New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-05-30
Colonization.

On Tuesday of last week petition was
presented to the Senate of the United States
from colored citizens of Georgia, praying aid
from the General Government to assist them
in emigrating to Liberia. This is undoubt-
eddy instgated by the Colonization Society.
What right has the United States to furnish
money to send its laboring population out of
the country? We have millions upon millions
Of acres of land to be cultivated, vast re-
sources to be developed which will give EN-
ployment and support to more millions than
are now in the country. To the agriculturist
Africa offers no stronger inducement than
does our Territories in the Northwest and
compared to the facility with which our home
possessions can be reached, the richness and
fertility of the SOIL the healthiness of the cli-
mate, and the appliances of civilization at
hand. To send the colored people of the
United States back to Africa, is to send them
from civilization to barbarism at time when
they are putting forth every effort to take
their stand among men as the equals of the
best by acquisitions of intelligence, refine
ment, and wealth.
The great aim of the Colonization Society
is to rid this country of people who belong to
the race that has been so long outraged upon
its soil; not to atone for the wrongs inflicted,
but to send to Africa the descendants of those
| who survived the horrors of the "middlc
passage" in the slave ship, and who have,
| for pearly tbran canfurias cnntr;hutoI to tho
largest extent to the wealth of One-half of
the nation. AS slaves we are fit to live here,
as freemen it is found, by the Colonization
Society, that white people and black people
cannot live in peace.
Having robbed us for centuries on this con-
tinent, where we have become acclimated,
the Colonization Society and it's friends now,
that slavery and robbery are no longer al
lowable, would drive us out into wilderness
among an uncivilized people, denying us the
benefits that come from our unpaid toll in re-
claiming the soil, in developing the resources,
in the cities built, and in the commerce
increased, a share in the enjoyment of which
memorable justice entities us. The colorcd
people must not forget that this is their coun-
try, earned by the sweat and blood of them
selves and their ancestors. Any body OF
organization that would induce the colored
people to 60 to Africa or to leave the country
on the ground that it is not their home as
freemen, that the two races cannot live to.
gether in peace, unless the black is the slave
Of the white race, are as criminal and villain.
GUS as those pirates who engaged in the Afri
can slave trade. The Colonization Society
never sought to send back to Africa the slaves
of the South, it was the free people of colol
that must leave, freedom was, and is, the
hated thing.
AS citizens of the United States interested
in her growth and prosperity, We protest
against any money being taken from the
National Treasury to pay for sending out o
the country any who, by brain or muscle, car
contribute to her greatness. Let the Gov
eminent protect every man, woman, and
child in their right to life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness within its borders, ant
it will have done all that any Government
ought to do