New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-09-20
Eapatriation Of the Colored Race.
BYBERRy, Philadelphia, Aug. ~,


States" and as a colored beg the privilege OF
saying few words in reply. Forty-fve years ago,
an overture similar to that contained in your address
came TO the ooloied people from the City OF wash
ington. That proposed Western Africa IA the happy
place where they TO be cooriled; thu. proposes
Central America. On the receipt of that PROPOSE
ton public meeting Of the colored people OF Phila
delphia was called, with view OF expressing thtir
opinions of it. 1t held in Bethel Church, III the
month of January 1917, and my houOred father-in-
law the late James Forten, was its Chairman. IL
sdopted series of resolutions, the first and last OF
which were as follows:
Rered That ancestors mot OF choice we've the his
successful cuvstors Of the wiis OF AneIita; we tier
descendants feel ourselves entitled TO participate IN the bless
irgs Of her uxurant soil which their blood snd s"est en-
rished and any sy;em Of measures having
tendency to bsnsh from her bosom would not only be
uel direct violation Of those principles winch have
| been the boast Of this Republic , -,
Reored That having the sIonesi confidence in the usec
If God and he uhisntropy the Free Stste cheey
submit our destne, the guidance Of Him who suffers not
sparrow to tall without hi special providence.
/ Senator Pomeroy! thee were the sentiments OF
the colored people of Philadelphia and OF the whole
land in 1917. They have baen their sentiments ever
since and they will he found TO be their sentiments
now-exceptiOns nere may have been ana may DE
ayain--I speak of the whole, not of fraction
Sir for more than twenty years the question of colo
nization agtaed and divided this country. The col
Ored people stamped IT with the seal OF Their feproba-
tion the whites acquiesoed III the justice OF the ue
/
rest Now it is revived; the apple Of discoTd Is
again thrown Into the community, and as Though
YOU had not already enough 10 divide aud distract
yog new scheme If hii upon, ana deliberately sent
upon its errand Of mischief.
! Sir, there some aspects 10 this project winch
surely its advocates canuo; have duly consideied.
You purpose to exile hundreds OF thousands oil
your laborers. The wealth of a country consists
mainly in its labor. With what law OF economy
political or social, can YOU reconcile this PROJECT 10
IDYf an from rshD 80
fields, drive your teams, ard help build your houses
Already tie farmers around NE begin 70 fetl tue
piuching want OF labor; how will it be after this
enormous draitl l confess the project seems TO ne
one OF insanity.
What will foreign nations, on whose good or ILL
will 30 much is supposed now to depend, think OF
this project These nations have none OF TINS yoi-
gar prejudice against cOnl leXion. What Will they
low-born prejudice, will deliberately plan to drve
out hundreds OF Thousands of its moot peaoeabie,
, industrious, and competent laborers
MIR. Roebuck said, IN late speech at sheffeld,
/ as an argument for intervention, that the feeling
aganst the black man was stronger IN the North
than in the South" Mr.. Roebuck now repeat
that assertion, and point to this Governmental pro-
Jet IN cOrFobOTaton Of It's truth.
A "SlavelOldeis Convention" held a few
years since in Mary lard consider whether It would
not be best either TO enslave the free blacks Of
that State or Danish them. The question was dis
cussed and Committee, the Chairman OF which
Il. =. Senator BedrCc, WAs appointed 70 report
upon il. That Committee reported that 10 enslsve
men now free would be inhuman, and 10 ban-h
them from tie State would he 10 iufiict deadly
blow upon the material interests Of tie Common
wealth. that their laLor was indispensable to the
welfare OF the State. Sir, your Government pur-
poses 70 do do that which the Shareholders Conyen
ton of Mary and, with all their hate OF the free
blacks, declared to be inconsistent with the public
interest.
Bot /, is said this is a question of prejudice-of
a fN.a ha..s
Tie Presidens has said, "Whether IT IL right or
wrong need not now discuss it," Great God lie
Justice nothing lis honor nothing Is pc.
ouniary interest 70 be sacrificed 10 this insane aud
vulgar bate
Bot j, If said this is the whte mans country. Not
30, Sir. This il the rcd mans country by natural
right and tie black mans by virtue OF he suffer-
iDgs and toll. Your fathers by violence drove the
red man out and forced the black man IN. The chill
dren Of the black man have enriched the soil by
their tesrs and sweat, and blood. Sir, we were
born here, and here we choose 10 remain. For 20
years we were goaded and harassed by systematic
efforts to make us COLOMBO. We were coaXed and
mObbed, snd mObbed aud cOaxod, but we reiu.ed 70
bulge. We planted ourselves upon our inalenable
rights and proof against all the efforts that
were made to expatriate rs For the last 10 years
we have enjoyed comparative quiet. Now again
the malign project Is preached, and again, in the
name Of humanity az before, We are invited TO leave
In God name what good do you expect 10 accom-
plish by such "a course I II you will not let our
brethren in bonds 20 free If you will not let us ~
old fathers share i'll The privileges OF the gov
eminent; if YOU will not let Us even help fight the
battles of the country, III Heavens name, at least,
let alone. IL that TOO great boon 10 ask of your
magnanimityl
SIR, have spoken with freedom but not trust,
with dlsrespect. II have expressed mysef with
warmth, put yourself in my place, aud ark If you
wOnld not do the My revered father, VIII |
liam Purvis Of Charleston, 5. C., was loyal citizen
OF tins country, and a true patriot lie died leav-
ing an escucbeOn without a stain. My father'in- /
law, James ForteD, served this country in the
Revolution of l776 and suffered as captive Of war
on board the British prison-ship, Old JeFsey. lie
died, too, without n Blot upon hls memory. my /
self have paid the taxes and borne the burdens Of
the Government without beng allowed share III !
liz privileges. OF this don't now complain. IL /
bitterness Of spirit, but with unwaveriDg loyalty,
have been true 10 the country which has never |
ceased to iujure me. i have hoped and labored for
better things; still hope and labor, aud don't COM
plain.
But ha me olone I elect to stay on the soil on
which was born, AUD on tie plot OF ground which
have fairly bought aud honestly paid for. Don't
advise ne to leave and don't add insult 10 injury by
telling me III for my own good. OF that am To
te the judge. 1t is in vain you talk TO about
1.-TWO races and tleir mutual antagOniBm.' In
the matter OF rgne u ere Ia but one race aud that
IL tie human race. God has made Of one blood all
nations, to dwell On the face OF the earth. Aud il Il
ID not true That there Is a natural anagOnism be-
'ne'" .nc "Hi'e anu colDFeh portion OF thlh commu-
nity. lou may antagonze M, but We do not an,ag-
Onz7 you. You may hate us, but we do not hale
you. 1t may argue want OF spirit to ching TO those
VINO seek 10 banlsh us, but such ia nevertheless the
fact.
Sir, this is our country much AZ il il yours, and
will not leave It, Your ships may be at the door
bat we choose TO remain. few may 20, US "a few II
went 20 liayti and few to Liberia but The colored
people Il DIass will not leave the land Of their
birth. o. course, can only speak by authority for
nv eI 4 Sbonn I