New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-15
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT
lie Holds that the White and Black Races
Cannot Dwell Together.
He Urges Intelligent Colored Men to
Exert Themselves for Colonization.
He Suggests Central America as the
Colony.
wAsnISsrop. Thursday, July "a, 1862

WAsHSGTop Thursday, July "a, 1902
This afternoon the President of the United States
gave audience to a COMMITTEES Of colored men at the
Whi'e House. They were introduced by the Rev.
j. Mitchell, Commissioner Of Emigration. L. NJ.
Thomas, the Chairman, remarked that they Were
there by invitation 70 hear whit the Executive had
TO say to them. Having all been seated the Presi-
dent af er few preliminary observations, Informed
them that u sum Of money bad been appropriated by
Congress- and placed at his disposition for the pur-
pore If aiding the colonization country of the
people, or q portion Of them, of African descent,
thereby making il bis duty, an ii had for long time
been his inclination 10 favor that canse; snt
Why, be asked should the people Of your race be
colored, and wherei Why should they leave this
comfy This IL, perhaps, the first question for
proper consideration. You and we are different
races. We have between us broader difference
than exists between almost any other two races
Whether It il night or wrong need not discuss, but
this physical difference is great disadvantage TO
us both as think your race suffer very greatly,
many of them by living among IA, while ours suffer
ON your presence. In q word we suffer on each
side. Ii thi. il admitted il affords reason at least
.by we should be separated You here are ireemen
snppoe.
A VOICE: Yes, air.
The Prcsideut-Perhaps you have long been free.
or all your lives. Your race are suffering in nv
Judgment, the greatest wrong inflicted gu any people.
But even when you cease TO h. slaves, you are yet
far removed from being ppced on an equality with
the white race. You are cut of from many Of the
sdv.n ayes which the other enjoy. The asprs
ton OF moo to enjoy equality with the best wher
free. bit this .s5-l co' nent. not single %
your race is made Tho eau. Of single man Of ouIs
Go where you are treated the best, and the ban j,
still upon you.
do no, propose to discuss this, bu, TO present it a,
fact with which We have 10 deal. cannot alter il
# would. IL Il u fact. about which we all think
and feel alike, and you. We look TO condition,
owing TO the existence Of the two races this con-
,inent. need not recount II you tho effects upon
white men. growing out Of the Institution Of Slavery.
believe in its general evil effects the white race.
See our present condition--the country engaged in
war! our white men cutting one snother's lhroats,
none know ing how far IL will extend and then
sider what We know to be the truth. Bot for your
race among us there could not be war although many
men engaged Oh either side do not care for you
way or the other. Nevertheless, l repeat, without
the institution Of Slavery and the cOlored o
tasis, the war could not have an existence.
IL il better for BOTH therefore, to be- separated.
know that there are free men among YOU, who
eyeu if they could better their condition are NJ: a.
much in lined 10 go out sf the country those
who being slaves could obtain their freedom on this
condition. soppose Of the principal difficulties
in the way of colonization il that the free coloyd
man cannot that his comfort would bc advanced
By it. You may believe you can live in Wasting
ton or elsewhere in the United States the remainder
OF YOUR life, perhaps more No than you can in an,
foreign country, and hence you may come to the
col, fusion that you have nothing 10 do with the idea
Of gong to foreign country. 1hiris II speak in ~
unkina -ense) an extremely selfish view of the case
But you ought 10 do something TO help those VINO
are not 70 fortunate yourselves. There is Ill un.
Willingness on the art Of onr people harsh ~ it
may be. for yon free colored people to remain with
us. Now il you could give a start TO white people
You would open a wide door for many 10 be mude
free II we deal with those who not free at the
bet inning, aud wbos- intellects clouded by Sa
very We have very poor materials 10 start with II
intelligent colored men, such ~ are before mr,
would move in this matter, much nigh, be- accom-
plished. II is exceedingly important that we hive
men at the beginning capable OF thinking M white
men, and not those who have been systematically
oppressed.
There IN much to encourage you. For the rake
of your race you should sacrifice something of your
present comfort for toe pnrpo,e OF being grand in
that respect US the white people. IL is a cheering
thought throughout life that something can be done
10 umelorate the condition of those who have been
saLect ~ tho hard usage of the wosld. 1t is diff
cult 10 make man miserable while he feels he il
worthy of bimse t, end claims kindred TO the cal
G. cd who made him. In the American Revolution.
ary war sacrifices were made by engaged in it;
but they were cheered by the future. Gen. wash
iuptou himself endured greater physical hardships
than if be bad remained British subject YET he
wus "A huppy man, because he was engaged in BEN
citing his race-som.ting for the children Of his \
ueghbors, having none Of his own.
The colony OF Liberia has been in existence a
long time. In certain sense it il success. The
aid President Of Liberia, Roberts, has just been
y i,b me--the first time | ever saw him. He says
they have within the bounds of that colony between
aOo 600 and 400 900 people, or more than in some OF
our old States such us Rhode Island or Delaware,
in come Of our newer States nnd less than in some
If our Lrger ones They ARE not all American col
oni,ts. or their descendants. something less than
~ COO have been sent thther from this yuntry.
Many of the original settlers have died. yet, like
people else where, their offspring outnumbers those
deceased.
The question is il tie colorcd people ore per-