St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-01-26

rcpugnancc, the prejudice, il you will,
of the people of the free States, es-
pecially of the Northwestern States,
against allowing any large influx of
these untortunatcs among them is well
known, and must be needed by those
who make laws for those States. The
dangers and other difficulties attend
ant upon the presence of free colorcd
persons in slave holding community,
prevent emancipation by many who
would otherwise gladly set free their
the passage of laws prohibiting or
greatly hindcring emancipation ; in
deed are to-day the great hindrancc to
the abolition of slavery in and by the
free States and the apprchendcd dan
ger, that in case the Southern States
should abolish slavery, the free States
would at once be overruu 10y the ig-
norant slaves just been manumitted,
is skillfully used by partizan politi-
clans among us to reconcile the North
crn mind to the extension of slavery
in other directions. Moved by these
| deem it my duty to
recommend to your careful and favor
able consideration, the plaG for the
colonization of the free colored popu-
lation of our country in Central or
South America, under the protection
of our General Government which
was brought forward i'll the Congress
of the United States, by distin-
guishcd member of that body from
the State of Missouri, with view
that if the measure shall meet your
appreciation, you may memorlallze
Congress in its favor. The substance
of this plan, as subsequently present
ed in the United States Senate by the
Senator from Wisconsin, is that our
Government shall, by treaty with
some of the Central or South American
Governments, require "the rights and
privileges of settlement and citizen
ship for the benefit of such persons Of
color of African descent as may vol
UNFAIRLY desire to emigrate from the
United States, and form themselves
into a colony under the laws of the
States to which they may emigrate,
the United States, in consideration of
the commercial advantages of free
trade with such colony or colonies,
making and securing the necessary
and proper arrangements to maintain
them in the enjoyment of the rights
and privileges acquired by such trea-
ty or treaties"
The colonization of this unfortunate
race in some country particularly
adapted, by climate and productions,
to their use and occupation, has long
been favorite scheme with large
portion of the people in all sections of
our country and until time and ex-
periencc had shown the operators of
the society, which proposed to colon
izc them in their native country, to be
by reason of the expense, impractical
BILE as means of relieving our coun-
try of the vast numbers Of these peo-
pie among us, that society received as
it justly deserved, a great degree of
public favor. That the operators Of
that society have produced and will
produce great good TO Africa, l have
no doubt, and Shall rejoice to see its
ability for usefulness largely extend
ed. But experience has shown it to
be wholly inefficient as mcSns of re-
moving from among MS this large and
rapidly increasing population. Colon
ization in Central or South America,
10y reason of the proximity of the pro-
posed Colonies would be much less cx-
pcnsivc and therefore more effective,
and if the General Government, sup
ported by the several States, should
take the matter i'm hand with earnest
ness and zeal, it seems to me that we
might congratulate ourselves upon
having done work which would not
only be productive of great good to
ourselves, but would also enable us
to commence the payment OF that vast
and accommodating debt we owe this
wronged and unfortunate race, and
which would perhaps enable us to see
the beginning of that most desirable
end when our land shall be in truth
the land of the free" as it has been
and is i" the home of the brave"
In conclusion, permit me to say that
although our political horizon is not
unclouded, although anger and ,jcal-
ousy have taken to some extent the
place of brothcrly kindness and good
will among our people, although some
men occupying high positions under
the Federal, and in some of our State
Governments, influenced by pride and
passion, utter sentiments disloyal to
our Union, and others, in like high pc.
sitions, governed by baser motives,
either openly or silently approve these
sentiments. still in my opinion those
who love ourConstitution and OurUnion
have not any just cause for alarm.
Passion win subside, reason will re.
sumo its sway, and then our Southern
brethren, finding they have been de-
ccivcd, and misled as to our feelings
and purposes, that the people of the
North, while hoping and praying for
the day when no slave shall press our
soil, do not either claim or desire any
power to interfere with slavery in any
Of the States where it now exists,
that the good old days wherein we
walked, when to talk of disunion open
|y or to approve it silently, was to i'll
cur the scorn due to traitor, are the
ways of pleasantness, and the good
Did paths our fathers taught us to tread
are paths of peace, will join us in be-
licving that the men who achieved our
independence, and framed our Consti-
tuition We're as true patriots and I'M
dcrstood the Constitution as well as
the statesmen of the present day, will
unite with us in following their teach
ings and walking in their footsteps, in
discussing these new measures and
this new policy which has produced
no fruits but those of discord and bit
tcrness, and will again pledge them
selves. as we do to-day pledge our
selves. in the full depth and force Of
it's meaning to the sentiment of the
true and stern old patriot of the Her
mitage-"Th Union IL must and
shall be preserved !"
SAMUEL j. kIRKwooD.
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