The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-03-04
COLONIZATION.

pksskA AShAhS aAo ~ AIAAA-
crate to Liberia--A Reply by Hon. VIM.
ID. Kelley--ShaII we Export Our Pro.
ductive Labor?
Hon. William d. Kelley has received COM
munication from Mississippi enclosing the fol-
lowing memorial from three thousand colored
people in that State appealing for aid to emigrate
to Liberia. Thu following is copy OF the MEM
orial, with Judge Kelley's reply to the writer:
H., COLUMBUS, Miss, January 81, 1868.
To the Honorable Senate and House Of Representa-
tees Of the United States:
The Undersigned citizens of the State of Mis-
sssippi humbly entreat your favorable consider
alton OF our petition. We want to go to Liberia.
W.. want to 60 because VIC see no prospect OF
success here The white people have too much
the advantage OF us. They have all the land, all
the money, and all the education.
These things might soon be remedied if there
was plenty of work for us to do and the people
were disposed to favor US, but there are so many
ofus that We cannot all get work to do, unless
we work tor almost nothing Many have to beg
the privilege to work for their victuals and
clothes to-day. Besides this, many of the peo-
pie are disposed to reduce as low as possible,
and get our work for as nearly nothing as pos
sible. -....
For proof of these statements we need only
refer you to the well known facts of the last
three years. Great numbers of the planters have
refused the laborers their pay altogether. More
than this the people generally have labored to
prevent the education of our children. Few
planters will allow us teacher of our choice on
their plantations, and those who teach Us in the
cities are scorned and hated.
These things being SO, how can we hope to Sc
cure homes ofour own, or even to provide for
our children Much less can we hope to
give them that education which is necessary
TO fit them for usefulness in life. How can we
nI,.l -, 81.
We are if they grow up as they are growing up
now?
If we could get to Liberia, we probable could
do better tor ourselves and vastly better for our
children; but We have no money, and cannot go
without help. We suppose, from all We can
learn it will require abOnt one hundred dollars
apiece to send us there.
Therefore We humbly pray and beseech your
honorable bodies to look favorably upon our
petition, and either send us to the home OF our
fathers yourselves, or enable the American Col
onization Society to do so, and for your prosper
ity and happiness we will ever pray.
Over three thousand of us are waiting to hear
what action will be taken in this matter.
JUDGE KELLEY's REPLY.
WASHINGTON, ,. G., February 16, 1885,
Rs0. II. Ryan, Pastor II. E. Church, Columbus,
Mississippi:
DEAR SIR: Your favor, covering the petition
of3 ooo American citizens, praying to be trans
~,
Republic of Liberia, came to hand yesterday
The petition will be promptly presented to-mor-
row. l have meanwhile caused several copies of
| it to be made and sent to leaning newspapers,
that your prayer may be heard by the people OF
the country as well as by their representatives
What a sad commentary it offers upon the fatal
intatuation OF the old master class in the State of
Mississippi! What Mississippi needs at this
| time is aborers who are skilled in the cultiva-
ton of her great staples. Without labor land is
vaueless, with it, it is the source of all earthly
wealth. Were the land owners of the South TO
stimulate the industry OF her laborers by lust re-
wards, they would find that it is the annual pro.
|, auctions OF labor that give value to land and
create towns and cities, for in three years, with
| broad planting, il the seasons shall favor the
! growth and gathering of crops. they would prob.
/ ably he as rich as they were before the war
! Their present course tends 10 their own i'm.
I poyerishment.
/ AS | said TO gentleman of South Carolina. in
! note of this date, there is magnificent future
before the South, if her people will wisely develop
| her material resources and secure generous
| wages TO her laborers, and the chance to herlapd
| less people to become freeholders. The true
| test of the civilization and prosperity of a
| community is the condition of its laborinp
! classes; for where the laboring people are most
intelligent and most independent, the whole com
munity is most prosperous. This is vital and
ail-pervading law OF social and political economy
| blind themselves-now that slavery has beer
abolished
Circumstances bear heavily upon your race a
this time, but you must not despond. Americ,
Is a better and q broader land than Africa, anc
/ causes are at work which will, in little while
relieve you from the agonies you are called to en-
dure for the present. These are the dark hour,
that precede a glorious dawn. They are dark
very dark; but the coming day will be one o
perfect brightness. Cheer and sustain your PEG
PIE; encourage those who can to procure land
Write to General Howard, Commissioner of til,
Freednen's Bureau, if you have not already don,
so, and learn what provision, of which any O
your class can avail themselves, is made by tb,
homestead law. -.. -
The Southern States, when SO reconstructed al
10 De accepted by Congress. will give you equal
! ity before the law, and will each provide sys
TEN OF education to the advantages of which nj
viii have the right do not wonder at your de
preston; at your willingness to flee from tn
crushing ills that you are called to endure; but
think 1t would be as unwise for you to 20 to tn
prosperous yonng Republic now rising en- tn
coast OF Africa, as it would for our impoverishe,
Government to apply from half million to
million OF dollars-for 1t would cost that sum-
i to the expectation OF laborcrs whose sweat
needed on her unoccupied land.
While, therefore, Ishall present your petition
and am grateful to you for its simple and moyp
eloquence, would, were compliance with it 81
r1ously proposed, oppose the measure
Let me suggest that if you, or others at Co
lumbus, are not in correspondence with the Cor
gressional Executive Committee, that you writ
TO its secretary, I. L. Bullock, ESQ.,, and ask bir
TO send you the several publications of the com
mittee. Gather yonr people about you and rea
this letter to them, and tell them that it is tb
voice, not of one man, but of hundreds of thor
sands OF men in the North, and that they mus
be OF good courage, and by their Temperance, il
dustry, economy, and loving help to each othe
prove their manhood, and that they deserve a