Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-29
ADDRESS OF Hon. EDWARD EVERETT,
OF MASSACHUSETTS,
Delirerea at he late Anniversary Meeting, held IN
this city, ofhe american Colonization Society.


/ this city, Of The american Colonization Society.
/ Mr. President When you invited me some time ago
to take part in the discussions of this evening it my
purpose if able to attend the meeting at ALL to examine
the great questions connected with Colonization So
cety in all their BEARINGS for have long been opinion
that whether we consider the state of things in America
or Africa no more momentous subject can engage
attention But sir my time and thoughts, during almost
the whole interval have been preoccupied in
which prevented my making any but the hases and
most inadequate preparation to address this audience
whose kind indulgence therefore, without further apology,
! l beg to throw myself.
The Colonization Society has been the subject as
seems to me- of much unmerited odium; Of indifference
equally unmerted the part of the majority Of the
munty of the deep interest which deserves the part
of very few. Its operations yet in their infancy
they are confined the proceedings of association
private individuals pursuing the noseless tenor Of their
way without ostenation tcia home and to the hum
BILE fortunes Of the small Statehe germ of republic
which, under the auspices of this association been
planted the coast Of Africa But before we deride
these humble begnningsbefore think it extravagant
to believe that aimportant futurities may be wrapped
up III them Gas the mighty oak is wrapped up in the
acorn should do well to refresh recollection of
the first twenty-five years of the settlement mestown
call mind that first dismal winter at Plymlth where
than half the Mayaowers company sunk under the
rgors Of the climate and the infinite suferis of their
fororn adventure. Sir neither Plymouth nor Virginia
the end of twenty five years. had attained like
such position is already occupied by Libea in the
family of nations recognised she has been by the
powerful Governments Of Europe and sustaining all the
/ relations of an Independent State.
l. The settlement of LIBERIA the of Africa,
under the auspices Of the Colonization Society," found
ed on political and moral necessity As the
adopted for the suppression of the African slave trade led
| M
sion should be made for restoring the captured Africans
to their native country. To each the village
where he born impossible Collected they
from every portion of the nerio and often brought
down to the coast from vast distances all thought of
storing them, at least Immediately to their several homes
was out OF the question To place them down at any of
the usual resorts the coast Africa, would be to
throw them back at into thu power of the native
chiefs who the chief agents for carrying foreign
trade settlement poin of the coast, protect
ed by the influence and the powerful civilized
State seemed therefore, Indispensable condition
oil measures for depressing the foreign savetrade on
account of the necessity of furnishing immediate asy
lum TO the victims that might be rescued from its grasp
where they be received and sheltered and civilized
and gradually perhaps find their into the interior
their native tribes.
Allied to this object of the colory was one still more
Important because applicable to much larger number
Of persons and that aforda home in Africa to
such free of color in this county as were desrous of
emigrang to the native land of their fathers This OBJ
ject mt first approved itself almost unanimously Mt the
South and at the North to the white and the colored race
Jeaousies by degrees eptinpredces $50 Unjust think
them arose--l at length the Colonization Society and
It's colony have become intensely Unpopular with consi
derabc part of those whose interest Of the lead
ing objects of the formation of the Society mean our
free colorcd population.
Now, sir do not intend discuss the ground of these
lealousies TO inquire into the policy of the laws of
some States, and the condition Of public opinion often
more powerful than law in others which make the condi-
ton OF the free coored in oil parts of the country
Of inferority and hardship In order to meet the
that
ates with these oppressive laws and s more oppressive
public opinion, will admit such to be the character of
the legislation and the public sentiment of the country in
reference to the free coored population But does this
furnish any valid practical against
Does the fact that the free coored unusy treat
this counrythat he oppressiyely excluded from
all the eligible of life in the United States-rnisb
any argument why he should resort to the region
where his fathers were born-to climate more congenal
with the African constitutions soil generally fer
tile, and which, ii is every day becoming more pro-
babe, is rich in deposites of gold
For myself must that this of legislation and
public opinion seem to strong considerations favor
Of emigration cannot reconcile with real kindness to-
ward free coored population the attempts which have
been made, and with considerable success to prevent
their emigrang from this country, where their position
is Of hardship and disability n country which pro
misses them every imaginable advantage.
What sort of kindness would it have been toward the
prosecuted Puritans who in 1908 composed the little flock
which afterwards became the pilgrim church at Leyden
to endeavor TO persuade them at all hazards TO leave
England? Or what motive of real, lightened kindness
could have prompted similar attempt in reference TO
Governor Winthrops much larger and more important
company in 1880? Would ii have been the part of real
friendship 90 among them and tell them they were the
victims of cruel laws and still cruel preiudccs to
bid them remember that they born in Englandthat
they had good right live there their oppressors
to cxhort them to stand upon their rights and need be
to bleed for them TO depict the western continent and
their probable fortunes in it in the darkest coors But
this IS the precise counterpart Of the language continually
addressed to the free coored population of the United
States by those who claim to be their peculiar friends
Or to take case IL possible nearly parallel that
Of the suffering Irsh Scotch, French Swiss Germans
Norwegans and others who to the number of hundreds
Of thousands annually emgratng the United States
Would it be deemed act Of friendship or rather re-
fined cruelty or at least of most mistaken kindness
among the suffering population Of these several countries
whose thoughts turned toward America as land OF
refuge and plenty, and endeavor to dssuade them from
removal kindling in their minds morbid patriotism
bitter nationality urging them stay and starve rather
than find employment position and prosperity for them
selves and children this side Of the Atlantic?
But must pass to another important object OF
the COLONIZATION Society in establishing the colony of Ii
bera and that is the eectua suppression Of the slave
trade throughout its extent within the sphere
influence 1t grieyous to reflect that
y with the discovery of contiAent and from
hves OF Kindness TO its natives the whole western
Of Africa thrown open that desoatnp traffic which
from time mmemora had been carried on from the ports
Of the Mediterranean by the Ne and along the eastern
coasts 1t still more painful consider that the very
period at which the modern culture Of the west of Europe
making the most rapid progress is that at which AZ
RIGA began 10 suffer the from its connexon with En-
rope II the age OF Shakespeare Of Spenser of Hook
aud Lord Bacon and of those other brightest suns
the armament Of highlands glory that her navigator