Year: 1862

geoHnittee OF Coloied Men, who had been ap
pointed by an assemblage Of their own peopl


held in one Of their churches in this city, pun
susnt to an iutimation that the President ha,
something TO say 10 them Of interest TO them
selves and the country.


The Committee having been introduced :,


the President by Rev. j. Mitchell, the Com


missioner OF Emigration, and the chairman o
the Committee having stated that they were
there by invitation to hear what the President
had TO say to them


The President addressed the Committee
substantially as follows:


He said that sum of money had been ap-
propriated by Congress and placed at his dis
cretion for the purpose Of aiding The COLOMBIA
tion, in somc country, Of the people, or por-
tion of them, Of African descent; thereby ma.
king it his duty, as it had for long time
been his inclination, to favor that cause.
ls And why, he asked, should the pecole OF
your race be colonized any where? Why
should they leave this country? This is per.
haps the first question for proper consdera-
hon. You and we are different races. We
have between us broader difference than ex-
lists between almost any other two races
Whether it is right or wrong need not dis
cuss, but this physical difference is great
disadvantage to us both, as | think. Your
race suffer very greatly, many of them, by
living among us, while ours suffer from your
presence. In word, we suffer on each side.
IL this is admitted, it affords reason, at least
why We should be separated.


You here are freemen, suppose. Yes,
sir Perhaps you have long been free, or all
your lives. Your race are suffering, in my
Judgment, the greatest wrong inflicted on any
people; but, even when you cease to be slaves
you are vet far removed from being placed on
an equality with the white race. You are
cut off from many Of the advantages which
The other race enjoy. The aspiration of men
is to enjoy equality with the best, when free.
But on this broad continent not a single mau
OF your race is made the equal of single
man of our. Go where you ere 'reated
the best, and the ban is still upon you. do
not propose to discuss this, but present it as
g fact with which we have to deal. cannot
alter 1t If | would. 1t is fact about which
we all think and feel alike. and you.


We look TO our coalition owing to the ex.
istence OF the two races on this continent. |
need not recount 20 you the effects upon
white men growing out of the Institution Of
slavery. believe in its general evil effects
on the white race. See our present cond-
tlon-the country engaged in war, our white
men cutting one another's throats, none know.
ing how far il will extern, and then consider
what we know TO be the truth-but for your
race among us this war could not have an
existence, although many men engaged on
either side do not care for you one way or
The other. Nevertheless, repeat, without
the institution Of slavery, and the colored race
as basis, this war could not have an exs-
tence. 1t is better for US 10th, therefore, to
be separated.


To return. You have been talked to upon
this subject, and told that speculation is in
tended 10y gentlemen who have An interest in
the country, including the coal mines. We
have been mistaken all our lives il we do not
know that whites as well as blacks look to
their self interests, unless among those Gefi-
cent in intellect. Every body you trade
with makes something You meet with these
things here and elswhere. If such persons
have what will be Of advantage to them, the
question is, whether it can be made of advan
tage to you. You are intelligent, and know
that success does not SO much depend or
external help as to selfreance Much,
therefore, depends upon yourselves. AS 10
tie coal mines, think l see the means
available for your sefreliance. shall, if l
get sufficient number of you engaged, have
provision made that you shall not be wronged.
H. you engage in the enterprise, l will spend
some of the money entrusted to me- [ am
not sure you will succeed. The Government
may lose the money; but we cannot succeed
unless we try. But we think with care we
can succeed. The political affairs of Central
America are not in qnite as satisfactory con-
dtion as l wish. There are contending
factions in that quarter, but it is true all
factions are agreed alike on the subject Of
aud want it and are more gene
rous than we are here. To your colored
race they have no objection. Besides, |
would endeavor to have you made equals
and have the best assurance you should be
the equals Of the best.


The practical thug want to ascertain is,
whether | can get number of able-bodied
men, with their wives and children, VINO are
willing to when | present evidences of encou'-
agement and protection. Could get hun
dred toerably intelligent men, with their
wives and children, ''to Gu! their own fodder,
so 10 speak? Can / have fftyg If could
find twenty five able-bodied men. with mix
ture of women and children-good things in
the family rclation-I think L could make a
commencement. / want you TO
let me know whether this can be done or not.
This is the practical part of my wish to see
you.


These are subjects ofvery great Importance
worthy of months study Of speech dcliv
cred in an hour. | ask you, then, to consider
seriously, not pertaining to yourselves merely,
nor for your race aud ours or the present
time, but as one Of the hugs, if successfully
managed, for the good Of mankind, not con-
fined TO the present generation, but as.


From age to age descends the lay.


e. ~ 10 Millions yet to be,


, -"s roll away,


Till far its ecnv~-


Into eternity" a.


The Chairman of the Delegation brieny
replied they would hold consultation and !"
a short time give an answer