Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-03-20
The African as a Citkcn.


The United States Congress, just
before it's adjournment, ratified a
treaty with the Republic Of Liberia,
.ses.=sh ting to its citizens the same priv
;ilegcs of acquiring citizenship in the
United States as to those of other ma
tions. This act shows up their mock
philanthropy in its true colors, as the
selfish feeling of a grasping race.
It has been but tewyears since the
Republic Of Liberia was established to
relieve the United States of poprl-
lation, which, whenever assembled in
any number, has been disagreeablc
and deleterious element Of society, but
with the desire that it should be
thought, by the world, a philanthrop-
&c act, to better the condition Of a
race, which can not be benefited by
any change from it's natural and pres
ent happy condition in the Southern
Confederacy.
The scene is changed and we find
those, who declared the success Of
their pet Republic, and the prosperity
of it, people, second only to the Uni
ted States, who, from the fear Of a
plenitude of labor, and competition
with the white laboring classes, were
adding every incentive to induce a
rapid emigration to that country, now
trying to change the current BY offer
ing the tempting bride of citizenship
to the weak minded African. It may
be expected to have the desired effect,
and many, who were tempted to feave
America to become freemen in Africa,
may rush back again to enjoy that
freedom in America.
When the poor African returns and
becomes citizen, he must needs fight
to defend the precious prerogative ac-
quired, and will find himself conscrip-
ted into the front rank of the army, to
protect the lives of his ranting
friends.
Suppose however that the necessity
for procuring labor for its fields, alone
necessitates this ratification on the
part of the United States, and that
the sable citizens are only made to
produce the requisite subsistence for
its army, and that the war has termf-
mated, what then will become eff this
friend in adversely Where will be
found the friends to whom he has
devoted himself ? Will they then
peaceably allow him the right Of suf-
frage or Of being chosen to Office ?
Will they retain him in the employ
ment, in which he has been Of such
service? Will they, from the graft
tude they bear him for all that he has
done for them, furnish him with what
will feed and clothe him? No, his
citizenship is merely temporary, and
he will have accomplished all they
purposed him to do, and must stand
aside to make room for the returned
whites, and wait till starvation over
takes him, or seek sustenance else
where. Ifhe succeeds in procuring
labor he may expect, as the past bears
ample testimony, to be cheated here
and imposed upon there. In fine, he
must school himself, freeman as he ia,
to bear the worst bondage that exists
in the world, that of capital over ne
cessitated labor. This scheme is enly
resort to collect a mass Of meh,
without choice from where they may
come, to accomplish an object, not
otherwise attainable they think, and
that done they leave them to their
fate, regardless of what it may be.
Poor cuffy we pity you in the hands
'of your designing friends.