Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-08-26
The President on Colonization.

On Monday the 18th inst, the Presi-
dent of the United States gave audience to
a committee of colored men at the White
House. They were introduced by Rev. ]
Mitchell, Commissioners of Emigration.
Z. NJ. Thomas, the chairman, remarked
that they We're there by invitation, 10 hear
what the Executive had to say to them.
Having all been seated, the President,
after few preliminary observations, in
formed them that a sum of money had
been appropriated by Congress and placed
at his disposition for the purpose of aiding
the colonization in some country Of the
people, or a portion Of them. Of African
descent, thereby making it his duty, as it
had long been his inclnation,to favor
that cause; and why, he asked, should the
people Of your race be colonized and where
Why should they leave this country? This
is, perhaps, the first question for proper
consideration. You and we are different
races. We have between us a broader diff
ference than exists between almost any
other Two races. Whether ii IS right or
wrong need not discuss, but this physical
difference is a great disadvantage to US
both as l 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 side. If this
IS admitted, it affords a reason, at least,why
We should be separated, You who are
here are all freemen, | suppose.
A yoice-''Yes, sir"
The President Perhaps you have long
been free, or all your lives. Your race
are suffering, in my judgment, the great
est wrong inflicted on any people. Bat
even when you cease to be slaves, you are
act far removed from being placed on an
equality nth the aOhite race. You are cut
off from many Of the advantages which the
other race enjoy. The aspiration Of men is
to enjoy equality with the best when free;
but on this broad continent not single
man Of your race is made the equal Of a
sinole man of ouis. Go where you are
treated the best and the ban is still upon
you. | do not propose 10 discuss this, but
to present it as fact with which we have
to deal. cannot alter it if | would. 1t is
fact about which we all think and feel
alike, and you. We look to our condi-
ton, owing to the existence Of the two races
on this continent. | need not recount to
YOU the effects upon white men growing
out Of the institutions Of slavery. believe
in its general evil effects on the white race.
See our present condition-the country en-
gagged in war, our white men cutting one
another's throats, none knowing how far it
will extend, and then consider what We
know to be truth But for your race
among us there could aot be war, although
many men engaged on either side do not
care for you Que way or the other Never
theless repeat, without the institution Of
slavery, and the colored race as basis,
the war could not have an existence. 1t is
better for us both, therefore, to be s pera-
ted | know that there are free men
among who, even if they could better their
condition, are not as much inclined to 90
out Of the country as those who, being
slaves, could obtain their freedom on this
condition. | suppose one Of the principal
difficulties in the way Of colonization is that
! the free colored man cannot see that his
comfort would be advanced by it. You
may believe sou can live in Washington,
or elsewhere in the United States, the re-
mainder Of your life perhaps more so than
you can in any foreign country, and hence
you may come to the conclusion that you
have nothing to do with the idea Of Going
to forei sn country. This is Il speak in
no unkind sense an extremely selfish view
of the case.
But you ought to do something to help
those who are not so fortunate as your
selves. There's an unwilIngnefs on the
part Of our people, harsh as it may be, for
you free cclored people to remain with us.
Now if you could give a start to the white
people you would open wide door for
many to be made free. If we deal with
those who arc not free at the beginning,
and whose intellects are clouded by slavery
we have very poor material to start with.
Intelligent colored men, such as are before
me, would move ia this matter, much
might be accomplished. 1t IS exceedingly
important that we have men at the begin
ming capable Of thinking as white men,and
not those who have been Systematically OPP
pressed.
There is much to encourage you. For
the sake Of your race you should sacrifice
something Of your present comfort, for the
purpose of being as grand in that respect
as the white people. 1t is cheering
thought through life that something can
be done to ameliorate the condition q
those who have been subject to the bard
usuages of the world. It is difficult to
make a man miserable when he feels he IS
worthy of himself, and claims kindred to
the great God who made him. In the
American Revolutionary war, sacrifices
were made by men engaged in i, but they
were cheered by the future, Gen. Wash
ington himself endured greater physical
hardships than if he had remained Bnt-
ish subject, and yet he was happy man,
because he was engaged in benehting bis