The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-01
From the Lafayette (Ird) Journal.
Colonization n-The Destiny of tho Coiored
Rnoc. d

The recent overwhelming vote in favor of ex-
cludng the negroes from this State has given the
colonization cause new interest, and made 1t still
more important TO the negroes themselves Hence
the Colored Mems convention at indianapolis few
da ys ago, held in anticipation OF this very vote.
The more intelligent portion OF the race are just
awakening from the stupor Of self satisfaction, and
appear willing to do something Tor Themselves.
Some of thcm--a large portion of them-iack the
force of mind and independence to do any thing in
the way of amelioratiug their social or political
condition, and w. II tamely submit to any degrada-
ton our citizens may impose upon them:
The free colored population OF the United States
amount TO about half amilfion, and the major por-
ton of this number are engaged In menial occu-
patons in large cities. As general thing
they appear to be contented with their lot but the
action of several of the States in passing prohibit
tory laws to their farther emigration. like Indiana,
iAarousing them to proper appreciation OF their
destiny We predict that this is only commence
ment of the against the blacks. The next step
in the work will be TO eTp Ifrdf them from the free
States BY compulsory means we bcheve II vote
in the State of Indiana to expel every negro from
it's borders taken to-day, 1t would be carried
in the affirmative two to one. To this rule of ex-
patriation the black race is inevitably tending. We
are more and more convinced OF this every day. We
voted against the negro clause of the new constu-
ton, but, looking over the vote in the several
counties we find ourselves in minority of over
ten to We voted against that clause because
it made no provision to colonize the blacks from
the country. But exclusion has carried by fifty
thousand, and the people of the State should now
lend their aid in furnishing homes for those they
have so unanimously prohibited from coming into
their midst. We do not wish colonization to be-
come a partisan measure merely. We hope TO see
both parties unite in project which will rad US OF
a population which never can ENJOY social or po-
litical rights with us.
Liberia is now an independent republic, and so
recognised by most Of the civilized world. As the
native cline Of the African, il must later
become the home of the colored race. vast con-
tinent with natural sufficient to sustain
the whole world, is awaiting cultivation and bet
ter civilization Talk of colonizing Canada, The
same inexorabe law Of caste will drive them out
of that country in less than ten years. Talk of ia
maica-that little island could not sustain the free
colored population OF the States. The only home.
then, left for the colored must be Africa. To
this destiny we trust every intelligent coored man
will submit. Those pretended philanthropists-
the aboitionists-who hold out TO the black man
the promise of social equality here take our word
for it, the worst enemies of the colored race.
1t would be sheer hypocrisy to bold out any in
ducements OF this kind since the expression of the
people of Indiana upon this very question These
false lights must pale before such decided verdcts
of the people Abolition sympathy and abolition
promises to the free blacks,
"Like dead sea fruits,
Have turned to ashes on the lips;"
and it is high time something tangible, something
practical, something positive was accomplished for
the poor African.