Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1861-04-11


is one shackle upon any OF them, it would be far
better to lift the load from them than to pile al
di,ional loads upon them" That was the
utterance OF Christian statesman. These men
YOU propose to disfranchise forever all OF the
great family of man. and if there are shacklos
upon them, it would be far better to lift the
load from them than to pile additional burdens
upon them.
The Senator from kentucky, supported by the
Senator from Illinois. proposes to incorporate
into the Constitution provision authorizing
'the United States to acquire districts of country
in Africa anu South America for the colonization,
at the expenses Of the Federal Treasury, Of such
free negroes and muldttOes as the several States
may wish to have removed from their limits, aud
from the District Of Columbia, and such other
places may be under the jurisdiction Of
Congress-
This proposition is not intended to encourage
emancipation, bu; TO perpetuate slavery II does
no. propose to send. at the public expense, such
persons as may be hereafter emancipated by
masters willing to emancpate on condition Of
oxpatriation to distant lands No, sir, that is
more secure by sending out of the slavehoidns
States the free negroes. Efforts, inhuman and
unchrstian efforts. have been m de in several Of
the States. and in some of them successfully, to
expcl or reduce to slavery tic free colored pop
ulation. Judge Catron, of the Suprere Court,
to his honor, denounced the proposition. when
made in Tennessee, as an attempt Ito commit
an outrage, to perpetrate oppression and
cruelty" These efforts .'to commit an outrage
to pcrpetrate an oppression and cruelty" have
been defeated only in some of the States by the
greatest excrtions. The proposition was lately
made, in the Legislature of South Carolina. to
reduce al free negroes to slavery and confscate
their property. The committee to whom the
subject was referred made an adverse report, Ia
which they say, "There is at present within the
borders of the State nearly ten thousand free
colored persons; that they arc thrifty, ORDERLY
and well disposed; that they are the owners OF a
vast amount Of property both real and personal
that in the city of Charleston alone they pay
taxes on Il ,j5l so worth of proferty that of
this amount, more than three hundred Mousand
dollars are in slores; that the free negroes of
Charleston alone pay taxes to the amount of
81 ,2D9,sl. and that other portions of the State
show as fair a ratic.' In answer to IN PROPOSE
ton 10 condscate the property Of these people
and'sell them into slavery. the committee say
they "forbear to consider anything 50 full of in
justice and wckedness"
Adopt this orositon-amcnd't the Constitu-
ton, and the Mild cry will go up for the removal
OF the free colorcd men, whose freedom and
prosperity, under the almost crushing
burdens imposed upon them. excite the jealousy
OF the master and the hope of the slave. Put
this proposition in the Constitution, and the
farmers, mechanics, and workingmcn of the free
States will be forced to contribute millions,
earned by the sweat OF their hrows. to enable the
people OF the slave States TO Danish their free
colorcd men. Gladly would so amend the
Constitution rs to authorize the Federal Gov
crnment to acquire territory in McNico or
Central or South America, for the colonization,
at the public expense, of such persons rs the
humanity OF slave masters may emancipate, on
condition of removal, and for the free people of
color who may choose to emigratc at their own
expense; but, | never cam never will consent
to this proposition for etcrlal eng slavery, and
imposing this burden upon the toiing people of
the North. No, SIR, never. never.