Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-04-29


pet. TONERS must be listened to. II not at pres
cut, at least at some time not remote, their
PRAYER must lie answered by the Congress Of the
United States This memorial is very briri, ard
drawn in apt terms aud in language the most
respectful and courteous To Congress ani to the
people, aud Mt the request OF the person who
intrusle1 it 10 me, aud in his hehlll mud in br
hllf Of the memorialists, | ask that II my lw
read ut the desk aud referred to the Committee
on Foreign Relations.
Tho Secretary read the memorial, as i1lluws
10 Ms Honorable The Senate and House Gf Repre-
4,tiaiipes or Me i'aHeL Sfatcs IF 1mcrtrI ~
CuRJress dSstmdiff;
The undersigned for themselves, their rela
tiyr~, and frenls, whom they represent. deiIe,
by this memorial, most respectfully to show u
the Congress and people Of this great country
Of which, too, they ARE natives. but humbly boih
that they appreciate to the fullest extent, the
humane actions which are now iuaugurated To-
give freedom to their TO long oppressed rnloret
race; but they believe that this freedom will
result inutiuusly, unless there shall be opened
TO cnlortl people region to which they may
emgrate-a country which is suited to their
organization, and in which they mAy seek and
secure, by their own industry, that mental ami
physical development which will allow them M
honorable position in the families OF Gods great
world,
colored race is not to he denied this is caused
be the peculiar condition in which they have
been raised--wilhOut the advantages ot general
education 50 wisely and freely accorded lo the
white cit Zens But there are those among them
who have secured the blessings Of knowledge,
and who are capable Of informing their brethren
OF what is for their ultimate good, MS the lenders
of the Pilgrim Fathers informed those who came
| with them IL plant clVll anu iehsOns merry
! upnn this continent.
To these we are indebted for the knowledge
that Liberia is too distau, from the land of our
birth, and that however kindly aud wisely the
original plans Of colonization may have been
laid for that country, neither those plans nor
that region are suited to our present condition,
aud thar il will he impossible for us ever To
move there in sufficient numbers To secure for us
the full Liberties of the human race, the elements
Of which we have learned here.
From them, too, we have learned the deep
degradation and wretcheiness in which our re
latiyes were sunk who were induced by henrtess
speenlatois to emigrate to llayli. Slavery, il
| il must lie borne, is more eudurnble under n
race we have long been taught to Look up to and
regard as superior, than under one originating
10 Africa, degraded by ahiccl slavery and Span
iah and French greed, and still further brutal
zed by unresirAined and licentons liberty, such
as exists with those who hold the power Ia
control the poor Immigrant III 1Hyllt OF etthcl
of tue Airico-West IudA Islands.
OF our own will we cannot 90 either 10 1.-The
ria or these islands. Ne have in the United
States been taught to Vencratc virtue, 10 strive
10 attain il, aud We can, with humble pride
point to as wide spread examples Of the bench
Of these teachings as can amy similar number d
men, with no greater advantages than ourselves
Therefore We wish to shun those countries where
the opposite Of virtue rules, where vice rcigni
supreme, where our very blood would he re
luirel il We opposed its Indulgence.
, Though colofed and declared from the right
Of citizenship our hearts none the less cling Il
the land of our birth, We do not wish to III
driven beyond the ocean, where we cannot hea
from those with whom We have grown up, will
oil the fond IememhranGes of childhood.
We now number AZ many suula as won tn
freedom of your sires from British rule W
may not aom Ike as capable to govern uurselve
Us they We're, but We will, with your mid, lie n
Jealous, and with Gods blessing, VT viii lie Il
successful.
There is IL anl-pari Of this your own cent
nent-to which We want To go 1t is that por
ton generally called Central America, there nj
I lands there without inhabitants, yet bearin
spontaneously all that is suited to our race.
! Aid us to get there, protect us for shor
while, aud we will prove ourselves worthy an
grateful The labor which, in servitude, ha
raised co ton, sugar. and tobacco, will do til
same not in the blood Of bondage, but in I'll
free spirit Of liberty, and with the exuiant knoY
ledge, that it is to be part of your commerc
and to be given in exchange for the production
of our old native land.
II we are regarded as an evil here, (and v
4 may become so hy our competing with yol
white labor while here for the necessities
4 existence send us where, instead Of being Il
evil, we may be made u blessing, by increasii
, the value Of that white labor, while Mt the san
! time we offer 10 it greater comforts in reducil
the costs in producing, by our own labor, tho
S articles in abundance which all require for heal
| and sustenance.
/ DO not We besecch you, recognize and hul
= up foreign nations Of the black race, who ha,
no sympathy iu thought or language with til
c race which has grown up with you, aud wi
e ouly seek by such recognition, shaped, as il
J.. by European diplomacy, 10 SOW discord al
e trouble with us here, that you aud oursely
e may be involved in Il common ruin.
. Send us-our prayer is, send m-to that cou
y try we have indicated, that we may not
n wholly excluded from you that we may mid
II bringing to you that great commerce Of the Pi
+ citc, which will still further increase the veal
in and power of your country and your petitIone
L will ever pray.
r The memorial was referred to the Commit
4 on Foreign Relations.
> 10 show the interest taken in the subie,
o even by the blacks themselves, We subjo
h the following Memorial of Leonard Dugge
George A. Bailey, and two hundred al
1t forty other free colored persons of Califc
y mia, praying Congress to provide means t
= their colonization to some country in viii,
. their color will not be badge of dcgrnd
Ii ton. IL was read in the House on the lG
u OF January, and ordered to be printed =
,t To lie honorable Senate and House Of represent
!. Hves Of lie tahed States IN Congress dsseabi
b. This memorial of colorel persons, natives
II the gaissa s'1sss aQ5 a1lSff5if
81 Thht in view OF iisem5ily allsi 6sahiag ~ whi
the celored RopalsNeif fqf ave pei,sd ei5gq
labor dddet1ltiiei " ibtinty u pfittd 'uf many
the most important privileges OF citizenship, a
ie denied the rights and franchises freely extend
ry to all other natiye.born citizens and also
Ee every other class of aliens; their being mark
d. out, not only by law, hut also by public sem
rl ment, which is stronger or more effective til
| law, as an inferior and degraded caste, prcyei
Mt ed by the force OF circumstances iroN engagi
ne in honorable or lucrative empoymenis, thus
y; ing in great measure prevented from leadi
u life either honorable to themselves or use
10 TO their countTy-a strong aud rapidly ncreasi
is feeling has grown up among large portion
er the free cOlored population (prohAbly already
ll majority of the whole) in favor Of emigration
il those countries where color is not considered
nd badge OF degradation, and has ceased to act
on a barrier to honorable advancement.
hO While there is considerable diversity of OPT
RI ion as to the best location to migrate to, soI
in prelerrinE Africa, sOme the British West Inc