THOUGHTS ON THE COLONIZATION OF FREE BLACKS. WHAT shall we do with the free people of color ? What can we do for their happiness consistently with our own ? Are questions often asked by the thinking mind. The desire to make them happy lias often been felt, but the difficulty of devising and accomplishing an efficient plan has hitherto ap¬ peared too great for humanity itself to accomplish. The mind shrunk back from the attempt. The time was not arrived. The servitude of the sons of Ham, described by Noah, in the spirit of prophesy, concerning the future condition of h is pos¬ terity, was not terminated. At present as if by a divine im¬ pulse, men of virtue, piety, and reflection are turning their thoughts to this subject, and seem to see the wished for plan unfolding, in the gradual separation of the black from the refute population , by providing for the former , some suitable situation where they may enjoy the advantages to which they are entitled by nature and their creator’s will. This is a great subject, and there are several weighty questions connected with it, which deserve a deep consideration. Is it a practicable thing to form a colony of free blacks in our own wild lands, or on the coast of Africa ? Is it probable that the establishment would be productive of general happiness ? . What is the most desirable situation for such a settle¬ ment ? In what manner, and by whom might such a colony be planted with the greatest hope of success ? Much wisdom would no doubt be required in arranging a plan of so much magnitude, and some perseverance in executing it and carrying it to perfection. But it cannot be supposed to be among the things which are impracticable, to plant a colo¬ ny, either of blacks or whites, either in Africa, or in some re¬ mote district of our own country. Most nations have had their colonies. Greece and Rome planted many which grew and flourished, and which, as they grew, added strength and lustre to the mother country. At the present time there are few nations who have not their foreign settlements, and some of them from year to year are increasing the numbers of their colonies. With what ease is G. Britain transplanting a part of her population, in the remotest regions of the earth, and peopling New Holland, a land destined like our own to extend the empire of liberty and Christian blessings to surrounding nations.* It * It is a remarkable instance of the mysterious and inscrutable ways of Pro¬ vidence, that the colony of New Holland which is principally composed of British con- {(ops not appear that it would require much greater skill or labor $o form a separate establishment for tree blacks in our own dis¬ tant territories, than it is to form a new state. The people of /color observing the constant emigration of the whites, would soon feel the common impulse, if they could see a place where they might remove, and which they could fondly call their own. Many have both the means and disposition to go to any rear sqnable distance, or even to a great distance where they could assume the rank of men, and act their part upon the great theatre of life. Their local attachments arc no stronger than those of other men, their ambition no less than that of any pther color? To colonize them in Africa would be a much more ardu¬ ous undertaking. The country must be explored and some situation chosen, fertile and healthy—expense must be incurr¬ ed in fair and honorable purchase from the natives—an ho¬ norable appeal perhaps be made to the nations of Europe, as to fhe justice and humanity of our views. An efficient government must for a time at least be afforded to the colony—the free blacks must be instructed that it would be to their interest to Remove to the land which gave them origin, and instruction provided to raise their minds to that degree of knowledge, which in time would lit them for self-government. 66 These difficulties arc real and some of them might be found to be ve- r y great, hut they are not insurmountable? We have wisdom in our councils, and energy in our government. In such an undertaking we should have reason and the pod of eternal jus¬ tice on our side. Humanity lias many a virtuous son who Would willingly and carefully explore the long line of African coast which has not fallen under the dominion of any Euro- pean nation* Their devoted ness to their country’s interest and glory would make them faithful to their undertaking, and their desire for the happiness of the free people of color, would fpduce them if possible to find a country where health and plenty might be enjoyed. The consent of the chiefs to part with a sufficient portion of soil, might be easily obtained, es¬ pecially when they were informed that the sole design of the polony, was to restore their own children and bring them back free and happy. Erom what has often taken place on the coast of i^frica, we may be assured that the cost of procuring the right of soil, by fair and just purchase, would not be great. The expense of conveying the first settlers, of maintaining a sufficient force to protect tjie colony, and of supplying the wants of the co¬ lonists for a short period might be more considerable. Yet the Wisdom of congress might devise some means of lightening, perhaps of re-paying, the cost. Many of the free people of yicts has become flourishing; its inhabitants peaceable* orderly and industrious, and /through the instrumentality of missionaries, Christianity is flourishing among them * through them likely to extend civilization, and the* benefits of the Christian reli- l^ns, to the ignorant and suptrstitious natives of that country and the adjacent islands s ? ^ • ** t . i i ^ color have property sufficient to transport, and afterward id establish themselves. The ships of war might be employed occasionally in this service, while many would indent them¬ selves to procure a passage to the hind of their independences The crews of the national ships which might be from time to 1 time at the colony would furnish at least a part of that protec¬ tion which would be necessary for the settlers; and in a little time the trade which the colony would open with the interior*, would more than compensate for every expense, if the colony were wisely formed. >• From the single river of Sierra Le¬ one, where "there is a colony of free people of color, the im¬ ports in Great Britain were nearly, and the exports to the same l iver fully, equal to the imports and exports, exclusive of the slave trade of the whole extent of the western coast of Africa, prior to the abolition of that traffic.”* To allay the jealousies of other nations, which might arise from our estab¬ lishing a settlement in Africa; a successful appeal might be made to their justice and humanity. It would be only doing as they have done should no such appeal be made, Spain! has her settlements in Africa. France on the rivers Gambia and Senegal, Great Britain, at Sierra Leone and the Cape , 1 Portugal, in Congo an I Loarigb. tin the principles of justice no nation would have a right to interfere with our intentions'*? Moreover, in this period of the world when the voice of jus¬ tice and humanity begins to be listened to with attention, is there not reason to hope, that plans, the sole design of which is the benefit of the human race, would be approved in the cabinet of princes and hailed by the benevolent of all nations? The colony would not suffer for want of instructors^ inf morals, religion and the useful arts of life. The time at last is come when not a few are embibing the spirit of Him who' came from Heaven “ to seek and save the lost.” That spirit is only beginning to go forth, which has already been so suc¬ cessful in teaching, the Caffre, the Hottentot, the Boshemeny the means of present happiness and the way of eternal life.f In the mean time the great efforts which are making to im¬ prove the mental condition of the people of color seems de¬ signed in providence to prepare them for some great and hap¬ py chan ge in their situation. It need not he apprehended, that these people would be' unwilling to remove to the proposed establishment. To sup¬ pose this, is to suppose that they do not long after happiness? that they do not feel the common pride and feelings of meiio’ In some of our great cities there are associations formed id, open a correspondence with the colony at Sierra Leone anti 4 prepare their minds for a removal to a colony should it be ever formed.f The colony at Sierra Leone on the western coast of Africa, seems as if designed by God to obviate every difficulty, to silence objections, and point out the way in which every ob¬ stacle may be removed, if measures sufficiently wise are adopt¬ ed in establishing a similar colony from this country. The colony alluded to was first established in the year 1791. Its first settlers were a few people of color who were in Great Britain, and from 1100 to 1200 of the same description in No¬ va Scotia. In the year 1811, the population had increased to 2000 exclusive of many natives, notwithstanding the sickness and mortality incident to a new settlement, and the settlement being once destroyed by the French. In the year 1816, the population had increased to SOOO.^J All this has been accom¬ plished or at least it was originated, and for many years main¬ tained by a company of benevolent and enterprising men, by men too who are far removed from those places where free blacks are to be found. What then might be done under the blessing of that Being who wills the happiness of all his crea¬ tures. by the American government, aided by the benevolence of al! its citizens, and surrounded with thousands who would he willing to emigrate, and many of whom could carry with them property, the useful arts of life, and above all, the know¬ ledge of the benign religion of Christ. /<■ it probable that the general good would be promoted by the establishment of such a colony ? If there is not reason to be¬ lieve that it would be for the general benefit, the idea ought to he given up and the scheme rejected. But is there not rea¬ son to believe that the interest of the whites and the free peo¬ ple of color would be equally promoted, by the latter being cob nized in some suitable situation ? It can scarcely be doubted that slavery has an injurious effect on the morals and habits of a country where it exists. It insensibly induces a habit of indolence. Idleness seldom fails to be attended with dissipation. Should the time ev T er come when slavery shall not exist in these states; yet if the people of color remain among us, the effect of their presence will be unfavorable to •f Such an association exists in Philadelphia. 1 “ Early in the winter of 1816, about thirty people of color left Boston with a view of settling themselves in the British colony at Sierra Leone, in Africa. The vessel in which they sailed was the property and under the command of the celebrated Paul Cuffee. Captain Cuffee has returned to this country, and brings letters from the emigrants to their friends and benefactors. We have seen one of the letters dated April 3,1816. It states that they all arrived safe at Sierra Leone, after a pas¬ sage of 55 days, and were welcomed by all in the colony. The place is represented as “ good.” They have fruits of all kinds and at all seasons of the year The governor gaVe each family a -ot of land in the town, and fifty acres of “ good land” in the coun¬ try , or more in proportion to their families. Their land in the country is about two miles from town. They have plenty of rice and corn, and all other food that is good. There were five churches in the colony, and three or four schools, in one of which there were 150 female Africans, who are taught to read the word of God” The Boston Recorder, 8 our industry and morals. The recollection of their former servi¬ tude will keep alive the feeli ng that they were formed for labor, and that the descendants of their former masters, ought to be exempt at least from the more humble and toilsomerpursuits of life. The gradual withdrawing of the blacks would insensibly, and from an easy necessity induce habits of industry, and along with it a love of order and religion. Could they be removed to some situation where they might live alone, society would be saved many a pang which now is felt, and must in course of time he much more sensibly felt from the intermixture of the different colors, and at the same time be relieved from a heavy burden, in supporting that large portion of this people which falls into- poverty and must he maintained by others. If the benefit of the proposed separation would be considerable to those states Where the people of color are comparatively few, how great Would it be to those where they are very numerous. The love of liberty which prevails in those states, must be attended with a desire to see abolished a system so contrary to the best feel¬ ings of our natures. But however strong the desires of many, however lively the impressions of the great principles of right/ or however pungent the convictions of a dying bed, it is believ¬ ed to be unsafe to encourage the idea of emancipation. Tha evil therefore increases every year, and the gloomy picture grows darker continually, so that the question is often and anx¬ iously asked —What will be the end of all this ? The most nat¬ ural and easy answer seems to be—Let no time be lost—let a colony or colonies be formed on the coast of Africa, and let laws be passed permitting the emancipation of slaves on condi¬ tion that they shall be colonized. By this means the evil of slavery will be diminished, and in a way so gradual as to pre¬ pare the whites for the happy and progressive change. The benefits of the proposed plan to the race of blacks appear to be numerous and great. That they are capable of improvement is not to be contradicted, and that their improve¬ ment progresses daily, notwithstanding every obstacle, is not to be denied. Their capacity for self government whether denied or not, is ever present to our view in the island of St. Domingo. But it is in vain that we believe them capable of improvement-, or that we are convinced that they are equal to the task of governing themselves, unless this unhappy people- are separated from their former masters. The friends of man will strive in vain to raise them to a proper level while they re¬ main among us. They will be kept down, on the one side by prejudice, too deep rooted to be eradicated, on the other, by the recollection of former inferiority, and despair of ever assu¬ ming an equal standing in society. Remove them. Place them by themselves in some climate, congenial with their color and constitutions, and in some fruitful soil ; their contracted minds will then expand and their natures rise. The hope of 4 (y place anil power will soon create the feeling that they are mem Give them the- hope of becoming possessed of power and in¬ fluence, and the pleasure of their invigorated minds will be similar to ours in like circumstances. At present they have few incentives to industry and virtue, compared with those which they would feel, in a land which they could call their own, and where there was no competition except with their own color. This great enterprise, must be undertaken; either by a uni¬ on of virtuous and pious individuals, as in the cascof the colony of Sierra Leone already mentioned in its original state; or by the government of the Urn ted States. Perhaps on mature delibe¬ ration, it might appear a work worthy of the government, and one that could be accomplished with the greatest ease and in the most efficient manner under the patronage of the nation. None but the nation’s arm could reach to all the situations in which the free blacks arc placed through our extended country, nor any but its councils be wise enough to accommodate the various interests which ought to be consulted in so great an undertaking. If wrong has been done to Africa in forcing away her weeping children, the wrong can be best redressed, by that power which did the injury. If Heaven has been of¬ fended, by putting chains on those, whom by its eternal laws it has willed to be free, the same hand which provoked the di¬ vine displeasure, should offer the atoning sacrifice. Under a former government this guilt and evil were brought principal¬ ly upon our land; but for many years the state govern¬ ments, under the eye of the general government, continued this great violation of the laws of nature. Let then the represen¬ tatives of this great and free, people, not only feel it to be their interest, but their duty ami glory to repair the injuries done to humanity by our ancestors by restoring to independence those who were forced from their native land, and arc now found am one; us. It remains yet to answer the question: Should congress in their wisdom adopt the proposed measure; would it best answer the end designed, to plant the colony in some distant section of our country, or in the land to which their color and original constitution arc adapted? If fixed in the territories of the United States, the expense of procuring soil might he saved, and the difficulty of removing settlers to the appointed place would he diminished, especially^if the colony were planted at no very great distance in the interior. But these advantages would be in part counterbalanced, by having in our vicinity an independent settlement of people who were once our slaves* There might be cause of dread lest they should occasionally combine with our Indian neighbors, or with those European nations who have settlements adjacent to our own, and we should have them for our enemies. However great the dis*- 7 £ance at which such a settlement would be made in our own country, it would furnish great facility to the slaves in the nearest states, to desert their masters’ service, and escape to a land where their own race was sovereign and independent, An easy communication would also be open to send informa¬ tion to those who remain in slavery, so as to make them un- easy in their servitude. if removed to Africa, these last dif¬ ficulties would disappear, or be greatly diminished. There we should have nothing to fear from their becoming our ene¬ mies, Removed far from our sight; our contempt of them, produced by their situation, and by long habit confirmed, would gradually die away, and their jealousy and suspicion proportionably decrease. The colony could never become an asylum for fugitive slaves, ami but little opportunity could be afforded to communicate with this country in such a man? ner as to render the slaves uneasy in their masters’ service. On the other hand, great and happy results might be produced by their being colonized in Africa. It is the country of their fathers, a climate suited to their color, and one to which their constitution, but partially altered by their abode in this coun¬ try, w ould soon adapt itself. Who can tell the blessings which might in this way be conferred on Africa herself, when her strangers should be restored, and she should receive her chil¬ dren redeemed from bondage by the humanity of America, and by the hand of virtue and religion restored from their captivity. With what delight would she view them, improved in arts, in civilization and in knowledge of the true God, She would forget her sorrows, her wounds would be healed, and she would bless the hands of her benefactors. Do we not owe to that hapless country a debt contracted by our fathers; and how can w r e so well re-pay it, as by