Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-08-22
POLITIC A l..
Speech Of the President to q Delegation
Of Colored Men.

20 a COMMITTEES OF colored men ai the Whlt
House. They were introduced by Rev. j
Mitchell, Commissioner Of Emigration. +
N. Thomas, the Chairman Of the Committee
remarked that they were there BY invitation
TO bear wha, the executive had to say Il
them.
Having all been seated the President, af
ter lev preliminary observations, INFORMED
them ,ha, sum Of money had been appro
priated by Congrcs. aud placc' a, his di'po
.i,ion for the purpose Of aiding the cOlonir
s,iOa in some country Of the people. or
portion Of them, Of African descent, thereb,
making it his duty. as It had for a lOne
time been his inclination, to fa7Or thai
course.
And why, he asked, should not the people
Of your race be colonircd' Why should
they leave this country Ibis is perhaps
the Gr-t question for proper constellation
You and We are Of difleren, race. We have
between u. broader difference than exists
between almost any other two races. whe,h'
sr il Is right or wrong. ! need not discuss
but this physical difference is srea, disad'
vantage to Us both. as think yonr race
.uaer very greatly, many OF them, by living
with us.-whilc ours suffer from your prcs-
ence. In word. We suffer on each eide.
II this - admitted. IL affords a reason why
We should bc separated. You, here. are
ireemen. I suppose. voice" iss, sir." y
Pcrhar- you have long sccn free. or all your
lives. Your race are suffering, in my orin'
ION, the creates, wrong indicted on any peo'
PIE. But even when you cease 20 be slaves
you are ye, far removed from being placed
on an equality With the white race. You
are cut OF from many Of the advantages
which the other race enjoy. The aspiration
Of man i. to enjoy equality with the beet
when tree but on this broad continent not
u single man Of your race i. made the equal
o. ours.
go where you are treated the bc.t and The
bar !. .,ill upon you. | do no, propose 20
discus. this. tui 10 present 1t as fact with
which We have TO deal. | cannot alter IL Il
| would. IL ia fact about which We all
think and Ieel alike. and you. We look
To our conditions owing to the existence OF
the two race. ON this continent. need no,
recoun, to you the effects upon white men
growing out OF the institution Of slavery
bslie,s ~ It. general evil effects on the
white race. See our present condition. The
country engaged in war. Our white men
sutiin: one another's ,hroats. None know.
inc how FAR il will extend, and then eonsid.
er wha, We know n be the truth. Bu, Tor
YOUR race among US there could not he a
war. although many men engaged on either
side Do not care for you one way or the 9TH
sr. Nevertheless, repeat, without the in
s,itu,ion Of slavery aud the cOloEcd race as
a basis, the war could not have an existence.
1, Is better Tor Us both, therefore, 10 be sep
araied. know that there are free men
among you, who. even ii they could better
their condition, are not a. much inclined u
co on, VI the country Us those who. beine
slaves. could obtain their freedom on ,hl'
condition. suppose one Of the principal
diisulties ia the way Of colonization IL, that
the tree cOlorcd man canno, seo that hi'
comfort would Be advanced by IL. You nay
believe you can lave in Washington or clse
where in the United States the remainder o
your life. perhaps more 30 than you can u
any foreign country. Hence You may com,
to the conclusion that you have nothing /,
90 with the idea Oi sOiu: to foreign coun
try. THIS is-l speak Va no unkind sense
an extremely sel6,b view Of the case; bu
you oush; to DO s3me,hins TO help ihos'
who are not - fortunate a. your'elSe.
There i. an willinsness On the par, Of oui
people. harsh Us !, may b.. Tor your Ire
coiorcl people to remain with Us No.
YOU could give start 10 the white people
you would open vide door for many to b
made free. We deal with those whoar no
free at the beginning. and whose intellect
are eloudcd by slavery. Wo have very poo
material to start with. II intelligent color
ell people. such as are before me. wOul,
move ia this matter, much might be accom-
pli.hed Il is exceedingly important tina
VIC have meu i the beginning capable o
thinking as white men, and not those VII
have been systematically Oppressed. Their
is much to encourage you. For the sake Q
your race you should sacrifice something o
your present comfort for the purpose Of be
ins Us grand in that rrspee, as the whit
people. IL Is cheering though, through
out lie, ,ha, something can be done to ame
liOra,e the condition VI those who have beef
subs to the hard usasss Of the world. i
!. diiheul, TO make man miserable whil
he feels he is worthy Of himself. and claim
kindred to the great God who made hin.
In the American Revolutionary war sac
ridees were made by men engaged in II, bu
they were eheered BY the future, Genera
Washington himself endurd greater phy'i
e.l hardship than II he had remained
British subject, ye, he wasa happy ma
eSo.n.e he ~as engaged 10 b'neastins h'
race. Something for the children OF hi
neighbOrs. having mn, Of his own.
The Colony Of Liberia has been in exist
enee for long time. In certain sense
Is success. The old President Of Liberia
p,h.,.. ha. in.t han with nm. ,ha &c.