The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-05-19
COLONIZATION.
LETTER OF j. IL. b. LATROBE.
[C%oNTrNUED.]

The colonizationist. therefore, has no
real ground ofquarrel with the abolltionist'
so far as results are concerned. On the
contrary, if his opposition has retarded
emigration, he deserves his thanks. for he
has forced him to adopt the rule of ''fes-
tina lente"-in this, as in so many other
instances, the best guarantee OF perma-
lei success. The only true ground oil
complaint against the abolitionist is the
fact, that he has prejudiced the comfort
and the cause OF those, whom both coloni-
z%ationist and abolitionist, according to their
respective lights, are laboring to benefits
But it may be said, that the colonization
societies are wholly incompetent to the end
they aim at. Now a good deal depends
upon what their aim is. If it is to remove
the entire free colored population Of the
United States, with means to be obtained
from legislatures and individuals.-then
colonization is, indeed, a drop in the bucket,
and not worth prosecuting as a political
undertaking. 1t will do, then, as a mis-
sionary scheme, and will help in the sup
preston Of the foreign slave trade; but
nothing more. This is most freely grant
ed. But if their aim is, or has been. to
establish such a colony as the Republic
Of Liberia, which, growing in prosperity
year after year, shall gradually become as
attractive to the free colored man, as the
United States is to the foreign emigrant,-
emigration to which will be promoted, not
merely by its attrac,iveness, but by Cir
cumstances in this country rapidly accu-
mulating, and forcing the conviction on
the free black mans mind. that the day
will come when there will be no a%lterna-
tive for him, but extirpation or removal
then | say. as | do say, in the firm belief
impressed on my mind by a close attention
to the subject for near thirty years, that
colonization has already fulfilled its great
mission; that it exists now, only to iacili-
tate wha, nothing can prevent; that the
day and the hour are at hand when the
Exodus must take place; not perhaps in
this year or the next. in this generation or
in that of our children, but soon, very
soon, looking to the periods which meas.
ure the histories OF the world and the
nations thereof.
The finger of the Almighty has been
apparent in the whole work of colonial
ton. A nation is not to be transplanted
like an apple tree. The black mans
heart, enlarged in a sphere Of real free
dom, or dwarted in the atmosphere which
he breathes when his freedom is but a
name.-is still a human heart, endowed
with the finest sensibilities, capable of the
highest improvement, as Liberia has al
ready proved, clinging 10 the natalie solum
with vast tenacity, more, so even than the
white mans does; and the black man can.
not, reasonably, be expected to remove
from familiar places, without a struggling
hold, yielding only to the sternest circum.
stances. 1t was necessary. therefore, that
colonization should be a slow work. 1t
must continue 10 be a slow one. measur-
ed, as its progress always will be. by hui
man Impotence. But there is ample time
for it. The West, even unto the Pacific,
is to be filled up. Space for years. for
white and black, will be left for them to
move in, without more than jostiing: and
the desire Of the free colored people to
emigrate, slowly formed as it must be, will
increase with the increasing native and
immigrant population of our country, with
the growing m that is to furnish
the means of a voluntary and seifpaying
colonization, with the capacity Of the col
onies to receive Immigrants, and with a
gradually enlarging intelligence among
the latter, making them more and more fit
to be the earliest citizens Of the new re-
publics. All this is well and wisely or.
dered. The cause is in His hands; and
man may safely leave it there, judging
even from the lights of his past experience.
Had colonization gone forward faster than
it has done, it would have smothered it.
self at Monrovia and Cape Palmas: and
no more would have been heard Of it.
But, against the wishes Of lis friends
against their best endeavors, il has been
kept back by One who knew better than
they did; until each succeeding ship.load
Of immigrants having had time to estab-
lish themselves. the result has been the
present well-ordereI governments on the
coast of Africa.
So much for the colonies. Every thing
I have already said NAV, am aware, be
admitted. and still the effect upon IL free
population may be doubted. Let
US look at facts in a parallel case, and
draw gu inferences from them.
The annual increase of the whole col.
ored population of the United States, slave
and free, was, ten years ago, some fifty
i've thousand. The result of the last CEN
JUS | have not vet learned. The white
immigration Of the present year will be
*While this pamphlet has been in press,
Intelligence has been received OF the muir
Ter OF Mr.. Gorsuch. Of Maryland, at
Ch~ristiana, in Pennsylvania. whittier he
lad gone in pursuit Of some three or four
runaway slaves, under the fugitive slave