Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-09-16
The Negroes make Reply TO the Presidents Ceon
cation Scheme.

triet Of Columbia, in which be appealed to
their patriotism, asking them to depart
from their country for their countrys good
ard for their own good. Many Of the lead
ing blacks have since held conventions up
on the subject in different parts Of the
country, at which they have unanimously
agreed to stay. At one convention in Ohio,
composed Of mulattoes, they agreed that,
"WbereaS, in this favored land, we are
''chiefy the descendants Of statesmen Or
"the blood kindred Of the first families Of
"the Anglo Saxon race in Virginia and
maryland; and whereas, we are free from
"the expenses Of Government, free from La
''bilty to warand in all respects chosen
'and preferred people on account Of our col
''or, therefore, resolved that we viii stay
Sin our native country among our white
kindred; and resoLOed further, that we
"are the walking monuments bearing the
.'eyidence that the prejudice Of color does
/
mot exist, and all that profess suca pref
"udices do SO falsely and for demagogue
''purposes and that such are really and tru-
"ly known to love the colored race above
"their own"
We copy the following report Of a mass
meeting Of colored people, held the 2ooh
August, New Town, n. Y. 1t gives the
main reasons for refusi ng to emigrate:
We, the colofed citizens Of Quebec Co,
N. Y, having met in mass meeting, ac-
cording to public notice, to consider the
speech of Abraham Lincoln, President Of
the United States, addressed to commit
tee of Free Colored Men, called at bis re-
quest at tie White House in Washington,
on Thursday Aug. IA, 1862, and to ex-
press our views and opinions of the same: :
and whereas, the President desires in par
ticular our views on the subject Of being
colonized in Central America, or some
other foreign country, we will take the
present opportunity to express our opin-
ions most respectfully and freely, since as
loyal Union colored Americans and Chris
lians we feel bound to do so.
First We rejoice that we are colored
Americans, but deny that we are "differ-
ent race of people," as God has made of
one blood al! nations that dwell on the
face of the earth, and has hence no respect
of men in regard to color neither ought
men to have respect to color as they have
not made themselves or their color.
Second. The President calls our atten-
ton particularly to this question: "Why
should we leave this countrys" This, he
says, is perhaps the first question for prop
er consideration. We will answer this
question by showing why we should re-
main in it: This is our country by birth.
consequently we are accimated and in
other respects better adapted to it than to
any other country. This il our native
country: we have as strong attachments
naturally to our native hills, valleys, plains,
luxunant forests, flowing streams, mighty
rivers, and lofty mountains as any other
PEOPLE. Nor can we fail to feel a strong
attachment to the whites with whom our
blood has been commingling from the ear
liest DAYS of this our cotHtry. Neither can
we forget and disown our white kindred
This is the country of our choice being our
fathers country.
Third. Again, we are in crested in its
welfare above every other country; we
love this land, and have contributed our
share to its prosperity and wealth. This
we have done by cutting down forests, sub
DUNG the soil, cultivating fields, construct
ing roads, digging canals. We have too,
given our aid in building cities and villa
ges, in building and supporting churches
aud schools. We have aided in pr curing
its mineral resources, as coal, iron, and the
precious metals; helped IN the construction
of railroads, bridges, telegraph lines,
steamboats,, and ships; assisted in cattle-
breeding, raising various kinds OF produce
as corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, cotton, rice,
tobacco, the leading staples Of the country,
DC. In these ways and many others toe
numerous to be m entioned here, have we
aided the nation in her growth and pro
gress, ana contributed to her general pros
perity.
Fourth, Again, we believe, too, We
have the rights to have applied to our
selves those rights named in the Declara-
ton of Independence, 'that all men are
born free and equal and have certain in
aHenable rights, among which are life, lib
erty and the pursuit Of happiness" rights
which we have derived from the Creator;
since we helped to gain our country's in
dependence, under Washington, on hel
battle-fields, as well as in the corn-felds,
and we helped to maintain the same lu
1914 under Gen. Jackson OF New Orleans,
and are willing and ready even now to fight
our country's battles against slaveholdihg
traitors and rebels, who are staying thous-
ands Of freemen and are seeking the very
i hfe-blood Of the nation; and we hope and
believe that the time is not far distant when
: instead Of being called upon TO leave oul
country, the loyal and just people Of the
country will pass judgment upon the men
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