The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-08-10
VOLUME XXI. NO. A.

of natures laws gave to the black a boon
he could not utilize or estimate save as it
brought to him slothful or vicious indul-
gence, and thus remanding him to barba-
rism, robbed him of the plenty, the COM
fort and civilization with which in servi-
tude he was blessed. Reckless indeed
must that man be who in the face of the
results which have followed negro eman-
cipation in the West Indies and Hispano-
America would seek under similar circum-
stances to repeat the experiment.
1t Is a common and natural mistake to
| attribute to others the sentiments and
feelings which move ourselves, but this is
! only excusable as the basis of political ac-
ton, in the absence of more reliable data.
The history of man traced back to the
period which has left none other than pic
| torial records, exhibits the negro in all
times as the subvenient race. No where
has he shorn capacity to found civil gov
ernment. At no time has he asserted his
equality by separating himself from the
master race, to establish an Independent
community of his own. In the Northern
States, where false sentiment has pre-
vailed, and the greatest efforts have been
made by enthusiasts to raise the negro to
social equality, he is still subjected to such
odious determinations, as persons fit to be
free would not for day voluntarily en-
dure. For for less cause the Puritans en-
barked for the inhospitable shores of New
England, and the Hurguenots penetrated
the swamps Of Carolina, with no sustain
ing hand to aid and guide them. The
world bears witness to the triumphs which
both have achieved.
How stands the case of the negro, in
ho no., ,Io,.o hOl 20 no
in advance of settlement, into the wilder
ness of the West, and there to found
colony of their own, exempt from the in
| teriOrlty they must ever experience whilst
! in contact with the white man, they have
continued to hang about the towns and
| cities, and generally to gain their subsis-
tence by menial services to the white race
But speculative philanthropy imagined
that if a colony were established in the
land of his foretathers, the African would
there exhibit his capacity for self-govern-
ment. With this view, in 1916, Coloni-
zation Society was formed. Its purpose
was the transfer of the free blacks from
the United States to the coast of Africa.
and the benign promise was the diffusion
among their barbarian brethren of the
civilization and Christianity which these
colonists had acquired through servitude
in America.
The experiment was made under the
most favorable circumstances. The col
onists had been trained to industry and
order. and were, it must be inferred from
the circumstances of the best class of
their race. The society embraced in its
lists of members many of the first men
of our country, and the zeal with which
their purpose was pursued would have
won success if it had been attainable.
Munificient donations by individuals, lib
eral aid by the churches, heavy eXpendi-
lures by the general government have
buOyed this colony up from its infancy to
the present day. What have been the re-
suits? Upon the authority of a seeming
ly friendly and fair writer giving an ac-
count of Liberia as he found it, it appears
that in 1858, thirty-eight years after its
first settlement, the whole population was
less than the number of emigrants by
thirty-three per cent. That they have
few domestic animals that the great
body of the Liberians do not obtain a sup
| ply of animal food sufficient for daily use
that in a country well suited to agriculture
| more than half of the inhabitants are
living on quarter acre lots that the ma
tives or wild Africans do the work of
beasts of burden that the colonists i'm
port a large part of their subsistence
which is paid for by trade with the ma
tives, towards whom no feeling of COM
mon brotherhood is evinced, that Liberia
called in all gravity a Republic may be
said to live by the labor land on the alms)
of foreigners"
Is it kindness, is it charity, is it sound
policy, to transfer useful and happy body
of laborers from the protection of our
laws, and the benefit of our civilization,
that they may possess a liberty which
! they cannot enjoy, suffer privation for
which to them no political privilege is an
adequate compensation, and finally when
left to themselves, lapse into the barbar
ism of their ancestors? If to this view, i
be objected that the reasoning does no
: embrace the condition Of those who hav,
: worthless population of free negroes
among them, | can only reply that tn
difference ofview depends upon the stand
ing point, and that such an answer to m
argument vindicates our institution {
; African bondage from the assaults whic
have been made upon it, by proving tina
the good of society requires that the ne
1 gro should be kept in his normal condition
: A British minister TO the United State
g when some years since writing to an ageT
in Central America, said that slavery COZ
stituted the only question in the polite
of the United States. 1t was and is mo-
Il unfortunately near to the truth. II
; seed sent out from Exeter Hall found col
e genial soil in the Northern States, an
y has produced embarrassments, and col
: troversies more fatal to the peace an
progress of the United States than woul
a have been quadrennial war with a 70
i eign power.
; In your resolutions you have asserte
$ the right to protection by the gener
y government, for the property of citizens
9 the several States who may settle on Il
4 common domain, the territory of the UT
b ted States As a consequence of Il
'e equality of the States, and the co-relatiC
le of allegiance, and protection, your prop
Is sition would seem too clear for argumer
Dr Nor indeed has it been denied, exec
n in view Of the performance of the duty I
Is wards one kind of property, and it is hs
as arding little to fOretell that your resol
e ton, though general in its terms, will
lr construed as having single applicatit
o to property in slaves.
IL Thus, a like proposition was treated
a. the Congressional debate of 1850 on t
|
G. INV purpose to review generally the obit
r. tions heretofore stated to that legislatio
es Mississippi decided to acquiesce in it. al
her Judgment was final on her citizens
W, the extent of all which was matter
ne voltion. Opinion is not the creature
t. will. and mine remains unchanged I'll
tn nv action has conformed to my al
er glance.
We l will merely refer to that part of t
'el legislation which specially bears upon t
IL subject now under consideration.
on In the bill reported for the organizati
of the territory of New Mexico, there W
ce a general grant of legislative power, wi
u a reservation that no law should be pa
or ed lin respect to African slavery"
re- lieving that this was an inhibition agaiI
Id the enactment by the territorial legis
in ture of any law for the protection of IL
ed species of property; and but too fully
on priced that the reservation was not ma
ey with intent to afford such protection
aX- Congressional enactment, | proposed
lp- amend the bill by striking out the
we straint against legislation in respect
lis African slavery" and inserting a proh
de ton against the enactment of any
,ay which would interfere with those rig
to of property growing out of the institut
on of African slavery as it exists in any of
an, States of this Union" In conformity
his the views and wishes of some South
or Senators, the amendment was sevt
1T, times modified so as finally to present
in general proposition, that the terrific
Iui- legislature should not be prevented fl
her passing the laws necessary for the pro
di- ton of the rights of property of ey
lod kind which might be legally and const
the tionally held in that territory. In
for general form the proposition was brou
the to vote and defeated. Was it ven
my ton for the decree of a Mexican diets
md which withheld an acknowledgment
OF the supremacy of the Constitution OF
rec, it hate of the South which cause'. ~. . !
on ioritv thus tenaciously 10 preserve .lo
cree of a government, when ' ouS''Ie 's ;.
,osa the canal endowment by all citizens OF
oc- limited States Of the propeIg eIu neIu
;.;,,t tarnra and won by their comm
ar toll blood and treasure!
;not 90 A. a subsequent period the bill !
'ii'' lid on the motion of Mr. Berri
"rGnorgia. by striking out the words
tins uasnsct 10 African slavery" and insert
lem a nroyision to restrain the territorial lie
llon Iature from establishing or prohibit
y II African slavery" In that dark period
,,,I, Southern rights, we should not proba
IN. have gained even that much, but for
Irai conviction on the part of the majority t
I'LL slave property was sufficiently exclu
sar by the Ser hri'' of Mexico and would