The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-16
The President on Colonization.

1nO 1 ICSluClkt VI SVkuAI4dI:Ou
Below We print the talk of President Lincolr
the othet day with some colored gentlemen in
reference To colonization The subject is one OF
great Importance, and We are glad to see the
President opening the discussion:
WASHINGTON, August Is.
This afternoon th3 President Of the United
States gave audience 10 i. Committee of colored
men at the White House. They were intro
Emigration Il. IL Thomas, the Chairman,
remarked that they rere there by invitation, to
hear what the Executive had to say to them.
Having al. been seated, the President, after
u few preliminary observations informed them
that u sum Of money had been appropriated by
Congress. and placed at his disposition, for the
purpose o! aiding the colonization IN come
country OF the people, or portion of them, of
Atrcan descent, thereby making it his duty, as
1t had for Il long time been his inclination, TO
favor that cause aud why, he asked, should
the people of your race I've eolonzed, and Ehere2
Why shond they leave this country This is,
perhaps, the first question for proper conesdera-
lion. You aud we are Different races. We
have between us Ia broader difference than ex-
ISIS between almost any other two races
Whether it Is right or wrong Deed not discuss.
but this physiea! difference Is greA: disadvan-
tage to us BOTH as | think. YeAlr race suti9'
very greatly many OF them, by living among
US, while ours su tor from your presence In O.
word, We suffer on each SIDE. Ii shis is admit
ted, II affords reason at least, why we should
be separated. gu, here. are tres,aen, | sup
pose.
A FoICK-Nes, Sir.
The PREsIpENr-Perhaps you haze long been
free, or all your lives. Your race are suffering
III my judgment the greatest wrong Inflicted ON
any people. But even when yea cease to be
slaves You are yet far removed from being placed
on III equ lty with the white race. You are
cut off from many OF the advantages Ehich the
other race enjoys. The aspiration of men is TO
enjoy equality with the best when free, but on
This broad continent not q single man of your
Face is made the equal Of a single man of ours
Go where you are treated the best, and the ban
Is still upon you. DO not propose t% discuss
this, but to present 1t as u fact, with vhlch we
have deal. cannot alter il ii | would II is u
fact about which We all think and feel alike, /
and you. We look to our condition. Owing
to the existence ot the TWO races on this CONT
nent, need not recount to you the effects upon
white iuen, growing ont OF the institution Of
Slavery. | believe i'll lis general evil eaecls on
the white race See our present condltion-the
country engaged IN war our white men cut
ting one another $ throats-nOne knowing how
far 1t will extend-.tnd then consider what we
know To be the truth But for your race among
US there could not he war, although many men
engaged On either side, DO not care for you one
way or the other. Nevertheless, repeat, wlthou,
tne insulation OF Slavery, and the coloreA race
basis, the war could no have an existence
1t is better tor US both, therefore, to be separ
ated. know that there are free men amoDp
you who, even If they could better their cond
rlon, are not as much inclined to 20 out of the
c-untry as those who, being slaves, coald OBJ
laln their freedom Oh this condition. | suppos,
one OF the principal difficulties in the gay Of
colonization Is that the tree colored man canno
that his comfort would DO advanced by it
You may believe that you can live in Washing
ton, or elsewhere in the United States, the re
maindsr OF your life perhaps more 80 than 70,
can in any foreign coun ry, and hence you ma,
come to the conclusion that you haze nothinl
to do with the idea OF going to a foreign coun
try. There is Il speak in no unkind sens J al
extremely selfish view Of the case But VOL
ought To do something to help those who ar
not so fortunate as yourselves. There is an ur
Willingness vi tbo paie vi our peOple, marsh d
it may De, Tor you ir,e coloied people to renal
with US. Now, if you could give start to tt
white people you would open wider door +,
! m ny to be made free If we deal with tho.
VIII, are not tree at the beginning, and who,
intellects are clouded by Slavery, We have yer
> poor material to start with. Ii Intelligent co
3 ored men, such Us are before me, would mo,
ia TINS matter, much might be accomp ishe,
1t is exceedingly important that we have N,
at the beginning capable Of thinking as viii
= men, and not those who have been systema,
t cdily oppressed There is much to encourai
t yyu. For the sake of your race you should IA
: rlhce somethiog OF your present comfort for Il
y pnrposa OF being US grand in that respect rs ii
{ white people. 1t is IL cheering though throug
: oat He thai something can be done to ameli
t late the condition OF those who have been su
= jet TO The hard usage Of the world 1t is dli
u Gait 10 make man miserable while he lells
n is worthy OF himself, and CLAIMS kindred to /
d great God who made him. In the Americ