Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-20

President Lincoln on CoiOnization.
WAsHISGToN. Aug. II.
This afternoon, the President of the United
States gave audience To n committee of coiored
men, at the White House. They were introduced
by Rev J Mitchell, Commissioner OF Emisra
ton. +. NJ. Thomts, the chairman. rem ,rked
that they were there by invitation, to heir what
the Executive had To saw 10 them. Having all
been seated. the President after few preiimi
nary observations, informed them thIt sum Of
money had been appropriated by Congress. and
placed at his disposition. for the purpose of aid
ing the colonization, in some country, of the
people. or a portion of them of African descent.
thereby making il his duty as it had for long
time been his inclination. to layos that cause:
and why, he asked. should the people of your
race be cOlonzed. and whereI Why should the,
leave this couutr,Y This is, perhaps. the hrst
question for proper consideration. You and we
different races. We have between Us IA
broader difference than exists between almost
any other races. Whether il is right or
wrong. need not discuss. but this physical dit
ference IL great disadvantage To us both. as
think. Your race suffer very greatly, many OF
them by living among Us, while ours suffer from
Your presence la a word, we suffer on each
sile. IL this is admitted. it affords reason, ut
least. why should be separated. You here
are ireemen, | suppose.
a Noice-Yes. sir.
The President-Perlians YOU have long been
free. or all your lives. Your race are suffering.
in juds ment. the greatest wrong inflicted on
any people But even when YOU cetSe TO be
slaves, yOu are yet arremOvei from being placed
equality with the white You cut
oil from MANY OF the advantages which the other
race enjoy The aspiration OF men is 10 enjoy
equality with the best when free. but on this
8
m,de the equal OF single man oil ours. Go
where YOU are treated the best and the ban is still
upon YOU. / do not propose TO discuss this. but
TO present IL "A fact with which We have To deal
| cannot alter il, ii ] would l. is fact about
which we all think and feel alike. AMI you. We
Look To our condition, OWING To the existence OF
the two races on this continent. need not re
To you the effects upon white men. growing
out of the institution of slavery. | believe ia it,
general evil effects upon the white race See our
prssen' con,iiion-the country engaged in war.
white men cutting one another's thrOats-nOne
knowing how tar il will exiend-and then coiI
slider what we know To be tile truth. But t"r
Your race among Us there could not he war; al
though MANY men engaged either side DO
care Tor you one way or the other. NeVerlhe-
less. repeat, without the institution Ut slavery.
and the colored race basis, the could not
have existence Ii is better for us both. there
fore. to be separated | know that there are free
men among YOU Who. even it they could better
their condition, not much inclined to 70
ont ot the country, those, who being slaves.
could obtain their fir, edom this condition |
SUI p,se one OF the principal difficulties ia the way
ol colonization i that the free colorel IN ~ can
not see That his comfort would be advanced by Il
on may hel eve YOU en- live free in Washing
n or auS where in tie United States the remln-
der of your lite. perhaps more than you can in
al and hanpa mn ram N
the conclusion that you have nothing To do With
the idea at going "a foreign country. This is
Il speak M unkInd -en>e) AN extremely sci
hsh view of the case. But you ought Ia do
something To help those Who aIe not So fortunate
"a yourselves. There i an unwiln.ness on the
past at our people. harsh il may he. for YOU
Tree colorei people Ia rem,n with us Now ID
YOU could give start 10 the white people YOU
would Open vide door for many t. be made
free Ii We deal with those who are not free at
the beginning. and whose lntellects are eloudei
by slavery, We have very poor IN tterial To start
with IL ntelli-eE colored men. such as are te-
fore me- would move in this matter. much might
be accomplished. IL i exceedingly important
that We have men al the beginning capable at
thinking. white men. and not those who have
been sysIemat call, oppressed. There is much 10
encourage yuu. For the sake OF your rice YOU
should sacrifice something OF your present com
fort Tor the purpose OF being as grand in that
respect a. the white people. IL is a cheering
thought throughout lie that something can he
done 10 amellorate the condition OF those Who have
been subject % the hard u>ages of the world liz
Is difficult To make man miserable while he
feels he u worthy of himself and claims Kindred
To the great God Who made him. In the Amer.
can Revolutionary War sacrifices were IN ale by
men engaged in il. but they we're cheere,i by the
future. General Washington himself endured
greater physical harlshps than it he had remained
a British subject. Yet he was happy man. he
cause he was engaged m benett,ing his race:
something tor the children of his neg hbors. hav
ing none of his own.
The Colony OF Iberia has been in existence
long time. In certain sense il i success.
The old President OF Liberia. Roberts, has just