6 pretext that would not only seem to justify but confer credit on the measure. Accordingly, it agreed to represent the colored inhabitants of the United States as aliens and foreigners, who, cast upon our shores by a cruel fatality, were sighing to return to their native land. Poor unfortunate exiles !'-how touching the appeal, how powerful the motive to assist, how likely to excite the compassion of the nation! Ah! what an air of disinterested benevolence, of generous compassion, of national attachment, must such an enterprise wear in the eyes of the world! Who that loved his own country, and deprecated an eternal absence from it, could refuse to help in restoring the unfortunate Africans to their long-estranged home? Such was, and is, and is likely to be, the artifice resorted to, in order to cover a base conspiracy, and give popularity to one of the wildest and most disgraceful crusades the world has ever witnessed. Let the following evidence suffice: * At no very distant period, we should see all the free colored people in our land transferred to their own country.' * 'Let us send them back to their native land.' * * C By returning them to their own ancient land of Africa, improved in knowledge and in civilization, we repay the debt which has so long been due them.'—[African Repository, vol. i. pp. 65, 146, 176.] ' And though we may not live to see the day when the sons of Africa shall have returned to their native soil,' &c. * * To found in Africa an empire of christians and republicans; to reconduct the blacks to their native land,' &c.-[Idem, pp. 13, 375.] 'Who would not rejoice to see our country liberated from her black population? Who would not participate in any efforts to restore those children of misfortune to their native shores?' * * The colored population of this country can never rise to respectability here; in their native soil they can.' The only remedy afforded is, to colonize them in their mother country.' They would go to that home from which they have been long absent." • Shall we 237.] * * * * * * retain and foster the alien enemies?'-[Idem, 88, 179, 185, Be all these benefits enjoyed by the African race under the shade of their native palms.'-[Idem, vol. vi. p. 372.] We have a numerous people, who, though they are among us, are not of us.'-[Second Annual Report of the N. Y. State Col. Soc.] * * 'It will furnish Among us is a growing population of strangers.' the means of granting to every African exile among us a happy home in the land of his fathers.'-[Rev. Baxter Dickinson's Sermon.] Africa is indeed inviting her long exiled children to return to her bosom.'[Circular of Rev. Mr Gurley.] Nothing could be more invidious or absurd than the foregoing representation. The great mass of our colored popula ratio, so that it would be reduced to nothing before the arrival of the thirtieth year.'-[American Spectator.] ་ "It is "a consummation devoutly to be wished," that we should get clear of the free people of color now, and as they are successively liberated, as well on their own account as ours; and I trust and hope, we shall both have the pleasure to see a moral certainty of the removal of all these poor people back to the same country from which their ancestors were taken.'-[African Repository, vol. iii. p. 311.] Neither do we consider liberty worth their acceptance, unless they can be sent out of the country. There is no doubt that a large proportion of the slaves enjoy life quite as well as those who are free.'—[Oxford (Me.) Observer.] It is estimated that there are 2,350,680 blacks in the United States, 339,360 of whom are free denizens of this republic. The object of this Society is THE REMOVAL OF THESE TO AFRICA.'-[New-York Standard.] "We hope to make it for the interest of the owners, in some way, to part with their slaves ;—not to be let loose among our white population, but to be carried back to the land of their fathers.'-[N. Y. Journal of Commerce.] 'If they are to be placed above their present degraded condition, they must be removed to a country where they can rise as high as any man-be eligible to any office-then you will see them rise with the rapidity of the tide.'-[Southern Religious Telegraph.] 'God has put a mark upon the black man.' The God of Nature intended they should be a distinct, free and independent community.'—[NewHaven Palladium.] 'We do not ask that the provisions of our Constitution and statute book should be so modified as to relieve and exalt the condition of the colored people, whilst they remain with us. LET THESE PROVISIONS STAND IN ALL THEIR RIGOR, to work out the ultimate and unbounded good of this people. Persuaded that their condition here is not susceptible of a radical and permanent improvement, WE WOULD DEPRECATE ANY LEGISLATION THAT SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE VAIN AND INJURIOUS HOPE OF IT.'-[Memorial of the New-York State Colonization Society.] 'Let the wise and good among us unite in removing the blacks from the country. Would it not be expedient for the properly constituted authorities to prevent the manumission of slaves in every case, unless provision is made, at the same time, to secure their removal from the country?'-[Alexandria Gazette.] We should be in favor of the abolition of slavery, if its abolishment could be effected with safety, and the colored population sent back to Africa; but merely to have them obtain freedom and let loose upon society, would be the greatest curse that could befal them or community.'—[Essex Chronicle and County Republican.] 'THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY WAS NO OBJECT OF DESIRE TO HIM, UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY COLONIZATION. So far was he from desiring it, unaccompanied by this condition, that HE WOULD NOT LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE THE ONE TOOK PLACE WITHOUT THE OTHER' !!!-[Mr Mercer's Speech in Congress.] In order to wipe off the reproach due to this violent expulsion, it was necessary, on the part of the Society, to find some pretext that would not only seem to justify but confer credit on the measure. Accordingly, it agreed to represent the colored inhabitants of the United States as aliens and foreigners, who, cast upon our shores by a cruel fatality, were sighing to return to their native land. 'Poor unfortunate exiles !'-how touching the appeal, how powerful the motive to assist, how likely to excite the compassion of the nation! Ah! what an air of disinterested benevolence, of generous compassion, of national attachment, must such an enterprise wear in the eyes of the world! Who that loved his own country, and deprecated an eternal absence from it, could refuse to help in restoring the unfortunate Africans to their long-estranged home? Such was, and is, and is likely to be, the artifice resorted to, in order to cover a base conspiracy, and give popularity to one of the wildest and most disgraceful crusades the world has ever witnessed. Let the following evidence suffice: At no very distant period, we should see all the free colored people in our land transferred to their own country.' * * 'Let us send them back to their native land.' * * By returning them to their own ancient land of Africa, improved in knowledge and in civilization, we repay the debt which has so long been due them.'-[African Repository, vol. i. pp. 65, 146, 176.] * And though we may not live to see the day when the sons of Africa shall have returned to their native soil,' &c. * To found in Africa an empire of christians and republicans; to reconduct the blacks to their native land,' &c.-[Idem, pp. 13, 375.] * * 'Who would not rejoice to see our country liberated from her black population? Who would not participate in any efforts to restore those children of misfortune to their native shores?' * The colored population of this country can never rise to respectability here; in their native soil they can.' The only remedy afforded is, to colonize them in their mother country.' They would go to that home from which they have been long absent." • Shall we retain and foster the alien enemies?'-[Idem, 88, 179, 185, 237.] . * * Be all these benefits enjoyed by the African race under the shade of their native palms.'-[Idem, vol. vi. p. 372.] • We have a numerous people, who, though they are among us, are not of us.'-[Second Annual Report of the N. Y. State Col. Soc.] the means of granting to every African exile among us a happy home in the land of his fathers.'-[Rev. Baxter Dickinson's Sermon.] Africa is indeed inviting her long exiled children to return to her bosom.'[Circular of Rev. Mr Gurley.] Nothing could be more invidious or absurd than the foregoing representation. The great mass of our colored popula ratio, so that it would be reduced to nothing before the arrival of the thirtieth year.'-[American Spectator.] It is a consummation devoutly to be wished," that we should get clear of the free people of color now, and as they are successively liberated, as well on their own account as ours; and I trust and hope, we shall both have the pleasure to see a moral certainty of the removal of all these poor people back to the same country from which their ancestors were taken.'-[African Repository, vol. iii. p. 311.] Neither do we consider liberty worth their acceptance, unless they can be sent out of the country. There is no doubt that a large proportion of the slaves enjoy life quite as well as those who are free.'-[Oxford (Me.) Observer.] It is estimated that there are 2,350,680 blacks in the United States, 339,360 of whom are free denizens of this republic. The object of this Society is THE REMOVAL OF THESE TO AFRICA.'-[New-York Standard.] "We hope to make it for the interest of the owners, in some way, to part with their slaves ;-not to be let loose among our white population, but to be carried back to the land of their fathers.'-[N. Y. Journal of Commerce.] 'If they are to be placed above their present degraded condition, they must be removed to a country where they can rise as high as any man-be eligible to any office-then you will see them rise with the rapidity of the tide.'—[Southern Religious Telegraph.] 'God has put a mark upon the black man.' 'The God of Nature intended they should be a distinct, free and independent community.'—[NewHaven Palladium.] 'We do not ask that the provisions of our Constitution and statute book should be so modified as to relieve and exalt the condition of the colored people, whilst they remain with us. LET THESE PROVISIONS STAND IN ALL THEIR RIGOR, to work out the ultimate and unbounded good of this people. Persuaded that their condition here is not susceptible of a radical and permanent improvement, WE WOULD DEPRECATE ANY LEGISLATION THAT SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE VAIN AND INJURIOUS HOPE OF IT.'-[Memorial of the New-York State Colonization Society.] 'Let the wise and good among us unite in removing the blacks from the country. Would it not be expedient for the properly constituted authorities to prevent the manumission of slaves in every case, unless provision is made, at the same time, to secure their removal from the country?'-[Alexandria Gazette.] We should be in favor of the abolition of slavery, if its abolishment could be effected with safety, and the colored population sent back to Africa; but merely to have them obtain freedom and let loose upon society, would be the greatest curse that could befal them or community.'-[Essex Chronicle and County Republican.] 6 THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY WAS NO OBJECT OF DESIRE TO HIM, UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY COLONIZATION. So far was he from desiring it, unaccompanied by this condition, that HE WOULD NOT LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE THE ONE TOOK PLACE WITHOUT THE OTHER' !!!-[Mr Mercer's Speech in Congress.] In order to wipe off the reproach due to this violent expulsion, it was necessary, on the part of the Society, to find some |