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Page 33
I have in the preceding pages endeavored to show, that the visionary
schemes of abolitionists can never accomplish anything for the slave;
but that they are on the contrary, potent for evil, and powerless for
good. It is therefore incumbent on me to reply to the interrogatory,
what can be done? By what means can slavery be abolished in the United
States? Is it practicable? Yes; it can be done; and the only means by
which it can be accomplished, is by colonization. There is no other
safe and practicable method, or way, by which slavery can be abolished
in the United States. It is probable that an objector will point to
the African colonization society, and ask, what has it accomplished
towards the abolition of slavery? But little, I admit. The reason is
obvious. It grows out of the immense distance of Africa from the
United States and the vast difficulties, and expenditures, consequent
upon the transportation of free blacks from the United States, to the
colony in Africa, and also the unwillingness of a majority of the free
blacks to leave this country, or at least, to be transported to
Africa.
Those philanthropists, who originated the African colonization
society, had another object in view. Their prime object was, the
regeneration of Africa; and in this they will probably succeed. We
must colonize the free blacks nearer home. We must have territory set
apart for that purpose, somewhere on this continent; if we expect to
accomplish anything toward the abolition of slavery by colonization.
Slaveholders must get their eyes open. They must have light on the
subject. They must become satisfied that it is not only their duty,
but their interest, to prepare and qualify the rising generation of
slaves for the enjoyment of freedom. Slaves must be educated and
enlightened before they are liberated.
We of the North must approach our Southern brethren in a spirit of
kindness, conciliation and concession; and talk to them as brothers,
and not denounce and stigmatize them as murderers, rogues, rascals,
slave-catchers and kidnappers. We have mistaken Southern men and
Southern character.
We may lead Southern men, but we cannot drive them. We must treat them
as gentlemen; we must approach them as friends, holding the olive
branch of peace in our hands, and treat them with that civility,
kindness and condescension, to which they are accustomed, and to which
they think themselves entitled. Don't talk to Southern men about
liberating slaves, until some provision is made for manumitted
slaves--an asylum provided where they can quietly repose in peace, and
enjoy the blessings of freedom. Don't urge them to liberate their
slaves, when both the condition of the master and the slave is made
worse thereby. 'Tis folly--'tis sheer nonsense; and well informed men
ought to be ashamed thus to conduct themselves. If you know anything,
you ought to know better; and if you know nothing, you ought to say
nothing, until you are better informed. Congress should be
memorialized in every town, city, and village in the United States, to
set apart territory for the colonization of free blacks. It should be
done speedily. It matters not what it might cost this government, it
should be done. Talk not of dollars and cents. Mountains of gold are
lighter than a feather, if thrown into the balance against a cause
which disturbs the peace, and endangers the perpetuity of this Union.
Territory should be secured and set apart, near the Southern border of
the United States. I repeat that it should be done speedily. Humanity
and justice demand it at our hands. What can the free blacks do? Where
can they go? They will soon be legislated out of the free states, and
their condition in the slave states, must necessarily be one of
wretchedness and degradation. Reader, what say you to the above
proposition? It is offered for your sober and prayerful consideration.
Does it commend itself to your judgment? Is it safe? Is it
practicable? Is it suitable, proper and right? Consult that inward
monitor conscience. Ask him if all is right; if all is well within
you? Ask him if something should not be done for the African.
Thousands of slaveholders at this time would cheerfully liberate their
slaves, if they could be removed beyond the limits of the United
States, and provision made for them, that would conduce to their
peace, happiness, and well being. Knowing, as I do, the feelings and
views of Southern men; I here confidently assert, that if our national
legislature will colonize the free blacks somewhere on this continent,
contiguous to the Southern border of the United States, and make
suitable provision for them; in less than twenty years from this time,
at least one fourth of the slaves, now in bondage in the United
States, will be manumitted and colonized. Don't talk to us about
colonizing the free blacks in Africa; it can't be done; it never will
be done; the majority of them are unwilling to go to Africa. They
prefer bondage in the United States, to transportation to Africa,
During my residence in the States of Virginia and Tennessee, I had
knowledge of several instances, in which masters proposed to liberate
slaves, provided they were willing to be removed to the colony in
Africa, and in most cases they refused, declaring that they preferred
bondage in the United States to a removal to Africa. I interrogated at
different times hundreds of slaves, old and young, male and female, as
to whether they would consent to a removal to Africa; provided their
masters would liberate them, and in at least, nine cases out of ten,
they would promptly and emphatically answer, No; they would not go to
Africa--they would rather continue slaves--they would rather die, &c.
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