The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-27

that fact alone calculated to raise doub
even in the minds of the editors of the intetii
gencer, whether they are not unnecessaril,
alarmed
We know not how far the attempt will b.
made to damage the prospects of the bill, b,
chasing it with the agrarian laws of Rome, anC
conjuring up all sorts of vague horrors abou
those laws; but should il be persisted in, w
shall try to expose the gross miscopceptior
Of agrarianism prevalent among men, other
wise intelligent, who seem TO have got all their
information on this subject from worn out
school books
OPPRESSIVE LEGISLATION COLONIZATION
From time to time we have taken occasion
to encourage, in our free colored population
the spirit of emigration or self-colonzation,
just as we would promote it among white
people. We like to see the migratory propen-
sity in full activity. 1t bespeaks life, energy,
and healthful aspiration. The Homestead bill
which has just passed the House OF Represent
atyes is great measure for stimulating the
colonization of our public lands.
The country has adopted the true policy on
this subject of self-colonization, except as it
respects colored persons. No restraint is i'm
posed on the locomotion of white men. The
native may go and come when he pleases, set
tie where it suits him, denationalize himself if
he will The emigration Of the European on
one side and of the Asiatic on the other, is con-
stantly invited by our liberal naturalization
laws No matter who or what the foreigner
may be, provided he belongs not to a race
whose oppression is the opprobium of civiliza-
ton, he is welcomed to the full benefit of our
Institutions.
This is all right-in accordance with the
doctrine taught by Inspiration, that "of enc
blood God made all the nations of men, to
dwell upon all the face of the earth" The
policy is a recognition of the absolute right of
locomotion and an encouragement to its exer-
else.
On this ground we stand when we denounce
all restrictions on the locomotOn of eOlored
people-all State legislation aiming, directly
or indirectly, to exclude or eject them from
certain States or sections, or TO Danish them
from the country. No Principle oen justify,
no necessity excuse, such legislation it is
wicked and inhuman, and there is conscience
enough among us, ifnot TO annul it, at least to
prevent its being carried to such an extent as
to accomplish its nefarious purpose.
But, he is not true friend of the colored
man who would check bis spirit of enterprise,
or insist upon his remaining where he is, in
stead of seeking by all rational means to better
his condition. The slave who fees from bond
age to freedom is not blamed for the act: why
censure the free man Of color for attempting
by emigration to escape from want and degra-
dalton? IL he have family, his first of social
duties is to provide for their welfare and if he
can best accomplish this by removing from
State or country where he is oppressed, to one
where he can be recognised as n man, let him
do it, Who denounces the IrishmaD for spurn-
ing the thraldom in which his native land is
held and seeking in Il foreign cline the good
denied him at homet
But the whole matter should be left optional
with those most concerned in coming to right
decision We have no right to this country,
which they have not. They are here in the
providence of God, and we but show the mean
ness and atrocity of Desfotism when, availing
ourselves of our superior intelligence and num-
bersI we attempt to trample them under foot,
or thrust them from their native land
A year ago the People Of Indiana undertook
to exclude colored persons from their State;
and few other free States have shown an in
clinaton to stringent Legislation ON this subject
How can such a policy be justified They
throw open their ample domain to every grade
and character of foreigners, but shut out
Americans whom God has colored a little too
deeply for their exquisite taste. Their conduct
is without palliation. Admit that the free
people of color are not quite so intelligent or
agreeable as their white brethren what pos
sible inconvenience could the million of whites
in Indiana suffer from the presence of few
thousand blacksi No legislation can really
prevent the entrance of small population of
this class in the absence of legislation it must
always be inconsiderable. Their policy then. is
wanton, and can have no other effect than to
wrong and degrade still more a small class of
deepy-wronged people.
Some Of the Southern States, we regret to
see, are also addicting themselves to this cruel
policy. Louisiana has lately prohibited eman
c'pat'on, unless coupled with expatration.
Virginia and Maryland at this time are called
upon to consider schemes deliberately pro-
posed tor the forcible ejectment or enslavement
Of their free colored population We extract
from the Baltimore american the following &C.
count of bill recently reported in the House
Of Delegates of Maryland
We received last night, from B. ID. Daniels,
Esq, OF the House of Delegates, copy of the
bill recently reported to the House from the
Committed on the Colored Population. The bin
is entitled An act for the government regula-
ton, and disposition OF ,ha free co.ored popu-
lation OF the State The Hrst section provides
for the ascertainment Of the precise number,
names ages and sex, Of all free negroes and
mulattoes in the several election districts and
wards. Section fourth imposes an annual tax
upon each free negro and mulatto-males be-
tween the ages Of q and so yearA and females
between the ages Of Is and IS years In de-
fault Of the payment Of the tax the collector is
authorized TO hire the delinquents 10 any per-
son who will pay the tar. Free negroes or
mulattoes without regular employment and
not Of good and industrious habits, may be
hired out " the highest white bidder Section
sixteon provides that after the passage of the
act, no slave shall be manumitted, except upon
the express condition Of emigrating TO Liberia
The last section provides