Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-09-12
Emancipation Colonization.

act OF military necessity, or justice, ap-
pear TO be equally opposed TO colonial
ton. Their plan is, to abolish slavery
and leave the new-made freemen upon
the land and their reasons are: l, That
we have no right to remove these people
from the land of their birth and 2, that
as measure Of political economy it will
be most fatal to drive from our borders
such mass Of producers, or even to per-
init them to 60 if willing.
! We do not propose TO discuss the ques-
ton of right for we are not aware that
anybody proposes forcible measures to
accomplish the purpose. True, the pow
er has been exercised upon another rac,,
and forced to remove beyond the line of
white occupation, to their own especial
benefit We have no doubt. But the Presi-
dent does not propose to repeat this ex-
pertinent. In his plain, off-hand way, he
has clearly placed before the black man
his position in this country, with all its
drawbacks TO progress, contrasted with
what it may be in another where he will
be paramount and selfgoverning. He
presents his opinion of the wrong and
the remedy--he asks the blacks to con-
slider it, and he asks for c0lunteers TO try
the experiment of colonization in new
country, better adapted to their wants,
habits and character than the United
States. He does not even propose to try
this experiment on a large scale. If it
should prove that his opinion of this new
country and its adaptation to the proposed
purpose is incorrect, he does not wish his
experiment to be serious failure. in
yolying great loss of life and property,
perhaps, hut that it should be made on
the smallest scale compatible with a fair
rial. In all this we agree with the Pres
ident most cordially, end we believe, also,
in the entire success Of the plan. We
have not doubt that if the black race is
once planted in Central America, it will
gradually rise in the scale Of progression,
and in time take its place alongside the
white race as equals. Neither have we
any doubt that its continuance in this
country will be depressing and debasing
to both races. The best good of both,
therefore, points to eXpatriation and colo
nization OF the blacks in either case.
whether emancipation be immediate or
remote.
On the second point, the opponents of
emigration assume position which does
not and never can exist, namely, that these
four millions of producing population are
to be at once driven away, and the coun-
try they occupy be left without labor
Let Us examine this position from the
point Of immediate emancipation. Sup
pose the proclamation Of freedom to have
been issued, and that there no longer ex-
lists a slave in the United States. The
first effect of the act is to open the whole
country to free labor. The present lords
Of the soil will gradually disappear, be-
cause when 1t comes TO paying wages,
however moderate, the large landholder
loses all his advantage. The small pro-
Dretors, cuItivatng the soil with their
own hands, for their own benefit, content
with the necessaries of lie which they
can easily produce from their own lands,
and always having surplus crops to sell,
which are so much profit whether The
prices obtained are great or small, will
hrive, while the luxurious, high liver,
who leaves his ground to an oveTseer and
aired men, will as certainly grow poorer
very year, and bis class will fade OUT
The second effect will be, immigration
rom The free States and from Europe,
gradually introducing race Of producers
whose labor will be worth double that of
he black race-the Yankee to plan, the
German to plow, the English to spin, the
rish TO dig These are all ready, wait
ng for the door to be opened, and when
hey come what kind Of a chance will
hey leave for the lordly aristocrat, who
Corns all labor as servile, or the indolent
'lack-ignorant and debased by slavery?
There is no danger of want OF producers
N the fertile Southern soil. If black
migration were to commence this mo-
1ent, the white immigration would tread
pom its heels and urge it on, and the
opulation of the now slave States in
rease with a rapidty heretofore unex-
implied. The President sees and under
tands this. lie see5-no one who con-
iders can fail to see-that the time will
ONE when this immigration Of freemen
ill crowd the black race, and the gov
rnment will be called upon 10 expatriate
le negro as it did the Indian. 1t is
.r-seeing wisdom which understands and
ldeavors to prepare for this emergency.
ct the experiment of colonization bo
ade in Central America if it fails,
ere will be no harm done if it sue
eds, the safety valve will be open that
i'll prevent future collision between
hite and black.
All these great movements are neces-
rily slow. 1t will take a generation,
lder the most favorable auspices, to
ansplant the black race from these
ates into new home, and every at
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