Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-08
Reply to the President by the COIored
People of NeNvtOwn, L. L.

We, the colored citizens of Queens county,
N. Y, having met in mass meeting, according
to public notice, to consider the speech of
Abraham Lincoln, President of the United
States, addressed to a committee of free col
ored men, called at his request at the White
House in Washington, on Thursday Aug. IA,
1862, and to express our views and opinions
of the same; and whereas, the president de-
sireS to know in particular our views on the
subject of being colonized in Central Ameri-
ca, or some other foreign country, we will
take the present opportunity to express our
opinions most respectfully and freely, since
as loyal Union colored Americans and Chris
tians we feel bound to do so.
First, We rejoice that we are colored
Americans, but deny that we are different
race of people," us God has made of one
blood all nations that dwell on the face of the
earth, and has hence no respect of men in re-
gard to color, neither ought men to have res
| pect to color as they have not made them
selves or their color.
Second, The president calls our attention
particularly to this question: ''Why should
we leave this country?" This, he says, is
perhaps the first question for proper consider.
alton. Wewill answerthi question by show
ing why we should remain in it: This is our
country by birth, consequently we are accli-
mated and in other respects better adapted to
it than to any other country. This is our ma
tive country, we have as strong attachment
naturally to our native hills, valleys, plains
luXuriant forests, flowing streams, mighty
rivers, and lofty mountains as any other peo-
pie. Nor can we fail to feel a strong attach
ment to the whites with whom our blood has
been commingng from the earliest days of
this our country. Neither can we forget and
| disown our white kindred. This is the coun-
| try of our choice being our fathers country.
Third, Again, we are interested in its well
fare above every other country; we love this
land, and have contributed our share towards
its prosperity and wealth. This we have done
by cutting down forests, Subduing the soil,
cultivating fields, constructing roads digging
canals. We have, too, given our aid in build
ing cities and villages, in building and sup
porting churches and schools. We have aid
ed in procuring 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, to.
bacco, the leading staples of the country, sc.
In these ways, and many others too numerous
to be named here, have we aided the nation
in her growth and progress, and contributed
to her general prosperity.
Fourth, Again. we believe, too, we have
the right to have applied to ourselves those
rights named in the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, ''that all men are born free and equal
and have certain inalienable rights among
which are life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness," rights which we have derived from
the Creator; since we helped to gain our
country's independence under Washington,
on her battle fields as well as in the corn
fields, and we helped to maintain the same in
1914 under General jackson at New Orleans,
and are willing and ready even now to fight
our countrys battles against saveholdng
traitors and rebels. who are staying thousands
of freemen and seeking the very lite-blood of
the nation; and we hope and believe that the
time is not far distant when, instead of being
called upon to leave our country, the loyal
and just people of the country will pass judg-
ment on the men who stopped the million of
our brave hearts, strong arms and willing
hands, desiring to fight our country's battles
in her most trying hour and sorest need.
While bleeding and struggling for life against
slaveholding traitors, and at this very time,
when our country is struggling for life, and
one million freemen are believed to be scarce
ly sufficient to meet the foe we are called up
on by the president of the United States to-
| leave this land and go to another country to
| carry cut his favorite scheme of colonization.
But at this crisis we feel disposed to refuse
the offers of the president, since the call of
our suffering country is too loud and lmpera-
| tive to be UNDECIDED.
| Again, the president says that congress had
placed sum of money at his disposition for
the purpose Of aiding the colonization of the
| people OF African descent or some portion of
them IN some country, therefore making it
ms duty, as 1t had been long time his incli-
| nation, to favor that course. Our answer is
this : There is no country like our own. Why
not declare slavery abolished and favor orr
| peaceful colonization in the rebel states or
some portion of them? We are all in favor
of this, and we believe the majority of those
| who elected you to the office of the chief
magistrate Of the nation are in favor, also, of
| this measure. We believe that this would be
wise and Just policy, and would receive the
appreciation Of God and all good men. We
would cheerfully return there and give our
most willing aid to deliver our loyal colored
bretheren and other Unionists from the tyr
amy of rebels to our government.
We coored people are all loyal men, which
is more than any other class Of people in the
country can say. There are Yankee, Eng
fish, Scotch, German and French rebels, but
no colored rebels; and let us add, Mr.. Presi-
dent, that no one suffers by our presence but
rebels and traitors, and if we were permitted
to fight our country's battles, and an army of
colored men were permitted to march into
those rebel states, well armed and equipped,
we believe, with your Excellency, that the
rebels would suffer from our presence but
the Union would be saved without spades and
shovels.
Congress has also passed the confiscation
and emancipation bill. Now, if the president
is disposed to give the colored people the ben
efits guaranteed by that bill, and declare the
rebel states free states, we would colonize
ourselves in our native states, without the aid
of the government, and the president might
use the money to defray the expenses of the
war.
In conclusion, we would say that, in our
belief the speech Of the president has only
served the cause of our enemies, who wish TO
insult and mob us, as we have, since its pub
LEGATION, been repeatedly insulted and told
| that we must leave the country. Hence, we
conclude that the policy Of the president
toward the colored people of this country is a
! mistaken policy.