured by those who can command labor at
cheaper rate and on less onerous condition thar
slave labor can be commanded Although
cannot hx the time, ] can state the causes nnd
circumstances which will occur to induce n yo
luntary emancipation Of slaves. 1t is not to b,
by the usurped and legal action of the genera
government, nor OF other governments. but b,
The voluntary consent Of States and individuals
VINO alone are Interested in the subject Of slav
cry, and have the exclusive right to determine.
when and how it shall cease TO exist. When
ever The population shall be three or four time,
ms great as it is-when we measure time no, by
individuals, or the particular lives of persons.
but by the period Of national existence-wher
the time arrives when the population will be
three or four times as great as it now is-whep
the prices OF labor, the wages of manual labor
shall be so reduced that it will be too burden
some and expressive on the part Of owners
OF slaves TO raise them for the cake of the
labor they can perform, then it will become
he interest ofthe slaves States and STAKEHOLDER.
TO resort to another fund than that which is af
forded hy slaves, and that will DO the terinina.
ton of slavery"
There 1t Is acknowledged that the object of
the Colonization Society is TO abolish SLAVERY
| rms IS the object of the abolition societies. and
the only difference between tho two plans is in
the degree OF time. The abolition societies sa,
lhnt now is the time. The institution is moral
and political evil, and time ought to be made to
bend to it, not the evil to time and expedency.
The Colonization Society counseIs comprimise
with evil, until it be polite to aei nd ofit. The
moral code, II says, may remaie in allowance
until We can observe it with profit
In our opinion the mmediste Abolilionists
have the better Of the argument,
IF any one will sit down snd, after making all
liberal allowance for the growth of the Coloni.
zation Society, will calculate how totally made.
quate its present and probable means are to the
end i seeks, he Will see that other engines mus,
be relied on to exc out the deficiency Mr.
Clay indicates these engines. So many obsta-
Giles, ne nt'mates, will DO gathered in the path
OF the STAKEHOLDER that, perplexed in the extreme
WIN upupt anu iilToNcTfS1Uent, without out
let for his slave popuation--no territory to ease
him of his surplus labor--he will be gl,d and
eager to submit To any proposition to get rid of
it. At this point, abolition comes in, and thus
the same end rs Garrison conternplates bv bu-
man law may be accomplished by the law of ne
cessity--the natural law or cause referred to w
Mr. Clay.
We are amazed a. one statement made in the
above extinct from Mr.. Clays speech, lie pre-
diets the time when white labor will be 30 nbun.
dant that slave labor will not be able TO compete
with II. In making this estimate doubtless one
thing is forgotten, that slave is az easy TO sur
port ms white man--that where one Can live
the other can also. We assert that the slave
can live and be profitable to bis master, where
the white man can barely live at ALL Mr. CLAY
does not calculate that In proportion as the labor
which Is to ruin the value Of the slave will
become cheaper, the means Of living also will
become cheaper. and that the slave then may be
only half ~ expensive M he Il now. He calcu-
'ates evidently that slave labor will always re-
mn n a. ~ In