The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-12


made the difference, and we should act as wise men,
My own Stale has spoken out and if her humanity
now shall only equal her bravery, she will have
taught The world lesson that will soon cause
Ethiopia TO stretch out her hands TO God"
lwenty-three years ago, when went to the
State OF Indiana, before this oaamitous excitement
had sprung up between the free and the slave
States, there was deep interest there, as else
where, which peryaded the whole community in
regard to the lanenable condition of the free black
man; and the people seemed on the point ofrepeang
some of the " Black Laws enlarging their liber-
ties and giving them many powers and privileges
which they had not. But this unfortunate question
arose-and what has been the consequence Sir,
Mr.. CLAY never made truer remark than he did
10 the people OF my district ten years ago-when
he told the congregated thousands that met and
greeted him there, that this slavery agitation had
put back the cause of emancipation fifty years!
Sir, hold in my hand ar extract from a letter
written by clergyman, missionary in the South
west, which may be found in the National lntelli-
gencer of May 81, 1851. The writer says
. Please say to the Abolitionists of the North,
aud those who advise the fugitive slaves to resist,
that IN the opinion of one, who has been mission
airy for more than fifteen years in the State Of Mis-
slssppi, one half of my time being devoted TO the
instruction of the colored people, they are doing
more 10 perpetuate slavery, and more damage to
the slaves OF the South, than all the world beside
slave has upon the earth. Will they think Of this!
Well, sir, What else have we The people Of
my State have just been making new constitu-
lion, and by majority of some ninety thousand,
have declared that TO foreign black man shall ever
again set his foot upon the soil of Indiana and that
the scheme Of colonization is their remedy for the
evil of our existing black population Are we
Christian men Do we love our kind' Have we
bowels of compassion; or will we, like the "Priesi
and the Levte,n pass by and sec this people thus
trodden under foot, denied any right TO make an
effort 10 place themselves in better condition, and
as II were, banished from the earth' They have,
as slaves, done much to render our domain valuable
IN the South, say our southern friends, and we
have them now in the North And when they
will not, or cannot, take care of themselves
wewill take care of them; us their throngng num-
bers in our jals, and pententiaries, and poor
houses, most lamentably instruct And shall we not
now devote little portion of public domain to
enable them to go TO the home where God placed
their fathers? That little colony at Liberia has
been doing wonders there. The Colonization So
ciety was organized in this city only little over
thirty years ago, and thus far II has greatly ex-
cceded the wonders when the American continent
was settled by our fathers. There great things
10 be effected there not simply for this hapless peo-
pie, now everywhere amongst US, tantallzed and
nSulIed by being called FREE But, sir, think
see great light sprngIng up IN Africa. We can
not enter into the councils Of the Almighty. His
9 footsep are the sea" Yet we have often
seen, that behind frowning providence, He
hides smiling face
Once the slave trade was INDUCED in by all the
Christian world, without conjunction. Now il
lacerates the hearts of all Christian men, and
Christian nations call 1t piracy. The trainers Of
our Constitution determined 10 break 1t up. But
how futile have been all Of our efforts TO that end
since their days. Sir, the combined fleets of Eu-
rope and America have tried 1t, and now acknow-
ledge the discontinue All such efforts are but
mans "footsteps in the )" and the result is
signal rebuke 10 for not listening to the small,
still voice from those little colonies planted by
Christian charity and individual benevolence The
colonies planted upon the African coast have
broken up the horrid traffic along some six hum
drcd miles of that coast, quietly and effectualIy
as the victim dies under an exhausted receiver.
And, what still better the ten thousand emgrants
that the beneyoence of The land has carried thther
have been scattering intelligence and the light of
Christian truth through all that border. This little
band have now some Two hundred thousand of the
natives under their jurisdcton in the main living
quietly, mildly, and pleased with the colonists.
There is hope here for the philaithropst and the
Christian II seems TO me such as has hardly ever
sprung up before since the dawn of the worlds
morning. We have these people among u.s. and
We owe II TO them, as well as TO ourselves, TO do
whatever can for their relief.
Mr.. Chairman, it is not enough for us simply TO
say, IN reference to the Compromise, about which
predecessors egislded at the las; Congress that
there is no difficulty There is, and viii be diff
Guilty until every black is removed from the
fee States. So long as lie remains amongs, US 10
tell the story Of his wife and children in bondage
there viii be dsqaet. But people will be still
trusting that the clouds we have so much dreaded
aie 'blg with mercy"
The people Of my own State have spoken in this
behalf IN very plain language, not only in their
huffb
10 session. hold IN my hand their "earnest Ie-
quest" TO me, as one Of their Representatives here,
20 cooperate IA this great enterprise Of colonzing
free blacks. ! will read one OF the resolu-
TONS, involving their view Of the slave trade:
'Retoired, further, That reason dictates, and ex-
perience has shown, that this crime against our
race and the just laws OF Cod can be more certain
ly put down than by any plan heretofore tried, by
the planting and rearing To maturity and power colo
NAL States upon the African coast, with republican
forms Of government, from the free black popula-
ton Of the United States; and that il is the duty OF
the Congress Of the United States, and Of the leg
lsatures Of each OF the States Of this Union TO en-
act such laws, in harmony with each other, as
would promote general system Of colonization not
only for the purpose OF suppressing the African
slave trade, but also 10 separate far possible
the white and the black race upon this continent
by sending off, where they might consent TO il, ali
colored persons in the United States, except those
without cost and providing for their comfort there
for reasonable period afterwards; thus making
some compensation 10 an injured race for the
wrongs and expressions Of ages and relieving our
selves from population which, although amongst
can never be Of US IN social political rights and
FOR that cause are az al times liable To become a
source Of public charge and of public annoyance
10 each State where they may reside, and OF causing
irritation and bad Deighborhood in the feelings Of
the States themselves"
Mr. Chairman, am pleased to have this request
bat here necessity for them TO ask Of me that
should call upon this Government to do something
for our siare in The free States. Sir, my heart and
my hand, my pen and my tongue, ever since ar-
rived at mature years, have been engaged in this
cause; and am now happy TO know that this be-
nevolent and sublime scheme Of colonization is a
permanent part Of the organic Law Of my adopted
State. The American colonization society has pi-
oncercd the way. The warm hearts and strong
hands OF Christian philanthropy have already made
a great highway relief IL las already the good
feelings strongly expressed OF nearly, if not quite
every State ia the Union-and several have fur
nshed, and are s furnishing, "material aid The
American Congress has frequently spoken out in
favor q the great enterprise And has not the time