Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-08-19
The President on Colonization.

Ahc AlOoAuCub Ou NOLUulZdLOu.
Below we PRINT the talk Of President Lincoln
the other day with cOme eolored gentlemen in
reference to colonization. The subject is one Of
great Importance, and We are glad 60 ser the
President opening the discussion
WAsHNoIoN, August l3.
This afternoon the President OF the United
States gave audience to a Committee Of colored
men az the Whte House they were intro
duccd by Rev. j. Mitchell, Commissioner Of
Emigration. +. NJ Thomas the Chairman.
remarked that they were there by invitation, 10
hear what the Executive had to say to them
Having alI been seated, the President. after
n lew preliminary observations informed then.
that "a sum Of money hid been appropriated oy
Congrcs' and placed al hl, disposition, for the
purpose o. adm. the colonization ID some
country % ihe ople, % portion 81 them, Of
Mrrau descent, thereb' making 10 lis duty, a..
lt had ipg d long tlm' btfn hi inclination, tn
Myor tiat cause and why, he asked should
che people oi your rtrr 80 cJI9uiled. and wner,2
uF should they lels lhls countr, rhis -
perhaps the ilfst question lnr pr lpe. considera
ttoI iou aud @t tr. dih rent races. W.
have between as d broader lii ruce ,nnn TX.
ri, between almost Ahy o.h.r two races ~
Whether - is riE'to 1T wrong need not discuss.
1ui thus physical dill,fcum le grcAJ lis .dyan.
tage 10 az both. SIS ! tbuk Your race suf
yety greatly, many q thcn. bl living among
us, Whic ours sater IRON your presence In
word. we sui r On each cue Ii tins i. ADMIT
tci, lt Afford. . reason, aI least. why wo should
be separated. You, aett are ifsemen. sup
pose
\ folcE-ics, Slr.
InB PEkslpENI- Perhaps you have long been
lr,r, OF all your ives. Your race are suffering
40 my judgment, the greatest wrong inflicted on
an, people Bat even when YOU cease 10 be
slaves you are yst iar removed rom being placed
on AZ tqu hty with Tie white race You are
Guy 1il irpn many OF the advantages which the
other race vnjoys Tlc aspiration Of men il 10
ENJOY equality with the hest when free. but on
this broad continent not single man of vour
race j. made the equal OF single man Of 1ur,.
''u where you nrc treated the best, and the ban
Hssill upon you. Do no, propose t. discuss
this bar % present It a. a hct, Wit which we
ha'r dsAl. caonu: alter in | would. ltisH
ldct about which W. J ,hink ana feel alike.
aud yJu We looE q, our condition Owing
y thr existence Of The ,So Faces Oh tins cont
hcul, need nui rs,9lnf q you the effects uIou
whltr men, growing ont 81 the insihutIon Of
Slavery i'eye IN l., general eyli effects OF
the White race So our present condltiun-tne
country engaged IN war our white men cat
ting one auotner's throats-none knowing how
TAI u will eS.end-..nd then consider what W.
kuow tv be Tie truth But iOr your race among
us there cpuld not - war, although many msu
engaged on either side, DO not care for YOU one
wayor the otleE. Nevertheless | repeat, without
the Institution OF Slavery, ahd the uolored rae.
as a basis, the war could no have an exnlepe,
lt Is better tor us both, therefore. - h. sonar
ated know that there are tree men among
you VITO, even D; they could better their oondi
uon, are noi ~ much inclined 20 20 out OF the
c-untry as thorr Sha, bcug slaves, could Oh
lalh Their ire0iOm % tbs condition | suppoSe
onr OF The p-inCIpai difficulties in the way OF
oOionizatuu i that the tree colured man cannot
Sec that his comfort would ht advanced by IL.
lou may believe TINT yua Gan hive IN Washing.
ton, or rlurwheN IN the luiIcd States. the re
mainder OF your hle perhaps more so than you
Nu IN Uny lOragn c1un ~ aud hence YOU may
come TO the conclusion that you have nothing
10 do with The idea Of < ing to- foreign eoun.
Try. tneie is Il speak IN M unklnd sens J an
extremely selfish view ol the rase. Bot YOU
ought 10 do something 10 help those who are
not ~ fortunate as yourselves. There is an un
willingness on the part of our people, harsh as
1t may be, Tor YOU tr,e coored people u remain
with us. Now, If yUu could give a start to the
white people you would open wider door for
many TO be made FREE. II we deal with those
who are no, tree At the beginning and whose
intelleei- are csouded by Slavery, we have very
poor material To start with II intelligent col
ured men, such rs are before ne, would move
IN tins matter, much migh, he accomplished.
1t ls exceedingly important that we have men
~ the beginning capable OF thinking as white
'nen, ANA not thnse who have boeu systenatl-
callv oppressed There is much 10 encourage
you. For the sake OF your race YOU should sac
rlhce something of your present comfort for the
purpose OF being US grand in that respect as the
white people. IL Is cheering thoug ght through
out lille thai something can b. done 10 anchor,
hte the condition of those who have been sub.
pet Ia the hard usages of the world IL is diff
cult To make a man miserable while he tells ho
II worthy OF himself. and clnms kindred % the
great God who nude him. Ia the American
Revolutionary War sacrifices were made hy
men "ngiged Ia IL, but they vete cheercd bv
the iuture. ten Washington himself endured
greater physical narpshps than it he remained
4 British subject, yet he was happy man, be
cause he WAS engaged in hencftins his race