, 1861-12-11
FLORIDA FOR THE CONTRA
BANDS.


In lis late Message the President briefly
discusses the disposition that should be |
made of confscated slaves, and free negroes.
A considerable number Of contrabands"
are already dependent he says, "on the
United States, and must be provided for
in some way" The number Of such per
sons will vastly increase On the hands Of
The Government, if the army be permitted
10 advance into Secessia, But it is highly
improbable that any scheme Of coloniza-
ton can ever remove the three millions Of
blacks from the cotton States. They arc in
climate congenial to them; they are ac-
quainted with the products of the country,
and constitute its agricultural class. In
state Of freedom, their labor will be as
necessary and valuable as it is in seryitude,
for the cultivation Of the soil and dcvcl-
opment Of that section.
But the case is altogether different with
the border slave States, whose climate and
productions are adapted TO the physical
nature of the white man. The labor of
black men can be dispensed with in those
sections Of country. There exists an irwin
chile aversion towards free niggers" in
the Northern Slave States, and the whites
will only consent to emancipation on tue
condition Of removal and colonization
This feeling is very strong in Kentucky and
Missouri, and it Will tc all the Government
Gun do, and al the case requires, to find a
lun1c for The ncgrocs Of the border States,
end those in the free States who wish to 20
with them.
The prevailing sentiment Of Congress
nnd the Cabinet, as wella Of the country,
fayors some practicable scheme Of colo
nization for the confiscated slaves, and Of
tie free blacks among us, into some
country where they may have the protec-
ton Of the Government, and he secure in
all the rights and privileges Of frccmcn.
The President says, in regard TO the
procurement Of suitable territory for the
future homes Of these people:
Ito car1y out the plan Of colonization may in
>olre tho acquiring Of territory, and also the ap-
rrop7iation Of money beyond that to be expended
in the territorial acquisition. Having practieed
the acquisition Of territory for nearly sixty years
the question Of constitutional power to do so Is
longer IN open one with us.H
The country to which the freed blacks
may be sent, should be under the control
and protection Of the United States. To
ship them in to sone nation beyond the pa
ternal reach and care Of this Government,
would be wrong and impolitic. The Presi-
dent evidently takes the same view Of it,
What suitable country witha "congenial' u
climate can readily be acquired? Liberia
is too far Of. Hayti belongs one half to
Spain and the other to the Haytian Repub
lie. Doubtless protectorate might be cx
tended over the whole Island, if our Gov
ernn1ent would set about it. Spain nigh
he1nduced Or coerccd into relinquishinE
the portion she claims, and the Haytian
might he persuaded to accept our guardian
authority. AL this is work Of time AM
diplomacy; but suitable territory is want
ed Immediately. Central America POSSESS
cs all thenaturaIrequ to make il an eli
giblc country for the purpose, but it belong
to several independent Governments ;yhic
would have to be superseded, perhaps b
force Of arms, before we could gt
actual possession and our Goyernme1
would run the risk of becomin
cmbroi1ed with European powers. At a
events, considerable time must elapse b
fore one or more of the States of Centr
America can be brought under our Nation
flag. But while the Secretary Of State
conducting these delicate negotiations, pe
haps suitable territory for colonization m.
be found nearer homo. Let us look at Il
map Of scccssia. The eye rests at once
Florida-the fowery land. It is nearer t
tropics than any other part Of our Natio1
domain. 1t possesses the prime essenti
Of coniguity, accessibility, ample area, a
congeniai climate. It is connected vi
the main land and get sufficiently deta{
ed. It has many good harbors, and
within e few daye aaiI Of Boston, N