The republic., 1851-08-12

being held in slavery. obstacle exists with re-
gard to the free portion of the black population,
and every passing year more and more evinces the
necessity Of such a separation. In many OF the
States laws have been passed with rigorous penal
ties. to prevent the free people Of color from
thing in them, and in one or more of the States
proposal has been seriously made to expatrate
them by compulsory means. So thoroughly have
been convinced, for great length of time, Of the
expediency of the removal of the free blacks from
the United States that in operation with others
entertaining the same opinion, upwards of thirty
years ago we established the American Coloni-
cation Society for transporting them, with their
own consent, TO the western coast of Africa, and
subsequently planted the colony Of Liberia. There
appeared TO to be combination Of more power
full motives for colonizing these people in Africa
than anywhere else There they would be return
ed to the country from which their ancestors came,
their constitutions we'll adapted to the climate
and they might, we hoped and believed, be made
conducive to the introduction of christianity, the
arts, and civilization, into Africa. We have had
encouraging in the work of African coloni-
cation, and we mean to persevere in it, We per-
suade ourselves that the foundations of great re-
public or empire have been laid on the western
coast of Africa, and that, ultimately, il may be
made the asylum of large number of the free Co
lored people of the United States, and of those in
| future that, from whatever cause, from time to
time become free.
But, although for the reasons already stated, !
have a decided preference for Africa to any other
country for colonizng the free blacks of the Uni
ted States, there is no incompatibiliy between the
object of transporting them to Africa and that of
sending them to the British West India colonies;
whether they go to the one the other place, the
purpose of separating them from the whites in the
| United States and placing them where they can
enjoy privileges, social and political equality and
happiness, which they cannot realize here, will be
equally accomplished. By going, indeed, to the
West India colonies, they would not execute the
mission Of religion and civilization which, we
hope, they might fulfil by emigration to Africa.
There no laws, as far az know, of any of
the States opposing obstacles to the removal of
these people to the West India colonies On the
contrary, such removal would be in perfect con-
formity with the polity which prevails in most of
them. The American Colonization Society has
found in the abolitionists Of the United States a
constant opposition to the African colony. They
all the arts in their power dssuade the free
people of color from voluntarily going to Africa,
and their exertions have been attended with some
success. But think the free blacks are becoming
less and less disposed to listen to the mischevous
counsels of their pretended abolition friends. But
in any project of inducing them to go to the West
India colonies, the same of opposition ought
to be anticipated.
How far the free blacks may be inclined to emf
CRATE to the West India colonies am unable to
say, and it can, perhaps, only be ascertained by
actual experiment; must, however, frankly say
that think considerable difficulty would be en-
countered. Some years ago considerable numbers
were induced to go to st. Domingo, but many of
them, understood, returned discontented and dis
satisfied. Degraded as their condition is in the
United States, the means of subsistence here are
great that if their physical wants are generally
well supplied they are apparently contented and
happy, and many of them unwilling to leave
the country of their birth and the scenes to which
they have always been accustomed We have
found these causes operating against the American
Colonization Society but not to extent SO great
as to prevent their obtaining annually a sufficient
number of emigrants to transport to Africa, and /
think the obstructing causes constantly dimi-
nishing. If the attempt be made to induce these
people go to the West India colonies it would be
proper, think, that suitable agents should be sent
to the United States to explain to the free backs
the advantages and privileges they would enjoy by
removing to the West Indies, and to offer to them
the means OF their transportation. l am quite sure
| that no opposition would be encountered from the
General Government, nor do suppose that any
would be made by any of the States. The General
Government would probably remain passive,
neither aiding or obstructing the removal of the
free blacks; perhaps some of the States-Virginia,
for example-might afford some assistance or faci-
lites in their removal.
Have you ever turned your attention to China as
source of labor to supply your colonies? re-
member to have heard that you made an expert
ment with Malays from the East Indies and
that it was not very successful encouraging; but
have not heard of your having introduced any
Chinese into your colonies. When was in Cuba
a few weeks ago was informed that a planter had
seventy or eighty Chinese brought from Northern
China, employed on his estate; that he had en-
gagged them at the very low price of four dollars
per month each for years; that he found
them aborious and trustworthy, and that he great
ly preferred them to the blacks, having better
heads and more skiful capacity in performance of
their work than the blacks.
My health not being very good. / have had to
employ aman uensis, who has written this an.
swer to your inquiries upon my dictation. hope
you will find it Ineligible, il not entirely salts
factory.
With great respect, II. CLAY.
THOMAS HANKEY, Jr., &c, &c.