Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-11-08
Mr.. CLAY ON COLONIZATION.

The following letter from Mr. CLAY will be read
with interest. Il is from the Kingston Jamaica)
Despatch. 1t will be seen that ne cherishes a
warm interest in the cause Of colonization, prefer
ring Africa over the West Indies for that purpose
ASHLAND, Mar 10, 1851
! have received from Thomas Hankey IT, Esq, of Lon
don, memorandum respecting ihe removal of free backs
from the United States the British West India Colonie.
with the view Of supplying the wants Of these colonies n
regard to agricultural labor and requesting any
which may be able TO communicate the praccabiy
OF eiectng such removal have great pleasure in comply.
ing with Mr. Hankeys request, far as il is in nv power
The free coored population Of the United States amount to
about half million. The exact number will be seen as il
shall be published That colored population is dispersed
throughout the whole United States but is most concentrated
in the two States of Virginia aud Maryland Il consists Of
numbers who were born free, their ancestors many years
ago. having been emancped and of others who have been
more recently liberated The disposition of large portion
of this coored population prefer residence in our cities
and villages, where they perform the menial Offices of life
aud the lower departments of labor What proportion of
nem are IN the Cities and what apply themselves
agricultural labor have means of accurately ascer
tainng but think probable about half Of the whole
soored population is engaged in these respective pursuits
Taken entire GLASS; they improvent and thoueh
less race addicted habits of vice much more extensively
than any other portion Of our population There are how
ever, many gratifying exceptions Their condition in this
respect is perhaps partly owing to the physical and intel
ectual constitution Of the African race but mainly 10 the
degraded position which they occupy in the United States
where they do not and probably cam enjoy equal pry
eges, social and POLITICAL with the whites.
have no doubt that it would conduce the happiness Of
DOH races the blacks were removed from the United States
by colonization or e1paaon but that object is unatana
BILE with regard to the slave portion of that population while
their bondage continues to exist in the United States. How
long that will be can only be matter of COME. ture NV
own oPno, s.s end deliberately entertained that as
they are held 10 slavery for the purpose Of aiming
sary supply Of labor slavery will whenever BY the in
crease Of the white population free white labor can be pro-
cured cheaper than that of the blacks.
But, although separation Of the slave portion Of the
blacks mPactlcabe in consequence of their being held in
slavery no obstacle exists with regard TO the free portion Of
the black population and every passing year more and more
evinces the necessity of such separation In many Of the
States laws have been passed. with rigorous penalties to pre-
vent the free people Of color from settling them and in one
or more OF the States proposal has been seriously made to
expatriate them by compulsory So thoroughly have
been convinced for great length Of time of the expedency
OF the removal Of the blacks from the United States that
cooperation with others entertaining the opinion up
wards Of thirty established the American Colo
nzation Society," for transporting them, with their own con
sent to the western Of Africa and subsequently, planted
the colony Of Liberia There appeared be combi
nation of powerful motives for coonjzinp these neone
in Africa than any where else There they would be
ed to the country from which their ancestors came their
constitutions well adapted to the climate and hey
might we hoped and believed be made conducive to the in
PRODUCTION OF Christianity, the arts and civilization into
Africa We have had encouraging success in the work Of
African colonization and persevere in it. We
persuade ourselves that the foundations Of great republic
ultimately it may be made the um of large number Of
the tree coored people of the United Sa,es Of hoee in
future that from whatever cause, from time TO time be-
come Free
cded preference for Africa other country conizng
the free blacks of the United States there is no ncompat
biy between the object of transporting them to Africa and
that OF sending them the British West India Colonies
whether they 60 the TO the other place. the
separating them from the whites in the United States and
placing nem where they can enjoy privileges social and po
cal equality and happiness which they realize here
Will be equally accomplished By going, indeed to the West
India Colonies they would the mission of rel
gion and civilization which hope they might fulfil by
emigration to Africa
There are no laws know of any of the States
opposing obstacles to the removing of these people
West India Colonies On the contrary, such removal
would De IN perfect conformity to the poy which prevails
found in the abolonsts Of the United States constant
opposition to the African colony They use all the arts in
no Pagar to disspade the free people from voun
with some success Butt think the free blacks are becoming
less and disposed to listen the mischeyous counsels
their pretended abolition friends But in any project of in
ducing them to go 10 the West India Colonies the same
source OF opposition ought to be anticipated
how lat the Tree blacks may be inclined to emgrate the
Vest India Colonies to say and it can perhaps
only De ascerained by actual experiment must however,
frankly say that think considerable difficulty would be en-
counred Some years ago considerable numbers were in
duced to 60 ST. Domngo but many lhem understand
returned dscontented and dissatisfied Degraded as their
20 Az VIC the means OF subsistence
here are SO great that physical are generally well sup
Piled they are apparently contented and happy and many
OF them are unwilling leave the country of their birth and
the scenes to which they have always been accustomed We
have found these operating against the American Colo
nzaon Society," but not extent great to
their obtaining annually sufficient number of emgrants to
transport to Africa, and think the obsiructng causes are
constantly diminishing If the attempt be made to induce
these people to to the West India Colonies it would be
proper think, that suitable agents should be sent to the
United States explain the free blacks the and
privileges they would enjoy by removing the West Indies
and to offer them the of transportation. am quite
sure that no opposition would be encountered from the Gene
raj nor do suppose that any would be
any OF the States The General Government would proba-
by remain passive neither aiding obstrucng the re-
moval Of the free blacks perhaps of the Saes Vr
gna for example, might afford some assistance facilities in
their removal.
Have you turned attention China as source Of
that made experiment with some Malays from the East
Indies and that very successful encouraging
but have not heard Of having introduced any Chinese
In your colonies When in Cuba, few weeks aQo I
was informed that planter bad seventy eighty Chinese
brought from Northern China employed on his estate that
ne had engaged them, al the very low price of 81 per month
EACH for years that he found them aboros and
worthy, and that he greatly preferred them to the blacks hav
ing better heads and kln in performance Of
their work than the blacks
My health not being very good, have had to employ an
amanuensls, who has written this to your inquiries
upon my dictaon hope you will find it inteligbe If
not entirely satisfactory.
With great respect HENRY CLAY
The Ohio and Pennsylvania railroad completed thirty
osUh htvn.1a frocr D.tt.l