Smyrna times., 1858-05-06
MIS- CELANLE S.
Our Colored Population.
RAMBLER.

Jul OO4OACu 4OpCA2IAV0'
If there is any one fact established by stead
ly accumulating evidence, it is that the free
negro cannot find congenial home in the Uni.
ted States lie is an exotic amongst us; and
all the efforts of phanlhropists TO naturaize
him on American soil and under American skies
have failed. We know that it is common to
attribute this failure to the prejudice of the
whites, which defeats all the attempts made to
improve radically and permanently the cond-
ton of the blacks; but after allowing to this
cause all the influence which 1t deserves, it must
he admitted that it does not explain the almost
universal degradation of the colored population
In the free States, and we must look beyond
prejudice and social ostracism, and the unequal
legislation which may be supposed to flow from
these, for some deeper explanation-one which
we believe is to be found in the constitution of
the negro himself
1t is great mistake to suppose that the mere
circumstance of removing the political disa-
bilities under which any particular class may
happen to labor is sufficient, of ITSELF to alter
and improve their condition. The most that
liberal institutions and laws can do is TO leave
men free to the exercise and development or
their faculties in general and according to the
nature of these faculties, and the innate quail
ties of the soul, will be the state of the man
and of society resulting. Now, SO far as the
colored population of most of the free States
are concerned, there are no laws that trammel
their faculties, or limit the sphere Of their in.
dustry. They are at liberty to pursue most
calliDgs, and to accumulate property. The
laws extend protection to the person and pro.
perty of the colored man as they do TO the
white. And to prove this, if proof were need.
ed, 1t would be easy to mention the names of
few persons belonging to this class who have
grown rich by honest industry. And in the
face of such u state of things, when we find
the great bulk of our colored population, max
ing precarious livelihood by contentedly per-
forming the most menial offices, or living in
ldleness and wretchedness, we can hardly fail
TO attribute it to characteristics of their ow n.
1t cannot be doubted that enough sympathy is
felt for our colored people to furnish them with
encouragement and patronage if they had the
enterprise to become good mechanics and Iabot-
er5, and the energy to compete with the white
laborer. And besides, in the norih there is
usually such demand for labor as to absorb the
supply, and no well qualified workman unless
IN periods OF depression, need fear to be unem-
ployed. But we see the blacks daily driven
from avocatIons once deemed almost ex xclusively
their own. 1t is long since they have flourish.
ed IN any of the trades if they ever pursued
them with success. Within a few wears they
have ceased to be hackney coachnen and dray-
men; and they are now almost displaced 8s
stevedores. They are rapidly losing their pIa-
ces as BARRIERS and servants Ten families en-
ploy white servants now where one did twenty
years ago. Whatever explanation may be
given of these facts, and the facts themselves
cannot be denied; and what is to be done with
our colored population, unless they can be in-
duced to return as colonists TO the native land
OF their race or seek some other tropical region,
battles the wisest of US to say.
We are led TO these remarks by rejecting on
the great reluctance displayed by the people of
the new States 10 having free negroes settle
amongst them. There is something more in
this than mere prejudice or jealousy. Il is ex.
hlblted IN places where the political sentiments
OF the people are as diverse as in Kansas. Ore
gon and iswa. II seems as if It were to be-
come rule, IN framing a constitution for a
aew State, to prohibit the residence OF free ne.
groes. La the case of slave State it is not
difficult to understand this The presence of
the free negro is disadvantageous To the slave
Aud besides, the policy of the slave States is
t. discourage manumission, which draws from
The resources Of the Slate ly diminishing the
number Of laborers. But in free State, where
emigration is invited by holding ou, every in.
aecemenl 20 the Inhabitants Of the old States