the abolition of slavery.

47 Pages·2006·35.63 MB·English

'THE ABOLITION O F SLAVERY.
.f.N T W O P A R T S .
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and happiness. He haa no pride of authorship or desire ,?f notice to
be gtatified ; no pecuniary interest to be advanced ; and &;9e.elings of .
unkindness towards those who dissent fiom his views, to ti6 iadulged by
critic, or to escape his notice ; not to advance new theories, or present
old ones in a new dress. It has been his cbject to write for plain, com-
mon-sense, matter-of-fact readers : to present plain truths, well-estab-
hhed facts, and common arguments, in a plain manner, and for a piactt
cal purpose. It is his earnest desire to see all the friends of humanity
8;
in this' country act right-act vigorously-act in harmony, and in the
best possible manner, for the relief and the elevation of the whole Afri- '.
;application of those extracts. If the author has mistaken or .misapplied -
;the principles 'or language of that Society, he alone is responsible.
and in Part 11, he is requested to examine the whole subject without '
prejudice-to resd those publications, and ponder well their s~irita nd
"
tendency, and then state publicly and candidly in what the sevehty con-
sists, and in what manner it might have been dispensed with. To the
Friends of humanity and justice, who have sympathy for the poor and '1
oppressed African, the author cheerfully submits his views ; and to HIM
w bh ews the oppressed, when UsPy cry, he yould commit both himself ,
and his readers, with the earnest prayer that they may be guided by '
INTRODUCTION.
A few months since, a pamphlet of 236 pages fell into my hands, en-
titled ~6 WgUP on African Colonization ; or an impartial exhibition oJ'
1s we both deplored, or approve
Many things which had appear-
to create jealousy and: hostility
s, and increase the alienation
* The Liberator.
,and deceit& and m&lea& the &ion," this w& be
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all controversy in the course OF the 236 pages ; esp&allP
a{ previously brought very ,-s erfow charges agnins
Society and assumed heavy r+ponsibi~ities. He had declared that
superstrucfure of the Colonizrition Society rests upon the following
lab: 1. Persecution ;2 . Faliehood ; 3. Cowardice ;4 . Infielity?'*
shall be willing to &&e my reputation upon itt for boriesty, prud
benevolence, truth and sagacity. If I db not prove the Colonizatio
ciety to be a creature without heart, without brains, eyeless, unna
hypocritical, relentless, unjust-Lthen nothing is capable of dernonstra
-then let me be covered with1c onfusion of face."
Such declarations gave reason to expect that evidence the most fa
em, and led me to examin
the Society at hand, I was
those in their connexion,,
of this examination was a
ad of an "inr.pm.tid exhibition," the pamphlet cont
or one-sided view of the Colonization Society, ex
ntly objectionable features, and those strangely
2. That a large portion af the extracts made to support the chaige
were not from the documents of the Society, but from newspapers, se
mons, addresses, &c.
.
.3. ??hat a large portion of the extracts made from the documents o
tht?.Society do not appear in them as the sentiment3 of the Board of
["~anagers. They are extracts from speeches, copied into the Proced-
G
v4 ings of the Society at the annual meeting," from sermons or addresses
& 4
published in different sections of the country, or from reviews
#clesp ublished in, other periodicals, copied into the Append
Report," or the African Repository, cLnotb ecause every sen
approved" by the Managers or the Secretary, but because t
been willing to exhibit honestly the different sentiments of i
and leave the public to judge in view of the whole subject.
,
4. Many of the extracts are frequently intertupted thus * * * show;
ing that something is left out, In examining these extracts as they
stand in the publications of the Bociety, several of them will be seen t
be unfairly made, parts being omitted which would essentially mod
their meaning.
5. That some of the quotatiom, are'made by putting detached sknten-
ces together, so as to convey a different meaning from that mten&d by
'h8' -
. .,, the writers, fSee kxamplea in the Christian Spectator, March 1833,
era1 of the;;kxtracts contain language cdpable of being:
especiilry %hen standing alone; and this inferences and
menta relating t@!h&e are unfairly made.
,' r:/4* , ,,; ~i ber%dr,'~uf~g th, w+1 1r p) j U. , A~+'v !;,; ;fb
' 5.. C
. %!Qe pamphlet, whlch%& tben in contemplatio~&Li.b. July 30, 1831.
"
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I
hat although the Society may have had wrong arguments used;ain-
; may have been patronized by some with wrong motives ;
ome nay have had too high expectations of its success ; although&&
some of its best friends, or even its Board of Managers, may have made
mistakes; still the charges against the Society me not sustained and can-
not be. .
8. That the entire reverse of nearly every charge can, by a similar
&
license, as fairly sustained as these ; but neither view alone would
be an impartial exhibition."
I
9.' That with all the faults that can possibly be charged upon the
Colonization Society with my show of truth, it is still the most promis-
-
ifig means of benefiting the whole Afiican race yet devised ; and is eo-
titled to the cordial support of all the people of these United States, and
the approbation of all the friends of liberty throughout the world.
10. That a fair examination ofthe history and operations of the Soci-
ety, will bring other rninds.to the same result.
11. That if the Author would give his pamphlet a calm, serious, prayer-
ful re-examination ; would consider tile history, principles and operations
dthe'Sociqty; the character of those who formed it, and those'who
tlaw condhct its affairs ; as well as the great body of its patrons ; would
review his charges and the manner by which he has attempted to sustain
them ;h e would "be covered with confusion of face" without an] effort
being made by others to refute his charges ; and that 'although some ?. ."
who are glad of an excuse for doing nothing for a benevolent soci aentdy^-,,\i^.^~^^~$~ ~>
-may thank the author for his attacks, yet benevolent men, who think
act for them~elves,w ill not be lorig misled or embarrassed, by them, andr:;$
the Colbnization Society has nothing to fear ultimately from such oppo-&$
.
sition.
12. That the pamphlet referred to, might d: some godd. It might ex- ,
cite attention, earnination and discussion, which should develope more
filly the principles of the Society, make them better understood, and
their importance more deeply felt, and thus benefit the cause in New
England. It might make some of the friends' of Colonization more care-
ful in their arguments and efforts, and, lead W increased watchfulnees and
prudence in the management of the Societp.
It might assist in removing the impression st the South, that the
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pedple of New England are willing te insult and abuse them." It is .
well known that the authoi of the pamphlet fs very olinoxious both to? N,
the friends and enemies of Colonization and Emancipation in the slave'.i:b'.'
states. They-have thought his languwe in relation to slave-holders
slanderous, his treatment of them abusive, and his influence on the col-
ored people peculiarly fitted to produce insurrections. Some of them
have supposed that many in N%w,Eng'land, and especially Colonization-
ists, were disposed to countenaye sv measure
His hostility to the Society, therefore, might co
pie who have opposed it, that his movements and
are not one and the same thing, and thus lead them to e
13. That as the pamphlet w& fikely to do some good, a
different way from that intend&, therefore no reply to it
and that no notice ought to be titken of it by the friends of
Although containing some t~utJf4ithm uc
to be easily dptected by those acquainted with t
Rtv.
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~he'sew ere my sober cwnvictions after a very thorough examination ; -.
mid similar views I found were entertained by many editors,' clergymen,
and others,, who had examined the subject. After what has been said, it
may seem .strange that I should notice this pamphlet with so much for-.
mality. My apology is this:-.
1. Many persons have not the publications of the society. .Very (ew
in New England have the Annual Reports or any documents which
give .its e+li history. .
'
9. a Few persons have time to examine the sixteen Reports and eight
volumes of the African Repository, if they were accessible : .consequent-
ly,,*ey are,not prepared to, defend the society when attacked, and are in
! some danger. of being misled. . . ,
3. It is .now an easy matter for any one to collect materials from this
pamphlet an? the Liberatoi., and write newspaper articles accusing the
Colonization Society, and its agents, of LG deception" Lc falsehood" cr prop-
agating libels" << publishing gross fictioqs with a view to gull the weak
and the ignbrant" &c.. and thus new articles are furnished for the Lib'-
erator, or copied from some paper that is willing to publish them.. In
the same manner it is easy to prepare addresses on the subject of slave-
ry, spiced with a good degree of ridicule and sarcasm for Colonization-
ists ; get admitted to lyceums and debating societies, and in some instan-
ces even to churches, under the apparent sanction of ministers4 create a
temporary edcitement, and then boast of their success, their converts and
contributions ; challenge the whole world ta refute their arguments, and
then, if no one notice them, to cry vibtory, and throw out more insulting
'
~1lenges.t
c c eB y a %3$eabyteiian Clergyman.
LibnuUa, Feb. 16, 1839.
Another challenge, Mr. Danforth !-from a puree, too, eminently entitled to your no-
*if+. Are you ready?
[ For the ~i!&tor. ]
TO REV. MR. DANFORTH, PRMBPTEBIAN MINISTER. '
s you are manifehl afraid to faee ONEW HO R~onrs,'a nd prove that 6 every American
~e-holdis~ no t a ddnapper.7-T herebv nflw m 'meet vou in "pen debate in Boston, and
4. The New England Anti-slavery Society hm adopted this parnph-6%i
let for distribution, and its agents and managers are actively opposing4'+
the Colonization Society in this country, and sending their publications
to England, thus furnishing materials which some of the British Reviea -
Ier s and editors seem much inclined to use in slandering this country.
5. My object in noticing this pamphlet is not to reply to the charges,
or hold a controversy with its author, or any one who agrees with him,
adopts his style and imitates his spirit." It is my design
I. To give n brief view of the history and operations of the Colonizn-rn
tion Society, develope its character ?nd principles, and give some rea-
sons for sustaining it.
11. To furnish a similar view of the New England Ant-slavery Soci-
ety, express my own views in relation to the objects proposed in its Con-
stitution, and state the reasons why I cannot co-operate with the So-
ciety.
maintain against your negative the following proposition:-Evxnu SLAV~-HOLDWEHRO PRO-
Pesoss TO BE A CHRISTIANBY, WHATEVER NAXE HE IS CALLED, OR WHATEIER OFFICE HE HOLDS
IX THE CHURCH,.IAS HYPOCRITE.
The Edltor of the Liberator is authorized to make the necffsarv arranc-e ments-if von chowe
fa confront w~TcH$~ANI;;-~
Liberator, Feb. 22, 1833.
been part~allye xposed ip the
Repository for January, and
e Christian Mirror, (Portland,
Me.) and in late numbers of the Vermont Chronicle.
into the United
: '1 : 10 '.( c , ~.o?~t~:fi.~..,.f6,,&~. ~'1 :. ki
he Maroonst fromJamaica were introduced about: the year
5. Since the abolition in 1808, large numbers have joined the col-
ny who were liberated froin slave ships. In 1823,t he colony contained
about 18000 inhabitants, of whom, 12000 were libcrated Africans. In
1826, the number of this class was more than 15000. Two thousand
four hundred and fifty-eight liberated captives were added to the colony,
during the year 1827 alone.$
While the leading abolitionists in Great Britian mere thus providing '
all asylum for the liberated Africans, the attention of great and good men
in the Ui?ited States was turned to the same subject. They saw that
many who had been liberated were ignorantpwithout employment, desti-
tute of the means and motives necessary to elevate men, and, consequent-
ly, exposed to temptation, suffering and crime. Even before the com-
mencement of the Sierra Leone colony, as early as 1777, Mr. Jeffeison '
had formed a plan of colonizing the free people of color ; but the distract-
ed state of the country occasioned by the war, or other cadses, prevented
its ,developement.
In the year 1787, Dr. Thornton, of Washington, 'iproposed the sub-
ject of the colonization of the people of color on the coast of Jfrica to the
!
,people of Boston, and Providence, (Rhode Island.) Many were disposed
to accompany him to Africa, but the want of funds presented the experi-
ment: In 1789, Rev. Samuel Hopkins, of Newport, Rhode Island,
wrote to Granville Sharp, to ascertain the situatio'n of the colony at Siei-ra
Leone, and especially, whether the blacks of New England "might
'have any part ofthe colonial lands to settle on, and on what terms."
In the American Museum, is an article, dated March 6, 1790, attrib-
uted to Ferdinand0 Fairfax, in which it is proposed, that a colony
should be settled under the auspices and protection of Congress, by the
negroes now within the United States, and be composed of those who
are already, as well as those who at any time hereafter, may become lib- .
erated by the voluntary consent of their owners," kc.
About the year 1800 or 1801, the Legislature of Virginia instructed
Mr. Monroe, then Governor of the State, to endeavor, through the agency
of Presidcnt Jefferson, to secure an asylum beyond the limits of the
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United States for such persons of color as had been, or might be, eman-
cipated under the laws of the commonwealth." An effort was made to
e Sierra Leone Company, and af-
vernment of Portugal. Both at-
r. Jefferson, in reply to inquiries
s : Having long ago made up
tion in saying, that I have ever
thought that the most desirable measure which could bd adopted for
cr most advantageous to them-
that the United States
In 1816, the legislatur~p f Virginia again passed a resolve," requeste 9
ing Oe Executive fa take measures for procuring urn osy1umJor d h
perso- of color as are nao free, dpn Mar DqIpm IT, and for those whd .
may hereafter be emancipated within this commonwealth," &c.
By this time,&e experiment at Sierra Leone, notwithstanding ah its ,
embarrasslhents, had demonstrated tha,t-tke plan of Colon5zation is prs-
ticable: the views of individuals, far separated from each lother by dis-
tance and~~circumstancesb,e gan to be understood! and there was an%-
cient evidence that a noble plan for benefiting the African race Ubht bc
carried forwardo to enlist tbe energies of the Rev. Robert Firiley, ol
Basking Ridge, N. J., draw out his views.and feelings relatifig to the .
interests of the free.blacka, md urge him Forward to be $he pioneer of I
the enterprise to be commenced for their benefit.
A concurrent movement: towards the adoption of some particular plan of ope-
rations was distinctly concerted in March 1816, at Geor towh, D, C., between a
resident of that place and several citizens 6fthe two nei Kring states. This was
without the knowIe~or participation of an individdj living no* of Maryland ,
But inthecoursaof e eneuin summer andrautumn, the discussion becaine more
pnerd agd excited codsiderabte interest in Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia,
Princevn, and ather prkci a1 place8 in that sectios of tbe country. Still Mr.
Finle seems rather to have%d public opinion, for while others we- only talkin
and thikin'g, he was dmofing ItWnSe&fmholly to #re cuuae. ,,After 'havin refleetefi
deliberately on the proper place, time and manner of dommencing the ?ong con-
templated movement--andthe propriety of doing som&hinz&ad sOarcely been dm-
husted at all-he resolved to test the popularity, and in some degree ~e ~ L B O ~
of his awn plan, by introducing the subject to public ~ottcert Washin@o&
He arrived at that city about the first of December, 1816, and began ts make ar-
rangcments for a meeting of the citizens. Many ridiculed, and sohe opposel hih:
but meekly contenting.himself with the ob#ervation, ' I know thisscheme is &om
Gdd,' he persevered and prevailed. ,The Society was orgahized on the firat of
January, 1817.'i
The second article of the constitutiun de,fines the object of the s~cie-
8, ant3 ii in the fo.llowing langhage :-
" TKe objeet to which ita attention is td be exclusively directed, is ;to promate ,
and ~xecutea plan for colonizing, (with their consent) the free peo le of color re-
sidin in this country, in Africa, or such other place ss Congreas s&l,deem most
expe&ent. And the Societ shall act, to effect this object, in co-operation with
the general government knYd such of the Staka as rag adopt se~01utionso n the .
subject"
It would seem impossible that any opposition'could with propriety be
made to the Society, especially as it bchm uniformly acted in pursuance
of these clearly declared. principles, to the exclusion of all others.'?
But probably no othet Society has ever triumphed over opposition 8o
various; or obstacles~son umerous. At the first annual meeting it watd
stated by the Presidont, that an effort haa unfortunakly been made tb
rb
prejudice the minds of the free people of color against the institution,'
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which?,had its origin, it is believed, in am Aonest desire to promote #hip
lmppinesa, A suggestion has been made. to them which thb Society &a-
cki?ns by be tern ofits Constitution, that they are to be co&&ned t ~ ,
migrate to the, country which may be selected for the seslt,mf-.our ool-
o n p3 0s uqkcion can be more unfiunded. R M sanetionedrbj( no rkcZaL .