The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-07-30
COLONIZATION.

The Secretary of State communicated to
to Congress short time before its adjourn
ment, proposition Of the Danish Govern
ment, through its able and esteemed minis
ter to this country to take off of our hands
for colonization in the Danish West India
| Islands, several thousand of rc-capturcd AT.
ricans, or of the contraband cagroes, which
| the Government now has on its hands with.
out know very well what to do with them
| Slavery does not exist in the Danish islands,
| therefore any negroes sent thither will be
| free and receive reasonable wages for their
labor, in which the islands are now def
cient, This plan of disposing of re-captur-
ed Africans has some features that are un-
/ Objectionable, whether regarded in the light
OF humanity or economy. Instead of pay.
ing the great expenses, as our Government
now does, of sending those poor creatures
back to the coast Of Africa, to return possi-
bly, to native barbarism, the Government of
Denmark will receive and convey them -
short voyage - to her islands, free of eX-
pense, give them freedom, employment, and
support, aud some share at least of civii-
cation. The exception to the acceptance of
the proposition is that the Government can
in no way control the right, or say in what
particular locality certain class of people,
who have earned their freedom shall live.
So far as the re-captured African is con-
cerned, it would at least be advantageous
to accept the proposition - leaving it. of
course, discretionary matter with the
captiycs, to either return TO their native
land or go to the West India Islands.
\. b. Owing 10 the press of matter for
several weeks, tho foregoing, which was in
type, was unavoidably delayed, Since then
the proposition of Denmark, relative to re-
captured Africans has been accepted. This
is in accordance with the law passed by
Congress Just before its adjournment. In
accordance with this act Secretary Smith
has entered into an engagement with Wal
dean Van RaaSloff, Charge d'Aflares for the
government of Denmark, whereby the form
er stipu!ates that all negroes, mulattoes or
other colored persons captured from slay-
ers by United States vessels of war be tax
en- as eNpeditiously as possible 10 the island
of 81, CroiX, in the West Indies. and landed
at place called West End. Here all ex-
ponse on the part of our government ceases ;
but our commercial agent at the point has
authority to examine, stately, as to the
condition of the blacks. The Danish gov
ernment engages to provide these negroes,
etc, with suitable instructions and with
comfortable clothing and shelter. and to
employ them at wages according TO the
provisional act announced by the Govern
or of -. Croix on the 26th of July. ls49
The act embraces twenty-three sections,
touching the relative rights and obligations
of employers and the black laborers. The
terms of labor are twelve months, and en-
gssements made by heads of families in
clude the support OF children and depen-
dent relatives, Contracts for labor must be
made before witnesses. The working days
are five in the week, TO commence at sun
rise and end at sunset, with an hour for
breakfast and two hours for dinner. Extra
wages are given for work in extra hours.
4 house, a small piece of land and ten cents
a day, on the average, are allowed the la
borer, Wages cannot be attached for pri-
vate debts. For neglect TO work there are
penalties IN the reduction of rations and
pay, aud in gross cases punishment is in
hseted upon sentence OF magistrate