Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-01-29
American Colonization Society.

This society held its thirty.sixth anniversary
H Washington, on the 18th inst. The princi-
pal attraction Of the occasion was the speech Of
Slr' Secretary of Siaio-Edward Everett. He
was followed with addresses by Rev c. II. Reed
OF Virginia, and Hon. G. +. Mercer. Tho lat.
Ter after giving history Of the society, admin.
istorcd to its members modicum of advice
lie counsoled them TO avoid the extreme OF tho
fAnstical aboltionists on the one hand, and the
equally fanatical advocates of slavery. as nm
abstract good, on the other. Tht certainly i,
Improvement. II the colonization society can
admit that slavery is not an abstract good. Il
may bye and bye conccde that it is a practical
evil. Mr.. Evorctts speech was also somewhat
remarkable for the occasion. Contrary To ali
precedent, he never once, proffered the society
as a remedy for slavery nor as has teen the
habit Of northern colonizationisis to do. did he
riliiy or deprcciate tie character of the eolorcd
people On the contrary, he duvotcs n consid.
cradle portion Of his address to its vindicotion.
We will copy portion Of it next week. A.
rhetorical production it is n finished spec,mon.
Af'er history of the origin and progress of
tie colony, he advocates the emigration of our
colorod population, because such omiaro.iou
would be benefit to themselves, as well os IN
tho lace to which they cmigrate. The rea.
sons arc the same as those which Justify tho
emigration Of the Germans or Irish 20 America
They are deprived of their rights at home.
without prospect of redress, and this affords
sufficient justification for their escape. But
ihe great blessings of tic colony arc in sup
pressing the slave trade, and cvangcli sing AT.
Iiea. On these topics he cxPatiaies with great
eloqucncc.
To this sort of argument for colonization, we
have nothing to say. But tho absence of the
moro Questionable features of colonization at
its annual meeting, can as yet hardly persuade
US. that it has really experienced regeneration.
1t is yet composed Of shareholders and negro |
haters men who put no limit to their opprcs- |
sion and scruple at no means, however revolving |
to justice or outrageous to humanity. The ov-
iaence We ask Of their conversion is, that they
get themselves against those laws and that pub
lie sentiment, which render it necessary for
men and women to cmigratc from this land,
with her unoccupicd territory and her inviting
resources, - which render It necessary for such
ns' aud irOmsn to emigratc-mcn and women
who arc alone competent to become efficient
missionaries Of science, civilization and Christ
ianity to Africa. We are not unreasonable in |
this demand, inssmueh as the colonizationists |
make the public sentiment and enact the laws
from which it becomes necessary for this people
TO escape. We can give them small credit for
boncvolcncc in relieving their colorcG brethren
and providing for them asylum, while they
themselves create the necessity for that asylum,
and ore the authors of that oppression which
demands relief. Their colonization benevolenco
10 entitled to the same regard as would similar
effort Of the Emperor Of Austria and his court
for the colonization of Hungarians-or If the
Pope and his cardinals. were to get up benev-
client colonization society to remove tho Italians
from the misery of his own oppressive edicis.
Like Mr.. Everett, he might urge good reasons
for the escspe of the oppressed, but he would
hardly mako Yankees believe in the disintercsL-
sd purity o! his own motives