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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/17154-8.txt b/17154-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d1c5225 --- /dev/null +++ b/17154-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6046 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and +Destiny of the Colored People of the United States, by Martin R. Delany + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States + +Author: Martin R. Delany + +Release Date: November 26, 2005 [EBook #17154] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONDITION, ELEVATION *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Martin Pettit and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +THE CONDITION, ELEVATION, EMIGRATION, AND DESTINY OF THE COLORED PEOPLE +OF THE UNITED STATES + +Published 1852. + + + + +CONTENTS + +The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People + of the United States + + Preface. 35 + + Chapter I. Condition of Many Classes in Europe Considered 41 + + Chapter II. Comparative Condition of the + Colored People of the United States 44 + + Chapter III. American Colonization 58 + + Chapter IV. Our Elevation in the United States 63 + + Chapter V. Means of Elevation 67 + + Chapter VI. The United States Our Country 74 + + Chapter VII. Claims of Colored Men as Citizens of the United States 75 + + Chapter VIII. Colored American Warriors 91 + + Chapter IX. Capacity of Colored Men and Women + as Citizen Members of Community 106 + + Chapter X. Practical Utility of Colored People of the Present + Day as Members of Society--Business Men and Mechanics 113 + + Chapter XI. Literary and Professional Colored Men and Women 128 + + Chapter XII. Students of Various Professions 148 + + Chapter XIII. A Scan at Past Things 151 + + Chapter XIV. Late Men of Literary, Professional and Artistic Note 155 + + Chapter XV. Farmers and Herdsmen 158 + + Chapter XVI. National Disfranchisement of Colored People 161 + + Chapter XVII. Emigration of the Colored People of the United States 175 + +Chapter XVIII. "Republic of Liberia" 177 + + Chapter XIX. The Canadas 189 + + Chapter XX. Central and South America and the West Indies 193 + + Chapter XXI. Nicaragua and New Grenada 202 + + Chapter XXII. Things as They Are 204 + +Chapter XXIII. A Glance at Ourselves--Conclusion 211 + + Appendix. A Project for an Expedition of Adventure, + to the Eastern Coast of Africa 221 + + + + +_Sincerely dedicated to the American People, North and South._ + + +_By Their Most Devout, and Patriotic Fellow Citizen, the Author_ + + + + +PREFACE + + +The author of this little volume has no other apology for offering it to +the public, than the hurried manner in which it has been composed. Being +detained in the city of New York on business, he seized the opportunity +of a tedious delay, and wrote the work in the inside of one month, +attending to other business through the day, and lecturing on physiology +sometimes in the evening. The reader will therefore not entertain an +idea of elegance of language and terseness of style, such as should rule +the sentences of every composition, by whomsoever written. + +His sole object has been, to place before the public in general, and the +colored people of the United States in particular, great truths +concerning this class of citizens, which appears to have been heretofore +avoided, as well by friends as enemies to their elevation. By opponents, +to conceal information, that they are well aware would stimulate and +impel them on to bold and adventurous deeds of manly daring; and by +friends, who seem to have acted on the principle of the zealous +orthodox, who would prefer losing the object of his pursuit to changing +his policy. + +There are also a great many colored people in the United States, who +have independence of spirit, who desire to, and do, think for +themselves; but for the want of general information, and in consequence +of a prevailing opinion that has obtained, that no thoughts nor opinions +must be expressed, even though it would eventuate in their elevation, +except it emanate from some old, orthodox, stereotyped doctrine +concerning them; therefore, such a work as this, which is but a mere +introduction to what will henceforth emanate from the pen of colored men +and women, appeared to be in most anxious demand, in order to settle +their minds entirely, and concentrate them upon an effective and +specific course of procedure. We have never conformed with that class of +philosophers who would keep the people in ignorance, lest they might +change their opinion from former predilections. This we shall never do, +except pressing necessity demands it, and then only as a measure to +prevent bad consequences, for the time. + +The colored people of to-day are not the colored people of a quarter of +a century ago, and require very different means and measures to satisfy +their wants and demands, and to effect their advancement. No wise +statesman presumes the same measures for the satisfaction of the +American people now, that may have been with propriety adopted +twenty-five years ago; neither is it wisdom to presume, that the +privileges which satisfied colored people twenty years ago, they will be +reconciled with now. That with which the father of the writer may have +been satisfied, even up to the present day, the writer cannot be content +with; the one lived in times antecedent to the birth of the other; that +which answered then, does not answer now: so is it with the whole class +of colored people in the United States. Their feelings, tastes, +predilections, wants, demands, and sympathies, are identical, and +homogeneous with those of all other Americans. + + "Fleecy locks and black complexions, + Cannot alter nature's claim; + Skins may differ, but affections, + Dwell in black and white the same." + +Many of the distinguished characters referred to in this work, who lived +in former days, for which there is no credit given, have been obtained +from various sources--as fragments of history, pamphlets, files of +newspapers, obsolete American history, and some from Mrs. Child's +Collection. Those of modern date, are living facts known to the writer +in his travels through the United States, having been from Canada and +Maine to Arkansas and Texas. The origin of the breast-works of cotton +bales on Chalmet Plains, at the battle of New Orleans, the writer +learned in that city, from old colored men in 1840, and subsequently, +from other sources; as well as much useful information concerning that +battle, from _Julien Bennoit_, spoken of in the work. He has before +referred to it some five or six years ago, through the columns of a +paper, of which he was then editor, and not until subsequently to his +narrating the same facts in these columns, was he aware that it was ever +mentioned in print, when he saw, on the 3d day of March, on looking over +the contributions of the "Liberty Bell," a beautiful annual of Boston, +the circumstances referred to by DAVID LEE CHILD, Esq., the particulars +of which will be found in our version. + +The original intention was to make this a pamphlet of a few pages, the +writer commencing with that view; but finding that he could not thus +justify the design of the work, will fully explain the cause of its +present volume. The subject of this work is one that the writer has +given thought for years, and the only regret that he has now in placing +it before the public is, that his circumstances and engagements have +not afforded him such time and opportunity as to do justice to it. But, +should he succeed in turning the attention of the colored people, in +general, in this direction--he shall have been amply compensated for the +labor bestowed. An appendix will be found giving the plan of the author, +laid out at twenty-four years of age, but subsequently improved on, for +the elevation of the colored race. That plan of course, as this work +will fully show, has been abandoned for a far more glorious one; albeit, +we as a race, still lay claim to the project, which one day must be +added to our dashing strides in national advancement, successful +adventure, and unsurpassed enterprise. + +One part of the American people, though living in near proximity and +together, are quite unacquainted with the other; and one of the great +objects of the author is, to make each acquainted. Except the character +of an individual is known, there can be no just appreciation of his +worth; and as with individuals, so is it with classes. + +The colored people are not yet known, even to their most professed +friends among the white Americans; for the reason, that politicians, +religionists, colonizationists, and abolitionists, have each and all, at +different times, presumed to _think_ for, dictate to, and _know_ better +what suited colored people, than they knew for themselves; and +consequently, there has been no other knowledge of them obtained, than +that which has been obtained through these mediums. Their history--past, +present, and future, has been written by them, who, for reasons well +known, which are named in this volume, are not their representatives, +and, therefore, do not properly nor fairly present their wants and +claims among their fellows. Of these impressions, we design disabusing +the public mind, and correcting the false impressions of all classes +upon this great subject. A moral and mental, is as obnoxious as a +physical servitude, and not to be tolerated; as the one may, eventually, +lead to the other. Of these we feel the direful effects. + + "If I'm designed your lordling's slave, + By nature's law designed; + Why was an independent wish + E'er planted in my mind!" + + + + +I + +CONDITION OF MANY CLASSES IN EUROPE CONSIDERED + + +That there have been in all ages and in all countries, in every quarter +of the habitable globe, especially among those nations laying the +greatest claim to civilization and enlightenment, classes of people who +have been deprived of equal privileges, political, religious and social, +cannot be denied, and that this deprivation on the part of the ruling +classes is cruel and unjust, is also equally true. Such classes have +even been looked upon as inferior to their oppressors, and have ever +been mainly the domestics and menials of society, doing the low offices +and drudgery of those among whom they lived, moving about and existing +by mere sufferance, having no rights nor privileges but those conceded +by the common consent of their political superiors. These are historical +facts that cannot be controverted, and therefore proclaim in tones more +eloquently than thunder, the listful attention of every oppressed man, +woman, and child under the government of the people of the United States +of America. + +In past ages there were many such classes, as the Israelites in Egypt, +the Gladiators in Rome, and similar classes in Greece; and in the +present age, the Gipsies in Italy and Greece, the Cossacs in Russia and +Turkey, the Sclaves and Croats in the Germanic States, and the Welsh and +Irish among the British, to say nothing of various other classes among +other nations. + +That there have in all ages, in almost every nation, existed a nation +within a nation--a people who although forming a part and parcel of the +population, yet were from force of circumstances, known by the peculiar +position they occupied, forming in fact, by the deprivation of political +equality with others, no part, and if any, but a restricted part of the +body politic of such nations, is also true. + +Such then are the Poles in Russia, the Hungarians in Austria, the +Scotch, Irish, and Welsh in the United Kingdom, and such also are the +Jews, scattered throughout not only the length and breadth of Europe, +but almost the habitable globe, maintaining their national +characteristics, and looking forward in high hopes of seeing the day +when they may return to their former national position of +self-government and independence, let that be in whatever part of the +habitable world it may. This is the lot of these various classes of +people in Europe, and it is not our intention here, to discuss the +justice or injustice of the causes that have contributed to their +degradation, but simply to set forth the undeniable facts, which are as +glaring as the rays of a noonday's sun, thereby to impress them +indelibly on the mind of every reader of this pamphlet. + +It is not enough, that these people are deprived of equal privileges by +their rulers, but, the more effectually to succeed, the equality of +these classes must be denied, and their inferiority by nature as +distinct races, actually asserted. This policy is necessary to appease +the opposition that might be interposed in their behalf. Wherever there +is arbitrary rule, there must be necessity, on the part of the dominant +classes, superiority be assumed. To assume superiority, is to deny the +equality of others, and to deny their equality, is to premise their +incapacity for self-government. Let this once be conceded, and there +will be little or no sympathy for the oppressed, the oppressor being +left to prescribe whatever terms at discretion for their government, +suits his own purpose. + +Such then is the condition of various classes in Europe; yes, nations, +for centuries within nations, even without the hope of redemption among +those who oppress them. And however unfavorable their condition, there +is none more so than that of the colored people of the United States. + + + + +II + +COMPARATIVE CONDITION OF THE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES + + +The United States, untrue to her trust and unfaithful to her professed +principles of republican equality, has also pursued a policy of +political degradation to a large portion of her native born countrymen, +and that class is the Colored People. Denied an equality not only of +political but of natural rights, in common with the rest of our fellow +citizens, there is no species of degradation to which we are not +subject. + +Reduced to abject slavery is not enough, the very thought of which +should awaken every sensibility of our common nature; but those of their +descendants who are freemen even in the non-slaveholding States, occupy +the very same position politically, religiously, civilly and socially, +(with but few exceptions,) as the bondman occupies in the slave States. + +In those States, the bondman is disfranchised, and for the most part so +are we. He is denied all civil, religious, and social privileges, except +such as he gets by mere sufferance, and so are we. They have no part nor +lot in the government of the country, neither have we. They are ruled +and governed without representation, existing as mere nonentities among +the citizens, and excrescences on the body politic--a mere dreg in +community, and so are we. Where then is our political superiority to the +enslaved? none, neither are we superior in any other relation to +society, except that we are defacto masters of ourselves and joint +rulers of our own domestic household, while the bondman's self is +claimed by another, and his relation to his family denied him. What the +unfortunate classes are in Europe, such are we in the United States, +which is folly to deny, insanity not to understand, blindness not to +see, and surely now full time that our eyes were opened to these +startling truths, which for ages have stared us full in the face. + +It is time that we had become politicians, we mean, to understand the +political economy and domestic policy of nations; that we had become as +well as moral theorists, also the practical demonstrators of equal +rights and self-government. Except we do, it is idle to talk about +rights, it is mere chattering for the sake of being seen and heard--like +the slave, saying something because his so called "master" said it, and +saying just what he told him to say. Have we not now sufficient +intelligence among us to understand our true position, to realise our +actual condition, and determine for ourselves what is best to be done? +If we have not now, we never shall have, and should at once cease +prating about our equality, capacity, and all that. + +Twenty years ago, when the writer was a youth, his young and yet +uncultivated mind was aroused, and his tender heart made to leap with +anxiety in anticipation of the promises then held out by the prime +movers in the cause of our elevation. + +In 1830 the most intelligent and leading spirits among the colored men +in the United States, such as James Forten, Robert Douglass, I. Bowers, +A.D. Shadd, John Peck, Joseph Cassey, and John B. Vashon of +Pennsylvania; John T. Hilton, Nathaniel and Thomas Paul, and James G. +Barbodoes of Massachusetts; Henry Sipkins, Thomas Hamilton, Thomas L. +Jennings, Thomas Downing, Samuel E. Cornish, and others of New York; R. +Cooley and others of Maryland, and representatives from other States +which cannot now be recollected, the data not being at hand, assembled +in the city of Philadelphia, in the capacity of a National Convention, +to "devise ways and means for the bettering of our condition." These +Conventions determined to assemble annually, much talent, ability, and +energy of character being displayed; when in 1831 at a sitting of the +Convention in September, from their previous pamphlet reports, much +interest having been created throughout the country, they were favored +by the presence of a number of whites, some of whom were able and +distinguished men, such as Rev. R.R. Gurley, Arthur Tappan, Elliot +Cresson, John Rankin, Simeon Jocelyn and others, among them William +Lloyd Garrison, then quite a young man, all of whom were staunch and +ardent Colonizationists, young Garrison at that time, doing his +mightiest in his favorite work. + +Among other great projects of interest brought before the convention at +a previous sitting, was that of the expediency of a general emigration, +as far as it was practicable, of the colored people to the British +Provinces of North America. Another was that of raising sufficient means +for the establishment and erection of a College for the proper education +of the colored youth. These gentlemen long accustomed to observation and +reflection on the condition of their people saw at once, that there must +necessarily be means used adequate to the end to be attained--that end +being an unqualified equality with the ruling class of their fellow +citizens. He saw that as a class, the colored people of the country were +ignorant, degraded and oppressed, by far the greater portion of them +being abject slaves in the South, the very condition of whom was almost +enough, under the circumstances, to blast the remotest hope of success, +and those who were freemen, whether in the South or North, occupied a +subservient, servile, and menial position, considering it a favor to get +into the service of the whites, and do their degrading offices. That the +difference between the whites and themselves, consisted in the superior +advantages of the one over the other, in point of attainments. That if a +knowledge of the arts and sciences, the mechanical occupations, the +industrial occupations, as farming, commerce, and all the various +business enterprises, and learned professions were necessary for the +superior position occupied by their rulers, it was also necessary for +them. And very reasonably too, the first suggestion which occurred to +them was, the advantages of a location, then the necessity of a +qualification. They reasoned with themselves, that all distinctive +differences made among men on account of their origin, is wicked, +unrighteous, and cruel, and never shall receive countenance in any shape +from us, therefore, the first acts of the measure entered into by them, +was to protest, solemnly protest, against every unjust measure and +policy in the country, having for its object the proscription of the +colored people, whether state, national, municipal, social, civil, or +religious. + +But being far-sighted, reflecting, discerning men, they took a political +view of the subject, and determined for the good of their people to be +governed in their policy according to the facts as they presented +themselves. In taking a glance at Europe, they discovered there, however +unjustly, as we have shown in another part of this pamphlet, that there +are and have been numerous classes proscribed and oppressed, and it was +not for them to cut short their wise deliberations, and arrest their +proceedings in contention, as to the cause, whether on account of +language, the color of eyes, hair, skin, or their origin of +country--because all this is contrary to reason, a contradiction to +common sense, at war with nature herself, and at variance with facts as +they stare us every day in the face, among all nations, in every +country--this being made the pretext as a matter of _policy_ alone--a +fact worthy of observation, that wherever the objects of oppression are +the most easily distinguished by any peculiar or general +characteristics, these people are the more easily oppressed, because the +war of oppression is the more easily waged against them. This is the +case with the modern Jews and many other people who have +strongly-marked, peculiar, or distinguishing characteristics. This +arises in this wise. The policy of all those who proscribe any people, +induces them to select as the objects of proscription, those who +differed as much as possible, in some particulars, from themselves. This +is to ensure the greater success, because it engenders the greater +prejudice, or in other words, elicits less interest on the part of the +oppressing class, in their favor. This fact is well understood in +national conflicts, as the soldier or civilian, who is distinguished by +his dress, mustache, or any other peculiar appendage, would certainly +prove himself a madman, if he did not take the precaution to change his +dress, remove his mustache, and conceal as much as possible his peculiar +characteristics, to give him access among the repelling party. + +This is mere policy, nature having nothing to do with it. Still, it is a +fact, a great truth well worthy of remark, and as such as adduce it for +the benefit of those of our readers, unaccustomed to an enquiry into the +policy of nations. + +In view of these truths, our fathers and leaders in our elevation, +discovered that as a policy, we the colored people were selected as the +subordinate class in this country, not on account of any actual or +supposed inferiority on their part, but simply because, in view of all +the circumstances of the case, they were the very best class that could +be selected. They would have as readily had any other class as +subordinates in the country, as the colored people, but the condition of +society _at the time_, would not admit of it. In the struggle for +American Independence, there were among those who performed the most +distinguished parts, the most common-place peasantry of the Provinces. +English, Danish, Irish, Scotch, and others, were among those whose names +blazoned forth as heroes in the American Revolution. But a single +reflection will convince us, that no course of policy could have induced +the proscription of the parentage and relatives of such men as Benjamin +Franklin the printer, Roger Sherman the cobbler, the tinkers, and others +of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. But as they were +determined to have a subservient class, it will readily be conceived, +that according to the state of society at the time, the better policy on +their part was, to select some class, who from their political +position--however much they may have contributed their aid as we +certainly did, in the general struggle for liberty by force of arms--who +had the least claims upon them, or who had the _least chance_, or was +the _least potent_ in urging their claims. This class of course was the +colored people and Indians. + +The Indians who in the early settlement of the continent, before an +African captive had ever been introduced thereon, were reduced to the +most abject slavery, toiling day and night in the mines, under the +relentless hands of heartless Spanish taskmasters, but being a race of +people raised to the sports of fishing, the chase, and of war, were +wholly unaccustomed to labor, and therefore sunk under the insupportable +weight, two millions and a half having fallen victims to the cruelty of +oppression and toil suddenly placed upon their shoulders. And it was +only this that prevented their farther enslavement as a class, after the +provinces were absolved from the British Crown. It is true that their +general enslavement took place on the islands and in the mining +districts of South America, where indeed, the Europeans continued to +enslave them, until a comparatively recent period; still, the design, +the feeling, and inclination from policy, was the same to do so here, in +this section of the continent. + +Nor was it until their influence became too great, by the political +position occupied by their brethren in the new republic, that the German +and Irish peasantry ceased to be sold as slaves for a term of years +fixed by law, for the repayment of their passage-money, the descendants +of these classes of people for a long time being held as inferiors, in +the estimation of the ruling class, and it was not until they assumed +the rights and privileges guaranteed to them by the established policy +of the country, among the leading spirits of whom were their relatives, +that the policy towards them was discovered to be a bad one, and +accordingly changed. Nor was it, as is frequently very erroneously +asserted, by colored as well as white persons, that it was on account of +hatred to the African, or in other words, on account of hatred to his +color, that the African was selected as the subject of oppression in +this country. This is sheer nonsense; being based on policy and nothing +else, as shown in another place. The Indians, who being the most foreign +to the sympathies of the Europeans on this continent, were selected in +the first place, who, being unable to withstand the hardships, gave way +before them. + +But the African race had long been known to Europeans, in all ages of +the worlds history, as a long-lived, hardy race, subject to toil and +labor of various kinds, subsisting mainly by traffic, trade, and +industry, and consequently being as foreign to the sympathies of the +invaders of the continent as the Indians, they were selected, captured, +brought here as a laboring class, and as a matter of policy held as +such. Nor was the absurd idea of natural inferiority of the African ever +dreamed of, until recently adduced by the slave-holders and their +abettors, in justification of the policy. This, with contemptuous +indignation, we fling back into their face, as a scorpion to a vulture. +And so did our patriots and leaders in the cause of regeneration know +better, and never for a moment yielded to the base doctrine. But they +had discovered the great fact, that a cruel policy was pursued towards +our people, and that they possessed distinctive characteristics which +made them the objects of proscription. These characteristics being +strongly marked in the colored people, as in the Indians, by color, +character of hair and so on, made them the more easily distinguished +from other Americans, and the policies more effectually urged against +us. For this reason they introduced the subject of emigration to Canada, +and a proper institution for the education of the youth. + +At this important juncture of their proceedings, the afore named white +gentlemen were introduced to the notice of the Convention, and after +gaining permission to speak, expressed their gratification and surprise +at the qualification and talent manifested by different members of the +Convention, all expressing their determination to give the cause of the +colored people more serious reflection. Mr. Garrison, the youngest of +them all, and none the less honest on account of his youthfulness, being +but 26 years of age at the time, (1831) expressed his determination to +change his course of policy at once, and espouse the cause of the +elevation of the colored people here in their own country. We are not at +present well advised upon this point, it now having escaped our memory, +but we are under the impression that Mr. Jocelyn also, at once changed +his policy. + +During the winter of 1832, Mr. Garrison issued his "Thoughts on African +Colonization," and near about the same time or shortly after, issued the +first number of the "Liberator," in both of which, his full convictions +of the enormity of American slavery, and the wickedness of their policy +towards the colored people, were fully expressed. At the sitting of the +Convention in this year, a number, perhaps all of these gentlemen were +present, and those who had denounced the Colonization scheme, and +espoused the cause of the elevation of the colored people in this +country, or the Anti-Slavery cause, as it was now termed, expressed +themselves openly and without reserve. + +Sensible of the high-handed injustice done to the colored people in the +United States, and the mischief likely to emanate from the unchristian +proceedings of the deceptious Colonization scheme, like all honest +hearted penitents, with the ardor only known to new converts, they +entreated the Convention, whatever they did, not to entertain for a +moment, the idea of recommending emigration to their people, nor the +establishment of separate institutions of learning. They earnestly +contended, and doubtless honestly meaning what they said, that they (the +whites) had been our oppressors and injurers, they had obstructed our +progress to the high positions of civilization, and now, it was their +bounden duty to make full amends for the injuries thus inflicted on an +unoffending people. They exhorted the Convention to cease; as they had +laid on the burden, they would also take it off; as they had obstructed +our pathway, they would remove the hindrance. In a word, as they had +oppressed and trampled down the colored people, they would now elevate +them. These suggestions and promises, good enough to be sure, after they +were made, were accepted by the Convention--though some gentlemen were +still in favor of the first project as the best policy, Mr. A.D. Shadd +of West Chester, Pa., as we learn from himself, being one among that +number--ran through the country like wild-fire, no one thinking, and if +he thought, daring to speak above his breath of going any where out of +certain prescribed limits, or of sending a child to school, if it should +but have the name of "colored" attached to it, without the risk of being +termed a "traitor" to the cause of his people, or an enemy to the +Anti-Slavery cause. + +At this important point in the history of our efforts, the colored men +stopped suddenly, and with their hands thrust deep in their +breeches-pockets, and their mouths gaping open, stood gazing with +astonishment, wonder, and surprise, at the stupendous moral colossal +statues of our Anti-Slavery friends and brethren, who in the heat and +zeal of honest hearts, from a desire to make atonement for the many +wrongs inflicted, promised a great deal more than they have ever been +able half to fulfill, in thrice the period in which they expected it. +And in this, we have no fault to find with our Anti-Slavery friends, and +here wish it to be understood, that we are not laying any thing to their +charge as blame, neither do we desire for a moment to reflect on them, +because we heartily believe that all that they did at the time, they did +with the purest and best of motives, and further believe that they now +are, as they then were, the truest friends we have among the whites in +this country. And hope, and desire, and request, that our people should +always look upon _true_ anti-slavery people, Abolitionists we mean, as +their friends, until they have just cause for acting otherwise. It is +true, that the Anti-Slavery, like all good causes, has produced some +recreants, but the cause itself is no more to be blamed for that, than +Christianity is for the malconduct of any professing hypocrite, nor the +society of Friends, for the conduct of a broad-brimmed hat and +shad-belly coated horsethief, because he spoke _thee_ and _thou_ before +stealing the horse. But what is our condition even amidst our +Anti-Slavery friends? And here, as our sole intention is to contribute +to the elevation of our people, we must be permitted to express our +opinion freely, without being thought uncharitable. + +In the first place, we should look at the objects for which the +Anti-Slavery cause was commenced, and the promises or inducements it +held out at the commencement. It should be borne in mind, that +Anti-Slavery took its rise among _colored men_, just at the time they +were introducing their greatest projects for their own elevation, and +that our Anti-Slavery brethren were converts of the colored men, in +behalf of their elevation. Of course, it would be expected that being +baptized into the new doctrines, their faith would induce them to +embrace the principles therein contained, with the strictest possible +adherence. + +The cause of dissatisfaction with our former condition, was, that we +were proscribed, debarred, and shut out from every respectable position, +occupying the places of inferiors and menials. + +It was expected that Anti-Slavery, according to its professions, would +extend to colored persons, as far as in the power of its adherents, +those advantages nowhere else to be obtained among white men. That +colored boys would get situations in their shops and stores, and every +other advantage tending to elevate them as far as possible, would be +extended to them. At least, it was expected, that in Anti-Slavery +establishments, colored men would have the preference. Because, there +was no other ostensible object in view, in the commencement of the +Anti-Slavery enterprise, than the _elevation_ of the _colored man_, by +facilitating his efforts in attaining to equality with the white man. It +was urged, and it was true, that the colored people were susceptible of +all that the whites were, and all that was required was to give them a +fair opportunity, and they would prove their capacity. That it was +unjust, wicked, and cruel, the result of an unnatural prejudice, that +debarred them from places of respectability, and that public opinion +could and should be corrected upon this subject. That it was only +necessary to make a sacrifice of feeling, and an innovation on the +customs of society, to establish a different order of things,--that as +Anti-Slavery men, they were willing to make these sacrifices, and +determined to take the colored man by the hand, making common cause with +him in affliction, and bear a part of the odium heaped upon him. That +his cause was the cause of God--that "In as much as ye did it not unto +the least of these my little ones, ye did it not unto me," and that as +Anti-Slavery men, they would "do right if the heavens fell." Thus, was +the cause espoused, and thus did we expect much. But in all this, we +were doomed to disappointment, sad, sad disappointment. Instead of +realising what we had hoped for, we find ourselves occupying the very +same position in relation to our Anti-Slavery friends, as we do in +relation to the pro-slavery part of the community--a mere secondary, +underling position, in all our relations to them, and any thing more +than this, is not a matter of course affair--it comes not by established +anti-slavery custom or right, but like that which emanates from the +pro-slavery portion of the community by mere sufferance. + +It is true, that the "Liberator" office, in Boston, has got Elijah +Smith, a colored youth, at the cases--the "Standard," in New York, a +young colored man, and the "Freeman," in Philadelphia, William Still, +another, in the publication office, as "packing clerk"; yet these are +but three out of the hosts that fill these offices in their various +departments, all occupying places that could have been, and as we once +thought, would have been, easily enough, occupied by colored men. +Indeed, we can have no other idea about anti-slavery in this country, +than that the legitimate persons to fill any and every position about an +anti-slavery establishment are colored persons. Nor will it do to argue +in extenuation, that white men are as justly entitled to them as colored +men; because white men do not from _necessity_ become anti-slavery men +in order to get situations; they being white men, may occupy any +position they are capable of filling--in a word, their chances are +endless, every avenue in the country being opened to them. They do not +therefore become abolitionists, for the sake of employment--at least, it +is not the song that anti-slavery sung, in the first love of the new +faith, proclaimed by its disciples. + +And if it be urged that colored men are incapable as yet to fill these +positions, all that we have to say is, that the cause has fallen far +short; almost equivalent to a failure, of a tithe, of what it promised +to do in half the period of its existence, to this time, if it have not +as yet, now a period of twenty years, raised up colored men enough, to +fill the offices within its patronage. We think it is not unkind to say, +if it had been half as faithful to itself, as it should have been--its +professed principles we mean; it could have reared and tutored from +childhood, colored men enough by this time, for its own especial +purpose. These we know could have been easily obtained, because colored +people in general, are favorable to the anti-slavery cause, and wherever +there is an adverse manifestation, it arises from sheer ignorance; and +we have now but comparatively few such among us. There is one thing +certain, that no colored person, except such as would reject education +altogether, would be adverse to putting their child with an anti-slavery +person, for educational advantages. This then could have been done. But +it has not been done, and let the cause of it be whatever it may, and +let whoever may be to blame, we are willing to let all that pass, and +extend to our anti-slavery brethren the right-hand of fellowship, +bidding them God-speed in the propagation of good and wholesome +sentiments--for whether they are practically carried out or not, the +profession are in themselves all right and good. Like Christianity, the +principles are holy and of divine origin. And we believe, if ever a man +started right, with pure and holy motives, Mr. Garrison did; and that, +had he the power of making the cause what it should be, it would all be +right, and there never would have been any cause for the remarks we have +made, though in kindness, and with the purest of motives. We are +nevertheless, still occupying a miserable position in the community, +wherever we live; and what we most desire is, to draw the attention of +our people to this fact, and point out what, in our opinion, we conceive +to be a proper remedy. + + + + +III + +AMERICAN COLONIZATION + + +When we speak of colonization, we wish distinctly to be understood, as +speaking of the "American Colonization Society"--or that which is under +its influence--commenced in Richmond, Virginia, in 1817, under the +influence of Mr. Henry Clay of Ky., Judge Bushrod Washington of Va., and +other Southern slaveholders, having for their express object, as their +speeches and doings all justify us in asserting in good faith, the +removal of the free colored people from the land of their birth, for the +security of the slaves, as property to the slave propagandists. + +This scheme had no sooner been propagated, than the old and leading +colored men of Philadelphia, Pa., with Richard Allen, James Forten, and +others at their head, true to their trust and the cause of their +brethren, summoned the colored people together, and then and there, in +language and with voices pointed and loud, protested against the scheme +as an outrage, having no other object in view, than the benefit of the +slave-holding interests of the country, and that as freemen, they would +never prove recreant to the cause of their brethren in bondage, by +leaving them without hope of redemption from their chains. This +determination of the colored patriots of Philadelphia was published in +full, authentically, and circulated throughout the length and breadth of +the country by the papers of the day. The colored people every where +received the news, and at once endorsed with heart and soul, the doings +of the Anti-Colonization Meeting of colored freemen. From that time +forth, the colored people generally have had no sympathy with the +colonization scheme, nor confidence in its leaders, looking upon them +all, as arrant hypocrites, seeking every opportunity to deceive them. In +a word, the monster was crippled in its infancy, and has never as yet +recovered from the stroke. It is true, that like its ancient sire, that +was "more subtile than all the beasts of the field," it has inherited a +large portion of his most prominent characteristic--an idiosyncrasy with +the animal--that enables him to entwine himself into the greater part of +the Church and other institutions of the country, which having once +entered there, leaves his venom, which put such a spell on the +conductors of those institutions, that is only on condition that a +colored person consents to go to the neighborhood of his kindred brother +monster the boa, that he may find admission in the one or the other. We +look upon the American Colonization Society as one of the most arrant +enemies of the colored man, ever seeking to discomfit him, and envying +him of every privilege that he may enjoy. We believe it to be +anti-Christian in its character, and misanthropic in its pretended +sympathies. Because if this were not the case, men could not be found +professing morality and Christianity--as to our astonishment we have +found them--who unhesitatingly say, "I know it is right"--that is in +itself--"to do" so and so, "and I am willing and ready to do it, but +only on condition, that you go to Africa." Indeed, a highly talented +clergyman, informed us in November last (three months ago) in the city +of Philadelphia, that he was present when the Rev. Doctor J.P. Durbin, +late President of Dickinson College, called on Rev. Mr. P. or B., to +consult him about going to Liberia, to take charge of the literary +department of an University in contemplation, when the following +conversation ensued: Mr. P.--"Doctor, I have as much and more than I can +do here, in educating the youth of our own country, and preparing them +for usefulness here at home." Dr. D.--"Yes, but do as you may, you can +never be elevated here." Mr. P.--"Doctor, do you not believe that the +religion of our blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ, has morality, humanity, +philanthropy, and justice enough in it to elevate us, and enable us to +obtain our rights in this our own country?" Dr. D.--"No, indeed, sir, I +do not, and if you depend upon that, your hopes are vain!" Mr. +P.--Turning to Doctor Durbin, looking him solemnly, though +affectionately in the face, remarked--"Well, Doctor Durbin, we both +profess to be ministers of Christ; but dearly as I love the cause of my +Redeemer, if for a moment, I could entertain the opinion you do about +Christianity, I would not serve him another hour!" We do not know, as we +were not advised, that the Rev. Doctor added in fine,--"Well, you may +quit now, for all your serving him will not avail against the power of +the god (hydra) of Colonization." Will any one doubt for a single +moment, the justice of our strictures on colonization, after reading the +conversation between the Rev. Dr. Durbin and the colored clergyman? +Surely not. We can therefore make no account of it, but that of setting +it down as being the worst enemy of the colored people. + +Recently, there has been a strained effort in the city of New York on +the part of the Rev. J.B. Pinney and others, of the leading white +colonizationists, to get up a movement among some poor pitiable colored +men--we say pitiable, for certainly the colored persons who are at this +period capable of loaning themselves to the enemies of their race, +against the best interest of all that we hold sacred to that race, are +pitiable in the lowest extreme, far beneath the dignity of an enemy, +and therefore, we pass them by with the simple remark, that this is the +hobby that colonization is riding all over the country, as the +"tremendous" access of colored people to their cause within the last +twelve months. We should make another remark here perhaps, in +justification of governor Pinney's New York allies--that is, report +says, that in the short space of some three or five months, one of his +confidants, benefited himself to the "reckoning" of from eleven to +fifteen hundred dollars, or "such a matter," while others were benefited +in sums "pretty considerable" but of a less "reckoning." Well, we do not +know after all, that they may not have quite as good a right, to pocket +part of the spoils of this "grab game," as any body else. However, they +are of little consequence, as the ever watchful eye of those excellent +gentlemen and faithful guardians of their people's rights--the +_Committee of Thirteen_, consisting of Messrs. John J. Zuille, +_Chairman_, T. Joiner White, Philip A. Bell, _Secretaries_, Robert +Hamilton, George T. Downing, Jeremiah Powers, John T. Raymond, Wm. +Burnett, James McCune Smith, Ezekiel Dias, Junius C. Morel, Thomas +Downing, and Wm. J. Wilson, have properly chastised this pet-slave of +Mr. Pinney, and made it "know its place," by keeping within the bounds +of its master's enclosure. + +In expressing our honest conviction of the designedly injurious +character of the Colonization Society, we should do violence to our own +sense of individual justice, if we did not express the belief, that +there are some honest hearted men, who not having seen things in the +proper light, favor that scheme, simply as a means of elevating the +colored people. Such persons, so soon as they become convinced of their +error, immediately change their policy, and advocate the elevation of +the colored people, anywhere and everywhere, in common with other men. +Of such were the early abolitionists as before stated; and the great and +good Dr. F.J. Lemoyne, Gerrit Smith, and Rev. Charles Avery, and a host +of others, who were Colonizationists, before espousing the cause of our +elevation, here at home, and nothing but an honorable sense of justice, +induces us to make these exceptions, as there are many good persons +within our knowledge, whom we believe to be well wishers of the colored +people, who may favor colonization.[1] But the animal itself is the same +"hydra-headed monster," let whomsoever may fancy to pet it. A serpent is +a serpent, and none the less a viper, because nestled in the bosom of an +honest hearted man. This the colored people must bear in mind, and keep +clear of the hideous thing, lest its venom may be test upon them. But +why deem any argument necessary to show the unrighteousness of +colonization? Its very origin as before shown--the source from whence it +sprung, being the offspring of slavery--is in itself, sufficient to +blast it in the estimation of every colored person in the United States, +who has sufficient intelligence to comprehend it. + +We dismiss this part of the subject, and proceed to consider the mode +and means of our elevation in the United States. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] Benjamin Coates, Esq., a merchant of Philadelphia, we believe to be +an honest hearted man, and real friend of the colored people, and a +true, though as yet, rather undecided philanthropist. Mr. Coates, to our +knowledge, has supported three or four papers published by colored men, +for the elevation of colored people in the United States, and given, as +he continues to do, considerable sums to their support. We have recently +learned from himself, that, though he still advocates Colonization, +simply as a means of elevating the colored race of the United States, +that he has _left_ the Colonization Society, and prefers seeing colored +people located on this continent, to going to Liberia, or elsewhere off +of it--though his zeal for the enlightenment of Africa, is unabated, as +every good man's should be; and we are satisfied, that Mr. Coates is +neither well understood, nor rightly appreciated by the friends of our +cause. One thing we do know, that he left the Colonization Society, +because he could not conscientiously subscribe to its measures. + + + + +IV + +OUR ELEVATION IN THE UNITED STATES + + +That very little comparatively as yet has been done, to attain a +respectable position as a class in this country, will not be denied, and +that the successful accomplishment of this end is also possible, must +also be admitted; but in what manner, and by what means, has long been, +and is even now, by the best thinking minds among the colored people +themselves, a matter of difference of opinion. + +We believe in the universal equality of man, and believe in that +declaration of God's word, in which it is there positively said, that +"God has made of one blood all the nations that dwell on the face of the +earth." Now of "the nations that dwell on the face of the earth," that +is, all the people--there are one thousand millions of souls, and of +this vast number of human beings, two-thirds are colored, from black, +tending in complexion to the olive or that of the Chinese, with all the +intermediate and admixtures of black and white, with the various +"crosses" as they are physiologically, but erroneously termed, to white. +We are thus explicit in stating these points, because we are determined +to be understood by all. We have then, two colored to one white person +throughout the earth, and yet, singular as it may appear, according to +the present geographical and political history of the world, the white +race predominates over the colored; or in other words, wherever there is +one white person, that one rules and governs two colored persons. This +is a living undeniable truth, to which we call the especial attention of +the colored reader in particular. Now there is a cause for this, as +there is no effect without a cause, a comprehensible remediable cause. +We all believe in the justice of God, that he is impartial, "looking +upon his children with an eye of care," dealing out to them all, the +measure of his goodness; yet, how can we reconcile ourselves to the +difference that exists between the colored and the white races, as they +truthfully present themselves before our eyes? To solve this problem, is +to know the remedy; and to know it, is but necessary, in order +successfully to apply it. And we shall but take the colored people of +the United States, as a fair sample of the colored races everywhere of +the present age, as the arguments that apply to the one, will apply to +the other, whether Christians, Mahomedans, or pagans. + +The colored races are highly susceptible of religion; it is a +constituent principle of their nature, and an excellent trait in their +character. But unfortunately for them, they carry it too far. Their hope +is largely developed, and consequently, they usually stand still--hope +in God, and really expect Him to do that for them, which it is necessary +they should do themselves. This is their great mistake, and arises from +a misconception of the character and ways of Deity. We must know God, +that is understand His nature and purposes, in order to serve Him; and +to serve Him well, is but to know him rightly. To depend for assistance +upon God, is a _duty_ and right; but to know when, how, and in what +manner to obtain it, is the key to this great Bulwark of Strength, and +Depository of Aid. + +God himself is perfect; perfect in all his works and ways. He has means +for every end; and every means used must be adequate to the end to be +gained. God's means are laws--fixed laws of nature, a part of His own +being, and as immutable, as unchangeable as Himself. Nothing can be +accomplished but through the medium of, and conformable to these laws. + +They are _three_--and like God himself, represented in the three persons +in the God-head--the _Spiritual_, _Moral_ and _Physical_ Laws. + +That which is Spiritual, can only be accomplished through the medium of +the Spiritual law; that which is Moral, through the medium of the Moral +law; and that which is Physical, through the medium of the Physical law. +Otherwise than this, it is useless to expect any thing. Does a person +want a spiritual blessing, he must apply through the medium of the +spiritual law--_pray_ for it in order to obtain it. If they desire to do +a moral good, they must apply through the medium of the moral +law--exercise their sense and feeling of _right_ and _justice_, in order +to effect it. Do they want to attain a physical end, they can only do so +through the medium of the physical law--go to _work_ with muscles, +hands, limbs, might and strength, and this, and nothing else will attain +it. + +The argument that man must pray for what he receives, is a mistake, and +one that is doing the colored people especially, incalculable injury. +That man must pray in order to get to Heaven, every Christian will +admit--but a great truth we have yet got to learn, that he can live on +earth whether he is religious or not, so that he conforms to the great +law of God, regulating the things of earth; the great physical laws. It +is only necessary, in order to convince our people of their error and +palpable mistake in this matter, to call their attention to the fact, +that there are no people more religious in this Country, than the +colored people, and none so poor and miserable as they. That prosperity +and wealth, smiles upon the efforts of wicked white men, whom we know to +utter the name of God with curses, instead of praises. That among the +slaves, there are thousands of them religious, continually raising +their voices, sending up their prayers to God, invoking His aid in their +behalf, asking for a speedy deliverance; but they are still in chains, +although they have thrice suffered out their three score years and ten. +That "God sendeth rain upon the just and unjust," should be sufficient +to convince us that our success in life, does not depend upon our +religious character, but that the physical laws governing all earthly +and temporary affairs, benefit equally the just and the unjust. Any +other doctrine than this, is downright delusion, unworthy of a free +people, and only intended for slaves. That all men and women, should be +moral, upright, good and religious--we mean _Christians_--we would not +utter a word against, and could only wish that it were so; but, what we +here desire to do is, to correct the long standing error among a large +body of the colored people in this country, that the cause of our +oppression and degradation, is the displeasure of God towards us, +because of our unfaithfulness to Him. This is not true; because if God +is just--and he is--there could be no justice in prospering white men +with his fostering care, for more than two thousand years, in all their +wickedness, while dealing out to the colored people, the measure of his +displeasure, for not half the wickedness as that of the whites. Here +then is our mistake, and let it forever henceforth be corrected. We are +no longer slaves, believing any interpretation that our oppressors may +give the word of God, for the purpose of deluding us to the more easy +subjugation; but freemen, comprising some of the first minds of +intelligence and rudimental qualifications, in the country. What then is +the remedy, for our degradation and oppression? This appears now to be +the only remaining question--the means of successful elevation in this +our own native land? This depends entirely upon the application of the +means of Elevation. + + + + +V + +MEANS OF ELEVATION + + +Moral theories have long been resorted to by us, as a means of effecting +the redemption of our brethren in bonds, and the elevation of the free +colored people in this country. Experience has taught us, that +speculations are not enough; that the _practical_ application of +principles adduced, the thing carried out, is the only true and proper +course to pursue. + +We have speculated and moralised much about equality--claiming to be as +good as our neighbors, and every body else--all of which, may do very +well in ethics--but not in politics. We live in society among men, +conducted by men, governed by rules and regulations. However arbitrary, +there are certain policies that regulate all well organized institutions +and corporate bodies. We do not intend here to speak of the legal +political relations of society, for those are treated on elsewhere. The +business and social, or voluntary and mutual policies, are those that +now claim our attention. Society regulates itself--being governed by +mind, which like water, finds its own level. "Like seeks like," is a +principle in the laws of matter, as well as of mind. There is such a +thing as inferiority of things, and positions; at least society has made +them so; and while we continue to live among men, we must agree to all +_just_ measures--all those we mean, that do not necessarily infringe on +the rights of others. By the regulations of society, there is no +equality of attainments. By this, we do not wish to be understood as +advocating the actual equal attainments of every individual; but we mean +to say, that if these attainments be necessary for the elevation of the +white man, they are necessary for the elevation of the colored man. That +some colored men and women, in a like proportion to the whites, should +be qualified in all the attainments possessed by them. It is one of the +regulations of society the world over, and we shall have to conform to +it, or be discarded as unworthy of the associations of our fellows. + +Cast our eyes about us and reflect for a moment, and what do we behold! +every thing that presents to view gives evidence of the skill of the +white man. Should we purchase a pound of groceries, a yard of linen, a +vessel of crockery-ware, a piece of furniture, the very provisions that +we eat,--all, all are the products of the white man, purchased by us +from the white man, consequently, our earnings and means, are all given +to the white man. + +Pass along the avenues of any city or town, in which you live--behold +the trading shops--the manufacturies--see the operations of the various +machinery--see the stage-coaches coming in, bringing the mails of +intelligence--look at the railroads interlining every section, bearing +upon them their mighty trains, flying with the velocity of the swallow, +ushering in the hundreds of industrious, enterprising travellers. Cast +again your eyes widespread over the ocean--see the vessels in every +direction with their white sheets spread to the winds of heaven, +freighted with the commerce, merchandise and wealth of many nations. +Look as you pass along through the cities, at the great and massive +buildings--the beautiful and extensive structures of +architecture--behold the ten thousand cupolas, with their spires all +reared up towards heaven, intersecting the territory of the clouds--all +standing as mighty living monuments, of the industry, enterprise, and +intelligence of the white man. And yet, with all these living truths, +rebuking us with scorn, we strut about, place our hands akimbo, +straighten up ourselves to our greatest height, and talk loudly about +being "as good as any body." How do we compare with them? Our fathers +are their coachmen, our brothers their cookmen, and ourselves their +waiting-men. Our mothers their nurse-women, our sisters their +scrub-women, our daughters their maid-women, and our wives their +washer-women. Until colored men, attain to a position above permitting +their mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters, to do the drudgery and +menial offices of other men's wives and daughters; it is useless, it is +nonsense, it is pitiable mockery, to talk about equality and elevation +in society. The world is looking upon us, with feelings of +commiseration, sorrow, and contempt. We scarcely deserve sympathy, if we +peremptorily refuse advice, bearing upon our elevation. + +We will suppose a case for argument: In this city reside, two colored +families, of three sons and three daughters each. At the head of each +family, there is an old father and mother. The opportunities of these +families, may or may not be the same for educational advantages--be that +as it may, the children of the one go to school, and become qualified +for the duties of life. One daughter becomes school-teacher, another a +mantua-maker, and a third a fancy shop-keeper; while one son becomes a +farmer, another a merchant, and a third a mechanic. All enter into +business with fine prospects, marry respectably, and settle down in +domestic comfort--while the six sons and daughters of the other family, +grow up without educational and business qualifications, and the highest +aim they have, is to apply to the sons and daughters of the first named +family, to hire for domestics! Would there be an equality here between +the children of these two families? Certainly not. This, then, is +precisely the position of the colored people generally in the United +States, compared with the whites. What is necessary to be done, in order +to attain an equality, is to change the condition, and the person is at +once changed. If, as before stated, a knowledge of all the various +business enterprises, trades, professions, and sciences, is necessary +for the elevation of the white, a knowledge of them also is necessary +for the elevation of the colored man; and he cannot be elevated without +them. + +White men are producers--we are consumers. They build houses, and we +rent them. They raise produce, and we consume it. They manufacture +clothes and wares, and we garnish ourselves with them. They build +coaches, vessels, cars, hotels, saloons, and other vehicles and places +of accommodation, and we deliberately wait until they have got them in +readiness, then walk in, and contend with as much assurance for a +"right," as though the whole thing was bought by, paid for, and belonged +to us. By their literary attainments, they are the contributors to, +authors and teachers of, literature, science, religion, law, medicine, +and all other useful attainments that the world now makes use of. We +have no reference to ancient times--we speak of modern things. + +These are the means by which God intended man to succeed: and this +discloses the secret of the white man's success with all of his +wickedness, over the head of the colored man, with all of his religion. +We have been pointed and plain, on this part of the subject, because we +desire our readers to see persons and things in their true position. +Until we are determined to change the condition of things, and raise +ourselves above the position in which we are now prostrated, we must +hang our heads in sorrow, and hide our faces in shame. It is enough to +know that these things are so; the causes we care little about. Those we +have been examining, complaining about, and moralising over, all our +life time. This we are weary of. What we desire to learn now is, how to +effect a _remedy_; this we have endeavored to point out. Our elevation +must be the result of _self-efforts_, and work of our _own hands_. No +other human power can accomplish it. If we but determine it shall be so, +it will be so. Let each one make the case his own, and endeavor to rival +his neighbor, in honorable competition. + +These are the proper and only means of elevating ourselves and attaining +equality in this country or any other, and it is useless, utterly +futile, to think about going any where, except we are determined to use +these as the necessary means of developing our manhood. The means are at +hand, within our reach. Are we willing to try them? Are we willing to +raise ourselves superior to the condition of slaves, or continue the +meanest underlings, subject to the beck and call of every creature +bearing a pale complexion? If we are, we had as well remained in the +South, as to have come to the North in search of more freedom. What was +the object of our parents in leaving the south, if it were not for the +purpose of attaining equality in common with others of their fellow +citizens, by giving their children access to all the advantages enjoyed +by others? Surely this was their object. They heard of liberty and +equality here, and they hastened on to enjoy it, and no people are more +astonished and disappointed than they, who for the first time, on +beholding the position we occupy here in the free north--what is called, +and what they expect to find, the free States. They at once tell us, +that they have as much liberty in the south as we have in the +north--that there as free people, they are protected in their +rights--that we have nothing more--that in other respects they have the +same opportunity, indeed the preferred opportunity, of being their +maids, servants, cooks, waiters, and menials in general, there, as we +have here--that had they known for a moment, before leaving, that such +was to be the only position they occupied here, they would have remained +where they were, and never left. Indeed, such is the disappointment in +many cases, that they immediately return back again, completely insulted +at the idea, of having us here at the north, assume ourselves to be +their superiors. Indeed, if our superior advantages of the free States, +do not induce and stimulate us to the higher attainments in life, what +in the name of degraded humanity will do it? Nothing, surely nothing. +If, in fine, the advantages of free schools in Massachusetts, New York, +Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and wherever else we may have them, do not +give us advantages and pursuits superior to our slave brethren, then are +the unjust assertions of Messrs. Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Theodore +Frelinghuysen, late Governor Poindexter of Mississippi, George McDuffy, +Governor Hammond of South Carolina, Extra Billy (present Governor) +Smith, of Virginia, and the host of our oppressors, slave-holders and +others, true, that we are insusceptible and incapable of elevation to +the more respectable, honorable, and higher attainments among white men. +But this we do not believe--neither do you, although our whole life and +course of policy in this country are such, that it would seem to prove +otherwise. The degradation of the slave parent has been entailed upon +the child, induced by the subtle policy of the oppressor, in regular +succession handed down from father to son--a system of regular +submission and servitude, menialism and dependence, until it has become +almost a physiological function of our system, an actual condition of +our nature. Let this no longer be so, but let us determine to equal the +whites among whom we live, not by declarations and unexpressed +self-opinion, for we have always had enough of that, but by actual proof +in acting, doing, and carrying out practically, the measures of +equality. Here is our nativity, and here have we the natural right to +abide and be elevated through the measures of our own efforts. + + + + +VI + +THE UNITED STATES OUR COUNTRY + + +Our common country is the United States. Here were we born, here raised +and educated; here are the scenes of childhood; the pleasant +associations of our school going days; the loved enjoyments of our +domestic and fireside relations, and the sacred graves of our departed +fathers and mothers, and from here will we not be driven by any policy +that may be schemed against us. + +We are Americans, having a birthright citizenship--natural claims upon +the country--claims common to all others of our fellow citizens--natural +rights, which may, by virtue of unjust laws, be obstructed, but never +can be annulled. Upon these do we place ourselves, as immovably fixed as +the decrees of the living God. But according to the economy that +regulates the policy of nations, upon which rests the basis of +justifiable claims to all freeman's rights, it may be necessary to take +another view of, and enquire into the political claims of colored men. + + + + +VII + +CLAIMS OF COLORED MEN AS CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES + + +The political basis upon which rests the establishment of all free +nations, as the first act in their organization, is the security by +constitutional provisions, of the fundamental claims of citizenship. + +The legitimate requirement, politically considered, necessary to the +justifiable claims for protection and full enjoyment of all the rights +and privileges of an unqualified freeman, in all democratic countries +is, that each person so endowed, shall have made contributions and +investments in the country. Where there is no investment there can be +but little interest; hence an adopted citizen is required to reside a +sufficient length of time, to form an attachment and establish some +interest in the country of his adoption, before he can rightfully lay +any claims to citizenship. The pioneer who leads in the discovery or +settlement of a country, as the first act to establish a right therein, +erects a building of whatever dimensions, and seizes upon a portion of +the soil. The soldier, who braves the dangers of the battle-field, in +defence of his country's rights, and the toiling laborer and husbandman, +who cuts down and removes the forest, levels and constructs post-roads +and other public highways--the mechanic, who constructs and builds up +houses, villages, towns, and cities, for the conveniency of +inhabitants--the farmer, who cultivates the soil for the production of +breadstuffs and forage, as food and feed for man and beast--all of +these are among the first people of a democratic state, whose claims are +legitimate as freemen of the commonwealth. A freeman in a political +sense, is a citizen of unrestricted rights in the state, being eligible +to the highest position known to their civil code. They are the +preferred persons in whom may be invested the highest privileges, and to +whom may be entrusted fundamentally the most sacred rights of the +country; because, having made the greatest investments, they necessarily +have the greatest interests; and consequently, are the safest hands into +which to place so high and sacred a trust. Their interest being the +country's, and the interest of the country being the interest of the +people; therefore, the protection of their own interests necessarily +protects the interests of the whole country and people. It is this +simple but great principle of primitive rights, that forms the +fundamental basis of citizenship in all free countries, and it is upon +this principle, that the rights of the colored man in this country to +citizenship are fixed. + +The object of this volume is, to enlighten the minds of a large class of +readers upon a subject with which they are unacquainted, expressed in +comprehensible language, therefore we have studiously avoided using +political and legal phrases, that would serve more to perplex than +inform them. To talk about the barons, King John, and the Magna Charta, +would be foreign to a work like this, and only destroy the interest that +otherwise might be elicited in the subject. Our desire is, to arrest the +attention of the American people in general, and the colored people in +particular, to great truths as heretofore but little thought of. What +claims then have colored men, based upon the principles set forth, as +fundamentally entitled to citizenship? Let the living records of history +answer the enquiry. + +When Christopher Columbus, in 1492, discovered America, natives were +found to pay little or no attention to cultivation, being accustomed by +hereditary pursuit, to war, fishing, and the sports of the chase. The +Spaniards and Portuguese, as well as other Europeans who ventured here, +came as mineral speculators, and not for the purpose of improving the +country. + +As the first objects of speculation are the developments of the mineral +wealth of every newly discovered country, so was it with this. Those who +came to the new world, were not of the common people, seeking in a +distant land the means of livelihood, but moneyed capitalists, the +grandees and nobles, who reduced the natives to servitude by confining +them to the mines. To have brought large numbers of the peasantry at +that early period, from the monarchies of Europe, to the wilds of +America, far distant from the civil and military powers of the home +governments, would have been to place the means of self-control into +their own hands, and invite them to rebellion against the crowns. The +capitalist miners were few, compared to the number of laborers required; +and the difficulty at that time of the transportation of suitable +provisions for their sustenance, conduced much to the objection of +bringing them here. The natives were numerous, then easily approached by +the wily seductions of the Europeans, easily yoked and supported, having +the means of sustenance at hand, the wild fruits and game of the forest, +the fish of the waters and birds of the country. All these as naturally +enough, European adventurers would be cautious against introducing into +common use among hundreds of thousands of laborers, under all the +influences incident of a foreign climate in a foreign country, in its +primitive natural state. The Indians were then preferred for many +reasons, as the common laborers on the continent, where nothing but the +mining interests were thought of or carried on. This noble race of +Aborigines, continued as the common slaves of the new world, to bear the +yoke of foreign oppression, until necessity induced a substitute for +them. They sunk by scores under the heavy weight of oppression, and were +fast passing from the shores of time. At this, the foreigners grew +alarmed, and of necessity, devised ways and means to obtain an adequate +substitute. A few European laborers were brought into the country, but +the influence of climate and mode of living, operated entirely against +them. They were as inadequate to stand the climate, as the nobles were +themselves. + +From the earliest period of the history of nations, the African race had +been known as an industrious people, cultivators of the soil. The grain +fields of Ethiopia and Egypt were the themes of the poet, and their +garners, the subject of the historian. Like the present America, all the +world went to Africa, to get a supply of commodities. Their massive +piles of masonry, their skilful architecture, their subterranean vaults, +their deep and mysterious wells, their extensive artificial channels, +their mighty sculptured solid rocks, and provinces of stone quarries; +gave indisputable evidence, of the hardihood of that race of people. + +Nor was Africa then, without the evidence of industry, as history will +testify. All travelers who had penetrated towards the interior of the +continent, have been surprised at the seeming state of civilization and +evidences of industry among the inhabitants of that vast country. These +facts were familiar to Europeans, who were continually trading on the +coast of Africa, as it was then the most important part of adventure and +research, known to the world. In later periods still, the history of +African travelers, confirm all the former accounts concerning the +industry of the people. + +John and Richard Lander, two young English noblemen, in 1828, under the +patronage of the English government, sailed to the western coast of +Africa, on an expedition of research. In their voyage up the river +Niger, their description of the scenes is extravagant. They represent +the country on each side of the river, for several hundred miles up the +valley, as being not only beautiful and picturesque, but the fields as +in a high state of cultivation, clothed in the verdure of husbandry, +waving before the gentle breezes, with the rich products of +industry--maize, oats, rye, millet, and wheat, being among the fruits of +cultivation. The fences were of various descriptions: hedge, wicker, +some few pannel, and the old fashioned zig-zag, known as the "Virginia +worm fence"--the hedge and worm fence being the most common. Their +cattle were fine and in good order, looking in every particular, except +perhaps in size, as well as European cattle on the best managed farms. +The fruit groves were delightful to the eye of the beholder. Every +variety common to the country, were there to be seen in a high state of +cultivation. Their roads and public highways were in good condition, and +well laid out, as by the direction of skillful supervising surveyors. +The villages, towns, and cities, many of them, being a credit to the +people. Their cities were well laid out, and presented evidence of +educated minds and mechanical ingenuity. In many of the workshops in +which they went, they found skillful workmen, in iron, copper, brass, +steel, and gold; and their implements of husbandry and war, were as well +manufactured by African sons of toil, as any in the English +manufactories, save that they had not quite so fine a finish, garnish +and embellishment. This is a description, given of the industry and +adaptedness of the people of Africa, to labor and toil of every kind. As +it was very evident, that where there were manufactories of various +metals, the people must of necessity be inured to mining operations, so +it was also very evident, that this people must be a very hardy and +enduring people. + +In 1442, fifty years previous to the sailing of Columbus in search of a +new world, Anthony Gonzales, Portuguese, took from the gold coast of +Guinea, ten Africans and a quantity of gold dust, which he carried back +to Lisbon with him. These Africans were set immediately to work in the +gardens of the emperor, which so pleased his queen, that the number were +much augmented, all of whom were found to be skillful and industrious in +agriculture. + +In 1481, eleven years prior to the discovery by Columbus, the Portuguese +built a fort on the Gold Coast, and there commenced mining in search of +gold. During this time until the year 1502, a period of ten years, had +there been no other evidence, there was sufficient time and opportunity, +to give full practical demonstrations of the capacity of this people to +endure toil, especially in the mining operations, and for this cause and +this alone, were they selected in preference to any other race of men, +to do the labor of the New World. They had proven themselves physically +superior either to the European or American races--in fact, superior +physically to any living race of men--enduring fatigue, hunger and +thirst--enduring change of climate, habits, manners and customs, with +infinitely far less injury to their physical and mental system, than any +other people on the face of God's earth. + + The following extract shows, that even up to the year 1676, the + Indians were enslaved--but that little value were attached to them + as laborers, as the price at which they were disposed and sold to + purchasers, fully shows: + + SLAVERY IN PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Immediately after the struggle between + the natives and some of the New England settlers, known as "King + Philip's war," it became necessary to dispose of certain Indian + captives then in Providence. The method adopted was common in that + day, but to us remarkable, as also the names of those who figured + prominently therein. Only think of ROGER WILLIAMS sharing in the + proceeds of a slave sale. The following is from the "Annals of + Providence." + + "A town meeting was held before Thomas Field's house, under a tree, + by the water side, on the 14th of August, 1676. A committee was + appointed to determine in what manner the Indians should be + disposed of. They reported as follows: + + "Inhabitants wanting, can have Indians at the price they sell at + the Island of Rhode Island or elsewhere. All under five, to serve + till thirty; above five and under ten, till twenty-eight; above ten + to fifteen, till twenty-seven; above fifteen to twenty, till + twenty-six; from twenty to thirty, shall serve eight years; all + above thirty, seven years. + + "We whose names are underwritten, being chosen by the town to see + the disposal of the Indians now in town, we agree that Roger + Williams, N. Waterman, T. Fenner, H. Ashton, J. Morey, D. Abbot, J. + Olney, V. Whitman, J. Whipple, sen., E. Pray, J. Pray, J. Angell, + Jas. Angell, T. Arnold, A. Man, T. Field, E. Bennett, T. Clemence, + W. Lancaster, W. Hopkins, W. Hawkins, W. Harris, Z. Field, S. + Winsor, and Capt. Fenner, shall each have a whole share in the + product. I. Woodward and R. Pray, three-fourths of a share each. J. + Smith, E. Smith, S. Whipple, N. Whipple, and T. Walling each half a + share." + + Signed, "Roger Williams, Thomas Harris, sen., Thomas X Angell, + Thomas Field, John Whipple, Jr." + + To gratify curiosity as to the price of Indians on those terms, the + following extracts are made from an account of sales about this + time; + + "To Anthony Low, five Indians, great and small, £8. + + "To James Rogers, two, for twenty bushels of Indian corn. + + "To Philip Smith, two, in silver, $4 10. + + "To Daniel Allen, one, in silver, $2 10. + + "To C. Carr, one, twelve bushels of Indian corn. + + "To Elisha Smith, one, in wool, 100 lbs. + + "To Elisha Smith, one, for three fat sheep." + +From 1492, the discovery of Hispaniola, to 1502, the short space of but +four years, such was the mortality among the natives, that the Spaniards +then holding rule there, "began to employ a few" Africans in the mines +of the Island. The experiment was effective--a successful one. The +Indian and African were enslaved together, when the Indian sunk, and the +African stood. It was not until June the 24th of the year 1498, that the +Continent was discovered by John Cabot, a Venetian, who sailed in August +of the previous year 1497, from Bristol, under the patronage of Henry +VII., King of England, with two vessels, "freighted by the merchants of +London and Bristol, with articles of traffic," his son Sebastian, and +300 men. In 1517, but the short period of thirteen years from the date +of their first introduction, Carolus V., King of Spain, by the right of +a patent, granted permission to a number of persons, annually, to supply +to the Islands of Hispaniola, (St. Domingo,) Cuba, Jamaica, and Porto +Rico, natives of Africa, to the number of four thousand annually. John +Hawkins, an unprincipled Englishman--whose name should be branded with +infamy--was the first person known to have engaged in so inhuman a +traffic, and that living monster his mistress, Queen Elizabeth, engaged +with him and shared in the profits. + +The natives of Africa, on their introduction into a foreign country, +soon discovered the loss of their accustomed food, and mode and manner +of living. The Aborigines subsisted mainly by game and fish, with a few +patches of maize or Indian corn near their wigwams, which were generally +attended by the women, while the men were absent. The grains and +fruits, such as they had been accustomed to, were not to be had among +the Aborigines of the country, and this first induced the African to +cultivate patches of ground in the neighborhood of the mines, for the +raising of food for his own sustenance. This trait in their character +was observed, and regarded by the Spaniards with considerable interest; +and when on contracting with the English slave-dealer, Captain Hawkins, +and others for new supplies of slaves, they were careful to request them +to secure a quantity of the seeds and different products of the country, +to bring with them to the New World. Many of these were cultivated to +some extent, while those indigenous to America, were cultivated by them +with considerable success. And up to this day, it is a custom on many of +the slave plantations of the South, to allow the slave his "patch," and +Saturday afternoon or Sabbath day, to cultivate it. + +Shortly after the commencement of the shameful traffic in the blood and +bones of men--the destiny and chastity of women by Captain Hawkins, and +what was termed England's "Virgin Queen"; Elizabeth gave a license to +Sir Walter Raleigh, to search for uninhabited lands, and seize upon all +uninhabited by Christians. Sir Walter discovered the coast of North +Carolina and Virginia, assigning the name of "Virginia" to the whole +coast now composing the old state. A feeble colony was settled here, +which did not avail, and it was not until the month of April, 1607, that +the first permanent settlement was made in Virginia, under the patronage +of letters patent from James I, King of England, to Thomas Gates and his +associates. + +This was the first settling of North America, and thirteen years +anterior to the landing of the Pilgrims. + +"No permanent settlement was effected in what is now called the United +States, till the reign of James the First."--_Ramsay's Hist. U.S._, vol. +I., p. 38. + +"The month of April, 1607, is the epoch of the first permanent +settlement on the coast of Virginia; the name then given to all that +extent of country which forms thirteen States."--_Ibid._, p. 39. The +whole coast of the country was now explored, not for the purpose of +trade and agriculture--because there were no products in the +country--the natives not producing sufficient provisions to supply +present wants, and, consequently, nothing to trade for; but like the +speculations of their Spanish and Portuguese predecessors, on the +islands and in South America, but for that of mining gold. Trade and the +cultivation of the soil was foreign to their designs and intention on +coming to the continent of the new world, and they were consequently, +disappointed when failing of success. "At a time when the precious +metals were conceived to be the peculiar and only valuable productions +of the new world, when every mountain was supposed to contain a +treasure, and every rivulet was searched for its golden sands, this +appearance was fondly considered as an infallible indication of the +mine. Every hand was eager to dig."... + +"There was now," says Smith, "no talk, no hope, no work; but dig gold, +wash gold, refine gold. With this imaginary wealth, the first vessel +returning to England was loaded, while the _culture of the land_, and +every useful occupation was _totally neglected_."... + +The colonists, thus left, were in miserable circumstances for want of +provisions. The remainder of what they had brought with them, was so +small in quantity, as to be soon expended--and so damaged in the course +of a long voyage, as to be a source of disease.... In their expectation +of getting gold, the people were disappointed, the glittering substance +they had sent to England, proving to be a valueless mineral. "Smith, on +his return to Jamestown, found the colony reduced to thirty-eight +persons, who, in despair, were preparing to abandon the country. He +employed caresses, threats, and even violence, in order to prevent them +from executing this fatal resolution." _Ibid._, pp. 45-46. In November, +1620, the Pilgrims or Puritans made the harbor of Cape Cod, and after +solemn vows and organization previous to setting foot on shore, they +landed safely on "Plymouth Rock," December the 20th, about one month +after. They were one hundred and one in number, and from the toils and +hardships consequent to a severe season, in a strange country, in less +than six months after their arrival, "forty-four persons, nearly +one-half of their original number," had died. + +... "In 1618, in the reign of James I, the British government +established a regular trade on the coast of Africa. In the year 1620, +negro slaves began to be imported into Virginia: a Dutch ship bringing +twenty of them for sale."--_Sampson's Hist. Dict._, p. 348. The Dutch +ship landed her cargo at New Bedford, (now Massachusetts,) as it will be +remembered, that the whole coast, now comprising the "Old Thirteen," and +original United States, was then called Virginia, so named by Sir Walter +Raleigh, in honor of his royal Mistress and patron, Elizabeth, the +Virgin Queen, under whom he received his royal patent commission of +adventure and expedition. + +Beginning their preparation in the slave-trade in 1618, just two years +previous, giving time for successfully carrying out the project against +the landing of the first emigrant settlers, it will be observed that the +African captain, and the "Puritan" emigrants, landed upon the same +section of the continent at the same time, 1620--the Pilgrims at +Plymouth, and the captives at New Bedford, but a few miles +comparatively south. + +The country at this period, was one vast wilderness. "The continent of +North America was then one continued forest."... There were no horses, +cattle, sheep, hogs, or tame beasts of any kind.... There were no +domestic poultry.... There were no gardens, orchards, public roads, +meadows, or cultivated fields.... They "often burned the woods that they +could advantageously plant their corn."... They had neither spice, salt, +bread, butter, cheese, nor milk.... They had no set meals, but eat when +they were hungry, and could find any thing to satisfy the cravings of +nature.... Very little of their food was derived from the earth, except +what it spontaneously produced.... The ground was both their seat and +table.... Their best bed was a skin.... They had neither steel, iron, +nor any metallic instruments....--_Ramsay's Hist._, pp. 39-40. + +We adduce not these historical extracts to disparage our brother the +Indian--far be it: whatever he may think of our race, according to the +manner in which he has been instructed to look upon it, by our mutual +oppressor the American nation; we admire his, for the many deeds of +noble daring, for which the short history of his liberty-loving people +are replete: we sympathise with them, because our brethren are the +successors of their fathers in the degradation of American bondage--but +we adduce them in evidence against the many aspersions charged against +the African race, that their inferiority to the other races caused them +to be reduced to servitude. For the purpose of proving that their +superiority, and not inferiority, alone was the cause which first +suggested to Europeans the substitution of Africans for that of +aboriginal or Indian laborers in the mines; and that their superior +skill and industry, first suggested to the colonists, the propriety of +turning their attention to agricultural and other industrial pursuits, +than that of mining. + +It is very evident, from what has been adduced, the settlement of +Captain John Smith, being in the course of a few months, reduced to +thirty-eight, and that of Plymouth, from one hundred and one, to that of +fifty-seven in six months--it is evident, that the whites nor the +Indians were equal to the hard and almost insurmountable difficulties, +that now stood wide-spread before them. + +An endless forest, the impenetrable earth; the one to be removed, and +the other to be excavated. Towns and cities to be built, and farms to be +cultivated--all these presented difficulties too arduous for the +European then here, and unknown to the Indian. + +It is very evident, that at a period such as this, when the natives +themselves had fallen victims to tasks imposed upon them by their +usurpers, and the Europeans were sinking beneath the weight of climate +and hardships; when food could not be had nor the common conveniences of +life procured--when arduous duties of life were to be performed and none +capable of doing them, but those who had previously by their labors, not +only in their native country, but in the new, so proven themselves--as +the most natural consequence, the Africans were resorted to, for the +performance of every duty common to domestic life. + +There were no laborers known to the colonists from Cape Cod to Cape Look +Out, than those of the African race. They entered at once into the +mines, extracting therefrom, the rich treasures that for a thousand ages +lay hidden in the earth. And from their knowledge of cultivation, the +farming interests in the North, and planting in the South, were +commenced with a prospect never dreamed of before the introduction of +this most extraordinary, hardy race of men: though pagans, yet skilled +in all the useful duties of life. Farmers, herdsmen, and laborers in +their own country, they required not to be taught to work, and how to do +it--but it was only necessary to tell them to go to work, and they at +once knew what to do, and how it should be done. + +It is notorious, that in the planting States, the blacks themselves are +the only skillful cultivators--the proprietor knowing little or nothing +about the art, save that which he learns from the African husbandman, +while his ignorant white overseer, who is merely there to see that the +work is attended to, knows a great deal less. Tobacco, cotton, rice, +hemp, indigo, the improvement in Indian corn, and many other important +products, are all the result of African skill and labor in this country. +And the introduction of the zigzag, or "Virginia Worm Fence," is purely +of African origin. Nor was their skill as herdsmen inferior to their +other attainments, being among the most accomplished trainers and +horsemen in the world. Indeed, to this class of men may be indebted the +entire country for the improvement South in the breed of horses. And any +one who has travelled South, could not fail to have observed, that all +of the leading trainers, jockies, and judges of horses, as well as +riders, are men of African descent. + +In speaking of the Bornouese, a people from among whom a great many +natives have been enslaved by Arabian traders, and sold into foreign +bondage, and of course many into this country, "It is said that Bornou +can muster 15,000 Shonaas in the field mounted. They are the greatest +breeders of cattle in the country, and annually supply Soudan with from +two to three thousand horses."... "Our road lying along one of them, +gave me an excellent view of beautiful villages all round, and herds of +cattle grazing in the open country."... "Plantations of cotton or indigo +now occupy the place where the houses formerly stood."... "The Souga +market is well supplied with every necessary and luxury in request among +the people of the interior." "The country still open and well +cultivated, and the villages numerous. We met crowds of people coming +from Karro with goods. Some carried them on their heads, others had +asses or bullocks, according to their wealth."... "The country still +highly cultivated."... "We also passed several walled towns, quite +deserted, the inhabitants having been sold by their conquerors, the +Felatohs." "Women sat spinning cotton by the road side, offering for +sale to the passing caravans, gussub water, roast-meat, sweet potatoes, +coshen nuts," &c. (_Dunham and Clapperton's Travels and Discoveries in +North and Central Africa_, vol. 2, pp. 140, 230, 332, 333, 353.) + +The forests gave way before them, and extensive verdant fields, richly +clothed with produce, rose up as by magic before these hardy sons of +toil. In the place of the unskillful and ill-constructed wigwam, houses, +villages, towns and cities quickly were reared up in their stead. Being +farmers, mechanics, laborers and traders in their own country, they +required little or no instruction in these various pursuits. They were +in fact, then, to the whole continent, what they are in truth now to the +whole Southern section of the Union--the bone and sinews of the country. +And even now, the existence of the white man, South, depends entirely on +the labor of the black man--the idleness of the one, is sustained by the +industry of the other. Public roads and highways are the result of their +labor, as are also the first public works, as wharves, docks, forts, and +all such improvements. Are not these legitimate investments in the +common stock of the nation, which should command a proportionate +interest? + +We shall next proceed to review the contributions of colored men to +other departments of the nation, and as among the most notorious and +historical, we refer to colored American warriors. + + + + +VIII + +COLORED AMERICAN WARRIORS + + +Among the highest claims that an inhabitant has upon his country, is +that of serving in its cause, and assisting to fight its battles. There +is no responsibility attended with more personal hazard, and +consequently, none for which the country owes a greater debt of +gratitude. _Amor patria_, or love of country, is the first requisition +and highest attribute of every citizen; and he who voluntarily ventures +his own safety for that of his country, is a patriot of the purest +character. + +When the country's attention is arrested--her fears aroused--her peace +disturbed, and her independence endangered--when in the dread and +momentous hour, the tap of the drum, the roll of the reveille, the +shrill sound of the bugler's trumpet, or the thunders of the cannon's +roar, summons the warrior on to the pending conflict--upon whom then do +the citizens place their dependence, and in whom the country her trust? +Upon him who braves the consequences, and fights his country's battles +for his country's sake. Upon whom does the country look, as the most +eligible of her favored sons? Upon none more so than he, who shoulders +his musket, girds on his sword, and faces the enemy on to the charge. +The hero and the warrior, have long been estimated, the favorite sons of +a favored people. + +In the Convention for the formation of the national compact, when the +question arose on the priority of citizen's rights, an honorable +member--Mr. Jefferson, if we mistake not--arose and stated, that for the +purpose of henceforward settling a question of such moment to the +American people, that nativity of birth, and the descendants of all who +had borne arms in their country's struggle for liberty, should be always +entitled to all the rights and privileges to which an American citizen +could be eligible. This at once, enfranchised the native citizen, and +the posterity of all those at the time, who may have been so fortunate +as to have been born on the American continent. The question was at once +settled, as regards American citizenship. And if we establish our right +of equal claims to citizenship with other American people, we shall have +done all that is desirable in this view of our position in the country. +But if in addition to this, we shall be able to prove, that colored men, +not only took part in the great scene of the first act for independence, +but that they were the actors--a colored man was really the hero in the +great drama, and actually the first victim in the revolutionary +tragedy--then indeed, shall we have more than succeeded, and have reared +a monument of fame to the history of our deeds, more lasting than the +pile that stands on Bunker Hill. + +For a concise historical arrangement of colored men, who braved the +dangers of the battlefield, we are much indebted to William C. Nell, +Esq., formerly of Boston, now of Rochester, N.Y., for a pamphlet, +published by him during the last year, which should be read by every +American the country through. + +For ten years previous, a dissatisfaction had prevailed among the +colonists, against the mother country, in consequence of the excessive +draughts of supplies, and taxation, made upon them, for the support of +the wars carried on in Europe. The aspect began to change, the light +grew dim, the sky darkened, the clouds gathered lower and lower, the +lightning glimmered through the black elements around--the storm +advanced, until on the fifth of March, 1773, it broke out in terrible +blasts, drenching the virgin soil of America, with the blood of her own +native sons--Crispus Attuck, a colored man, was the first who headed, +the first who commanded, the first who charged, who struck the first +blow, and the first whose blood was spilt, and baptized the colony, as a +peace-offering on the altar of American liberty. "The people were +greatly exasperated. The multitude, armed with clubs, ran towards King +street, crying, 'Let us drive out the ribalds; they have no business +here!' The rioters rushed furiously towards the Custom House; they +approached the sentinel crying, 'Kill him, kill him!' They assaulted him +with snowballs, pieces of ice, and whatever they could lay their hands +upon. They encountered a band of the populace led by a mulatto named +Attucks, who brandished their clubs and pelted them with snow-balls. The +maledictions, the imprecations, the execrations of the multitudes were +horrible. In the midst of a torrent of invectives from every quarter, +the military were challenged to fire. The populace advanced to the +points of the bayonets; the soldiers appeared like statues; the cries, +the howlings, the menaces, the violent din of bells still sounding the +alarm, increased the confusion and the horrors of these moments: at +length the mulatto and twelve of his companions, pressing forward +environed the soldiers, and striking their muskets with their clubs +cried to the multitude: 'Be not afraid, they dare not fire; why do you +hesitate, why do you not kill them, why not crush them at once?' The +mulatto lifted his arm against Captain Preston, having turned one of the +muskets, he seized the bayonet with his left hand, as if he intended to +execute his threat. At this moment confused cries were heard: 'The +wretches dare not fire!' Firing succeeds. Attucks is slain. Two other +discharges follow. Three were killed, five severely wounded, and several +others slightly." Attucks was killed by Montgomery, one of Captain +Preston's soldiers. He had been foremost in resisting, and was first +slain; as proof of front and close engagement, received two balls, one +in each breast." "John Adams, counsel for the soldier, admitted that +Attucks appeared to have undertaken to be the hero of the night, and to +lead the army with banners. John Hancock, in 1774, invokes the injured +shades of Maverick, Gray, Caldwell, _Attucks_ and Carr." _Nell's Wars_, +1776 and 1812, pp. 5, 6.--RHODE ISLAND also contributes largely to the +capital stock of citizenship. "In Rhode Island, the blacks formed an +entire regiment, and they discharged their duty with zeal and fidelity. +The gallant defence of Red Bank, in which the black regiment bore a +part, is among the proofs of their valor." In this contest it will be +recollected, that four hundred men met and repulsed, after a terrible +sanguinary struggle, fifteen hundred Hessian troops, headed by count +Donop." _Ibid._, p. 10. CONNECTICUT next claims to be heard and given +credit on the nation's books. In speaking of the patriots who bore the +standard of their country's glory, Judge Goddard, who held the office of +commissioner of pensions for nineteen colored soldiers, says, "I cannot +refrain from mentioning one aged black man, Primus Babcock, who proudly +presented to me an honorable discharge from service during the war, +dated at the close of it, wholly in the hand-writing of GEORGE +WASHINGTON. Nor can I forget the expression of his feelings, when +informed that, after his discharge had been sent to the department, that +it could not be returned. At his request it was written for, as he +seemed to spurn the pension and reclaim the discharge." It is related of +Babcock, that when the British in a successful charge took a number of +the Americans prisoners, they were ordered to deliver up their arms by +the British officer of the detachment, which demand was readily conceded +to by all the prisoners except Babcock, who looking at the officer +sternly--at the margin of a mud pond foot of Bunker Hill--turned his +musket bayonet downwards, thrusting it into the mire up to the armpit, +drawing out his muddy arm, turned to the British officer, and said, "Now +dirty your silk glove, and take it--you red coat!" The officer raised +his sword as if to cut him down for the impertinence, then replied, "You +are too brave a soldier to be killed, you black devil!" A few years +since, a musket evidently a relic of the Revolution, was found near the +same spot in the singular position of that thrust down by Babcock, no +doubt being the same, which was deposited among the relics in the +archives at Washington. Babcock died but a few years ago, aged we +believe 101 years. + +"When Major Montgomery, one of the leaders in the expedition against the +colonists, was lifted upon the walls of the fort by his soldiers, +flourishing his sword and calling on them to follow him, Jordan Freeman +received him on the point of a pike and pinned him dead to the earth." +"NEW HAMPSHIRE gives her testimony to the deposit of colored interest. +There was a regiment of blacks in the same situation, a regiment of +negroes fighting for our liberty and independence, not a white man among +them but the officers, in the same dangerous and responsible position. +Had they been unfaithful, or given way before the enemy all would have +been lost. Three times in succession were they attacked with most +desperate fury by well disciplined and veteran troops, and three times +did they successfully repel the assault, and thus preserve the army. +They fought thus through the war. They were brave and hearty troops." +_Nell_, pp. 11, 13. + +NEW YORK comes bravely to the call, and sends her investments by land +and sea. In the convention of 1821, for revising the constitution of the +State, the question of equal rights having been introduced, Doctor +Clarke among other things said, "In the war of the Revolution, these +people helped to fight our battles by land and by sea. Some of your +states were glad to turn out corps of colored men, and to stand +'shoulder to shoulder' with them. In your late war, they contributed +largely towards some of your most splendid victories. On lakes Erie and +Champlain, where your fleets triumphed over a foe superior in numbers +and engines of death, they were manned in a large proportion with men of +color. And in this very house, in the fall of 1814, a bill passed +receiving all the branches of your government, authorising the governor +to accept the services of a corps of two thousand free people of color. +These were times when a man who shouldered his musket did not know but +he bared his bosom to receive a death wound from the enemy ere he laid +it aside; and in these times these people were found as ready and as +willing to volunteer in your service as any other. They were not +compelled to go; they were not draughted.... They were volunteers...." +Said Martindale of New York in congress 22 of first month 1828: "Slaves, +or negroes who had been slaves, were enlisted as soldiers in the War of +the Revolution; and I myself saw a battalion of them, as fine martial +looking men as I ever saw, attached to the northern army in the last +war, on its march from Plattsburg to Sackett's Harbor." + +PENNSYLVANIA contributes an important share in the stock of +Independence, as will be seen by the following historical reminiscence: +"On the capture of Washington by the British forces, it was judged +expedient to fortify without delay, the principal towns and cities +exposed to similar attacks. The Vigilance Committee of Philadelphia +waited upon three of the principal Colored citizens, namely, James +Forten, Bishop Allen, and Absalom Jones, soliciting the aid of the +people of Color in erecting suitable defences for the city. Accordingly +two thousand five hundred Colored men assembled in the State House yard, +and from thence marched to Gray's Ferry, where they labored for two +days, almost without intermission. Their labors were so faithful and +efficient, that a vote of thanks was tendered them by the Committee. A +battalion of Colored troops were at the same time organized in the city, +under an officer of the United States army; and they were on the point +of marching to the frontier when peace was proclaimed."--_Ibid._, pp. +14-17-18.[2] + +And even in the slave States, where might reasonably be expected, +nothing but bitter hate and burning revenge to exist--where the +displeasure of Heaven and anger of God was invoked--where it is thought +the last glimmering spark of patriotic fire has been quenched, and every +aid withheld--even there, in the hour of their country's danger, did +they lay aside every consideration of the ten thousand wrongs +inflicted--throw in their contributions, and make common cause. + +Says Mr. Nell, "The celebrated Charles Pinkney, of South Carolina, in +his speech on the Missouri question, in defence of the Slave +representation of the South, made the following admission:--They (the +colored people) were in numerous instances the pioneers, and in all the +labors of our army. To their hands we are owing the greatest part of the +fortifications raised for the protection of the country. Fort Moultrie +gave, at an early period of inexperience and untried valor of our +citizens, immortality to the American arms." And were there no other +proof on record, the testimony given to the brave followers of the +renowned hero of Chalmet Plains, would of itself be sufficient to +establish the right of the colored man to eligibility in his native +country. "In 1814," continues Mr. Nell, "when New Orleans was in danger, +and the proud criminal distinctions of caste were again demolished by +one of those emergencies in which nature puts to silence for the moment +the base partialities of art, the free colored people were called into +the field in common with the whites; and the importance of their +services was thus acknowledged by General Jackson:-- + + + "HEAD-QUARTERS SEVENTH MILITARY + DISTRICT, MOBILE, SEPTEMBER 21, 1814. + + "_To the Free Colored Inhabitants of Louisiana:_ + + + "Through a mistaken policy, you have heretofore been deprived of a + participation in the glorious struggle for national rights, in + which _our_ country is engaged. This no longer shall exist. As + sons of Freedom you are now called upon to defend your most + estimable blessings. _As Americans_, your country looks with + confidence to her adopted children, for a valorous support, as a + faithful return for the advantages enjoyed under her mild and + equitable government. As fathers, husbands, and brothers, you are + summoned to rally round the standard of the Eagle, to defend all + which is dear in existence. + + "_Your country_, although calling for your exertions, does not wish + you to engage in her cause, without remunerating you for the + services rendered. Your intelligent minds are not to be led away by + false representations--your love of honor would cause you to + despise the man who should attempt to deceive you. In the sincerity + of a soldier, and the language of truth I address you. + + "To every noble hearted free man of color, volunteering to serve + during the present contest with Great Britain, and no longer, there + will be paid the same bounty in money and lands now received by + white soldiers of the United States, namely, one hundred and + twenty-four dollars in money and one hundred and sixty acres in + land. The non-commissioned officers and privates will also be + entitled to the same monthly pay and daily rations and clothes + furnished to any American soldiers. + + "On enrolling yourselves in companies, the Major General commanding + will select officers for your government from your white + fellow-citizens. Your non-commissioned officers will be appointed + from among yourselves. + + "Due regard will be paid to the feelings of free men and soldiers. + + "You will not, by being associated with white men in the same + corps, be exposed to improper comparison, or unjust sarcasm. As a + distinct, independent battalion or regiment, pursuing the path of + glory, you will, undivided, receive the applause and gratitude of + your countrymen. + + "To assure you of the sincerity of my intentions, and my anxiety to + engage your invaluable services to our country, I have communicated + my wish to the Governor of Louisiana, who is fully informed as to + the manner of enrollments, and will give you every necessary + information on the subject of this address. + + "ANDREW JACKSON, + "Major General Commanding." + + +On the 18th of December, 1814, through his Aid-de-camp, Colonel Butler, +the General issued another address to the colored soldiers, who had +proven themselves, in every particular, worthy of their country's trust, +and in every way worthy of the proudest position of enfranchised +freemen. To deny to men and their descendants, who are capable of such +deeds as are acknowledged in this proclamation, equal rights with other +men, is a moral homicide--as assassination, which none but the most +malicious and obdurate are capable of perpetrating. Surely, surely, it +cannot be, that our fellow-citizens, who control the destiny of the +country, one fully advised of the claims of their brethren in +adversity--we cannot be persuaded that a people, claiming the +self-respect and consideration of the American people, can be satisfied +that the perils of war be encountered by them--their country's rights +sustained--and their liberty, the liberty of their wives and children +defended and protected; then, with a cool deliberation, unknown to any +uncivilized people on the face of the earth, deny them a right--withhold +their consent to their having equal enjoyment of human rights with other +citizens, with those who have never contributed aid to our country--but +we give the proclamation and let it speak for itself. Of it Mr. Nell +says:-- + +"The second proclamation is one of the highest compliments ever paid by +a military chief to his soldiers." + +"SOLDIERS! When on the banks of the Mobile, I called you to take up +arms, inviting you to partake the perils and glory of your _white +fellow-citizens, I expected much_ from you; for I was not ignorant that +you possessed qualities most formidable to an invading enemy. I knew +with what fortitude you could endure hunger and thirst, and all the +fatigues of a campaign. _I knew well how you love your native country_, +and that you, as well as ourselves, had to defend what _man_ holds most +dear--his parents, wife, children, and property. _You have done more +than I expected._ In addition to the previous qualities I before knew +you to possess, I found among you noble enthusiasm, which leads to the +performance of great things. + + + "Soldiers! The President of the United States shall hear how + praise-worthy was your conduct in the hour of danger; and the + representatives of the American people will give you the praise + your exploits entitle you to. The General anticipates them in + applauding your noble ardor. + + "The enemy approaches; his vessels cover our lakes; our brave + citizens are united, and all contentions have ceased among them. + Their only dispute is, who shall win the prize of valor, or who the + most glory, its noblest reward. + + "By order, + "THOMAS BUTLER, Aid-de-camp." + + +A circumstance that reflects as well upon the devisor, as upon the +commander, or the engineer of the army, is not generally known to the +American people. The redoubt of cotton bales, has ever been attributed +to the judgment, skill, quick perception, and superior tact of Major +General Andrew Jackson; than whom, a braver heart, never beat in the +breast of man. But this is a mistake. The suggestion of the cotton +bales was made by a colored man, at the instant, when the city of New +Orleans was put under martial law. The colored troops were gathering, +and their recruiting officers (being colored,) were scouring the city in +every direction, and particularly on the Levee, where the people throng +for news--to hear, see, and be seen. At such times in particular, the +blacks are found in great numbers. The cotton shipped down the +Mississippi in large quantities to the city, is landed and piled in +regular terrace walls, several thousand feet long, sometimes double +rows--and fifteen or twenty feet high. When the sun shines in winter, +the days become warm and pleasant after the morning passes off, and at +such times, there may be found many of the idle blacks, lying upon the +top, and in comfortable positions between or behind those walls of +cotton bales. On the approach of the recruiting officer, a number of +persons were found stretched out upon the bales, lying scattered upon +the ground. On addressing them, they were found to be slaves, which the +pride of the recently promoted free colored soldiers, nor the policy of +the proclamation, then, justified them in enrolling. On questioning them +respecting their fears of the approaching contest--they expressed +themselves as perfectly satisfied and _safe_, while permitted to lie +_behind_ the bales. The idea was at once impressed--Chalmet Plain, the +battle field, being entirely barren without trees, brush, or stone, and +the ingenuity of the General-in-chief and engineer of the army, having +been for several days taxed, without successful device; the officer +determined that he would muster courage, and hazard the consequences of +an approach to the General, and suggest the idea suggested to him, by +the observation of a slave, who was indifferent to the safety of others, +so that he was secure--and perhaps justly so--whether conscious or not +of the importance of its bearing. General Jackson, whatever may be said +to the contrary, though firm and determined, was pleasant, affable, and +easily approached, and always set equal estimate upon the manhood of a +colored man; believing every thing of him, that he expressed in his +proclamation to the colored freemen of Louisiana. He did not pretend to +justify the holding of slaves, especially on the assumed unjust plea of +their incapacity for self-government--he always hooted at the idea; +never would become a member of the Colonization Society, always saying +"Let the colored people be--they were quiet now, in comparative +satisfaction--let them be." But he held them as a policy, by which to +make money--and would just as readily have held a white man, had it been +the policy of the country, as a black one in slavery. The General was +approached--the suggestion made--slaves set to work--the bales conveyed +down--the breast-works raised--the Americans protected, as the musketry +and artillery proved powerless against the elastic cushion-wall of +cotton bales; the battle fought--the British vanquished--the Americans +victorious, and Major General Andrew Jackson "all covered with glory," +as the most distinguished and skillful captain of the age. It has always +been thought by colored men familiar with this circumstance, that the +reference of the General is directed to this, when he expresses himself +in his last proclamation to them: "_You have done more than I +expected_." Doubtless this was the case. Whatever valor and capacity to +endure hardships, the General knew colored men to possess, it _was_ more +than he expected of them, to bring skill to his aid, and assist in +counseling plans for the defence of the army. + +On the _Eighth_ of January, 1851, the celebration of the Battle of New +Orleans, in that city one year ago, "Ninety of the colored veterans who +bore a conspicuous part in the dangers of the day," (the day of battle,) +held "a conspicuous place in the procession," in exaltation of their +country's glory. Nor was the NAVY without the representative of colored +interest in the liberty of the country. In speaking of the war of 1812, +a colored veteran of Philadelphia, the late James Forten, who had +himself enlisted and was imprisoned on board of a British man-of-war, +the "Old Jersey Prison Ship," affirms: "The vessels of war of that +period were all, to a greater or less extent, manned with colored men." +The father-in-law of the writer, has often related to him that he saw +the three hundred and sixty colored marines, in military pomp and naval +array, when passing through Pittsburg in 1812 on their way to the +frigate Constitution, then on lake Erie under command of the gallant +Commodore Perry. And we cannot close this view of our subject, without +reference to one of the living veterans of the battle of New Orleans, +now residing where he has for many years, in the city of Pittsburg, Pa., +to whom we are indebted for more oral information concerning that +memorable conflict, than to any other living person. MR. JOHN JULIUS, +was a member of the valiant regiment of colored soldiers, who held so +conspicuous a place in the estimation of their General, their country's +struggles for Liberty and Independence. He is a tall, good-looking, +brown skin creole of Louisiana, now about sixty-three years of age, +bearing the terrible gashes of the bayonet still conspicuously in his +neck. He was one of the few Americans who encountered the British in +single-handed charges on top of the breast-works. _Julien Bennoit_, +(pronounced _ben wah_,) for such is his name, though commonly known as +John Julius, is a man of uprightness and strict integrity of character, +having all the delicate sensibility and pride of character known to the +Frenchman; and laments more at the injustice done him, in the neglect of +the authorities to grant him his claims of money and land, according to +the promises set forth in the Proclamation, than at any reverse of +fortune with which he has ever met. He is enthusiastic on the subject of +the battle scenes of Chalmet Plains, and anxious that all who converse +with him may know that he is one of the actors. Not so much for his own +notoriety--as all soldiers have a right to--as for the purpose of making +known and exposing the wrongs done to him and hundreds of his fellows, +who fought shoulder to shoulder with him, in the conflict with Sir +Edward Packenham. Mr. Julius is the only person in whose possession we +have ever seen a complete draught of the plan of the battle fought on +the 8th of January, 1815, drawn on the field, by the U.S. Engineer. + +This consists of two charts, one quite large, and the other smaller; the +larger giving the whole plan of battle, and the other being the key, +which shows the position of the different battalions and regiments of +troops, with the several officers of command, in which the Colored +Regiment is beautifully and conspicuously displayed. He sets great +estimate upon them. Col. Marshall John M. Davis, who was an officer +under General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans, now still residing +in Allegheny Co., near Pittsburg, bears testimony to the truthfulness of +Mr. Julien Bennoit having been a soldier in the Army of the Mississippi +in 1814. The deeds of these tried and faithful daring sons of Liberty, +and defenders of their country, shall live triumphantly, long after the +nation shall have repented her wrongs towards them and their +descendants, and hung her head with shame, before the gaze of manhood's +stern rebuke. + +Mr. John B. Vashon, of Pittsburg, embarked in the service of the United +States, and in an engagement of the American squadron in South America, +was imprisoned, with Major Henry Bears, a respectable white citizen, +still living in that city. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[2] Captain Jonathan Tudas, who led the 500 brave blacks out to build +the Redoubt, is now living in Philadelphia, and since the commencement +of this publication, we learned the following particulars: When the news +arrived of the approach of the British under Major General Ross, upon +Baltimore, the expectation ran high, that the city would be taken, and +forced marches made, immediately upon Philadelphia. The whole City +consequently was thrown into great alarm, when Captain Tudas, applied to +the United States Engineer, and offered the services of colored men, who +during the week, were summoned to meet at the African Methodist +Episcopal Church, on the following Sabbath; when from the pulpit, the +Right Rev. Richard Allen, Bishop of the Connexion, made known to the +people the peril of the Country, and demands of the Commonwealth; when, +the next day, Monday, five hundred volunteered, working incessantly +during that day, and on Tuesday, six hundred more were added, swelling +the number to eleven hundred men. William Stansberry, arrested and tried +a few years ago, as a fugitive slave from Maryland, and Mr. Ignatius +Beck, an old respectable colored man, who appeared as a witness, and by +whose testimony alone, Mr. Stansberry was released from the grasp of the +oppression of his Country, and thereby saved from endless bondage, were +both under Captain Tudas, and belong to the faithful eleven hundred +Philadelphia black warriors. He farther informs us, that the Engineer +gave them credit for having thrown up superior works to any other men +employed in the service, and having done more work in the same time, and +_drank less_, by four-fifth, than twice their number of "Old +Countrymen." The relics of the breastworks, still stand on or near the +banks of the Schuylkill, as a living monument of the fidelity of the +black race to their State and Country. Mr. Stansberry, is still living, +and Captain Tudas, now quite an old man, about "turning the corner," as +he expresses it, is a very intelligent old gentleman, and a living +history of facts. There are few white men of his age and opportunities, +that equal him at all in intelligence on any subject. He is a kind of +living synoptic-historical Encyclopedia. + + + + +IX + +CAPACITY OF COLORED MEN AND WOMEN AS CITIZEN MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY + + +The utility of men in their private capacity as citizens, is of no less +import than that of any other department of the community in which they +live; indeed, the fitness of men for positions in the body politic, can +only be justly measured by their qualification as citizens. And we may +safely venture the declaration, that in the history of the world, there +has never been a nation, that among the oppressed class of +inhabitants--a class entirely ineligible to any political position of +honor, profit or trust--wholly discarded from the recognition of +citizens' rights--not even permitted to carry the mail, nor drive a mail +coach--there never has, in the history of nations, been any people thus +situated, who has made equal progress in attainments with the colored +people of the United States. It would be as unnecessary as it is +impossible, to particularize all the individuals; we shall therefore be +satisfied, with a classification and a few individual cases. Our history +in this country is well known, and quite sufficiently treated on in +these pages already, without the necessity of repetition here; it is +enough to know that by the most cruel acts of injustice and crime, our +forefathers were forced by small numbers, and enslaved in the +country--the great body now to the number of three millions and a half, +still groaning in bondage--that the half million now free, are the +descendants of the few who by various means, are fortunate enough to +gain their liberty from Southern bondage--that no act of general +emancipation has ever taken place, and no chance as yet for a general +rebellion--we say in view of all these facts, we proceed to give a +cursory history of the attainments--the civil, social, business and +professional, and literary attainments of colored men and women, and +challenge comparison with the world--according to circumstances--in +times past and present. + +Though shorn of their strength, disarmed of manhood, and stripped of +every right, encouraged by the part performed by their brethren and +fathers in the Revolutionary struggle--with no records of their deeds in +history, and no means of knowing them save orally, as overheard from the +mouths of their oppressors, and tradition as kept up among +themselves--that memorable event, had not yet ceased its thrill through +the new-born nation, until a glimmer of hope--a ray of light had beamed +forth, and enlightened minds thought to be in total darkness. Minds of +no ordinary character, but those which embraced business, professions, +and literature--minds, which at once grasped the earth, encompassed the +seas, soared into the air, and mounted the skies. And it is none the +less creditable to the colored people, that among those who have stood +the most conspicuous and shone the brightest in the earliest period of +our history, there are those of pure and unmixed African blood. A +credit--but that which is creditable to the African, cannot disgrace any +into whose veins his blood may chance to flow. The elevation of the +colored man can only be completed by the elevation of the pure +descendants of Africa; because to deny his equality, is to deny in a +like proportion, the equality of all those mixed with the African +organization; and to establish his inferiority, will be to degrade every +person related to him by consanguinity; therefore, to establish the +equality of the African with the European race, establishes the +equality of every person intermediate between the two races. This +established beyond contradiction, the general equality of men. + +In the year 1773, though held in servitude, and without the advantages +or privileges of the schools of the day, accomplishing herself by her +own perseverance; Phillis Wheatley appeared in the arena, the brilliancy +of whose genius, as a poetess, delighted Europe and astonished America, +and by a special act of the British Parliament, 1773, her productions +were published for the Crown. She was an admirer of President +Washington, and addressed to him lines, which elicited from the Father +of his country, a complimentary and courteous reply. In the absence of +the poem addressed to General Washington, which was not written until +after her work was published, we insert a stanza from one addressed +(intended for the students) "To the University at Cambridge." We may +further remark, that the poems were originally written, not with the +most distant idea of publication, but simply for the amusement and +during the leisure moments of the author. + + "Improve your privileges while they stay, + Ye pupils, and each hour redeem, that bears + Or good or bad report of you to heav'n. + Let sin, that baneful evil of the soul, + By you be shunn'd, nor once remit your guard; + Suppress the deadly serpent in its egg. + Ye blooming plants of human race divine, + An _Ethiop_ tells you 'tis your greatest foe; + Its transient sweetness turns to endless pain, + And in immense perdition sinks the soul." + + + "CAMBRIDGE, FEBRUARY 28, 1776. + "MISS PHILLIS: + + "Your favor of the 26th of October, did not reach my hands till the + middle of December. Time enough, you will say, to have given an + answer ere this. Granted. But a variety of important occurrences, + continually interposing to divert the mind and withdraw the + attention, I hope will apologise for the delay, and plead my excuse + for the seeming, but not real neglect. I thank you most sincerely + for your polite notice of me, in the elegant lines you enclosed; + and however undeserving I may be of such encomium and panegyric, + the style and manner exhibit a striking proof of your poetic + talents; in honor of which, and as a tribute justly due to you, I + would have published the poem, had I not been apprehensive, that, + while I only meant to give the world this new instance of your + genius, I might have incurred the imputation of vanity. This, and + nothing else, determined me not to give it place in the public + prints. + + "If you should ever come to Cambridge, or near head-quarters, I + shall be happy to see a person so favored by the Muses, and to whom + Nature has been so liberal and beneficent in her dispensations. + + "I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, + "GEORGE WASHINGTON. + "Miss Phillis Wheatley." + + +The tenor, style, and manner of President Washington's letter to Miss +Wheatley--the publication of her works, together with an accompanying +likeness of the author, and her inscription and dedication of the volume +to the "Right Honorable the Countess of Huntingdon," show, that she, +though young, was a person of no ordinary mind, no common attainments; +but at the time, one of the brightest ornaments among the American +literati. She also was well versed in Latin, in which language she +composed several pieces. Miss Wheatley died in 1780, at the age of 26 +years, being seven years of age when brought to this country in 1761. + +Doctor Peter, who married Miss Wheatley, 1775, was a man of business, +tact, and talents--being first a grocer, and afterwards studied law, +which he practised with great success, becoming quite wealthy by +defending the cause of the oppressed before the different tribunals of +the country. And who shone brighter in his day, than Benjamin Bannaker, +of Baltimore county, Maryland, who by industry and force of character, +became a distinguished mathematician and astronomer,--"for many years," +says Davenport's Biographical Dictionary, "calculated and published the +Maryland Ephemerides." He was a correspondent of the Honorable Thomas +Jefferson, Secretary of State of the United States, taking the earliest +opportunity of his acquaintanceship, to call his attention to the evils +of American slavery, and doubtless his acquaintance with the apostle of +American Democracy, had much to do with his reflections on that most +pernicious evil in this country. Mr. Bannaker was also a naturalist, and +wrote a treatise on locusts. He was invited by the Commission of United +States Civil Engineers, to assist in the survey of the Ten Miles Square, +for the District of Columbia. He assisted the Board, who, it is thought, +could not have succeeded without him. His Almanac was preferred to that +of Leadbeater, or any other calculator cotemporary with himself. He had +no family, and resided in a house alone, but principally made his home +with the Elliott family. He was upright, honorable, and virtuous; +entertaining religious scruples similar to the Friends. He died in 1807, +near Baltimore. Honorable John H.B. Latrobe, Esq., of Baltimore, is his +biographer. + +In 1812, Captain Paul Cuffy was an extensive trader and mariner, +sailing out of Boston, to the West Indies and Europe, by which +enterprise, he amassed an immense fortune. He was known to the +commercial world of his day, and, if not so wealthy, stood quite as +fair, and as much respected, as Captain George Laws or Commodore +Vanderbilt, the Cunards of America. Captain Cuffy went to Africa, where +he died in a few years. + +James Durham, originally of Philadelphia, in 1778, at the early age of +twenty-one, was the most learned physician in New Orleans. He spoke +English, French and Spanish, learnedly, and the great Dr. Rush said of +him, "I conversed with him on medicine, and found him very learned. I +thought I could give him information concerning the treatment of +diseases; but I learned from him more than he could expect from me." And +it must be admitted, he must have been learned in his profession, to +have elicited such an encomium from Dr. Rush, who stood then at the head +of his profession in the country. + +We have designed nothing here, but merely to give an individual case of +the various developments of talents and acquirements in the several +departments of respectability, discarding generalization, and name none +but the Africo-American of unmixed extraction, who rose into note +subsequent to the American Revolution. In the persons of note and +distinction hereafter to be given, we shall not confine ourselves to any +such narrow selections, but shall name persons, male and female, +regardless of their extraction, so that they are colored persons, which +is quite enough for our purpose. And our only excuse for the policy in +the above course is, that we desire to disarm the vilifiers of our race, +who disparage us, giving themselves credit for whatever is commendable +that may emanate from us, if there be the least opportunity of claiming +it by "blood." We shall now proceed to review the attainments of colored +men and women of the present day. + + + + +X + +PRACTICAL UTILITY OF COLORED PEOPLE OF THE PRESENT DAY AS MEMBERS OF +SOCIETY--BUSINESS MEN AND MECHANICS + + +In calling attention to the practical utility of colored people of the +present day, we shall not be general in our observations, but simply, +direct attention to a few particular instances, in which colored persons +have been responsibly engaged in extensive business, or occupying useful +positions, thus contributing to the general welfare of community at +large, filling their places in society as men and women. + +It will studiously be borne in mind, that our sole object in giving +these cases publicity, is to refute the objections urged against us, +that we are not useful members of society. That we are consumers and +non-producers--that we contribute nothing to the general progress of +man. No people who have enjoyed no greater opportunity for improvement, +could possibly have made greater progress in the same length of time +than have done the colored people of the present day. + +A people laboring under many disadvantages, may not be expected to +present at once, especially before they have become entirely +untrammeled, evidence of entire equality with more highly favored +people. + +When Mr. Jefferson, the great American Statesman and philosopher, was +questioned by an English gentleman, on the subject of American +greatness, and referred to their literature as an evidence of +inferiority to the more highly favored and long-existing European +nations; Mr. Jefferson's reply was--"When the United States have existed +as long as a nation, as Greece before she produced her Homer and +Socrates; Rome, before she produced her Virgil, Horace, and Cicero; and +England, before she produced her Pope, Dryden, and Bacon"; then he might +consider the comparison a just one. And all we shall ask, is not to wait +so long as this, not to wait until we become a nation at all, so far as +the United States are concerned, but only to unfetter our brethren, and +give us, the freemen, an equal chance for emulation, and we will admit +any comparison you may please to make in a quarter of a century after. + +For a number of years, the late James Forten, of Philadelphia, was the +proprietor of one of the principal sail manufactories, constantly +employing a large number of men, black and white, supplying a large +number of masters and owners of vessels, with full rigging for their +crafts. + +On the failure of an extensive house, T. & Co., in that city, during the +pressure which followed a removal of the deposits of the United States +Treasury in 1837, Mr. Forten lost by that firm, nine thousand dollars. +Being himself in good circumstances at the time, hearing of the failure +of old constant patrons, he called at the house; one of the proprietors, +Mr. T., on his entering the warehouse door, came forward, taking him by +the hand observed, "Ah! Mr. Forten, it is useless to call on us--we are +gone--we can do nothing!" at which Mr. Forten remarked, "Sir, I hope you +think better of me than to suppose me capable of calling on a friend to +torture him in adversity! I came, sir, to express my regret at your +misfortune, and if possible, to cheer you by words of encouragement. If +your liabilities were all in my hands, you should never be under the +necessity of closing business." Mr. Forten exchanged paper and +signatures with some of the first business men in Philadelphia, and +raised and educated a large and respectable family of sons and +daughters, leaving an excellent widow. + +Joseph Cassey, recently deceased, was the "architect of his own +fortune," and by industry and application to business, became a money +broker in the city of Philadelphia; who becoming indisposed from a +chronic affection, was obliged to retire from business for many years +previous to his death. Had Mr. Cassey been favored with health, he +doubtless would have become a very wealthy man. His name and paper was +good in any house in the city, and there was no banker of moderate +capital, of more benefit to the business community than was Joseph +Cassey. He also left a young and promising family of five sons, one +daughter, a most excellent widow, and a fortune of seventy-five thousand +dollars, clear of all encumbrance. + +Stephen Smith, of the firm of Smith and Whipper, is a remarkable man in +many respects, and decidedly the most wealthy colored man in the United +States. Mr. Smith commenced business after he was thirty years of age, +without the advantages of a good business education, but by application, +qualified himself for the arduous duties of his vocation. For many +years, he has been known as the principal lumber merchant in Columbia, +Lancaster Co., Pa., and for several years past associated with W. +Whipper, a gentleman of great force of character, talents, and business +qualifications, Mr. Smith residing in Philadelphia. Smith and Whipper, +are very extensive business men, and very valuable members of the +community, both of Lancaster and Philadelphia counties. By the judicious +investment of their capital, they keep in constant employment a large +number of persons; purchasing many rafts at a time, and many thousand +bushels of coal. It is not only the laborer in "drawing boards," and the +coal hauler and heaver, that are here benefitted by their capital, but +the original owners of the lumber and coal purchased by them, and the +large number of boatmen and raftsmen employed in bringing these +commodities to market. + +In the winter of 1849, these gentlemen had in store, several thousand +bushels of coal, two million two hundred and fifty thousand feet of +lumber; twenty-two of the finest merchantmen cars running on the railway +from Philadelphia to Baltimore; nine thousand dollars' worth of stock in +the Columbia Bridge; eighteen thousand dollars in stock in the Columbia +Bank; and besides this, Mr. Smith was then the reputed owner of +fifty-two good brick houses of various dimensions in the city of +Philadelphia, besides several in the city of Lancaster, and the town of +Columbia. Mr. Smith's paper, or the paper of the firm, is good for any +amount wherever they are known; and we have known gentlemen to present +the paper of some of the best men in the city, which was cashed by him +at sight. The principal active business attended to by Mr. S. in person, +is that of buying good negotiable and other paper, and speculating in +real estate. The business of the firm is attended to by Mr. Whipper, who +is a relative. Take Smith and Whipper from Lancaster and Philadelphia +counties, and the business community will experience a hiatus in its +connexion, that may not be easily filled. + +Samuel T. Wilcox, of Cincinnati, Ohio, also stands conspicuously among +the most respectable business men of the day. Being yet a young man, +just scanning forty, he is one among the extraordinary men of the times. +Born, like the most of colored men in this country, in obscurity, of +poor parents, raised without the assistance of a father, and to a +commonplace business, without the advantages of schools, by his own +perseverance, he qualified himself to the extent that gave him an +inclination to traffic, which he did for several years on the +Mississippi and Ohio rivers, investing his gains in real estate, until +he acquired a considerable property. For the purpose of extending his +usefulness, and at the same time pursuing a vocation more in accordance +with his own desires, a few years since, he embarked in the wholesale +and retail Family Grocery business, and now has the best general +assortment and most extensive business house of the kind, in the city of +Cincinnati. The establishment is really beautiful, having the appearance +more of an apothecary store, than a Grocery House. Mr. Wilcox has a +Pickling and Preserving establishment besides, separate from his +business house, owning a great deal of first class real estate. There is +no man in the community in which he lives, that turns money to a greater +advantage than Mr. Wilcox, and none by whom the community is more +benefited for the amount of capital invested. He makes constant and +heavy bills in eastern houses, and there are doubtless now many +merchants in New York, Boston, and Baltimore cities, who have been +dealing with S.T. Wilcox, and never until the reading of this notice of +him, knew that he was a colored man. He has never yet been east after +his goods, but pursuing a policy which he has adopted, orders them; but +if deceived in an article, never deals with the same house again. He +always gets a good article. The paper of Mr. Wilcox, is good for any +amount. + +Henry Boyd, is also a man of great energy of character, the proprietor +of an extensive Bedstead manufactory, with a large capital invested, +giving constant employment to eighteen or twenty-five men, black and +white. Some of the finest and handsomest articles of the bedstead in the +city, are at the establishment of Mr. Boyd. He fills orders from all +parts of the West and South, his orders from the South being very heavy. +He is the patentee, or holds the right of the Patent Bedsteads, and like +Mr. Wilcox, there are hundreds who deal with Mr. Boyd at a distance, +who do not know that he is a colored man. Mr. Boyd is a useful member of +society, and Cincinnati would not, if she could, be without him. He +fills a place that every man is not capable of supplying, of whatever +quarter of the globe his forefathers may have been denizens. + +Messrs. Knight and Bell of the same place, Cincinnati, Ohio, are very +successful and excellent mechanics. In the spring of 1851, (one year +ago) they put in their "sealed proposal" for the plastering of the +public buildings of the county of Hamilton--alms-house, &c.--and got the +contract, which required ten thousand dollars' security. The work was +finished in fine artistic style, in which a large number of mechanics +and laborers were employed, while at the same time, they were carrying +on many other contracts of less extent, in the city--the public +buildings being some four miles out. They are men of stern integrity, +and highly respected in the community. + +David Jenkins of Columbus, Ohio, a good mechanic, painter, glazier, and +paper-hanger by trade, also received by contract, the painting, glazing, +and papering of some of the public buildings of the State, in autumn +1847. He is much respected in the capital city of his state, being +extensively patronised, having on contract, the great "Neill House," and +many of the largest gentlemen's residences in the city and neighborhood, +to keep in finish. Mr. Jenkins is a very useful man and member of +society. + +John C. Bowers, for many years, has been the proprietor of a fashionable +merchant tailor house, who has associated with him in business, his +brother Thomas Bowers, said to be one of the best, if not the very best, +mercers in the city. His style of cutting and fitting, is preferred by +the first business men, and other gentlemen of Philadelphia, in whom +their patrons principally consist. + +Mr. Cordovell, for more than twenty-five years, was the leading mercer +and tailor, reporter and originator of fashions in the city of New +Orleans, Louisiana. The reported fashions of Cordovell, are said to have +frequently become the leading fashions of Paris; and the writer was +informed, by Mr. B., a leading merchant tailor in a populous city, that +many of the eastern American reports were nothing more than a copy, in +some cases modified, of those of Cordovell. Mr. Cordovell, has for the +last four or five years, been residing in France, living on a handsome +fortune, the fruits of his genius; and though "retired from business," +it is said, that he still invents fashions for the Parisian reporters, +which yields him annually a large income. + +William H. Riley, of Philadelphia, has been for years, one of the +leading fashionable gentlemen's boot-makers. Riley's style and cut of +boots, taking the preeminence in the estimation of a great many of the +most fashionable, and business men in the city. Mr. Riley is much of a +gentleman, and has acquired considerable means. + +James Prosser, Sen., of Philadelphia, has long been the popular +proprietor of a fashionable restaurant in the city. The name of James +Prosser, among the merchants of Philadelphia, is inseparable with their +daily hours of recreation, and pleasure. Mr. Prosser, is withal, a most +gentlemanly man, and has the happy faculty of treating his customers in +such a manner, that those who call once, will be sure to call at his +place again. His name and paper is good among the business men of the +city. + +Henry Minton also is the proprietor of a fashionable restaurant and +resort of business men and gentlemen of the city. The tables of Mr. +Henry Minton are continually laden with the most choice offerings to +epicures, and the saloon during certain hours of the day, presents the +appearance of a bee hive, such is the stir, din, and buz, among the +throng of Chesnut street gentlemen, who flock in there to pay tribute at +the shrine of bountifulness. Mr. Minton has acquired a notoriety, even +in that proud city, which makes his house one of the most popular +resorts. + +Mr. Hill, of Chillicothe, Ohio, was for years, the leading tanner and +currier in that section of country, buying up the hides of the +surrounding country, and giving employment to large numbers of men. Mr. +Hill kept in constant employment, a white clerk, who once a year took +down, as was then the custom, one or more flatboats loaded with leather +and other domestic produce, by which he realised large profits, +accumulating a great deal of wealth. By endorsement, failure, and other +mistransactions, Mr. Hill became reduced in circumstances, and died in +Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1845. He gave his children a liberal +business education. + +Benjamin Richards, Sen., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, forty years ago, +was one of the leading business men of the place. Being a butcher by +trade, he carried on the business extensively, employing a white clerk, +and held a heavy contract with the United States, supplying the various +military posts with provisions. Mr. Richards possessed a large property +in real estate, and was at one time reputed very wealthy, he and the +late general O'H. being considered the most wealthy individuals of the +place,--Mr. Richards taking the precedence; the estate of general O'H. +now being estimated at seven millions of dollars. Mr. Richards has been +known, to buy up a drove of cattle at one time. By mismanagement, he +lost his estate, upon which many gentlemen are now living at ease in the +city. + +William H. Topp, of Albany, N.Y., has for several years been one of the +leading merchant tailors of the city. Starting in the world without aid, +he educated and qualified himself for business; and now has orders from +all parts of the state, the city of New York not excepted, for "Topp's +style of clothing." Mr. Topp stands high in his community as a business +man, and a useful and upright member of society. His paper or +endorsement is good at any time. + +Henry Scott & Co., of New York city, have for many years been engaged +extensively in the pickling business, keeping constantly in warehouse, a +very heavy stock of articles in their line. He, like the most of others, +had no assistance at the commencement, but by manly determination and +perseverance, raised himself to what he is. His business is principally +confined to supplying vessels with articles and provisions in his line +of business, which in this great metropolis is very great. There have +doubtless been many a purser, who cashed and filed in his office the +bill of Henry Scott, without ever dreaming of his being a colored man. +Mr. Scott is extensively known in the great City, and respected as an +upright, prompt, energetic business man, and highly esteemed by all who +know him. + +Mr. Hutson, for years, kept in New York, an intelligence office. At his +demise, he was succeeded by Philip A. Bell, who continues to keep one of +the leading offices in the city. Mr. Bell is an excellent business man, +talented, prompt, shrewd, and full of tact. And what seems to be a trait +of character, only to be found associated with talent, Mr. Bell is +highly sensitive, and very eccentric. A warm, good hearted man, he has +not only enlisted the friendship of all his patrons, but also endeared +himself to the multitude of persons who continually throng his office +seeking situations. One of his usual expressions to the young women and +men in addressing himself to them is, "My child"--this is kind, and +philanthropic, and has a tendency to make himself liked. His business is +very extensive, being sought from all parts of the city, by the first +people of the community. It is said to be not unusual, for the +peasantry of Liverpool, to speak of Mr. Bell, as a benefactor of the +emigrant domestics. Mr. Bell is extensively known in the business +community--none more so--and highly esteemed as a valuable citizen. + +Thomas Downing, for thirty years, in the city of New York, has been +proprietor of one of the leading restaurants. His establishment situated +in the midst of the Wall street bankers, the business has always been of +a leading and profitable character. Mr. Downing has commanded great +influence, and much means, and it is said of him that he has made "three +fortunes." Benevolent, kind, and liberal minded, his head was always +willing, his heart ready, and his hands open to "give." Mr. Downing is +still very popular, doing a most excellent business, and highly +respected throughout New York. Indeed, you scarcely hear any other +establishment of the kind spoken of than Downing's. + +Henry M. Collins, of the City of Pittsburg, stands among the men of +note; and we could not complete this list of usefulness, without the +name of Mr. Collins. Raised a poor boy, thrown upon the uncertainties of +chance, without example of precept, save such as the public at large +presents; Mr. Collins quit his former vocation of a riverman, and +without means, except one hundred and fifty dollars, and no assistance +from any quarter, commenced speculating in real estate. And though only +rising forty, has done more to improve the Sixth Ward of Pittsburg, than +any other individual, save one, Captain W., who built on Company +capital. Mr. Collins was the first person who commenced erecting an +improved style of buildings; indeed, there was little else than old +trees in that quarter of the city when Mr. Collins began. He continued +to build, and dispose of handsome dwellings, until a different class of +citizens entirely, was attracted to that quarter of the town, among +them, one of the oldest and most respectable and wealthy citizens, an +ex-Alderman. After this, the wealthy citizens turned their attention to +the District; and now, it is one of the most fashionable quarters of the +City, and bids fair to become, the preferred part for family residences. +Mr. Collins' advice and counsel was solicited by some of the first +lawyers, and land speculators, in matters of real estate. He has left or +contemplates leaving Pittsburg, in April, for California, where he +intends entering extensively into land speculation, and doubtless, with +the superior advantages of this place, if his success is but half what +it was in the former, but a few years will find him counted among the +wealthy. Mr. Collins is a highly valuable man in any community in which +he may live, and he leaves Pittsburg much to the regret of the leading +citizens. Without capital, he had established such a reputation, that +his name and paper were good in some of the first Banking houses. + +Owen A. Barrett of Pittsburg, Pa., is the original proprietor of "B.A. +Fahnestock's Celebrated Vermifuge." Mr. Fahnestock raised Mr. Barrett +from childhood, instructing him in all the science of practical +pharmacy, continuing him in his employment after manhood, when Mr. +Barrett discovered the "sovereign remedy" for _lumbricalii_, and as an +act of gratitude to his benefactor, he communicated it to him, but not +until he had fully tested its efficacy. The proprietor of the house, +finding the remedy good, secured his patent, or copy right, or whatever +is secured, and never in the history of remedies in the United States, +has any equaled, at least in sale, this of "B.A. Fahnestock's +Vermifuge." Mr. Fahnestock, like a gentleman and Christian, has kept Mr. +Barrett in his extensive House, compounding this and other medicines, +for sixteen or eighteen years. + +In 1840 it was estimated, that of this article alone, the concern had +realized eighty-five thousand dollars. Doubtless, this is true, and +certainly proves Mr. Barrett to be of benefit, not only in his +community, but like many others we have mentioned, to the country and +the world. + +Lewis Hayden, of Boston, is well deserving a place among the examples of +character here given. But eight years ago, having emerged from bondage, +he raised by his efforts, as an act of gratitude and duty, six hundred +and fifty dollars, the amount demanded by mutual agreement, by the +authorities in Kentucky, as a ransom for Calvin Fairbanks, then in the +State Prison, at Frankfort, accused for assisting him in effecting his +escape. In 1848, he went to Boston, and having made acquaintance, and +gained confidence with several business men, Mr. Hayden opened a +fashionable Clothing House in Cambridge street, where he has within the +last year, enlarged his establishment, being patronized by some of the +most respectable citizens of that wealthy Metropolis. Mr. Hayden has +made considerable progress, considering his disadvantages, in his +educational improvements. He has great energy of character, and +extensive information. Lewis Hayden by perseverance, may yet become a +very wealthy man. He is generally esteemed by the Boston people--all +seeming to know him. + +George T. Downing, a gentleman of education and fine business +attainments, is proprietor of one of the principal Public houses and +places of resort, at Newport, Rhode Island, during the watering Season. +This fashionable establishment is spoken of as among the best conducted +places in the country--the Proprietor among the most gentlemanly. + +Edward V. Clark, is among the most deserving and active business men in +New York, and but a few years are required, to place Mr. Clark in point +of business importance, among the first men in the city. His stock +consists of Jewelry and Silver Wares, and consequently, are always +valuable, requiring a heavy capital to keep up business. His name and +paper, has a respectable credit, even among the urbane denizens of Wall +street. + +John Julius and Lady, were for several years, the Proprietors of Concert +Hall, a _Caffé_, then the most fashionable resort for ladies and +gentlemen in Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Julius, held Assemblies and Balls, +attended by the first people of the city--being himself a fine violinist +and dancing master, he superintended the music and dancing. When General +William Henry Harrison in 1840, then the President elect of the United +States, visited that city, his levee to and reception of the Ladies were +held at Concert Hall, under the superintendence of Monsieur John and +Madame Edna Julius, the colored host and hostess. No House was ever +better conducted than under their fostering care, and excellent +management, and the citizens all much regretted their retirement from +the establishment. + +In Penyan, Western New York, Messrs. William Platt and Joseph C. Cassey, +are said to be the leading Lumber Merchants of the place. Situated in +the midst of a great improving country, their business extends, and +increases in importance every year. The latter gentleman was raised to +the business by Smith and Whipper, the great Lumber Merchants of +Columbia, Pa., where he was principal Book-Keeper for several years. Mr. +Cassey has the credit of being one of the best Accountants, and Business +Men in the United States of his age. Doubtless, a few years' +perseverance, and strict application to business, will find them ranked +among the most influential men of their neighborhood. + +Anthony Weston, of Charleston, South Carolina, has acquired an +independent fortune, by his mechanical ingenuity, and skillful +workmanship. About the year 1831, William Thomas Catto, mentioned in +another place, commenced an improvement on a Thrashing Machine, when on +taking sick, Mr. Weston improved on it, to the extent of thrashing a +thousand bushels a day. This Thrashing Mill, was commenced by a Yankee, +by the name of Emmons, who failing to succeed, Mr. Catto, then a +Millwright--since a Minister--improved it to the extent of thrashing +five hundred bushels a day; when Mr. Weston, took it in hand, and +brought it to the perfection stated, for the use of Col. Benjamin +Franklin Hunt, a distinguished lawyer of Charleston, upon whose +plantation, the machine was built, and to whom it belonged. Anthony +Weston, is the greatest Millwright in the South, being extensively +employed far and near, and by Southern people, thought the best in the +United States. + +Dereef and Howard, are very extensive Wood-Factors, keeping a large +number of men employed, a regular Clerk and Book-Keeper, supplying the +citizens, steamers, vessels, and factories of Charleston with fuel. In +this business a very heavy capital is invested: besides which, they are +the owners and proprietors of several vessels trading on the coast. They +are men of great business habits, and command a great deal of respect +and influence in the city of Charleston. + +There is nothing more common in the city of New Orleans, than Colored +Clerks, Salesmen and Business men. In many stores on Chartier, Camp and +other business streets, there may always be seen colored men and women, +as salesmen, and saleswomen, behind the counter. Several of the largest +Cotton-Press houses, have colored Clerks in them; and on the arrival of +steamers at the Levees, among the first to board them, and take down the +Manifestos to make their transfers, are colored Clerks. In 1839-40, one +of the most respectable Brokers and Bankers of the City, was a black +gentleman. + +Mr. William Goodrich of York, Pennsylvania, has considerable interest +in the branch of the Baltimore Railroad, from Lancaster. In 1849, he had +a warehouse in York, and owned ten first-rate merchandise cars on the +Road, doing a fine business. His son, Glenalvon G. Goodrich, a young man +of good education, is a good artist, and proprietor of a Daguerreo-type +Gallery. + +Certainly, there need be no further proofs required, at least in this +department, to show the claims and practical utility of colored people +as citizen members of society. We have shown, that in proportion to +their numbers, they vie and compare favorably in point of means and +possessions, with the class of citizens who from chance of superior +advantages, have studiously contrived to oppress and deprive them of +equal rights and privileges, in common with themselves. + + + + +XI + +LITERARY AND PROFESSIONAL COLORED MEN AND WOMEN + + +Dr. James McCune Smith, a graduate of the Scientific and Medical Schools +of the University of Glasgow, has for the last fifteen years, been a +successful practitioner of medicine and surgery in the city of New York. +Dr. Smith is a man of no ordinary talents, and stands high as a scholar +and gentleman in the city, amidst the _literati_ of a hundred seats of +learning. + +In 1843, when the character of the colored race was assailed to +disparagement, by the representative of a combination of maligners, such +was the influence of the Doctor, that the citizens at once agreed to +give their presence to a fair public discussion of the subject--the +Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of the races. This discussion was +kept up for several evenings, attended by large and fashionable +assemblages of ladies and gentlemen, until it closed. Doctor Smith, in +the estimation of the audience, easily triumphed over his antagonist, +who had made this a studied subject. The Doctor is the author of several +valuable productions, and in 1846, a very valuable scientific paper, +issued from the press in pamphlet form, on the "Influence of Climate on +Longevity, with special reference to Life Insurance." This paper, we may +surmise, was produced in refutation of the attempt at a physiological +disquisition on the part of Hon. John C. Calhoun, United States Senator, +on the colored race, which met with considerable favor from some +quarters, until the appearance of Dr. Smith's pamphlet--since when, we +have heard nothing about Calhoun's learned argument. It may be well to +remark, that Senator Calhoun read medicine before he read law, and it +would have been well for him if he had left medical subjects remain +where _he left_ them, for law. We extract a simple note of explanation +without the main argument, to show with what ease the Doctor refutes an +absurd argument: "The reason why the proportion of mortality is not a +measure of longevity, is the following:--The proportion of mortality is +a statement of how many persons die in a population; this, of course, +does not state the age at which those persons die. If 1 in 45 die in +Sweden, and 1 in 22 in Grenada, the ages of the dead might be alike in +both countries; here the greater mortality might actually accompany the +greater longevity."--Note to page 6. + +About three months since, at a public meeting of scientific gentlemen, +for the formation of a "Statistic Institute," Doctor Smith was nominated +as one of five gentlemen, to draught a constitution. This, of course, +anticipated his membership to the Institution. He, for a number of +years, has held the office of Physician to the Colored Orphan Asylum, an +excellent institution, at which he is the only colored officer. The +Doctor is very learned. + +Rev. Samuel Ringgold Ward was, for several years, pastor of a white +congregation, in Courtlandville, N.Y., of the Congregational persuasion, +and editor of an excellent newspaper, devoted to the religious elevation +of that denomination. Mr. Ward is a man of great talents--his fame is +widespread as an orator and man of learning, and needs no encomium from +us. His name stood on nomination for two or three years, as +Liberty-party candidate for Vice President of the United States. Mr. +Ward has embraced the legal profession, and intends to practise law. +Governor Seward said of him, that he "never heard true eloquence until +he heard Samuel R. Ward speak." Mr. Ward has recently left the United +States, for Canada West, and is destined to be a great statesman. + +Rev. Henry Highland Garnett, was also the pastor of a white +congregation, in Troy, N.Y. Mr. Garnett is a graduate of Oneida +Institute, a speaker of great pathetic eloquence, and has written +several valuable pamphlets. In 1844, Mr. Garnett appeared before the +Judiciary Committee of the Legislature at the capital, in behalf of the +rights of the colored citizens of the State, and in a speech of +matchless eloquence, he held them for four hours spell-bound. + +He has also been co-editor of a newspaper, which was conducted with +ability. As a token of respect, the "Young Men's Literary Society of +Troy," elected him a life-member--and he was frequently solicited to +deliver lectures before different lyceums. Mr. Garnett left the United +States in the summer of 1849, and now resides in England, where he is +highly esteemed. + +Rev. James William Charles Pennington, D.D., a clergyman of New York +city, was born in Maryland,--left when young--came to Brooklyn--educated +himself--studied divinity--went to Hartford, Conn.;--took charge of a +Presbyterian congregation of colored people--went to +England--returned--went to the West Indies--returned--was called to the +Shiloh Presbyterian Colored Congregation--was sent a Delegate to the +Peace Congress at Paris, in 1849, preached there, and attended the +National Levee at the mansion of the Foreign Secretary of State, +Minister De Tocqueville; and had the degree of _Doctor of Divinity_ +conferred on him by the ancient time-honored University of Heidleburg, +in Germany. + +Dr. Pennington is very learned in theology, has fine literacy +attainments, and has written several useful pamphlets, and contributed +to science, by the delivery of lectures before several scientific +institutions in Europe. + +He has, by invitation, delivered lectures before the "Glasgow Young +Men's Christian Association"; and "St. George's Biblical, Literary, and +Scientific Institute," London. In one of the discourses, the following +extract will give an idea of the style and character of the +speaker:--"One of the chief attributes of the mind is a desire for +freedom; but it has been the great aim of slavery to extinguish that +desire." + +"To extinguish this attribute would be to extinguish mind itself. Every +faculty which the master puts forth to subdue the slave, is met by a +corresponding one in the latter."... "Christianity is the highest and +most perfect form of civilization. It contains the only great standard +of the only true and perfect standard of civilization. When tried by +this standard, we are compelled to confess, that we have not on earth, +one strictly civilized nation; for so long as the sword is part of a +nation's household furniture, it cannot be called strictly civilized; +and yet there is not a nation, great or small, black or white, that has +laid aside the sword."--pp. 7-14. The Doctor has been editor of a +newspaper, which was ably conducted. He belongs to the Third Presbytery +of New York, and stands very high as a minister of the Gospel, and +gentleman. + +Rev. John Francis Cook, a learned clergyman of Washington City, has +taught an academy in the District of Columbia for years, under the +subscribed sanction and patronage of many of the members of Congress, +the Mayor of Washington, and some of the first men of the nation, for +the education of colored youth of both sexes. Mr. Cook has done a great +deal of good at the Capitol; is highly esteemed, and has set as +Moderator of a body of Presbyterian Clergymen, assembled at Richmond, +Va., all white, except himself. + +Charles L. Reason, Esq., a learned gentleman, for many years teacher in +one of the Public Schools in New York, in 1849, was elected by the +trustees of that institution, Professor of Mathematics and Belles +Lettres in Centre College, at McGrawville, in the State of New York. +After a short connection with the College, Professor Reason, for some +cause, retired from the Institution, much to the regret of the students, +who, though a young man, loved him as an elder brother--and contrary to +the desire of his fellow-professors. + +Mr. Reason is decidedly a man of letters, a high-souled gentleman, a +most useful citizen in any community--much respected and beloved by all +who know him, and most scrupulously modest--a brilliant trait in the +character of a teacher. We learn that Professor Reason, is about to be +called to take charge of the High School for the education of colored +youth of both sexes, now in course of completion in Philadelphia. The +people of New York will regret to part with Professor Reason. + +Charles Lenox Remond, Esq., of Salem, Massachusetts, is among the most +talented men of the country. Mr. Remond is a native of the town he +resides in, and at an early age, evinced more than ordinary talents. At +the age of twenty-one, at which time (1832) the cause of the colored +people had just begun to attract public attention, he began to take an +interest in public affairs, and was present for the first time, at the +great convention of colored men, of that year, at which the +distinguished colonization gentlemen named in another part of this work, +among them, Rev. R.R. Gurley, and Elliot Cresson, Esqs., were present. +At this convention, we think, Mr. Remond made his virgin speech. From +that time forth he became known as an orator, and now stands second to +no living man as a declaimer. This is his great forte, and to hear him +speak, sends a thrill through the whole system, and a tremor through the +brain. + +In 1835, he went to England, making a tour of the United Kingdom, where +he remained for two years, lecturing with great success; and if we +mistake not was presented the hospitality of one of the towns of +Scotland, at which he received a token of respect, in a code of +resolutions adopted expressive of the sentiments of the people, signed +by the town officers, inscribed to "Charles Lenox Remond, Esq.," a form +of address never given in the United Kingdom, only where the person is +held in the highest esteem for their attainments; the "Mr." always being +used instead. + +To C.L. Remond, are the people of Massachusetts indebted for the +abolition of the odious distinction of caste, on account of condition. +For up to this period, neither common white, nor genteel colored +persons, could ride in first class cars; since which time, all who are +able and willing to pay, go in them. In fact, there is but one class of +cars, (except the emigrant cars which are necessary for the safety and +comfort of other passengers) in Massachusetts. + +Mr. Remond, appeared at one time before the legislature of +Massachusetts, in behalf of the rights of the people above named, where +with peals of startling eloquence, he moved that great body of +intelligent New Englanders, to a respectful consideration of his +subject; which eventually resulted as stated. The distinguished Judge +Kelley, of Philadelphia, an accomplished scholar and orator, in 1849, in +reply to an expression that Mr. Remond spoke like himself, observed, +that it was the greatest compliment he ever had paid to his talents. +"Proud indeed should I feel," said the learned Jurist, "were I such an +orator as Mr. Remond." Charles Lenox Remond is the soul of an honorable +gentleman. + +Robert Morris, Jr., Esq., attorney and counsellor at law, is a member +of the Essex county bar in Boston. Mr. Morris has also had the +commission of magistracy conferred upon him, by his excellency George N. +Briggs, recent governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, a high +honor and compliment to an Attorney; the commission usually being +conferred on none but the oldest or most meritorious among the members +of the bar. He also keeps the books of one of the wealthy rail road +companies, a business almost entirely confined to lawyers in that city. +Mr. Morris is a talented gentleman, and stands very high at the Boston +bar. He sometimes holds the magistrate's court in Chelsea, where his +family resides, and is very highly esteemed by the whole community of +both cities, and has a fine practice. + +Macon B. Allen, Esq., attorney and counsellor at law, is also a member +of the Essex bar. He is spoken of as a gentleman of fine education. + +Robert Douglass, Jr., for many years, has kept a study and gallery of +painting and daguerreotype in the city of Philadelphia. Mr. Douglass is +an excellent artist--being a fine portrait and landscape painter, which +art he practised before the discovery of daguerreotype. He is also a +good lithographer, a gentleman of fine educational attainments, very +clever talents, and highly esteemed in that city. Mr. Douglass has been +twice to the West Indies and Europe. + +J. Presley Ball is the principal daguerreotypist of Cincinnati, Ohio. +Mr. Ball commenced the practice of his art about seven years ago, being +then quite young, and inexperienced, as all young beginners are, +laboring under many difficulties. He nevertheless, persevered, until he +made a business, and established confidence in his skill; and now he +does more business than any other artist in the profession in that city. +His gallery, which is very large, finely skylighted, and handsomely +furnished, is literally crowded from morning until evening with ladies, +gentlemen, and children. He made some valuable improvements in the art, +all for his own convenience. There is none more of a gentleman than J. +Presley Ball. He has a brother, Mr. Thomas Ball, and a white gentleman +to assist him. Few go to Cincinnati, without paying the daguerrean +gallery of Mr. Ball, a visit. + +The great organ of the "Liberty Party" in the United States, is now +conducted by one who requires not a notice from such an obscure +source--we mean Frederick Douglass, of Rochester, N.Y. His history is +well known--it was written by more faithful hands than ours--it was +written by himself. It stands enrolled on the reminiscences of Germany, +and France, and in full length oil, in the academy of arts, and in bust +of bronze or marble, in the museum of London. Mr. Douglass is also the +sole owner of the printing establishment from which the paper is issued, +and was promoted to this responsible position, by the power of his +talents. He is a masterly letter writer, ably edits his paper, and as a +speaker, and orator, let the scenes of a New York tabernacle, within two +years, answer instead. Mr. Douglass is highly respected as a citizen and +gentleman in Rochester. + +In Syracuse, N.Y., resides George Boyer Vashon, Esq., A.M., a graduate +of Oberlin Collegiate Institute, Attorney at Law, Member of the Syracuse +Bar. Mr. Vashon, is a ripe scholar, an accomplished Essayist, and a +chaste classic Poet; his style running very much in the strain of +Byron's best efforts. He probably takes Byron as his model, and Childe +Harold, as a sample, as in his youthful days, he was a fond admirer of +GEORGE GORDON NOEL BYRON, always calling his whole name, when he named +him. His Preceptor in Law, was the Honorable Walter, Judge Forward, late +Controller, subsequently, Secretary of the Treasury of the United +States, and recently _Charge de Affaires_ to Denmark, now President of +the Bench of the District Court of the Western District of Pennsylvania. + +Mr. Vashon was admitted to the Bar of the city of New York, in the fall +of 1847, to practise in all the Courts of the State. He immediately +subsequently, sailed to the West Indies, from whence he returned in the +fall of 1850. He has contributed considerably to a number of the +respectable journals of the country. + +Mrs. Ann Maria Johnson, of the School of Mrs. Tillman and Mrs. Johnson, +Teachers in French Worsted Needle Work, at the Exhibition of the +Mechanics' Institute in Chicago, Ill., 1846, took the First Prize, and +got her Diploma, for the best embroidery in cloth. This was very +flattering to those ladies, especially the Diplomast, considering the +great odds they had to contend with. The ladies were very successful +teachers--their classes were always large. + +In Williamsburg there is T. Joiner White, M.D.; in Brooklyn Peter Ray, +M.D.; and in the city of New York, also, John Degrass, M.D., all young +Physicians, who have time and experience yet before them, and promise +fair to be good and useful members of society. + +Miss Eliza Greenfield the BLACK SWAN, is among the most extraordinary +persons of the present century. Being raised in obscurity, inured to +callings far beneath her propensity, and unsuited to her taste, she had +a desire to cultivate her talents, but no one to encourage her. Whenever +she made the effort, she was discouraged--perhaps ridiculed; and thus +discouraged, she would shrink again from her anxious task. She knew she +could sing, and knew she could sing unlike any body else; knew she sung +better than any whom she had heard of the popular singers, but could not +tell why others could not think with, and appreciate her. In this way it +seems, she was thrown about for three years, never meeting with a +person who could fully appreciate her talents; and we have it from her +own lips, that not until after the arrival of Jenny Lind and Parodi in +the country, was she aware of the high character of her own talents. She +knew she possessed them, because they were inherent, inseparable with +her being. She attended the Concerts of Mad'll. Jenny Lind, and Operas +of Parodi, and at once saw the "secret of their success"--they possessed +talents, that no other popular singers mastered. + +She went home; her heart fluttered; she stole an opportunity when no one +listened, to mock or gossip; let out her voice, when _ecce!_ she found +her strains _four_ notes _above_ Sweden's favored Nightingale; she +descended when lo! she found her tones _three_ notes _below!_ she +thanked God with a "still small voice"; and now, she ranks second in +point of voice, to no vocalist in the world. Miss Greenfield, if she +only be judicious and careful, may become yet, in point of popularity, +what Miss Lind was. The Black Swan, is singing to fine fashionable +houses, and bids fair to stand unrivalled in the world of Song. + +Patrick Henry Reason, a gentleman of ability and fine artist, stands +high as an Engraver in the city of New York. Mr. Reason has been in +business for years, in that city, and has sent out to the world, many +beautiful specimens of his skillful hand. He was the first artist, we +believe in the United States, who produced a plate of that beautiful +touching little picture, the Kneeling Slave; the first picture of which +represented a handsome, innocent little girl upon her knees, with hands +outstretched, leaving the manacles dangling before her, anxiously +looking and wishfully asking, "_Am I not a sister?_" It was +beautiful--sorrowfully beautiful. He has we understand, frequently done +Government engraving. Mr. P.H. is a brother of Professor Charles L. +Reason. + +David Jones Peck, M.D., a graduate of Rush Medical College, a talented +young gentleman, practised Medicine for two years in Philadelphia. He +left there in 1850. + +William H. Allen, Esq., A.B., successor to Professor C.L. Reason, is +Professor of Languages in Centre College, at McGrawville, N.Y. Professor +Allen, is a gentleman of fine education, a graduate of Oneida Institute, +and educated himself entirely by his own industry, having the aid of but +fifty dollars during the whole period. The Professor is a talented +Lecturer on Ancient History, and much of a gentleman. + +Martin H. Freeman, A.B., a young gentleman, graduate of Rutland College, +in Vermont, is "Junior Professor," in Allegheny Institute, Allegheny +county, Pa. The Professor is a gentleman of talents, and doing much good +in his position. + +Rev. Molliston Madison Clark, a gentleman of great talents, a noble +speaker, educated at Jefferson College, Pa., sailed to Europe in 1846, +and was a member of the Evangelical Alliance. Mr. Clark kept a regular +Journal of his travels through the United Kingdom of England, Scotland +and Ireland. As well as a Greek and Latin, he is also a French and +Spanish Linguist. He has all the eccentricity of Rowland Hill, +manifested only in a very different manner. + +William C. Nell, of Rochester, N.Y., formerly of Boston, has long been +known as a gentleman of chaste and lofty sentiments, and a pure +philanthropist. Mr. Nell, in company with Mr. Frederick Douglass, was +present by invitation, and took his seat at table, at the celebration of +Franklin's Birth Day, by the Typographical and Editorial corps of +Rochester. In 1850, being again residing in Boston, he was nominated and +ran for the Legislature of Massachusetts, by the Free Soil party of +Essex county. Mr. Nell stood even with his party vote in the District. + +He recently issued from the Boston press a Pamphlet, on the colored men +who served in the wars of the United States of 1776, and 1812. This +pamphlet is very useful as a book of reference on this subject, and Mr. +Nell, of course does not aim at a full historical view. The +circumstances under which it was got out, justify this belief. He was +collecting materials in the winter of 1850-51, when he was taken down to +his bed with a severe attack of disease of one of his lungs, with which +he lingered, unable to leave his room for weeks. In the Spring, +recovering somewhat his health, so as to go out--during this time, he +had the little pamphlet published, as a means of pecuniary aid, +promising another part to be forthcoming some subsequent period, which +the writer hopes may soon be issued. Mr. Nell, is an excellent man, and +deserves the patronage of the public. + +Joseph G. Anderson, successor to Captain Frank Johnson, of Philadelphia, +is now one of the most distinguished musicians in the country. Mr. +Anderson is an artist professionally and practically, mastering various +instruments, a composer of music, and a gentleman of fine +accomplishments in other respects. His musical fame will grow with his +age, which one day must place him in the front ranks of his profession, +among the master in the world. + +William Jackson, is among the leading musicians of New York city, and +ranks among the most skillful violinists of America. This gentleman is a +master of his favorite instrument, executing with ease the most +difficult and critical composition. He is generally preferred in social +and private parties, among the first families of the city, where the +amateur and gentleman is more regarded than the mere services of the +musician. Mr. Jackson is a teacher of music, and only requires a more +favorable opportunity to vie with Ole Bull or Paganini. + +Rev. Daniel A. Payne, commenced his literary career in Charleston, +South Carolina, where he taught school for some time. In 1833 or 1834, +he came North, placing himself in the Lutheran Theological Seminary, at +Gettysburg, under the tutorage of the learned and distinguished Dr. +Schmucker, where he finished his education as a Lutheran clergyman. To +extend his usefulness, he joined the African Methodist Connexion, and +for several years resided in Baltimore, where he taught an Academy for +colored youth and maidens, gaining the respect and esteem of all who had +the fortune to become acquainted with him. He is now engaged travelling +and collecting information, for the publication of a history of one of +the colored Methodist denominations in the United States. Mr. Payne is a +pure and chaste poet, having published a small volume of his productions +in 1850, under the title of "Pleasures and other Miscellaneous Poems, by +Daniel A. Payne," issued from the press of Sherwood and Company, +Baltimore, Maryland. + +Rev. William T. Catto, a clergyman of fine talents, finished his +education in the Theological Seminary in Charleston, South Carolina. He +was ordained by the Presbytery of Charleston, and in 1848, under the +best recommendations for piety, acquirements, and all the qualifications +necessary to his high mission as a clergyman, was sent out as a +missionary to preach the Gospel to all who needed it; but to make +himself more useful, he joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church +Connexion, and is now a useful and successful preacher in Philadelphia. + +The musical profession of Philadelphia has long had a valuable votary in +the person of William Appo, an accomplished pianist. Mr. Appo has been a +teacher of the piano forte, for more than twenty years, alternately in +the cities of New York and Philadelphia, and sometimes in Baltimore. +His profession extends amongst the citizens generally, from the more +moderate in circumstances, to the ladies and daughters of the most +wealthy gentlemen in community. This gentleman is a fine scholar, and as +well as music, teaches the French language successfully. His young +daughter, Helen, a miss of fourteen years of age, inherits the musical +talents of her father, and is now organist in the central Presbyterian +Church. The name of William Appo, is generally known as a popular +teacher of music, but few who are not personally acquainted with him, +know that he is a colored gentleman. + +Augustus Washington, an artist of fine taste and perception, is numbered +among the most successful Daguerreotypists in Hartford, Connecticut. His +establishment is said to be visited daily by large numbers of the +citizens of all classes; and this gallery is perhaps, the only one in +the country, that keeps a female attendant, and dressing-room for +ladies. He recommends, in his cards, black dresses to be worn for +sitting; and those who go unsuitably dressed, are supplied with drapery, +and properly enrobed. + +John Newton Templeton, A.M., for fifteen years an upright, active, and +very useful citizen of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, was a graduate of Athens +College, in the State of Ohio. Mr. Templeton, after an active life of +more than twenty years, principally spent in school teaching, died in +Pittsburg, in July, 1851, leaving an amiable widow and infant son. + +Thomas Paul, A.B., of Boston, a gentleman of fine talents and amiable +disposition, whose life has been mainly devoted to teaching, is a +graduate of Bowdoin College, in Maine. Mr. Paul is now the recipient of +a salary of fifteen hundred dollars a year as teacher of a school in +Boston. + +Rev. Benjamin Franklin Templeton, pastor of St. Mary street Church, +Philadelphia, was educated at Hanover College, near Madison, Indiana. In +1838, Mr. Templeton was ordained a minister of the Ripley Presbytery, in +Ohio; subsequently, in 1841, established a church, the Sixth +Presbyterian, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, from which place he was +called, in 1844, to take charge of his present pastorate. Mr. Templeton +is a beautiful speaker, and an amiable gentleman.[3] + +John B. Russworm, a gentleman of splendid talents, graduated at Bowdoin +College, many years ago. Mr. Russworm was a class-mate of Honorable John +P. Hale, United States Senator, and after leaving College as his first +public act, commenced the publication of a newspaper, for the elevation +of colored Americans, called "Freedom's Journal." Subsequently to the +publication of his paper, Mr. Russworm became interested in the +Colonization scheme, then in its infancy, and went to Liberia; after +which he went to Bassa Cove, of which place he was made governor, where +he died in 1851. + +Benjamin Coker, a colored Methodist clergyman, forty years ago, wrote +and issued, in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, a pamphlet, setting +forth in glowing terms, the evils of American slavery, and the wrongs +inflicted on the colored race. Rev. Daniel A. Payne, a talented +clergyman, mentioned in this work, has now in his possession a copy of +the pamphlet, and informs us, that the whole ground assumed by the +modern abolitionists, was taken and reviewed in this pamphlet, by Daniel +Coker. We may reasonably infer, that the ideas of Anti-Slavery, as +taught by the friends of the black race at the present day, were +borrowed from Mr. Coker; though, perhaps, policy forbade due credit to +the proper source. Coker, like Russworm, became interested in the cause +of African Colonization, and went to Africa; where he subsequently +became an extensive coast trader, having several vessels, one of which +he commanded in person, taking up his residence on the island of +Sherbro, where he is said to have lived in great splendor. He died in +1845 or 1846, at an advanced age, leaving a family of sons and +daughters. + +Henry Bibb, an eloquent speaker, for several years, was the principal +traveling lecturer for the Liberty Party of Michigan. Mr. Bibb, with +equal advantages, would equal many of those who fill high places in the +country, and now assume superiority over him and his kindred. He fled an +exile from the United States, in 1850, to Canada, to escape the terrible +consequences of the Republican Fugitive Slave Law, which threatened him +with a total destruction of liberty. Mr. Bibb established the "Voice of +the Fugitive," a newspaper, in Sandwich, Canada West, which is managed +and conducted with credit. + +Titus Basfield, graduated at Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio, +receiving his religious instruction from the late Dr. Jonathan Walker, +of that place, a physician and Covenanter clergyman. He afterwards +graduated in theology at the Theological Seminary of Cannonsburg, +Pennsylvania, was ordained, and traveled preaching and lecturing to the +people of his peculiar faith and the public, for several years. He went +to New London, Canada West, where he has charge of a Scotch congregation +of religious votaries to that ancient doctrine of salvation. + +Mary Ann Shadd, a very intelligent young lady, peculiarly eccentric, +published an excellent pamphlet, issued from the press in Wilmington, +Delaware, in 1849, on the elevation of the colored people. The writer of +this work, was favored with an examination of it before publication, +which he then highly approved of, as an excellent introduction to a +great subject, fraught with so much interest. Miss Shadd has traveled +much, and now has charge of a school in Sandwich, Canada West. + +James McCrummill, of Philadelphia, is a skillful surgeon-dentist, and +manufacturer of porcelain teeth, having practised the profession for +many years in that city. He is said to be equal to the best in the city, +and probably only requires an undivided attention to establish the +reality. + +Joseph Wilson, Thomas Kennard, and William Nickless, are also practising +dentists in the city of Philadelphia. Mr. Kennard is said to be one of +the best _workmen_ in the manufacture of artificial teeth, and _gums_--a +new discovery, and very valuable article, in this most beautiful and +highly useful art. He devotes several hours a day, to the manufacture of +these articles for one of the principal surgeon-dentists of Arch street. + +James M. Whitfield, of Buffalo, New York, though in an humble position, +(for which we think he is somewhat reprehensible), is one of the purest +poets in America. He has written much for different newspapers; and, by +industry and application--being already a good English scholar--did he +but place himself in a favorable situation in life, would not be second +to John Greenleaf Whittier, nor the late Edgar A. Poe. + +Mary Elizabeth Miles, in accordance with the established rules, +graduated as a teacher, in the Normal School, at Albany, New York, +several years ago. Miss Miles (now Mrs. Bibb) was a very talented young +lady and successful teacher. She spent several years of usefulness in +Massachusetts, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after which she went to +Cincinnati, as assistant-teacher in Gilmore's "High School for Colored +Children," which ended her public position in life. She now resides in +Sandwich, Canada West. + +Lucy Stanton, of Columbus, Ohio, is a graduate of Oberlin Collegiate +Institute, in that State. She is now engaged in teaching school in that +city, in which she is reputed to be successful. She is quite a young +lady, and has her promise of life all before her, and bids fair to +become a woman of much usefulness in society. + +Doctor Bias, of Philadelphia, spoken of in another place, graduated at +the close of the session of 1851-52, in the Eclectic Medical College, in +that city. The doctor is highly esteemed by the physicians of his +system, who continually interchange calls with him. He is also a +practical phrenologist,--which profession he does not now attend to, +giving his undivided attention to the practice of medicine,--and has +written a pamphlet on that subject, entitled, "Synopsis of Phrenology, +and the Phrenological Developments, as given by J.J. Gould Bias." No man +perhaps, in the community of Philadelphia, possesses more self-will, and +determination of character, than Dr. James Joshua Gould Bias. Mr. +Whipper says of him, that he is "a Napoleon in character." The sterling +trait in his character is, that he grasps after _originality_, and +grapples with every difficulty. Such a man, must and will succeed in his +undertakings. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[3] During the last twenty years, there have been, at different periods, +published among the colored people of the United States, twenty odd +newspapers, some of which were conducted with ability. Among them, the +"Colored American," in New York city; Samuel E. Cornish, Philip A. Bell, +and Charles B. Ray, at different times, Editors. "The Demosthenian +Shield," issued from a Literary Society of young colored men, in the +city of Philadelphia. "The Straggler," by Philip A. Bell, New York, out +of which the Colored American took its origin. The "National Reformer," +an able monthly periodical, in pamphlet form, in Philadelphia; William +Whipper, Editor. "The Northern Star," a Temperance monthly newspaper, +published in Albany, N.Y.; Stephen Myers, Editor, still in +existence--changed to ----. "The Mystery," of Pittsburg, Pa.; Martin +Robison Delany, Editor--succeeded by a committee of colored gentlemen as +Editors. The "Palladium of Liberty," issued in Columbus, O., by a +committee of colored gentlemen; David Jenkins, Editor. "The +Disfranchised American," by a committee of colored gentlemen, +Cincinnati, O.; A.M. Sumner, Editor--succeeded by the "Colored Citizen"; +Rev. Thomas Woodson, and William Henry Yancey, Editors. The "National +Watchman," Troy, N.Y.; William H. Allen and Henry Highland Garnett, +Editors. Another issued in New York city, the name of which, we cannot +now remember; James William Charles Pennington, D.D., and James McCune +Smith, M.D., Editors: the issue being alternately at Hartford, the then +residence of Dr. Pennington--and New York city, the residence of Dr. +Smith. The "Excelsior," an ephemeral issue, which appeared but once, in +Detroit, Mich.; William H. Day, Editor. + +The "Christian Herald," the organ of the A.M. Episcopal Church, +published under the auspices of the General Conference of that body; +Augustus Richardson Green, Editor, and General Book Steward. This +gentleman has, also, written and published several small volumes of a +religious character; a pamphlet on the Episcopacy and Infant Baptism, +and the Lives of Reverends Fayette Davis and David Canyou. The +"Elevator," of Philadelphia; James McCrummill, Editor. The "Ram's Horn," +New York city; Thomas Vanrensellear, Editor. There is now a little +paper, the name of which we cannot recollect, issued at Newark, N.J., +merely a local paper, very meager in appearance. "The Farmer and +Northern Star," in Courtland, N.Y., afterwards changed to the "Impartial +Citizen," and published in Boston; Samuel Ringgold Ward, Editor. "The +North Star," published in Rochester, N.Y.; Frederick Douglass, and +Martin Robinson Delany, Editors--subsequently changed to the "Frederick +Douglass' Paper"; Frederick Douglass, Editor. + +A number of gentlemen have been authors of narratives, written by +themselves, some of which are masterly efforts, manifesting great force +of talents. Of such, are those by Frederick Douglass, William Wells +Brown, and Henry Bibb. + +Of the various churches and clergy we have nothing to say, as these do +not come within our province; except where individuals, from position, +come within the sphere of our arrangement. + +There have been several inventors among the colored people. The youth +Henry Blair, of Maryland, some years ago, invented the Corn-Planter, and +Mr. Roberts of Philadelphia, 1842, a machine for lifting cars off the +railways. + +It may be expected that we should say something about a book issued in +Boston, purporting to be a history of ancient great men of African +descent, by one Mr. Lewis, entitled "Light and Truth." This book is +nothing more than a compilation of selected portions of Rollin's, +Goldsmith's, Furguson's, Hume's, and other ancient histories; added to +which, is a tissue of historical absurdities and literary blunders, +shamefully palpable, for which the author or authors should mantle their +faces. + +If viewed in the light of a "Yankee trick," simply by which to make +money, it may, peradventure, be a very clever trick; but the publisher +should have recollected, that the ostensible object of his work was, the +edification and enlightenment of the public in general and the colored +people in particular, upon a great and important subject of truth; and +that those who must be the most injured by it, will be the very class of +people, whom he professes a desire to benefit. We much regret the fact, +that there are but too many of our brethren, who undertake to dabble in +literary matters, in the shape of newspaper and book-making, who are +wholly unqualified for the important work. This, however, seems to be +called forth by the palpable neglect, and indifference of those who have +had the educational advantages, but neglected to make such use of them. + +There is one redeeming quality about "Light and Truth." It is a capital +offset to the pitiable literary blunders of Professor George R. Gliddon, +late Consul to Egypt, from the United States, Lecturer on Ancient +Egyptian Literature, &c., &c., who makes all ancient black men, _white_; +and asserts the Egyptians and Ethiopians to have been of the _Caucasian_ +or white race!--So, also, this colored gentleman, makes all ancient +great white men, black--as Diogenes, Socrates, Themistocles, Pompey, +Caesar, Cato, Cicero, Horace, Virgil, et cetera. Gliddon's idle nonsense +has found a capital match in the production of Mr. Lewis' "Light and +Truth," and both should be sold together. We may conclude by expressing +our thanks to our brother Lewis, as we do not think that Professor +Gliddon's learned ignorance, would have ever met an equal but for "Light +and Truth." Reverends D.A. Payne, M.M. Clark, and other learned colored +gentlemen, agree with us in the disapproval of this book.--EDITOR. + + + + +XII + +STUDENTS OF VARIOUS PROFESSIONS + + +There are a number of young gentlemen who have finished their literary +course, who are now studying for the different learned professions, in +various parts of the country. + +Jonathan Gibbs, A.B., a very talented young gentleman, and fine speaker, +is now finishing his professional studies in the Theological School at +Dartmouth University. Mr. Gibbs also studied in the Scientific +Department of the same Institution. + +William H. Day, Esq., A.B., a graduate of Oberlin Collegiate Institute, +is now in Cleveland Ohio, preparing for the Bar. Mr. Day is, perhaps, +the most eloquent young gentleman of his age in the United States. + +John Mercer Langston, A.B., of Chillicothe, Ohio, also a graduate of +Oberlin College, a talented young gentleman, and promising orator, is +completing a Theological course at the School of Divinity at Oberlin. It +is said, that Mr. Langston intends also to prepare for the Bar. He +commenced the study of Law previous to that of Theology, under Judge +Andrews of Cleveland. + +Charles Dunbar, of New York city, a promising, very intelligent young +gentleman, is now in the office of Dr. Childs, and having attended one +course of Lectures at Bowdoin Medical School in Maine, will finish next +fall and winter, for the practice of his profession. + +Isaac Humphrey Snowden, a promising young gentleman of talents, is now +reading Medicine under Dr. Clarke of Boston, and attended the session of +the Medical School of Harvard University, of 1850-51. + +Daniel Laing, Jr., Esq., a fine intellectual young gentleman of Boston, +a student also of Dr. Clarke of that city, one of the Surgeons of the +Massachusetts General Hospital, who attended the course of Lectures the +session of 1850-51, at the Medical School of Harvard University, is now +in Paris, to spend two years in the hospitals, and attend the Medical +Lectures of that great seat of learning. Mr. Laing, like most medical +students, has ever been an admirer, and anxious to sit under the +teachings of that great master in Surgery, Velpeau. + +Dr. James J. Gould Bias, a Botanic Physician, and talented gentleman of +Philadelphia, is a member of the class of 1851-52, of the Eclectic +Medical School of that city. Dr. Bias deserves the more credit for his +progress in life, as he is entirely self-made. + +Robert B. Leach, of Cleveland, Ohio, a very intelligent young gentleman, +is a member of the medical class for 1851-52, of the Homeopathic +College, in that City. Mr. Leach, when graduated, will be the _First +Colored Homeopathic_ Physician in the United States. + +Dr. John Degrass, of New York city, named in another place, spent two +years in Paris Hospitals, under the teaching of the great lecturer and +master of surgery, Velpeau, to whom he was assistant and dresser, in the +hospital--the first position--for advantages, held by a student. The +Doctor has subsequently been engaged as surgeon on a Havre packet, where +he discharged the duties of his office with credit. + +Also Dr. Peter Ray, of Brooklyn, named on the same page, graduated at +Castleton Medical School, Vermont, spent some time at the Massachusetts +General Hospital, Boston, where he held the position of assistant and +dresser to Surgeon Parkman, in his ward of the hospital. + +Dr. John P. Reynolds, has for a number of years been one of the most +popular and successful physicians in Vincennes, Indiana. We believe Dr. +Reynolds, was not of the "regular" system, but some twenty-three or-four +years ago, studied under an "Indian physician," after which, he +practised very successfully in Zanesville, Ohio, subsequently removing +to Vincennes, where he has for the last sixteen years, supported an +enviable reputation as a physician. We understand Doctor Reynolds has +entered into all the scientific improvements of the "eclectic school" of +medicine, which has come into being in the United States, long since his +professional career commenced. His popularity is such, that he has +frequently been entrusted, with public confidence, and on one occasion, +in 1838, was appointed by the court, sole executor of a very valuable +orphans' estate. The Doctor has grown quite wealthy it is said, +commanding a considerable influence in the community. + +Dr. McDonough, a skillful young physician, graduated at the Institute, +Easton, Pennsylvania, and finished his medical education at the +University of New York. The Doctor is one of the most thorough of the +young physicians; has been attached to the greater part of the public +institutions of the city of New York, and is a good practical chemist. + +Of course, there are many others, but as we have taken no measures +whatever, to collect facts or information from abroad, only getting such +as was at hand, and giving the few sketches here, according to our own +recollection of them, we close this short chapter at this point. + + + + +XIII + +A SCAN AT PAST THINGS + + +It may not be considered in good taste to refer to those still living, +who formerly occupied prominent business positions, and by dint of +misfortune or fortune, have withdrawn. Nevertheless, we shall do so, +since our simple object in this hasty sketch of things, is to show that +the colored people of the country have not as has been charged upon +them, always been dregs on the community and excrescences on the body +politic, wherever they may have lived. We only desire to show that they +have been, all things considered, just like other people. + +Several years ago, there lived in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. +Berry Mechum. This gentleman was very wealthy, and had at one time, two +fine steamers plying on the Mississippi, all under the command and +management of white men, to whom he trusted altogether. As late as 1836, +he sent two sons to the Oberlin Collegiate Institute, desiring that they +might become educated, in order to be able to manage his business; who, +although he could read and write, was not sufficiently qualified and +skilled in the arts of business to vie with the crafty whites of the +Valley. But before his sons were fitted for business though reputed very +wealthy, which there is no doubt he was, his whole property was seized +and taken: and as he informed the writer himself, he did not know what +for, as he had no debts that he knew of, until these suits were +entered. Mr. Mechum was an energetic, industrious, persevering old +gentleman--a baptist clergyman, and published a small pamphlet on the +condition of the colored race. And although, it evinces great deficiency +of literary qualifications, yet, does credit to the good old man, for +the sound thoughts therein contained. + +Also in the city of St. Louis, David Desara, who was a Mississippi pilot +for many years. He made much money at his business, and owned at one +time, a steamboat, which he piloted himself. Mr. Desara also failed, in +consequence of having his business all in the hands of white men, as +most of the slave state colored people have, entrusting to them +entirely, without knowing anything of their own concerns. + +Charles Moore, long and familiarly known as "Chancy Moore the Pilot," +was for many years, one of the most popular pilots on the Ohio and +Mississippi rivers. Mr. Moore made much money, and withdrew from his old +business, purchasing a large tract of land in Mercer County, Ohio, where +he has for the last ten or twelve years been farming. + +Mr. Moore was an honest man, and we believe upon him originated the +purely Western phrase, "Charley Moore the fair thing"; he always in his +dealings saying "gentlemen, do the _fair_ thing." + +Abner H. Francis and James Garrett were formerly extensive clothes +dealers in Buffalo, N.Y., doing business to the amount of sixty thousand +dollars annually. They were energetic, industrious, persevering +gentlemen, commencing business under very unfavorable circumstances, in +fact, commencing on but _seventy-five_ dollars, as the writer has been +authentically informed by the parties. + +They continued successfully for years, where their paper and +endorsements were good for any amount they wanted--highly respected and +esteemed; Mr. Francis sitting at one time as juryman in the court of +quarter sessions. These gentlemen failed in business in 1849, but since +then, have nearly adjusted the claims against them. Mr. Francis has +since settled in Oregon Territory, Portland City, where he is again +doing a fair mercantile business. They bid fair again to rank among the +"merchant princes" of the times. + +Robert Banks was for many years, a highly esteemed and extensive clothes +dealer, on Jefferson Avenue, in Detroit, Mich. No man was more highly +respected for unswerving integrity, and uprightness of purpose, than +Robert Banks, of Detroit. Mr. Banks, had much enlarged his business, +immediately succeeding a fire in which he was burnt out two years +previous to closing, which ensued in July, 1851, being the second time +he had lost his store by fire. He might have, had he done as merchants +usually do under such circumstances, continued his business; but +instead, he made an assignment, with few preferred creditors, rather as +he expressed it, ruin his business, than wilfully wrong a creditor. What +speaks volumes in his behalf, every person, even his greatest creditors +say, "He is an honest man"; and while settling the business of the late +concern, those to whom he was indebted, offered him assistance to +commence business again. But this he thankfully declined, preferring to +take his chance with others in the land of gold, California, where he +now is, than commence again under the circumstances. Doubtless, if no +special prevention ensue, Mr. Banks will be fully able to redeem his +present obligations, and once more be found prospering and happy. + +Henry Knight, of Chicago, commenced business in that city without +capital; but by industry, soon gained the esteem and confidence of the +public, making many friends. He fast rose in prosperity, until he became +the proprietor of the most extensive livery establishment in the city, +in which he had much capital invested. Determined to be equal to the +times, the growing prosperity of the city, and the demands of the +increasing pride of the place, he extended his possessions--erecting +costly buildings, besides increasing his stock and livery extensively. +He was burnt out--a pressure came upon him--he sold out his stock, staid +suits against himself; went to California, returned in a year and a +half--paid off old claims, saved his property--went back; opened a +California hotel, returned in less than one year with several thousand +dollars, and now stands entirely clear of all debt--and all this done in +the space of two and a half years. Mr. Knight is a man of business, and +will hold his position with others if he have but half a chance. With +such a man, there is "no such a thing as fail"--he could not again, if +he desired, because, his friends would not permit him. + + + + +XIV + +LATE MEN OF LITERARY, PROFESSIONAL AND ARTISTIC NOTE + + +Late Captain Frank Johnson, of Philadelphia, the most renowned band +leader ever known in the United States, was a man of science, and master +of his profession. In 1838, Captain Johnson went to England with his +noble band of musicians, where he met with great success--played to Her +Majesty Queen Victoria and His Royal Highness Prince Albert--Captain +Johnson receiving a handsome French bugle, by order of her Majesty, +valued at five hundred dollars--returning, he held throughout the +Eastern, Northern, and Western States, grand concerts, known as "Soirees +Musicales." He was a great composer and teacher of music, and some of +the finest Marches and Cotillions now extant, have been originally +composed by Captain Frank Johnson. On his Western tour, by some +awkwardness of management, he lost at Buffalo, original music in +manuscript, which never had been published--as much of his composition +had been; valued at one thousand dollars, which, although advertised, he +never got. But his name was sufficient to give additional value to the +prize; and there is no doubt, but the world is now being benefited by +the labors of Captain Johnson, the credit being given to others than +himself. This was an unfortunate circumstance, and had his amiable and +excellent widow, Mrs. Helen Johnson of Philadelphia, now this +composition, she could support herself in ease, by the sale of the +published work. Captain Frank Johnson, died in Philadelphia in 1844, +universally respected, and regretted as an irreparable loss to society. +At his death the band divided, different members taking a leadership. + +Andrew J. Conner, one of the members of Captain Johnson's band, also +became a distinguished composer and teacher of music. Mr. Conner taught +the piano forte in the best families in the city of Philadelphia--among +merchants, bankers, and professional men. He contributed to the popular +literary Magazines of the day, and very many who have read in Graham's +and other literary issues, "Music composed by A.J. Conner," did not for +a moment think that the author was a colored gentleman. Mr. Conner died +in Philadelphia in 1850. + +James Ulett, formerly of New York, became quite celebrated a few years +since, as a comedian. He played several times in the old "Richmond Hill" +Theatre, and quite successfully in Europe. Mr. Ulett was not well +educated, and consequently, labored under considerable inconvenience in +reading, frequently making grammatical blunders, as the writer noticed +in a private rehearsal, in 1836, in the city of New York. He, however, +possessed great intellectual powers, and his success depended more upon +that, than his accuracy in reading. Of course, he was a great delineator +of character, which being the principal feature in a comedian, his +language was lost sight of in common conversation. Mr. Ulett died in New +York a few years ago. + +Doctor Lewis G. Wells was a most talented orator and man of literary +qualifications. Residing in Baltimore, Maryland, he raised himself high +in the estimation of all who knew him. He studied medicine, and was +admitted into the Washington Medical College, attending the regular +courses, and would have graduated, but for some misunderstanding +between himself and the professors, which prevented it. He was a most +successful practitioner, and effected more cures during the prevalence +of the cholera in 1832, than any other physician in the city. Doctor +Wells was also a most successful practical phrenologist, and lectured to +large and fashionable houses of the first class ladies and gentlemen of +Baltimore, and other cities. Being a great wit, he kept his audiences in +uproars of laughter. Mr. Wells was also an ordained minister of the +Gospel, belonging to the white Methodist connexion; and was author of +several productions, among them, a large Methodist hymn book, containing +several fine original poems. Dr. Wells died the same year of cholera, +after successfully saving many others, because there was no physician at +that time who understood the treatment of the disease. + + + + +XV + +FARMERS AND HERDSMEN + + +Little need be said about farmers; there are hundreds of them in all +parts of the country, especially in the Western States; still these may +not be considered of a conspicuous or leading character--albeit, they +are contributing largely to the wants of community, and wealth of the +country at large. Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and +Indiana, all, are largely represented by the farming interests of +colored men. We shall name but a sufficient number to show the character +of their enterprise in this department of American industry. + +Rev. William Watson, of Cincinnati, Ohio, is the owner of a fine farm in +Mercer county, and six hundred acres of additional land. + +Mr. Richard Phillips, of the same city, is owner of a fine farm in the +same county, and three hundred and fifty additional acres of land. + +Rev. Reuben P. Graham, of Cincinnati, owns a finely cultivated farm in +Mercer county, three hundred acres of adjoining land; and one near +Cincinnati. + +Mr. John Woodson, of Jackson county, is one of the most successful +farmers in the State of Ohio. Having a large tract of land, he has one +of the best cultivated farms in the West, in a most productive state, +raising grains, fruits, and livestock. In the year 1842, his farm +produced that season, three thousand bushels of wheat, several hundred +bushels of rye, eleven hundred bushels of oats, large crops of corn, +potatoes, and other vegetables; large quantities of fruits, three +hundred stacks of hay, with a large stock of several hundred heads of +cattle on the place. Mr. Woodson has for many years, been a highly +respectable man in his neighborhood, and continues his farming interests +with unabated success. + +Dr. Charles Henry Langston, of Columbus, Ohio, is also the proprietor of +a very fine farm of eleven hundred acres, in Jackson county, upon which +he has a white tenant. This gentleman is a surgeon-dentist by +profession, educated at Oberlin College, making his home in Columbus. + +Robert Purvis, Esq., a gentleman of collegiate education, is proprietor +of one of the best improved farms in Philadelphia county, fifteen miles +from Philadelphia. His cattle consist of the finest English breed. + +Joseph Purvis, Esq., of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, a gentleman also of +education and wealth, is an amateur stock farmer. Every animal on Mr. +Purvis' farm is of the very best breed--Godolphin horses, Durham cattle, +Leicestershire sheep, Berkshire swine, even English bull-terrier dogs, +and whatever else pertains to the blooded breeds of brutes, may be found +on the farm of Joseph Purvis. Mr. Purvis supplies a great many farmers +with choice breeds of cattle, and it is said that he spends ten thousand +dollars annually, in the improvement of his stocks. + +Robert Briges Forten, also of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, is an amateur +farmer. Mr. Forten is a gentleman of fine education, a pure, chaste +poet, and attends to farming for the love of nature. He is a valuable +member of the farming enterprise in the country. + +If such evidence of industry and interest, as has been exhibited in the +various chapters on the different pursuits and engagements of colored +Americans, do not entitle them to equal rights and privileges in our +common country, then indeed, is there nothing to justify the claims of +any portion of the American people to the common inheritance of Liberty. + +We proceed to another view of our condition in the United States. + + + + +XVI + +NATIONAL DISFRANCHISEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE + + +We give below the Act of Congress, known as the "Fugitive Slave Law," +for the benefit of the reader, as there are thousands of the American +people of all classes, who have never read the provisions of this +enactment; and consequently, have no conception of its enormity. We had +originally intended, also, to have inserted here, the Act of Congress of +1793, but since this Bill includes all the provisions of that Act, in +fact, although called a "supplement," is a substitute, _de facto_, it +would be superfluous; therefore, we insert the Bill alone, with +explanations following:-- + + AN ACT + + TO AMEND, AND SUPPLEMENTARY TO THE ACT, ENTITLED, "AN ACT + RESPECTING FUGITIVES FROM JUSTICE, AND PERSONS ESCAPING FROM THE + SERVICE OF THEIR MASTERS," APPROVED FEBRUARY 12, 1793. + + _Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the + United States of America in Congress assembled_, That the persons + who have been, or may hereafter be, appointed commissioners, in + virtue of any act of Congress, by the circuit courts of the United + States, and who, in consequence of such appointment, are authorized + to exercise the powers that any justice of the peace or other + magistrate of any of the United States may exercise in respect to + offenders for any crime or offence against the United States, by + arresting, imprisoning, or bailing the same under and by virtue of + the thirty-third section of the act of the twenty-fourth of + September, seventeen hundred and eighty-nine, entitled "An act to + establish the judicial courts of the United States," shall be, and + are hereby authorized and required to exercise and discharge all + the powers and duties conferred by this act. + + SEC. 2. _And be it further enacted_, That the superior court of + each organized territory of the United States shall have the same + power to appoint commissioners to take acknowledgments of bail and + affidavit, and to take depositions of witnesses in civil causes, + which is now possessed by the circuit courts of the United States; + and all commissioners who shall hereafter be appointed for such + purposes by the superior court of any organized territory of the + United States shall possess all the powers and exercise all the + duties conferred by law upon the commissioners appointed by the + circuit courts of the United States for similar purposes, and shall + moreover exercise and discharge all the powers and duties conferred + by this act. + + SEC. 3. _And be it further enacted_, That the circuit courts of the + United States, and the superior courts of each organized territory + of the United States, shall from time to time enlarge the number of + commissioners, with a view to afford reasonable facilities to + reclaim fugitives from labor, and to the prompt discharge of the + duties imposed by this act. + + SEC. 4. _And be it further enacted_, That the commissioners above + named shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the judges of the + circuit and district courts of the United States, in their + respective circuits and districts within the several States, and + the judges of the superior courts of the Territories, severally and + collectively, in term time and vacation; and shall grant + certificates to such claimants, upon satisfactory proof being made, + with authority to take and remove such fugitives from service or + labor, under the restrictions herein contained, to the State or + territory from which such persons may have escaped or fled. + + SEC. 5. _And be it further enacted_, That it shall be the duty of + all marshals and deputy marshals to obey and execute all warrants + and precepts issued under the provisions of this act, when to them + directed; and should any marshal or deputy marshal refuse to + receive such warrant or other process, when tendered, or to use all + proper means diligently to execute the same, he shall, on + conviction thereof, be fined in the sum of one thousand dollars to + the use of such claimant, on the motion of such claimant, by the + circuit or district court for the district of such marshal; and + after arrest of such fugitive by such marshal or his deputy, or + whilst at any time in his custody, under the provisions of this + act, should such fugitive escape, whether with or without the + assent of such marshal or his deputy, such marshal shall be liable, + on his official bond, to be prosecuted, for the benefit of such + claimant for the full value of the service or labor of said + fugitive in the State, Territory, or district whence he escaped; + and the better to enable the said commissioners, when thus + appointed, to execute their duties faithfully and efficiently, in + conformity with the requirements of the constitution of the United + States and of this art, they are hereby authorized and empowered, + within their counties respectively, to appoint in writing under + their hands, any one or more suitable persons, from time to time, + to execute all such warrants and other process as may be issued by + them in the lawful performance of their respective duties; with an + authority to such commissioners, or the persons to be appointed by + them, to execute process as aforesaid, to summon and call to their + aid the bystanders, or _posse comitatus_ of the proper county, + when necessary to insure a faithful observance of the clause of the + constitution referred to, in conformity with the provisions of this + act: and all good citizens are hereby commanded to aid and assist + in the prompt and efficient execution of this law, whenever their + services may be required, as aforesaid, for that person; and said + warrants shall run and be executed by said officers anywhere in the + State within which they are issued. + + SEC. 6. _And be it further enacted_, That when a person held to + service or labor in any State or Territory of the United States has + heretofore or shall hereafter escape into another State or + Territory of the United States, the person or persons to whom such + service or labor may be due, or his, her, or their agent or + attorney, duly authorized, by power of attorney, in writing, + acknowledged and certified under the seal of some legal office or + court of the State or Territory in which the game may be executed, + may pursue and reclaim such fugitive person, either by procuring a + warrant from some one of the courts, judges, or commissioners + aforesaid, of the proper circuit, district or county, for the + apprehension of such fugitive from service or labor, or by seizing + and arresting such fugitive, where the same can be done without + process, and by taking and causing such person to be taken + forthwith before such court, judge or commissioner, whose duty it + shall be to hear and determine the case of such claimant in a + summary manner; and upon satisfactory proof being made, by + deposition or affidavit, in writing, to be taken and certified by + such court, judge, or commissioner, or by other satisfactory + testimony, duly taken and certified by some court, magistrate, + justice of the peace, or other legal officer authorized to + administer an oath, and take depositions under the laws of the + State or Territory from which such person owing service or labor + may have escaped, with a certificate of such magistracy or other + authority, as aforesaid, with the seal of the proper court or + officer thereto attached, which seal shall be sufficient to + establish the competency of the proof, and with proof, also by + affidavit, of the identity of the person whose service or labor is + claimed to be due as aforesaid, that the person so arrested does in + fact owe service or labor to the person or persons claiming him or + her, in the State or Territory from which such fugitive may have + escaped as aforesaid, and that said person escaped, to make out and + deliver to such claimant, his or her agent or attorney, a + certificate setting forth the substantial facts as to the service + or labor due from such fugitive to the claimant, and of his or her + escape from the State or Territory in which such service or labor + was due to the State or Territory in which he or she was arrested, + with authority to such claimant, or his or her agent or attorney to + use such reasonable force and restraint as may be necessary under + the circumstances of the case, to take and remove such fugitive + person back to the State or Territory from whence he or she may + have escaped as aforesaid. In no trial or hearing under this act + shall the testimony of such alleged fugitive be admitted in + evidence; and the certificates in this and the first section + mentioned shall be conclusive of the right of the person or persons + in whose favor granted to remove such fugitive to the State or + Territory from which he escaped, and shall prevent all molestation + of said person or persons by any process issued by any court, + judge, magistrate, or other person whomsoever. + + SEC. 7. _And be it further enacted_, That any person who shall + knowingly and willingly obstruct, hinder, or prevent such claimant, + his agent or attorney, or any person or persons lawfully assisting + him, her, or them, from arresting such a fugitive from service or + labor, either with or without process as aforesaid; or shall + rescue, or attempt to rescue such fugitive from service or labor, + from the custody of such claimant, his or her agent or attorney or + other person or persons lawfully assisting as aforesaid, when so + arrested, pursuant to the authority herein given and declared: or + shall aid, abet, or assist such person, so owing service or labor + as aforesaid, directly or indirectly, to escape from such claimant, + his agent or attorney, or other person or persons, legally + authorized as aforesaid; or shall harbor or conceal such fugitive, + so as to prevent the discovery and arrest of such person, after + notice or knowledge of the fact that such person was a fugitive + from service or labor as aforesaid, shall, for either of said + offences, be subject to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, + and imprisonment not exceeding six months, by indictment and + conviction before the district court of the United States for the + district in which such offence may have been committed, or before + the proper court of criminal jurisdiction, if committed within any + one of the organized territories of the United States; and shall + moreover forfeit and pay, by way of civil damages to the party + injured by such illegal conduct, the sum of one thousand dollars + for each fugitive so lost as aforesaid, to be recovered by action + of debt in any of the district or territorial courts aforesaid, + within whose jurisdiction the said offence may have been committed. + + SEC. 8. _And be it further enacted_, That the marshals, their + deputies, and the clerks of the said district and territorial + courts, shall be paid for their services the like fees as may be + allowed to them for similar services in other cases; and where such + services rendered exclusively in the arrest, custody, and delivery + of the fugitive to the claimant, his or her agent or attorney, or + where such supposed fugitive may be discharged out of custody for + the want of sufficient proof as aforesaid, then such fees are to be + paid in the whole by such claimant, his agent or attorney; and in + all cases where the proceedings are before a commissioner, he shall + be entitled to a fee of ten dollars in full for his services in + each case, upon delivery of the said certificate to the claimant, + his or her agent or attorney; or a fee of five dollars in cases + where the proof shall not, in the opinion of such commissioner, + warrant such certificate and delivery, inclusive of all services + incident to such arrest and examination, to be paid in either case, + by the claimant, his or her agent or attorney. The person or + persons authorized to execute the process to be issued by such + commissioners for the arrest and detention of fugitives from + service or labor as aforesaid, shall also be entitled to a fee of + five dollars each for each person he or they may arrest and take + before any such commissioner as aforesaid at the instance and + request of such claimant, with such other fees as may be deemed + reasonable by such commissioner for such other additional services + as may be necessarily performed by him or them: such as attending + to the examination, keeping the fugitive in custody, and providing + him with food and lodging during his detention, and until the final + determination of such commissioner; and in general for performing + such other duties as may be required by such claimant, his or her + attorney or agent, or commissioner in the premises; such fees to be + made up in conformity with the fees usually charged by the officers + of the courts of justice within the proper district or county, as + near as may be practicable, and paid by such claimants, their + agents or attorneys, whether such supposed fugitive from service or + labor be ordered to be delivered to such claimants by the final + determination of such commissioners or not. + + SEC. 9. _And be it further enacted_, That upon affidavit made by + the claimant of such fugitive, his agent or attorney, after such + certificate has been issued, that he has reason to apprehend that + such fugitive will be rescued by force from his or their possession + before he can be taken beyond the limits of the State in which the + arrest is made, it shall be the duty of the officer making the + arrest to retain such fugitive in his custody, and to remove him to + the State whence he fled, and there to deliver him to said + claimant, his agent or attorney. And to this end the officer + aforesaid is hereby authorized and required to employ so many + persons as he may deem necessary, to overcome such force, and to + retain them in his service so long as circumstances may require; + the said officer and his assistants, while so employed, to receive + the same compensation, and to be allowed the same expenses as are + now allowed by law for the transportation of criminals, to be + certified by the judge of the district within which the arrest is + made, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. + + SEC. 10. _And be it further enacted_, That when any person held to + service or labor in any State or Territory, or in the District of + Columbia, shall escape therefrom, the party to whom such service or + labor shall be due, his, her, or their agent or attorney may apply + to any court of record therein, or judge thereof, in vacation, and + make satisfactory proof to such court, or judge, in vacation, of + the escape aforesaid, and that the person escaping owed service or + labor to such party. Whereupon the court shall cause a record to be + made of the matters so proved, and also a general description of + the person so escaping, with such convenient certainty as may be; + and a transcript of such record authenticated by the attestation of + the clerk, and of the seal of the said court, being produced in any + other State, Territory, or District in which the person so escaping + may be found, and being exhibited to any judge, commissioner, or + other officer, authorized by the law of the United States to cause + persons escaping from service or labor to be delivered up, shall be + held and taken to be full and conclusive evidence of the fact of + escape, and that the service or labor of the person escaping is due + to the party in such record mentioned. And upon the production by + the said party of other and further evidence, if necessary, either + oral or by affidavit, in addition to what is contained in the said + record of the identity of the person escaping, he or she shall be + delivered up to the claimant. And the said court, commissioner, + judge or other person authorized by this act to grant certificates + to claimants of fugitives, shall, upon the production of the record + and other evidences aforesaid, grant to such claimant a certificate + of his right to take any such person identified and proved to be + owing service or labor as aforesaid, which certificate shall + authorize such claimant to seize or arrest and transport such + person to the State or Territory from which he escaped: _Provided_, + That nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring the + production of a transcript of such record as evidence as aforesaid; + but in its absence, the claim shall be heard and determined upon + other satisfactory proofs competent in law. + + HOWELL COBB, + _Speaker of the House of Representatives_. + + WILLIAM R. KING, + _President of the Senate, pro tempore_. + +Approved September 18, 1850. + MILLARD FILLMORE. + + +The most prominent provisions of the Constitution of the United States, +and those which form the fundamental basis of personal security, are +they which provide, that every person shall be secure in their person +and property: that no person may be deprived of liberty without due +process of law, and that for crime or misdemeanor; that there may be no +process of law that shall work corruption of blood. By corruption of +blood is meant, that process, by which a person is _degraded_ and +deprived of rights common to the enfranchised citizen--of the rights of +an elector, and of eligibility to the office of a representative, of the +people; in a word, that no person nor their posterity, may ever be +debased beneath the level of the recognised basis of American +citizenship. This debasement and degradation is "corruption of blood"; +politically understood--a legal acknowledgement of inferiority of birth. + +Heretofore, it ever has been denied, that the United States recognised +or knew any difference between the people--that the Constitution makes +no distinction, but includes in its provisions, all the people alike. +This is not true, and certainly is blind absurdity in us at least, who +have suffered the dread consequences of this delusion, not now to see +it. + +By the provisions of this bill, the colored people of the United States +are positively degraded beneath the level of the whites--are made liable +at any time, in any place, and under all circumstances, to be +arrested--and upon the claim of any white person, without the privilege, +even of making a defence, sent into endless bondage. Let no visionary +nonsense about _habeas corpus_, or a _fair trial_, deceive us; there are +no such rights granted in this bill, and except where the commissioner +is too ignorant to understand when reading it, or too stupid to enforce +it when he does understand, there is no earthly chance--no hope under +heaven for the colored person who is brought before one of these +officers of the law. Any leniency that may be expected, must proceed +from the whims or caprice of the magistrate--in fact, it is optional +with them; and _our_ rights and liberty entirely at their disposal. + +We are slaves in the midst of freedom, waiting patiently, and +unconcernedly--indifferently and stupidly, for masters to come and lay +claim to us, trusting to their generosity, whether or not they will own +us and carry us into endless bondage. + +The slave is more secure than we; he knows who holds the heel upon his +bosom--we know not the wretch who may grasp us by the throat. His master +may be a man of some conscientious scruples; ours may be unmerciful. +Good or bad, mild or harsh, easy or hard, lenient or severe, saint or +satan--whenever that master demands any one of us--even our affectionate +wives and darling little children, _we must go into slavery_--there is +_no alternative_. The _will_ of the man who sits in judgment on our +liberty, is the law. To him is given _all power_ to say, whether or not +we have a right to enjoy freedom. This is the power over the slave in +the South--this is now extended to the North. The will of the man who +sits in judgment over us is the law; because it is explicitly provided +that the _decision_ of the commissioner shall be final, from which there +can be no appeal. + +The freed man of the South is even more secure than the freeborn of the +North; because such persons usually have their records in the slave +states, bringing their "papers" with them; and the slaveholders will be +faithful to their own acts. The Northern freeman knows no records; he +despises the "papers." + +Depend upon no promised protection of citizens in any quarter. Their own +property and liberty are jeopardised, and they will not sacrifice them +for us. This we may not expect them to do. + +Besides, there are no people who ever lived, love their country and obey +their laws as the Americans. + +Their country is their Heaven--their Laws their Scriptures--and the +decrees of their Magistrates obeyed as the fiat of God. It is the most +consummate delusion and misdirected confidence to depend upon them for +protection; and for a moment suppose even our children safe while +walking in the streets among them. + +A people capable of originating and sustaining such a law as this, are +not the people to whom we are willing to entrust our liberty at +discretion. + +What can we do? What shall we do? This is the great and important +question:--Shall we submit to be dragged like brutes before heartless +men, and sent into degradation and bondage?--Shall we fly, or shall we +resist? Ponder well and reflect. + +A learned jurist in the United States, (Chief Justice John Gibson of +Pennsylvania,) lays down this as a fundamental right in the United +States: that "Every man's house is his castle, and he has the right to +defend it unto the taking of life, against any attempt to enter it +against his will, except for crime," by well authenticated process. + +But we have no such right. It was not intended for us, any more than any +other provision of the law, intended for the protection of Americans. +The policy is against us--it is useless to contend against it. + +This is the law of the land and must be obeyed; and we candidly advise +that it is useless for us to contend against it. To suppose its repeal, +is to anticipate an overthrow of the Confederative Union; and we must be +allowed an expression of opinion, when we say, that candidly we believe, +the existence of the Fugitive Slave Law _necessary_ to the continuance +of the National Compact. This Law is the foundation of the +Compromise--remove it, and the consequences are easily determined. We +say necessary to the continuance of the National Compact: certainly we +will not be understood as meaning that the enactment of such a Law was +_really_ necessary, or as favoring in the least this political +monstrosity of the THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS of the UNITED STATES OF +AMERICA--surely not at all; but we speak logically and politically, +leaving morality and right out of the question--taking our position on +the acknowledged popular, basis of American Policy; arguing from premise +to conclusion. We must abandon all vague theory, and look at _facts_ as +they really are; viewing ourselves in our true political position in the +body politic. To imagine ourselves to be included in the body politic, +except by express legislation, is at war with common sense, and contrary +to fact. Legislation, the administration of the laws of the country, and +the exercise of rights by the people, all prove to the contrary. We are +politically, not of them, but aliens to the laws and political +privileges of the country. These are truths--fixed facts, that quaint +theory and exhausted moralising, are impregnable to, and fall harmlessly +before. + +It is useless to talk about our rights in individual States: we can have +no rights here as citizens, not recognised in our common country; as the +citizens of one State, are entitled to all the rights and privileges of +an American citizen in all the States--the nullity of the one +necessarily implying the nullity of the other. These provisions then do +not include the colored people of the United States; since there is no +power left in them, whereby they may protect us as their own citizens. +Our descent, by the laws of the country, stamps us with +inferiority--upon us has this law worked _corruption of blood_. We are +in the hands of the General Government, and no State can rescue us. The +Army and Navy stand at the service of our enslavers, the whole force of +which, may at any moment--even in the dead of night, as has been +done--when sunk in the depth of slumber, called out for the purpose of +forcing our mothers, sisters, wives, and children, or ourselves, into +hopeless servitude, there to weary out a miserable life, a relief from +which, death would be hailed with joy. Heaven and earth--God and +Humanity!--are not these sufficient to arouse the most worthless among +mankind, of whatever descent, to a sense of their true position? These +laws apply to us--shall we not be aroused? + +What then shall we do?--what is the remedy--is the important question to +be answered? + +This important inquiry we shall answer, and find a remedy in when +treating of the emigration of the colored people. + + + + +XVII + +EMIGRATION OF THE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES + + +That there have been people in all ages under certain circumstances, +that may be benefited by emigration, will be admitted; and that there +are circumstances under which emigration is absolutely necessary to +their political elevation, cannot be disputed. + +This we see in the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt to the land of Judea; +in the expedition of Dido and her followers from Tyro to Mauritania; and +not to dwell upon hundreds of modern European examples--also in the ever +memorable emigration of the Puritans, in 1620, from Great Britain, the +land of their birth, to the wilderness of the New World, at which may be +fixed the beginning of emigration to this continent as a permanent +residence. + +This may be acknowledged; but to advocate the emigration of the colored +people of the United States from their native homes, is a new feature in +our history, and at first view, may be considered objectionable, as +pernicious to our interests. This objection is at once removed, when +reflecting on our condition as incontrovertibly shown in a foregoing +part of this work. And we shall proceed at once to give the advantages +to be derived from emigration, to us as a people, in preference to any +other policy that we may adopt. This granted, the question will then be, +Where shall we go? This we conceive to be all important--of paramount +consideration, and shall endeavor to show the most advantageous +locality; and premise the recommendation, with the strictest advice +against any countenance whatever, to the emigration scheme of the so +called Republic of Liberia. + + + + +XVIII + +"REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA" + + +That we desire the civilization and enlightenment of Africa--the high +and elevated position of Liberia among the nations of the earth, may not +be doubted, as the writer was among the first, seven or eight years ago, +to make the suggestion and call upon the Liberians to hold up their +heads like men; take courage, having confidence in their own capacity to +govern themselves, and come out from their disparaging position, by +formally declaring their Independence. + +As our desire is to impart information, and enlighten the minds of our +readers on the various subjects herein contained, we present below a +large extract from the "First Annual Report of the Trustees of Donations +for Education in Liberia." This Extract will make a convenient statistic +reference for matters concerning Liberia. We could only wish that many +of our readers possessed more historical and geographical information of +the world, and there could be little fears of their going anywhere that +might be incongenial and unfavorable to their success. We certainly do +intend to deal fairly with Liberia, and give the reader every +information that may tend to enlighten them. What the colored people +most need, is _intelligence_; give them this, and there is no danger of +them being duped into anything they do not desire. This Board was +incorporated by the Legislature of Massachusetts, March 19th, +1850--Ensign H. Kellogg, Speaker of the House, Marshall P. Wilder, +President of the Senate. Trustees of the Board--Hon. George N. Briggs, +LL.D., Hon. Simon Greenleaf, LL.D., Hon. Stephen Fairbanks, Hon. William +J. Hubbard, Hon. Joel Giles, Hon. Albert Fearing, Amos A. Lawrence, Esq. +Officers of the Board--Hon. G.N. Briggs, President; Hon. S. Fairbanks, +Treasurer; Rev. J. Tracy, Secretary. The conclusion of the Report +says:--"In view of such considerations, the Trustees cannot doubt the +patrons of learning will sustain them in their attempt to plant the +FIRST COLLEGE on the _only_ continent which yet remains _without_ one." +In this, the learned Trustees have fallen into a statistical and +geographical error, which we design to correct. The _continent_ is _not +without_ a College. There are now in Egypt, erected under the patronage +of that singularly wonderful man, Mehemet Ahi, four colleges conducted +on the European principle--Scientific, Medical, Legal, and Military.[4] +These are in successful operation; the Military College having an +average of eleven hundred students annually. The continent of Africa +then, is not without a college, but though benighted enough, even to an +apparent hopeless degeneration, she is still the seat of learning, and +must some day rise, in the majesty of ancient grandeur, and vindicate +the rights and claims of her own children, against the incalculable +wrongs perpetrated through the period of sixty ages by professedly +enlightened Christians, against them. + + A glance at the map will show a sharp bend in this coast at Cape + Palmas, from which it extends, on time one side, about 1,100 miles + north-west and north, and on the other, about 1,200 or 1,300 almost + directly east. In this bend is the Maryland Colony of Cape Palmas, + with a jurisdiction extending nearly 100 miles eastward. This + Colony is bounded on the north-west by the Republic of Liberia, + which extends along the coast about 400 miles to Sherbro. These two + governments will ultimately be united in one Republic, and may be + considered as one, for all the purposes of this inquiry. The extent + of their united sea-coast is about 520 miles. The jurisdiction of + the Republic over the four hundred miles or more which it claims, + has been formally acknowledged by several of the leading powers of + Europe, and is questioned by none. To almost the whole of it, the + native title has been extinguished; the natives, however, still + occupying, as citizens, such portions of it as they need. + + The civilized population of these governments, judging from the + census of 1843, and other information, is some 7,000 or 8,000. Of + the heathen population, no census has ever been taken; but it + probably exceeds 300,000. + + The grade of Liberian civilization may be estimated from the fact, + that the people have formed a republican government, and so + administer it, as to secure the confidence of European governments + in its stability. The native tribes who have merged themselves in + the Republic, have all bound themselves to receive and encourage + teachers; and some of them have insisted on the insertion, in their + treaties of annexation, of pledges that teachers and other means of + civilization shall be furnished. + + Our accounts of churches, clergy and schools are defective, but + show the following significant facts: + + The clergy of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Liberia are nearly + all Liberian citizens, serving as missionaries of the Methodist + Missionary Society in the United States. The last Report of that + Society gives the names of fifteen missionaries, having in charge + nine circuits, in which are 882 members in full communion, and 235 + probationers; total, 1,117. They have 20 Sabbath Schools, with 114 + officers and teachers, 810 scholars, and 507 volumes in their + libraries. They have a Manual Labor School and Female Academy. The + number of Day Schools is not reported; but seven of the + missionaries are reported as superintendents of schools, and the + same number have under their charge several "native towns," in some + of which there are schools. The late superintendent of the missions + writes:-- + + "It appears plain to my mind, that nothing can now retard the + progress of our missions in this land, unless it be the want of a + good high school, in which to rear up an abundant supply of well + qualified teachers, to supply, as they shall rapidly increase in + number, all your schools." + + The Baptists are next in number to the Methodists. The Northern + Baptist Board, having its seat in Boston, has in Liberia one + mission, two out-stations, one boarding school, and two day + schools, with about twenty scholars each, one native preacher, and + four native assistants. The whole mission is in the hands of + converted natives. The Southern Board operates more extensively. + More than a year since, the Rev. John Day, its principal agent + there, reported to the Rev. R.R. Gurley, United States Commissioner + to Liberia, as follows: + + "In our schools are taught, say, 330 children, 92 of whom are + natives. To more than 10,000 natives, the Word of Life is statedly + preached; and in every settlement in these colonies, we have a + church, to whom the means of grace are administered; and in every + village we have an interesting Sunday school, where natives as well + as colonists are taught the truths of God's word. Say, in our + Sunday schools, are taught 400 colonists, and 200 natives.... We + have this year baptized 18 natives and 7 colonists, besides what + have been baptized by Messrs. Murray and Drayton, from whom I have + had no report." + + The missionaries are all, or nearly all, Liberian citizens. + + The Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the United + States has five missionaries at four stations in Liberia. The first + is at Monrovia, under the care of the Rev. Harrison W. Ellis, well + known as "the Learned Black Blacksmith." While a slave in Alabama, + and working at his trade as a blacksmith, he acquired all the + education, in English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Theology, which is + required for ordination as a Presbyterian minister. The + Presbyterians of that region then bought him, and sent him out as a + missionary. His assistant, Mr. B.V.R. James, a colored man, was for + some years a printer in the service of the American Board at their + mission at Cape Palmas and the Gaboon River. He first went to + Liberia as a teacher, supported by a society of ladies in New York. + In the Presbyterian Church under the care of Mr. Ellis are 39 + communicants. During the year, 24 had been added, and 8 had been + dismissed to form a new church in another place. Mr. Ellis also has + charge of the "Alexander High School," which is intended mainly for + teaching the rudiments of a classical education. This institution + has an excellent iron school-house, given by a wealthy citizen of + New York, at the cost of one thousand dollars, and a library and + philosophical apparatus, which cost six hundred dollars, given by a + gentleman in one of the southern States. The library contains a + supply of classical works, probably equal to the wants of the + school for some years. The land needed for the accommodation of the + school was given by the government of Liberia. The number of + scholars appears to be between twenty and thirty, a part of whom + support themselves by their daily labor. The English High School + under the care of Mr. James, had, according to the last Annual + Report, 52 scholars. At a later date, the number in both schools + was 78. Mr. James has also a large Sabbath school; but the number + of pupils is not given. + + The second station is at the new settlement of Kentucky, on the + right or north bank of the St. Paul's, about fifteen miles from + Monrovia, and six miles below Millsburgh. The missionary is a + Liberian, Mr. H.W. Erskine. On a lot of ten acres, given by the + government, buildings on an economical scale have been erected, in + which is a school of twenty scholars. A church was organized in + November, 1849, with eight members from the church in Monrovia. + They have since increased to fourteen. Here, too, is a flourishing + Sabbath school. The citizens, and especially the poor natives in + the neighbourhood, are extremely anxious that a boarding school + should be established. To this the Committee having charge of this + mission objects, as the expense for buildings and for the support + of pupils would be great, and would absorb funds that can be more + profitably expended on day schools. + + The third station is on the Sinou river, 150 miles down the coast + from Monrovia, where, at the mouth of the river, is the town of + Greenville, and a few miles higher up, the newer settlements of + Readville and Rossville. It is under the care of the Rev. James M. + Priest. The number of communicants, at the latest date, was thirty, + and the field of labor was rapidly enlarging by immigration. The + station is new, and it does not appear that any mission school had + yet been organized. + + The fourth station is at Settra Kroo, where there are five or six + miles of coast, to which the native title has not yet been + extinguished. This station has been maintained for some years, at a + lamentable expense of the lives and health of white missionaries. + About 200 boys and a few girls have been taught to read. The + station is now under the care of Mr. Washington McDonogh, formerly + a slave of the late John McDonogh, of Louisiana, so well known for + the immense estate which he has bequeathed to benevolent purposes. + He was well educated, and with more than eighty others, sent out + some years since at his master's expense. He has a school of + fifteen scholars, with the prospect of a large increase. + + The mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church is located in the + Maryland Colony at Cape Palmas. Its last Report specifies seven + schools, and alludes to several others, in actual operation; all + containing from 200 to 300 scholars, of whom about 100 are in one + Sabbath school. Five other schools had been projected, and have + probably gone into operation since that time. The greater part of + the pupils are from native families. The Report states the number + of communicants at sixty-seven, of whom forty are natives. A High + school was opened January 1, 1850. + + The laws of the Republic of Liberia provide for a common school in + every town. It is supposed, however, that where there is a mission + school, accessible to all children of suitable age, no other school + exists; so that, in fact, nearly all the common schools in Liberia + are connected with the different missions, the missionaries have + the superintendence of their studies, and the Missionary Societies + defray a large portion of the expense. Yet it must be remembered + that a large majority of the missionaries are citizens of the + Republic, and some of them native Africans; so that the immediate + control of the schools is not generally in foreign hands. A + portion, also, of the missionary funds, is contributed in Liberia; + and something is paid by parents for the tuition of their children. + Yet the Republic evidently needs an educational system more + independent of missionary aid and control; and for that purpose, + needs a supply of teachers who are not raised up in mission + schools. And we have it in testimony, that the missions themselves + might be more efficient for good, if well supplied with teachers of + higher qualifications. + + Here, then, we have a Republic of some 300,000 inhabitants, of whom + 7,000 or 8,000 may be regarded as civilized, and the remainder as + having a right to expect, and a large part of them actually + expecting and demanding the means of civilization and Christianity. + We have,--supplying as well as we can by estimate, the numbers not + definitely given,--more than 2,000 communicants in Christian + churches, and more than 1,500 children in Sabbath Schools; some 40 + day schools containing, exclusive of the Methodists, who are the + most numerous, and of whose numbers in school we have no report, + about 635 scholars. The whole number in day schools, therefore, is + probably not less than 1,200. We have the Alexander High School at + Monrovia, where instruction is given to some extent in the + classics; the English High School, at the same place, under Mr. + James; the Methodist Manual Labor School and Female Academy at + Millsburg; the Baptist Boarding School at Bexley; and the + Protestant Episcopal High School at Cape Palmas. These institutions + must furnish some students for a higher seminary, such as we + propose to establish; and such a population must need their labors + when educated. + +However foreign to the designs of the writer of ever making that country +or any other out of America, his home; had this been done, and honorably +maintained, the Republic of Liberia would have met with words of +encouragement, not only from himself, an humble individual, but we dare +assert, from the leading spirits among, if not from the whole colored +population of the United States. Because they would have been willing to +overlook the circumstances under which they went there, so that in the +end, they were willing to take their stand as men, and thereby throw off +the degradation of slaves, still under the control of American +slave-holders, and American slave-ships. But in this, we were +disappointed--grievously disappointed, and proceed to show in short, our +objections to Liberia. + +_Its geographical position_, in the first place, is objectionable, +being located in the _sixth degree_ of latitude North of the equator, in +a district signally unhealthy, rendering it objectionable as a place of +destination for the colored people of the United States. We shall say +nothing about other parts of the African coast, and the reasons for its +location where it is: it is enough for us to know the facts as they are, +to justify an unqualified objection to Liberia. + +In the second place, it originated in a deep laid scheme of the +slaveholders of the country, to _exterminate_ the free colored of the +American continent; the origin being sufficient to justify us in +impugning the motives. + +Thirdly and lastly--Liberia is not an Independent Republic: in fact, _it +is not_ an independent nation at all; but a poor _miserable mockery_--a +_burlesque_ on a government--a pitiful dependency on the American +Colonizationists, the Colonization Board at Washington city, in the +District of Columbia, being the Executive and Government, and the +principal man, called President, in Liberia, being the echo--a mere +parrot of Rev. Robert R. Gurley, Elliot Cresson, Esq., Governor Pinney, +and other leaders of the Colonization scheme--to do as they bid, and say +what they tell him. This we see in all of his doings. + +Does he go to France and England, and enter into solemn treaties of an +honorable recognition of the independence of his country; before his own +nation has any knowledge of the result, this man called President, +dispatches an official report to the Colonizationists of the United +States, asking their gracious approval? Does king Grando, or a party of +fishermen besiege a village and murder some of the inhabitants, this +same "President," dispatches an official report to the American +Colonization Board, asking for instructions--who call an Executive +Session of the Board, and immediately decide that war must be waged +against the enemy, placing ten thousand dollars at his disposal--and war +_actually declared in Liberia_, by virtue of the _instructions_ of the +_American Colonization Society_. A mockery of a government--a disgrace +to the office pretended to be held--a parody on the position assumed. +Liberia in Africa, is a mere dependency of Southern slaveholders, and +American Colonizationists, and unworthy of any respectful consideration +from us. + +What would be thought of the people of Hayti, and their heads of +government, if their instructions emanated from the American +Anti-Slavery Society, or the British Foreign Missionary Board? Should +they be respected at all as a nation? Would they be worthy of it? +Certainly not. We do not expect Liberia to be all that Hayti is; but we +ask and expect of her, to have a decent respect for herself--to endeavor +to be freemen instead of voluntary slaves. Liberia is no place for the +colored freemen of the United States; and we dismiss the subject with a +single remark of caution against any advice contained in a pamphlet, +which we have not seen, written by Hon. James G. Birney, in favor of +Liberian emigration. Mr. Birney is like the generality of white +Americans, who suppose that we are too ignorant to understand what we +want; whenever they wish to get rid of us, would drive us any where, so +that we left them. Don't adhere to a word therein contained; we will +think for ourselves. Let Mr. Birney go his way, and we will go ours. +This is one of those confounded gratuities that is forced in our faces +at every turn we make. We dismiss it without further comment--and with +it Colonization _in toto_--and Mr. Birney _de facto_. + +But to return to emigration: Where shall we go? We must not leave this +continent; America is our destination and our home. + +That the continent of America seems to have been designed by Providence +as an asylum for all the various nations of the earth, is very apparent. +From the earliest discovery, various nations sent a representation here, +either as adventurers and speculators, or employed seamen and soldiers, +hired to do the work of their employers. And among the earliest and most +numerous class who found their way to the New World, were those of the +African race. And it is now ascertained to our mind, beyond a +peradventure, that when the continent was discovered, there were found +in Central America, a tribe of the black race, of fine looking people, +having characteristics of color and hair, identifying them originally of +the African race--no doubt being a remnant of the Africans who, with the +Carthaginian expedition, were adventitiously cast upon this continent, +in their memorable excursion to the "Great Island," after sailing many +miles distant to the West of the Pillars of Hercules. + +We are not inclined to be superstitious, but say, that we can see the +"finger of God" in all this; and if the European race may with +propriety, boast and claim, that this continent is better adapted to +their development, than their own father-land; surely, it does not +necessarily detract from our father-land, to claim the superior +advantages to the African race, to be derived from this continent. But +be that as it may, the world belongs to mankind--his common Father +created it for his common good--his temporal destiny is here; and our +present warfare, is not upon European rights, nor for European +countries; but for the common rights of man, based upon the great +principles of common humanity--taking our chance in the world of rights, +and claiming to have originally more right to this continent, than the +European race. And had we no other claims than those set forth in a +former part of this work, they are sufficient to cause every colored +man on the continent, to stand upon the soil unshaken and unmoved. The +aboriginee of the continent, is more closely allied to us by +consanguinity, than to the European--being descended from the Asiatic, +whose alliance in matrimony with the African is very common--therefore, +we have even greater claims to this continent on that account, and +should unite and make common cause in elevation, with our similarly +oppressed brother, the Indian. + +The advantages of this continent are superior, because it presents every +variety of climate, soil, and production of the earth, with every +variety of mineral production, with all kinds of water privileges, arid +ocean coast on all sides, presenting every commercial advantage. Upon +the American continent we are determined to stay, in spite of every odds +against us. What part of the great continent shall our destination +be--shall we emigrate to the North or South? + +FOOTNOTE: + +[4] It may be, that the Medical and Legal Schools, are adjunct +departments of the Scientific College, which would make the number of +Colleges in Egypt but two: as we are certain that the Military is +separate entirely from the Scientific School, and spoken of by travelers +as a splendid College. + + + + +XIX + +THE CANADAS + + +This is one of the most beautiful portions of North America. Canada +East, formerly known as Lower Canada, is not quite so favorable, the +climate being cold and severe in winter, the springs being late, the +summers rather short, and the soil not so productive. But Canada West, +formerly called Upper Canada, is equal to any portion of the Northern +States. The climate being milder than that of the Northern portions of +New York, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, or any of the States +bordering on the lakes, the soil is prolific in productions of every +description. Grains, vegetables, fruits, and cattle, are of the very +best kind; from a short tour by the writer, in that country in the fall, +1851, one year ago, he prefers Canada West to any part of North America, +as a destination for the colored people. But there is a serious +objection to the Canadas--a political objection. The Canadians are +descended from the same common parentage as the Americans on this side +of the Lakes--and there is a manifest tendency on the part of the +Canadians generally, to Americanism. That the Americans are determined +to, and will have the Canadas, to a close observer, there is not a +shadow of doubt; and our brethren should know this in time. This there +would be no fear of, were not the Canadian people in favor of the +project, neither would the Americans attempt an attack upon the +provinces, without the move being favored by the people of those places. + +Every act of the Americans, ostensibly as courtesy and friendship, tend +to that end. This is seen in the policy pursued during the last two or +three years, in the continual invitations, frequently reciprocated, that +pass from the Americans to their "Canadian brethren"--always couched in +affectionate language--to join them in their various celebrations, in +different parts of the States. They have got them as far as Boston, and +we may expect to hear of them going to New York, Philadelphia, +Baltimore--and instead of the merrymaking over the beginning or ending +of internal improvements, we may expect to see them ere long, wending +their way to the seat of the federal government--it may be with William +McKenzie, the memorable _patriot_ and present member of the Colonial +parliament, bearing in his hand the stars and stripes as their +ensign--there to blend their voices in the loud shout of jubilee, in +honor of the "bloodless victory," of Canadian annexation. This we +forewarn the colored people, in time, is the inevitable and not far +distant destiny of the Canadas. And let them come into the American +Republic when they may, the fate of the colored man, however free +before, is doomed, doomed, forever doomed. Disfranchisement, +degradation, and a delivery up to slave catchers and kidnappers, are +their only fate, let Canadian annexation take place when it will. The +odious infamous fugitive slave law, will then be in full force with all +of its terrors; and we have no doubt that fully in anticipation of this +event, was the despicable law created. + +Let not colored people be deceived and gulled by any visionary argument +about original rights, or those of the people remaining the same as they +were previous to secession of the territory. The people can claim no +rights than such as are known to exist previous to their annexation. +This is manifestly the case with a large class of the former +inhabitants of Mexico, who though citizens before, in the full exercise +of their rights as such, so soon as the cession of the territory took +place, lost them entirely, as they could claim only such as were enjoyed +by the people of a similar class, in the country to which they made +their union. The laudatories heaped upon the Americans, within the +hearing of the writer, while traveling the provinces the last fall, by +one of the Canadian officiaries, in comparing their superior +intelligence to what he termed the "stupid aristocracy," then returning +from the Boston celebration, where there was a fair opportunity of +comparing the intellect of their chief magistrate, his excellency, Lord +Elgin, governor-general of the Canadas, and Sir Allen Napier McNab, +knight baronet with that of some of the "plain republicans" who were +present on the occasion, were extravagant. The Canadians generally were +perfectly carried away with delight at their reception. They reminded us +of some of our poor brethren, who had just made their escape from +Southern bondage, and for the first time in their life, had been taken +by the hand by a white man, who acknowledged them as equals. They don't +know when to stop talking about it, they really annoy one with +extravagant praises of them. This was the way with those gentlemen; and +we dare predict, that from what we heard on that occasion, that Mr. +McKenzie nor Big Bill Johnson, hero of the Forty Islands, are no greater +_patriots_ than these Canadian visitors to the Boston husa! We are +satisfied that the Canadas are no place of safety for the colored people +of the United States; otherwise we should have no objection to them. + +But to the fugitive--our enslaved brethren flying from Southern +despotism--we say, until we have a more preferable place--go on to +Canada. Freedom, always; liberty any place and ever--before slavery. +Continue to fly to the Canadas, and swell the number of the twenty-five +thousand already there. Surely the British cannot, they will not look +with indifference upon such a powerful auxiliary as these brave, bold, +daring men--the very flower of the South, who have hazarded every +consequence, many of whom have come from Arkansas and Florida in search +of freedom. Worthy surely to be free, when gained at such a venture. Go +on to the North, till the South is ready to receive you--for surely, he +who can make his way from Arkansas to Canada, can find his way from +Kentucky to Mexico. The moment his foot touches this land South, he is +free. Let the bondman but be assured that he can find the same freedom +South that there is in the North; the same liberty in Mexico, as in +Canada, and he will prefer going South to going North. His risk is no +greater in getting there. Go either way, and he in the majority of +instances must run the gauntlet of the slave states. + + + + +XX + +CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA AND THE WEST INDIES + + +Central and South America, are evidently the ultimate destination and +future home of the colored race on this continent; the advantages of +which in preference to all others, will be apparent when once pointed +out.[5] + +Geographically, from the Northern extremity of Yucatan, down through +Central and South America, to Cape Horn, there is a variation of climate +from the twenty-second degree of North latitude, passing through the +equatorial region; nowhere as warm as it is in the same latitude in +Africa; to the _fifty-fifth degree_ of South latitude, including a +climate as cold as that of the Hudson Bay country in British America, +colder than that of Maine, or any part known to the United States of +North America; so that there is every variety of climate in South, as +well as North America. + +In the productions of grains, fruits, and vegetables, Central and South +America are also prolific; and the best of herds are here raised. +Indeed, the finest Merino sheep, as well as the principal trade in rice, +sugar, cotton, and wheat, which is now preferred in California to any +produced in the United States--the Chilian flour--might be carried on by +the people of this most favored portion of God's legacy to man. The +mineral productions excel all other parts of this continent; the rivers +present the greatest internal advantages, and the commercial prospects, +are without a parallel on the coast of the new world. + +The advantages to the colored people of the United States, to be derived +from emigration to Central, South America, and the West Indies, are +incomparably greater than that of any other parts of the world at +present. + +In the first place, there never have existed in the policy of any of the +nations of Central or South America, an inequality on account of race or +color, and any prohibition of rights, has generally been to the white, +and not to the colored races.[6] To the whites, not because they were +white, not on account of their color, but because of the policy pursued +by them towards the people of other races than themselves. The +population of Central and South America, consist of fifteen millions two +hundred and forty thousand, adding the ten millions of Mexico; +twenty-five millions two hundred and forty thousand, of which vast +population, but _one-seventh_ are whites, or the pure European race. +Allowing a deduction of one-seventh of this population for the European +race that may chance to be in those countries, and we have in South and +Central America alone, the vast colored population of _thirteen millions +one hundred and seventy-seven thousand_; and including Mexico, a +_colored_ population on this glorious continent of _twenty-one millions, +six hundred and forty thousand_. + +This vast number of people, our brethren--because they are precisely the +same people as ourselves and share the same fate with us, as the case of +numbers of them have proven, who have been adventitiously thrown among +us--stand ready and willing to take us by the hand--nay, are anxiously +waiting, and earnestly importuning us to come, that they may make common +cause with us, and we all share the same fate. There is nothing under +heaven in our way--the people stand with open arms ready to receive us. +The climate, soil, and productions--the vast rivers and beautiful +sea-coast--the scenery of the landscape, and beauty of the starry +heavens above--the song of the birds--the voice of the people say +come--and God our Father bids us go.--Will we go? Go we must, and go we +will, as there is no alternative. To remain here in North America, and +be crushed to the earth in vassalage and degradation, we never will. + +Talk not about religious biases--we have but one reply to make. We had +rather be a Heathen _freeman_, than a Christian _slave_. + +There need be no fear of annexation in these countries--the prejudices +of the people are all against it, and with our influences infused among +them, the aversion would be ten-fold greater. Neither need there be any +fears of an attempt on the part of the United States, at a subjugation, +of these countries. Policy is against it, because the United States has +too many colored slaves in their midst, to desire to bring under their +government, twenty-one millions of disfranchised people, whom it would +cost them more to keep under subjection, than ten-fold the worth of the +countries they gained. Besides, let us go to whatever parts of Central +and South America we may, we shall make common cause with the people, +and shall hope, by one judicious and signal effort, to assemble one +day--and a glorious day it will be--in a great representative +convention, and form a glorious union of South American States, +"inseparably connected one and forever." + +This can be done, easily done, if the proper course be pursued, and +necessity will hold them together as it holds together the United States +of North America--self-preservation. As the British nation serves to +keep in check the Americans; so would the United States serve to keep in +Union the South American States. + +We should also enter into solemn treaties with Great Britain, and like +other free and independent nations, take our chance, and risk +consequences. Talk not of consequences; we are now in chains; shall we +shake them off and go to a land of liberty? shall our wives and children +be protected, secure, and affectionately cherished, or shall they be +debased and degraded as our mothers and fathers were? By the light of +heaven, no! By the instincts of nature, no! + +Talk not about consequences. White men seek responsibilities; shall we +shun them? They brave dangers and risk consequences; shall we shrink +from them? What are consequences, compared in the scale of value, with +liberty and freedom; the rights and privileges of our wives and +children? In defence of our liberty--the rights of my wife and children; +had we the power, we would command the vault of a volcano, charged with +the wrath of heaven, and blast out of existence, every thing that dared +obstruct our way. + +The time has now fully arrived, when the colored race is called upon by +all the ties of common humanity, and all the claims of consummate +justice, to go forward and take their position, and do battle in the +struggle now being made for the redemption of the world. Our cause is a +just one; the greatest at present that elicits the attention of the +world. For it there is a remedy; that remedy is now at hand. God himself +as assuredly as he rules the destinies of nations, and entereth measures +into the "hearts of men," has presented these measures to us. Our race +is to be redeemed; it is a great and glorious work, and we are the +instrumentalities by which it is to be done. But we must go from among +our oppressors; it never can be done by staying among them. God has, as +certain as he has ever designed any thing, has designed this great +portion of the New World, for us, the colored races; and as certain as +we stubborn our hearts, and stiffen our necks against it, his protecting +arm and fostering care will be withdrawn from us. + +Shall we be told that we can live nowhere, but under the will of our +North American oppressors; that this (the United States,) is the country +most favorable to our improvement and progress? Are we incapable of +self-government, and making such improvements for ourselves as we +delight to enjoy after American white men have made them for themselves? +No, it is not true. Neither is it true that the United States is the +best country for our improvement. That country is the best, in which our +manhood can be best developed; and that is Central and South America, +and the West Indies--all belonging to this glorious Continent. + +Whatever may be our pretended objections to any place, whenever and +wherever our oppressors go, there will our people be found in +proportionate numbers. Even now could they get possession of the +equatorial region of South America, there would colored men be found +living on their boats and in their houses to do their menial services; +but talk to them about going there and becoming men, and a thousand +excuses and objections are at once raised against the climate or +whatever else. + +The writer, within the past few years, and as early as seventeen years +ago, then being quite young, and flushed with geographical and +historical speculations, introduced in a Literary Institution of Young +Men, the subject of Mexican, Californian, and South American Emigration. +He was always hooted at, and various objections raised: one on account +of distance, and another that of climate. + +He has since seen some of the same persons engage themselves to their +white American oppressors--officers in the war against Mexico, exposing +themselves to the chances of the heat of day and the damp of +night--risking the dangers of the battle-field, in the capacity of +servants. And had the Americans taken Mexico, no people would have +flocked there faster than the colored people from the United States. The +same is observed of California. + +In conversation, in the city of New York, a few weeks ago, with a +colored lady of intelligence, one of the "first families," the +conversation being the elevation of the colored people, we introduced +emigration as a remedy, and Central America as the place. We were +somewhat surprised, and certainly unprepared to receive the rebuking +reply--"Do you suppose that I would go in the woods to live for the sake +of freedom? no, indeed! if you wish to do so, go and do it. I am free +enough here!" Remarking at the same time, that her husband was in San +Francisco, and she was going to him, as she learned that that city was +quite a large and handsome place. + +We reminded her, that the industry of white men and women, in four +years' time, had made San Francisco what it is. That in 1846, before the +American emigration, the city contained about seven hundred people, +surrounded by a dense wilderness; and that we regretted to contrast her +conduct or disposition with that of the lady of Col. Fremont, a daughter +of Senator Benton, who tenderly and indulgently raised, in the spring +after his arduous adventure across the mountains, and almost miraculous +escape, while the country was yet a wilderness, left her comfortable +home in Missouri, and braved the dangers of the ocean, to join her +husband and settle in the wilderness. That she was going now to San +Francisco, because it was a populous and "fine city"--that Mrs. Fremont +went, when it was a wilderness, to help to _make_ a populous and fine +city. + +About two hours previous to the writing of the following fact, two +respectable colored ladies in conversation, pleasantly disputing about +the superiority of the two places, Philadelphia and New York, when one +spoke of the uniform cleanliness of the streets of Philadelphia, and the +dirtiness of those of New York; when the other triumphantly +replied,--"The reason that our streets are so dirty is, that we do more +business in one day, than you do in a month." The other acknowledged the +fact with some degree of reluctance, and explained, with many "buts" as +an excuse in extenuation. Here was a seeming appreciation of business +and enterprise; but the query flashed through our mind in an instant, as +to whether they thought for a moment, of the fact, that _they_ had no +interest in either city, nor its _business_. It brought forcibly to our +mind, the scene of two of our oppressed brethren South, fighting each +other, to prove his _master_ the greatest gentleman of the two. + +Let no objections be made to emigration on the ground of the difficulty +of the fugitive slave, in reaching us; it is only necessary for him to +know, that he has safety South, and he will find means of reaching the +South, as easily as he now does the North. Have no fears about that--his +redemption draws nigh, the nearer we draw to him. Central and South +America, _must be our future homes_. Our oppressors will not want us to +go there. They will move heaven and earth to prevent us--they will talk +about us getting our rights, and offer us a territory here, and all +that. It is of no use. They have pressed us to the last retreat--the die +is cast--the Rubicon must be crossed--go we will, in defiance of all the +slave-power in the Union. And we shall not go there, to be idle--passive +spectators to an invasion of South American rights. No--go when we will, +and where we may, we shall hold ourselves amenable to defend and protect +the country that embraces us. We are fully able to defend ourselves, +once concentrated, against any odds--and by the help of God, we will do +it. We do not go, without counting the cost, cost what it may; all that +it may cost, it is worth to be free. + +In going, let us have but one object--to become elevated men and women, +worthy of freedom--the worthy citizens of an adopted country. What to us +will be adopted--to our children will be legitimate. Go not with an +anxiety of political aspirations; but go with the fixed intention--as +Europeans come to the United States--of cultivating the soil, entering +into the mechanical operations, keeping of shops, carrying on +merchandise, trading on land and water, improving property--in a word, +to become the producers of the country, instead of the consumers. + +Let young men who go, have a high object in view; and not go with a +view of becoming servants to wealthy gentlemen there; for be assured, +that they place themselves beneath all respectful consideration. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[5] The native language of these countries, as well as the greater part +of South America, is _Spanish_, which is the easiest of all foreign +languages to learn. It is very remarkable and worthy of note, that with +a view of going to Mexico or South America, the writer several years ago +paid some attention to the Spanish language; and now, a most singular +coincidence, without preunderstanding, in almost every town, where there +is any intelligence among them, there are some _colored persons_ of both +sexes, who are studying the Spanish language. Even the Methodist and +other clergymen, among them. And we earnestly entreat all colored +persons who can, to study, and have their children taught Spanish. No +foreign language will be of such _import_ to colored people, in a very +short time, as the Spanish. Mexico, Central and South America, importune +us to speak their language; and if nothing else, the silent indications +of Cuba, urge us to learn the Spanish tongue. + +[6] The Brazilians have formed a Colonization Society, for the purpose +of colonizing free blacks to Africa. The Brazilians are Portuguese, the +only nation that can be termed white, and the only one that is a real +slave holding nation in South America. Even the black and colored men +have equal privileges with whites; and the action of this society will +probably extend only to the sending back of such captives as may be +taken from piratical slavers. Colonization in Brazil, has doubtless been +got up under the influence of United States slave holders and their +abettors, such as the consuls and envoys, who are sent out to South +America, by the government. Chevalier Niteroi, _charge de affaires_ from +Brazil near the government of Liberia, received by the President on the +28th of last January, is also charged with the mission of establishing a +colony of free blacks in Liberia. The Chevalier was once a Captain in +the Brazilian navy on the coast of Africa; and no doubt is conversant +with the sentiments of Roberts, who was charged with the slave trade at +one time. The scheme of United States slaveholders and President J.J. +Roberts, their agent of Liberia, will not succeed, in establishing +prejudice against the _black_ race; not even in slaveholding Brazil. + +We have no confidence in President Roberts of Liberia, believing him to +be wholly without principle--seeking only self-aggrandizement; even +should it be done, over the ruined prospects of his staggering infant +country. The people of Liberia, should beware of this man. His _privy +councillors_ are to be found among _slaveholders_ in the United States. + + + + +XXI + +NICARAGUA AND NEW GRENADA + + +As it is not reasonable to suppose, that all who read this +volume--especially those whom it is intended most to benefit--understand +geography; it is deemed advisable, to name some particular places, as +locality of destination. + +We consequently, to begin with, select NICARAGUA, in Central America, +North, and NEW GRENADA, the Northern part of South America, South of +Nicaragua, as the most favorable points at present, in every particular, +for us to emigrate to. + +In the first place, they are the nearest points to be reached, and +countries at which the California adventurers are now touching, on their +route to that distant land, and not half the distance of California. + +In the second place, the advantages for all kinds of enterprise, are +equal if not superior, to almost any other points--the climate being +healthy and highly favorable. + +In the third place, and by no means the least point of importance, the +British nation is bound by solemn treaty, to protect both of those +nations from foreign imposition, until they are able to stand alone. + +Then there is nothing in the way, but every thing in favor, and +opportunities for us to rise to the full stature of manhood. Remember +this fact, that in these countries, colored men now fill the highest +places in the country: and colored people have the same chances there, +that white people have in the United States. All that is necessary to +do, is to go, and the moment your foot touches the soil, you have all +the opportunities for elevating yourselves as the highest, according to +your industry and merits. + +Nicaragua and New Grenada, are both Republics, having a President, +Senate, and Representatives of the people. The municipal affairs are +well conducted; and remember, however much the customs of the country +may differ, and appear strange to those you have left behind--remember +that you are free; and that many who, at first sight, might think that +they could not become reconciled to the new order of things, should +recollect, that they were once in a situation in the United States, (in +_slavery_,) where they were compelled to be content with customs +infinitely more averse to their feelings and desires. And that customs +become modified, just in proportion as people of different customs from +different parts, settle in the same communities together. All we ask is +Liberty--the rest follows as a matter of course. + + + + +XXII + +THINGS AS THEY ARE + + "And if thou boast TRUTH to utter, + SPEAK, and leave the rest to God." + + +In presenting this work, we have but a single object in view, and that +is, to inform the minds of the colored people at large, upon many things +pertaining to their elevation, that but few among us are acquainted +with. Unfortunately for us, as a body, we have been taught to believe, +that we must have some person to think for us, instead of thinking for +ourselves. So accustomed are we to submission and this kind of training, +that it is with difficulty, even among the most intelligent of the +colored people, an audience may be elicited for any purpose whatever, if +the expounder is to be a colored person; and the introduction of any +subject is treated with indifference, if not contempt, when the +originator is a colored person. Indeed, the most ordinary white person, +is almost revered, while the most qualified colored person is totally +neglected. Nothing from them is appreciated. + +We have been standing comparatively still for years, following in the +footsteps of our friends, believing that what they promise us can be +accomplished, just because they say so, although our own knowledge +should long since, have satisfied us to the contrary. Because even were +it possible, with the present hate and jealousy that the whites have +towards us in this country, for us to gain equality of rights with them; +we never could have an equality of the exercise and enjoyment of those +rights--because, the great odds of numbers are against us. We might +indeed, as some at present, have the right of the elective +franchise--nay, it is not the elective franchise, because the _elective +franchise_ makes the enfranchised, _eligible_ to any position +attainable; but we may exercise the right of _voting_ only, which to us, +is but poor satisfaction; and we by no means care to cherish the +privilege of voting somebody into office, to help to make laws to +degrade us. + +In religion--because they are both _translators_ and _commentators_, we +must believe nothing, however absurd, but what our oppressors tell us. +In Politics, nothing but such as they promulge; in Anti-Slavery, nothing +but what our white brethren and friends say we must; in the mode and +manner of our elevation, we must do nothing, but that which may be laid +down to be done by our white brethren from some quarter or other; and +now, even on the subject of emigration, there are some colored people to +be found, so lost to their own interest and self-respect, as to be +gulled by slave owners and colonizationists, who are led to believe +there is no other place in which they can become elevated, but Liberia, +a government of American slave-holders, as we have shown--simply, +because white men have told them so. + +Upon the possibility, means, mode and manner, of our Elevation in the +United States--Our Original Rights and Claims as Citizens--Our +Determination not to be Driven from our Native Country--the Difficulties +in the Way of our Elevation--Our Position in Relation to our +Anti-Slavery Brethren--the Wicked Design and Injurious Tendency of the +American Colonization Society--Objections to Liberia--Objections to +Canada--Preferences to South America, &c., &c., all of which we have +treated without reserve; expressing our mind freely, and with candor, as +we are determined that as far as we can at present do so, the minds of +our readers shall be enlightened. The custom of concealing information +upon vital and important subjects, in which the interest of the people +is involved, we do not agree with, nor favor in the least; we have +therefore, laid this cursory treatise before our readers, with the hope +that it may prove instrumental in directing the attention of our people +in the right way, that leads to their Elevation. Go or stay--of course +each is free to do as he pleases--one thing is certain; our Elevation is +the work of our own hands. And Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, +and South America, all present now, opportunities for the individual +enterprise of our young men, who prefer to remain in the United States, +in preference to going where they can enjoy real freedom, and equality +of rights. Freedom of Religion, as well as of politics, being tolerated +in all of these places. + +Let our young men and women, prepare themselves for usefulness and +business; that the men may enter into merchandise, trading, and other +things of importance; the young women may become teachers of various +kinds, and otherwise fill places of usefulness. Parents must turn their +attention more to the education of their children. We mean, to educate +them for useful practical business purposes. Educate them for the Store +and the Counting House--to do every-day practical business. Consult the +children's propensities, and direct their education according to their +inclinations. It may be, that there is too great a desire on the part of +parents, to give their children a professional education, before the +body of the people, are ready for it. A people must be a business +people, and have more to depend upon than mere help in people's houses +and Hotels, before they are either able to support, or capable of +properly appreciating the services of professional men among them. This +has been one of our great mistakes--we have gone in advance of +ourselves. We have commenced at the superstructure of the building, +instead of the foundation--at the top instead of the bottom. We should +first be mechanics and common tradesmen, and professions as a matter of +course would grow out of the wealth made thereby. Young men and women, +must now prepare for usefulness--the day of our Elevation is at +hand--all the world now gazes at us--and Central and South America, and +the West Indies, bid us come and be men and women, protected, secure, +beloved and Free. + +The branches of Education most desirable for the preparation of youth, +for practical useful every-day life, are Arithmetic and good Penmanship, +in order to be Accountants; and a good rudimental knowledge of +Geography--which has ever been neglected, and under estimated--and of +Political Economy; which without the knowledge of the first, no people +can ever become adventurous--nor of the second, never will be an +enterprising people. Geography, teaches a knowledge of the world, and +Political Economy, a knowledge of the wealth of nations; or how to make +money. These are not abstruse sciences, or learning not easily acquired +or understood; but simply, common School Primer learning, that every +body may get. And, although it is the very key to prosperity and success +in common life, but few know any thing about it. Unfortunately for our +people, so soon as their children learn to read a Chapter in the New +Testament, and scribble a miserable hand, they are pronounced to have +"Learning enough"; and taken away from School, no use to themselves, nor +community. This is apparent in our Public Meetings, and Official Church +Meetings; of the great number of men present, there are but few capable +of filling a Secretaryship. Some of the large cities may be an exception +to this. Of the multitudes of Merchants, and Businessmen throughout this +country, Europe, and the world, few are qualified, beyond the branches +here laid down by us as necessary for business. What did John Jacob +Astor, Stephen Girard, or do the millionaires and the greater part of +the merchant princes, and mariners, know about Latin and Greek, and the +Classics? Precious few of them know any thing. In proof of this, in +1841, during the Administration of President Tyler, when the mutiny was +detected on board of the American Man of War Brig Somers, the names of +the Mutineers, were recorded by young S---- a Midshipman in Greek. +Captain Alexander Slidell McKenzie, Commanding, was unable to read them; +and in his despatches to the Government, in justification of his policy +in executing the criminals, said that he "discovered some curious +characters which he was unable to read," &c.; showing thereby, that that +high functionary, did not understand even the Greek Alphabet, which was +only necessary, to have been able to read proper names written in Greek. + +What we most need then, is a good business practical Education; because, +the Classical and Professional education of so many of our young men, +before their parents are able to support them, and community ready to +patronize them, only serves to lull their energy, and cripple the +otherwise, praiseworthy efforts they would make in life. A Classical +education, is only suited to the wealthy, or those who have a prospect +of gaining a livelihood by it. The writer does not wish to be +understood, as underrating a Classical and Professional education; this +is not his intention; he fully appreciates them, having had some such +advantages himself; but he desires to give a proper guide, and put a +check to the extravagant idea that is fast obtaining, among our people +especially, that a Classical, or as it is termed, a "finished +education," is necessary to prepare one for usefulness in life. Let us +have an education, that shall practically develope our thinking +faculties and manhood; and then, and not until then, shall we be able to +vie with our oppressors, go where we may. We as heretofore, have been on +the extreme; either no qualification at all, or a Collegiate education. +We jumped too far; taking a leap from the deepest abyss to the highest +summit; rising from the ridiculous to the sublime; without medium or +intermission. + +Let our young women have an education; let their minds be well informed; +well stored with useful information and practical proficiency, rather +than the light superficial acquirements, popularly and fashionably +called accomplishments. We desire accomplishments, but they must be +_useful_. + +Our females must be qualified, because they are to be the mothers of our +children. As mothers are the first nurses and instructors of children; +from them children consequently, get their first impressions, which +being always the most lasting, should be the most correct. Raise the +mothers above the level of degradation, and the offspring is elevated +with them. In a word, instead of our young men, transcribing in their +blank books, recipes for _Cooking_; we desire to see them making the +transfer of _Invoices of Merchandise_. Come to our aid then; the +_morning_ of our _Redemption_ from degradation, adorns the horizon. + +In our selection of individuals, it will be observed, that we have +confined ourself entirely to those who occupy or have occupied positions +among the whites, consequently having a more general bearing as useful +contributors to society at large. While we do not pretend to give all +such worthy cases, we gave such as we possessed information of, and +desire it to be understood, that a large number of our most intelligent +and worthy men and women, have not been named, because from their more +private position in community, it was foreign to the object and design +of this work. If we have said aught to offend, "take the will for the +deed," and be assured, that it was given with the purest of motives, and +best intention, from a true hearted man and brother; deeply lamenting +the sad fate of his race in this country, and sincerely desiring the +elevation of man, and submitted to the serious consideration of all, who +favor the promotion of the cause of God and humanity. + + + + +XXIII + +A GLANCE AT OURSELVES--CONCLUSION + + With broken hopes--sad devastation; + A race _resigned_ to DEGRADATION! + + +We have said much to our young men and women, about their vocation and +calling; we have dwelt much upon the menial position of our people in +this country. Upon this point we cannot say too much, because there is a +seeming satisfaction and seeking after such positions manifested on +their part, unknown to any other people. There appears to be, a want of +a sense of propriety or _self-respect_, altogether inexplicable; because +young men and women among us, many of whom have good trades and homes, +adequate to their support, voluntarily leave them, and seek positions, +such as servants, waiting maids, coachmen, nurses, cooks in gentlemens' +kitchen, or such like occupations, when they can gain a livelihood at +something more respectable, or elevating in character. And the worse +part of the whole matter is, that they have become so accustomed to it, +it has become so "fashionable," that it seems to have become second +nature, and they really become offended, when it is spoken against. + +Among the German, Irish, and other European peasantry who come to this +country, it matters not what they were employed at before and after they +come; just so soon as they can better their condition by keeping shops, +cultivating the soil, the young men and women going to night-schools, +qualifying themselves for usefulness, and learning trades--they do so. +Their first and last care, object and aim is, to better their condition +by raising themselves above the condition that necessity places them in. +We do not say too much, when we say, as an evidence of the deep +degradation of our race, in the United States, that there are those +among us, the wives and daughters, some of the _first ladies_, (and who +dare say they are not the "first," because they belong to the "first +class" and associate where any body among us can?) whose husbands are +industrious, able and willing to support them, who voluntarily leave +home, and become chamber-maids, and stewardesses, upon vessels and +steamboats, in all probability, to enable them to obtain some more fine +or costly article of dress or furniture. + +We have nothing to say against those whom _necessity_ compels to do +these things, those who can do no better; we have only to do with those +who can, and will not, or do not do better. The whites are always in the +advance, and we either standing still or retrograding; as that which +does not go forward, must either stand in one place or go back. The +father in all probability is a farmer, mechanic, or man of some +independent business; and the wife, sons and daughters, are +chamber-maids, on vessels, nurses and waiting-maids, or coachmen and +cooks in families. This is retrogradation. The wife, sons, and daughters +should be elevated above this condition as a necessary consequence. + +If we did not love our race superior to others, we would not concern +ourself about their degradation; for the greatest desire of our heart +is, to see them stand on a level with the most elevated of mankind. No +people are ever elevated above the condition of their _females_; hence, +the condition of the _mother_ determines the condition of the child. To +know the position of a people, it is only necessary to know the +_condition_ of their _females_; and despite themselves, they cannot rise +above their level. Then what is our condition? Our _best ladies_ being +washerwomen, chambermaids, children's traveling nurses, and common house +servants, and menials, we are all a degraded, miserable people, inferior +to any other people as a whole, on the face of the globe. + +These great truths, however unpleasant, must be brought before the minds +of our people in its true and proper light, as we have been too delicate +about them, and too long concealed them for fear of giving offence. It +would have been infinitely better for our race, if these facts had been +presented before us half a century ago--we would have been now +proportionably benefitted by it. + +As an evidence of the degradation to which we have been reduced, we dare +premise, that this chapter will give offence to many, very many, and +why? Because they may say, "He dared to say that the occupation of a +_servant_ is a degradation." It is not necessarily degrading; it would +not be, to one or a few people of a kind; but a _whole race of servants_ +are a degradation to that people. + +Efforts made by men of qualifications for the toiling and degraded +millions among the whites, neither gives offence to that class, nor is +it taken unkindly by them; but received with manifestations of +gratitude; to know that they are thought to be, equally worthy of, and +entitled to stand on a level with the elevated classes; and they have +only got to be informed of the way to raise themselves, to make the +effort and do so as far as they can. But how different with us. Speak of +our position in society, and it at once gives insult. Though we are +servants; among ourselves we claim to be _ladies_ and _gentlemen_, equal +in standing, and as the popular expression goes, "Just as good as any +body"--and so believing, we make no efforts to raise above the common +level of menials; because the _best_ being in that capacity, all are +content with the position. We cannot at the same time, be domestic and +lady; servant and gentleman. We must be the one or the other. Sad, sad +indeed, is the thought, that hangs drooping in our mind, when +contemplating the picture drawn before us. Young men and women, "we +write these things unto you, because ye are strong," because the writer, +a few years ago, gave unpardonable offence to many of the young people +of Philadelphia and other places, because he dared tell them, that he +thought too much of them, to be content with seeing them the servants of +other people. Surely, she that could be the mistress, would not be the +maid; neither would he that could be the master, be content with being +the servant; then why be offended, when we point out to you, the way +that leads from the menial to the mistress or the master. All this we +seem to reject with fixed determination, repelling with anger, every +effort on the part of our intelligent men and women to elevate us, with +true Israelitish degradation, in reply to any suggestion or proposition +that may be offered, "Who made thee a ruler and judge?" + +The writer is no "Public Man," in the sense in which this is understood +among our people, but simply an humble individual, endeavoring to seek a +livelihood by a profession obtained entirely by his own efforts, without +relatives and friends able to assist him; except such friends as he +gained by the merit of his course and conduct, which he here gratefully +acknowledges; and whatever he has accomplished, other young men may, by +making corresponding efforts, also accomplish. + +We have advised an emigration to Central and South America, and even to +Mexico and the West Indies, to those who prefer either of the last named +places, all of which are free countries, Brazil being the only real +slave-holding State in South America--there being nominal slavery in +Dutch Guiana, Peru, Buenos Ayres, Paraguay, and Uraguay, in all of which +places colored people have equality in social, civil, political, and +religious privileges; Brazil making it punishable with death to import +slaves into the empire. + +Our oppressors, when urging us to go to Africa, tell us that we are +better adapted to the climate than they--that the physical condition of +the constitution of colored people better endures the heat of warm +climates than that of the whites; this we are willing to _admit_, +without argument, without adducing the physiological reason why, that +colored people can and do stand warm climates better than whites; and +find an answer fully to the point in the fact, that they also stand _all +other_ climates, cold, temperate, and modified, that white people can +stand; therefore, according to our oppressors' own showing, we are a +_superior race_, being endowed with properties fitting us for _all +parts_ of the earth, while they are only adapted to _certain_ parts. Of +course, this proves our right and duty to live wherever we may _choose_; +while the white race may only live where they _can_. We are content with +the fact, and have ever claimed it. Upon this rock, they and we shall +ever agree. + +Of the West India Islands, Santa Cruz, belonging to Denmark; Porto Rico, +and Cuba with its little adjuncts, belonging to Spain, are the only +slaveholding Islands among them--three-fifths of the whole population of +Cuba being colored people, who cannot and will not much longer endure +the burden and the yoke. They only want intelligent leaders of their own +color, when they are ready at any moment to charge to the conflict--to +liberty or death. The remembrance of the noble mulatto, PLACIDO, the +gentleman, scholar, poet, and intended Chief Engineer of the Army of +Liberty and Freedom in Cuba; and the equally noble black, CHARLES BLAIR, +who was to have been Commander-in-Chief, who were shamefully put to +death in 1844, by that living monster, Captain General O'Donnell, is +still fresh and indelible to the mind of every bondman of Cuba. + +In our own country, the United States, there are _three million five +hundred thousand slaves_; and we, the nominally free colored people, are +_six hundred thousand_ in number; estimating one-sixth to be men, we +have _one hundred thousand_ able bodied freemen, which will make a +powerful auxiliary in any country to which we may become adopted--an +ally not to be despised by any power on earth. We love our country, +dearly love her, but she don't love us--she despises us, and bids us +begone, driving us from her embraces; but we shall not go where she +desires us; but when we do go, whatever love we have for her, we shall +love the country none the less that receives us as her adopted children. + +For the want of business habits and training, our energies have become +paralyzed; our young men never think of business, any more than if they +were so many bondmen, without the right to pursue any calling they may +think most advisable. With our people in this country, dress and good +appearances have been made the only test of gentleman and ladyship, and +that vocation which offers the best opportunity to dress and appear +well, has generally been preferred, however menial and degrading, by our +young people, without even, in the majority of cases, an effort to do +better; indeed, in many instances, refusing situations equally +lucrative, and superior in position; but which would not allow as much +display of dress and personal appearance. This, if we ever expect to +rise, must be discarded from among us, and a high and respectable +position assumed. + +One of our great temporal curses is our consummate poverty. We are the +poorest people, as a class, in the world of civilized mankind--abjectly, +miserably poor, no one scarcely being able to assist the other. To this, +of course, there are noble exceptions; but that which is common to, and +the very process by which white men exist, and succeed in life, is +unknown to colored men in general. In any and every considerable +community may be found, some one of our white fellow-citizens, who is +worth more than all the colored people in that community put together. +We consequently have little or no efficiency. We must have means to be +practically efficient in all the undertakings of life; and to obtain +them, it is necessary that we should be engaged in lucrative pursuits, +trades, and general business transactions. In order to be thus engaged, +it is necessary that we should occupy positions that afford the +facilities for such pursuits. To compete now with the mighty odds of +wealth, social and religious preferences, and political influences of +this country, at this advanced stage of its national existence, we never +may expect. A new country, and new beginning, is the only true, +rational, politic remedy for our disadvantageous position; and that +country we have already pointed out, with triple golden advantages, all +things considered, to that of any country to which it has been the +province of man to embark. + +Every other than we, have at various periods of necessity, been a +migratory people; and all when oppressed, shown a greater abhorrence of +oppression, if not a greater love of liberty, than we. We cling to our +oppressors, as the objects of our love. It is true that our enslaved +brethren are here, and we have been led to believe that it is necessary +for us to remain, on that account. Is it true, that all should remain in +degradation, because a part are degraded? We believe no such thing. We +believe it to be the duty of the Free, to elevate themselves in the most +speedy and effective manner possible; as the redemption of the bondman +depends entirely upon the elevation of the freeman; therefore, to +elevate the free colored people of America, anywhere upon this +continent; forebodes the speedy redemption of the slaves. We shall hope +to hear no more of so fallacious a doctrine--the necessity of the free +remaining in degradation, for the sake of the oppressed. Let us apply, +first, the lever to ourselves; and the force that elevates us to the +position of manhood's considerations and honors, will cleft the manacle +of every slave in the land. + +When such great worth and talents--for want of a better sphere--of men +like Rev. Jonathan Robinson, Robert Douglass, Frederick A. Hinton, and a +hundred others that might be named, were permitted to expire in a +barber-shop; and such living men as may be found in Boston, New York, +Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond, Washington City, Charleston, (S.C.) +New Orleans, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, Pittsburg, Buffalo, +Rochester, Albany, Utica, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukie, Chicago, +Columbus, Zanesville, Wheeling, and a hundred other places, confining +themselves to Barber-shops and waiter-ships in Hotels; certainly the +necessity of such a course as we have pointed out, must be cordially +acknowledged; appreciated by every brother and sister of oppression; and +not rejected as heretofore, as though they preferred inferiority to +equality. These minds must become "unfettered," and have "space to +rise." This cannot be in their present positions. A continuance in any +position, becomes what is termed "Second Nature"; it begets an +_adaptation_, and _reconciliation_ of _mind_ to such condition. It +changes the whole physiological condition of the system, and adapts man +and woman to a higher or lower sphere in the pursuits of life. The +offsprings of slaves and peasantry, have the general characteristics of +their parents; and nothing but a different course of training and +education, will change the character. + +The slave may become a lover of his master, and learn to forgive him for +continual deeds of maltreatment and abuse; just as the Spaniel would +couch and fondle at the feet that kick him; because he has been taught +to reverence them, and consequently, becomes adapted in body and mind to +his condition. Even the shrubbery-loving Canary, and lofty-soaring +Eagle, may be tamed to the cage, and learn to love it from habit of +confinement. It has been so with us in our position among our +oppressors; we have been so prone to such positions; that we have +learned to love them. When reflecting upon this all important, and to +us, all absorbing subject; we feel in the agony and anxiety of the +moment, as though we could cry out in the language of a Prophet of old: +"Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I +might weep day and night for the" degradation "of my people! Oh that I +had in the wilderness a lodging place of way-faring men; that I might +leave my people, and go from them!" + +The Irishman and German in the United States, are very different persons +to what they were when in Ireland and Germany, the countries of their +nativity. There their spirits were depressed and downcast; but the +instant they set their foot upon unrestricted soil; free to act and +untrammeled to move; their physical condition undergoes a change, which +in time becomes physiological, which is transmitted to the offspring, +who when born under such circumstances, is a decidedly different being +to what it would have been, had it been born under different +circumstances. + +A child born under oppression, has all the elements of servility in its +constitution; who when born under favorable circumstances, has to the +contrary, all the elements of freedom and independence of feeling. Our +children then, may not be expected, to maintain that position and manly +bearing; born under the unfavorable circumstances with which we are +surrounded in this country; that we so much desire. To use the language +of the talented Mr. Whipper, "they cannot be raised in this country, +without being stoop shouldered." Heaven's pathway stands unobstructed, +which will lead us into a Paradise of bliss. Let us go on and possess +the land, and the God of Israel will be our God. + +The lessons of every school book, the pages of every history, and +columns of every newspaper, are so replete with stimuli to nerve us on +to manly aspirations, that those of our young people, who will now +refuse to enter upon this great theatre of Polynesian adventure, and +take their position on the stage of Central and South America, where a +brilliant engagement, of certain and most triumphant success, in the +drama of human equality awaits them; then, with the blood of _slaves_, +write upon the lintel of every door in sterling Capitals, to be gazed +and hissed at by every passer by-- + + Doomed by the Creator + To servility and degradation; + The SERVANT of the _white man_, + And despised of every nation! + + + + +APPENDIX + +A PROJECT FOR AN EXPEDITION OF ADVENTURE, TO THE EASTERN COAST OF AFRICA + + +Every people should be the originators of their own designs, the +projector of their own schemes, and creators of the events that lead to +their destiny--the consummation of their desires. + +Situated as we are, in the United States, many, and almost +insurmountable obstacles present themselves. We are four-and-a-half +millions in numbers, free and bond; six hundred thousand free, and +three-and-a-half millions bond. + +We have native hearts and virtues, just as other nations; which in their +pristine purity are noble, potent, and worthy of example. We are a +nation within a nation;--as the Poles in Russia, the Hungarians in +Austria, the Welsh, Irish, and Scotch in the British dominions. + +But we have been, by our oppressors, despoiled of our purity, and +corrupted in our native characteristics, so that we have inherited their +vices, and but few of their virtues, leaving us in character, really a +_broken people_. + +Being distinguished by complexion, we are still singled out--although +having merged in the habits and customs of our oppressors--as a distinct +nation of people; as the Poles, Hungarians, Irish, and others, who still +retain their native peculiarities, of language, habits, and various +other traits. The claims of no people, according to established policy +and usage, are respected by any nation, until they are presented in a +national capacity. + +To accomplish so great and desirable an end, there should be held, a +great representative gathering of the colored people of the United +States; not what is termed a National Convention, represented en masse, +such as have been, for the last few years, held at various times and +places; but a true representation of the intelligence and wisdom of the +colored freemen; because it will be futile and an utter failure, to +attempt such a project without the highest grade of intelligence. + +No great project was ever devised without the consultation of the most +mature intelligence, and discreet discernment and precaution. + +To effect this, and prevent intrusion and improper representation, there +should be a CONFIDENTIAL COUNCIL held; and circulars issued, only to +such persons as shall be _known_ to the projectors to be equal to the +desired object. + +The authority from whence the call should originate, to be in this +wise:--The originator of the scheme, to impart the contemplated +Confidential Council, to a limited number of known, worthy gentlemen, +who agreeing with the project, endorse at once the scheme, when becoming +joint proprietors in interest, issue a _Confidential Circular_, leaving +blanks for _date_, _time_, and _place_ of _holding_ the Council; sending +them to trusty, worthy, and suitable colored freemen, in all parts of +the United States, and the Canadas, inviting them to attend; who when +met in Council, have the right to project any scheme they may think +proper for the general good of the whole people--provided, that the +project is laid before them after its maturity. + +By this Council to be appointed, a Board of Commissioners, to consist of +three, five, or such reasonable number as may be decided upon, one of +whom shall be chosen as Principal or Conductor of the Board, whose duty +and business shall be, to go on an expedition to the EASTERN COAST of +AFRICA, to make researches for a suitable location on that section of +the coast, for the settlement of colored adventurers from the United +States, and elsewhere. Their mission should be to all such places as +might meet the approbation of the people; as South America, Mexico, the +West Indies, &c. + +The Commissioners all to be men of decided qualifications; to embody +among them, the qualifications of physician, botanist, chemist, +geologist, geographer, and surveyor,--having a sufficient knowledge of +these sciences, for practical purposes. + +Their business shall be, to make a topographical, geographical, +geological, and botanical examination, into such part or parts as they +may select, with all other useful information that may be obtained; to +be recorded in a journal kept for that purpose. + +The Council shall appoint a permanent Board of Directors, to manage and +supervise the doings of the Commissioners, and to whom they shall be +amenable for their doings, who shall hold their office until successors +shall be appointed. + +A National Confidential Council, to be held once in three years; and +sooner, if necessity or emergency should demand it; the Board of +Directors giving at least three months' notice, by circulars and +newspapers. And should they fail to perform their duty, twenty-five of +the representatives from any six States, of the former Council, may +issue a call, authentically bearing their names, as sufficient authority +for such a call. But when the Council is held for the reception of the +report of the Commissioners, a general mass convention should then take +place, by popular representation. + + +MANNER OF RAISING FUNDS. + +The National Council shall appoint one or two Special Commissioners, to +England and France, to solicit, in the name of the Representatives of a +Broken Nation, of four-and-a-half millions, the necessary outfit and +support, for any period not exceeding three years, of such an +expedition. Certainly, what England and France would do, for a little +nation--mere nominal nation, of five thousand civilized Liberians, they +would be willing and ready to do, for five millions; if they be but +authentically represented, in a national capacity. What was due to +Greece, enveloped by Turkey, should be due to US, enveloped by the +United States; and we believe would be respected, if properly presented. +To England and France, we should look for sustenance, and the people of +those two nations--as they would have every thing to gain from such an +adventure and eventual settlement on the EASTERN COAST OF AFRICA--the +opening of an immense trade being the consequence. The whole Continent +is rich in minerals, and the most precious metals, as but a superficial +notice of the topographical and geological reports from that country, +plainly show to any mind versed in the least, in the science of the +earth. + +The Eastern Coast of Africa has long been neglected, and never but +little known, even to the ancients; but has ever been our choice part of +the Continent. Bounded by the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean, it +presents the greatest facilities for an immense trade, with China, +Japan, Siam, Hindoostan, in short, all the East Indies--of any other +country in the world. With a settlement of enlightened freemen, who with +the immense facilities, must soon grow into a powerful nation. In the +Province of Berbera, south of the Strait of Babelmandel, or the great +pass, from the Arabian to the Red Sea, the whole commerce of the East +must touch this point. + +Also, a great rail road could be constructed from here, running with +the Mountains of the Moon, clearing them entirely, except making one +mountain pass, at the western extremity of the Mountains of the Moon, +and the southeastern terminus of the Kong Mountains; entering the +Province of Dahomey, and terminating on the Atlantic Ocean West; which +would make the GREAT THOROUGHFARE for all the trade with the East Indies +and Eastern Coast of Africa, and the Continent of America. All the world +would pass through Africa upon this rail road, which would yield a +revenue infinitely greater than any other investment in the world. + +The means for prosecuting such a project--as stupendous as it may +appear--will be fully realised in the prosecution of the work. Every +mile of the road, will thrice pay for itself, in the development of the +rich treasures that now lie hidden in the bowels of the earth. There is +no doubt, that in some one section of twenty-five miles, the +developments of gold would more than pay the expenses of any one +thousand miles of the work. This calculation may, to those who have +never given this subject a thought, appear extravagant, and visionary; +but to one who has had his attention in this direction for years, it is +clear enough. + +But a few years will witness a development of gold, precious metals, and +minerals in Eastern Africa, the Moon and Kong Mountains, ten-fold +greater than all the rich productions of California. + +There is one great physiological fact in regard to the colored +race--which, while it may not apply to all colored persons, is true of +those having black skins--that they can bear _more different_ climates +than the white race. They bear _all_ the temperates and extremes, while +the other can only bear the temperates and _one_ of the extremes. The +black race is endowed with natural properties, that adapt and fit them +for temperate, cold, and hot climates; while the white race is only +endowed with properties that adapt them to temperate and cold climates; +being unable to stand the warmer climates; in them, the white race +cannot work, but become perfectly indolent, requiring somebody to work +for them--and these, are always people of the black race. + +The black race may be found, inhabiting in healthful improvement, every +part of the globe where the white race reside; while there are parts of +the globe where the black race reside, that the white race cannot live +in health. + +What part of mankind is the "denizen of every soil, and the lord of +terrestrial creation," if it be not the black race? The Creator has +indisputably adapted us for the "denizens of _every soil_," all that is +left for us to do, is to _make_ ourselves the "_lords_ of terrestrial +creation." The land is ours--there it lies with inexhaustible resources; +let us go and possess it. In Eastern Africa must rise up a nation, to +whom all the world must pay commercial tribute. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, +and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States, by Martin R. 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Delany + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States + +Author: Martin R. Delany + +Release Date: November 26, 2005 [EBook #17154] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONDITION, ELEVATION *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Martin Pettit and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h1>THE CONDITION, ELEVATION, EMIGRATION, AND DESTINY OF THE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>MARTIN ROBISON DELANY</h2> + +<p class='center'>PUBLISHED 1852.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<h2>The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People +of the United States</h2> + +<div class="index"> +<ul> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#PREFACE">PREFACE</a></span></li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#I">I</a></span> Condition of Many Classes in Europe Considered</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#II">II</a></span> Comparative Condition of the Colored People of the United States</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#III">III</a></span> American Colonization</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#IV">IV</a></span> Our Elevation in the United States</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#V">V</a></span> Means of Elevation</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#VI">VI</a></span> The United States Our Country</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#VII">VII</a></span> Claims of Colored Men as Citizens of the United States</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#VIII">VIII</a></span> Colored American Warriors</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#IX">IX</a></span> Capacity of Colored Men and Women as Citizen Members of Community</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#X">X</a></span> Practical Utility of Colored People of the Present Day as Members of Society—Business Men and Mechanics</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#XI">XI</a></span> Literary and Professional Colored Men and Women</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#XII">XII</a></span> Students of Various Professions</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#XIII">XIII</a></span> A Scan at Past Things</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#XIV">XIV</a></span> Late Men of Literary, Professional and Artistic Note</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#XV">XV</a></span> Farmers and Herdsmen</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#XVI">XVI</a></span> National Disfranchisement of Colored People</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#XVII">XVII</a></span> Emigration of the Colored People of the United States</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#XVIII">XVIII</a></span> "Republic of Liberia"</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#XIX">XIX</a></span> The Canadas</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#XX">XX</a></span> Central and South America and the West Indies</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#XXI">XXI</a></span> Nicaragua and New Grenada</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#XXII">XXII</a></span> Things as They Are</li> +<li><span class="mono"> <a href="#XXIII">XXIII</a></span> A Glance at Ourselves—Conclusion</li> +<li><span class="mono"><a href="#APPENDIX">APPENDIX</a></span> A Project for an Expedition of Adventure, to the Eastern Coast of Africa</li> +</ul> +</div> + +<hr /> +<p class='center'><i>Sincerely dedicated to the American People, North and South.</i></p> + +<p class='center'><i>By Their Most Devout, and Patriotic Fellow Citizen, the Author</i></p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE</h2> + +<p>The author of this little volume has no other apology for offering it to +the public, than the hurried manner in which it has been composed. Being +detained in the city of New York on business, he seized the opportunity +of a tedious delay, and wrote the work in the inside of one month, +attending to other business through the day, and lecturing on physiology +sometimes in the evening. The reader will therefore not entertain an +idea of elegance of language and terseness of style, such as should rule +the sentences of every composition, by whomsoever written.</p> + +<p>His sole object has been, to place before the public in general, and the +colored people of the United States in particular, great truths +concerning this class of citizens, which appears to have been heretofore +avoided, as well by friends as enemies to their elevation. By opponents, +to conceal information, that they are well aware would stimulate and +impel them on to bold and adventurous deeds of manly daring; and by +friends, who seem to have acted on the principle of the zealous +orthodox, who would prefer losing the object of his pursuit to changing +his policy.</p> + +<p>There are also a great many colored people in the United States, who +have independence of spirit, who desire to, and do, think for +themselves; but for the want of general information, and in consequence +of a prevailing opinion that has obtained, that no thoughts nor opinions +must be expressed, even though it would eventuate in their elevation, +except it emanate from some old, orthodox, stereotyped doctrine +concerning them; therefore, such a work as this, which is but a mere +introduction to what will henceforth emanate from the pen of colored men +and women, appeared to be in most anxious demand, in order to settle +their minds entirely, and concentrate them upon an effective and +specific course of procedure. We have never conformed with that class of +philosophers who would keep the people in ignorance, lest they might +change their opinion from former predilections. This we shall never do, +except pressing necessity demands it, and then only as a measure to +prevent bad consequences, for the time.</p> + +<p>The colored people of to-day are not the colored people of a quarter of +a century ago, and require very different means and measures to satisfy +their wants and demands, and to effect their advancement. No wise +statesman presumes the same measures for the satisfaction of the +American people now, that may have been with propriety adopted +twenty-five years ago; neither is it wisdom to presume, that the +privileges which satisfied colored people twenty years ago, they will be +reconciled with now. That with which the father of the writer may have +been satisfied, even up to the present day, the writer cannot be content +with; the one lived in times antecedent to the birth of the other; that +which answered then, does not answer now: so is it with the whole class +of colored people in the United States. Their feelings, tastes, +predilections, wants, demands, and sympathies, are identical, and +homogeneous with those of all other Americans.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class='stanza'><div>"Fleecy locks and black complexions,</div> +<div class='i2'>Cannot alter nature's claim;</div> +<div>Skins may differ, but affections,</div> +<div class='i2'>Dwell in black and white the same."</div></div> +</div> + +<p>Many of the distinguished characters referred to in this work, who lived +in former days, for which there is no credit given, have been obtained +from various sources—as fragments of history, pamphlets, files of +newspapers, obsolete American history, and some from Mrs. Child's +Collection. Those of modern date, are living facts known to the writer +in his travels through the United States, having been from Canada and +Maine to Arkansas and Texas. The origin of the breast-works of cotton +bales on Chalmet Plains, at the battle of New Orleans, the writer +learned in that city, from old colored men in 1840, and subsequently, +from other sources; as well as much useful information concerning that +battle, from <i>Julien Bennoit</i>, spoken of in the work. He has before +referred to it some five or six years ago, through the columns of a +paper, of which he was then editor, and not until subsequently to his +narrating the same facts in these columns, was he aware that it was ever +mentioned in print, when he saw, on the 3d day of March, on looking over +the contributions of the "Liberty Bell," a beautiful annual of Boston, +the circumstances referred to by <span class="smcap">David Lee Child</span>, Esq., the +particulars of which will be found in our version.</p> + +<p>The original intention was to make this a pamphlet of a few pages, the +writer commencing with that view; but finding that he could not thus +justify the design of the work, will fully explain the cause of its +present volume. The subject of this work is one that the writer has +given thought for years, and the only regret that he has now in placing +it before the public is, that his circumstances and engagements have +not afforded him such time and opportunity as to do justice to it. But, +should he succeed in turning the attention of the colored people, in +general, in this direction—he shall have been amply compensated for the +labor bestowed. An appendix will be found giving the plan of the author, +laid out at twenty-four years of age, but subsequently improved on, for +the elevation of the colored race. That plan of course, as this work +will fully show, has been abandoned for a far more glorious one; albeit, +we as a race, still lay claim to the project, which one day must be +added to our dashing strides in national advancement, successful +adventure, and unsurpassed enterprise.</p> + +<p>One part of the American people, though living in near proximity and +together, are quite unacquainted with the other; and one of the great +objects of the author is, to make each acquainted. Except the character +of an individual is known, there can be no just appreciation of his +worth; and as with individuals, so is it with classes.</p> + +<p>The colored people are not yet known, even to their most professed +friends among the white Americans; for the reason, that politicians, +religionists, colonizationists, and abolitionists, have each and all, at +different times, presumed to <i>think</i> for, dictate to, and <i>know</i> better +what suited colored people, than they knew for themselves; and +consequently, there has been no other knowledge of them obtained, than +that which has been obtained through these mediums. Their history—past, +present, and future, has been written by them, who, for reasons well +known, which are named in this volume, are not their representatives, +and, therefore, do not properly nor fairly present their wants and +claims among their fellows. Of these impressions, we design disabusing +the public mind, and correcting the false impressions of all classes +upon this great subject. A moral and mental, is as obnoxious as a +physical servitude, and not to be tolerated; as the one may, eventually, +lead to the other. Of these we feel the direful effects.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class='stanza'><div>"If I'm designed your lordling's slave,</div> +<div class='i2'>By nature's law designed;</div> +<div>Why was an independent wish</div> +<div class='i2'>E'er planted in my mind!"</div></div> +</div> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="I" id="I"></a>I</h2> + +<h2>CONDITION OF MANY CLASSES IN EUROPE CONSIDERED</h2> + +<p>That there have been in all ages and in all countries, in every quarter +of the habitable globe, especially among those nations laying the +greatest claim to civilization and enlightenment, classes of people who +have been deprived of equal privileges, political, religious and social, +cannot be denied, and that this deprivation on the part of the ruling +classes is cruel and unjust, is also equally true. Such classes have +even been looked upon as inferior to their oppressors, and have ever +been mainly the domestics and menials of society, doing the low offices +and drudgery of those among whom they lived, moving about and existing +by mere sufferance, having no rights nor privileges but those conceded +by the common consent of their political superiors. These are historical +facts that cannot be controverted, and therefore proclaim in tones more +eloquently than thunder, the listful attention of every oppressed man, +woman, and child under the government of the people of the United States +of America.</p> + +<p>In past ages there were many such classes, as the Israelites in Egypt, +the Gladiators in Rome, and similar classes in Greece; and in the +present age, the Gipsies in Italy and Greece, the Cossacs in Russia and +Turkey, the Sclaves and Croats in the Germanic States, and the Welsh and +Irish among the British, to say nothing of various other classes among +other nations.</p> + +<p>That there have in all ages, in almost every nation, existed a nation +within a nation—a people who although forming a part and parcel of the +population, yet were from force of circumstances, known by the peculiar +position they occupied, forming in fact, by the deprivation of political +equality with others, no part, and if any, but a restricted part of the +body politic of such nations, is also true.</p> + +<p>Such then are the Poles in Russia, the Hungarians in Austria, the +Scotch, Irish, and Welsh in the United Kingdom, and such also are the +Jews, scattered throughout not only the length and breadth of Europe, +but almost the habitable globe, maintaining their national +characteristics, and looking forward in high hopes of seeing the day +when they may return to their former national position of +self-government and independence, let that be in whatever part of the +habitable world it may. This is the lot of these various classes of +people in Europe, and it is not our intention here, to discuss the +justice or injustice of the causes that have contributed to their +degradation, but simply to set forth the undeniable facts, which are as +glaring as the rays of a noonday's sun, thereby to impress them +indelibly on the mind of every reader of this pamphlet.</p> + +<p>It is not enough, that these people are deprived of equal privileges by +their rulers, but, the more effectually to succeed, the equality of +these classes must be denied, and their inferiority by nature as +distinct races, actually asserted. This policy is necessary to appease +the opposition that might be interposed in their behalf. Wherever there +is arbitrary rule, there must be necessity, on the part of the dominant +classes, superiority be assumed. To assume superiority, is to deny the +equality of others, and to deny their equality, is to premise their +incapacity for self-government. Let this once be conceded, and there +will be little or no sympathy for the oppressed, the oppressor being +left to prescribe whatever terms at discretion for their government, +suits his own purpose.</p> + +<p>Such then is the condition of various classes in Europe; yes, nations, +for centuries within nations, even without the hope of redemption among +those who oppress them. And however unfavorable their condition, there +is none more so than that of the colored people of the United States.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II</h2> + +<h2>COMPARATIVE CONDITION OF THE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES</h2> + +<p>The United States, untrue to her trust and unfaithful to her professed +principles of republican equality, has also pursued a policy of +political degradation to a large portion of her native born countrymen, +and that class is the Colored People. Denied an equality not only of +political but of natural rights, in common with the rest of our fellow +citizens, there is no species of degradation to which we are not +subject.</p> + +<p>Reduced to abject slavery is not enough, the very thought of which +should awaken every sensibility of our common nature; but those of their +descendants who are freemen even in the non-slaveholding States, occupy +the very same position politically, religiously, civilly and socially, +(with but few exceptions,) as the bondman occupies in the slave States.</p> + +<p>In those States, the bondman is disfranchised, and for the most part so +are we. He is denied all civil, religious, and social privileges, except +such as he gets by mere sufferance, and so are we. They have no part nor +lot in the government of the country, neither have we. They are ruled +and governed without representation, existing as mere nonentities among +the citizens, and excrescences on the body politic—a mere dreg in +community, and so are we. Where then is our political superiority to the +enslaved? none, neither are we superior in any other relation to +society, except that we are defacto masters of ourselves and joint +rulers of our own domestic household, while the bondman's self is +claimed by another, and his relation to his family denied him. What the +unfortunate classes are in Europe, such are we in the United States, +which is folly to deny, insanity not to understand, blindness not to +see, and surely now full time that our eyes were opened to these +startling truths, which for ages have stared us full in the face.</p> + +<p>It is time that we had become politicians, we mean, to understand the +political economy and domestic policy of nations; that we had become as +well as moral theorists, also the practical demonstrators of equal +rights and self-government. Except we do, it is idle to talk about +rights, it is mere chattering for the sake of being seen and heard—like +the slave, saying something because his so called "master" said it, and +saying just what he told him to say. Have we not now sufficient +intelligence among us to understand our true position, to realise our +actual condition, and determine for ourselves what is best to be done? +If we have not now, we never shall have, and should at once cease +prating about our equality, capacity, and all that.</p> + +<p>Twenty years ago, when the writer was a youth, his young and yet +uncultivated mind was aroused, and his tender heart made to leap with +anxiety in anticipation of the promises then held out by the prime +movers in the cause of our elevation.</p> + +<p>In 1830 the most intelligent and leading spirits among the colored men +in the United States, such as James Forten, Robert Douglass, I. Bowers, +A.D. Shadd, John Peck, Joseph Cassey, and John B. Vashon of +Pennsylvania; John T. Hilton, Nathaniel and Thomas Paul, and James G. +Barbodoes of Massachusetts; Henry Sipkins, Thomas Hamilton, Thomas L. +Jennings, Thomas Downing, Samuel E. Cornish, and others of New York; R. +Cooley and others of Maryland, and representatives from other States +which cannot now be recollected, the data not being at hand, assembled +in the city of Philadelphia, in the capacity of a National Convention, +to "devise ways and means for the bettering of our condition." These +Conventions determined to assemble annually, much talent, ability, and +energy of character being displayed; when in 1831 at a sitting of the +Convention in September, from their previous pamphlet reports, much +interest having been created throughout the country, they were favored +by the presence of a number of whites, some of whom were able and +distinguished men, such as Rev. R.R. Gurley, Arthur Tappan, Elliot +Cresson, John Rankin, Simeon Jocelyn and others, among them William +Lloyd Garrison, then quite a young man, all of whom were staunch and +ardent Colonizationists, young Garrison at that time, doing his +mightiest in his favorite work.</p> + +<p>Among other great projects of interest brought before the convention at +a previous sitting, was that of the expediency of a general emigration, +as far as it was practicable, of the colored people to the British +Provinces of North America. Another was that of raising sufficient means +for the establishment and erection of a College for the proper education +of the colored youth. These gentlemen long accustomed to observation and +reflection on the condition of their people saw at once, that there must +necessarily be means used adequate to the end to be attained—that end +being an unqualified equality with the ruling class of their fellow +citizens. He saw that as a class, the colored people of the country were +ignorant, degraded and oppressed, by far the greater portion of them +being abject slaves in the South, the very condition of whom was almost +enough, under the circumstances, to blast the remotest hope of success, +and those who were freemen, whether in the South or North, occupied a +subservient, servile, and menial position, considering it a favor to get +into the service of the whites, and do their degrading offices. That the +difference between the whites and themselves, consisted in the superior +advantages of the one over the other, in point of attainments. That if a +knowledge of the arts and sciences, the mechanical occupations, the +industrial occupations, as farming, commerce, and all the various +business enterprises, and learned professions were necessary for the +superior position occupied by their rulers, it was also necessary for +them. And very reasonably too, the first suggestion which occurred to +them was, the advantages of a location, then the necessity of a +qualification. They reasoned with themselves, that all distinctive +differences made among men on account of their origin, is wicked, +unrighteous, and cruel, and never shall receive countenance in any shape +from us, therefore, the first acts of the measure entered into by them, +was to protest, solemnly protest, against every unjust measure and +policy in the country, having for its object the proscription of the +colored people, whether state, national, municipal, social, civil, or +religious.</p> + +<p>But being far-sighted, reflecting, discerning men, they took a political +view of the subject, and determined for the good of their people to be +governed in their policy according to the facts as they presented +themselves. In taking a glance at Europe, they discovered there, however +unjustly, as we have shown in another part of this pamphlet, that there +are and have been numerous classes proscribed and oppressed, and it was +not for them to cut short their wise deliberations, and arrest their +proceedings in contention, as to the cause, whether on account of +language, the color of eyes, hair, skin, or their origin of +country—because all this is contrary to reason, a contradiction to +common sense, at war with nature herself, and at variance with facts as +they stare us every day in the face, among all nations, in every +country—this being made the pretext as a matter of <i>policy</i> alone—a +fact worthy of observation, that wherever the objects of oppression are +the most easily distinguished by any peculiar or general +characteristics, these people are the more easily oppressed, because the +war of oppression is the more easily waged against them. This is the +case with the modern Jews and many other people who have +strongly-marked, peculiar, or distinguishing characteristics. This +arises in this wise. The policy of all those who proscribe any people, +induces them to select as the objects of proscription, those who +differed as much as possible, in some particulars, from themselves. This +is to ensure the greater success, because it engenders the greater +prejudice, or in other words, elicits less interest on the part of the +oppressing class, in their favor. This fact is well understood in +national conflicts, as the soldier or civilian, who is distinguished by +his dress, mustache, or any other peculiar appendage, would certainly +prove himself a madman, if he did not take the precaution to change his +dress, remove his mustache, and conceal as much as possible his peculiar +characteristics, to give him access among the repelling party.</p> + +<p>This is mere policy, nature having nothing to do with it. Still, it is a +fact, a great truth well worthy of remark, and as such as adduce it for +the benefit of those of our readers, unaccustomed to an enquiry into the +policy of nations.</p> + +<p>In view of these truths, our fathers and leaders in our elevation, +discovered that as a policy, we the colored people were selected as the +subordinate class in this country, not on account of any actual or +supposed inferiority on their part, but simply because, in view of all +the circumstances of the case, they were the very best class that could +be selected. They would have as readily had any other class as +subordinates in the country, as the colored people, but the condition of +society <i>at the time</i>, would not admit of it. In the struggle for +American Independence, there were among those who performed the most +distinguished parts, the most common-place peasantry of the Provinces. +English, Danish, Irish, Scotch, and others, were among those whose names +blazoned forth as heroes in the American Revolution. But a single +reflection will convince us, that no course of policy could have induced +the proscription of the parentage and relatives of such men as Benjamin +Franklin the printer, Roger Sherman the cobbler, the tinkers, and others +of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. But as they were +determined to have a subservient class, it will readily be conceived, +that according to the state of society at the time, the better policy on +their part was, to select some class, who from their political +position—however much they may have contributed their aid as we +certainly did, in the general struggle for liberty by force of arms—who +had the least claims upon them, or who had the <i>least chance</i>, or was +the <i>least potent</i> in urging their claims. This class of course was the +colored people and Indians.</p> + +<p>The Indians who in the early settlement of the continent, before an +African captive had ever been introduced thereon, were reduced to the +most abject slavery, toiling day and night in the mines, under the +relentless hands of heartless Spanish taskmasters, but being a race of +people raised to the sports of fishing, the chase, and of war, were +wholly unaccustomed to labor, and therefore sunk under the insupportable +weight, two millions and a half having fallen victims to the cruelty of +oppression and toil suddenly placed upon their shoulders. And it was +only this that prevented their farther enslavement as a class, after the +provinces were absolved from the British Crown. It is true that their +general enslavement took place on the islands and in the mining +districts of South America, where indeed, the Europeans continued to +enslave them, until a comparatively recent period; still, the design, +the feeling, and inclination from policy, was the same to do so here, in +this section of the continent.</p> + +<p>Nor was it until their influence became too great, by the political +position occupied by their brethren in the new republic, that the German +and Irish peasantry ceased to be sold as slaves for a term of years +fixed by law, for the repayment of their passage-money, the descendants +of these classes of people for a long time being held as inferiors, in +the estimation of the ruling class, and it was not until they assumed +the rights and privileges guaranteed to them by the established policy +of the country, among the leading spirits of whom were their relatives, +that the policy towards them was discovered to be a bad one, and +accordingly changed. Nor was it, as is frequently very erroneously +asserted, by colored as well as white persons, that it was on account of +hatred to the African, or in other words, on account of hatred to his +color, that the African was selected as the subject of oppression in +this country. This is sheer nonsense; being based on policy and nothing +else, as shown in another place. The Indians, who being the most foreign +to the sympathies of the Europeans on this continent, were selected in +the first place, who, being unable to withstand the hardships, gave way +before them.</p> + +<p>But the African race had long been known to Europeans, in all ages of +the worlds history, as a long-lived, hardy race, subject to toil and +labor of various kinds, subsisting mainly by traffic, trade, and +industry, and consequently being as foreign to the sympathies of the +invaders of the continent as the Indians, they were selected, captured, +brought here as a laboring class, and as a matter of policy held as +such. Nor was the absurd idea of natural inferiority of the African ever +dreamed of, until recently adduced by the slave-holders and their +abettors, in justification of the policy. This, with contemptuous +indignation, we fling back into their face, as a scorpion to a vulture. +And so did our patriots and leaders in the cause of regeneration know +better, and never for a moment yielded to the base doctrine. But they +had discovered the great fact, that a cruel policy was pursued towards +our people, and that they possessed distinctive characteristics which +made them the objects of proscription. These characteristics being +strongly marked in the colored people, as in the Indians, by color, +character of hair and so on, made them the more easily distinguished +from other Americans, and the policies more effectually urged against +us. For this reason they introduced the subject of emigration to Canada, +and a proper institution for the education of the youth.</p> + +<p>At this important juncture of their proceedings, the afore named white +gentlemen were introduced to the notice of the Convention, and after +gaining permission to speak, expressed their gratification and surprise +at the qualification and talent manifested by different members of the +Convention, all expressing their determination to give the cause of the +colored people more serious reflection. Mr. Garrison, the youngest of +them all, and none the less honest on account of his youthfulness, being +but 26 years of age at the time, (1831) expressed his determination to +change his course of policy at once, and espouse the cause of the +elevation of the colored people here in their own country. We are not at +present well advised upon this point, it now having escaped our memory, +but we are under the impression that Mr. Jocelyn also, at once changed +his policy.</p> + +<p>During the winter of 1832, Mr. Garrison issued his "Thoughts on African +Colonization," and near about the same time or shortly after, issued the +first number of the "Liberator," in both of which, his full convictions +of the enormity of American slavery, and the wickedness of their policy +towards the colored people, were fully expressed. At the sitting of the +Convention in this year, a number, perhaps all of these gentlemen were +present, and those who had denounced the Colonization scheme, and +espoused the cause of the elevation of the colored people in this +country, or the Anti-Slavery cause, as it was now termed, expressed +themselves openly and without reserve.</p> + +<p>Sensible of the high-handed injustice done to the colored people in the +United States, and the mischief likely to emanate from the unchristian +proceedings of the deceptious Colonization scheme, like all honest +hearted penitents, with the ardor only known to new converts, they +entreated the Convention, whatever they did, not to entertain for a +moment, the idea of recommending emigration to their people, nor the +establishment of separate institutions of learning. They earnestly +contended, and doubtless honestly meaning what they said, that they (the +whites) had been our oppressors and injurers, they had obstructed our +progress to the high positions of civilization, and now, it was their +bounden duty to make full amends for the injuries thus inflicted on an +unoffending people. They exhorted the Convention to cease; as they had +laid on the burden, they would also take it off; as they had obstructed +our pathway, they would remove the hindrance. In a word, as they had +oppressed and trampled down the colored people, they would now elevate +them. These suggestions and promises, good enough to be sure, after they +were made, were accepted by the Convention—though some gentlemen were +still in favor of the first project as the best policy, Mr. A.D. Shadd +of West Chester, Pa., as we learn from himself, being one among that +number—ran through the country like wild-fire, no one thinking, and if +he thought, daring to speak above his breath of going any where out of +certain prescribed limits, or of sending a child to school, if it should +but have the name of "colored" attached to it, without the risk of being +termed a "traitor" to the cause of his people, or an enemy to the +Anti-Slavery cause.</p> + +<p>At this important point in the history of our efforts, the colored men +stopped suddenly, and with their hands thrust deep in their +breeches-pockets, and their mouths gaping open, stood gazing with +astonishment, wonder, and surprise, at the stupendous moral colossal +statues of our Anti-Slavery friends and brethren, who in the heat and +zeal of honest hearts, from a desire to make atonement for the many +wrongs inflicted, promised a great deal more than they have ever been +able half to fulfill, in thrice the period in which they expected it. +And in this, we have no fault to find with our Anti-Slavery friends, and +here wish it to be understood, that we are not laying any thing to their +charge as blame, neither do we desire for a moment to reflect on them, +because we heartily believe that all that they did at the time, they did +with the purest and best of motives, and further believe that they now +are, as they then were, the truest friends we have among the whites in +this country. And hope, and desire, and request, that our people should +always look upon <i>true</i> anti-slavery people, Abolitionists we mean, as +their friends, until they have just cause for acting otherwise. It is +true, that the Anti-Slavery, like all good causes, has produced some +recreants, but the cause itself is no more to be blamed for that, than +Christianity is for the malconduct of any professing hypocrite, nor the +society of Friends, for the conduct of a broad-brimmed hat and +shad-belly coated horsethief, because he spoke <i>thee</i> and <i>thou</i> before +stealing the horse. But what is our condition even amidst our +Anti-Slavery friends? And here, as our sole intention is to contribute +to the elevation of our people, we must be permitted to express our +opinion freely, without being thought uncharitable.</p> + +<p>In the first place, we should look at the objects for which the +Anti-Slavery cause was commenced, and the promises or inducements it +held out at the commencement. It should be borne in mind, that +Anti-Slavery took its rise among <i>colored men</i>, just at the time they +were introducing their greatest projects for their own elevation, and +that our Anti-Slavery brethren were converts of the colored men, in +behalf of their elevation. Of course, it would be expected that being +baptized into the new doctrines, their faith would induce them to +embrace the principles therein contained, with the strictest possible +adherence.</p> + +<p>The cause of dissatisfaction with our former condition, was, that we +were proscribed, debarred, and shut out from every respectable position, +occupying the places of inferiors and menials.</p> + +<p>It was expected that Anti-Slavery, according to its professions, would +extend to colored persons, as far as in the power of its adherents, +those advantages nowhere else to be obtained among white men. That +colored boys would get situations in their shops and stores, and every +other advantage tending to elevate them as far as possible, would be +extended to them. At least, it was expected, that in Anti-Slavery +establishments, colored men would have the preference. Because, there +was no other ostensible object in view, in the commencement of the +Anti-Slavery enterprise, than the <i>elevation</i> of the <i>colored man</i>, by +facilitating his efforts in attaining to equality with the white man. It +was urged, and it was true, that the colored people were susceptible of +all that the whites were, and all that was required was to give them a +fair opportunity, and they would prove their capacity. That it was +unjust, wicked, and cruel, the result of an unnatural prejudice, that +debarred them from places of respectability, and that public opinion +could and should be corrected upon this subject. That it was only +necessary to make a sacrifice of feeling, and an innovation on the +customs of society, to establish a different order of things,—that as +Anti-Slavery men, they were willing to make these sacrifices, and +determined to take the colored man by the hand, making common cause with +him in affliction, and bear a part of the odium heaped upon him. That +his cause was the cause of God—that "In as much as ye did it not unto +the least of these my little ones, ye did it not unto me," and that as +Anti-Slavery men, they would "do right if the heavens fell." Thus, was +the cause espoused, and thus did we expect much. But in all this, we +were doomed to disappointment, sad, sad disappointment. Instead of +realising what we had hoped for, we find ourselves occupying the very +same position in relation to our Anti-Slavery friends, as we do in +relation to the pro-slavery part of the community—a mere secondary, +underling position, in all our relations to them, and any thing more +than this, is not a matter of course affair—it comes not by established +anti-slavery custom or right, but like that which emanates from the +pro-slavery portion of the community by mere sufferance.</p> + +<p>It is true, that the "Liberator" office, in Boston, has got Elijah +Smith, a colored youth, at the cases—the "Standard," in New York, a +young colored man, and the "Freeman," in Philadelphia, William Still, +another, in the publication office, as "packing clerk"; yet these are +but three out of the hosts that fill these offices in their various +departments, all occupying places that could have been, and as we once +thought, would have been, easily enough, occupied by colored men. +Indeed, we can have no other idea about anti-slavery in this country, +than that the legitimate persons to fill any and every position about an +anti-slavery establishment are colored persons. Nor will it do to argue +in extenuation, that white men are as justly entitled to them as colored +men; because white men do not from <i>necessity</i> become anti-slavery men +in order to get situations; they being white men, may occupy any +position they are capable of filling—in a word, their chances are +endless, every avenue in the country being opened to them. They do not +therefore become abolitionists, for the sake of employment—at least, it +is not the song that anti-slavery sung, in the first love of the new +faith, proclaimed by its disciples.</p> + +<p>And if it be urged that colored men are incapable as yet to fill these +positions, all that we have to say is, that the cause has fallen far +short; almost equivalent to a failure, of a tithe, of what it promised +to do in half the period of its existence, to this time, if it have not +as yet, now a period of twenty years, raised up colored men enough, to +fill the offices within its patronage. We think it is not unkind to say, +if it had been half as faithful to itself, as it should have been—its +professed principles we mean; it could have reared and tutored from +childhood, colored men enough by this time, for its own especial +purpose. These we know could have been easily obtained, because colored +people in general, are favorable to the anti-slavery cause, and wherever +there is an adverse manifestation, it arises from sheer ignorance; and +we have now but comparatively few such among us. There is one thing +certain, that no colored person, except such as would reject education +altogether, would be adverse to putting their child with an anti-slavery +person, for educational advantages. This then could have been done. But +it has not been done, and let the cause of it be whatever it may, and +let whoever may be to blame, we are willing to let all that pass, and +extend to our anti-slavery brethren the right-hand of fellowship, +bidding them God-speed in the propagation of good and wholesome +sentiments—for whether they are practically carried out or not, the +profession are in themselves all right and good. Like Christianity, the +principles are holy and of divine origin. And we believe, if ever a man +started right, with pure and holy motives, Mr. Garrison did; and that, +had he the power of making the cause what it should be, it would all be +right, and there never would have been any cause for the remarks we have +made, though in kindness, and with the purest of motives. We are +nevertheless, still occupying a miserable position in the community, +wherever we live; and what we most desire is, to draw the attention of +our people to this fact, and point out what, in our opinion, we conceive +to be a proper remedy.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III</h2> + +<h2>AMERICAN COLONIZATION</h2> + + +<p>When we speak of colonization, we wish distinctly to be understood, as +speaking of the "American Colonization Society"—or that which is under +its influence—commenced in Richmond, Virginia, in 1817, under the +influence of Mr. Henry Clay of Ky., Judge Bushrod Washington of Va., and +other Southern slaveholders, having for their express object, as their +speeches and doings all justify us in asserting in good faith, the +removal of the free colored people from the land of their birth, for the +security of the slaves, as property to the slave propagandists.</p> + +<p>This scheme had no sooner been propagated, than the old and leading +colored men of Philadelphia, Pa., with Richard Allen, James Forten, and +others at their head, true to their trust and the cause of their +brethren, summoned the colored people together, and then and there, in +language and with voices pointed and loud, protested against the scheme +as an outrage, having no other object in view, than the benefit of the +slave-holding interests of the country, and that as freemen, they would +never prove recreant to the cause of their brethren in bondage, by +leaving them without hope of redemption from their chains. This +determination of the colored patriots of Philadelphia was published in +full, authentically, and circulated throughout the length and breadth of +the country by the papers of the day. The colored people every where +received the news, and at once endorsed with heart and soul, the doings +of the Anti-Colonization Meeting of colored freemen. From that time +forth, the colored people generally have had no sympathy with the +colonization scheme, nor confidence in its leaders, looking upon them +all, as arrant hypocrites, seeking every opportunity to deceive them. In +a word, the monster was crippled in its infancy, and has never as yet +recovered from the stroke. It is true, that like its ancient sire, that +was "more subtile than all the beasts of the field," it has inherited a +large portion of his most prominent characteristic—an idiosyncrasy with +the animal—that enables him to entwine himself into the greater part of +the Church and other institutions of the country, which having once +entered there, leaves his venom, which put such a spell on the +conductors of those institutions, that is only on condition that a +colored person consents to go to the neighborhood of his kindred brother +monster the boa, that he may find admission in the one or the other. We +look upon the American Colonization Society as one of the most arrant +enemies of the colored man, ever seeking to discomfit him, and envying +him of every privilege that he may enjoy. We believe it to be +anti-Christian in its character, and misanthropic in its pretended +sympathies. Because if this were not the case, men could not be found +professing morality and Christianity—as to our astonishment we have +found them—who unhesitatingly say, "I know it is right"—that is in +itself—"to do" so and so, "and I am willing and ready to do it, but +only on condition, that you go to Africa." Indeed, a highly talented +clergyman, informed us in November last (three months ago) in the city +of Philadelphia, that he was present when the Rev. Doctor J.P. Durbin, +late President of Dickinson College, called on Rev. Mr. P. or B., to +consult him about going to Liberia, to take charge of the literary +department of an University in contemplation, when the following +conversation ensued: Mr. P.—"Doctor, I have as much and more than I can +do here, in educating the youth of our own country, and preparing them +for usefulness here at home." Dr. D.—"Yes, but do as you may, you can +never be elevated here." Mr. P.—"Doctor, do you not believe that the +religion of our blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ, has morality, humanity, +philanthropy, and justice enough in it to elevate us, and enable us to +obtain our rights in this our own country?" Dr. D.—"No, indeed, sir, I +do not, and if you depend upon that, your hopes are vain!" Mr. +P.—Turning to Doctor Durbin, looking him solemnly, though +affectionately in the face, remarked—"Well, Doctor Durbin, we both +profess to be ministers of Christ; but dearly as I love the cause of my +Redeemer, if for a moment, I could entertain the opinion you do about +Christianity, I would not serve him another hour!" We do not know, as we +were not advised, that the Rev. Doctor added in fine,—"Well, you may +quit now, for all your serving him will not avail against the power of +the god (hydra) of Colonization." Will any one doubt for a single +moment, the justice of our strictures on colonization, after reading the +conversation between the Rev. Dr. Durbin and the colored clergyman? +Surely not. We can therefore make no account of it, but that of setting +it down as being the worst enemy of the colored people.</p> + +<p>Recently, there has been a strained effort in the city of New York on +the part of the Rev. J.B. Pinney and others, of the leading white +colonizationists, to get up a movement among some poor pitiable colored +men—we say pitiable, for certainly the colored persons who are at this +period capable of loaning themselves to the enemies of their race, +against the best interest of all that we hold sacred to that race, are +pitiable in the lowest extreme, far beneath the dignity of an enemy, +and therefore, we pass them by with the simple remark, that this is the +hobby that colonization is riding all over the country, as the +"tremendous" access of colored people to their cause within the last +twelve months. We should make another remark here perhaps, in +justification of governor Pinney's New York allies—that is, report +says, that in the short space of some three or five months, one of his +confidants, benefited himself to the "reckoning" of from eleven to +fifteen hundred dollars, or "such a matter," while others were benefited +in sums "pretty considerable" but of a less "reckoning." Well, we do not +know after all, that they may not have quite as good a right, to pocket +part of the spoils of this "grab game," as any body else. However, they +are of little consequence, as the ever watchful eye of those excellent +gentlemen and faithful guardians of their people's rights—the +<i>Committee of Thirteen</i>, consisting of Messrs. John J. Zuille, +<i>Chairman</i>, T. Joiner White, Philip A. Bell, <i>Secretaries</i>, Robert +Hamilton, George T. Downing, Jeremiah Powers, John T. Raymond, Wm. +Burnett, James McCune Smith, Ezekiel Dias, Junius C. Morel, Thomas +Downing, and Wm. J. Wilson, have properly chastised this pet-slave of +Mr. Pinney, and made it "know its place," by keeping within the bounds +of its master's enclosure.</p> + +<p>In expressing our honest conviction of the designedly injurious +character of the Colonization Society, we should do violence to our own +sense of individual justice, if we did not express the belief, that +there are some honest hearted men, who not having seen things in the +proper light, favor that scheme, simply as a means of elevating the +colored people. Such persons, so soon as they become convinced of their +error, immediately change their policy, and advocate the elevation of +the colored people, anywhere and everywhere, in common with other men. +Of such were the early abolitionists as before stated; and the great and +good Dr. F.J. Lemoyne, Gerrit Smith, and Rev. Charles Avery, and a host +of others, who were Colonizationists, before espousing the cause of our +elevation, here at home, and nothing but an honorable sense of justice, +induces us to make these exceptions, as there are many good persons +within our knowledge, whom we believe to be well wishers of the colored +people, who may favor colonization.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> But the animal itself is the same +"hydra-headed monster," let whomsoever may fancy to pet it. A serpent is +a serpent, and none the less a viper, because nestled in the bosom of an +honest hearted man. This the colored people must bear in mind, and keep +clear of the hideous thing, lest its venom may be test upon them. But +why deem any argument necessary to show the unrighteousness of +colonization? Its very origin as before shown—the source from whence it +sprung, being the offspring of slavery—is in itself, sufficient to +blast it in the estimation of every colored person in the United States, +who has sufficient intelligence to comprehend it.</p> + +<p>We dismiss this part of the subject, and proceed to consider the mode +and means of our elevation in the United States.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Benjamin Coates, Esq., a merchant of Philadelphia, we +believe to be an honest hearted man, and real friend of the colored +people, and a true, though as yet, rather undecided philanthropist. Mr. +Coates, to our knowledge, has supported three or four papers published +by colored men, for the elevation of colored people in the United +States, and given, as he continues to do, considerable sums to their +support. We have recently learned from himself, that, though he still +advocates Colonization, simply as a means of elevating the colored race +of the United States, that he has <i>left</i> the Colonization Society, and +prefers seeing colored people located on this continent, to going to +Liberia, or elsewhere off of it—though his zeal for the enlightenment +of Africa, is unabated, as every good man's should be; and we are +satisfied, that Mr. Coates is neither well understood, nor rightly +appreciated by the friends of our cause. One thing we do know, that he +left the Colonization Society, because he could not conscientiously +subscribe to its measures.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV</h2> + +<h2>OUR ELEVATION IN THE UNITED STATES</h2> + +<p>That very little comparatively as yet has been done, to attain a +respectable position as a class in this country, will not be denied, and +that the successful accomplishment of this end is also possible, must +also be admitted; but in what manner, and by what means, has long been, +and is even now, by the best thinking minds among the colored people +themselves, a matter of difference of opinion.</p> + +<p>We believe in the universal equality of man, and believe in that +declaration of God's word, in which it is there positively said, that +"God has made of one blood all the nations that dwell on the face of the +earth." Now of "the nations that dwell on the face of the earth," that +is, all the people—there are one thousand millions of souls, and of +this vast number of human beings, two-thirds are colored, from black, +tending in complexion to the olive or that of the Chinese, with all the +intermediate and admixtures of black and white, with the various +"crosses" as they are physiologically, but erroneously termed, to white. +We are thus explicit in stating these points, because we are determined +to be understood by all. We have then, two colored to one white person +throughout the earth, and yet, singular as it may appear, according to +the present geographical and political history of the world, the white +race predominates over the colored; or in other words, wherever there is +one white person, that one rules and governs two colored persons. This +is a living undeniable truth, to which we call the especial attention of +the colored reader in particular. Now there is a cause for this, as +there is no effect without a cause, a comprehensible remediable cause. +We all believe in the justice of God, that he is impartial, "looking +upon his children with an eye of care," dealing out to them all, the +measure of his goodness; yet, how can we reconcile ourselves to the +difference that exists between the colored and the white races, as they +truthfully present themselves before our eyes? To solve this problem, is +to know the remedy; and to know it, is but necessary, in order +successfully to apply it. And we shall but take the colored people of +the United States, as a fair sample of the colored races everywhere of +the present age, as the arguments that apply to the one, will apply to +the other, whether Christians, Mahomedans, or pagans.</p> + +<p>The colored races are highly susceptible of religion; it is a +constituent principle of their nature, and an excellent trait in their +character. But unfortunately for them, they carry it too far. Their hope +is largely developed, and consequently, they usually stand still—hope +in God, and really expect Him to do that for them, which it is necessary +they should do themselves. This is their great mistake, and arises from +a misconception of the character and ways of Deity. We must know God, +that is understand His nature and purposes, in order to serve Him; and +to serve Him well, is but to know him rightly. To depend for assistance +upon God, is a <i>duty</i> and right; but to know when, how, and in what +manner to obtain it, is the key to this great Bulwark of Strength, and +Depository of Aid.</p> + +<p>God himself is perfect; perfect in all his works and ways. He has means +for every end; and every means used must be adequate to the end to be +gained. God's means are laws—fixed laws of nature, a part of His own +being, and as immutable, as unchangeable as Himself. Nothing can be +accomplished but through the medium of, and conformable to these laws.</p> + +<p>They are <i>three</i>—and like God himself, represented in the three persons +in the God-head—the <i>Spiritual</i>, <i>Moral</i> and <i>Physical</i> Laws.</p> + +<p>That which is Spiritual, can only be accomplished through the medium of +the Spiritual law; that which is Moral, through the medium of the Moral +law; and that which is Physical, through the medium of the Physical law. +Otherwise than this, it is useless to expect any thing. Does a person +want a spiritual blessing, he must apply through the medium of the +spiritual law—<i>pray</i> for it in order to obtain it. If they desire to do +a moral good, they must apply through the medium of the moral +law—exercise their sense and feeling of <i>right</i> and <i>justice</i>, in order +to effect it. Do they want to attain a physical end, they can only do so +through the medium of the physical law—go to <i>work</i> with muscles, +hands, limbs, might and strength, and this, and nothing else will attain +it.</p> + +<p>The argument that man must pray for what he receives, is a mistake, and +one that is doing the colored people especially, incalculable injury. +That man must pray in order to get to Heaven, every Christian will +admit—but a great truth we have yet got to learn, that he can live on +earth whether he is religious or not, so that he conforms to the great +law of God, regulating the things of earth; the great physical laws. It +is only necessary, in order to convince our people of their error and +palpable mistake in this matter, to call their attention to the fact, +that there are no people more religious in this Country, than the +colored people, and none so poor and miserable as they. That prosperity +and wealth, smiles upon the efforts of wicked white men, whom we know to +utter the name of God with curses, instead of praises. That among the +slaves, there are thousands of them religious, continually raising +their voices, sending up their prayers to God, invoking His aid in their +behalf, asking for a speedy deliverance; but they are still in chains, +although they have thrice suffered out their three score years and ten. +That "God sendeth rain upon the just and unjust," should be sufficient +to convince us that our success in life, does not depend upon our +religious character, but that the physical laws governing all earthly +and temporary affairs, benefit equally the just and the unjust. Any +other doctrine than this, is downright delusion, unworthy of a free +people, and only intended for slaves. That all men and women, should be +moral, upright, good and religious—we mean <i>Christians</i>—we would not +utter a word against, and could only wish that it were so; but, what we +here desire to do is, to correct the long standing error among a large +body of the colored people in this country, that the cause of our +oppression and degradation, is the displeasure of God towards us, +because of our unfaithfulness to Him. This is not true; because if God +is just—and he is—there could be no justice in prospering white men +with his fostering care, for more than two thousand years, in all their +wickedness, while dealing out to the colored people, the measure of his +displeasure, for not half the wickedness as that of the whites. Here +then is our mistake, and let it forever henceforth be corrected. We are +no longer slaves, believing any interpretation that our oppressors may +give the word of God, for the purpose of deluding us to the more easy +subjugation; but freemen, comprising some of the first minds of +intelligence and rudimental qualifications, in the country. What then is +the remedy, for our degradation and oppression? This appears now to be +the only remaining question—the means of successful elevation in this +our own native land? This depends entirely upon the application of the +means of Elevation.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="V" id="V"></a>V</h2> + +<h2>MEANS OF ELEVATION</h2> + +<p>Moral theories have long been resorted to by us, as a means of effecting +the redemption of our brethren in bonds, and the elevation of the free +colored people in this country. Experience has taught us, that +speculations are not enough; that the <i>practical</i> application of +principles adduced, the thing carried out, is the only true and proper +course to pursue.</p> + +<p>We have speculated and moralised much about equality—claiming to be as +good as our neighbors, and every body else—all of which, may do very +well in ethics—but not in politics. We live in society among men, +conducted by men, governed by rules and regulations. However arbitrary, +there are certain policies that regulate all well organized institutions +and corporate bodies. We do not intend here to speak of the legal +political relations of society, for those are treated on elsewhere. The +business and social, or voluntary and mutual policies, are those that +now claim our attention. Society regulates itself—being governed by +mind, which like water, finds its own level. "Like seeks like," is a +principle in the laws of matter, as well as of mind. There is such a +thing as inferiority of things, and positions; at least society has made +them so; and while we continue to live among men, we must agree to all +<i>just</i> measures—all those we mean, that do not necessarily infringe on +the rights of others. By the regulations of society, there is no +equality of attainments. By this, we do not wish to be understood as +advocating the actual equal attainments of every individual; but we mean +to say, that if these attainments be necessary for the elevation of the +white man, they are necessary for the elevation of the colored man. That +some colored men and women, in a like proportion to the whites, should +be qualified in all the attainments possessed by them. It is one of the +regulations of society the world over, and we shall have to conform to +it, or be discarded as unworthy of the associations of our fellows.</p> + +<p>Cast our eyes about us and reflect for a moment, and what do we behold! +every thing that presents to view gives evidence of the skill of the +white man. Should we purchase a pound of groceries, a yard of linen, a +vessel of crockery-ware, a piece of furniture, the very provisions that +we eat,—all, all are the products of the white man, purchased by us +from the white man, consequently, our earnings and means, are all given +to the white man.</p> + +<p>Pass along the avenues of any city or town, in which you live—behold +the trading shops—the manufacturies—see the operations of the various +machinery—see the stage-coaches coming in, bringing the mails of +intelligence—look at the railroads interlining every section, bearing +upon them their mighty trains, flying with the velocity of the swallow, +ushering in the hundreds of industrious, enterprising travellers. Cast +again your eyes widespread over the ocean—see the vessels in every +direction with their white sheets spread to the winds of heaven, +freighted with the commerce, merchandise and wealth of many nations. +Look as you pass along through the cities, at the great and massive +buildings—the beautiful and extensive structures of +architecture—behold the ten thousand cupolas, with their spires all +reared up towards heaven, intersecting the territory of the clouds—all +standing as mighty living monuments, of the industry, enterprise, and +intelligence of the white man. And yet, with all these living truths, +rebuking us with scorn, we strut about, place our hands akimbo, +straighten up ourselves to our greatest height, and talk loudly about +being "as good as any body." How do we compare with them? Our fathers +are their coachmen, our brothers their cookmen, and ourselves their +waiting-men. Our mothers their nurse-women, our sisters their +scrub-women, our daughters their maid-women, and our wives their +washer-women. Until colored men, attain to a position above permitting +their mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters, to do the drudgery and +menial offices of other men's wives and daughters; it is useless, it is +nonsense, it is pitiable mockery, to talk about equality and elevation +in society. The world is looking upon us, with feelings of +commiseration, sorrow, and contempt. We scarcely deserve sympathy, if we +peremptorily refuse advice, bearing upon our elevation.</p> + +<p>We will suppose a case for argument: In this city reside, two colored +families, of three sons and three daughters each. At the head of each +family, there is an old father and mother. The opportunities of these +families, may or may not be the same for educational advantages—be that +as it may, the children of the one go to school, and become qualified +for the duties of life. One daughter becomes school-teacher, another a +mantua-maker, and a third a fancy shop-keeper; while one son becomes a +farmer, another a merchant, and a third a mechanic. All enter into +business with fine prospects, marry respectably, and settle down in +domestic comfort—while the six sons and daughters of the other family, +grow up without educational and business qualifications, and the highest +aim they have, is to apply to the sons and daughters of the first named +family, to hire for domestics! Would there be an equality here between +the children of these two families? Certainly not. This, then, is +precisely the position of the colored people generally in the United +States, compared with the whites. What is necessary to be done, in order +to attain an equality, is to change the condition, and the person is at +once changed. If, as before stated, a knowledge of all the various +business enterprises, trades, professions, and sciences, is necessary +for the elevation of the white, a knowledge of them also is necessary +for the elevation of the colored man; and he cannot be elevated without +them.</p> + +<p>White men are producers—we are consumers. They build houses, and we +rent them. They raise produce, and we consume it. They manufacture +clothes and wares, and we garnish ourselves with them. They build +coaches, vessels, cars, hotels, saloons, and other vehicles and places +of accommodation, and we deliberately wait until they have got them in +readiness, then walk in, and contend with as much assurance for a +"right," as though the whole thing was bought by, paid for, and belonged +to us. By their literary attainments, they are the contributors to, +authors and teachers of, literature, science, religion, law, medicine, +and all other useful attainments that the world now makes use of. We +have no reference to ancient times—we speak of modern things.</p> + +<p>These are the means by which God intended man to succeed: and this +discloses the secret of the white man's success with all of his +wickedness, over the head of the colored man, with all of his religion. +We have been pointed and plain, on this part of the subject, because we +desire our readers to see persons and things in their true position. +Until we are determined to change the condition of things, and raise +ourselves above the position in which we are now prostrated, we must +hang our heads in sorrow, and hide our faces in shame. It is enough to +know that these things are so; the causes we care little about. Those we +have been examining, complaining about, and moralising over, all our +life time. This we are weary of. What we desire to learn now is, how to +effect a <i>remedy</i>; this we have endeavored to point out. Our elevation +must be the result of <i>self-efforts</i>, and work of our <i>own hands</i>. No +other human power can accomplish it. If we but determine it shall be so, +it will be so. Let each one make the case his own, and endeavor to rival +his neighbor, in honorable competition.</p> + +<p>These are the proper and only means of elevating ourselves and attaining +equality in this country or any other, and it is useless, utterly +futile, to think about going any where, except we are determined to use +these as the necessary means of developing our manhood. The means are at +hand, within our reach. Are we willing to try them? Are we willing to +raise ourselves superior to the condition of slaves, or continue the +meanest underlings, subject to the beck and call of every creature +bearing a pale complexion? If we are, we had as well remained in the +South, as to have come to the North in search of more freedom. What was +the object of our parents in leaving the south, if it were not for the +purpose of attaining equality in common with others of their fellow +citizens, by giving their children access to all the advantages enjoyed +by others? Surely this was their object. They heard of liberty and +equality here, and they hastened on to enjoy it, and no people are more +astonished and disappointed than they, who for the first time, on +beholding the position we occupy here in the free north—what is called, +and what they expect to find, the free States. They at once tell us, +that they have as much liberty in the south as we have in the +north—that there as free people, they are protected in their +rights—that we have nothing more—that in other respects they have the +same opportunity, indeed the preferred opportunity, of being their +maids, servants, cooks, waiters, and menials in general, there, as we +have here—that had they known for a moment, before leaving, that such +was to be the only position they occupied here, they would have remained +where they were, and never left. Indeed, such is the disappointment in +many cases, that they immediately return back again, completely insulted +at the idea, of having us here at the north, assume ourselves to be +their superiors. Indeed, if our superior advantages of the free States, +do not induce and stimulate us to the higher attainments in life, what +in the name of degraded humanity will do it? Nothing, surely nothing. +If, in fine, the advantages of free schools in Massachusetts, New York, +Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and wherever else we may have them, do not +give us advantages and pursuits superior to our slave brethren, then are +the unjust assertions of Messrs. Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Theodore +Frelinghuysen, late Governor Poindexter of Mississippi, George McDuffy, +Governor Hammond of South Carolina, Extra Billy (present Governor) +Smith, of Virginia, and the host of our oppressors, slave-holders and +others, true, that we are insusceptible and incapable of elevation to +the more respectable, honorable, and higher attainments among white men. +But this we do not believe—neither do you, although our whole life and +course of policy in this country are such, that it would seem to prove +otherwise. The degradation of the slave parent has been entailed upon +the child, induced by the subtle policy of the oppressor, in regular +succession handed down from father to son—a system of regular +submission and servitude, menialism and dependence, until it has become +almost a physiological function of our system, an actual condition of +our nature. Let this no longer be so, but let us determine to equal the +whites among whom we live, not by declarations and unexpressed +self-opinion, for we have always had enough of that, but by actual proof +in acting, doing, and carrying out practically, the measures of +equality. Here is our nativity, and here have we the natural right to +abide and be elevated through the measures of our own efforts.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI</h2> + +<h2>THE UNITED STATES OUR COUNTRY</h2> + +<p>Our common country is the United States. Here were we born, here raised +and educated; here are the scenes of childhood; the pleasant +associations of our school going days; the loved enjoyments of our +domestic and fireside relations, and the sacred graves of our departed +fathers and mothers, and from here will we not be driven by any policy +that may be schemed against us.</p> + +<p>We are Americans, having a birthright citizenship—natural claims upon +the country—claims common to all others of our fellow citizens—natural +rights, which may, by virtue of unjust laws, be obstructed, but never +can be annulled. Upon these do we place ourselves, as immovably fixed as +the decrees of the living God. But according to the economy that +regulates the policy of nations, upon which rests the basis of +justifiable claims to all freeman's rights, it may be necessary to take +another view of, and enquire into the political claims of colored men.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII</h2> + +<h2>CLAIMS OF COLORED MEN AS CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES</h2> + +<p>The political basis upon which rests the establishment of all free +nations, as the first act in their organization, is the security by +constitutional provisions, of the fundamental claims of citizenship.</p> + +<p>The legitimate requirement, politically considered, necessary to the +justifiable claims for protection and full enjoyment of all the rights +and privileges of an unqualified freeman, in all democratic countries +is, that each person so endowed, shall have made contributions and +investments in the country. Where there is no investment there can be +but little interest; hence an adopted citizen is required to reside a +sufficient length of time, to form an attachment and establish some +interest in the country of his adoption, before he can rightfully lay +any claims to citizenship. The pioneer who leads in the discovery or +settlement of a country, as the first act to establish a right therein, +erects a building of whatever dimensions, and seizes upon a portion of +the soil. The soldier, who braves the dangers of the battle-field, in +defence of his country's rights, and the toiling laborer and husbandman, +who cuts down and removes the forest, levels and constructs post-roads +and other public highways—the mechanic, who constructs and builds up +houses, villages, towns, and cities, for the conveniency of +inhabitants—the farmer, who cultivates the soil for the production of +breadstuffs and forage, as food and feed for man and beast—all of +these are among the first people of a democratic state, whose claims are +legitimate as freemen of the commonwealth. A freeman in a political +sense, is a citizen of unrestricted rights in the state, being eligible +to the highest position known to their civil code. They are the +preferred persons in whom may be invested the highest privileges, and to +whom may be entrusted fundamentally the most sacred rights of the +country; because, having made the greatest investments, they necessarily +have the greatest interests; and consequently, are the safest hands into +which to place so high and sacred a trust. Their interest being the +country's, and the interest of the country being the interest of the +people; therefore, the protection of their own interests necessarily +protects the interests of the whole country and people. It is this +simple but great principle of primitive rights, that forms the +fundamental basis of citizenship in all free countries, and it is upon +this principle, that the rights of the colored man in this country to +citizenship are fixed.</p> + +<p>The object of this volume is, to enlighten the minds of a large class of +readers upon a subject with which they are unacquainted, expressed in +comprehensible language, therefore we have studiously avoided using +political and legal phrases, that would serve more to perplex than +inform them. To talk about the barons, King John, and the Magna Charta, +would be foreign to a work like this, and only destroy the interest that +otherwise might be elicited in the subject. Our desire is, to arrest the +attention of the American people in general, and the colored people in +particular, to great truths as heretofore but little thought of. What +claims then have colored men, based upon the principles set forth, as +fundamentally entitled to citizenship? Let the living records of history +answer the enquiry.</p> + +<p>When Christopher Columbus, in 1492, discovered America, natives were +found to pay little or no attention to cultivation, being accustomed by +hereditary pursuit, to war, fishing, and the sports of the chase. The +Spaniards and Portuguese, as well as other Europeans who ventured here, +came as mineral speculators, and not for the purpose of improving the +country.</p> + +<p>As the first objects of speculation are the developments of the mineral +wealth of every newly discovered country, so was it with this. Those who +came to the new world, were not of the common people, seeking in a +distant land the means of livelihood, but moneyed capitalists, the +grandees and nobles, who reduced the natives to servitude by confining +them to the mines. To have brought large numbers of the peasantry at +that early period, from the monarchies of Europe, to the wilds of +America, far distant from the civil and military powers of the home +governments, would have been to place the means of self-control into +their own hands, and invite them to rebellion against the crowns. The +capitalist miners were few, compared to the number of laborers required; +and the difficulty at that time of the transportation of suitable +provisions for their sustenance, conduced much to the objection of +bringing them here. The natives were numerous, then easily approached by +the wily seductions of the Europeans, easily yoked and supported, having +the means of sustenance at hand, the wild fruits and game of the forest, +the fish of the waters and birds of the country. All these as naturally +enough, European adventurers would be cautious against introducing into +common use among hundreds of thousands of laborers, under all the +influences incident of a foreign climate in a foreign country, in its +primitive natural state. The Indians were then preferred for many +reasons, as the common laborers on the continent, where nothing but the +mining interests were thought of or carried on. This noble race of +Aborigines, continued as the common slaves of the new world, to bear the +yoke of foreign oppression, until necessity induced a substitute for +them. They sunk by scores under the heavy weight of oppression, and were +fast passing from the shores of time. At this, the foreigners grew +alarmed, and of necessity, devised ways and means to obtain an adequate +substitute. A few European laborers were brought into the country, but +the influence of climate and mode of living, operated entirely against +them. They were as inadequate to stand the climate, as the nobles were +themselves.</p> + +<p>From the earliest period of the history of nations, the African race had +been known as an industrious people, cultivators of the soil. The grain +fields of Ethiopia and Egypt were the themes of the poet, and their +garners, the subject of the historian. Like the present America, all the +world went to Africa, to get a supply of commodities. Their massive +piles of masonry, their skilful architecture, their subterranean vaults, +their deep and mysterious wells, their extensive artificial channels, +their mighty sculptured solid rocks, and provinces of stone quarries; +gave indisputable evidence, of the hardihood of that race of people.</p> + +<p>Nor was Africa then, without the evidence of industry, as history will +testify. All travelers who had penetrated towards the interior of the +continent, have been surprised at the seeming state of civilization and +evidences of industry among the inhabitants of that vast country. These +facts were familiar to Europeans, who were continually trading on the +coast of Africa, as it was then the most important part of adventure and +research, known to the world. In later periods still, the history of +African travelers, confirm all the former accounts concerning the +industry of the people.</p> + +<p>John and Richard Lander, two young English noblemen, in 1828, under the +patronage of the English government, sailed to the western coast of +Africa, on an expedition of research. In their voyage up the river +Niger, their description of the scenes is extravagant. They represent +the country on each side of the river, for several hundred miles up the +valley, as being not only beautiful and picturesque, but the fields as +in a high state of cultivation, clothed in the verdure of husbandry, +waving before the gentle breezes, with the rich products of +industry—maize, oats, rye, millet, and wheat, being among the fruits of +cultivation. The fences were of various descriptions: hedge, wicker, +some few pannel, and the old fashioned zig-zag, known as the "Virginia +worm fence"—the hedge and worm fence being the most common. Their +cattle were fine and in good order, looking in every particular, except +perhaps in size, as well as European cattle on the best managed farms. +The fruit groves were delightful to the eye of the beholder. Every +variety common to the country, were there to be seen in a high state of +cultivation. Their roads and public highways were in good condition, and +well laid out, as by the direction of skillful supervising surveyors. +The villages, towns, and cities, many of them, being a credit to the +people. Their cities were well laid out, and presented evidence of +educated minds and mechanical ingenuity. In many of the workshops in +which they went, they found skillful workmen, in iron, copper, brass, +steel, and gold; and their implements of husbandry and war, were as well +manufactured by African sons of toil, as any in the English +manufactories, save that they had not quite so fine a finish, garnish +and embellishment. This is a description, given of the industry and +adaptedness of the people of Africa, to labor and toil of every kind. As +it was very evident, that where there were manufactories of various +metals, the people must of necessity be inured to mining operations, so +it was also very evident, that this people must be a very hardy and +enduring people.</p> + +<p>In 1442, fifty years previous to the sailing of Columbus in search of a +new world, Anthony Gonzales, Portuguese, took from the gold coast of +Guinea, ten Africans and a quantity of gold dust, which he carried back +to Lisbon with him. These Africans were set immediately to work in the +gardens of the emperor, which so pleased his queen, that the number were +much augmented, all of whom were found to be skillful and industrious in +agriculture.</p> + +<p>In 1481, eleven years prior to the discovery by Columbus, the Portuguese +built a fort on the Gold Coast, and there commenced mining in search of +gold. During this time until the year 1502, a period of ten years, had +there been no other evidence, there was sufficient time and opportunity, +to give full practical demonstrations of the capacity of this people to +endure toil, especially in the mining operations, and for this cause and +this alone, were they selected in preference to any other race of men, +to do the labor of the New World. They had proven themselves physically +superior either to the European or American races—in fact, superior +physically to any living race of men—enduring fatigue, hunger and +thirst—enduring change of climate, habits, manners and customs, with +infinitely far less injury to their physical and mental system, than any +other people on the face of God's earth.</p> + +<blockquote><p>The following extract shows, that even up to the year 1676, the +Indians were enslaved—but that little value were attached to them +as laborers, as the price at which they were disposed and sold to +purchasers, fully shows:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Slavery in Providence, R.I.</span>—Immediately after the +struggle between the natives and some of the New England settlers, +known as "King Philip's war," it became necessary to dispose of +certain Indian captives then in Providence. The method adopted was +common in that day, but to us remarkable, as also the names of +those who figured prominently therein. Only think of <span class="smcap">Roger +Williams</span> sharing in the proceeds of a slave sale. The +following is from the "Annals of Providence."</p> + +<p>"A town meeting was held before Thomas Field's house, under a tree, +by the water side, on the 14th of August, 1676. A committee was +appointed to determine in what manner the Indians should be +disposed of. They reported as follows:</p> + +<p>"Inhabitants wanting, can have Indians at the price they sell at +the Island of Rhode Island or elsewhere. All under five, to serve +till thirty; above five and under ten, till twenty-eight; above ten +to fifteen, till twenty-seven; above fifteen to twenty, till +twenty-six; from twenty to thirty, shall serve eight years; all +above thirty, seven years.</p> + +<p>"We whose names are underwritten, being chosen by the town to see +the disposal of the Indians now in town, we agree that Roger +Williams, N. Waterman, T. Fenner, H. Ashton, J. Morey, D. Abbot, J. +Olney, V. Whitman, J. Whipple, sen., E. Pray, J. Pray, J. Angell, +Jas. Angell, T. Arnold, A. Man, T. Field, E. Bennett, T. Clemence, +W. Lancaster, W. Hopkins, W. Hawkins, W. Harris, Z. Field, S. +Winsor, and Capt. Fenner, shall each have a whole share in the +product. I. Woodward and R. Pray, three-fourths of a share each. J. +Smith, E. Smith, S. Whipple, N. Whipple, and T. Walling each half a +share."</p> + +<p>Signed, "Roger Williams, Thomas Harris, sen., Thomas X Angell, +Thomas Field, John Whipple, Jr."</p> + +<p>To gratify curiosity as to the price of Indians on those terms, the +following extracts are made from an account of sales about this +time;</p> + +<p>"To Anthony Low, five Indians, great and small, £8.</p> + +<p>"To James Rogers, two, for twenty bushels of Indian corn.</p> + +<p>"To Philip Smith, two, in silver, $4 10.</p> + +<p>"To Daniel Allen, one, in silver, $2 10.</p> + +<p>"To C. Carr, one, twelve bushels of Indian corn.</p> + +<p>"To Elisha Smith, one, in wool, 100 lbs.</p> + +<p>"To Elisha Smith, one, for three fat sheep."</p></blockquote> + +<p>From 1492, the discovery of Hispaniola, to 1502, the short space of but +four years, such was the mortality among the natives, that the Spaniards +then holding rule there, "began to employ a few" Africans in the mines +of the Island. The experiment was effective—a successful one. The +Indian and African were enslaved together, when the Indian sunk, and the +African stood. It was not until June the 24th of the year 1498, that the +Continent was discovered by John Cabot, a Venetian, who sailed in August +of the previous year 1497, from Bristol, under the patronage of Henry +VII., King of England, with two vessels, "freighted by the merchants of +London and Bristol, with articles of traffic," his son Sebastian, and +300 men. In 1517, but the short period of thirteen years from the date +of their first introduction, Carolus V., King of Spain, by the right of +a patent, granted permission to a number of persons, annually, to supply +to the Islands of Hispaniola, (St. Domingo,) Cuba, Jamaica, and Porto +Rico, natives of Africa, to the number of four thousand annually. John +Hawkins, an unprincipled Englishman—whose name should be branded with +infamy—was the first person known to have engaged in so inhuman a +traffic, and that living monster his mistress, Queen Elizabeth, engaged +with him and shared in the profits.</p> + +<p>The natives of Africa, on their introduction into a foreign country, +soon discovered the loss of their accustomed food, and mode and manner +of living. The Aborigines subsisted mainly by game and fish, with a few +patches of maize or Indian corn near their wigwams, which were generally +attended by the women, while the men were absent. The grains and +fruits, such as they had been accustomed to, were not to be had among +the Aborigines of the country, and this first induced the African to +cultivate patches of ground in the neighborhood of the mines, for the +raising of food for his own sustenance. This trait in their character +was observed, and regarded by the Spaniards with considerable interest; +and when on contracting with the English slave-dealer, Captain Hawkins, +and others for new supplies of slaves, they were careful to request them +to secure a quantity of the seeds and different products of the country, +to bring with them to the New World. Many of these were cultivated to +some extent, while those indigenous to America, were cultivated by them +with considerable success. And up to this day, it is a custom on many of +the slave plantations of the South, to allow the slave his "patch," and +Saturday afternoon or Sabbath day, to cultivate it.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the commencement of the shameful traffic in the blood and +bones of men—the destiny and chastity of women by Captain Hawkins, and +what was termed England's "Virgin Queen"; Elizabeth gave a license to +Sir Walter Raleigh, to search for uninhabited lands, and seize upon all +uninhabited by Christians. Sir Walter discovered the coast of North +Carolina and Virginia, assigning the name of "Virginia" to the whole +coast now composing the old state. A feeble colony was settled here, +which did not avail, and it was not until the month of April, 1607, that +the first permanent settlement was made in Virginia, under the patronage +of letters patent from James I, King of England, to Thomas Gates and his +associates.</p> + +<p>This was the first settling of North America, and thirteen years +anterior to the landing of the Pilgrims.</p> + +<p>"No permanent settlement was effected in what is now called the United +States, till the reign of James the First."—<i>Ramsay's Hist. U.S.</i>, vol. +I., p. 38.</p> + +<p>"The month of April, 1607, is the epoch of the first permanent +settlement on the coast of Virginia; the name then given to all that +extent of country which forms thirteen States."—<i>Ibid.</i>, p. 39. The +whole coast of the country was now explored, not for the purpose of +trade and agriculture—because there were no products in the +country—the natives not producing sufficient provisions to supply +present wants, and, consequently, nothing to trade for; but like the +speculations of their Spanish and Portuguese predecessors, on the +islands and in South America, but for that of mining gold. Trade and the +cultivation of the soil was foreign to their designs and intention on +coming to the continent of the new world, and they were consequently, +disappointed when failing of success. "At a time when the precious +metals were conceived to be the peculiar and only valuable productions +of the new world, when every mountain was supposed to contain a +treasure, and every rivulet was searched for its golden sands, this +appearance was fondly considered as an infallible indication of the +mine. Every hand was eager to dig."...</p> + +<p>"There was now," says Smith, "no talk, no hope, no work; but dig gold, +wash gold, refine gold. With this imaginary wealth, the first vessel +returning to England was loaded, while the <i>culture of the land</i>, and +every useful occupation was <i>totally neglected</i>."...</p> + +<p>The colonists, thus left, were in miserable circumstances for want of +provisions. The remainder of what they had brought with them, was so +small in quantity, as to be soon expended—and so damaged in the course +of a long voyage, as to be a source of disease.... In their expectation +of getting gold, the people were disappointed, the glittering substance +they had sent to England, proving to be a valueless mineral. "Smith, on +his return to Jamestown, found the colony reduced to thirty-eight +persons, who, in despair, were preparing to abandon the country. He +employed caresses, threats, and even violence, in order to prevent them +from executing this fatal resolution." <i>Ibid.</i>, pp. 45-46. In November, +1620, the Pilgrims or Puritans made the harbor of Cape Cod, and after +solemn vows and organization previous to setting foot on shore, they +landed safely on "Plymouth Rock," December the 20th, about one month +after. They were one hundred and one in number, and from the toils and +hardships consequent to a severe season, in a strange country, in less +than six months after their arrival, "forty-four persons, nearly +one-half of their original number," had died.</p> + +<p>... "In 1618, in the reign of James I, the British government +established a regular trade on the coast of Africa. In the year 1620, +negro slaves began to be imported into Virginia: a Dutch ship bringing +twenty of them for sale."—<i>Sampson's Hist. Dict.</i>, p. 348. The Dutch +ship landed her cargo at New Bedford, (now Massachusetts,) as it will be +remembered, that the whole coast, now comprising the "Old Thirteen," and +original United States, was then called Virginia, so named by Sir Walter +Raleigh, in honor of his royal Mistress and patron, Elizabeth, the +Virgin Queen, under whom he received his royal patent commission of +adventure and expedition.</p> + +<p>Beginning their preparation in the slave-trade in 1618, just two years +previous, giving time for successfully carrying out the project against +the landing of the first emigrant settlers, it will be observed that the +African captain, and the "Puritan" emigrants, landed upon the same +section of the continent at the same time, 1620—the Pilgrims at +Plymouth, and the captives at New Bedford, but a few miles +comparatively south.</p> + +<p>The country at this period, was one vast wilderness. "The continent of +North America was then one continued forest."... There were no horses, +cattle, sheep, hogs, or tame beasts of any kind.... There were no +domestic poultry.... There were no gardens, orchards, public roads, +meadows, or cultivated fields.... They "often burned the woods that they +could advantageously plant their corn."... They had neither spice, salt, +bread, butter, cheese, nor milk.... They had no set meals, but eat when +they were hungry, and could find any thing to satisfy the cravings of +nature.... Very little of their food was derived from the earth, except +what it spontaneously produced.... The ground was both their seat and +table.... Their best bed was a skin.... They had neither steel, iron, +nor any metallic instruments....—<i>Ramsay's Hist.</i>, pp. 39-40.</p> + +<p>We adduce not these historical extracts to disparage our brother the +Indian—far be it: whatever he may think of our race, according to the +manner in which he has been instructed to look upon it, by our mutual +oppressor the American nation; we admire his, for the many deeds of +noble daring, for which the short history of his liberty-loving people +are replete: we sympathise with them, because our brethren are the +successors of their fathers in the degradation of American bondage—but +we adduce them in evidence against the many aspersions charged against +the African race, that their inferiority to the other races caused them +to be reduced to servitude. For the purpose of proving that their +superiority, and not inferiority, alone was the cause which first +suggested to Europeans the substitution of Africans for that of +aboriginal or Indian laborers in the mines; and that their superior +skill and industry, first suggested to the colonists, the propriety of +turning their attention to agricultural and other industrial pursuits, +than that of mining.</p> + +<p>It is very evident, from what has been adduced, the settlement of +Captain John Smith, being in the course of a few months, reduced to +thirty-eight, and that of Plymouth, from one hundred and one, to that of +fifty-seven in six months—it is evident, that the whites nor the +Indians were equal to the hard and almost insurmountable difficulties, +that now stood wide-spread before them.</p> + +<p>An endless forest, the impenetrable earth; the one to be removed, and +the other to be excavated. Towns and cities to be built, and farms to be +cultivated—all these presented difficulties too arduous for the +European then here, and unknown to the Indian.</p> + +<p>It is very evident, that at a period such as this, when the natives +themselves had fallen victims to tasks imposed upon them by their +usurpers, and the Europeans were sinking beneath the weight of climate +and hardships; when food could not be had nor the common conveniences of +life procured—when arduous duties of life were to be performed and none +capable of doing them, but those who had previously by their labors, not +only in their native country, but in the new, so proven themselves—as +the most natural consequence, the Africans were resorted to, for the +performance of every duty common to domestic life.</p> + +<p>There were no laborers known to the colonists from Cape Cod to Cape Look +Out, than those of the African race. They entered at once into the +mines, extracting therefrom, the rich treasures that for a thousand ages +lay hidden in the earth. And from their knowledge of cultivation, the +farming interests in the North, and planting in the South, were +commenced with a prospect never dreamed of before the introduction of +this most extraordinary, hardy race of men: though pagans, yet skilled +in all the useful duties of life. Farmers, herdsmen, and laborers in +their own country, they required not to be taught to work, and how to do +it—but it was only necessary to tell them to go to work, and they at +once knew what to do, and how it should be done.</p> + +<p>It is notorious, that in the planting States, the blacks themselves are +the only skillful cultivators—the proprietor knowing little or nothing +about the art, save that which he learns from the African husbandman, +while his ignorant white overseer, who is merely there to see that the +work is attended to, knows a great deal less. Tobacco, cotton, rice, +hemp, indigo, the improvement in Indian corn, and many other important +products, are all the result of African skill and labor in this country. +And the introduction of the zigzag, or "Virginia Worm Fence," is purely +of African origin. Nor was their skill as herdsmen inferior to their +other attainments, being among the most accomplished trainers and +horsemen in the world. Indeed, to this class of men may be indebted the +entire country for the improvement South in the breed of horses. And any +one who has travelled South, could not fail to have observed, that all +of the leading trainers, jockies, and judges of horses, as well as +riders, are men of African descent.</p> + +<p>In speaking of the Bornouese, a people from among whom a great many +natives have been enslaved by Arabian traders, and sold into foreign +bondage, and of course many into this country, "It is said that Bornou +can muster 15,000 Shonaas in the field mounted. They are the greatest +breeders of cattle in the country, and annually supply Soudan with from +two to three thousand horses."... "Our road lying along one of them, +gave me an excellent view of beautiful villages all round, and herds of +cattle grazing in the open country."... "Plantations of cotton or indigo +now occupy the place where the houses formerly stood."... "The Souga +market is well supplied with every necessary and luxury in request among +the people of the interior." "The country still open and well +cultivated, and the villages numerous. We met crowds of people coming +from Karro with goods. Some carried them on their heads, others had +asses or bullocks, according to their wealth."... "The country still +highly cultivated."... "We also passed several walled towns, quite +deserted, the inhabitants having been sold by their conquerors, the +Felatohs." "Women sat spinning cotton by the road side, offering for +sale to the passing caravans, gussub water, roast-meat, sweet potatoes, +coshen nuts," &c. (<i>Dunham and Clapperton's Travels and Discoveries in +North and Central Africa</i>, vol. 2, pp. 140, 230, 332, 333, 353.)</p> + +<p>The forests gave way before them, and extensive verdant fields, richly +clothed with produce, rose up as by magic before these hardy sons of +toil. In the place of the unskillful and ill-constructed wigwam, houses, +villages, towns and cities quickly were reared up in their stead. Being +farmers, mechanics, laborers and traders in their own country, they +required little or no instruction in these various pursuits. They were +in fact, then, to the whole continent, what they are in truth now to the +whole Southern section of the Union—the bone and sinews of the country. +And even now, the existence of the white man, South, depends entirely on +the labor of the black man—the idleness of the one, is sustained by the +industry of the other. Public roads and highways are the result of their +labor, as are also the first public works, as wharves, docks, forts, and +all such improvements. Are not these legitimate investments in the +common stock of the nation, which should command a proportionate +interest?</p> + +<p>We shall next proceed to review the contributions of colored men to +other departments of the nation, and as among the most notorious and +historical, we refer to colored American warriors.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII</h2> + +<h2>COLORED AMERICAN WARRIORS</h2> + +<p>Among the highest claims that an inhabitant has upon his country, is +that of serving in its cause, and assisting to fight its battles. There +is no responsibility attended with more personal hazard, and +consequently, none for which the country owes a greater debt of +gratitude. <i>Amor patria</i>, or love of country, is the first requisition +and highest attribute of every citizen; and he who voluntarily ventures +his own safety for that of his country, is a patriot of the purest +character.</p> + +<p>When the country's attention is arrested—her fears aroused—her peace +disturbed, and her independence endangered—when in the dread and +momentous hour, the tap of the drum, the roll of the reveille, the +shrill sound of the bugler's trumpet, or the thunders of the cannon's +roar, summons the warrior on to the pending conflict—upon whom then do +the citizens place their dependence, and in whom the country her trust? +Upon him who braves the consequences, and fights his country's battles +for his country's sake. Upon whom does the country look, as the most +eligible of her favored sons? Upon none more so than he, who shoulders +his musket, girds on his sword, and faces the enemy on to the charge. +The hero and the warrior, have long been estimated, the favorite sons of +a favored people.</p> + +<p>In the Convention for the formation of the national compact, when the +question arose on the priority of citizen's rights, an honorable +member—Mr. Jefferson, if we mistake not—arose and stated, that for the +purpose of henceforward settling a question of such moment to the +American people, that nativity of birth, and the descendants of all who +had borne arms in their country's struggle for liberty, should be always +entitled to all the rights and privileges to which an American citizen +could be eligible. This at once, enfranchised the native citizen, and +the posterity of all those at the time, who may have been so fortunate +as to have been born on the American continent. The question was at once +settled, as regards American citizenship. And if we establish our right +of equal claims to citizenship with other American people, we shall have +done all that is desirable in this view of our position in the country. +But if in addition to this, we shall be able to prove, that colored men, +not only took part in the great scene of the first act for independence, +but that they were the actors—a colored man was really the hero in the +great drama, and actually the first victim in the revolutionary +tragedy—then indeed, shall we have more than succeeded, and have reared +a monument of fame to the history of our deeds, more lasting than the +pile that stands on Bunker Hill.</p> + +<p>For a concise historical arrangement of colored men, who braved the +dangers of the battlefield, we are much indebted to William C. Nell, +Esq., formerly of Boston, now of Rochester, N.Y., for a pamphlet, +published by him during the last year, which should be read by every +American the country through.</p> + +<p>For ten years previous, a dissatisfaction had prevailed among the +colonists, against the mother country, in consequence of the excessive +draughts of supplies, and taxation, made upon them, for the support of +the wars carried on in Europe. The aspect began to change, the light +grew dim, the sky darkened, the clouds gathered lower and lower, the +lightning glimmered through the black elements around—the storm +advanced, until on the fifth of March, 1773, it broke out in terrible +blasts, drenching the virgin soil of America, with the blood of her own +native sons—Crispus Attuck, a colored man, was the first who headed, +the first who commanded, the first who charged, who struck the first +blow, and the first whose blood was spilt, and baptized the colony, as a +peace-offering on the altar of American liberty. "The people were +greatly exasperated. The multitude, armed with clubs, ran towards King +street, crying, 'Let us drive out the ribalds; they have no business +here!' The rioters rushed furiously towards the Custom House; they +approached the sentinel crying, 'Kill him, kill him!' They assaulted him +with snowballs, pieces of ice, and whatever they could lay their hands +upon. They encountered a band of the populace led by a mulatto named +Attucks, who brandished their clubs and pelted them with snow-balls. The +maledictions, the imprecations, the execrations of the multitudes were +horrible. In the midst of a torrent of invectives from every quarter, +the military were challenged to fire. The populace advanced to the +points of the bayonets; the soldiers appeared like statues; the cries, +the howlings, the menaces, the violent din of bells still sounding the +alarm, increased the confusion and the horrors of these moments: at +length the mulatto and twelve of his companions, pressing forward +environed the soldiers, and striking their muskets with their clubs +cried to the multitude: 'Be not afraid, they dare not fire; why do you +hesitate, why do you not kill them, why not crush them at once?' The +mulatto lifted his arm against Captain Preston, having turned one of the +muskets, he seized the bayonet with his left hand, as if he intended to +execute his threat. At this moment confused cries were heard: 'The +wretches dare not fire!' Firing succeeds. Attucks is slain. Two other +discharges follow. Three were killed, five severely wounded, and several +others slightly." Attucks was killed by Montgomery, one of Captain +Preston's soldiers. He had been foremost in resisting, and was first +slain; as proof of front and close engagement, received two balls, one +in each breast." "John Adams, counsel for the soldier, admitted that +Attucks appeared to have undertaken to be the hero of the night, and to +lead the army with banners. John Hancock, in 1774, invokes the injured +shades of Maverick, Gray, Caldwell, <i>Attucks</i> and Carr." <i>Nell's Wars</i>, +1776 and 1812, pp. 5, 6.—<span class="smcap">Rhode Island</span> also contributes largely +to the capital stock of citizenship. "In Rhode Island, the blacks formed +an entire regiment, and they discharged their duty with zeal and +fidelity. The gallant defence of Red Bank, in which the black regiment +bore a part, is among the proofs of their valor." In this contest it +will be recollected, that four hundred men met and repulsed, after a +terrible sanguinary struggle, fifteen hundred Hessian troops, headed by +count Donop." <i>Ibid.</i>, p. 10. <span class="smcap">Connecticut</span> next claims to be +heard and given credit on the nation's books. In speaking of the +patriots who bore the standard of their country's glory, Judge Goddard, +who held the office of commissioner of pensions for nineteen colored +soldiers, says, "I cannot refrain from mentioning one aged black man, +Primus Babcock, who proudly presented to me an honorable discharge from +service during the war, dated at the close of it, wholly in the +hand-writing of <span class="smcap">George Washington</span>. Nor can I forget the +expression of his feelings, when informed that, after his discharge had +been sent to the department, that it could not be returned. At his +request it was written for, as he seemed to spurn the pension and +reclaim the discharge." It is related of Babcock, that when the British +in a successful charge took a number of the Americans prisoners, they +were ordered to deliver up their arms by the British officer of the +detachment, which demand was readily conceded to by all the prisoners +except Babcock, who looking at the officer sternly—at the margin of a +mud pond foot of Bunker Hill—turned his musket bayonet downwards, +thrusting it into the mire up to the armpit, drawing out his muddy arm, +turned to the British officer, and said, "Now dirty your silk glove, and +take it—you red coat!" The officer raised his sword as if to cut him +down for the impertinence, then replied, "You are too brave a soldier to +be killed, you black devil!" A few years since, a musket evidently a +relic of the Revolution, was found near the same spot in the singular +position of that thrust down by Babcock, no doubt being the same, which +was deposited among the relics in the archives at Washington. Babcock +died but a few years ago, aged we believe 101 years.</p> + +<p>"When Major Montgomery, one of the leaders in the expedition against the +colonists, was lifted upon the walls of the fort by his soldiers, +flourishing his sword and calling on them to follow him, Jordan Freeman +received him on the point of a pike and pinned him dead to the earth." +"<span class="smcap">New Hampshire</span> gives her testimony to the deposit of colored +interest. There was a regiment of blacks in the same situation, a +regiment of negroes fighting for our liberty and independence, not a +white man among them but the officers, in the same dangerous and +responsible position. Had they been unfaithful, or given way before the +enemy all would have been lost. Three times in succession were they +attacked with most desperate fury by well disciplined and veteran +troops, and three times did they successfully repel the assault, and +thus preserve the army. They fought thus through the war. They were +brave and hearty troops." <i>Nell</i>, pp. 11, 13.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">New York</span> comes bravely to the call, and sends her investments +by land and sea. In the convention of 1821, for revising the +constitution of the State, the question of equal rights having been +introduced, Doctor Clarke among other things said, "In the war of the +Revolution, these people helped to fight our battles by land and by sea. +Some of your states were glad to turn out corps of colored men, and to +stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with them. In your late war, they +contributed largely towards some of your most splendid victories. On +lakes Erie and Champlain, where your fleets triumphed over a foe +superior in numbers and engines of death, they were manned in a large +proportion with men of color. And in this very house, in the fall of +1814, a bill passed receiving all the branches of your government, +authorising the governor to accept the services of a corps of two +thousand free people of color. These were times when a man who +shouldered his musket did not know but he bared his bosom to receive a +death wound from the enemy ere he laid it aside; and in these times +these people were found as ready and as willing to volunteer in your +service as any other. They were not compelled to go; they were not +draughted.... They were volunteers...." Said Martindale of New York in +congress 22 of first month 1828: "Slaves, or negroes who had been +slaves, were enlisted as soldiers in the War of the Revolution; and I +myself saw a battalion of them, as fine martial looking men as I ever +saw, attached to the northern army in the last war, on its march from +Plattsburg to Sackett's Harbor."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Pennsylvania</span> contributes an important share in the stock of +Independence, as will be seen by the following historical reminiscence: +"On the capture of Washington by the British forces, it was judged +expedient to fortify without delay, the principal towns and cities +exposed to similar attacks. The Vigilance Committee of Philadelphia +waited upon three of the principal Colored citizens, namely, James +Forten, Bishop Allen, and Absalom Jones, soliciting the aid of the +people of Color in erecting suitable defences for the city. Accordingly +two thousand five hundred Colored men assembled in the State House yard, +and from thence marched to Gray's Ferry, where they labored for two +days, almost without intermission. Their labors were so faithful and +efficient, that a vote of thanks was tendered them by the Committee. A +battalion of Colored troops were at the same time organized in the city, +under an officer of the United States army; and they were on the point +of marching to the frontier when peace was proclaimed."—<i>Ibid.</i>, pp. +14-17-18.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>And even in the slave States, where might reasonably be expected, +nothing but bitter hate and burning revenge to exist—where the +displeasure of Heaven and anger of God was invoked—where it is thought +the last glimmering spark of patriotic fire has been quenched, and every +aid withheld—even there, in the hour of their country's danger, did +they lay aside every consideration of the ten thousand wrongs +inflicted—throw in their contributions, and make common cause.</p> + +<p>Says Mr. Nell, "The celebrated Charles Pinkney, of South Carolina, in +his speech on the Missouri question, in defence of the Slave +representation of the South, made the following admission:—They (the +colored people) were in numerous instances the pioneers, and in all the +labors of our army. To their hands we are owing the greatest part of the +fortifications raised for the protection of the country. Fort Moultrie +gave, at an early period of inexperience and untried valor of our +citizens, immortality to the American arms." And were there no other +proof on record, the testimony given to the brave followers of the +renowned hero of Chalmet Plains, would of itself be sufficient to +establish the right of the colored man to eligibility in his native +country. "In 1814," continues Mr. Nell, "when New Orleans was in danger, +and the proud criminal distinctions of caste were again demolished by +one of those emergencies in which nature puts to silence for the moment +the base partialities of art, the free colored people were called into +the field in common with the whites; and the importance of their +services was thus acknowledged by General Jackson:—</p> + +<blockquote><p class='right'>"<span class="smcap">Head-Quarters Seventh Military</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">District, Mobile, September 21, 1814.</span></p> + +<p>"<i>To the Free Colored Inhabitants of Louisiana:</i></p> + +<p>"Through a mistaken policy, you have heretofore been deprived of a +participation in the glorious struggle for national rights, in +which <i>our</i> country is engaged. This no longer shall exist. As +sons of Freedom you are now called upon to defend your most +estimable blessings. <i>As Americans</i>, your country looks with +confidence to her adopted children, for a valorous support, as a +faithful return for the advantages enjoyed under her mild and +equitable government. As fathers, husbands, and brothers, you are +summoned to rally round the standard of the Eagle, to defend all +which is dear in existence.</p> + +<p>"<i>Your country</i>, although calling for your exertions, does not wish +you to engage in her cause, without remunerating you for the +services rendered. Your intelligent minds are not to be led away by +false representations—your love of honor would cause you to +despise the man who should attempt to deceive you. In the sincerity +of a soldier, and the language of truth I address you.</p> + +<p>"To every noble hearted free man of color, volunteering to serve +during the present contest with Great Britain, and no longer, there +will be paid the same bounty in money and lands now received by +white soldiers of the United States, namely, one hundred and +twenty-four dollars in money and one hundred and sixty acres in +land. The non-commissioned officers and privates will also be +entitled to the same monthly pay and daily rations and clothes +furnished to any American soldiers.</p> + +<p>"On enrolling yourselves in companies, the Major General commanding +will select officers for your government from your white +fellow-citizens. Your non-commissioned officers will be appointed +from among yourselves.</p> + +<p>"Due regard will be paid to the feelings of free men and soldiers.</p> + +<p>"You will not, by being associated with white men in the same +corps, be exposed to improper comparison, or unjust sarcasm. As a +distinct, independent battalion or regiment, pursuing the path of +glory, you will, undivided, receive the applause and gratitude of +your countrymen.</p> + +<p>"To assure you of the sincerity of my intentions, and my anxiety to +engage your invaluable services to our country, I have communicated +my wish to the Governor of Louisiana, who is fully informed as to +the manner of enrollments, and will give you every necessary +information on the subject of this address.</p> + +<p class='right'>"ANDREW JACKSON,<br />"Major General Commanding."</p></blockquote> + +<p>On the 18th of December, 1814, through his Aid-de-camp, Colonel Butler, +the General issued another address to the colored soldiers, who had +proven themselves, in every particular, worthy of their country's trust, +and in every way worthy of the proudest position of enfranchised +freemen. To deny to men and their descendants, who are capable of such +deeds as are acknowledged in this proclamation, equal rights with other +men, is a moral homicide—as assassination, which none but the most +malicious and obdurate are capable of perpetrating. Surely, surely, it +cannot be, that our fellow-citizens, who control the destiny of the +country, one fully advised of the claims of their brethren in +adversity—we cannot be persuaded that a people, claiming the +self-respect and consideration of the American people, can be satisfied +that the perils of war be encountered by them—their country's rights +sustained—and their liberty, the liberty of their wives and children +defended and protected; then, with a cool deliberation, unknown to any +uncivilized people on the face of the earth, deny them a right—withhold +their consent to their having equal enjoyment of human rights with other +citizens, with those who have never contributed aid to our country—but +we give the proclamation and let it speak for itself. Of it Mr. Nell +says:—</p> + +<p>"The second proclamation is one of the highest compliments ever paid by +a military chief to his soldiers."</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Soldiers</span>! When on the banks of the Mobile, I called you to +take up arms, inviting you to partake the perils and glory of your +<i>white fellow-citizens, I expected much</i> from you; for I was not +ignorant that you possessed qualities most formidable to an invading +enemy. I knew with what fortitude you could endure hunger and thirst, +and all the fatigues of a campaign. <i>I knew well how you love your +native country</i>, and that you, as well as ourselves, had to defend what +<i>man</i> holds most dear—his parents, wife, children, and property. <i>You +have done more than I expected.</i> In addition to the previous qualities I +before knew you to possess, I found among you noble enthusiasm, which +leads to the performance of great things.</p> + + +<p>"Soldiers! The President of the United States shall hear how +praise-worthy was your conduct in the hour of danger; and the +representatives of the American people will give you the praise +your exploits entitle you to. The General anticipates them in +applauding your noble ardor.</p> + +<p>"The enemy approaches; his vessels cover our lakes; our brave +citizens are united, and all contentions have ceased among them. +Their only dispute is, who shall win the prize of valor, or who the +most glory, its noblest reward.</p> + +<p class='center'>"By order,<br />"THOMAS BUTLER, Aid-de-camp."</p></blockquote> + +<p>A circumstance that reflects as well upon the devisor, as upon the +commander, or the engineer of the army, is not generally known to the +American people. The redoubt of cotton bales, has ever been attributed +to the judgment, skill, quick perception, and superior tact of Major +General Andrew Jackson; than whom, a braver heart, never beat in the +breast of man. But this is a mistake. The suggestion of the cotton +bales was made by a colored man, at the instant, when the city of New +Orleans was put under martial law. The colored troops were gathering, +and their recruiting officers (being colored,) were scouring the city in +every direction, and particularly on the Levee, where the people throng +for news—to hear, see, and be seen. At such times in particular, the +blacks are found in great numbers. The cotton shipped down the +Mississippi in large quantities to the city, is landed and piled in +regular terrace walls, several thousand feet long, sometimes double +rows—and fifteen or twenty feet high. When the sun shines in winter, +the days become warm and pleasant after the morning passes off, and at +such times, there may be found many of the idle blacks, lying upon the +top, and in comfortable positions between or behind those walls of +cotton bales. On the approach of the recruiting officer, a number of +persons were found stretched out upon the bales, lying scattered upon +the ground. On addressing them, they were found to be slaves, which the +pride of the recently promoted free colored soldiers, nor the policy of +the proclamation, then, justified them in enrolling. On questioning them +respecting their fears of the approaching contest—they expressed +themselves as perfectly satisfied and <i>safe</i>, while permitted to lie +<i>behind</i> the bales. The idea was at once impressed—Chalmet Plain, the +battle field, being entirely barren without trees, brush, or stone, and +the ingenuity of the General-in-chief and engineer of the army, having +been for several days taxed, without successful device; the officer +determined that he would muster courage, and hazard the consequences of +an approach to the General, and suggest the idea suggested to him, by +the observation of a slave, who was indifferent to the safety of others, +so that he was secure—and perhaps justly so—whether conscious or not +of the importance of its bearing. General Jackson, whatever may be said +to the contrary, though firm and determined, was pleasant, affable, and +easily approached, and always set equal estimate upon the manhood of a +colored man; believing every thing of him, that he expressed in his +proclamation to the colored freemen of Louisiana. He did not pretend to +justify the holding of slaves, especially on the assumed unjust plea of +their incapacity for self-government—he always hooted at the idea; +never would become a member of the Colonization Society, always saying +"Let the colored people be—they were quiet now, in comparative +satisfaction—let them be." But he held them as a policy, by which to +make money—and would just as readily have held a white man, had it been +the policy of the country, as a black one in slavery. The General was +approached—the suggestion made—slaves set to work—the bales conveyed +down—the breast-works raised—the Americans protected, as the musketry +and artillery proved powerless against the elastic cushion-wall of +cotton bales; the battle fought—the British vanquished—the Americans +victorious, and Major General Andrew Jackson "all covered with glory," +as the most distinguished and skillful captain of the age. It has always +been thought by colored men familiar with this circumstance, that the +reference of the General is directed to this, when he expresses himself +in his last proclamation to them: "<i>You have done more than I +expected</i>." Doubtless this was the case. Whatever valor and capacity to +endure hardships, the General knew colored men to possess, it <i>was</i> more +than he expected of them, to bring skill to his aid, and assist in +counseling plans for the defence of the army.</p> + +<p>On the <i>Eighth</i> of January, 1851, the celebration of the Battle of New +Orleans, in that city one year ago, "Ninety of the colored veterans who +bore a conspicuous part in the dangers of the day," (the day of battle,) +held "a conspicuous place in the procession," in exaltation of their +country's glory. Nor was the <span class="smcap">Navy</span> without the representative +of colored interest in the liberty of the country. In speaking of the +war of 1812, a colored veteran of Philadelphia, the late James Forten, +who had himself enlisted and was imprisoned on board of a British +man-of-war, the "Old Jersey Prison Ship," affirms: "The vessels of war +of that period were all, to a greater or less extent, manned with +colored men." The father-in-law of the writer, has often related to him +that he saw the three hundred and sixty colored marines, in military +pomp and naval array, when passing through Pittsburg in 1812 on their +way to the frigate Constitution, then on lake Erie under command of the +gallant Commodore Perry. And we cannot close this view of our subject, +without reference to one of the living veterans of the battle of New +Orleans, now residing where he has for many years, in the city of +Pittsburg, Pa., to whom we are indebted for more oral information +concerning that memorable conflict, than to any other living person. +<span class="smcap">Mr. John Julius</span>, was a member of the valiant regiment of +colored soldiers, who held so conspicuous a place in the estimation of +their General, their country's struggles for Liberty and Independence. +He is a tall, good-looking, brown skin creole of Louisiana, now about +sixty-three years of age, bearing the terrible gashes of the bayonet +still conspicuously in his neck. He was one of the few Americans who +encountered the British in single-handed charges on top of the +breast-works. <i>Julien Bennoit</i>, (pronounced <i>ben wah</i>,) for such is his +name, though commonly known as John Julius, is a man of uprightness and +strict integrity of character, having all the delicate sensibility and +pride of character known to the Frenchman; and laments more at the +injustice done him, in the neglect of the authorities to grant him his +claims of money and land, according to the promises set forth in the +Proclamation, than at any reverse of fortune with which he has ever +met. He is enthusiastic on the subject of the battle scenes of Chalmet +Plains, and anxious that all who converse with him may know that he is +one of the actors. Not so much for his own notoriety—as all soldiers +have a right to—as for the purpose of making known and exposing the +wrongs done to him and hundreds of his fellows, who fought shoulder to +shoulder with him, in the conflict with Sir Edward Packenham. Mr. Julius +is the only person in whose possession we have ever seen a complete +draught of the plan of the battle fought on the 8th of January, 1815, +drawn on the field, by the U.S. Engineer.</p> + +<p>This consists of two charts, one quite large, and the other smaller; the +larger giving the whole plan of battle, and the other being the key, +which shows the position of the different battalions and regiments of +troops, with the several officers of command, in which the Colored +Regiment is beautifully and conspicuously displayed. He sets great +estimate upon them. Col. Marshall John M. Davis, who was an officer +under General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans, now still residing +in Allegheny Co., near Pittsburg, bears testimony to the truthfulness of +Mr. Julien Bennoit having been a soldier in the Army of the Mississippi +in 1814. The deeds of these tried and faithful daring sons of Liberty, +and defenders of their country, shall live triumphantly, long after the +nation shall have repented her wrongs towards them and their +descendants, and hung her head with shame, before the gaze of manhood's +stern rebuke.</p> + +<p>Mr. John B. Vashon, of Pittsburg, embarked in the service of the United +States, and in an engagement of the American squadron in South America, +was imprisoned, with Major Henry Bears, a respectable white citizen, +still living in that city.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Captain Jonathan Tudas, who led the 500 brave blacks out to +build the Redoubt, is now living in Philadelphia, and since the +commencement of this publication, we learned the following particulars: +When the news arrived of the approach of the British under Major General +Ross, upon Baltimore, the expectation ran high, that the city would be +taken, and forced marches made, immediately upon Philadelphia. The whole +City consequently was thrown into great alarm, when Captain Tudas, +applied to the United States Engineer, and offered the services of +colored men, who during the week, were summoned to meet at the African +Methodist Episcopal Church, on the following Sabbath; when from the +pulpit, the Right Rev. Richard Allen, Bishop of the Connexion, made +known to the people the peril of the Country, and demands of the +Commonwealth; when, the next day, Monday, five hundred volunteered, +working incessantly during that day, and on Tuesday, six hundred more +were added, swelling the number to eleven hundred men. William +Stansberry, arrested and tried a few years ago, as a fugitive slave from +Maryland, and Mr. Ignatius Beck, an old respectable colored man, who +appeared as a witness, and by whose testimony alone, Mr. Stansberry was +released from the grasp of the oppression of his Country, and thereby +saved from endless bondage, were both under Captain Tudas, and belong to +the faithful eleven hundred Philadelphia black warriors. He farther +informs us, that the Engineer gave them credit for having thrown up +superior works to any other men employed in the service, and having done +more work in the same time, and <i>drank less</i>, by four-fifth, than twice +their number of "Old Countrymen." The relics of the breastworks, still +stand on or near the banks of the Schuylkill, as a living monument of +the fidelity of the black race to their State and Country. Mr. +Stansberry, is still living, and Captain Tudas, now quite an old man, +about "turning the corner," as he expresses it, is a very intelligent +old gentleman, and a living history of facts. There are few white men of +his age and opportunities, that equal him at all in intelligence on any +subject. He is a kind of living synoptic-historical Encyclopedia.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX</h2> + +<h2>CAPACITY OF COLORED MEN AND WOMEN AS CITIZEN MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY</h2> + +<p>The utility of men in their private capacity as citizens, is of no less +import than that of any other department of the community in which they +live; indeed, the fitness of men for positions in the body politic, can +only be justly measured by their qualification as citizens. And we may +safely venture the declaration, that in the history of the world, there +has never been a nation, that among the oppressed class of +inhabitants—a class entirely ineligible to any political position of +honor, profit or trust—wholly discarded from the recognition of +citizens' rights—not even permitted to carry the mail, nor drive a mail +coach—there never has, in the history of nations, been any people thus +situated, who has made equal progress in attainments with the colored +people of the United States. It would be as unnecessary as it is +impossible, to particularize all the individuals; we shall therefore be +satisfied, with a classification and a few individual cases. Our history +in this country is well known, and quite sufficiently treated on in +these pages already, without the necessity of repetition here; it is +enough to know that by the most cruel acts of injustice and crime, our +forefathers were forced by small numbers, and enslaved in the +country—the great body now to the number of three millions and a half, +still groaning in bondage—that the half million now free, are the +descendants of the few who by various means, are fortunate enough to +gain their liberty from Southern bondage—that no act of general +emancipation has ever taken place, and no chance as yet for a general +rebellion—we say in view of all these facts, we proceed to give a +cursory history of the attainments—the civil, social, business and +professional, and literary attainments of colored men and women, and +challenge comparison with the world—according to circumstances—in +times past and present.</p> + +<p>Though shorn of their strength, disarmed of manhood, and stripped of +every right, encouraged by the part performed by their brethren and +fathers in the Revolutionary struggle—with no records of their deeds in +history, and no means of knowing them save orally, as overheard from the +mouths of their oppressors, and tradition as kept up among +themselves—that memorable event, had not yet ceased its thrill through +the new-born nation, until a glimmer of hope—a ray of light had beamed +forth, and enlightened minds thought to be in total darkness. Minds of +no ordinary character, but those which embraced business, professions, +and literature—minds, which at once grasped the earth, encompassed the +seas, soared into the air, and mounted the skies. And it is none the +less creditable to the colored people, that among those who have stood +the most conspicuous and shone the brightest in the earliest period of +our history, there are those of pure and unmixed African blood. A +credit—but that which is creditable to the African, cannot disgrace any +into whose veins his blood may chance to flow. The elevation of the +colored man can only be completed by the elevation of the pure +descendants of Africa; because to deny his equality, is to deny in a +like proportion, the equality of all those mixed with the African +organization; and to establish his inferiority, will be to degrade every +person related to him by consanguinity; therefore, to establish the +equality of the African with the European race, establishes the +equality of every person intermediate between the two races. This +established beyond contradiction, the general equality of men.</p> + +<p>In the year 1773, though held in servitude, and without the advantages +or privileges of the schools of the day, accomplishing herself by her +own perseverance; Phillis Wheatley appeared in the arena, the brilliancy +of whose genius, as a poetess, delighted Europe and astonished America, +and by a special act of the British Parliament, 1773, her productions +were published for the Crown. She was an admirer of President +Washington, and addressed to him lines, which elicited from the Father +of his country, a complimentary and courteous reply. In the absence of +the poem addressed to General Washington, which was not written until +after her work was published, we insert a stanza from one addressed +(intended for the students) "To the University at Cambridge." We may +further remark, that the poems were originally written, not with the +most distant idea of publication, but simply for the amusement and +during the leisure moments of the author.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class='stanza'><div>"Improve your privileges while they stay,</div> +<div>Ye pupils, and each hour redeem, that bears</div> +<div>Or good or bad report of you to heav'n.</div> +<div>Let sin, that baneful evil of the soul,</div> +<div>By you be shunn'd, nor once remit your guard;</div> +<div>Suppress the deadly serpent in its egg.</div> +<div>Ye blooming plants of human race divine,</div> +<div>An <i>Ethiop</i> tells you 'tis your greatest foe;</div> +<div>Its transient sweetness turns to endless pain,</div> +<div>And in immense perdition sinks the soul."</div></div> +</div> + +<blockquote><p class='right'>"<span class="smcap">Cambridge, February</span> 28, 1776.</p> +<p>"<span class="smcap">Miss Phillis</span>:</p> + + +<p>"Your favor of the 26th of October, did not reach my hands till the +middle of December. Time enough, you will say, to have given an +answer ere this. Granted. But a variety of important occurrences, +continually interposing to divert the mind and withdraw the +attention, I hope will apologise for the delay, and plead my excuse +for the seeming, but not real neglect. I thank you most sincerely +for your polite notice of me, in the elegant lines you enclosed; +and however undeserving I may be of such encomium and panegyric, +the style and manner exhibit a striking proof of your poetic +talents; in honor of which, and as a tribute justly due to you, I +would have published the poem, had I not been apprehensive, that, +while I only meant to give the world this new instance of your +genius, I might have incurred the imputation of vanity. This, and +nothing else, determined me not to give it place in the public +prints.</p> + +<p>"If you should ever come to Cambridge, or near head-quarters, I +shall be happy to see a person so favored by the Muses, and to whom +Nature has been so liberal and beneficent in her dispensations.</p> + +<p>"I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,</p> + +<p class='right'>"GEORGE WASHINGTON.</p> + +<p>"Miss Phillis Wheatley."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The tenor, style, and manner of President Washington's letter to Miss +Wheatley—the publication of her works, together with an accompanying +likeness of the author, and her inscription and dedication of the volume +to the "Right Honorable the Countess of Huntingdon," show, that she, +though young, was a person of no ordinary mind, no common attainments; +but at the time, one of the brightest ornaments among the American +literati. She also was well versed in Latin, in which language she +composed several pieces. Miss Wheatley died in 1780, at the age of 26 +years, being seven years of age when brought to this country in 1761.</p> + +<p>Doctor Peter, who married Miss Wheatley, 1775, was a man of business, +tact, and talents—being first a grocer, and afterwards studied law, +which he practised with great success, becoming quite wealthy by +defending the cause of the oppressed before the different tribunals of +the country. And who shone brighter in his day, than Benjamin Bannaker, +of Baltimore county, Maryland, who by industry and force of character, +became a distinguished mathematician and astronomer,—"for many years," +says Davenport's Biographical Dictionary, "calculated and published the +Maryland Ephemerides." He was a correspondent of the Honorable Thomas +Jefferson, Secretary of State of the United States, taking the earliest +opportunity of his acquaintanceship, to call his attention to the evils +of American slavery, and doubtless his acquaintance with the apostle of +American Democracy, had much to do with his reflections on that most +pernicious evil in this country. Mr. Bannaker was also a naturalist, and +wrote a treatise on locusts. He was invited by the Commission of United +States Civil Engineers, to assist in the survey of the Ten Miles Square, +for the District of Columbia. He assisted the Board, who, it is thought, +could not have succeeded without him. His Almanac was preferred to that +of Leadbeater, or any other calculator cotemporary with himself. He had +no family, and resided in a house alone, but principally made his home +with the Elliott family. He was upright, honorable, and virtuous; +entertaining religious scruples similar to the Friends. He died in 1807, +near Baltimore. Honorable John H.B. Latrobe, Esq., of Baltimore, is his +biographer.</p> + +<p>In 1812, Captain Paul Cuffy was an extensive trader and mariner, +sailing out of Boston, to the West Indies and Europe, by which +enterprise, he amassed an immense fortune. He was known to the +commercial world of his day, and, if not so wealthy, stood quite as +fair, and as much respected, as Captain George Laws or Commodore +Vanderbilt, the Cunards of America. Captain Cuffy went to Africa, where +he died in a few years.</p> + +<p>James Durham, originally of Philadelphia, in 1778, at the early age of +twenty-one, was the most learned physician in New Orleans. He spoke +English, French and Spanish, learnedly, and the great Dr. Rush said of +him, "I conversed with him on medicine, and found him very learned. I +thought I could give him information concerning the treatment of +diseases; but I learned from him more than he could expect from me." And +it must be admitted, he must have been learned in his profession, to +have elicited such an encomium from Dr. Rush, who stood then at the head +of his profession in the country.</p> + +<p>We have designed nothing here, but merely to give an individual case of +the various developments of talents and acquirements in the several +departments of respectability, discarding generalization, and name none +but the Africo-American of unmixed extraction, who rose into note +subsequent to the American Revolution. In the persons of note and +distinction hereafter to be given, we shall not confine ourselves to any +such narrow selections, but shall name persons, male and female, +regardless of their extraction, so that they are colored persons, which +is quite enough for our purpose. And our only excuse for the policy in +the above course is, that we desire to disarm the vilifiers of our race, +who disparage us, giving themselves credit for whatever is commendable +that may emanate from us, if there be the least opportunity of claiming +it by "blood." We shall now proceed to review the attainments of colored +men and women of the present day.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="X" id="X"></a>X</h2> + +<h2>PRACTICAL UTILITY OF COLORED PEOPLE OF THE PRESENT DAY AS MEMBERS OF +SOCIETY—BUSINESS MEN AND MECHANICS</h2> + +<p>In calling attention to the practical utility of colored people of the +present day, we shall not be general in our observations, but simply, +direct attention to a few particular instances, in which colored persons +have been responsibly engaged in extensive business, or occupying useful +positions, thus contributing to the general welfare of community at +large, filling their places in society as men and women.</p> + +<p>It will studiously be borne in mind, that our sole object in giving +these cases publicity, is to refute the objections urged against us, +that we are not useful members of society. That we are consumers and +non-producers—that we contribute nothing to the general progress of +man. No people who have enjoyed no greater opportunity for improvement, +could possibly have made greater progress in the same length of time +than have done the colored people of the present day.</p> + +<p>A people laboring under many disadvantages, may not be expected to +present at once, especially before they have become entirely +untrammeled, evidence of entire equality with more highly favored +people.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Jefferson, the great American Statesman and philosopher, was +questioned by an English gentleman, on the subject of American +greatness, and referred to their literature as an evidence of +inferiority to the more highly favored and long-existing European +nations; Mr. Jefferson's reply was—"When the United States have existed +as long as a nation, as Greece before she produced her Homer and +Socrates; Rome, before she produced her Virgil, Horace, and Cicero; and +England, before she produced her Pope, Dryden, and Bacon"; then he might +consider the comparison a just one. And all we shall ask, is not to wait +so long as this, not to wait until we become a nation at all, so far as +the United States are concerned, but only to unfetter our brethren, and +give us, the freemen, an equal chance for emulation, and we will admit +any comparison you may please to make in a quarter of a century after.</p> + +<p>For a number of years, the late James Forten, of Philadelphia, was the +proprietor of one of the principal sail manufactories, constantly +employing a large number of men, black and white, supplying a large +number of masters and owners of vessels, with full rigging for their +crafts.</p> + +<p>On the failure of an extensive house, T. & Co., in that city, during the +pressure which followed a removal of the deposits of the United States +Treasury in 1837, Mr. Forten lost by that firm, nine thousand dollars. +Being himself in good circumstances at the time, hearing of the failure +of old constant patrons, he called at the house; one of the proprietors, +Mr. T., on his entering the warehouse door, came forward, taking him by +the hand observed, "Ah! Mr. Forten, it is useless to call on us—we are +gone—we can do nothing!" at which Mr. Forten remarked, "Sir, I hope you +think better of me than to suppose me capable of calling on a friend to +torture him in adversity! I came, sir, to express my regret at your +misfortune, and if possible, to cheer you by words of encouragement. If +your liabilities were all in my hands, you should never be under the +necessity of closing business." Mr. Forten exchanged paper and +signatures with some of the first business men in Philadelphia, and +raised and educated a large and respectable family of sons and +daughters, leaving an excellent widow.</p> + +<p>Joseph Cassey, recently deceased, was the "architect of his own +fortune," and by industry and application to business, became a money +broker in the city of Philadelphia; who becoming indisposed from a +chronic affection, was obliged to retire from business for many years +previous to his death. Had Mr. Cassey been favored with health, he +doubtless would have become a very wealthy man. His name and paper was +good in any house in the city, and there was no banker of moderate +capital, of more benefit to the business community than was Joseph +Cassey. He also left a young and promising family of five sons, one +daughter, a most excellent widow, and a fortune of seventy-five thousand +dollars, clear of all encumbrance.</p> + +<p>Stephen Smith, of the firm of Smith and Whipper, is a remarkable man in +many respects, and decidedly the most wealthy colored man in the United +States. Mr. Smith commenced business after he was thirty years of age, +without the advantages of a good business education, but by application, +qualified himself for the arduous duties of his vocation. For many +years, he has been known as the principal lumber merchant in Columbia, +Lancaster Co., Pa., and for several years past associated with W. +Whipper, a gentleman of great force of character, talents, and business +qualifications, Mr. Smith residing in Philadelphia. Smith and Whipper, +are very extensive business men, and very valuable members of the +community, both of Lancaster and Philadelphia counties. By the judicious +investment of their capital, they keep in constant employment a large +number of persons; purchasing many rafts at a time, and many thousand +bushels of coal. It is not only the laborer in "drawing boards," and the +coal hauler and heaver, that are here benefitted by their capital, but +the original owners of the lumber and coal purchased by them, and the +large number of boatmen and raftsmen employed in bringing these +commodities to market.</p> + +<p>In the winter of 1849, these gentlemen had in store, several thousand +bushels of coal, two million two hundred and fifty thousand feet of +lumber; twenty-two of the finest merchantmen cars running on the railway +from Philadelphia to Baltimore; nine thousand dollars' worth of stock in +the Columbia Bridge; eighteen thousand dollars in stock in the Columbia +Bank; and besides this, Mr. Smith was then the reputed owner of +fifty-two good brick houses of various dimensions in the city of +Philadelphia, besides several in the city of Lancaster, and the town of +Columbia. Mr. Smith's paper, or the paper of the firm, is good for any +amount wherever they are known; and we have known gentlemen to present +the paper of some of the best men in the city, which was cashed by him +at sight. The principal active business attended to by Mr. S. in person, +is that of buying good negotiable and other paper, and speculating in +real estate. The business of the firm is attended to by Mr. Whipper, who +is a relative. Take Smith and Whipper from Lancaster and Philadelphia +counties, and the business community will experience a hiatus in its +connexion, that may not be easily filled.</p> + +<p>Samuel T. Wilcox, of Cincinnati, Ohio, also stands conspicuously among +the most respectable business men of the day. Being yet a young man, +just scanning forty, he is one among the extraordinary men of the times. +Born, like the most of colored men in this country, in obscurity, of +poor parents, raised without the assistance of a father, and to a +commonplace business, without the advantages of schools, by his own +perseverance, he qualified himself to the extent that gave him an +inclination to traffic, which he did for several years on the +Mississippi and Ohio rivers, investing his gains in real estate, until +he acquired a considerable property. For the purpose of extending his +usefulness, and at the same time pursuing a vocation more in accordance +with his own desires, a few years since, he embarked in the wholesale +and retail Family Grocery business, and now has the best general +assortment and most extensive business house of the kind, in the city of +Cincinnati. The establishment is really beautiful, having the appearance +more of an apothecary store, than a Grocery House. Mr. Wilcox has a +Pickling and Preserving establishment besides, separate from his +business house, owning a great deal of first class real estate. There is +no man in the community in which he lives, that turns money to a greater +advantage than Mr. Wilcox, and none by whom the community is more +benefited for the amount of capital invested. He makes constant and +heavy bills in eastern houses, and there are doubtless now many +merchants in New York, Boston, and Baltimore cities, who have been +dealing with S.T. Wilcox, and never until the reading of this notice of +him, knew that he was a colored man. He has never yet been east after +his goods, but pursuing a policy which he has adopted, orders them; but +if deceived in an article, never deals with the same house again. He +always gets a good article. The paper of Mr. Wilcox, is good for any +amount.</p> + +<p>Henry Boyd, is also a man of great energy of character, the proprietor +of an extensive Bedstead manufactory, with a large capital invested, +giving constant employment to eighteen or twenty-five men, black and +white. Some of the finest and handsomest articles of the bedstead in the +city, are at the establishment of Mr. Boyd. He fills orders from all +parts of the West and South, his orders from the South being very heavy. +He is the patentee, or holds the right of the Patent Bedsteads, and like +Mr. Wilcox, there are hundreds who deal with Mr. Boyd at a distance, +who do not know that he is a colored man. Mr. Boyd is a useful member of +society, and Cincinnati would not, if she could, be without him. He +fills a place that every man is not capable of supplying, of whatever +quarter of the globe his forefathers may have been denizens.</p> + +<p>Messrs. Knight and Bell of the same place, Cincinnati, Ohio, are very +successful and excellent mechanics. In the spring of 1851, (one year +ago) they put in their "sealed proposal" for the plastering of the +public buildings of the county of Hamilton—alms-house, &c.—and got the +contract, which required ten thousand dollars' security. The work was +finished in fine artistic style, in which a large number of mechanics +and laborers were employed, while at the same time, they were carrying +on many other contracts of less extent, in the city—the public +buildings being some four miles out. They are men of stern integrity, +and highly respected in the community.</p> + +<p>David Jenkins of Columbus, Ohio, a good mechanic, painter, glazier, and +paper-hanger by trade, also received by contract, the painting, glazing, +and papering of some of the public buildings of the State, in autumn +1847. He is much respected in the capital city of his state, being +extensively patronised, having on contract, the great "Neill House," and +many of the largest gentlemen's residences in the city and neighborhood, +to keep in finish. Mr. Jenkins is a very useful man and member of +society.</p> + +<p>John C. Bowers, for many years, has been the proprietor of a fashionable +merchant tailor house, who has associated with him in business, his +brother Thomas Bowers, said to be one of the best, if not the very best, +mercers in the city. His style of cutting and fitting, is preferred by +the first business men, and other gentlemen of Philadelphia, in whom +their patrons principally consist.</p> + +<p>Mr. Cordovell, for more than twenty-five years, was the leading mercer +and tailor, reporter and originator of fashions in the city of New +Orleans, Louisiana. The reported fashions of Cordovell, are said to have +frequently become the leading fashions of Paris; and the writer was +informed, by Mr. B., a leading merchant tailor in a populous city, that +many of the eastern American reports were nothing more than a copy, in +some cases modified, of those of Cordovell. Mr. Cordovell, has for the +last four or five years, been residing in France, living on a handsome +fortune, the fruits of his genius; and though "retired from business," +it is said, that he still invents fashions for the Parisian reporters, +which yields him annually a large income.</p> + +<p>William H. Riley, of Philadelphia, has been for years, one of the +leading fashionable gentlemen's boot-makers. Riley's style and cut of +boots, taking the preeminence in the estimation of a great many of the +most fashionable, and business men in the city. Mr. Riley is much of a +gentleman, and has acquired considerable means.</p> + +<p>James Prosser, Sen., of Philadelphia, has long been the popular +proprietor of a fashionable restaurant in the city. The name of James +Prosser, among the merchants of Philadelphia, is inseparable with their +daily hours of recreation, and pleasure. Mr. Prosser, is withal, a most +gentlemanly man, and has the happy faculty of treating his customers in +such a manner, that those who call once, will be sure to call at his +place again. His name and paper is good among the business men of the +city.</p> + +<p>Henry Minton also is the proprietor of a fashionable restaurant and +resort of business men and gentlemen of the city. The tables of Mr. +Henry Minton are continually laden with the most choice offerings to +epicures, and the saloon during certain hours of the day, presents the +appearance of a bee hive, such is the stir, din, and buz, among the +throng of Chesnut street gentlemen, who flock in there to pay tribute at +the shrine of bountifulness. Mr. Minton has acquired a notoriety, even +in that proud city, which makes his house one of the most popular +resorts.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hill, of Chillicothe, Ohio, was for years, the leading tanner and +currier in that section of country, buying up the hides of the +surrounding country, and giving employment to large numbers of men. Mr. +Hill kept in constant employment, a white clerk, who once a year took +down, as was then the custom, one or more flatboats loaded with leather +and other domestic produce, by which he realised large profits, +accumulating a great deal of wealth. By endorsement, failure, and other +mistransactions, Mr. Hill became reduced in circumstances, and died in +Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1845. He gave his children a liberal +business education.</p> + +<p>Benjamin Richards, Sen., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, forty years ago, +was one of the leading business men of the place. Being a butcher by +trade, he carried on the business extensively, employing a white clerk, +and held a heavy contract with the United States, supplying the various +military posts with provisions. Mr. Richards possessed a large property +in real estate, and was at one time reputed very wealthy, he and the +late general O'H. being considered the most wealthy individuals of the +place,—Mr. Richards taking the precedence; the estate of general O'H. +now being estimated at seven millions of dollars. Mr. Richards has been +known, to buy up a drove of cattle at one time. By mismanagement, he +lost his estate, upon which many gentlemen are now living at ease in the +city.</p> + +<p>William H. Topp, of Albany, N.Y., has for several years been one of the +leading merchant tailors of the city. Starting in the world without aid, +he educated and qualified himself for business; and now has orders from +all parts of the state, the city of New York not excepted, for "Topp's +style of clothing." Mr. Topp stands high in his community as a business +man, and a useful and upright member of society. His paper or +endorsement is good at any time.</p> + +<p>Henry Scott & Co., of New York city, have for many years been engaged +extensively in the pickling business, keeping constantly in warehouse, a +very heavy stock of articles in their line. He, like the most of others, +had no assistance at the commencement, but by manly determination and +perseverance, raised himself to what he is. His business is principally +confined to supplying vessels with articles and provisions in his line +of business, which in this great metropolis is very great. There have +doubtless been many a purser, who cashed and filed in his office the +bill of Henry Scott, without ever dreaming of his being a colored man. +Mr. Scott is extensively known in the great City, and respected as an +upright, prompt, energetic business man, and highly esteemed by all who +know him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hutson, for years, kept in New York, an intelligence office. At his +demise, he was succeeded by Philip A. Bell, who continues to keep one of +the leading offices in the city. Mr. Bell is an excellent business man, +talented, prompt, shrewd, and full of tact. And what seems to be a trait +of character, only to be found associated with talent, Mr. Bell is +highly sensitive, and very eccentric. A warm, good hearted man, he has +not only enlisted the friendship of all his patrons, but also endeared +himself to the multitude of persons who continually throng his office +seeking situations. One of his usual expressions to the young women and +men in addressing himself to them is, "My child"—this is kind, and +philanthropic, and has a tendency to make himself liked. His business is +very extensive, being sought from all parts of the city, by the first +people of the community. It is said to be not unusual, for the +peasantry of Liverpool, to speak of Mr. Bell, as a benefactor of the +emigrant domestics. Mr. Bell is extensively known in the business +community—none more so—and highly esteemed as a valuable citizen.</p> + +<p>Thomas Downing, for thirty years, in the city of New York, has been +proprietor of one of the leading restaurants. His establishment situated +in the midst of the Wall street bankers, the business has always been of +a leading and profitable character. Mr. Downing has commanded great +influence, and much means, and it is said of him that he has made "three +fortunes." Benevolent, kind, and liberal minded, his head was always +willing, his heart ready, and his hands open to "give." Mr. Downing is +still very popular, doing a most excellent business, and highly +respected throughout New York. Indeed, you scarcely hear any other +establishment of the kind spoken of than Downing's.</p> + +<p>Henry M. Collins, of the City of Pittsburg, stands among the men of +note; and we could not complete this list of usefulness, without the +name of Mr. Collins. Raised a poor boy, thrown upon the uncertainties of +chance, without example of precept, save such as the public at large +presents; Mr. Collins quit his former vocation of a riverman, and +without means, except one hundred and fifty dollars, and no assistance +from any quarter, commenced speculating in real estate. And though only +rising forty, has done more to improve the Sixth Ward of Pittsburg, than +any other individual, save one, Captain W., who built on Company +capital. Mr. Collins was the first person who commenced erecting an +improved style of buildings; indeed, there was little else than old +trees in that quarter of the city when Mr. Collins began. He continued +to build, and dispose of handsome dwellings, until a different class of +citizens entirely, was attracted to that quarter of the town, among +them, one of the oldest and most respectable and wealthy citizens, an +ex-Alderman. After this, the wealthy citizens turned their attention to +the District; and now, it is one of the most fashionable quarters of the +City, and bids fair to become, the preferred part for family residences. +Mr. Collins' advice and counsel was solicited by some of the first +lawyers, and land speculators, in matters of real estate. He has left or +contemplates leaving Pittsburg, in April, for California, where he +intends entering extensively into land speculation, and doubtless, with +the superior advantages of this place, if his success is but half what +it was in the former, but a few years will find him counted among the +wealthy. Mr. Collins is a highly valuable man in any community in which +he may live, and he leaves Pittsburg much to the regret of the leading +citizens. Without capital, he had established such a reputation, that +his name and paper were good in some of the first Banking houses.</p> + +<p>Owen A. Barrett of Pittsburg, Pa., is the original proprietor of "B.A. +Fahnestock's Celebrated Vermifuge." Mr. Fahnestock raised Mr. Barrett +from childhood, instructing him in all the science of practical +pharmacy, continuing him in his employment after manhood, when Mr. +Barrett discovered the "sovereign remedy" for <i>lumbricalii</i>, and as an +act of gratitude to his benefactor, he communicated it to him, but not +until he had fully tested its efficacy. The proprietor of the house, +finding the remedy good, secured his patent, or copy right, or whatever +is secured, and never in the history of remedies in the United States, +has any equaled, at least in sale, this of "B.A. Fahnestock's +Vermifuge." Mr. Fahnestock, like a gentleman and Christian, has kept Mr. +Barrett in his extensive House, compounding this and other medicines, +for sixteen or eighteen years.</p> + +<p>In 1840 it was estimated, that of this article alone, the concern had +realized eighty-five thousand dollars. Doubtless, this is true, and +certainly proves Mr. Barrett to be of benefit, not only in his +community, but like many others we have mentioned, to the country and +the world.</p> + +<p>Lewis Hayden, of Boston, is well deserving a place among the examples of +character here given. But eight years ago, having emerged from bondage, +he raised by his efforts, as an act of gratitude and duty, six hundred +and fifty dollars, the amount demanded by mutual agreement, by the +authorities in Kentucky, as a ransom for Calvin Fairbanks, then in the +State Prison, at Frankfort, accused for assisting him in effecting his +escape. In 1848, he went to Boston, and having made acquaintance, and +gained confidence with several business men, Mr. Hayden opened a +fashionable Clothing House in Cambridge street, where he has within the +last year, enlarged his establishment, being patronized by some of the +most respectable citizens of that wealthy Metropolis. Mr. Hayden has +made considerable progress, considering his disadvantages, in his +educational improvements. He has great energy of character, and +extensive information. Lewis Hayden by perseverance, may yet become a +very wealthy man. He is generally esteemed by the Boston people—all +seeming to know him.</p> + +<p>George T. Downing, a gentleman of education and fine business +attainments, is proprietor of one of the principal Public houses and +places of resort, at Newport, Rhode Island, during the watering Season. +This fashionable establishment is spoken of as among the best conducted +places in the country—the Proprietor among the most gentlemanly.</p> + +<p>Edward V. Clark, is among the most deserving and active business men in +New York, and but a few years are required, to place Mr. Clark in point +of business importance, among the first men in the city. His stock +consists of Jewelry and Silver Wares, and consequently, are always +valuable, requiring a heavy capital to keep up business. His name and +paper, has a respectable credit, even among the urbane denizens of Wall +street.</p> + +<p>John Julius and Lady, were for several years, the Proprietors of Concert +Hall, a <i>Caffé</i>, then the most fashionable resort for ladies and +gentlemen in Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Julius, held Assemblies and Balls, +attended by the first people of the city—being himself a fine violinist +and dancing master, he superintended the music and dancing. When General +William Henry Harrison in 1840, then the President elect of the United +States, visited that city, his levee to and reception of the Ladies were +held at Concert Hall, under the superintendence of Monsieur John and +Madame Edna Julius, the colored host and hostess. No House was ever +better conducted than under their fostering care, and excellent +management, and the citizens all much regretted their retirement from +the establishment.</p> + +<p>In Penyan, Western New York, Messrs. William Platt and Joseph C. Cassey, +are said to be the leading Lumber Merchants of the place. Situated in +the midst of a great improving country, their business extends, and +increases in importance every year. The latter gentleman was raised to +the business by Smith and Whipper, the great Lumber Merchants of +Columbia, Pa., where he was principal Book-Keeper for several years. Mr. +Cassey has the credit of being one of the best Accountants, and Business +Men in the United States of his age. Doubtless, a few years' +perseverance, and strict application to business, will find them ranked +among the most influential men of their neighborhood.</p> + +<p>Anthony Weston, of Charleston, South Carolina, has acquired an +independent fortune, by his mechanical ingenuity, and skillful +workmanship. About the year 1831, William Thomas Catto, mentioned in +another place, commenced an improvement on a Thrashing Machine, when on +taking sick, Mr. Weston improved on it, to the extent of thrashing a +thousand bushels a day. This Thrashing Mill, was commenced by a Yankee, +by the name of Emmons, who failing to succeed, Mr. Catto, then a +Millwright—since a Minister—improved it to the extent of thrashing +five hundred bushels a day; when Mr. Weston, took it in hand, and +brought it to the perfection stated, for the use of Col. Benjamin +Franklin Hunt, a distinguished lawyer of Charleston, upon whose +plantation, the machine was built, and to whom it belonged. Anthony +Weston, is the greatest Millwright in the South, being extensively +employed far and near, and by Southern people, thought the best in the +United States.</p> + +<p>Dereef and Howard, are very extensive Wood-Factors, keeping a large +number of men employed, a regular Clerk and Book-Keeper, supplying the +citizens, steamers, vessels, and factories of Charleston with fuel. In +this business a very heavy capital is invested: besides which, they are +the owners and proprietors of several vessels trading on the coast. They +are men of great business habits, and command a great deal of respect +and influence in the city of Charleston.</p> + +<p>There is nothing more common in the city of New Orleans, than Colored +Clerks, Salesmen and Business men. In many stores on Chartier, Camp and +other business streets, there may always be seen colored men and women, +as salesmen, and saleswomen, behind the counter. Several of the largest +Cotton-Press houses, have colored Clerks in them; and on the arrival of +steamers at the Levees, among the first to board them, and take down the +Manifestos to make their transfers, are colored Clerks. In 1839-40, one +of the most respectable Brokers and Bankers of the City, was a black +gentleman.</p> + +<p>Mr. William Goodrich of York, Pennsylvania, has considerable interest +in the branch of the Baltimore Railroad, from Lancaster. In 1849, he had +a warehouse in York, and owned ten first-rate merchandise cars on the +Road, doing a fine business. His son, Glenalvon G. Goodrich, a young man +of good education, is a good artist, and proprietor of a Daguerreo-type +Gallery.</p> + +<p>Certainly, there need be no further proofs required, at least in this +department, to show the claims and practical utility of colored people +as citizen members of society. We have shown, that in proportion to +their numbers, they vie and compare favorably in point of means and +possessions, with the class of citizens who from chance of superior +advantages, have studiously contrived to oppress and deprive them of +equal rights and privileges, in common with themselves.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI</h2> + +<h2>LITERARY AND PROFESSIONAL COLORED MEN AND WOMEN</h2> + +<p>Dr. James McCune Smith, a graduate of the Scientific and Medical Schools +of the University of Glasgow, has for the last fifteen years, been a +successful practitioner of medicine and surgery in the city of New York. +Dr. Smith is a man of no ordinary talents, and stands high as a scholar +and gentleman in the city, amidst the <i>literati</i> of a hundred seats of +learning.</p> + +<p>In 1843, when the character of the colored race was assailed to +disparagement, by the representative of a combination of maligners, such +was the influence of the Doctor, that the citizens at once agreed to +give their presence to a fair public discussion of the subject—the +Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of the races. This discussion was +kept up for several evenings, attended by large and fashionable +assemblages of ladies and gentlemen, until it closed. Doctor Smith, in +the estimation of the audience, easily triumphed over his antagonist, +who had made this a studied subject. The Doctor is the author of several +valuable productions, and in 1846, a very valuable scientific paper, +issued from the press in pamphlet form, on the "Influence of Climate on +Longevity, with special reference to Life Insurance." This paper, we may +surmise, was produced in refutation of the attempt at a physiological +disquisition on the part of Hon. John C. Calhoun, United States Senator, +on the colored race, which met with considerable favor from some +quarters, until the appearance of Dr. Smith's pamphlet—since when, we +have heard nothing about Calhoun's learned argument. It may be well to +remark, that Senator Calhoun read medicine before he read law, and it +would have been well for him if he had left medical subjects remain +where <i>he left</i> them, for law. We extract a simple note of explanation +without the main argument, to show with what ease the Doctor refutes an +absurd argument: "The reason why the proportion of mortality is not a +measure of longevity, is the following:—The proportion of mortality is +a statement of how many persons die in a population; this, of course, +does not state the age at which those persons die. If 1 in 45 die in +Sweden, and 1 in 22 in Grenada, the ages of the dead might be alike in +both countries; here the greater mortality might actually accompany the +greater longevity."—Note to page 6.</p> + +<p>About three months since, at a public meeting of scientific gentlemen, +for the formation of a "Statistic Institute," Doctor Smith was nominated +as one of five gentlemen, to draught a constitution. This, of course, +anticipated his membership to the Institution. He, for a number of +years, has held the office of Physician to the Colored Orphan Asylum, an +excellent institution, at which he is the only colored officer. The +Doctor is very learned.</p> + +<p>Rev. Samuel Ringgold Ward was, for several years, pastor of a white +congregation, in Courtlandville, N.Y., of the Congregational persuasion, +and editor of an excellent newspaper, devoted to the religious elevation +of that denomination. Mr. Ward is a man of great talents—his fame is +widespread as an orator and man of learning, and needs no encomium from +us. His name stood on nomination for two or three years, as +Liberty-party candidate for Vice President of the United States. Mr. +Ward has embraced the legal profession, and intends to practise law. +Governor Seward said of him, that he "never heard true eloquence until +he heard Samuel R. Ward speak." Mr. Ward has recently left the United +States, for Canada West, and is destined to be a great statesman.</p> + +<p>Rev. Henry Highland Garnett, was also the pastor of a white +congregation, in Troy, N.Y. Mr. Garnett is a graduate of Oneida +Institute, a speaker of great pathetic eloquence, and has written +several valuable pamphlets. In 1844, Mr. Garnett appeared before the +Judiciary Committee of the Legislature at the capital, in behalf of the +rights of the colored citizens of the State, and in a speech of +matchless eloquence, he held them for four hours spell-bound.</p> + +<p>He has also been co-editor of a newspaper, which was conducted with +ability. As a token of respect, the "Young Men's Literary Society of +Troy," elected him a life-member—and he was frequently solicited to +deliver lectures before different lyceums. Mr. Garnett left the United +States in the summer of 1849, and now resides in England, where he is +highly esteemed.</p> + +<p>Rev. James William Charles Pennington, D.D., a clergyman of New York +city, was born in Maryland,—left when young—came to Brooklyn—educated +himself—studied divinity—went to Hartford, Conn.;—took charge of a +Presbyterian congregation of colored people—went to +England—returned—went to the West Indies—returned—was called to the +Shiloh Presbyterian Colored Congregation—was sent a Delegate to the +Peace Congress at Paris, in 1849, preached there, and attended the +National Levee at the mansion of the Foreign Secretary of State, +Minister De Tocqueville; and had the degree of <i>Doctor of Divinity</i> +conferred on him by the ancient time-honored University of Heidleburg, +in Germany.</p> + +<p>Dr. Pennington is very learned in theology, has fine literacy +attainments, and has written several useful pamphlets, and contributed +to science, by the delivery of lectures before several scientific +institutions in Europe.</p> + +<p>He has, by invitation, delivered lectures before the "Glasgow Young +Men's Christian Association"; and "St. George's Biblical, Literary, and +Scientific Institute," London. In one of the discourses, the following +extract will give an idea of the style and character of the +speaker:—"One of the chief attributes of the mind is a desire for +freedom; but it has been the great aim of slavery to extinguish that +desire."</p> + +<p>"To extinguish this attribute would be to extinguish mind itself. Every +faculty which the master puts forth to subdue the slave, is met by a +corresponding one in the latter."... "Christianity is the highest and +most perfect form of civilization. It contains the only great standard +of the only true and perfect standard of civilization. When tried by +this standard, we are compelled to confess, that we have not on earth, +one strictly civilized nation; for so long as the sword is part of a +nation's household furniture, it cannot be called strictly civilized; +and yet there is not a nation, great or small, black or white, that has +laid aside the sword."—pp. 7-14. The Doctor has been editor of a +newspaper, which was ably conducted. He belongs to the Third Presbytery +of New York, and stands very high as a minister of the Gospel, and +gentleman.</p> + +<p>Rev. John Francis Cook, a learned clergyman of Washington City, has +taught an academy in the District of Columbia for years, under the +subscribed sanction and patronage of many of the members of Congress, +the Mayor of Washington, and some of the first men of the nation, for +the education of colored youth of both sexes. Mr. Cook has done a great +deal of good at the Capitol; is highly esteemed, and has set as +Moderator of a body of Presbyterian Clergymen, assembled at Richmond, +Va., all white, except himself.</p> + +<p>Charles L. Reason, Esq., a learned gentleman, for many years teacher in +one of the Public Schools in New York, in 1849, was elected by the +trustees of that institution, Professor of Mathematics and Belles +Lettres in Centre College, at McGrawville, in the State of New York. +After a short connection with the College, Professor Reason, for some +cause, retired from the Institution, much to the regret of the students, +who, though a young man, loved him as an elder brother—and contrary to +the desire of his fellow-professors.</p> + +<p>Mr. Reason is decidedly a man of letters, a high-souled gentleman, a +most useful citizen in any community—much respected and beloved by all +who know him, and most scrupulously modest—a brilliant trait in the +character of a teacher. We learn that Professor Reason, is about to be +called to take charge of the High School for the education of colored +youth of both sexes, now in course of completion in Philadelphia. The +people of New York will regret to part with Professor Reason.</p> + +<p>Charles Lenox Remond, Esq., of Salem, Massachusetts, is among the most +talented men of the country. Mr. Remond is a native of the town he +resides in, and at an early age, evinced more than ordinary talents. At +the age of twenty-one, at which time (1832) the cause of the colored +people had just begun to attract public attention, he began to take an +interest in public affairs, and was present for the first time, at the +great convention of colored men, of that year, at which the +distinguished colonization gentlemen named in another part of this work, +among them, Rev. R.R. Gurley, and Elliot Cresson, Esqs., were present. +At this convention, we think, Mr. Remond made his virgin speech. From +that time forth he became known as an orator, and now stands second to +no living man as a declaimer. This is his great forte, and to hear him +speak, sends a thrill through the whole system, and a tremor through the +brain.</p> + +<p>In 1835, he went to England, making a tour of the United Kingdom, where +he remained for two years, lecturing with great success; and if we +mistake not was presented the hospitality of one of the towns of +Scotland, at which he received a token of respect, in a code of +resolutions adopted expressive of the sentiments of the people, signed +by the town officers, inscribed to "Charles Lenox Remond, Esq.," a form +of address never given in the United Kingdom, only where the person is +held in the highest esteem for their attainments; the "Mr." always being +used instead.</p> + +<p>To C.L. Remond, are the people of Massachusetts indebted for the +abolition of the odious distinction of caste, on account of condition. +For up to this period, neither common white, nor genteel colored +persons, could ride in first class cars; since which time, all who are +able and willing to pay, go in them. In fact, there is but one class of +cars, (except the emigrant cars which are necessary for the safety and +comfort of other passengers) in Massachusetts.</p> + +<p>Mr. Remond, appeared at one time before the legislature of +Massachusetts, in behalf of the rights of the people above named, where +with peals of startling eloquence, he moved that great body of +intelligent New Englanders, to a respectful consideration of his +subject; which eventually resulted as stated. The distinguished Judge +Kelley, of Philadelphia, an accomplished scholar and orator, in 1849, in +reply to an expression that Mr. Remond spoke like himself, observed, +that it was the greatest compliment he ever had paid to his talents. +"Proud indeed should I feel," said the learned Jurist, "were I such an +orator as Mr. Remond." Charles Lenox Remond is the soul of an honorable +gentleman.</p> + +<p>Robert Morris, Jr., Esq., attorney and counsellor at law, is a member +of the Essex county bar in Boston. Mr. Morris has also had the +commission of magistracy conferred upon him, by his excellency George N. +Briggs, recent governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, a high +honor and compliment to an Attorney; the commission usually being +conferred on none but the oldest or most meritorious among the members +of the bar. He also keeps the books of one of the wealthy rail road +companies, a business almost entirely confined to lawyers in that city. +Mr. Morris is a talented gentleman, and stands very high at the Boston +bar. He sometimes holds the magistrate's court in Chelsea, where his +family resides, and is very highly esteemed by the whole community of +both cities, and has a fine practice.</p> + +<p>Macon B. Allen, Esq., attorney and counsellor at law, is also a member +of the Essex bar. He is spoken of as a gentleman of fine education.</p> + +<p>Robert Douglass, Jr., for many years, has kept a study and gallery of +painting and daguerreotype in the city of Philadelphia. Mr. Douglass is +an excellent artist—being a fine portrait and landscape painter, which +art he practised before the discovery of daguerreotype. He is also a +good lithographer, a gentleman of fine educational attainments, very +clever talents, and highly esteemed in that city. Mr. Douglass has been +twice to the West Indies and Europe.</p> + +<p>J. Presley Ball is the principal daguerreotypist of Cincinnati, Ohio. +Mr. Ball commenced the practice of his art about seven years ago, being +then quite young, and inexperienced, as all young beginners are, +laboring under many difficulties. He nevertheless, persevered, until he +made a business, and established confidence in his skill; and now he +does more business than any other artist in the profession in that city. +His gallery, which is very large, finely skylighted, and handsomely +furnished, is literally crowded from morning until evening with ladies, +gentlemen, and children. He made some valuable improvements in the art, +all for his own convenience. There is none more of a gentleman than J. +Presley Ball. He has a brother, Mr. Thomas Ball, and a white gentleman +to assist him. Few go to Cincinnati, without paying the daguerrean +gallery of Mr. Ball, a visit.</p> + +<p>The great organ of the "Liberty Party" in the United States, is now +conducted by one who requires not a notice from such an obscure +source—we mean Frederick Douglass, of Rochester, N.Y. His history is +well known—it was written by more faithful hands than ours—it was +written by himself. It stands enrolled on the reminiscences of Germany, +and France, and in full length oil, in the academy of arts, and in bust +of bronze or marble, in the museum of London. Mr. Douglass is also the +sole owner of the printing establishment from which the paper is issued, +and was promoted to this responsible position, by the power of his +talents. He is a masterly letter writer, ably edits his paper, and as a +speaker, and orator, let the scenes of a New York tabernacle, within two +years, answer instead. Mr. Douglass is highly respected as a citizen and +gentleman in Rochester.</p> + +<p>In Syracuse, N.Y., resides George Boyer Vashon, Esq., A.M., a graduate +of Oberlin Collegiate Institute, Attorney at Law, Member of the Syracuse +Bar. Mr. Vashon, is a ripe scholar, an accomplished Essayist, and a +chaste classic Poet; his style running very much in the strain of +Byron's best efforts. He probably takes Byron as his model, and Childe +Harold, as a sample, as in his youthful days, he was a fond admirer of +<span class="smcap">George Gordon Noel Byron</span>, always calling his whole name, when +he named him. His Preceptor in Law, was the Honorable Walter, Judge +Forward, late Controller, subsequently, Secretary of the Treasury of the +United States, and recently <i>Charge de Affaires</i> to Denmark, now +President of the Bench of the District Court of the Western District of +Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p>Mr. Vashon was admitted to the Bar of the city of New York, in the fall +of 1847, to practise in all the Courts of the State. He immediately +subsequently, sailed to the West Indies, from whence he returned in the +fall of 1850. He has contributed considerably to a number of the +respectable journals of the country.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ann Maria Johnson, of the School of Mrs. Tillman and Mrs. Johnson, +Teachers in French Worsted Needle Work, at the Exhibition of the +Mechanics' Institute in Chicago, Ill., 1846, took the First Prize, and +got her Diploma, for the best embroidery in cloth. This was very +flattering to those ladies, especially the Diplomast, considering the +great odds they had to contend with. The ladies were very successful +teachers—their classes were always large.</p> + +<p>In Williamsburg there is T. Joiner White, M.D.; in Brooklyn Peter Ray, +M.D.; and in the city of New York, also, John Degrass, M.D., all young +Physicians, who have time and experience yet before them, and promise +fair to be good and useful members of society.</p> + +<p>Miss Eliza Greenfield the <span class="smcap">Black Swan</span>, is among the most +extraordinary persons of the present century. Being raised in obscurity, +inured to callings far beneath her propensity, and unsuited to her +taste, she had a desire to cultivate her talents, but no one to +encourage her. Whenever she made the effort, she was +discouraged—perhaps ridiculed; and thus discouraged, she would shrink +again from her anxious task. She knew she could sing, and knew she could +sing unlike any body else; knew she sung better than any whom she had +heard of the popular singers, but could not tell why others could not +think with, and appreciate her. In this way it seems, she was thrown +about for three years, never meeting with a person who could fully +appreciate her talents; and we have it from her own lips, that not until +after the arrival of Jenny Lind and Parodi in the country, was she aware +of the high character of her own talents. She knew she possessed them, +because they were inherent, inseparable with her being. She attended the +Concerts of Mad'll. Jenny Lind, and Operas of Parodi, and at once saw +the "secret of their success"—they possessed talents, that no other +popular singers mastered.</p> + +<p>She went home; her heart fluttered; she stole an opportunity when no one +listened, to mock or gossip; let out her voice, when <i>ecce!</i> she found +her strains <i>four</i> notes <i>above</i> Sweden's favored Nightingale; she +descended when lo! she found her tones <i>three</i> notes <i>below!</i> she +thanked God with a "still small voice"; and now, she ranks second in +point of voice, to no vocalist in the world. Miss Greenfield, if she +only be judicious and careful, may become yet, in point of popularity, +what Miss Lind was. The Black Swan, is singing to fine fashionable +houses, and bids fair to stand unrivalled in the world of Song.</p> + +<p>Patrick Henry Reason, a gentleman of ability and fine artist, stands +high as an Engraver in the city of New York. Mr. Reason has been in +business for years, in that city, and has sent out to the world, many +beautiful specimens of his skillful hand. He was the first artist, we +believe in the United States, who produced a plate of that beautiful +touching little picture, the Kneeling Slave; the first picture of which +represented a handsome, innocent little girl upon her knees, with hands +outstretched, leaving the manacles dangling before her, anxiously +looking and wishfully asking, "<i>Am I not a sister?</i>" It was +beautiful—sorrowfully beautiful. He has we understand, frequently done +Government engraving. Mr. P.H. is a brother of Professor Charles L. +Reason.</p> + +<p>David Jones Peck, M.D., a graduate of Rush Medical College, a talented +young gentleman, practised Medicine for two years in Philadelphia. He +left there in 1850.</p> + +<p>William H. Allen, Esq., A.B., successor to Professor C.L. Reason, is +Professor of Languages in Centre College, at McGrawville, N.Y. Professor +Allen, is a gentleman of fine education, a graduate of Oneida Institute, +and educated himself entirely by his own industry, having the aid of but +fifty dollars during the whole period. The Professor is a talented +Lecturer on Ancient History, and much of a gentleman.</p> + +<p>Martin H. Freeman, A.B., a young gentleman, graduate of Rutland College, +in Vermont, is "Junior Professor," in Allegheny Institute, Allegheny +county, Pa. The Professor is a gentleman of talents, and doing much good +in his position.</p> + +<p>Rev. Molliston Madison Clark, a gentleman of great talents, a noble +speaker, educated at Jefferson College, Pa., sailed to Europe in 1846, +and was a member of the Evangelical Alliance. Mr. Clark kept a regular +Journal of his travels through the United Kingdom of England, Scotland +and Ireland. As well as a Greek and Latin, he is also a French and +Spanish Linguist. He has all the eccentricity of Rowland Hill, +manifested only in a very different manner.</p> + +<p>William C. Nell, of Rochester, N.Y., formerly of Boston, has long been +known as a gentleman of chaste and lofty sentiments, and a pure +philanthropist. Mr. Nell, in company with Mr. Frederick Douglass, was +present by invitation, and took his seat at table, at the celebration of +Franklin's Birth Day, by the Typographical and Editorial corps of +Rochester. In 1850, being again residing in Boston, he was nominated and +ran for the Legislature of Massachusetts, by the Free Soil party of +Essex county. Mr. Nell stood even with his party vote in the District.</p> + +<p>He recently issued from the Boston press a Pamphlet, on the colored men +who served in the wars of the United States of 1776, and 1812. This +pamphlet is very useful as a book of reference on this subject, and Mr. +Nell, of course does not aim at a full historical view. The +circumstances under which it was got out, justify this belief. He was +collecting materials in the winter of 1850-51, when he was taken down to +his bed with a severe attack of disease of one of his lungs, with which +he lingered, unable to leave his room for weeks. In the Spring, +recovering somewhat his health, so as to go out—during this time, he +had the little pamphlet published, as a means of pecuniary aid, +promising another part to be forthcoming some subsequent period, which +the writer hopes may soon be issued. Mr. Nell, is an excellent man, and +deserves the patronage of the public.</p> + +<p>Joseph G. Anderson, successor to Captain Frank Johnson, of Philadelphia, +is now one of the most distinguished musicians in the country. Mr. +Anderson is an artist professionally and practically, mastering various +instruments, a composer of music, and a gentleman of fine +accomplishments in other respects. His musical fame will grow with his +age, which one day must place him in the front ranks of his profession, +among the master in the world.</p> + +<p>William Jackson, is among the leading musicians of New York city, and +ranks among the most skillful violinists of America. This gentleman is a +master of his favorite instrument, executing with ease the most +difficult and critical composition. He is generally preferred in social +and private parties, among the first families of the city, where the +amateur and gentleman is more regarded than the mere services of the +musician. Mr. Jackson is a teacher of music, and only requires a more +favorable opportunity to vie with Ole Bull or Paganini.</p> + +<p>Rev. Daniel A. Payne, commenced his literary career in Charleston, +South Carolina, where he taught school for some time. In 1833 or 1834, +he came North, placing himself in the Lutheran Theological Seminary, at +Gettysburg, under the tutorage of the learned and distinguished Dr. +Schmucker, where he finished his education as a Lutheran clergyman. To +extend his usefulness, he joined the African Methodist Connexion, and +for several years resided in Baltimore, where he taught an Academy for +colored youth and maidens, gaining the respect and esteem of all who had +the fortune to become acquainted with him. He is now engaged travelling +and collecting information, for the publication of a history of one of +the colored Methodist denominations in the United States. Mr. Payne is a +pure and chaste poet, having published a small volume of his productions +in 1850, under the title of "Pleasures and other Miscellaneous Poems, by +Daniel A. Payne," issued from the press of Sherwood and Company, +Baltimore, Maryland.</p> + +<p>Rev. William T. Catto, a clergyman of fine talents, finished his +education in the Theological Seminary in Charleston, South Carolina. He +was ordained by the Presbytery of Charleston, and in 1848, under the +best recommendations for piety, acquirements, and all the qualifications +necessary to his high mission as a clergyman, was sent out as a +missionary to preach the Gospel to all who needed it; but to make +himself more useful, he joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church +Connexion, and is now a useful and successful preacher in Philadelphia.</p> + +<p>The musical profession of Philadelphia has long had a valuable votary in +the person of William Appo, an accomplished pianist. Mr. Appo has been a +teacher of the piano forte, for more than twenty years, alternately in +the cities of New York and Philadelphia, and sometimes in Baltimore. +His profession extends amongst the citizens generally, from the more +moderate in circumstances, to the ladies and daughters of the most +wealthy gentlemen in community. This gentleman is a fine scholar, and as +well as music, teaches the French language successfully. His young +daughter, Helen, a miss of fourteen years of age, inherits the musical +talents of her father, and is now organist in the central Presbyterian +Church. The name of William Appo, is generally known as a popular +teacher of music, but few who are not personally acquainted with him, +know that he is a colored gentleman.</p> + +<p>Augustus Washington, an artist of fine taste and perception, is numbered +among the most successful Daguerreotypists in Hartford, Connecticut. His +establishment is said to be visited daily by large numbers of the +citizens of all classes; and this gallery is perhaps, the only one in +the country, that keeps a female attendant, and dressing-room for +ladies. He recommends, in his cards, black dresses to be worn for +sitting; and those who go unsuitably dressed, are supplied with drapery, +and properly enrobed.</p> + +<p>John Newton Templeton, A.M., for fifteen years an upright, active, and +very useful citizen of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, was a graduate of Athens +College, in the State of Ohio. Mr. Templeton, after an active life of +more than twenty years, principally spent in school teaching, died in +Pittsburg, in July, 1851, leaving an amiable widow and infant son.</p> + +<p>Thomas Paul, A.B., of Boston, a gentleman of fine talents and amiable +disposition, whose life has been mainly devoted to teaching, is a +graduate of Bowdoin College, in Maine. Mr. Paul is now the recipient of +a salary of fifteen hundred dollars a year as teacher of a school in +Boston.</p> + +<p>Rev. Benjamin Franklin Templeton, pastor of St. Mary street Church, +Philadelphia, was educated at Hanover College, near Madison, Indiana. In +1838, Mr. Templeton was ordained a minister of the Ripley Presbytery, in +Ohio; subsequently, in 1841, established a church, the Sixth +Presbyterian, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, from which place he was +called, in 1844, to take charge of his present pastorate. Mr. Templeton +is a beautiful speaker, and an amiable gentleman.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<p>John B. Russworm, a gentleman of splendid talents, graduated at Bowdoin +College, many years ago. Mr. Russworm was a class-mate of Honorable John +P. Hale, United States Senator, and after leaving College as his first +public act, commenced the publication of a newspaper, for the elevation +of colored Americans, called "Freedom's Journal." Subsequently to the +publication of his paper, Mr. Russworm became interested in the +Colonization scheme, then in its infancy, and went to Liberia; after +which he went to Bassa Cove, of which place he was made governor, where +he died in 1851.</p> + +<p>Benjamin Coker, a colored Methodist clergyman, forty years ago, wrote +and issued, in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, a pamphlet, setting +forth in glowing terms, the evils of American slavery, and the wrongs +inflicted on the colored race. Rev. Daniel A. Payne, a talented +clergyman, mentioned in this work, has now in his possession a copy of +the pamphlet, and informs us, that the whole ground assumed by the +modern abolitionists, was taken and reviewed in this pamphlet, by Daniel +Coker. We may reasonably infer, that the ideas of Anti-Slavery, as +taught by the friends of the black race at the present day, were +borrowed from Mr. Coker; though, perhaps, policy forbade due credit to +the proper source. Coker, like Russworm, became interested in the cause +of African Colonization, and went to Africa; where he subsequently +became an extensive coast trader, having several vessels, one of which +he commanded in person, taking up his residence on the island of +Sherbro, where he is said to have lived in great splendor. He died in +1845 or 1846, at an advanced age, leaving a family of sons and +daughters.</p> + +<p>Henry Bibb, an eloquent speaker, for several years, was the principal +traveling lecturer for the Liberty Party of Michigan. Mr. Bibb, with +equal advantages, would equal many of those who fill high places in the +country, and now assume superiority over him and his kindred. He fled an +exile from the United States, in 1850, to Canada, to escape the terrible +consequences of the Republican Fugitive Slave Law, which threatened him +with a total destruction of liberty. Mr. Bibb established the "Voice of +the Fugitive," a newspaper, in Sandwich, Canada West, which is managed +and conducted with credit.</p> + +<p>Titus Basfield, graduated at Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio, +receiving his religious instruction from the late Dr. Jonathan Walker, +of that place, a physician and Covenanter clergyman. He afterwards +graduated in theology at the Theological Seminary of Cannonsburg, +Pennsylvania, was ordained, and traveled preaching and lecturing to the +people of his peculiar faith and the public, for several years. He went +to New London, Canada West, where he has charge of a Scotch congregation +of religious votaries to that ancient doctrine of salvation.</p> + +<p>Mary Ann Shadd, a very intelligent young lady, peculiarly eccentric, +published an excellent pamphlet, issued from the press in Wilmington, +Delaware, in 1849, on the elevation of the colored people. The writer of +this work, was favored with an examination of it before publication, +which he then highly approved of, as an excellent introduction to a +great subject, fraught with so much interest. Miss Shadd has traveled +much, and now has charge of a school in Sandwich, Canada West.</p> + +<p>James McCrummill, of Philadelphia, is a skillful surgeon-dentist, and +manufacturer of porcelain teeth, having practised the profession for +many years in that city. He is said to be equal to the best in the city, +and probably only requires an undivided attention to establish the +reality.</p> + +<p>Joseph Wilson, Thomas Kennard, and William Nickless, are also practising +dentists in the city of Philadelphia. Mr. Kennard is said to be one of +the best <i>workmen</i> in the manufacture of artificial teeth, and <i>gums</i>—a +new discovery, and very valuable article, in this most beautiful and +highly useful art. He devotes several hours a day, to the manufacture of +these articles for one of the principal surgeon-dentists of Arch street.</p> + +<p>James M. Whitfield, of Buffalo, New York, though in an humble position, +(for which we think he is somewhat reprehensible), is one of the purest +poets in America. He has written much for different newspapers; and, by +industry and application—being already a good English scholar—did he +but place himself in a favorable situation in life, would not be second +to John Greenleaf Whittier, nor the late Edgar A. Poe.</p> + +<p>Mary Elizabeth Miles, in accordance with the established rules, +graduated as a teacher, in the Normal School, at Albany, New York, +several years ago. Miss Miles (now Mrs. Bibb) was a very talented young +lady and successful teacher. She spent several years of usefulness in +Massachusetts, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after which she went to +Cincinnati, as assistant-teacher in Gilmore's "High School for Colored +Children," which ended her public position in life. She now resides in +Sandwich, Canada West.</p> + +<p>Lucy Stanton, of Columbus, Ohio, is a graduate of Oberlin Collegiate +Institute, in that State. She is now engaged in teaching school in that +city, in which she is reputed to be successful. She is quite a young +lady, and has her promise of life all before her, and bids fair to +become a woman of much usefulness in society.</p> + +<p>Doctor Bias, of Philadelphia, spoken of in another place, graduated at +the close of the session of 1851-52, in the Eclectic Medical College, in +that city. The doctor is highly esteemed by the physicians of his +system, who continually interchange calls with him. He is also a +practical phrenologist,—which profession he does not now attend to, +giving his undivided attention to the practice of medicine,—and has +written a pamphlet on that subject, entitled, "Synopsis of Phrenology, +and the Phrenological Developments, as given by J.J. Gould Bias." No man +perhaps, in the community of Philadelphia, possesses more self-will, and +determination of character, than Dr. James Joshua Gould Bias. Mr. +Whipper says of him, that he is "a Napoleon in character." The sterling +trait in his character is, that he grasps after <i>originality</i>, and +grapples with every difficulty. Such a man, must and will succeed in his +undertakings.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> During the last twenty years, there have been, at different +periods, published among the colored people of the United States, twenty +odd newspapers, some of which were conducted with ability. Among them, +the "Colored American," in New York city; Samuel E. Cornish, Philip A. +Bell, and Charles B. Ray, at different times, Editors. "The Demosthenian +Shield," issued from a Literary Society of young colored men, in the +city of Philadelphia. "The Straggler," by Philip A. Bell, New York, out +of which the Colored American took its origin. The "National Reformer," +an able monthly periodical, in pamphlet form, in Philadelphia; William +Whipper, Editor. "The Northern Star," a Temperance monthly newspaper, +published in Albany, N.Y.; Stephen Myers, Editor, still in +existence—changed to ——. "The Mystery," of Pittsburg, Pa.; Martin +Robison Delany, Editor—succeeded by a committee of colored gentlemen as +Editors. The "Palladium of Liberty," issued in Columbus, O., by a +committee of colored gentlemen; David Jenkins, Editor. "The +Disfranchised American," by a committee of colored gentlemen, +Cincinnati, O.; A.M. Sumner, Editor—succeeded by the "Colored Citizen"; +Rev. Thomas Woodson, and William Henry Yancey, Editors. The "National +Watchman," Troy, N.Y.; William H. Allen and Henry Highland Garnett, +Editors. Another issued in New York city, the name of which, we cannot +now remember; James William Charles Pennington, D.D., and James McCune +Smith, M.D., Editors: the issue being alternately at Hartford, the then +residence of Dr. Pennington—and New York city, the residence of Dr. +Smith. The "Excelsior," an ephemeral issue, which appeared but once, in +Detroit, Mich.; William H. Day, Editor. +</p><p> +The "Christian Herald," the organ of the A.M. Episcopal Church, +published under the auspices of the General Conference of that body; +Augustus Richardson Green, Editor, and General Book Steward. This +gentleman has, also, written and published several small volumes of a +religious character; a pamphlet on the Episcopacy and Infant Baptism, +and the Lives of Reverends Fayette Davis and David Canyou. The +"Elevator," of Philadelphia; James McCrummill, Editor. The "Ram's Horn," +New York city; Thomas Vanrensellear, Editor. There is now a little +paper, the name of which we cannot recollect, issued at Newark, N.J., +merely a local paper, very meager in appearance. "The Farmer and +Northern Star," in Courtland, N.Y., afterwards changed to the "Impartial +Citizen," and published in Boston; Samuel Ringgold Ward, Editor. "The +North Star," published in Rochester, N.Y.; Frederick Douglass, and +Martin Robinson Delany, Editors—subsequently changed to the "Frederick +Douglass' Paper"; Frederick Douglass, Editor. +</p><p> +A number of gentlemen have been authors of narratives, written by +themselves, some of which are masterly efforts, manifesting great force +of talents. Of such, are those by Frederick Douglass, William Wells +Brown, and Henry Bibb. +</p><p> +Of the various churches and clergy we have nothing to say, as these do +not come within our province; except where individuals, from position, +come within the sphere of our arrangement. +</p><p> +There have been several inventors among the colored people. The youth +Henry Blair, of Maryland, some years ago, invented the Corn-Planter, and +Mr. Roberts of Philadelphia, 1842, a machine for lifting cars off the +railways. +</p><p> +It may be expected that we should say something about a book issued in +Boston, purporting to be a history of ancient great men of African +descent, by one Mr. Lewis, entitled "Light and Truth." This book is +nothing more than a compilation of selected portions of Rollin's, +Goldsmith's, Furguson's, Hume's, and other ancient histories; added to +which, is a tissue of historical absurdities and literary blunders, +shamefully palpable, for which the author or authors should mantle their +faces. +</p><p> +If viewed in the light of a "Yankee trick," simply by which to make +money, it may, peradventure, be a very clever trick; but the publisher +should have recollected, that the ostensible object of his work was, the +edification and enlightenment of the public in general and the colored +people in particular, upon a great and important subject of truth; and +that those who must be the most injured by it, will be the very class of +people, whom he professes a desire to benefit. We much regret the fact, +that there are but too many of our brethren, who undertake to dabble in +literary matters, in the shape of newspaper and book-making, who are +wholly unqualified for the important work. This, however, seems to be +called forth by the palpable neglect, and indifference of those who have +had the educational advantages, but neglected to make such use of them. +</p><p> +There is one redeeming quality about "Light and Truth." It is a capital +offset to the pitiable literary blunders of Professor George R. Gliddon, +late Consul to Egypt, from the United States, Lecturer on Ancient +Egyptian Literature, &c., &c., who makes all ancient black men, <i>white</i>; +and asserts the Egyptians and Ethiopians to have been of the <i>Caucasian</i> +or white race!—So, also, this colored gentleman, makes all ancient +great white men, black—as Diogenes, Socrates, Themistocles, Pompey, +Caesar, Cato, Cicero, Horace, Virgil, et cetera. Gliddon's idle nonsense +has found a capital match in the production of Mr. Lewis' "Light and +Truth," and both should be sold together. We may conclude by expressing +our thanks to our brother Lewis, as we do not think that Professor +Gliddon's learned ignorance, would have ever met an equal but for "Light +and Truth." Reverends D.A. Payne, M.M. Clark, and other learned colored +gentlemen, agree with us in the disapproval of this +book.—<span class="smcap">Editor</span>.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="XII" id="XII"></a>XII</h2> + +<h2>STUDENTS OF VARIOUS PROFESSIONS</h2> + +<p>There are a number of young gentlemen who have finished their literary +course, who are now studying for the different learned professions, in +various parts of the country.</p> + +<p>Jonathan Gibbs, A.B., a very talented young gentleman, and fine speaker, +is now finishing his professional studies in the Theological School at +Dartmouth University. Mr. Gibbs also studied in the Scientific +Department of the same Institution.</p> + +<p>William H. Day, Esq., A.B., a graduate of Oberlin Collegiate Institute, +is now in Cleveland Ohio, preparing for the Bar. Mr. Day is, perhaps, +the most eloquent young gentleman of his age in the United States.</p> + +<p>John Mercer Langston, A.B., of Chillicothe, Ohio, also a graduate of +Oberlin College, a talented young gentleman, and promising orator, is +completing a Theological course at the School of Divinity at Oberlin. It +is said, that Mr. Langston intends also to prepare for the Bar. He +commenced the study of Law previous to that of Theology, under Judge +Andrews of Cleveland.</p> + +<p>Charles Dunbar, of New York city, a promising, very intelligent young +gentleman, is now in the office of Dr. Childs, and having attended one +course of Lectures at Bowdoin Medical School in Maine, will finish next +fall and winter, for the practice of his profession.</p> + +<p>Isaac Humphrey Snowden, a promising young gentleman of talents, is now +reading Medicine under Dr. Clarke of Boston, and attended the session of +the Medical School of Harvard University, of 1850-51.</p> + +<p>Daniel Laing, Jr., Esq., a fine intellectual young gentleman of Boston, +a student also of Dr. Clarke of that city, one of the Surgeons of the +Massachusetts General Hospital, who attended the course of Lectures the +session of 1850-51, at the Medical School of Harvard University, is now +in Paris, to spend two years in the hospitals, and attend the Medical +Lectures of that great seat of learning. Mr. Laing, like most medical +students, has ever been an admirer, and anxious to sit under the +teachings of that great master in Surgery, Velpeau.</p> + +<p>Dr. James J. Gould Bias, a Botanic Physician, and talented gentleman of +Philadelphia, is a member of the class of 1851-52, of the Eclectic +Medical School of that city. Dr. Bias deserves the more credit for his +progress in life, as he is entirely self-made.</p> + +<p>Robert B. Leach, of Cleveland, Ohio, a very intelligent young gentleman, +is a member of the medical class for 1851-52, of the Homeopathic +College, in that City. Mr. Leach, when graduated, will be the <i>First +Colored Homeopathic</i> Physician in the United States.</p> + +<p>Dr. John Degrass, of New York city, named in another place, spent two +years in Paris Hospitals, under the teaching of the great lecturer and +master of surgery, Velpeau, to whom he was assistant and dresser, in the +hospital—the first position—for advantages, held by a student. The +Doctor has subsequently been engaged as surgeon on a Havre packet, where +he discharged the duties of his office with credit.</p> + +<p>Also Dr. Peter Ray, of Brooklyn, named on the same page, graduated at +Castleton Medical School, Vermont, spent some time at the Massachusetts +General Hospital, Boston, where he held the position of assistant and +dresser to Surgeon Parkman, in his ward of the hospital.</p> + +<p>Dr. John P. Reynolds, has for a number of years been one of the most +popular and successful physicians in Vincennes, Indiana. We believe Dr. +Reynolds, was not of the "regular" system, but some twenty-three or-four +years ago, studied under an "Indian physician," after which, he +practised very successfully in Zanesville, Ohio, subsequently removing +to Vincennes, where he has for the last sixteen years, supported an +enviable reputation as a physician. We understand Doctor Reynolds has +entered into all the scientific improvements of the "eclectic school" of +medicine, which has come into being in the United States, long since his +professional career commenced. His popularity is such, that he has +frequently been entrusted, with public confidence, and on one occasion, +in 1838, was appointed by the court, sole executor of a very valuable +orphans' estate. The Doctor has grown quite wealthy it is said, +commanding a considerable influence in the community.</p> + +<p>Dr. McDonough, a skillful young physician, graduated at the Institute, +Easton, Pennsylvania, and finished his medical education at the +University of New York. The Doctor is one of the most thorough of the +young physicians; has been attached to the greater part of the public +institutions of the city of New York, and is a good practical chemist.</p> + +<p>Of course, there are many others, but as we have taken no measures +whatever, to collect facts or information from abroad, only getting such +as was at hand, and giving the few sketches here, according to our own +recollection of them, we close this short chapter at this point.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a>XIII</h2> + +<h2>A SCAN AT PAST THINGS</h2> + +<p>It may not be considered in good taste to refer to those still living, +who formerly occupied prominent business positions, and by dint of +misfortune or fortune, have withdrawn. Nevertheless, we shall do so, +since our simple object in this hasty sketch of things, is to show that +the colored people of the country have not as has been charged upon +them, always been dregs on the community and excrescences on the body +politic, wherever they may have lived. We only desire to show that they +have been, all things considered, just like other people.</p> + +<p>Several years ago, there lived in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. +Berry Mechum. This gentleman was very wealthy, and had at one time, two +fine steamers plying on the Mississippi, all under the command and +management of white men, to whom he trusted altogether. As late as 1836, +he sent two sons to the Oberlin Collegiate Institute, desiring that they +might become educated, in order to be able to manage his business; who, +although he could read and write, was not sufficiently qualified and +skilled in the arts of business to vie with the crafty whites of the +Valley. But before his sons were fitted for business though reputed very +wealthy, which there is no doubt he was, his whole property was seized +and taken: and as he informed the writer himself, he did not know what +for, as he had no debts that he knew of, until these suits were +entered. Mr. Mechum was an energetic, industrious, persevering old +gentleman—a baptist clergyman, and published a small pamphlet on the +condition of the colored race. And although, it evinces great deficiency +of literary qualifications, yet, does credit to the good old man, for +the sound thoughts therein contained.</p> + +<p>Also in the city of St. Louis, David Desara, who was a Mississippi pilot +for many years. He made much money at his business, and owned at one +time, a steamboat, which he piloted himself. Mr. Desara also failed, in +consequence of having his business all in the hands of white men, as +most of the slave state colored people have, entrusting to them +entirely, without knowing anything of their own concerns.</p> + +<p>Charles Moore, long and familiarly known as "Chancy Moore the Pilot," +was for many years, one of the most popular pilots on the Ohio and +Mississippi rivers. Mr. Moore made much money, and withdrew from his old +business, purchasing a large tract of land in Mercer County, Ohio, where +he has for the last ten or twelve years been farming.</p> + +<p>Mr. Moore was an honest man, and we believe upon him originated the +purely Western phrase, "Charley Moore the fair thing"; he always in his +dealings saying "gentlemen, do the <i>fair</i> thing."</p> + +<p>Abner H. Francis and James Garrett were formerly extensive clothes +dealers in Buffalo, N.Y., doing business to the amount of sixty thousand +dollars annually. They were energetic, industrious, persevering +gentlemen, commencing business under very unfavorable circumstances, in +fact, commencing on but <i>seventy-five</i> dollars, as the writer has been +authentically informed by the parties.</p> + +<p>They continued successfully for years, where their paper and +endorsements were good for any amount they wanted—highly respected and +esteemed; Mr. Francis sitting at one time as juryman in the court of +quarter sessions. These gentlemen failed in business in 1849, but since +then, have nearly adjusted the claims against them. Mr. Francis has +since settled in Oregon Territory, Portland City, where he is again +doing a fair mercantile business. They bid fair again to rank among the +"merchant princes" of the times.</p> + +<p>Robert Banks was for many years, a highly esteemed and extensive clothes +dealer, on Jefferson Avenue, in Detroit, Mich. No man was more highly +respected for unswerving integrity, and uprightness of purpose, than +Robert Banks, of Detroit. Mr. Banks, had much enlarged his business, +immediately succeeding a fire in which he was burnt out two years +previous to closing, which ensued in July, 1851, being the second time +he had lost his store by fire. He might have, had he done as merchants +usually do under such circumstances, continued his business; but +instead, he made an assignment, with few preferred creditors, rather as +he expressed it, ruin his business, than wilfully wrong a creditor. What +speaks volumes in his behalf, every person, even his greatest creditors +say, "He is an honest man"; and while settling the business of the late +concern, those to whom he was indebted, offered him assistance to +commence business again. But this he thankfully declined, preferring to +take his chance with others in the land of gold, California, where he +now is, than commence again under the circumstances. Doubtless, if no +special prevention ensue, Mr. Banks will be fully able to redeem his +present obligations, and once more be found prospering and happy.</p> + +<p>Henry Knight, of Chicago, commenced business in that city without +capital; but by industry, soon gained the esteem and confidence of the +public, making many friends. He fast rose in prosperity, until he became +the proprietor of the most extensive livery establishment in the city, +in which he had much capital invested. Determined to be equal to the +times, the growing prosperity of the city, and the demands of the +increasing pride of the place, he extended his possessions—erecting +costly buildings, besides increasing his stock and livery extensively. +He was burnt out—a pressure came upon him—he sold out his stock, staid +suits against himself; went to California, returned in a year and a +half—paid off old claims, saved his property—went back; opened a +California hotel, returned in less than one year with several thousand +dollars, and now stands entirely clear of all debt—and all this done in +the space of two and a half years. Mr. Knight is a man of business, and +will hold his position with others if he have but half a chance. With +such a man, there is "no such a thing as fail"—he could not again, if +he desired, because, his friends would not permit him.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a>XIV</h2> + +<h2>LATE MEN OF LITERARY, PROFESSIONAL AND ARTISTIC NOTE</h2> + +<p>Late Captain Frank Johnson, of Philadelphia, the most renowned band +leader ever known in the United States, was a man of science, and master +of his profession. In 1838, Captain Johnson went to England with his +noble band of musicians, where he met with great success—played to Her +Majesty Queen Victoria and His Royal Highness Prince Albert—Captain +Johnson receiving a handsome French bugle, by order of her Majesty, +valued at five hundred dollars—returning, he held throughout the +Eastern, Northern, and Western States, grand concerts, known as "Soirees +Musicales." He was a great composer and teacher of music, and some of +the finest Marches and Cotillions now extant, have been originally +composed by Captain Frank Johnson. On his Western tour, by some +awkwardness of management, he lost at Buffalo, original music in +manuscript, which never had been published—as much of his composition +had been; valued at one thousand dollars, which, although advertised, he +never got. But his name was sufficient to give additional value to the +prize; and there is no doubt, but the world is now being benefited by +the labors of Captain Johnson, the credit being given to others than +himself. This was an unfortunate circumstance, and had his amiable and +excellent widow, Mrs. Helen Johnson of Philadelphia, now this +composition, she could support herself in ease, by the sale of the +published work. Captain Frank Johnson, died in Philadelphia in 1844, +universally respected, and regretted as an irreparable loss to society. +At his death the band divided, different members taking a leadership.</p> + +<p>Andrew J. Conner, one of the members of Captain Johnson's band, also +became a distinguished composer and teacher of music. Mr. Conner taught +the piano forte in the best families in the city of Philadelphia—among +merchants, bankers, and professional men. He contributed to the popular +literary Magazines of the day, and very many who have read in Graham's +and other literary issues, "Music composed by A.J. Conner," did not for +a moment think that the author was a colored gentleman. Mr. Conner died +in Philadelphia in 1850.</p> + +<p>James Ulett, formerly of New York, became quite celebrated a few years +since, as a comedian. He played several times in the old "Richmond Hill" +Theatre, and quite successfully in Europe. Mr. Ulett was not well +educated, and consequently, labored under considerable inconvenience in +reading, frequently making grammatical blunders, as the writer noticed +in a private rehearsal, in 1836, in the city of New York. He, however, +possessed great intellectual powers, and his success depended more upon +that, than his accuracy in reading. Of course, he was a great delineator +of character, which being the principal feature in a comedian, his +language was lost sight of in common conversation. Mr. Ulett died in New +York a few years ago.</p> + +<p>Doctor Lewis G. Wells was a most talented orator and man of literary +qualifications. Residing in Baltimore, Maryland, he raised himself high +in the estimation of all who knew him. He studied medicine, and was +admitted into the Washington Medical College, attending the regular +courses, and would have graduated, but for some misunderstanding +between himself and the professors, which prevented it. He was a most +successful practitioner, and effected more cures during the prevalence +of the cholera in 1832, than any other physician in the city. Doctor +Wells was also a most successful practical phrenologist, and lectured to +large and fashionable houses of the first class ladies and gentlemen of +Baltimore, and other cities. Being a great wit, he kept his audiences in +uproars of laughter. Mr. Wells was also an ordained minister of the +Gospel, belonging to the white Methodist connexion; and was author of +several productions, among them, a large Methodist hymn book, containing +several fine original poems. Dr. Wells died the same year of cholera, +after successfully saving many others, because there was no physician at +that time who understood the treatment of the disease.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="XV" id="XV"></a>XV</h2> + +<h2>FARMERS AND HERDSMEN</h2> + +<p>Little need be said about farmers; there are hundreds of them in all +parts of the country, especially in the Western States; still these may +not be considered of a conspicuous or leading character—albeit, they +are contributing largely to the wants of community, and wealth of the +country at large. Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and +Indiana, all, are largely represented by the farming interests of +colored men. We shall name but a sufficient number to show the character +of their enterprise in this department of American industry.</p> + +<p>Rev. William Watson, of Cincinnati, Ohio, is the owner of a fine farm in +Mercer county, and six hundred acres of additional land.</p> + +<p>Mr. Richard Phillips, of the same city, is owner of a fine farm in the +same county, and three hundred and fifty additional acres of land.</p> + +<p>Rev. Reuben P. Graham, of Cincinnati, owns a finely cultivated farm in +Mercer county, three hundred acres of adjoining land; and one near +Cincinnati.</p> + +<p>Mr. John Woodson, of Jackson county, is one of the most successful +farmers in the State of Ohio. Having a large tract of land, he has one +of the best cultivated farms in the West, in a most productive state, +raising grains, fruits, and livestock. In the year 1842, his farm +produced that season, three thousand bushels of wheat, several hundred +bushels of rye, eleven hundred bushels of oats, large crops of corn, +potatoes, and other vegetables; large quantities of fruits, three +hundred stacks of hay, with a large stock of several hundred heads of +cattle on the place. Mr. Woodson has for many years, been a highly +respectable man in his neighborhood, and continues his farming interests +with unabated success.</p> + +<p>Dr. Charles Henry Langston, of Columbus, Ohio, is also the proprietor of +a very fine farm of eleven hundred acres, in Jackson county, upon which +he has a white tenant. This gentleman is a surgeon-dentist by +profession, educated at Oberlin College, making his home in Columbus.</p> + +<p>Robert Purvis, Esq., a gentleman of collegiate education, is proprietor +of one of the best improved farms in Philadelphia county, fifteen miles +from Philadelphia. His cattle consist of the finest English breed.</p> + +<p>Joseph Purvis, Esq., of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, a gentleman also of +education and wealth, is an amateur stock farmer. Every animal on Mr. +Purvis' farm is of the very best breed—Godolphin horses, Durham cattle, +Leicestershire sheep, Berkshire swine, even English bull-terrier dogs, +and whatever else pertains to the blooded breeds of brutes, may be found +on the farm of Joseph Purvis. Mr. Purvis supplies a great many farmers +with choice breeds of cattle, and it is said that he spends ten thousand +dollars annually, in the improvement of his stocks.</p> + +<p>Robert Briges Forten, also of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, is an amateur +farmer. Mr. Forten is a gentleman of fine education, a pure, chaste +poet, and attends to farming for the love of nature. He is a valuable +member of the farming enterprise in the country.</p> + +<p>If such evidence of industry and interest, as has been exhibited in the +various chapters on the different pursuits and engagements of colored +Americans, do not entitle them to equal rights and privileges in our +common country, then indeed, is there nothing to justify the claims of +any portion of the American people to the common inheritance of Liberty.</p> + +<p>We proceed to another view of our condition in the United States.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="XVI" id="XVI"></a>XVI</h2> + +<h2>NATIONAL DISFRANCHISEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE</h2> + +<p>We give below the Act of Congress, known as the "Fugitive Slave Law," +for the benefit of the reader, as there are thousands of the American +people of all classes, who have never read the provisions of this +enactment; and consequently, have no conception of its enormity. We had +originally intended, also, to have inserted here, the Act of Congress of +1793, but since this Bill includes all the provisions of that Act, in +fact, although called a "supplement," is a substitute, <i>de facto</i>, it +would be superfluous; therefore, we insert the Bill alone, with +explanations following:—</p> + +<blockquote><p class='center'>AN ACT</p> + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">To Amend, and Supplementary to the Act, Entitled, "An Act +Respecting Fugitives from Justice, and Persons Escaping from the +Service of Their Masters," Approved February 12, 1793.</span></p> + +<p><i>Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the +United States of America in Congress assembled</i>, That the persons +who have been, or may hereafter be, appointed commissioners, in +virtue of any act of Congress, by the circuit courts of the United +States, and who, in consequence of such appointment, are authorized +to exercise the powers that any justice of the peace or other +magistrate of any of the United States may exercise in respect to +offenders for any crime or offence against the United States, by +arresting, imprisoning, or bailing the same under and by virtue of +the thirty-third section of the act of the twenty-fourth of +September, seventeen hundred and eighty-nine, entitled "An act to +establish the judicial courts of the United States," shall be, and +are hereby authorized and required to exercise and discharge all +the powers and duties conferred by this act.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sec.</span> 2. <i>And be it further enacted</i>, That the superior +court of each organized territory of the United States shall have +the same power to appoint commissioners to take acknowledgments of +bail and affidavit, and to take depositions of witnesses in civil +causes, which is now possessed by the circuit courts of the United +States; and all commissioners who shall hereafter be appointed for +such purposes by the superior court of any organized territory of +the United States shall possess all the powers and exercise all the +duties conferred by law upon the commissioners appointed by the +circuit courts of the United States for similar purposes, and shall +moreover exercise and discharge all the powers and duties conferred +by this act.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sec.</span> 3. <i>And be it further enacted</i>, That the circuit +courts of the United States, and the superior courts of each +organized territory of the United States, shall from time to time +enlarge the number of commissioners, with a view to afford +reasonable facilities to reclaim fugitives from labor, and to the +prompt discharge of the duties imposed by this act.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sec.</span> 4. <i>And be it further enacted</i>, That the +commissioners above named shall have concurrent jurisdiction with +the judges of the circuit and district courts of the United States, +in their respective circuits and districts within the several +States, and the judges of the superior courts of the Territories, +severally and collectively, in term time and vacation; and shall +grant certificates to such claimants, upon satisfactory proof being +made, with authority to take and remove such fugitives from service +or labor, under the restrictions herein contained, to the State or +territory from which such persons may have escaped or fled.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sec.</span> 5. <i>And be it further enacted</i>, That it shall be the +duty of all marshals and deputy marshals to obey and execute all +warrants and precepts issued under the provisions of this act, when +to them directed; and should any marshal or deputy marshal refuse +to receive such warrant or other process, when tendered, or to use +all proper means diligently to execute the same, he shall, on +conviction thereof, be fined in the sum of one thousand dollars to +the use of such claimant, on the motion of such claimant, by the +circuit or district court for the district of such marshal; and +after arrest of such fugitive by such marshal or his deputy, or +whilst at any time in his custody, under the provisions of this +act, should such fugitive escape, whether with or without the +assent of such marshal or his deputy, such marshal shall be liable, +on his official bond, to be prosecuted, for the benefit of such +claimant for the full value of the service or labor of said +fugitive in the State, Territory, or district whence he escaped; +and the better to enable the said commissioners, when thus +appointed, to execute their duties faithfully and efficiently, in +conformity with the requirements of the constitution of the United +States and of this art, they are hereby authorized and empowered, +within their counties respectively, to appoint in writing under +their hands, any one or more suitable persons, from time to time, +to execute all such warrants and other process as may be issued by +them in the lawful performance of their respective duties; with an +authority to such commissioners, or the persons to be appointed by +them, to execute process as aforesaid, to summon and call to their +aid the bystanders, or <i>posse comitatus</i> of the proper county, +when necessary to insure a faithful observance of the clause of the +constitution referred to, in conformity with the provisions of this +act: and all good citizens are hereby commanded to aid and assist +in the prompt and efficient execution of this law, whenever their +services may be required, as aforesaid, for that person; and said +warrants shall run and be executed by said officers anywhere in the +State within which they are issued.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sec.</span> 6. <i>And be it further enacted</i>, That when a person +held to service or labor in any State or Territory of the United +States has heretofore or shall hereafter escape into another State +or Territory of the United States, the person or persons to whom +such service or labor may be due, or his, her, or their agent or +attorney, duly authorized, by power of attorney, in writing, +acknowledged and certified under the seal of some legal office or +court of the State or Territory in which the game may be executed, +may pursue and reclaim such fugitive person, either by procuring a +warrant from some one of the courts, judges, or commissioners +aforesaid, of the proper circuit, district or county, for the +apprehension of such fugitive from service or labor, or by seizing +and arresting such fugitive, where the same can be done without +process, and by taking and causing such person to be taken +forthwith before such court, judge or commissioner, whose duty it +shall be to hear and determine the case of such claimant in a +summary manner; and upon satisfactory proof being made, by +deposition or affidavit, in writing, to be taken and certified by +such court, judge, or commissioner, or by other satisfactory +testimony, duly taken and certified by some court, magistrate, +justice of the peace, or other legal officer authorized to +administer an oath, and take depositions under the laws of the +State or Territory from which such person owing service or labor +may have escaped, with a certificate of such magistracy or other +authority, as aforesaid, with the seal of the proper court or +officer thereto attached, which seal shall be sufficient to +establish the competency of the proof, and with proof, also by +affidavit, of the identity of the person whose service or labor is +claimed to be due as aforesaid, that the person so arrested does in +fact owe service or labor to the person or persons claiming him or +her, in the State or Territory from which such fugitive may have +escaped as aforesaid, and that said person escaped, to make out and +deliver to such claimant, his or her agent or attorney, a +certificate setting forth the substantial facts as to the service +or labor due from such fugitive to the claimant, and of his or her +escape from the State or Territory in which such service or labor +was due to the State or Territory in which he or she was arrested, +with authority to such claimant, or his or her agent or attorney to +use such reasonable force and restraint as may be necessary under +the circumstances of the case, to take and remove such fugitive +person back to the State or Territory from whence he or she may +have escaped as aforesaid. In no trial or hearing under this act +shall the testimony of such alleged fugitive be admitted in +evidence; and the certificates in this and the first section +mentioned shall be conclusive of the right of the person or persons +in whose favor granted to remove such fugitive to the State or +Territory from which he escaped, and shall prevent all molestation +of said person or persons by any process issued by any court, +judge, magistrate, or other person whomsoever.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sec.</span> 7. <i>And be it further enacted</i>, That any person who +shall knowingly and willingly obstruct, hinder, or prevent such +claimant, his agent or attorney, or any person or persons lawfully +assisting him, her, or them, from arresting such a fugitive from +service or labor, either with or without process as aforesaid; or +shall rescue, or attempt to rescue such fugitive from service or +labor, from the custody of such claimant, his or her agent or +attorney or other person or persons lawfully assisting as +aforesaid, when so arrested, pursuant to the authority herein given +and declared: or shall aid, abet, or assist such person, so owing +service or labor as aforesaid, directly or indirectly, to escape +from such claimant, his agent or attorney, or other person or +persons, legally authorized as aforesaid; or shall harbor or +conceal such fugitive, so as to prevent the discovery and arrest of +such person, after notice or knowledge of the fact that such person +was a fugitive from service or labor as aforesaid, shall, for +either of said offences, be subject to a fine not exceeding one +thousand dollars, and imprisonment not exceeding six months, by +indictment and conviction before the district court of the United +States for the district in which such offence may have been +committed, or before the proper court of criminal jurisdiction, if +committed within any one of the organized territories of the United +States; and shall moreover forfeit and pay, by way of civil damages +to the party injured by such illegal conduct, the sum of one +thousand dollars for each fugitive so lost as aforesaid, to be +recovered by action of debt in any of the district or territorial +courts aforesaid, within whose jurisdiction the said offence may +have been committed.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sec.</span> 8. <i>And be it further enacted</i>, That the marshals, +their deputies, and the clerks of the said district and territorial +courts, shall be paid for their services the like fees as may be +allowed to them for similar services in other cases; and where such +services rendered exclusively in the arrest, custody, and delivery +of the fugitive to the claimant, his or her agent or attorney, or +where such supposed fugitive may be discharged out of custody for +the want of sufficient proof as aforesaid, then such fees are to be +paid in the whole by such claimant, his agent or attorney; and in +all cases where the proceedings are before a commissioner, he shall +be entitled to a fee of ten dollars in full for his services in +each case, upon delivery of the said certificate to the claimant, +his or her agent or attorney; or a fee of five dollars in cases +where the proof shall not, in the opinion of such commissioner, +warrant such certificate and delivery, inclusive of all services +incident to such arrest and examination, to be paid in either case, +by the claimant, his or her agent or attorney. The person or +persons authorized to execute the process to be issued by such +commissioners for the arrest and detention of fugitives from +service or labor as aforesaid, shall also be entitled to a fee of +five dollars each for each person he or they may arrest and take +before any such commissioner as aforesaid at the instance and +request of such claimant, with such other fees as may be deemed +reasonable by such commissioner for such other additional services +as may be necessarily performed by him or them: such as attending +to the examination, keeping the fugitive in custody, and providing +him with food and lodging during his detention, and until the final +determination of such commissioner; and in general for performing +such other duties as may be required by such claimant, his or her +attorney or agent, or commissioner in the premises; such fees to be +made up in conformity with the fees usually charged by the officers +of the courts of justice within the proper district or county, as +near as may be practicable, and paid by such claimants, their +agents or attorneys, whether such supposed fugitive from service or +labor be ordered to be delivered to such claimants by the final +determination of such commissioners or not.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sec.</span> 9. <i>And be it further enacted</i>, That upon affidavit +made by the claimant of such fugitive, his agent or attorney, after +such certificate has been issued, that he has reason to apprehend +that such fugitive will be rescued by force from his or their +possession before he can be taken beyond the limits of the State in +which the arrest is made, it shall be the duty of the officer +making the arrest to retain such fugitive in his custody, and to +remove him to the State whence he fled, and there to deliver him to +said claimant, his agent or attorney. And to this end the officer +aforesaid is hereby authorized and required to employ so many +persons as he may deem necessary, to overcome such force, and to +retain them in his service so long as circumstances may require; +the said officer and his assistants, while so employed, to receive +the same compensation, and to be allowed the same expenses as are +now allowed by law for the transportation of criminals, to be +certified by the judge of the district within which the arrest is +made, and paid out of the treasury of the United States.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sec.</span> 10. <i>And be it further enacted</i>, That when any person +held to service or labor in any State or Territory, or in the +District of Columbia, shall escape therefrom, the party to whom +such service or labor shall be due, his, her, or their agent or +attorney may apply to any court of record therein, or judge +thereof, in vacation, and make satisfactory proof to such court, or +judge, in vacation, of the escape aforesaid, and that the person +escaping owed service or labor to such party. Whereupon the court +shall cause a record to be made of the matters so proved, and also +a general description of the person so escaping, with such +convenient certainty as may be; and a transcript of such record +authenticated by the attestation of the clerk, and of the seal of +the said court, being produced in any other State, Territory, or +District in which the person so escaping may be found, and being +exhibited to any judge, commissioner, or other officer, authorized +by the law of the United States to cause persons escaping from +service or labor to be delivered up, shall be held and taken to be +full and conclusive evidence of the fact of escape, and that the +service or labor of the person escaping is due to the party in such +record mentioned. And upon the production by the said party of +other and further evidence, if necessary, either oral or by +affidavit, in addition to what is contained in the said record of +the identity of the person escaping, he or she shall be delivered +up to the claimant. And the said court, commissioner, judge or +other person authorized by this act to grant certificates to +claimants of fugitives, shall, upon the production of the record +and other evidences aforesaid, grant to such claimant a certificate +of his right to take any such person identified and proved to be +owing service or labor as aforesaid, which certificate shall +authorize such claimant to seize or arrest and transport such +person to the State or Territory from which he escaped: <i>Provided</i>, +That nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring the +production of a transcript of such record as evidence as aforesaid; +but in its absence, the claim shall be heard and determined upon +other satisfactory proofs competent in law.</p> + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Howell Cobb,</span><br /> +<i>Speaker of the House of Representatives</i>.</p> + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">William R. King,</span><br /> +<i>President of the Senate, pro tempore</i>.</p> + +<p>Approved September 18, 1850.</p> + +<p class='right'><span class="smcap">Millard Fillmore.</span></p></blockquote> + +<p>The most prominent provisions of the Constitution of the United States, +and those which form the fundamental basis of personal security, are +they which provide, that every person shall be secure in their person +and property: that no person may be deprived of liberty without due +process of law, and that for crime or misdemeanor; that there may be no +process of law that shall work corruption of blood. By corruption of +blood is meant, that process, by which a person is <i>degraded</i> and +deprived of rights common to the enfranchised citizen—of the rights of +an elector, and of eligibility to the office of a representative, of the +people; in a word, that no person nor their posterity, may ever be +debased beneath the level of the recognised basis of American +citizenship. This debasement and degradation is "corruption of blood"; +politically understood—a legal acknowledgement of inferiority of birth.</p> + +<p>Heretofore, it ever has been denied, that the United States recognised +or knew any difference between the people—that the Constitution makes +no distinction, but includes in its provisions, all the people alike. +This is not true, and certainly is blind absurdity in us at least, who +have suffered the dread consequences of this delusion, not now to see +it.</p> + +<p>By the provisions of this bill, the colored people of the United States +are positively degraded beneath the level of the whites—are made liable +at any time, in any place, and under all circumstances, to be +arrested—and upon the claim of any white person, without the privilege, +even of making a defence, sent into endless bondage. Let no visionary +nonsense about <i>habeas corpus</i>, or a <i>fair trial</i>, deceive us; there are +no such rights granted in this bill, and except where the commissioner +is too ignorant to understand when reading it, or too stupid to enforce +it when he does understand, there is no earthly chance—no hope under +heaven for the colored person who is brought before one of these +officers of the law. Any leniency that may be expected, must proceed +from the whims or caprice of the magistrate—in fact, it is optional +with them; and <i>our</i> rights and liberty entirely at their disposal.</p> + +<p>We are slaves in the midst of freedom, waiting patiently, and +unconcernedly—indifferently and stupidly, for masters to come and lay +claim to us, trusting to their generosity, whether or not they will own +us and carry us into endless bondage.</p> + +<p>The slave is more secure than we; he knows who holds the heel upon his +bosom—we know not the wretch who may grasp us by the throat. His master +may be a man of some conscientious scruples; ours may be unmerciful. +Good or bad, mild or harsh, easy or hard, lenient or severe, saint or +satan—whenever that master demands any one of us—even our affectionate +wives and darling little children, <i>we must go into slavery</i>—there is +<i>no alternative</i>. The <i>will</i> of the man who sits in judgment on our +liberty, is the law. To him is given <i>all power</i> to say, whether or not +we have a right to enjoy freedom. This is the power over the slave in +the South—this is now extended to the North. The will of the man who +sits in judgment over us is the law; because it is explicitly provided +that the <i>decision</i> of the commissioner shall be final, from which there +can be no appeal.</p> + +<p>The freed man of the South is even more secure than the freeborn of the +North; because such persons usually have their records in the slave +states, bringing their "papers" with them; and the slaveholders will be +faithful to their own acts. The Northern freeman knows no records; he +despises the "papers."</p> + +<p>Depend upon no promised protection of citizens in any quarter. Their own +property and liberty are jeopardised, and they will not sacrifice them +for us. This we may not expect them to do.</p> + +<p>Besides, there are no people who ever lived, love their country and obey +their laws as the Americans.</p> + +<p>Their country is their Heaven—their Laws their Scriptures—and the +decrees of their Magistrates obeyed as the fiat of God. It is the most +consummate delusion and misdirected confidence to depend upon them for +protection; and for a moment suppose even our children safe while +walking in the streets among them.</p> + +<p>A people capable of originating and sustaining such a law as this, are +not the people to whom we are willing to entrust our liberty at +discretion.</p> + +<p>What can we do? What shall we do? This is the great and important +question:—Shall we submit to be dragged like brutes before heartless +men, and sent into degradation and bondage?—Shall we fly, or shall we +resist? Ponder well and reflect.</p> + +<p>A learned jurist in the United States, (Chief Justice John Gibson of +Pennsylvania,) lays down this as a fundamental right in the United +States: that "Every man's house is his castle, and he has the right to +defend it unto the taking of life, against any attempt to enter it +against his will, except for crime," by well authenticated process.</p> + +<p>But we have no such right. It was not intended for us, any more than any +other provision of the law, intended for the protection of Americans. +The policy is against us—it is useless to contend against it.</p> + +<p>This is the law of the land and must be obeyed; and we candidly advise +that it is useless for us to contend against it. To suppose its repeal, +is to anticipate an overthrow of the Confederative Union; and we must be +allowed an expression of opinion, when we say, that candidly we believe, +the existence of the Fugitive Slave Law <i>necessary</i> to the continuance +of the National Compact. This Law is the foundation of the +Compromise—remove it, and the consequences are easily determined. We +say necessary to the continuance of the National Compact: certainly we +will not be understood as meaning that the enactment of such a Law was +<i>really</i> necessary, or as favoring in the least this political +monstrosity of the <span class="smcap">Thirty-First Congress</span> of the <span class="smcap">United +States of America</span>—surely not at all; but we speak logically and +politically, leaving morality and right out of the question—taking our +position on the acknowledged popular, basis of American Policy; arguing +from premise to conclusion. We must abandon all vague theory, and look +at <i>facts</i> as they really are; viewing ourselves in our true political +position in the body politic. To imagine ourselves to be included in the +body politic, except by express legislation, is at war with common +sense, and contrary to fact. Legislation, the administration of the laws +of the country, and the exercise of rights by the people, all prove to +the contrary. We are politically, not of them, but aliens to the laws +and political privileges of the country. These are truths—fixed facts, +that quaint theory and exhausted moralising, are impregnable to, and +fall harmlessly before.</p> + +<p>It is useless to talk about our rights in individual States: we can have +no rights here as citizens, not recognised in our common country; as the +citizens of one State, are entitled to all the rights and privileges of +an American citizen in all the States—the nullity of the one +necessarily implying the nullity of the other. These provisions then do +not include the colored people of the United States; since there is no +power left in them, whereby they may protect us as their own citizens. +Our descent, by the laws of the country, stamps us with +inferiority—upon us has this law worked <i>corruption of blood</i>. We are +in the hands of the General Government, and no State can rescue us. The +Army and Navy stand at the service of our enslavers, the whole force of +which, may at any moment—even in the dead of night, as has been +done—when sunk in the depth of slumber, called out for the purpose of +forcing our mothers, sisters, wives, and children, or ourselves, into +hopeless servitude, there to weary out a miserable life, a relief from +which, death would be hailed with joy. Heaven and earth—God and +Humanity!—are not these sufficient to arouse the most worthless among +mankind, of whatever descent, to a sense of their true position? These +laws apply to us—shall we not be aroused?</p> + +<p>What then shall we do?—what is the remedy—is the important question to +be answered?</p> + +<p>This important inquiry we shall answer, and find a remedy in when +treating of the emigration of the colored people.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="XVII" id="XVII"></a>XVII</h2> + +<h2>EMIGRATION OF THE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES</h2> + +<p>That there have been people in all ages under certain circumstances, +that may be benefited by emigration, will be admitted; and that there +are circumstances under which emigration is absolutely necessary to +their political elevation, cannot be disputed.</p> + +<p>This we see in the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt to the land of Judea; +in the expedition of Dido and her followers from Tyro to Mauritania; and +not to dwell upon hundreds of modern European examples—also in the ever +memorable emigration of the Puritans, in 1620, from Great Britain, the +land of their birth, to the wilderness of the New World, at which may be +fixed the beginning of emigration to this continent as a permanent +residence.</p> + +<p>This may be acknowledged; but to advocate the emigration of the colored +people of the United States from their native homes, is a new feature in +our history, and at first view, may be considered objectionable, as +pernicious to our interests. This objection is at once removed, when +reflecting on our condition as incontrovertibly shown in a foregoing +part of this work. And we shall proceed at once to give the advantages +to be derived from emigration, to us as a people, in preference to any +other policy that we may adopt. This granted, the question will then be, +Where shall we go? This we conceive to be all important—of paramount +consideration, and shall endeavor to show the most advantageous +locality; and premise the recommendation, with the strictest advice +against any countenance whatever, to the emigration scheme of the so +called Republic of Liberia.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="XVIII" id="XVIII"></a>XVIII</h2> + +<h2>"REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA"</h2> + +<p>That we desire the civilization and enlightenment of Africa—the high +and elevated position of Liberia among the nations of the earth, may not +be doubted, as the writer was among the first, seven or eight years ago, +to make the suggestion and call upon the Liberians to hold up their +heads like men; take courage, having confidence in their own capacity to +govern themselves, and come out from their disparaging position, by +formally declaring their Independence.</p> + +<p>As our desire is to impart information, and enlighten the minds of our +readers on the various subjects herein contained, we present below a +large extract from the "First Annual Report of the Trustees of Donations +for Education in Liberia." This Extract will make a convenient statistic +reference for matters concerning Liberia. We could only wish that many +of our readers possessed more historical and geographical information of +the world, and there could be little fears of their going anywhere that +might be incongenial and unfavorable to their success. We certainly do +intend to deal fairly with Liberia, and give the reader every +information that may tend to enlighten them. What the colored people +most need, is <i>intelligence</i>; give them this, and there is no danger of +them being duped into anything they do not desire. This Board was +incorporated by the Legislature of Massachusetts, March 19th, +1850—Ensign H. Kellogg, Speaker of the House, Marshall P. Wilder, +President of the Senate. Trustees of the Board—Hon. George N. Briggs, +LL.D., Hon. Simon Greenleaf, LL.D., Hon. Stephen Fairbanks, Hon. William +J. Hubbard, Hon. Joel Giles, Hon. Albert Fearing, Amos A. Lawrence, Esq. +Officers of the Board—Hon. G.N. Briggs, President; Hon. S. Fairbanks, +Treasurer; Rev. J. Tracy, Secretary. The conclusion of the Report +says:—"In view of such considerations, the Trustees cannot doubt the +patrons of learning will sustain them in their attempt to plant the +<span class="smcap">First College</span> on the <i>only</i> continent which yet remains +<i>without</i> one." In this, the learned Trustees have fallen into a +statistical and geographical error, which we design to correct. The +<i>continent</i> is <i>not without</i> a College. There are now in Egypt, erected +under the patronage of that singularly wonderful man, Mehemet Ahi, four +colleges conducted on the European principle—Scientific, Medical, +Legal, and Military.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> These are in successful operation; the Military +College having an average of eleven hundred students annually. The +continent of Africa then, is not without a college, but though benighted +enough, even to an apparent hopeless degeneration, she is still the seat +of learning, and must some day rise, in the majesty of ancient grandeur, +and vindicate the rights and claims of her own children, against the +incalculable wrongs perpetrated through the period of sixty ages by +professedly enlightened Christians, against them.</p> + +<blockquote><p>A glance at the map will show a sharp bend in this coast at Cape +Palmas, from which it extends, on time one side, about 1,100 miles +north-west and north, and on the other, about 1,200 or 1,300 almost +directly east. In this bend is the Maryland Colony of Cape Palmas, +with a jurisdiction extending nearly 100 miles eastward. This +Colony is bounded on the north-west by the Republic of Liberia, +which extends along the coast about 400 miles to Sherbro. These two +governments will ultimately be united in one Republic, and may be +considered as one, for all the purposes of this inquiry. The extent +of their united sea-coast is about 520 miles. The jurisdiction of +the Republic over the four hundred miles or more which it claims, +has been formally acknowledged by several of the leading powers of +Europe, and is questioned by none. To almost the whole of it, the +native title has been extinguished; the natives, however, still +occupying, as citizens, such portions of it as they need.</p> + +<p>The civilized population of these governments, judging from the +census of 1843, and other information, is some 7,000 or 8,000. Of +the heathen population, no census has ever been taken; but it +probably exceeds 300,000.</p> + +<p>The grade of Liberian civilization may be estimated from the fact, +that the people have formed a republican government, and so +administer it, as to secure the confidence of European governments +in its stability. The native tribes who have merged themselves in +the Republic, have all bound themselves to receive and encourage +teachers; and some of them have insisted on the insertion, in their +treaties of annexation, of pledges that teachers and other means of +civilization shall be furnished.</p> + +<p>Our accounts of churches, clergy and schools are defective, but +show the following significant facts:</p> + +<p>The clergy of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Liberia are nearly +all Liberian citizens, serving as missionaries of the Methodist +Missionary Society in the United States. The last Report of that +Society gives the names of fifteen missionaries, having in charge +nine circuits, in which are 882 members in full communion, and 235 +probationers; total, 1,117. They have 20 Sabbath Schools, with 114 +officers and teachers, 810 scholars, and 507 volumes in their +libraries. They have a Manual Labor School and Female Academy. The +number of Day Schools is not reported; but seven of the +missionaries are reported as superintendents of schools, and the +same number have under their charge several "native towns," in some +of which there are schools. The late superintendent of the missions +writes:—</p> + +<p>"It appears plain to my mind, that nothing can now retard the +progress of our missions in this land, unless it be the want of a +good high school, in which to rear up an abundant supply of well +qualified teachers, to supply, as they shall rapidly increase in +number, all your schools."</p> + +<p>The Baptists are next in number to the Methodists. The Northern +Baptist Board, having its seat in Boston, has in Liberia one +mission, two out-stations, one boarding school, and two day +schools, with about twenty scholars each, one native preacher, and +four native assistants. The whole mission is in the hands of +converted natives. The Southern Board operates more extensively. +More than a year since, the Rev. John Day, its principal agent +there, reported to the Rev. R.R. Gurley, United States Commissioner +to Liberia, as follows:</p> + +<p>"In our schools are taught, say, 330 children, 92 of whom are +natives. To more than 10,000 natives, the Word of Life is statedly +preached; and in every settlement in these colonies, we have a +church, to whom the means of grace are administered; and in every +village we have an interesting Sunday school, where natives as well +as colonists are taught the truths of God's word. Say, in our +Sunday schools, are taught 400 colonists, and 200 natives.... We +have this year baptized 18 natives and 7 colonists, besides what +have been baptized by Messrs. Murray and Drayton, from whom I have +had no report."</p> + +<p>The missionaries are all, or nearly all, Liberian citizens.</p> + +<p>The Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the United +States has five missionaries at four stations in Liberia. The first +is at Monrovia, under the care of the Rev. Harrison W. Ellis, well +known as "the Learned Black Blacksmith." While a slave in Alabama, +and working at his trade as a blacksmith, he acquired all the +education, in English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Theology, which is +required for ordination as a Presbyterian minister. The +Presbyterians of that region then bought him, and sent him out as a +missionary. His assistant, Mr. B.V.R. James, a colored man, was for +some years a printer in the service of the American Board at their +mission at Cape Palmas and the Gaboon River. He first went to +Liberia as a teacher, supported by a society of ladies in New York. +In the Presbyterian Church under the care of Mr. Ellis are 39 +communicants. During the year, 24 had been added, and 8 had been +dismissed to form a new church in another place. Mr. Ellis also has +charge of the "Alexander High School," which is intended mainly for +teaching the rudiments of a classical education. This institution +has an excellent iron school-house, given by a wealthy citizen of +New York, at the cost of one thousand dollars, and a library and +philosophical apparatus, which cost six hundred dollars, given by a +gentleman in one of the southern States. The library contains a +supply of classical works, probably equal to the wants of the +school for some years. The land needed for the accommodation of the +school was given by the government of Liberia. The number of +scholars appears to be between twenty and thirty, a part of whom +support themselves by their daily labor. The English High School +under the care of Mr. James, had, according to the last Annual +Report, 52 scholars. At a later date, the number in both schools +was 78. Mr. James has also a large Sabbath school; but the number +of pupils is not given.</p> + +<p>The second station is at the new settlement of Kentucky, on the +right or north bank of the St. Paul's, about fifteen miles from +Monrovia, and six miles below Millsburgh. The missionary is a +Liberian, Mr. H.W. Erskine. On a lot of ten acres, given by the +government, buildings on an economical scale have been erected, in +which is a school of twenty scholars. A church was organized in +November, 1849, with eight members from the church in Monrovia. +They have since increased to fourteen. Here, too, is a flourishing +Sabbath school. The citizens, and especially the poor natives in +the neighbourhood, are extremely anxious that a boarding school +should be established. To this the Committee having charge of this +mission objects, as the expense for buildings and for the support +of pupils would be great, and would absorb funds that can be more +profitably expended on day schools.</p> + +<p>The third station is on the Sinou river, 150 miles down the coast +from Monrovia, where, at the mouth of the river, is the town of +Greenville, and a few miles higher up, the newer settlements of +Readville and Rossville. It is under the care of the Rev. James M. +Priest. The number of communicants, at the latest date, was thirty, +and the field of labor was rapidly enlarging by immigration. The +station is new, and it does not appear that any mission school had +yet been organized.</p> + +<p>The fourth station is at Settra Kroo, where there are five or six +miles of coast, to which the native title has not yet been +extinguished. This station has been maintained for some years, at a +lamentable expense of the lives and health of white missionaries. +About 200 boys and a few girls have been taught to read. The +station is now under the care of Mr. Washington McDonogh, formerly +a slave of the late John McDonogh, of Louisiana, so well known for +the immense estate which he has bequeathed to benevolent purposes. +He was well educated, and with more than eighty others, sent out +some years since at his master's expense. He has a school of +fifteen scholars, with the prospect of a large increase.</p> + +<p>The mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church is located in the +Maryland Colony at Cape Palmas. Its last Report specifies seven +schools, and alludes to several others, in actual operation; all +containing from 200 to 300 scholars, of whom about 100 are in one +Sabbath school. Five other schools had been projected, and have +probably gone into operation since that time. The greater part of +the pupils are from native families. The Report states the number +of communicants at sixty-seven, of whom forty are natives. A High +school was opened January 1, 1850.</p> + +<p>The laws of the Republic of Liberia provide for a common school in +every town. It is supposed, however, that where there is a mission +school, accessible to all children of suitable age, no other school +exists; so that, in fact, nearly all the common schools in Liberia +are connected with the different missions, the missionaries have +the superintendence of their studies, and the Missionary Societies +defray a large portion of the expense. Yet it must be remembered +that a large majority of the missionaries are citizens of the +Republic, and some of them native Africans; so that the immediate +control of the schools is not generally in foreign hands. A +portion, also, of the missionary funds, is contributed in Liberia; +and something is paid by parents for the tuition of their children. +Yet the Republic evidently needs an educational system more +independent of missionary aid and control; and for that purpose, +needs a supply of teachers who are not raised up in mission +schools. And we have it in testimony, that the missions themselves +might be more efficient for good, if well supplied with teachers of +higher qualifications.</p> + +<p>Here, then, we have a Republic of some 300,000 inhabitants, of whom +7,000 or 8,000 may be regarded as civilized, and the remainder as +having a right to expect, and a large part of them actually +expecting and demanding the means of civilization and Christianity. +We have,—supplying as well as we can by estimate, the numbers not +definitely given,—more than 2,000 communicants in Christian +churches, and more than 1,500 children in Sabbath Schools; some 40 +day schools containing, exclusive of the Methodists, who are the +most numerous, and of whose numbers in school we have no report, +about 635 scholars. The whole number in day schools, therefore, is +probably not less than 1,200. We have the Alexander High School at +Monrovia, where instruction is given to some extent in the +classics; the English High School, at the same place, under Mr. +James; the Methodist Manual Labor School and Female Academy at +Millsburg; the Baptist Boarding School at Bexley; and the +Protestant Episcopal High School at Cape Palmas. These institutions +must furnish some students for a higher seminary, such as we +propose to establish; and such a population must need their labors +when educated.</p></blockquote> + +<p>However foreign to the designs of the writer of ever making that country +or any other out of America, his home; had this been done, and honorably +maintained, the Republic of Liberia would have met with words of +encouragement, not only from himself, an humble individual, but we dare +assert, from the leading spirits among, if not from the whole colored +population of the United States. Because they would have been willing to +overlook the circumstances under which they went there, so that in the +end, they were willing to take their stand as men, and thereby throw off +the degradation of slaves, still under the control of American +slave-holders, and American slave-ships. But in this, we were +disappointed—grievously disappointed, and proceed to show in short, our +objections to Liberia.</p> + +<p><i>Its geographical position</i>, in the first place, is objectionable, +being located in the <i>sixth degree</i> of latitude North of the equator, in +a district signally unhealthy, rendering it objectionable as a place of +destination for the colored people of the United States. We shall say +nothing about other parts of the African coast, and the reasons for its +location where it is: it is enough for us to know the facts as they are, +to justify an unqualified objection to Liberia.</p> + +<p>In the second place, it originated in a deep laid scheme of the +slaveholders of the country, to <i>exterminate</i> the free colored of the +American continent; the origin being sufficient to justify us in +impugning the motives.</p> + +<p>Thirdly and lastly—Liberia is not an Independent Republic: in fact, <i>it +is not</i> an independent nation at all; but a poor <i>miserable mockery</i>—a +<i>burlesque</i> on a government—a pitiful dependency on the American +Colonizationists, the Colonization Board at Washington city, in the +District of Columbia, being the Executive and Government, and the +principal man, called President, in Liberia, being the echo—a mere +parrot of Rev. Robert R. Gurley, Elliot Cresson, Esq., Governor Pinney, +and other leaders of the Colonization scheme—to do as they bid, and say +what they tell him. This we see in all of his doings.</p> + +<p>Does he go to France and England, and enter into solemn treaties of an +honorable recognition of the independence of his country; before his own +nation has any knowledge of the result, this man called President, +dispatches an official report to the Colonizationists of the United +States, asking their gracious approval? Does king Grando, or a party of +fishermen besiege a village and murder some of the inhabitants, this +same "President," dispatches an official report to the American +Colonization Board, asking for instructions—who call an Executive +Session of the Board, and immediately decide that war must be waged +against the enemy, placing ten thousand dollars at his disposal—and war +<i>actually declared in Liberia</i>, by virtue of the <i>instructions</i> of the +<i>American Colonization Society</i>. A mockery of a government—a disgrace +to the office pretended to be held—a parody on the position assumed. +Liberia in Africa, is a mere dependency of Southern slaveholders, and +American Colonizationists, and unworthy of any respectful consideration +from us.</p> + +<p>What would be thought of the people of Hayti, and their heads of +government, if their instructions emanated from the American +Anti-Slavery Society, or the British Foreign Missionary Board? Should +they be respected at all as a nation? Would they be worthy of it? +Certainly not. We do not expect Liberia to be all that Hayti is; but we +ask and expect of her, to have a decent respect for herself—to endeavor +to be freemen instead of voluntary slaves. Liberia is no place for the +colored freemen of the United States; and we dismiss the subject with a +single remark of caution against any advice contained in a pamphlet, +which we have not seen, written by Hon. James G. Birney, in favor of +Liberian emigration. Mr. Birney is like the generality of white +Americans, who suppose that we are too ignorant to understand what we +want; whenever they wish to get rid of us, would drive us any where, so +that we left them. Don't adhere to a word therein contained; we will +think for ourselves. Let Mr. Birney go his way, and we will go ours. +This is one of those confounded gratuities that is forced in our faces +at every turn we make. We dismiss it without further comment—and with +it Colonization <i>in toto</i>—and Mr. Birney <i>de facto</i>.</p> + +<p>But to return to emigration: Where shall we go? We must not leave this +continent; America is our destination and our home.</p> + +<p>That the continent of America seems to have been designed by Providence +as an asylum for all the various nations of the earth, is very apparent. +From the earliest discovery, various nations sent a representation here, +either as adventurers and speculators, or employed seamen and soldiers, +hired to do the work of their employers. And among the earliest and most +numerous class who found their way to the New World, were those of the +African race. And it is now ascertained to our mind, beyond a +peradventure, that when the continent was discovered, there were found +in Central America, a tribe of the black race, of fine looking people, +having characteristics of color and hair, identifying them originally of +the African race—no doubt being a remnant of the Africans who, with the +Carthaginian expedition, were adventitiously cast upon this continent, +in their memorable excursion to the "Great Island," after sailing many +miles distant to the West of the Pillars of Hercules.</p> + +<p>We are not inclined to be superstitious, but say, that we can see the +"finger of God" in all this; and if the European race may with +propriety, boast and claim, that this continent is better adapted to +their development, than their own father-land; surely, it does not +necessarily detract from our father-land, to claim the superior +advantages to the African race, to be derived from this continent. But +be that as it may, the world belongs to mankind—his common Father +created it for his common good—his temporal destiny is here; and our +present warfare, is not upon European rights, nor for European +countries; but for the common rights of man, based upon the great +principles of common humanity—taking our chance in the world of rights, +and claiming to have originally more right to this continent, than the +European race. And had we no other claims than those set forth in a +former part of this work, they are sufficient to cause every colored +man on the continent, to stand upon the soil unshaken and unmoved. The +aboriginee of the continent, is more closely allied to us by +consanguinity, than to the European—being descended from the Asiatic, +whose alliance in matrimony with the African is very common—therefore, +we have even greater claims to this continent on that account, and +should unite and make common cause in elevation, with our similarly +oppressed brother, the Indian.</p> + +<p>The advantages of this continent are superior, because it presents every +variety of climate, soil, and production of the earth, with every +variety of mineral production, with all kinds of water privileges, arid +ocean coast on all sides, presenting every commercial advantage. Upon +the American continent we are determined to stay, in spite of every odds +against us. What part of the great continent shall our destination +be—shall we emigrate to the North or South?</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> It may be, that the Medical and Legal Schools, are adjunct +departments of the Scientific College, which would make the number of +Colleges in Egypt but two: as we are certain that the Military is +separate entirely from the Scientific School, and spoken of by travelers +as a splendid College.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="XIX" id="XIX"></a>XIX</h2> + +<h2>THE CANADAS</h2> + +<p>This is one of the most beautiful portions of North America. Canada +East, formerly known as Lower Canada, is not quite so favorable, the +climate being cold and severe in winter, the springs being late, the +summers rather short, and the soil not so productive. But Canada West, +formerly called Upper Canada, is equal to any portion of the Northern +States. The climate being milder than that of the Northern portions of +New York, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, or any of the States +bordering on the lakes, the soil is prolific in productions of every +description. Grains, vegetables, fruits, and cattle, are of the very +best kind; from a short tour by the writer, in that country in the fall, +1851, one year ago, he prefers Canada West to any part of North America, +as a destination for the colored people. But there is a serious +objection to the Canadas—a political objection. The Canadians are +descended from the same common parentage as the Americans on this side +of the Lakes—and there is a manifest tendency on the part of the +Canadians generally, to Americanism. That the Americans are determined +to, and will have the Canadas, to a close observer, there is not a +shadow of doubt; and our brethren should know this in time. This there +would be no fear of, were not the Canadian people in favor of the +project, neither would the Americans attempt an attack upon the +provinces, without the move being favored by the people of those places.</p> + +<p>Every act of the Americans, ostensibly as courtesy and friendship, tend +to that end. This is seen in the policy pursued during the last two or +three years, in the continual invitations, frequently reciprocated, that +pass from the Americans to their "Canadian brethren"—always couched in +affectionate language—to join them in their various celebrations, in +different parts of the States. They have got them as far as Boston, and +we may expect to hear of them going to New York, Philadelphia, +Baltimore—and instead of the merrymaking over the beginning or ending +of internal improvements, we may expect to see them ere long, wending +their way to the seat of the federal government—it may be with William +McKenzie, the memorable <i>patriot</i> and present member of the Colonial +parliament, bearing in his hand the stars and stripes as their +ensign—there to blend their voices in the loud shout of jubilee, in +honor of the "bloodless victory," of Canadian annexation. This we +forewarn the colored people, in time, is the inevitable and not far +distant destiny of the Canadas. And let them come into the American +Republic when they may, the fate of the colored man, however free +before, is doomed, doomed, forever doomed. Disfranchisement, +degradation, and a delivery up to slave catchers and kidnappers, are +their only fate, let Canadian annexation take place when it will. The +odious infamous fugitive slave law, will then be in full force with all +of its terrors; and we have no doubt that fully in anticipation of this +event, was the despicable law created.</p> + +<p>Let not colored people be deceived and gulled by any visionary argument +about original rights, or those of the people remaining the same as they +were previous to secession of the territory. The people can claim no +rights than such as are known to exist previous to their annexation. +This is manifestly the case with a large class of the former +inhabitants of Mexico, who though citizens before, in the full exercise +of their rights as such, so soon as the cession of the territory took +place, lost them entirely, as they could claim only such as were enjoyed +by the people of a similar class, in the country to which they made +their union. The laudatories heaped upon the Americans, within the +hearing of the writer, while traveling the provinces the last fall, by +one of the Canadian officiaries, in comparing their superior +intelligence to what he termed the "stupid aristocracy," then returning +from the Boston celebration, where there was a fair opportunity of +comparing the intellect of their chief magistrate, his excellency, Lord +Elgin, governor-general of the Canadas, and Sir Allen Napier McNab, +knight baronet with that of some of the "plain republicans" who were +present on the occasion, were extravagant. The Canadians generally were +perfectly carried away with delight at their reception. They reminded us +of some of our poor brethren, who had just made their escape from +Southern bondage, and for the first time in their life, had been taken +by the hand by a white man, who acknowledged them as equals. They don't +know when to stop talking about it, they really annoy one with +extravagant praises of them. This was the way with those gentlemen; and +we dare predict, that from what we heard on that occasion, that Mr. +McKenzie nor Big Bill Johnson, hero of the Forty Islands, are no greater +<i>patriots</i> than these Canadian visitors to the Boston husa! We are +satisfied that the Canadas are no place of safety for the colored people +of the United States; otherwise we should have no objection to them.</p> + +<p>But to the fugitive—our enslaved brethren flying from Southern +despotism—we say, until we have a more preferable place—go on to +Canada. Freedom, always; liberty any place and ever—before slavery. +Continue to fly to the Canadas, and swell the number of the twenty-five +thousand already there. Surely the British cannot, they will not look +with indifference upon such a powerful auxiliary as these brave, bold, +daring men—the very flower of the South, who have hazarded every +consequence, many of whom have come from Arkansas and Florida in search +of freedom. Worthy surely to be free, when gained at such a venture. Go +on to the North, till the South is ready to receive you—for surely, he +who can make his way from Arkansas to Canada, can find his way from +Kentucky to Mexico. The moment his foot touches this land South, he is +free. Let the bondman but be assured that he can find the same freedom +South that there is in the North; the same liberty in Mexico, as in +Canada, and he will prefer going South to going North. His risk is no +greater in getting there. Go either way, and he in the majority of +instances must run the gauntlet of the slave states.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="XX" id="XX"></a>XX</h2> + +<h2>CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA AND THE WEST INDIES</h2> + + +<p>Central and South America, are evidently the ultimate destination and +future home of the colored race on this continent; the advantages of +which in preference to all others, will be apparent when once pointed +out.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + +<p>Geographically, from the Northern extremity of Yucatan, down through +Central and South America, to Cape Horn, there is a variation of climate +from the twenty-second degree of North latitude, passing through the +equatorial region; nowhere as warm as it is in the same latitude in +Africa; to the <i>fifty-fifth degree</i> of South latitude, including a +climate as cold as that of the Hudson Bay country in British America, +colder than that of Maine, or any part known to the United States of +North America; so that there is every variety of climate in South, as +well as North America.</p> + +<p>In the productions of grains, fruits, and vegetables, Central and South +America are also prolific; and the best of herds are here raised. +Indeed, the finest Merino sheep, as well as the principal trade in rice, +sugar, cotton, and wheat, which is now preferred in California to any +produced in the United States—the Chilian flour—might be carried on by +the people of this most favored portion of God's legacy to man. The +mineral productions excel all other parts of this continent; the rivers +present the greatest internal advantages, and the commercial prospects, +are without a parallel on the coast of the new world.</p> + +<p>The advantages to the colored people of the United States, to be derived +from emigration to Central, South America, and the West Indies, are +incomparably greater than that of any other parts of the world at +present.</p> + +<p>In the first place, there never have existed in the policy of any of the +nations of Central or South America, an inequality on account of race or +color, and any prohibition of rights, has generally been to the white, +and not to the colored races.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> To the whites, not because they were +white, not on account of their color, but because of the policy pursued +by them towards the people of other races than themselves. The +population of Central and South America, consist of fifteen millions two +hundred and forty thousand, adding the ten millions of Mexico; +twenty-five millions two hundred and forty thousand, of which vast +population, but <i>one-seventh</i> are whites, or the pure European race. +Allowing a deduction of one-seventh of this population for the European +race that may chance to be in those countries, and we have in South and +Central America alone, the vast colored population of <i>thirteen millions +one hundred and seventy-seven thousand</i>; and including Mexico, a +<i>colored</i> population on this glorious continent of <i>twenty-one millions, +six hundred and forty thousand</i>.</p> + +<p>This vast number of people, our brethren—because they are precisely the +same people as ourselves and share the same fate with us, as the case of +numbers of them have proven, who have been adventitiously thrown among +us—stand ready and willing to take us by the hand—nay, are anxiously +waiting, and earnestly importuning us to come, that they may make common +cause with us, and we all share the same fate. There is nothing under +heaven in our way—the people stand with open arms ready to receive us. +The climate, soil, and productions—the vast rivers and beautiful +sea-coast—the scenery of the landscape, and beauty of the starry +heavens above—the song of the birds—the voice of the people say +come—and God our Father bids us go.—Will we go? Go we must, and go we +will, as there is no alternative. To remain here in North America, and +be crushed to the earth in vassalage and degradation, we never will.</p> + +<p>Talk not about religious biases—we have but one reply to make. We had +rather be a Heathen <i>freeman</i>, than a Christian <i>slave</i>.</p> + +<p>There need be no fear of annexation in these countries—the prejudices +of the people are all against it, and with our influences infused among +them, the aversion would be ten-fold greater. Neither need there be any +fears of an attempt on the part of the United States, at a subjugation, +of these countries. Policy is against it, because the United States has +too many colored slaves in their midst, to desire to bring under their +government, twenty-one millions of disfranchised people, whom it would +cost them more to keep under subjection, than ten-fold the worth of the +countries they gained. Besides, let us go to whatever parts of Central +and South America we may, we shall make common cause with the people, +and shall hope, by one judicious and signal effort, to assemble one +day—and a glorious day it will be—in a great representative +convention, and form a glorious union of South American States, +"inseparably connected one and forever."</p> + +<p>This can be done, easily done, if the proper course be pursued, and +necessity will hold them together as it holds together the United States +of North America—self-preservation. As the British nation serves to +keep in check the Americans; so would the United States serve to keep in +Union the South American States.</p> + +<p>We should also enter into solemn treaties with Great Britain, and like +other free and independent nations, take our chance, and risk +consequences. Talk not of consequences; we are now in chains; shall we +shake them off and go to a land of liberty? shall our wives and children +be protected, secure, and affectionately cherished, or shall they be +debased and degraded as our mothers and fathers were? By the light of +heaven, no! By the instincts of nature, no!</p> + +<p>Talk not about consequences. White men seek responsibilities; shall we +shun them? They brave dangers and risk consequences; shall we shrink +from them? What are consequences, compared in the scale of value, with +liberty and freedom; the rights and privileges of our wives and +children? In defence of our liberty—the rights of my wife and children; +had we the power, we would command the vault of a volcano, charged with +the wrath of heaven, and blast out of existence, every thing that dared +obstruct our way.</p> + +<p>The time has now fully arrived, when the colored race is called upon by +all the ties of common humanity, and all the claims of consummate +justice, to go forward and take their position, and do battle in the +struggle now being made for the redemption of the world. Our cause is a +just one; the greatest at present that elicits the attention of the +world. For it there is a remedy; that remedy is now at hand. God himself +as assuredly as he rules the destinies of nations, and entereth measures +into the "hearts of men," has presented these measures to us. Our race +is to be redeemed; it is a great and glorious work, and we are the +instrumentalities by which it is to be done. But we must go from among +our oppressors; it never can be done by staying among them. God has, as +certain as he has ever designed any thing, has designed this great +portion of the New World, for us, the colored races; and as certain as +we stubborn our hearts, and stiffen our necks against it, his protecting +arm and fostering care will be withdrawn from us.</p> + +<p>Shall we be told that we can live nowhere, but under the will of our +North American oppressors; that this (the United States,) is the country +most favorable to our improvement and progress? Are we incapable of +self-government, and making such improvements for ourselves as we +delight to enjoy after American white men have made them for themselves? +No, it is not true. Neither is it true that the United States is the +best country for our improvement. That country is the best, in which our +manhood can be best developed; and that is Central and South America, +and the West Indies—all belonging to this glorious Continent.</p> + +<p>Whatever may be our pretended objections to any place, whenever and +wherever our oppressors go, there will our people be found in +proportionate numbers. Even now could they get possession of the +equatorial region of South America, there would colored men be found +living on their boats and in their houses to do their menial services; +but talk to them about going there and becoming men, and a thousand +excuses and objections are at once raised against the climate or +whatever else.</p> + +<p>The writer, within the past few years, and as early as seventeen years +ago, then being quite young, and flushed with geographical and +historical speculations, introduced in a Literary Institution of Young +Men, the subject of Mexican, Californian, and South American Emigration. +He was always hooted at, and various objections raised: one on account +of distance, and another that of climate.</p> + +<p>He has since seen some of the same persons engage themselves to their +white American oppressors—officers in the war against Mexico, exposing +themselves to the chances of the heat of day and the damp of +night—risking the dangers of the battle-field, in the capacity of +servants. And had the Americans taken Mexico, no people would have +flocked there faster than the colored people from the United States. The +same is observed of California.</p> + +<p>In conversation, in the city of New York, a few weeks ago, with a +colored lady of intelligence, one of the "first families," the +conversation being the elevation of the colored people, we introduced +emigration as a remedy, and Central America as the place. We were +somewhat surprised, and certainly unprepared to receive the rebuking +reply—"Do you suppose that I would go in the woods to live for the sake +of freedom? no, indeed! if you wish to do so, go and do it. I am free +enough here!" Remarking at the same time, that her husband was in San +Francisco, and she was going to him, as she learned that that city was +quite a large and handsome place.</p> + +<p>We reminded her, that the industry of white men and women, in four +years' time, had made San Francisco what it is. That in 1846, before the +American emigration, the city contained about seven hundred people, +surrounded by a dense wilderness; and that we regretted to contrast her +conduct or disposition with that of the lady of Col. Fremont, a daughter +of Senator Benton, who tenderly and indulgently raised, in the spring +after his arduous adventure across the mountains, and almost miraculous +escape, while the country was yet a wilderness, left her comfortable +home in Missouri, and braved the dangers of the ocean, to join her +husband and settle in the wilderness. That she was going now to San +Francisco, because it was a populous and "fine city"—that Mrs. Fremont +went, when it was a wilderness, to help to <i>make</i> a populous and fine +city.</p> + +<p>About two hours previous to the writing of the following fact, two +respectable colored ladies in conversation, pleasantly disputing about +the superiority of the two places, Philadelphia and New York, when one +spoke of the uniform cleanliness of the streets of Philadelphia, and the +dirtiness of those of New York; when the other triumphantly +replied,—"The reason that our streets are so dirty is, that we do more +business in one day, than you do in a month." The other acknowledged the +fact with some degree of reluctance, and explained, with many "buts" as +an excuse in extenuation. Here was a seeming appreciation of business +and enterprise; but the query flashed through our mind in an instant, as +to whether they thought for a moment, of the fact, that <i>they</i> had no +interest in either city, nor its <i>business</i>. It brought forcibly to our +mind, the scene of two of our oppressed brethren South, fighting each +other, to prove his <i>master</i> the greatest gentleman of the two.</p> + +<p>Let no objections be made to emigration on the ground of the difficulty +of the fugitive slave, in reaching us; it is only necessary for him to +know, that he has safety South, and he will find means of reaching the +South, as easily as he now does the North. Have no fears about that—his +redemption draws nigh, the nearer we draw to him. Central and South +America, <i>must be our future homes</i>. Our oppressors will not want us to +go there. They will move heaven and earth to prevent us—they will talk +about us getting our rights, and offer us a territory here, and all +that. It is of no use. They have pressed us to the last retreat—the die +is cast—the Rubicon must be crossed—go we will, in defiance of all the +slave-power in the Union. And we shall not go there, to be idle—passive +spectators to an invasion of South American rights. No—go when we will, +and where we may, we shall hold ourselves amenable to defend and protect +the country that embraces us. We are fully able to defend ourselves, +once concentrated, against any odds—and by the help of God, we will do +it. We do not go, without counting the cost, cost what it may; all that +it may cost, it is worth to be free.</p> + +<p>In going, let us have but one object—to become elevated men and women, +worthy of freedom—the worthy citizens of an adopted country. What to us +will be adopted—to our children will be legitimate. Go not with an +anxiety of political aspirations; but go with the fixed intention—as +Europeans come to the United States—of cultivating the soil, entering +into the mechanical operations, keeping of shops, carrying on +merchandise, trading on land and water, improving property—in a word, +to become the producers of the country, instead of the consumers.</p> + +<p>Let young men who go, have a high object in view; and not go with a +view of becoming servants to wealthy gentlemen there; for be assured, +that they place themselves beneath all respectful consideration.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> The native language of these countries, as well as the +greater part of South America, is <i>Spanish</i>, which is the easiest of all +foreign languages to learn. It is very remarkable and worthy of note, +that with a view of going to Mexico or South America, the writer several +years ago paid some attention to the Spanish language; and now, a most +singular coincidence, without preunderstanding, in almost every town, +where there is any intelligence among them, there are some <i>colored +persons</i> of both sexes, who are studying the Spanish language. Even the +Methodist and other clergymen, among them. And we earnestly entreat all +colored persons who can, to study, and have their children taught +Spanish. No foreign language will be of such <i>import</i> to colored people, +in a very short time, as the Spanish. Mexico, Central and South America, +importune us to speak their language; and if nothing else, the silent +indications of Cuba, urge us to learn the Spanish tongue.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> The Brazilians have formed a Colonization Society, for the +purpose of colonizing free blacks to Africa. The Brazilians are +Portuguese, the only nation that can be termed white, and the only one +that is a real slave holding nation in South America. Even the black and +colored men have equal privileges with whites; and the action of this +society will probably extend only to the sending back of such captives +as may be taken from piratical slavers. Colonization in Brazil, has +doubtless been got up under the influence of United States slave holders +and their abettors, such as the consuls and envoys, who are sent out to +South America, by the government. Chevalier Niteroi, <i>charge de +affaires</i> from Brazil near the government of Liberia, received by the +President on the 28th of last January, is also charged with the mission +of establishing a colony of free blacks in Liberia. The Chevalier was +once a Captain in the Brazilian navy on the coast of Africa; and no +doubt is conversant with the sentiments of Roberts, who was charged with +the slave trade at one time. The scheme of United States slaveholders +and President J.J. Roberts, their agent of Liberia, will not succeed, in +establishing prejudice against the <i>black</i> race; not even in +slaveholding Brazil. +</p><p> +We have no confidence in President Roberts of Liberia, believing him to +be wholly without principle—seeking only self-aggrandizement; even +should it be done, over the ruined prospects of his staggering infant +country. The people of Liberia, should beware of this man. His <i>privy +councillors</i> are to be found among <i>slaveholders</i> in the United States.</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="XXI" id="XXI"></a>XXI</h2> + +<h2>NICARAGUA AND NEW GRENADA</h2> + +<p>As it is not reasonable to suppose, that all who read this +volume—especially those whom it is intended most to benefit—understand +geography; it is deemed advisable, to name some particular places, as +locality of destination.</p> + +<p>We consequently, to begin with, select <span class="smcap">Nicaragua</span>, in Central +America, North, and <span class="smcap">New Grenada</span>, the Northern part of South +America, South of Nicaragua, as the most favorable points at present, in +every particular, for us to emigrate to.</p> + +<p>In the first place, they are the nearest points to be reached, and +countries at which the California adventurers are now touching, on their +route to that distant land, and not half the distance of California.</p> + +<p>In the second place, the advantages for all kinds of enterprise, are +equal if not superior, to almost any other points—the climate being +healthy and highly favorable.</p> + +<p>In the third place, and by no means the least point of importance, the +British nation is bound by solemn treaty, to protect both of those +nations from foreign imposition, until they are able to stand alone.</p> + +<p>Then there is nothing in the way, but every thing in favor, and +opportunities for us to rise to the full stature of manhood. Remember +this fact, that in these countries, colored men now fill the highest +places in the country: and colored people have the same chances there, +that white people have in the United States. All that is necessary to +do, is to go, and the moment your foot touches the soil, you have all +the opportunities for elevating yourselves as the highest, according to +your industry and merits.</p> + +<p>Nicaragua and New Grenada, are both Republics, having a President, +Senate, and Representatives of the people. The municipal affairs are +well conducted; and remember, however much the customs of the country +may differ, and appear strange to those you have left behind—remember +that you are free; and that many who, at first sight, might think that +they could not become reconciled to the new order of things, should +recollect, that they were once in a situation in the United States, (in +<i>slavery</i>,) where they were compelled to be content with customs +infinitely more averse to their feelings and desires. And that customs +become modified, just in proportion as people of different customs from +different parts, settle in the same communities together. All we ask is +Liberty—the rest follows as a matter of course.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="XXII" id="XXII"></a>XXII</h2> + +<h2>THINGS AS THEY ARE</h2> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class='stanza'><div>"And if thou boast <span class="smcap">Truth</span> to utter,</div> +<div><span class="smcap">Speak</span>, and leave the rest to God."</div></div> +</div> + + +<p>In presenting this work, we have but a single object in view, and that +is, to inform the minds of the colored people at large, upon many things +pertaining to their elevation, that but few among us are acquainted +with. Unfortunately for us, as a body, we have been taught to believe, +that we must have some person to think for us, instead of thinking for +ourselves. So accustomed are we to submission and this kind of training, +that it is with difficulty, even among the most intelligent of the +colored people, an audience may be elicited for any purpose whatever, if +the expounder is to be a colored person; and the introduction of any +subject is treated with indifference, if not contempt, when the +originator is a colored person. Indeed, the most ordinary white person, +is almost revered, while the most qualified colored person is totally +neglected. Nothing from them is appreciated.</p> + +<p>We have been standing comparatively still for years, following in the +footsteps of our friends, believing that what they promise us can be +accomplished, just because they say so, although our own knowledge +should long since, have satisfied us to the contrary. Because even were +it possible, with the present hate and jealousy that the whites have +towards us in this country, for us to gain equality of rights with them; +we never could have an equality of the exercise and enjoyment of those +rights—because, the great odds of numbers are against us. We might +indeed, as some at present, have the right of the elective +franchise—nay, it is not the elective franchise, because the <i>elective +franchise</i> makes the enfranchised, <i>eligible</i> to any position +attainable; but we may exercise the right of <i>voting</i> only, which to us, +is but poor satisfaction; and we by no means care to cherish the +privilege of voting somebody into office, to help to make laws to +degrade us.</p> + +<p>In religion—because they are both <i>translators</i> and <i>commentators</i>, we +must believe nothing, however absurd, but what our oppressors tell us. +In Politics, nothing but such as they promulge; in Anti-Slavery, nothing +but what our white brethren and friends say we must; in the mode and +manner of our elevation, we must do nothing, but that which may be laid +down to be done by our white brethren from some quarter or other; and +now, even on the subject of emigration, there are some colored people to +be found, so lost to their own interest and self-respect, as to be +gulled by slave owners and colonizationists, who are led to believe +there is no other place in which they can become elevated, but Liberia, +a government of American slave-holders, as we have shown—simply, +because white men have told them so.</p> + +<p>Upon the possibility, means, mode and manner, of our Elevation in the +United States—Our Original Rights and Claims as Citizens—Our +Determination not to be Driven from our Native Country—the Difficulties +in the Way of our Elevation—Our Position in Relation to our +Anti-Slavery Brethren—the Wicked Design and Injurious Tendency of the +American Colonization Society—Objections to Liberia—Objections to +Canada—Preferences to South America, &c., &c., all of which we have +treated without reserve; expressing our mind freely, and with candor, as +we are determined that as far as we can at present do so, the minds of +our readers shall be enlightened. The custom of concealing information +upon vital and important subjects, in which the interest of the people +is involved, we do not agree with, nor favor in the least; we have +therefore, laid this cursory treatise before our readers, with the hope +that it may prove instrumental in directing the attention of our people +in the right way, that leads to their Elevation. Go or stay—of course +each is free to do as he pleases—one thing is certain; our Elevation is +the work of our own hands. And Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, +and South America, all present now, opportunities for the individual +enterprise of our young men, who prefer to remain in the United States, +in preference to going where they can enjoy real freedom, and equality +of rights. Freedom of Religion, as well as of politics, being tolerated +in all of these places.</p> + +<p>Let our young men and women, prepare themselves for usefulness and +business; that the men may enter into merchandise, trading, and other +things of importance; the young women may become teachers of various +kinds, and otherwise fill places of usefulness. Parents must turn their +attention more to the education of their children. We mean, to educate +them for useful practical business purposes. Educate them for the Store +and the Counting House—to do every-day practical business. Consult the +children's propensities, and direct their education according to their +inclinations. It may be, that there is too great a desire on the part of +parents, to give their children a professional education, before the +body of the people, are ready for it. A people must be a business +people, and have more to depend upon than mere help in people's houses +and Hotels, before they are either able to support, or capable of +properly appreciating the services of professional men among them. This +has been one of our great mistakes—we have gone in advance of +ourselves. We have commenced at the superstructure of the building, +instead of the foundation—at the top instead of the bottom. We should +first be mechanics and common tradesmen, and professions as a matter of +course would grow out of the wealth made thereby. Young men and women, +must now prepare for usefulness—the day of our Elevation is at +hand—all the world now gazes at us—and Central and South America, and +the West Indies, bid us come and be men and women, protected, secure, +beloved and Free.</p> + +<p>The branches of Education most desirable for the preparation of youth, +for practical useful every-day life, are Arithmetic and good Penmanship, +in order to be Accountants; and a good rudimental knowledge of +Geography—which has ever been neglected, and under estimated—and of +Political Economy; which without the knowledge of the first, no people +can ever become adventurous—nor of the second, never will be an +enterprising people. Geography, teaches a knowledge of the world, and +Political Economy, a knowledge of the wealth of nations; or how to make +money. These are not abstruse sciences, or learning not easily acquired +or understood; but simply, common School Primer learning, that every +body may get. And, although it is the very key to prosperity and success +in common life, but few know any thing about it. Unfortunately for our +people, so soon as their children learn to read a Chapter in the New +Testament, and scribble a miserable hand, they are pronounced to have +"Learning enough"; and taken away from School, no use to themselves, nor +community. This is apparent in our Public Meetings, and Official Church +Meetings; of the great number of men present, there are but few capable +of filling a Secretaryship. Some of the large cities may be an exception +to this. Of the multitudes of Merchants, and Businessmen throughout this +country, Europe, and the world, few are qualified, beyond the branches +here laid down by us as necessary for business. What did John Jacob +Astor, Stephen Girard, or do the millionaires and the greater part of +the merchant princes, and mariners, know about Latin and Greek, and the +Classics? Precious few of them know any thing. In proof of this, in +1841, during the Administration of President Tyler, when the mutiny was +detected on board of the American Man of War Brig Somers, the names of +the Mutineers, were recorded by young S—— a Midshipman in Greek. +Captain Alexander Slidell McKenzie, Commanding, was unable to read them; +and in his despatches to the Government, in justification of his policy +in executing the criminals, said that he "discovered some curious +characters which he was unable to read," &c.; showing thereby, that that +high functionary, did not understand even the Greek Alphabet, which was +only necessary, to have been able to read proper names written in Greek.</p> + +<p>What we most need then, is a good business practical Education; because, +the Classical and Professional education of so many of our young men, +before their parents are able to support them, and community ready to +patronize them, only serves to lull their energy, and cripple the +otherwise, praiseworthy efforts they would make in life. A Classical +education, is only suited to the wealthy, or those who have a prospect +of gaining a livelihood by it. The writer does not wish to be +understood, as underrating a Classical and Professional education; this +is not his intention; he fully appreciates them, having had some such +advantages himself; but he desires to give a proper guide, and put a +check to the extravagant idea that is fast obtaining, among our people +especially, that a Classical, or as it is termed, a "finished +education," is necessary to prepare one for usefulness in life. Let us +have an education, that shall practically develope our thinking +faculties and manhood; and then, and not until then, shall we be able to +vie with our oppressors, go where we may. We as heretofore, have been on +the extreme; either no qualification at all, or a Collegiate education. +We jumped too far; taking a leap from the deepest abyss to the highest +summit; rising from the ridiculous to the sublime; without medium or +intermission.</p> + +<p>Let our young women have an education; let their minds be well informed; +well stored with useful information and practical proficiency, rather +than the light superficial acquirements, popularly and fashionably +called accomplishments. We desire accomplishments, but they must be +<i>useful</i>.</p> + +<p>Our females must be qualified, because they are to be the mothers of our +children. As mothers are the first nurses and instructors of children; +from them children consequently, get their first impressions, which +being always the most lasting, should be the most correct. Raise the +mothers above the level of degradation, and the offspring is elevated +with them. In a word, instead of our young men, transcribing in their +blank books, recipes for <i>Cooking</i>; we desire to see them making the +transfer of <i>Invoices of Merchandise</i>. Come to our aid then; the +<i>morning</i> of our <i>Redemption</i> from degradation, adorns the horizon.</p> + +<p>In our selection of individuals, it will be observed, that we have +confined ourself entirely to those who occupy or have occupied positions +among the whites, consequently having a more general bearing as useful +contributors to society at large. While we do not pretend to give all +such worthy cases, we gave such as we possessed information of, and +desire it to be understood, that a large number of our most intelligent +and worthy men and women, have not been named, because from their more +private position in community, it was foreign to the object and design +of this work. If we have said aught to offend, "take the will for the +deed," and be assured, that it was given with the purest of motives, and +best intention, from a true hearted man and brother; deeply lamenting +the sad fate of his race in this country, and sincerely desiring the +elevation of man, and submitted to the serious consideration of all, who +favor the promotion of the cause of God and humanity.</p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="XXIII" id="XXIII"></a>XXIII</h2> + +<h2>A GLANCE AT OURSELVES—CONCLUSION</h2> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class='stanza'><div>With broken hopes—sad devastation;</div> +<div>A race <i>resigned</i> to <span class="smcap">Degradation</span>!</div></div> +</div> + + +<p>We have said much to our young men and women, about their vocation and +calling; we have dwelt much upon the menial position of our people in +this country. Upon this point we cannot say too much, because there is a +seeming satisfaction and seeking after such positions manifested on +their part, unknown to any other people. There appears to be, a want of +a sense of propriety or <i>self-respect</i>, altogether inexplicable; because +young men and women among us, many of whom have good trades and homes, +adequate to their support, voluntarily leave them, and seek positions, +such as servants, waiting maids, coachmen, nurses, cooks in gentlemens' +kitchen, or such like occupations, when they can gain a livelihood at +something more respectable, or elevating in character. And the worse +part of the whole matter is, that they have become so accustomed to it, +it has become so "fashionable," that it seems to have become second +nature, and they really become offended, when it is spoken against.</p> + +<p>Among the German, Irish, and other European peasantry who come to this +country, it matters not what they were employed at before and after they +come; just so soon as they can better their condition by keeping shops, +cultivating the soil, the young men and women going to night-schools, +qualifying themselves for usefulness, and learning trades—they do so. +Their first and last care, object and aim is, to better their condition +by raising themselves above the condition that necessity places them in. +We do not say too much, when we say, as an evidence of the deep +degradation of our race, in the United States, that there are those +among us, the wives and daughters, some of the <i>first ladies</i>, (and who +dare say they are not the "first," because they belong to the "first +class" and associate where any body among us can?) whose husbands are +industrious, able and willing to support them, who voluntarily leave +home, and become chamber-maids, and stewardesses, upon vessels and +steamboats, in all probability, to enable them to obtain some more fine +or costly article of dress or furniture.</p> + +<p>We have nothing to say against those whom <i>necessity</i> compels to do +these things, those who can do no better; we have only to do with those +who can, and will not, or do not do better. The whites are always in the +advance, and we either standing still or retrograding; as that which +does not go forward, must either stand in one place or go back. The +father in all probability is a farmer, mechanic, or man of some +independent business; and the wife, sons and daughters, are +chamber-maids, on vessels, nurses and waiting-maids, or coachmen and +cooks in families. This is retrogradation. The wife, sons, and daughters +should be elevated above this condition as a necessary consequence.</p> + +<p>If we did not love our race superior to others, we would not concern +ourself about their degradation; for the greatest desire of our heart +is, to see them stand on a level with the most elevated of mankind. No +people are ever elevated above the condition of their <i>females</i>; hence, +the condition of the <i>mother</i> determines the condition of the child. To +know the position of a people, it is only necessary to know the +<i>condition</i> of their <i>females</i>; and despite themselves, they cannot rise +above their level. Then what is our condition? Our <i>best ladies</i> being +washerwomen, chambermaids, children's traveling nurses, and common house +servants, and menials, we are all a degraded, miserable people, inferior +to any other people as a whole, on the face of the globe.</p> + +<p>These great truths, however unpleasant, must be brought before the minds +of our people in its true and proper light, as we have been too delicate +about them, and too long concealed them for fear of giving offence. It +would have been infinitely better for our race, if these facts had been +presented before us half a century ago—we would have been now +proportionably benefitted by it.</p> + +<p>As an evidence of the degradation to which we have been reduced, we dare +premise, that this chapter will give offence to many, very many, and +why? Because they may say, "He dared to say that the occupation of a +<i>servant</i> is a degradation." It is not necessarily degrading; it would +not be, to one or a few people of a kind; but a <i>whole race of servants</i> +are a degradation to that people.</p> + +<p>Efforts made by men of qualifications for the toiling and degraded +millions among the whites, neither gives offence to that class, nor is +it taken unkindly by them; but received with manifestations of +gratitude; to know that they are thought to be, equally worthy of, and +entitled to stand on a level with the elevated classes; and they have +only got to be informed of the way to raise themselves, to make the +effort and do so as far as they can. But how different with us. Speak of +our position in society, and it at once gives insult. Though we are +servants; among ourselves we claim to be <i>ladies</i> and <i>gentlemen</i>, equal +in standing, and as the popular expression goes, "Just as good as any +body"—and so believing, we make no efforts to raise above the common +level of menials; because the <i>best</i> being in that capacity, all are +content with the position. We cannot at the same time, be domestic and +lady; servant and gentleman. We must be the one or the other. Sad, sad +indeed, is the thought, that hangs drooping in our mind, when +contemplating the picture drawn before us. Young men and women, "we +write these things unto you, because ye are strong," because the writer, +a few years ago, gave unpardonable offence to many of the young people +of Philadelphia and other places, because he dared tell them, that he +thought too much of them, to be content with seeing them the servants of +other people. Surely, she that could be the mistress, would not be the +maid; neither would he that could be the master, be content with being +the servant; then why be offended, when we point out to you, the way +that leads from the menial to the mistress or the master. All this we +seem to reject with fixed determination, repelling with anger, every +effort on the part of our intelligent men and women to elevate us, with +true Israelitish degradation, in reply to any suggestion or proposition +that may be offered, "Who made thee a ruler and judge?"</p> + +<p>The writer is no "Public Man," in the sense in which this is understood +among our people, but simply an humble individual, endeavoring to seek a +livelihood by a profession obtained entirely by his own efforts, without +relatives and friends able to assist him; except such friends as he +gained by the merit of his course and conduct, which he here gratefully +acknowledges; and whatever he has accomplished, other young men may, by +making corresponding efforts, also accomplish.</p> + +<p>We have advised an emigration to Central and South America, and even to +Mexico and the West Indies, to those who prefer either of the last named +places, all of which are free countries, Brazil being the only real +slave-holding State in South America—there being nominal slavery in +Dutch Guiana, Peru, Buenos Ayres, Paraguay, and Uraguay, in all of which +places colored people have equality in social, civil, political, and +religious privileges; Brazil making it punishable with death to import +slaves into the empire.</p> + +<p>Our oppressors, when urging us to go to Africa, tell us that we are +better adapted to the climate than they—that the physical condition of +the constitution of colored people better endures the heat of warm +climates than that of the whites; this we are willing to <i>admit</i>, +without argument, without adducing the physiological reason why, that +colored people can and do stand warm climates better than whites; and +find an answer fully to the point in the fact, that they also stand <i>all +other</i> climates, cold, temperate, and modified, that white people can +stand; therefore, according to our oppressors' own showing, we are a +<i>superior race</i>, being endowed with properties fitting us for <i>all +parts</i> of the earth, while they are only adapted to <i>certain</i> parts. Of +course, this proves our right and duty to live wherever we may <i>choose</i>; +while the white race may only live where they <i>can</i>. We are content with +the fact, and have ever claimed it. Upon this rock, they and we shall +ever agree.</p> + +<p>Of the West India Islands, Santa Cruz, belonging to Denmark; Porto Rico, +and Cuba with its little adjuncts, belonging to Spain, are the only +slaveholding Islands among them—three-fifths of the whole population of +Cuba being colored people, who cannot and will not much longer endure +the burden and the yoke. They only want intelligent leaders of their own +color, when they are ready at any moment to charge to the conflict—to +liberty or death. The remembrance of the noble mulatto, +<span class="smcap">Placido</span>, the gentleman, scholar, poet, and intended Chief +Engineer of the Army of Liberty and Freedom in Cuba; and the equally +noble black, <span class="smcap">Charles Blair</span>, who was to have been +Commander-in-Chief, who were shamefully put to death in 1844, by that +living monster, Captain General O'Donnell, is still fresh and indelible +to the mind of every bondman of Cuba.</p> + +<p>In our own country, the United States, there are <i>three million five +hundred thousand slaves</i>; and we, the nominally free colored people, are +<i>six hundred thousand</i> in number; estimating one-sixth to be men, we +have <i>one hundred thousand</i> able bodied freemen, which will make a +powerful auxiliary in any country to which we may become adopted—an +ally not to be despised by any power on earth. We love our country, +dearly love her, but she don't love us—she despises us, and bids us +begone, driving us from her embraces; but we shall not go where she +desires us; but when we do go, whatever love we have for her, we shall +love the country none the less that receives us as her adopted children.</p> + +<p>For the want of business habits and training, our energies have become +paralyzed; our young men never think of business, any more than if they +were so many bondmen, without the right to pursue any calling they may +think most advisable. With our people in this country, dress and good +appearances have been made the only test of gentleman and ladyship, and +that vocation which offers the best opportunity to dress and appear +well, has generally been preferred, however menial and degrading, by our +young people, without even, in the majority of cases, an effort to do +better; indeed, in many instances, refusing situations equally +lucrative, and superior in position; but which would not allow as much +display of dress and personal appearance. This, if we ever expect to +rise, must be discarded from among us, and a high and respectable +position assumed.</p> + +<p>One of our great temporal curses is our consummate poverty. We are the +poorest people, as a class, in the world of civilized mankind—abjectly, +miserably poor, no one scarcely being able to assist the other. To this, +of course, there are noble exceptions; but that which is common to, and +the very process by which white men exist, and succeed in life, is +unknown to colored men in general. In any and every considerable +community may be found, some one of our white fellow-citizens, who is +worth more than all the colored people in that community put together. +We consequently have little or no efficiency. We must have means to be +practically efficient in all the undertakings of life; and to obtain +them, it is necessary that we should be engaged in lucrative pursuits, +trades, and general business transactions. In order to be thus engaged, +it is necessary that we should occupy positions that afford the +facilities for such pursuits. To compete now with the mighty odds of +wealth, social and religious preferences, and political influences of +this country, at this advanced stage of its national existence, we never +may expect. A new country, and new beginning, is the only true, +rational, politic remedy for our disadvantageous position; and that +country we have already pointed out, with triple golden advantages, all +things considered, to that of any country to which it has been the +province of man to embark.</p> + +<p>Every other than we, have at various periods of necessity, been a +migratory people; and all when oppressed, shown a greater abhorrence of +oppression, if not a greater love of liberty, than we. We cling to our +oppressors, as the objects of our love. It is true that our enslaved +brethren are here, and we have been led to believe that it is necessary +for us to remain, on that account. Is it true, that all should remain in +degradation, because a part are degraded? We believe no such thing. We +believe it to be the duty of the Free, to elevate themselves in the most +speedy and effective manner possible; as the redemption of the bondman +depends entirely upon the elevation of the freeman; therefore, to +elevate the free colored people of America, anywhere upon this +continent; forebodes the speedy redemption of the slaves. We shall hope +to hear no more of so fallacious a doctrine—the necessity of the free +remaining in degradation, for the sake of the oppressed. Let us apply, +first, the lever to ourselves; and the force that elevates us to the +position of manhood's considerations and honors, will cleft the manacle +of every slave in the land.</p> + +<p>When such great worth and talents—for want of a better sphere—of men +like Rev. Jonathan Robinson, Robert Douglass, Frederick A. Hinton, and a +hundred others that might be named, were permitted to expire in a +barber-shop; and such living men as may be found in Boston, New York, +Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond, Washington City, Charleston, (S.C.) +New Orleans, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, Pittsburg, Buffalo, +Rochester, Albany, Utica, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukie, Chicago, +Columbus, Zanesville, Wheeling, and a hundred other places, confining +themselves to Barber-shops and waiter-ships in Hotels; certainly the +necessity of such a course as we have pointed out, must be cordially +acknowledged; appreciated by every brother and sister of oppression; and +not rejected as heretofore, as though they preferred inferiority to +equality. These minds must become "unfettered," and have "space to +rise." This cannot be in their present positions. A continuance in any +position, becomes what is termed "Second Nature"; it begets an +<i>adaptation</i>, and <i>reconciliation</i> of <i>mind</i> to such condition. It +changes the whole physiological condition of the system, and adapts man +and woman to a higher or lower sphere in the pursuits of life. The +offsprings of slaves and peasantry, have the general characteristics of +their parents; and nothing but a different course of training and +education, will change the character.</p> + +<p>The slave may become a lover of his master, and learn to forgive him for +continual deeds of maltreatment and abuse; just as the Spaniel would +couch and fondle at the feet that kick him; because he has been taught +to reverence them, and consequently, becomes adapted in body and mind to +his condition. Even the shrubbery-loving Canary, and lofty-soaring +Eagle, may be tamed to the cage, and learn to love it from habit of +confinement. It has been so with us in our position among our +oppressors; we have been so prone to such positions; that we have +learned to love them. When reflecting upon this all important, and to +us, all absorbing subject; we feel in the agony and anxiety of the +moment, as though we could cry out in the language of a Prophet of old: +"Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I +might weep day and night for the" degradation "of my people! Oh that I +had in the wilderness a lodging place of way-faring men; that I might +leave my people, and go from them!"</p> + +<p>The Irishman and German in the United States, are very different persons +to what they were when in Ireland and Germany, the countries of their +nativity. There their spirits were depressed and downcast; but the +instant they set their foot upon unrestricted soil; free to act and +untrammeled to move; their physical condition undergoes a change, which +in time becomes physiological, which is transmitted to the offspring, +who when born under such circumstances, is a decidedly different being +to what it would have been, had it been born under different +circumstances.</p> + +<p>A child born under oppression, has all the elements of servility in its +constitution; who when born under favorable circumstances, has to the +contrary, all the elements of freedom and independence of feeling. Our +children then, may not be expected, to maintain that position and manly +bearing; born under the unfavorable circumstances with which we are +surrounded in this country; that we so much desire. To use the language +of the talented Mr. Whipper, "they cannot be raised in this country, +without being stoop shouldered." Heaven's pathway stands unobstructed, +which will lead us into a Paradise of bliss. Let us go on and possess +the land, and the God of Israel will be our God.</p> + +<p>The lessons of every school book, the pages of every history, and +columns of every newspaper, are so replete with stimuli to nerve us on +to manly aspirations, that those of our young people, who will now +refuse to enter upon this great theatre of Polynesian adventure, and +take their position on the stage of Central and South America, where a +brilliant engagement, of certain and most triumphant success, in the +drama of human equality awaits them; then, with the blood of <i>slaves</i>, +write upon the lintel of every door in sterling Capitals, to be gazed +and hissed at by every passer by—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class='stanza'><div>Doomed by the Creator</div> +<div>To servility and degradation;</div> +<div>The <span class="smcap">servant</span> of the <i>white man</i>,</div> +<div>And despised of every nation!</div></div> +</div> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="APPENDIX" id="APPENDIX"></a>APPENDIX</h2> + +<h2>A PROJECT FOR AN EXPEDITION OF ADVENTURE, TO THE EASTERN COAST OF AFRICA</h2> + +<p>Every people should be the originators of their own designs, the +projector of their own schemes, and creators of the events that lead to +their destiny—the consummation of their desires.</p> + +<p>Situated as we are, in the United States, many, and almost +insurmountable obstacles present themselves. We are four-and-a-half +millions in numbers, free and bond; six hundred thousand free, and +three-and-a-half millions bond.</p> + +<p>We have native hearts and virtues, just as other nations; which in their +pristine purity are noble, potent, and worthy of example. We are a +nation within a nation;—as the Poles in Russia, the Hungarians in +Austria, the Welsh, Irish, and Scotch in the British dominions.</p> + +<p>But we have been, by our oppressors, despoiled of our purity, and +corrupted in our native characteristics, so that we have inherited their +vices, and but few of their virtues, leaving us in character, really a +<i>broken people</i>.</p> + +<p>Being distinguished by complexion, we are still singled out—although +having merged in the habits and customs of our oppressors—as a distinct +nation of people; as the Poles, Hungarians, Irish, and others, who still +retain their native peculiarities, of language, habits, and various +other traits. The claims of no people, according to established policy +and usage, are respected by any nation, until they are presented in a +national capacity.</p> + +<p>To accomplish so great and desirable an end, there should be held, a +great representative gathering of the colored people of the United +States; not what is termed a National Convention, represented en masse, +such as have been, for the last few years, held at various times and +places; but a true representation of the intelligence and wisdom of the +colored freemen; because it will be futile and an utter failure, to +attempt such a project without the highest grade of intelligence.</p> + +<p>No great project was ever devised without the consultation of the most +mature intelligence, and discreet discernment and precaution.</p> + +<p>To effect this, and prevent intrusion and improper representation, there +should be a <span class="smcap">Confidential Council</span> held; and circulars issued, +only to such persons as shall be <i>known</i> to the projectors to be equal +to the desired object.</p> + +<p>The authority from whence the call should originate, to be in this +wise:—The originator of the scheme, to impart the contemplated +Confidential Council, to a limited number of known, worthy gentlemen, +who agreeing with the project, endorse at once the scheme, when becoming +joint proprietors in interest, issue a <i>Confidential Circular</i>, leaving +blanks for <i>date</i>, <i>time</i>, and <i>place</i> of <i>holding</i> the Council; sending +them to trusty, worthy, and suitable colored freemen, in all parts of +the United States, and the Canadas, inviting them to attend; who when +met in Council, have the right to project any scheme they may think +proper for the general good of the whole people—provided, that the +project is laid before them after its maturity.</p> + +<p>By this Council to be appointed, a Board of Commissioners, to consist of +three, five, or such reasonable number as may be decided upon, one of +whom shall be chosen as Principal or Conductor of the Board, whose duty +and business shall be, to go on an expedition to the <span class="smcap">Eastern +Coast</span> of <span class="smcap">Africa</span>, to make researches for a suitable +location on that section of the coast, for the settlement of colored +adventurers from the United States, and elsewhere. Their mission should +be to all such places as might meet the approbation of the people; as +South America, Mexico, the West Indies, &c.</p> + +<p>The Commissioners all to be men of decided qualifications; to embody +among them, the qualifications of physician, botanist, chemist, +geologist, geographer, and surveyor,—having a sufficient knowledge of +these sciences, for practical purposes.</p> + +<p>Their business shall be, to make a topographical, geographical, +geological, and botanical examination, into such part or parts as they +may select, with all other useful information that may be obtained; to +be recorded in a journal kept for that purpose.</p> + +<p>The Council shall appoint a permanent Board of Directors, to manage and +supervise the doings of the Commissioners, and to whom they shall be +amenable for their doings, who shall hold their office until successors +shall be appointed.</p> + +<p>A National Confidential Council, to be held once in three years; and +sooner, if necessity or emergency should demand it; the Board of +Directors giving at least three months' notice, by circulars and +newspapers. And should they fail to perform their duty, twenty-five of +the representatives from any six States, of the former Council, may +issue a call, authentically bearing their names, as sufficient authority +for such a call. But when the Council is held for the reception of the +report of the Commissioners, a general mass convention should then take +place, by popular representation.</p> + + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Manner of Raising Funds</span>.</p> + +<p>The National Council shall appoint one or two Special Commissioners, to +England and France, to solicit, in the name of the Representatives of a +Broken Nation, of four-and-a-half millions, the necessary outfit and +support, for any period not exceeding three years, of such an +expedition. Certainly, what England and France would do, for a little +nation—mere nominal nation, of five thousand civilized Liberians, they +would be willing and ready to do, for five millions; if they be but +authentically represented, in a national capacity. What was due to +Greece, enveloped by Turkey, should be due to <span class="smcap">us</span>, enveloped by +the United States; and we believe would be respected, if properly +presented. To England and France, we should look for sustenance, and the +people of those two nations—as they would have every thing to gain from +such an adventure and eventual settlement on the EASTERN COAST OF +AFRICA—the opening of an immense trade being the consequence. The whole +Continent is rich in minerals, and the most precious metals, as but a +superficial notice of the topographical and geological reports from that +country, plainly show to any mind versed in the least, in the science of +the earth.</p> + +<p>The Eastern Coast of Africa has long been neglected, and never but +little known, even to the ancients; but has ever been our choice part of +the Continent. Bounded by the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean, it +presents the greatest facilities for an immense trade, with China, +Japan, Siam, Hindoostan, in short, all the East Indies—of any other +country in the world. With a settlement of enlightened freemen, who with +the immense facilities, must soon grow into a powerful nation. In the +Province of Berbera, south of the Strait of Babelmandel, or the great +pass, from the Arabian to the Red Sea, the whole commerce of the East +must touch this point.</p> + +<p>Also, a great rail road could be constructed from here, running with +the Mountains of the Moon, clearing them entirely, except making one +mountain pass, at the western extremity of the Mountains of the Moon, +and the southeastern terminus of the Kong Mountains; entering the +Province of Dahomey, and terminating on the Atlantic Ocean West; which +would make the GREAT THOROUGHFARE for all the trade with the East Indies +and Eastern Coast of Africa, and the Continent of America. All the world +would pass through Africa upon this rail road, which would yield a +revenue infinitely greater than any other investment in the world.</p> + +<p>The means for prosecuting such a project—as stupendous as it may +appear—will be fully realised in the prosecution of the work. Every +mile of the road, will thrice pay for itself, in the development of the +rich treasures that now lie hidden in the bowels of the earth. There is +no doubt, that in some one section of twenty-five miles, the +developments of gold would more than pay the expenses of any one +thousand miles of the work. This calculation may, to those who have +never given this subject a thought, appear extravagant, and visionary; +but to one who has had his attention in this direction for years, it is +clear enough.</p> + +<p>But a few years will witness a development of gold, precious metals, and +minerals in Eastern Africa, the Moon and Kong Mountains, ten-fold +greater than all the rich productions of California.</p> + +<p>There is one great physiological fact in regard to the colored +race—which, while it may not apply to all colored persons, is true of +those having black skins—that they can bear <i>more different</i> climates +than the white race. They bear <i>all</i> the temperates and extremes, while +the other can only bear the temperates and <i>one</i> of the extremes. The +black race is endowed with natural properties, that adapt and fit them +for temperate, cold, and hot climates; while the white race is only +endowed with properties that adapt them to temperate and cold climates; +being unable to stand the warmer climates; in them, the white race +cannot work, but become perfectly indolent, requiring somebody to work +for them—and these, are always people of the black race.</p> + +<p>The black race may be found, inhabiting in healthful improvement, every +part of the globe where the white race reside; while there are parts of +the globe where the black race reside, that the white race cannot live +in health.</p> + +<p>What part of mankind is the "denizen of every soil, and the lord of +terrestrial creation," if it be not the black race? The Creator has +indisputably adapted us for the "denizens of <i>every soil</i>," all that is +left for us to do, is to <i>make</i> ourselves the "<i>lords</i> of terrestrial +creation." The land is ours—there it lies with inexhaustible resources; +let us go and possess it. In Eastern Africa must rise up a nation, to +whom all the world must pay commercial tribute.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, +and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States, by Martin R. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States + +Author: Martin R. Delany + +Release Date: November 26, 2005 [EBook #17154] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONDITION, ELEVATION *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Martin Pettit and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +THE CONDITION, ELEVATION, EMIGRATION, AND DESTINY OF THE COLORED PEOPLE +OF THE UNITED STATES + +Published 1852. + + + + +CONTENTS + +The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People + of the United States + + Preface. 35 + + Chapter I. Condition of Many Classes in Europe Considered 41 + + Chapter II. Comparative Condition of the + Colored People of the United States 44 + + Chapter III. American Colonization 58 + + Chapter IV. Our Elevation in the United States 63 + + Chapter V. Means of Elevation 67 + + Chapter VI. The United States Our Country 74 + + Chapter VII. Claims of Colored Men as Citizens of the United States 75 + + Chapter VIII. Colored American Warriors 91 + + Chapter IX. Capacity of Colored Men and Women + as Citizen Members of Community 106 + + Chapter X. Practical Utility of Colored People of the Present + Day as Members of Society--Business Men and Mechanics 113 + + Chapter XI. Literary and Professional Colored Men and Women 128 + + Chapter XII. Students of Various Professions 148 + + Chapter XIII. A Scan at Past Things 151 + + Chapter XIV. Late Men of Literary, Professional and Artistic Note 155 + + Chapter XV. Farmers and Herdsmen 158 + + Chapter XVI. National Disfranchisement of Colored People 161 + + Chapter XVII. Emigration of the Colored People of the United States 175 + +Chapter XVIII. "Republic of Liberia" 177 + + Chapter XIX. The Canadas 189 + + Chapter XX. Central and South America and the West Indies 193 + + Chapter XXI. Nicaragua and New Grenada 202 + + Chapter XXII. Things as They Are 204 + +Chapter XXIII. A Glance at Ourselves--Conclusion 211 + + Appendix. A Project for an Expedition of Adventure, + to the Eastern Coast of Africa 221 + + + + +_Sincerely dedicated to the American People, North and South._ + + +_By Their Most Devout, and Patriotic Fellow Citizen, the Author_ + + + + +PREFACE + + +The author of this little volume has no other apology for offering it to +the public, than the hurried manner in which it has been composed. Being +detained in the city of New York on business, he seized the opportunity +of a tedious delay, and wrote the work in the inside of one month, +attending to other business through the day, and lecturing on physiology +sometimes in the evening. The reader will therefore not entertain an +idea of elegance of language and terseness of style, such as should rule +the sentences of every composition, by whomsoever written. + +His sole object has been, to place before the public in general, and the +colored people of the United States in particular, great truths +concerning this class of citizens, which appears to have been heretofore +avoided, as well by friends as enemies to their elevation. By opponents, +to conceal information, that they are well aware would stimulate and +impel them on to bold and adventurous deeds of manly daring; and by +friends, who seem to have acted on the principle of the zealous +orthodox, who would prefer losing the object of his pursuit to changing +his policy. + +There are also a great many colored people in the United States, who +have independence of spirit, who desire to, and do, think for +themselves; but for the want of general information, and in consequence +of a prevailing opinion that has obtained, that no thoughts nor opinions +must be expressed, even though it would eventuate in their elevation, +except it emanate from some old, orthodox, stereotyped doctrine +concerning them; therefore, such a work as this, which is but a mere +introduction to what will henceforth emanate from the pen of colored men +and women, appeared to be in most anxious demand, in order to settle +their minds entirely, and concentrate them upon an effective and +specific course of procedure. We have never conformed with that class of +philosophers who would keep the people in ignorance, lest they might +change their opinion from former predilections. This we shall never do, +except pressing necessity demands it, and then only as a measure to +prevent bad consequences, for the time. + +The colored people of to-day are not the colored people of a quarter of +a century ago, and require very different means and measures to satisfy +their wants and demands, and to effect their advancement. No wise +statesman presumes the same measures for the satisfaction of the +American people now, that may have been with propriety adopted +twenty-five years ago; neither is it wisdom to presume, that the +privileges which satisfied colored people twenty years ago, they will be +reconciled with now. That with which the father of the writer may have +been satisfied, even up to the present day, the writer cannot be content +with; the one lived in times antecedent to the birth of the other; that +which answered then, does not answer now: so is it with the whole class +of colored people in the United States. Their feelings, tastes, +predilections, wants, demands, and sympathies, are identical, and +homogeneous with those of all other Americans. + + "Fleecy locks and black complexions, + Cannot alter nature's claim; + Skins may differ, but affections, + Dwell in black and white the same." + +Many of the distinguished characters referred to in this work, who lived +in former days, for which there is no credit given, have been obtained +from various sources--as fragments of history, pamphlets, files of +newspapers, obsolete American history, and some from Mrs. Child's +Collection. Those of modern date, are living facts known to the writer +in his travels through the United States, having been from Canada and +Maine to Arkansas and Texas. The origin of the breast-works of cotton +bales on Chalmet Plains, at the battle of New Orleans, the writer +learned in that city, from old colored men in 1840, and subsequently, +from other sources; as well as much useful information concerning that +battle, from _Julien Bennoit_, spoken of in the work. He has before +referred to it some five or six years ago, through the columns of a +paper, of which he was then editor, and not until subsequently to his +narrating the same facts in these columns, was he aware that it was ever +mentioned in print, when he saw, on the 3d day of March, on looking over +the contributions of the "Liberty Bell," a beautiful annual of Boston, +the circumstances referred to by DAVID LEE CHILD, Esq., the particulars +of which will be found in our version. + +The original intention was to make this a pamphlet of a few pages, the +writer commencing with that view; but finding that he could not thus +justify the design of the work, will fully explain the cause of its +present volume. The subject of this work is one that the writer has +given thought for years, and the only regret that he has now in placing +it before the public is, that his circumstances and engagements have +not afforded him such time and opportunity as to do justice to it. But, +should he succeed in turning the attention of the colored people, in +general, in this direction--he shall have been amply compensated for the +labor bestowed. An appendix will be found giving the plan of the author, +laid out at twenty-four years of age, but subsequently improved on, for +the elevation of the colored race. That plan of course, as this work +will fully show, has been abandoned for a far more glorious one; albeit, +we as a race, still lay claim to the project, which one day must be +added to our dashing strides in national advancement, successful +adventure, and unsurpassed enterprise. + +One part of the American people, though living in near proximity and +together, are quite unacquainted with the other; and one of the great +objects of the author is, to make each acquainted. Except the character +of an individual is known, there can be no just appreciation of his +worth; and as with individuals, so is it with classes. + +The colored people are not yet known, even to their most professed +friends among the white Americans; for the reason, that politicians, +religionists, colonizationists, and abolitionists, have each and all, at +different times, presumed to _think_ for, dictate to, and _know_ better +what suited colored people, than they knew for themselves; and +consequently, there has been no other knowledge of them obtained, than +that which has been obtained through these mediums. Their history--past, +present, and future, has been written by them, who, for reasons well +known, which are named in this volume, are not their representatives, +and, therefore, do not properly nor fairly present their wants and +claims among their fellows. Of these impressions, we design disabusing +the public mind, and correcting the false impressions of all classes +upon this great subject. A moral and mental, is as obnoxious as a +physical servitude, and not to be tolerated; as the one may, eventually, +lead to the other. Of these we feel the direful effects. + + "If I'm designed your lordling's slave, + By nature's law designed; + Why was an independent wish + E'er planted in my mind!" + + + + +I + +CONDITION OF MANY CLASSES IN EUROPE CONSIDERED + + +That there have been in all ages and in all countries, in every quarter +of the habitable globe, especially among those nations laying the +greatest claim to civilization and enlightenment, classes of people who +have been deprived of equal privileges, political, religious and social, +cannot be denied, and that this deprivation on the part of the ruling +classes is cruel and unjust, is also equally true. Such classes have +even been looked upon as inferior to their oppressors, and have ever +been mainly the domestics and menials of society, doing the low offices +and drudgery of those among whom they lived, moving about and existing +by mere sufferance, having no rights nor privileges but those conceded +by the common consent of their political superiors. These are historical +facts that cannot be controverted, and therefore proclaim in tones more +eloquently than thunder, the listful attention of every oppressed man, +woman, and child under the government of the people of the United States +of America. + +In past ages there were many such classes, as the Israelites in Egypt, +the Gladiators in Rome, and similar classes in Greece; and in the +present age, the Gipsies in Italy and Greece, the Cossacs in Russia and +Turkey, the Sclaves and Croats in the Germanic States, and the Welsh and +Irish among the British, to say nothing of various other classes among +other nations. + +That there have in all ages, in almost every nation, existed a nation +within a nation--a people who although forming a part and parcel of the +population, yet were from force of circumstances, known by the peculiar +position they occupied, forming in fact, by the deprivation of political +equality with others, no part, and if any, but a restricted part of the +body politic of such nations, is also true. + +Such then are the Poles in Russia, the Hungarians in Austria, the +Scotch, Irish, and Welsh in the United Kingdom, and such also are the +Jews, scattered throughout not only the length and breadth of Europe, +but almost the habitable globe, maintaining their national +characteristics, and looking forward in high hopes of seeing the day +when they may return to their former national position of +self-government and independence, let that be in whatever part of the +habitable world it may. This is the lot of these various classes of +people in Europe, and it is not our intention here, to discuss the +justice or injustice of the causes that have contributed to their +degradation, but simply to set forth the undeniable facts, which are as +glaring as the rays of a noonday's sun, thereby to impress them +indelibly on the mind of every reader of this pamphlet. + +It is not enough, that these people are deprived of equal privileges by +their rulers, but, the more effectually to succeed, the equality of +these classes must be denied, and their inferiority by nature as +distinct races, actually asserted. This policy is necessary to appease +the opposition that might be interposed in their behalf. Wherever there +is arbitrary rule, there must be necessity, on the part of the dominant +classes, superiority be assumed. To assume superiority, is to deny the +equality of others, and to deny their equality, is to premise their +incapacity for self-government. Let this once be conceded, and there +will be little or no sympathy for the oppressed, the oppressor being +left to prescribe whatever terms at discretion for their government, +suits his own purpose. + +Such then is the condition of various classes in Europe; yes, nations, +for centuries within nations, even without the hope of redemption among +those who oppress them. And however unfavorable their condition, there +is none more so than that of the colored people of the United States. + + + + +II + +COMPARATIVE CONDITION OF THE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES + + +The United States, untrue to her trust and unfaithful to her professed +principles of republican equality, has also pursued a policy of +political degradation to a large portion of her native born countrymen, +and that class is the Colored People. Denied an equality not only of +political but of natural rights, in common with the rest of our fellow +citizens, there is no species of degradation to which we are not +subject. + +Reduced to abject slavery is not enough, the very thought of which +should awaken every sensibility of our common nature; but those of their +descendants who are freemen even in the non-slaveholding States, occupy +the very same position politically, religiously, civilly and socially, +(with but few exceptions,) as the bondman occupies in the slave States. + +In those States, the bondman is disfranchised, and for the most part so +are we. He is denied all civil, religious, and social privileges, except +such as he gets by mere sufferance, and so are we. They have no part nor +lot in the government of the country, neither have we. They are ruled +and governed without representation, existing as mere nonentities among +the citizens, and excrescences on the body politic--a mere dreg in +community, and so are we. Where then is our political superiority to the +enslaved? none, neither are we superior in any other relation to +society, except that we are defacto masters of ourselves and joint +rulers of our own domestic household, while the bondman's self is +claimed by another, and his relation to his family denied him. What the +unfortunate classes are in Europe, such are we in the United States, +which is folly to deny, insanity not to understand, blindness not to +see, and surely now full time that our eyes were opened to these +startling truths, which for ages have stared us full in the face. + +It is time that we had become politicians, we mean, to understand the +political economy and domestic policy of nations; that we had become as +well as moral theorists, also the practical demonstrators of equal +rights and self-government. Except we do, it is idle to talk about +rights, it is mere chattering for the sake of being seen and heard--like +the slave, saying something because his so called "master" said it, and +saying just what he told him to say. Have we not now sufficient +intelligence among us to understand our true position, to realise our +actual condition, and determine for ourselves what is best to be done? +If we have not now, we never shall have, and should at once cease +prating about our equality, capacity, and all that. + +Twenty years ago, when the writer was a youth, his young and yet +uncultivated mind was aroused, and his tender heart made to leap with +anxiety in anticipation of the promises then held out by the prime +movers in the cause of our elevation. + +In 1830 the most intelligent and leading spirits among the colored men +in the United States, such as James Forten, Robert Douglass, I. Bowers, +A.D. Shadd, John Peck, Joseph Cassey, and John B. Vashon of +Pennsylvania; John T. Hilton, Nathaniel and Thomas Paul, and James G. +Barbodoes of Massachusetts; Henry Sipkins, Thomas Hamilton, Thomas L. +Jennings, Thomas Downing, Samuel E. Cornish, and others of New York; R. +Cooley and others of Maryland, and representatives from other States +which cannot now be recollected, the data not being at hand, assembled +in the city of Philadelphia, in the capacity of a National Convention, +to "devise ways and means for the bettering of our condition." These +Conventions determined to assemble annually, much talent, ability, and +energy of character being displayed; when in 1831 at a sitting of the +Convention in September, from their previous pamphlet reports, much +interest having been created throughout the country, they were favored +by the presence of a number of whites, some of whom were able and +distinguished men, such as Rev. R.R. Gurley, Arthur Tappan, Elliot +Cresson, John Rankin, Simeon Jocelyn and others, among them William +Lloyd Garrison, then quite a young man, all of whom were staunch and +ardent Colonizationists, young Garrison at that time, doing his +mightiest in his favorite work. + +Among other great projects of interest brought before the convention at +a previous sitting, was that of the expediency of a general emigration, +as far as it was practicable, of the colored people to the British +Provinces of North America. Another was that of raising sufficient means +for the establishment and erection of a College for the proper education +of the colored youth. These gentlemen long accustomed to observation and +reflection on the condition of their people saw at once, that there must +necessarily be means used adequate to the end to be attained--that end +being an unqualified equality with the ruling class of their fellow +citizens. He saw that as a class, the colored people of the country were +ignorant, degraded and oppressed, by far the greater portion of them +being abject slaves in the South, the very condition of whom was almost +enough, under the circumstances, to blast the remotest hope of success, +and those who were freemen, whether in the South or North, occupied a +subservient, servile, and menial position, considering it a favor to get +into the service of the whites, and do their degrading offices. That the +difference between the whites and themselves, consisted in the superior +advantages of the one over the other, in point of attainments. That if a +knowledge of the arts and sciences, the mechanical occupations, the +industrial occupations, as farming, commerce, and all the various +business enterprises, and learned professions were necessary for the +superior position occupied by their rulers, it was also necessary for +them. And very reasonably too, the first suggestion which occurred to +them was, the advantages of a location, then the necessity of a +qualification. They reasoned with themselves, that all distinctive +differences made among men on account of their origin, is wicked, +unrighteous, and cruel, and never shall receive countenance in any shape +from us, therefore, the first acts of the measure entered into by them, +was to protest, solemnly protest, against every unjust measure and +policy in the country, having for its object the proscription of the +colored people, whether state, national, municipal, social, civil, or +religious. + +But being far-sighted, reflecting, discerning men, they took a political +view of the subject, and determined for the good of their people to be +governed in their policy according to the facts as they presented +themselves. In taking a glance at Europe, they discovered there, however +unjustly, as we have shown in another part of this pamphlet, that there +are and have been numerous classes proscribed and oppressed, and it was +not for them to cut short their wise deliberations, and arrest their +proceedings in contention, as to the cause, whether on account of +language, the color of eyes, hair, skin, or their origin of +country--because all this is contrary to reason, a contradiction to +common sense, at war with nature herself, and at variance with facts as +they stare us every day in the face, among all nations, in every +country--this being made the pretext as a matter of _policy_ alone--a +fact worthy of observation, that wherever the objects of oppression are +the most easily distinguished by any peculiar or general +characteristics, these people are the more easily oppressed, because the +war of oppression is the more easily waged against them. This is the +case with the modern Jews and many other people who have +strongly-marked, peculiar, or distinguishing characteristics. This +arises in this wise. The policy of all those who proscribe any people, +induces them to select as the objects of proscription, those who +differed as much as possible, in some particulars, from themselves. This +is to ensure the greater success, because it engenders the greater +prejudice, or in other words, elicits less interest on the part of the +oppressing class, in their favor. This fact is well understood in +national conflicts, as the soldier or civilian, who is distinguished by +his dress, mustache, or any other peculiar appendage, would certainly +prove himself a madman, if he did not take the precaution to change his +dress, remove his mustache, and conceal as much as possible his peculiar +characteristics, to give him access among the repelling party. + +This is mere policy, nature having nothing to do with it. Still, it is a +fact, a great truth well worthy of remark, and as such as adduce it for +the benefit of those of our readers, unaccustomed to an enquiry into the +policy of nations. + +In view of these truths, our fathers and leaders in our elevation, +discovered that as a policy, we the colored people were selected as the +subordinate class in this country, not on account of any actual or +supposed inferiority on their part, but simply because, in view of all +the circumstances of the case, they were the very best class that could +be selected. They would have as readily had any other class as +subordinates in the country, as the colored people, but the condition of +society _at the time_, would not admit of it. In the struggle for +American Independence, there were among those who performed the most +distinguished parts, the most common-place peasantry of the Provinces. +English, Danish, Irish, Scotch, and others, were among those whose names +blazoned forth as heroes in the American Revolution. But a single +reflection will convince us, that no course of policy could have induced +the proscription of the parentage and relatives of such men as Benjamin +Franklin the printer, Roger Sherman the cobbler, the tinkers, and others +of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. But as they were +determined to have a subservient class, it will readily be conceived, +that according to the state of society at the time, the better policy on +their part was, to select some class, who from their political +position--however much they may have contributed their aid as we +certainly did, in the general struggle for liberty by force of arms--who +had the least claims upon them, or who had the _least chance_, or was +the _least potent_ in urging their claims. This class of course was the +colored people and Indians. + +The Indians who in the early settlement of the continent, before an +African captive had ever been introduced thereon, were reduced to the +most abject slavery, toiling day and night in the mines, under the +relentless hands of heartless Spanish taskmasters, but being a race of +people raised to the sports of fishing, the chase, and of war, were +wholly unaccustomed to labor, and therefore sunk under the insupportable +weight, two millions and a half having fallen victims to the cruelty of +oppression and toil suddenly placed upon their shoulders. And it was +only this that prevented their farther enslavement as a class, after the +provinces were absolved from the British Crown. It is true that their +general enslavement took place on the islands and in the mining +districts of South America, where indeed, the Europeans continued to +enslave them, until a comparatively recent period; still, the design, +the feeling, and inclination from policy, was the same to do so here, in +this section of the continent. + +Nor was it until their influence became too great, by the political +position occupied by their brethren in the new republic, that the German +and Irish peasantry ceased to be sold as slaves for a term of years +fixed by law, for the repayment of their passage-money, the descendants +of these classes of people for a long time being held as inferiors, in +the estimation of the ruling class, and it was not until they assumed +the rights and privileges guaranteed to them by the established policy +of the country, among the leading spirits of whom were their relatives, +that the policy towards them was discovered to be a bad one, and +accordingly changed. Nor was it, as is frequently very erroneously +asserted, by colored as well as white persons, that it was on account of +hatred to the African, or in other words, on account of hatred to his +color, that the African was selected as the subject of oppression in +this country. This is sheer nonsense; being based on policy and nothing +else, as shown in another place. The Indians, who being the most foreign +to the sympathies of the Europeans on this continent, were selected in +the first place, who, being unable to withstand the hardships, gave way +before them. + +But the African race had long been known to Europeans, in all ages of +the worlds history, as a long-lived, hardy race, subject to toil and +labor of various kinds, subsisting mainly by traffic, trade, and +industry, and consequently being as foreign to the sympathies of the +invaders of the continent as the Indians, they were selected, captured, +brought here as a laboring class, and as a matter of policy held as +such. Nor was the absurd idea of natural inferiority of the African ever +dreamed of, until recently adduced by the slave-holders and their +abettors, in justification of the policy. This, with contemptuous +indignation, we fling back into their face, as a scorpion to a vulture. +And so did our patriots and leaders in the cause of regeneration know +better, and never for a moment yielded to the base doctrine. But they +had discovered the great fact, that a cruel policy was pursued towards +our people, and that they possessed distinctive characteristics which +made them the objects of proscription. These characteristics being +strongly marked in the colored people, as in the Indians, by color, +character of hair and so on, made them the more easily distinguished +from other Americans, and the policies more effectually urged against +us. For this reason they introduced the subject of emigration to Canada, +and a proper institution for the education of the youth. + +At this important juncture of their proceedings, the afore named white +gentlemen were introduced to the notice of the Convention, and after +gaining permission to speak, expressed their gratification and surprise +at the qualification and talent manifested by different members of the +Convention, all expressing their determination to give the cause of the +colored people more serious reflection. Mr. Garrison, the youngest of +them all, and none the less honest on account of his youthfulness, being +but 26 years of age at the time, (1831) expressed his determination to +change his course of policy at once, and espouse the cause of the +elevation of the colored people here in their own country. We are not at +present well advised upon this point, it now having escaped our memory, +but we are under the impression that Mr. Jocelyn also, at once changed +his policy. + +During the winter of 1832, Mr. Garrison issued his "Thoughts on African +Colonization," and near about the same time or shortly after, issued the +first number of the "Liberator," in both of which, his full convictions +of the enormity of American slavery, and the wickedness of their policy +towards the colored people, were fully expressed. At the sitting of the +Convention in this year, a number, perhaps all of these gentlemen were +present, and those who had denounced the Colonization scheme, and +espoused the cause of the elevation of the colored people in this +country, or the Anti-Slavery cause, as it was now termed, expressed +themselves openly and without reserve. + +Sensible of the high-handed injustice done to the colored people in the +United States, and the mischief likely to emanate from the unchristian +proceedings of the deceptious Colonization scheme, like all honest +hearted penitents, with the ardor only known to new converts, they +entreated the Convention, whatever they did, not to entertain for a +moment, the idea of recommending emigration to their people, nor the +establishment of separate institutions of learning. They earnestly +contended, and doubtless honestly meaning what they said, that they (the +whites) had been our oppressors and injurers, they had obstructed our +progress to the high positions of civilization, and now, it was their +bounden duty to make full amends for the injuries thus inflicted on an +unoffending people. They exhorted the Convention to cease; as they had +laid on the burden, they would also take it off; as they had obstructed +our pathway, they would remove the hindrance. In a word, as they had +oppressed and trampled down the colored people, they would now elevate +them. These suggestions and promises, good enough to be sure, after they +were made, were accepted by the Convention--though some gentlemen were +still in favor of the first project as the best policy, Mr. A.D. Shadd +of West Chester, Pa., as we learn from himself, being one among that +number--ran through the country like wild-fire, no one thinking, and if +he thought, daring to speak above his breath of going any where out of +certain prescribed limits, or of sending a child to school, if it should +but have the name of "colored" attached to it, without the risk of being +termed a "traitor" to the cause of his people, or an enemy to the +Anti-Slavery cause. + +At this important point in the history of our efforts, the colored men +stopped suddenly, and with their hands thrust deep in their +breeches-pockets, and their mouths gaping open, stood gazing with +astonishment, wonder, and surprise, at the stupendous moral colossal +statues of our Anti-Slavery friends and brethren, who in the heat and +zeal of honest hearts, from a desire to make atonement for the many +wrongs inflicted, promised a great deal more than they have ever been +able half to fulfill, in thrice the period in which they expected it. +And in this, we have no fault to find with our Anti-Slavery friends, and +here wish it to be understood, that we are not laying any thing to their +charge as blame, neither do we desire for a moment to reflect on them, +because we heartily believe that all that they did at the time, they did +with the purest and best of motives, and further believe that they now +are, as they then were, the truest friends we have among the whites in +this country. And hope, and desire, and request, that our people should +always look upon _true_ anti-slavery people, Abolitionists we mean, as +their friends, until they have just cause for acting otherwise. It is +true, that the Anti-Slavery, like all good causes, has produced some +recreants, but the cause itself is no more to be blamed for that, than +Christianity is for the malconduct of any professing hypocrite, nor the +society of Friends, for the conduct of a broad-brimmed hat and +shad-belly coated horsethief, because he spoke _thee_ and _thou_ before +stealing the horse. But what is our condition even amidst our +Anti-Slavery friends? And here, as our sole intention is to contribute +to the elevation of our people, we must be permitted to express our +opinion freely, without being thought uncharitable. + +In the first place, we should look at the objects for which the +Anti-Slavery cause was commenced, and the promises or inducements it +held out at the commencement. It should be borne in mind, that +Anti-Slavery took its rise among _colored men_, just at the time they +were introducing their greatest projects for their own elevation, and +that our Anti-Slavery brethren were converts of the colored men, in +behalf of their elevation. Of course, it would be expected that being +baptized into the new doctrines, their faith would induce them to +embrace the principles therein contained, with the strictest possible +adherence. + +The cause of dissatisfaction with our former condition, was, that we +were proscribed, debarred, and shut out from every respectable position, +occupying the places of inferiors and menials. + +It was expected that Anti-Slavery, according to its professions, would +extend to colored persons, as far as in the power of its adherents, +those advantages nowhere else to be obtained among white men. That +colored boys would get situations in their shops and stores, and every +other advantage tending to elevate them as far as possible, would be +extended to them. At least, it was expected, that in Anti-Slavery +establishments, colored men would have the preference. Because, there +was no other ostensible object in view, in the commencement of the +Anti-Slavery enterprise, than the _elevation_ of the _colored man_, by +facilitating his efforts in attaining to equality with the white man. It +was urged, and it was true, that the colored people were susceptible of +all that the whites were, and all that was required was to give them a +fair opportunity, and they would prove their capacity. That it was +unjust, wicked, and cruel, the result of an unnatural prejudice, that +debarred them from places of respectability, and that public opinion +could and should be corrected upon this subject. That it was only +necessary to make a sacrifice of feeling, and an innovation on the +customs of society, to establish a different order of things,--that as +Anti-Slavery men, they were willing to make these sacrifices, and +determined to take the colored man by the hand, making common cause with +him in affliction, and bear a part of the odium heaped upon him. That +his cause was the cause of God--that "In as much as ye did it not unto +the least of these my little ones, ye did it not unto me," and that as +Anti-Slavery men, they would "do right if the heavens fell." Thus, was +the cause espoused, and thus did we expect much. But in all this, we +were doomed to disappointment, sad, sad disappointment. Instead of +realising what we had hoped for, we find ourselves occupying the very +same position in relation to our Anti-Slavery friends, as we do in +relation to the pro-slavery part of the community--a mere secondary, +underling position, in all our relations to them, and any thing more +than this, is not a matter of course affair--it comes not by established +anti-slavery custom or right, but like that which emanates from the +pro-slavery portion of the community by mere sufferance. + +It is true, that the "Liberator" office, in Boston, has got Elijah +Smith, a colored youth, at the cases--the "Standard," in New York, a +young colored man, and the "Freeman," in Philadelphia, William Still, +another, in the publication office, as "packing clerk"; yet these are +but three out of the hosts that fill these offices in their various +departments, all occupying places that could have been, and as we once +thought, would have been, easily enough, occupied by colored men. +Indeed, we can have no other idea about anti-slavery in this country, +than that the legitimate persons to fill any and every position about an +anti-slavery establishment are colored persons. Nor will it do to argue +in extenuation, that white men are as justly entitled to them as colored +men; because white men do not from _necessity_ become anti-slavery men +in order to get situations; they being white men, may occupy any +position they are capable of filling--in a word, their chances are +endless, every avenue in the country being opened to them. They do not +therefore become abolitionists, for the sake of employment--at least, it +is not the song that anti-slavery sung, in the first love of the new +faith, proclaimed by its disciples. + +And if it be urged that colored men are incapable as yet to fill these +positions, all that we have to say is, that the cause has fallen far +short; almost equivalent to a failure, of a tithe, of what it promised +to do in half the period of its existence, to this time, if it have not +as yet, now a period of twenty years, raised up colored men enough, to +fill the offices within its patronage. We think it is not unkind to say, +if it had been half as faithful to itself, as it should have been--its +professed principles we mean; it could have reared and tutored from +childhood, colored men enough by this time, for its own especial +purpose. These we know could have been easily obtained, because colored +people in general, are favorable to the anti-slavery cause, and wherever +there is an adverse manifestation, it arises from sheer ignorance; and +we have now but comparatively few such among us. There is one thing +certain, that no colored person, except such as would reject education +altogether, would be adverse to putting their child with an anti-slavery +person, for educational advantages. This then could have been done. But +it has not been done, and let the cause of it be whatever it may, and +let whoever may be to blame, we are willing to let all that pass, and +extend to our anti-slavery brethren the right-hand of fellowship, +bidding them God-speed in the propagation of good and wholesome +sentiments--for whether they are practically carried out or not, the +profession are in themselves all right and good. Like Christianity, the +principles are holy and of divine origin. And we believe, if ever a man +started right, with pure and holy motives, Mr. Garrison did; and that, +had he the power of making the cause what it should be, it would all be +right, and there never would have been any cause for the remarks we have +made, though in kindness, and with the purest of motives. We are +nevertheless, still occupying a miserable position in the community, +wherever we live; and what we most desire is, to draw the attention of +our people to this fact, and point out what, in our opinion, we conceive +to be a proper remedy. + + + + +III + +AMERICAN COLONIZATION + + +When we speak of colonization, we wish distinctly to be understood, as +speaking of the "American Colonization Society"--or that which is under +its influence--commenced in Richmond, Virginia, in 1817, under the +influence of Mr. Henry Clay of Ky., Judge Bushrod Washington of Va., and +other Southern slaveholders, having for their express object, as their +speeches and doings all justify us in asserting in good faith, the +removal of the free colored people from the land of their birth, for the +security of the slaves, as property to the slave propagandists. + +This scheme had no sooner been propagated, than the old and leading +colored men of Philadelphia, Pa., with Richard Allen, James Forten, and +others at their head, true to their trust and the cause of their +brethren, summoned the colored people together, and then and there, in +language and with voices pointed and loud, protested against the scheme +as an outrage, having no other object in view, than the benefit of the +slave-holding interests of the country, and that as freemen, they would +never prove recreant to the cause of their brethren in bondage, by +leaving them without hope of redemption from their chains. This +determination of the colored patriots of Philadelphia was published in +full, authentically, and circulated throughout the length and breadth of +the country by the papers of the day. The colored people every where +received the news, and at once endorsed with heart and soul, the doings +of the Anti-Colonization Meeting of colored freemen. From that time +forth, the colored people generally have had no sympathy with the +colonization scheme, nor confidence in its leaders, looking upon them +all, as arrant hypocrites, seeking every opportunity to deceive them. In +a word, the monster was crippled in its infancy, and has never as yet +recovered from the stroke. It is true, that like its ancient sire, that +was "more subtile than all the beasts of the field," it has inherited a +large portion of his most prominent characteristic--an idiosyncrasy with +the animal--that enables him to entwine himself into the greater part of +the Church and other institutions of the country, which having once +entered there, leaves his venom, which put such a spell on the +conductors of those institutions, that is only on condition that a +colored person consents to go to the neighborhood of his kindred brother +monster the boa, that he may find admission in the one or the other. We +look upon the American Colonization Society as one of the most arrant +enemies of the colored man, ever seeking to discomfit him, and envying +him of every privilege that he may enjoy. We believe it to be +anti-Christian in its character, and misanthropic in its pretended +sympathies. Because if this were not the case, men could not be found +professing morality and Christianity--as to our astonishment we have +found them--who unhesitatingly say, "I know it is right"--that is in +itself--"to do" so and so, "and I am willing and ready to do it, but +only on condition, that you go to Africa." Indeed, a highly talented +clergyman, informed us in November last (three months ago) in the city +of Philadelphia, that he was present when the Rev. Doctor J.P. Durbin, +late President of Dickinson College, called on Rev. Mr. P. or B., to +consult him about going to Liberia, to take charge of the literary +department of an University in contemplation, when the following +conversation ensued: Mr. P.--"Doctor, I have as much and more than I can +do here, in educating the youth of our own country, and preparing them +for usefulness here at home." Dr. D.--"Yes, but do as you may, you can +never be elevated here." Mr. P.--"Doctor, do you not believe that the +religion of our blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ, has morality, humanity, +philanthropy, and justice enough in it to elevate us, and enable us to +obtain our rights in this our own country?" Dr. D.--"No, indeed, sir, I +do not, and if you depend upon that, your hopes are vain!" Mr. +P.--Turning to Doctor Durbin, looking him solemnly, though +affectionately in the face, remarked--"Well, Doctor Durbin, we both +profess to be ministers of Christ; but dearly as I love the cause of my +Redeemer, if for a moment, I could entertain the opinion you do about +Christianity, I would not serve him another hour!" We do not know, as we +were not advised, that the Rev. Doctor added in fine,--"Well, you may +quit now, for all your serving him will not avail against the power of +the god (hydra) of Colonization." Will any one doubt for a single +moment, the justice of our strictures on colonization, after reading the +conversation between the Rev. Dr. Durbin and the colored clergyman? +Surely not. We can therefore make no account of it, but that of setting +it down as being the worst enemy of the colored people. + +Recently, there has been a strained effort in the city of New York on +the part of the Rev. J.B. Pinney and others, of the leading white +colonizationists, to get up a movement among some poor pitiable colored +men--we say pitiable, for certainly the colored persons who are at this +period capable of loaning themselves to the enemies of their race, +against the best interest of all that we hold sacred to that race, are +pitiable in the lowest extreme, far beneath the dignity of an enemy, +and therefore, we pass them by with the simple remark, that this is the +hobby that colonization is riding all over the country, as the +"tremendous" access of colored people to their cause within the last +twelve months. We should make another remark here perhaps, in +justification of governor Pinney's New York allies--that is, report +says, that in the short space of some three or five months, one of his +confidants, benefited himself to the "reckoning" of from eleven to +fifteen hundred dollars, or "such a matter," while others were benefited +in sums "pretty considerable" but of a less "reckoning." Well, we do not +know after all, that they may not have quite as good a right, to pocket +part of the spoils of this "grab game," as any body else. However, they +are of little consequence, as the ever watchful eye of those excellent +gentlemen and faithful guardians of their people's rights--the +_Committee of Thirteen_, consisting of Messrs. John J. Zuille, +_Chairman_, T. Joiner White, Philip A. Bell, _Secretaries_, Robert +Hamilton, George T. Downing, Jeremiah Powers, John T. Raymond, Wm. +Burnett, James McCune Smith, Ezekiel Dias, Junius C. Morel, Thomas +Downing, and Wm. J. Wilson, have properly chastised this pet-slave of +Mr. Pinney, and made it "know its place," by keeping within the bounds +of its master's enclosure. + +In expressing our honest conviction of the designedly injurious +character of the Colonization Society, we should do violence to our own +sense of individual justice, if we did not express the belief, that +there are some honest hearted men, who not having seen things in the +proper light, favor that scheme, simply as a means of elevating the +colored people. Such persons, so soon as they become convinced of their +error, immediately change their policy, and advocate the elevation of +the colored people, anywhere and everywhere, in common with other men. +Of such were the early abolitionists as before stated; and the great and +good Dr. F.J. Lemoyne, Gerrit Smith, and Rev. Charles Avery, and a host +of others, who were Colonizationists, before espousing the cause of our +elevation, here at home, and nothing but an honorable sense of justice, +induces us to make these exceptions, as there are many good persons +within our knowledge, whom we believe to be well wishers of the colored +people, who may favor colonization.[1] But the animal itself is the same +"hydra-headed monster," let whomsoever may fancy to pet it. A serpent is +a serpent, and none the less a viper, because nestled in the bosom of an +honest hearted man. This the colored people must bear in mind, and keep +clear of the hideous thing, lest its venom may be test upon them. But +why deem any argument necessary to show the unrighteousness of +colonization? Its very origin as before shown--the source from whence it +sprung, being the offspring of slavery--is in itself, sufficient to +blast it in the estimation of every colored person in the United States, +who has sufficient intelligence to comprehend it. + +We dismiss this part of the subject, and proceed to consider the mode +and means of our elevation in the United States. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] Benjamin Coates, Esq., a merchant of Philadelphia, we believe to be +an honest hearted man, and real friend of the colored people, and a +true, though as yet, rather undecided philanthropist. Mr. Coates, to our +knowledge, has supported three or four papers published by colored men, +for the elevation of colored people in the United States, and given, as +he continues to do, considerable sums to their support. We have recently +learned from himself, that, though he still advocates Colonization, +simply as a means of elevating the colored race of the United States, +that he has _left_ the Colonization Society, and prefers seeing colored +people located on this continent, to going to Liberia, or elsewhere off +of it--though his zeal for the enlightenment of Africa, is unabated, as +every good man's should be; and we are satisfied, that Mr. Coates is +neither well understood, nor rightly appreciated by the friends of our +cause. One thing we do know, that he left the Colonization Society, +because he could not conscientiously subscribe to its measures. + + + + +IV + +OUR ELEVATION IN THE UNITED STATES + + +That very little comparatively as yet has been done, to attain a +respectable position as a class in this country, will not be denied, and +that the successful accomplishment of this end is also possible, must +also be admitted; but in what manner, and by what means, has long been, +and is even now, by the best thinking minds among the colored people +themselves, a matter of difference of opinion. + +We believe in the universal equality of man, and believe in that +declaration of God's word, in which it is there positively said, that +"God has made of one blood all the nations that dwell on the face of the +earth." Now of "the nations that dwell on the face of the earth," that +is, all the people--there are one thousand millions of souls, and of +this vast number of human beings, two-thirds are colored, from black, +tending in complexion to the olive or that of the Chinese, with all the +intermediate and admixtures of black and white, with the various +"crosses" as they are physiologically, but erroneously termed, to white. +We are thus explicit in stating these points, because we are determined +to be understood by all. We have then, two colored to one white person +throughout the earth, and yet, singular as it may appear, according to +the present geographical and political history of the world, the white +race predominates over the colored; or in other words, wherever there is +one white person, that one rules and governs two colored persons. This +is a living undeniable truth, to which we call the especial attention of +the colored reader in particular. Now there is a cause for this, as +there is no effect without a cause, a comprehensible remediable cause. +We all believe in the justice of God, that he is impartial, "looking +upon his children with an eye of care," dealing out to them all, the +measure of his goodness; yet, how can we reconcile ourselves to the +difference that exists between the colored and the white races, as they +truthfully present themselves before our eyes? To solve this problem, is +to know the remedy; and to know it, is but necessary, in order +successfully to apply it. And we shall but take the colored people of +the United States, as a fair sample of the colored races everywhere of +the present age, as the arguments that apply to the one, will apply to +the other, whether Christians, Mahomedans, or pagans. + +The colored races are highly susceptible of religion; it is a +constituent principle of their nature, and an excellent trait in their +character. But unfortunately for them, they carry it too far. Their hope +is largely developed, and consequently, they usually stand still--hope +in God, and really expect Him to do that for them, which it is necessary +they should do themselves. This is their great mistake, and arises from +a misconception of the character and ways of Deity. We must know God, +that is understand His nature and purposes, in order to serve Him; and +to serve Him well, is but to know him rightly. To depend for assistance +upon God, is a _duty_ and right; but to know when, how, and in what +manner to obtain it, is the key to this great Bulwark of Strength, and +Depository of Aid. + +God himself is perfect; perfect in all his works and ways. He has means +for every end; and every means used must be adequate to the end to be +gained. God's means are laws--fixed laws of nature, a part of His own +being, and as immutable, as unchangeable as Himself. Nothing can be +accomplished but through the medium of, and conformable to these laws. + +They are _three_--and like God himself, represented in the three persons +in the God-head--the _Spiritual_, _Moral_ and _Physical_ Laws. + +That which is Spiritual, can only be accomplished through the medium of +the Spiritual law; that which is Moral, through the medium of the Moral +law; and that which is Physical, through the medium of the Physical law. +Otherwise than this, it is useless to expect any thing. Does a person +want a spiritual blessing, he must apply through the medium of the +spiritual law--_pray_ for it in order to obtain it. If they desire to do +a moral good, they must apply through the medium of the moral +law--exercise their sense and feeling of _right_ and _justice_, in order +to effect it. Do they want to attain a physical end, they can only do so +through the medium of the physical law--go to _work_ with muscles, +hands, limbs, might and strength, and this, and nothing else will attain +it. + +The argument that man must pray for what he receives, is a mistake, and +one that is doing the colored people especially, incalculable injury. +That man must pray in order to get to Heaven, every Christian will +admit--but a great truth we have yet got to learn, that he can live on +earth whether he is religious or not, so that he conforms to the great +law of God, regulating the things of earth; the great physical laws. It +is only necessary, in order to convince our people of their error and +palpable mistake in this matter, to call their attention to the fact, +that there are no people more religious in this Country, than the +colored people, and none so poor and miserable as they. That prosperity +and wealth, smiles upon the efforts of wicked white men, whom we know to +utter the name of God with curses, instead of praises. That among the +slaves, there are thousands of them religious, continually raising +their voices, sending up their prayers to God, invoking His aid in their +behalf, asking for a speedy deliverance; but they are still in chains, +although they have thrice suffered out their three score years and ten. +That "God sendeth rain upon the just and unjust," should be sufficient +to convince us that our success in life, does not depend upon our +religious character, but that the physical laws governing all earthly +and temporary affairs, benefit equally the just and the unjust. Any +other doctrine than this, is downright delusion, unworthy of a free +people, and only intended for slaves. That all men and women, should be +moral, upright, good and religious--we mean _Christians_--we would not +utter a word against, and could only wish that it were so; but, what we +here desire to do is, to correct the long standing error among a large +body of the colored people in this country, that the cause of our +oppression and degradation, is the displeasure of God towards us, +because of our unfaithfulness to Him. This is not true; because if God +is just--and he is--there could be no justice in prospering white men +with his fostering care, for more than two thousand years, in all their +wickedness, while dealing out to the colored people, the measure of his +displeasure, for not half the wickedness as that of the whites. Here +then is our mistake, and let it forever henceforth be corrected. We are +no longer slaves, believing any interpretation that our oppressors may +give the word of God, for the purpose of deluding us to the more easy +subjugation; but freemen, comprising some of the first minds of +intelligence and rudimental qualifications, in the country. What then is +the remedy, for our degradation and oppression? This appears now to be +the only remaining question--the means of successful elevation in this +our own native land? This depends entirely upon the application of the +means of Elevation. + + + + +V + +MEANS OF ELEVATION + + +Moral theories have long been resorted to by us, as a means of effecting +the redemption of our brethren in bonds, and the elevation of the free +colored people in this country. Experience has taught us, that +speculations are not enough; that the _practical_ application of +principles adduced, the thing carried out, is the only true and proper +course to pursue. + +We have speculated and moralised much about equality--claiming to be as +good as our neighbors, and every body else--all of which, may do very +well in ethics--but not in politics. We live in society among men, +conducted by men, governed by rules and regulations. However arbitrary, +there are certain policies that regulate all well organized institutions +and corporate bodies. We do not intend here to speak of the legal +political relations of society, for those are treated on elsewhere. The +business and social, or voluntary and mutual policies, are those that +now claim our attention. Society regulates itself--being governed by +mind, which like water, finds its own level. "Like seeks like," is a +principle in the laws of matter, as well as of mind. There is such a +thing as inferiority of things, and positions; at least society has made +them so; and while we continue to live among men, we must agree to all +_just_ measures--all those we mean, that do not necessarily infringe on +the rights of others. By the regulations of society, there is no +equality of attainments. By this, we do not wish to be understood as +advocating the actual equal attainments of every individual; but we mean +to say, that if these attainments be necessary for the elevation of the +white man, they are necessary for the elevation of the colored man. That +some colored men and women, in a like proportion to the whites, should +be qualified in all the attainments possessed by them. It is one of the +regulations of society the world over, and we shall have to conform to +it, or be discarded as unworthy of the associations of our fellows. + +Cast our eyes about us and reflect for a moment, and what do we behold! +every thing that presents to view gives evidence of the skill of the +white man. Should we purchase a pound of groceries, a yard of linen, a +vessel of crockery-ware, a piece of furniture, the very provisions that +we eat,--all, all are the products of the white man, purchased by us +from the white man, consequently, our earnings and means, are all given +to the white man. + +Pass along the avenues of any city or town, in which you live--behold +the trading shops--the manufacturies--see the operations of the various +machinery--see the stage-coaches coming in, bringing the mails of +intelligence--look at the railroads interlining every section, bearing +upon them their mighty trains, flying with the velocity of the swallow, +ushering in the hundreds of industrious, enterprising travellers. Cast +again your eyes widespread over the ocean--see the vessels in every +direction with their white sheets spread to the winds of heaven, +freighted with the commerce, merchandise and wealth of many nations. +Look as you pass along through the cities, at the great and massive +buildings--the beautiful and extensive structures of +architecture--behold the ten thousand cupolas, with their spires all +reared up towards heaven, intersecting the territory of the clouds--all +standing as mighty living monuments, of the industry, enterprise, and +intelligence of the white man. And yet, with all these living truths, +rebuking us with scorn, we strut about, place our hands akimbo, +straighten up ourselves to our greatest height, and talk loudly about +being "as good as any body." How do we compare with them? Our fathers +are their coachmen, our brothers their cookmen, and ourselves their +waiting-men. Our mothers their nurse-women, our sisters their +scrub-women, our daughters their maid-women, and our wives their +washer-women. Until colored men, attain to a position above permitting +their mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters, to do the drudgery and +menial offices of other men's wives and daughters; it is useless, it is +nonsense, it is pitiable mockery, to talk about equality and elevation +in society. The world is looking upon us, with feelings of +commiseration, sorrow, and contempt. We scarcely deserve sympathy, if we +peremptorily refuse advice, bearing upon our elevation. + +We will suppose a case for argument: In this city reside, two colored +families, of three sons and three daughters each. At the head of each +family, there is an old father and mother. The opportunities of these +families, may or may not be the same for educational advantages--be that +as it may, the children of the one go to school, and become qualified +for the duties of life. One daughter becomes school-teacher, another a +mantua-maker, and a third a fancy shop-keeper; while one son becomes a +farmer, another a merchant, and a third a mechanic. All enter into +business with fine prospects, marry respectably, and settle down in +domestic comfort--while the six sons and daughters of the other family, +grow up without educational and business qualifications, and the highest +aim they have, is to apply to the sons and daughters of the first named +family, to hire for domestics! Would there be an equality here between +the children of these two families? Certainly not. This, then, is +precisely the position of the colored people generally in the United +States, compared with the whites. What is necessary to be done, in order +to attain an equality, is to change the condition, and the person is at +once changed. If, as before stated, a knowledge of all the various +business enterprises, trades, professions, and sciences, is necessary +for the elevation of the white, a knowledge of them also is necessary +for the elevation of the colored man; and he cannot be elevated without +them. + +White men are producers--we are consumers. They build houses, and we +rent them. They raise produce, and we consume it. They manufacture +clothes and wares, and we garnish ourselves with them. They build +coaches, vessels, cars, hotels, saloons, and other vehicles and places +of accommodation, and we deliberately wait until they have got them in +readiness, then walk in, and contend with as much assurance for a +"right," as though the whole thing was bought by, paid for, and belonged +to us. By their literary attainments, they are the contributors to, +authors and teachers of, literature, science, religion, law, medicine, +and all other useful attainments that the world now makes use of. We +have no reference to ancient times--we speak of modern things. + +These are the means by which God intended man to succeed: and this +discloses the secret of the white man's success with all of his +wickedness, over the head of the colored man, with all of his religion. +We have been pointed and plain, on this part of the subject, because we +desire our readers to see persons and things in their true position. +Until we are determined to change the condition of things, and raise +ourselves above the position in which we are now prostrated, we must +hang our heads in sorrow, and hide our faces in shame. It is enough to +know that these things are so; the causes we care little about. Those we +have been examining, complaining about, and moralising over, all our +life time. This we are weary of. What we desire to learn now is, how to +effect a _remedy_; this we have endeavored to point out. Our elevation +must be the result of _self-efforts_, and work of our _own hands_. No +other human power can accomplish it. If we but determine it shall be so, +it will be so. Let each one make the case his own, and endeavor to rival +his neighbor, in honorable competition. + +These are the proper and only means of elevating ourselves and attaining +equality in this country or any other, and it is useless, utterly +futile, to think about going any where, except we are determined to use +these as the necessary means of developing our manhood. The means are at +hand, within our reach. Are we willing to try them? Are we willing to +raise ourselves superior to the condition of slaves, or continue the +meanest underlings, subject to the beck and call of every creature +bearing a pale complexion? If we are, we had as well remained in the +South, as to have come to the North in search of more freedom. What was +the object of our parents in leaving the south, if it were not for the +purpose of attaining equality in common with others of their fellow +citizens, by giving their children access to all the advantages enjoyed +by others? Surely this was their object. They heard of liberty and +equality here, and they hastened on to enjoy it, and no people are more +astonished and disappointed than they, who for the first time, on +beholding the position we occupy here in the free north--what is called, +and what they expect to find, the free States. They at once tell us, +that they have as much liberty in the south as we have in the +north--that there as free people, they are protected in their +rights--that we have nothing more--that in other respects they have the +same opportunity, indeed the preferred opportunity, of being their +maids, servants, cooks, waiters, and menials in general, there, as we +have here--that had they known for a moment, before leaving, that such +was to be the only position they occupied here, they would have remained +where they were, and never left. Indeed, such is the disappointment in +many cases, that they immediately return back again, completely insulted +at the idea, of having us here at the north, assume ourselves to be +their superiors. Indeed, if our superior advantages of the free States, +do not induce and stimulate us to the higher attainments in life, what +in the name of degraded humanity will do it? Nothing, surely nothing. +If, in fine, the advantages of free schools in Massachusetts, New York, +Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and wherever else we may have them, do not +give us advantages and pursuits superior to our slave brethren, then are +the unjust assertions of Messrs. Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Theodore +Frelinghuysen, late Governor Poindexter of Mississippi, George McDuffy, +Governor Hammond of South Carolina, Extra Billy (present Governor) +Smith, of Virginia, and the host of our oppressors, slave-holders and +others, true, that we are insusceptible and incapable of elevation to +the more respectable, honorable, and higher attainments among white men. +But this we do not believe--neither do you, although our whole life and +course of policy in this country are such, that it would seem to prove +otherwise. The degradation of the slave parent has been entailed upon +the child, induced by the subtle policy of the oppressor, in regular +succession handed down from father to son--a system of regular +submission and servitude, menialism and dependence, until it has become +almost a physiological function of our system, an actual condition of +our nature. Let this no longer be so, but let us determine to equal the +whites among whom we live, not by declarations and unexpressed +self-opinion, for we have always had enough of that, but by actual proof +in acting, doing, and carrying out practically, the measures of +equality. Here is our nativity, and here have we the natural right to +abide and be elevated through the measures of our own efforts. + + + + +VI + +THE UNITED STATES OUR COUNTRY + + +Our common country is the United States. Here were we born, here raised +and educated; here are the scenes of childhood; the pleasant +associations of our school going days; the loved enjoyments of our +domestic and fireside relations, and the sacred graves of our departed +fathers and mothers, and from here will we not be driven by any policy +that may be schemed against us. + +We are Americans, having a birthright citizenship--natural claims upon +the country--claims common to all others of our fellow citizens--natural +rights, which may, by virtue of unjust laws, be obstructed, but never +can be annulled. Upon these do we place ourselves, as immovably fixed as +the decrees of the living God. But according to the economy that +regulates the policy of nations, upon which rests the basis of +justifiable claims to all freeman's rights, it may be necessary to take +another view of, and enquire into the political claims of colored men. + + + + +VII + +CLAIMS OF COLORED MEN AS CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES + + +The political basis upon which rests the establishment of all free +nations, as the first act in their organization, is the security by +constitutional provisions, of the fundamental claims of citizenship. + +The legitimate requirement, politically considered, necessary to the +justifiable claims for protection and full enjoyment of all the rights +and privileges of an unqualified freeman, in all democratic countries +is, that each person so endowed, shall have made contributions and +investments in the country. Where there is no investment there can be +but little interest; hence an adopted citizen is required to reside a +sufficient length of time, to form an attachment and establish some +interest in the country of his adoption, before he can rightfully lay +any claims to citizenship. The pioneer who leads in the discovery or +settlement of a country, as the first act to establish a right therein, +erects a building of whatever dimensions, and seizes upon a portion of +the soil. The soldier, who braves the dangers of the battle-field, in +defence of his country's rights, and the toiling laborer and husbandman, +who cuts down and removes the forest, levels and constructs post-roads +and other public highways--the mechanic, who constructs and builds up +houses, villages, towns, and cities, for the conveniency of +inhabitants--the farmer, who cultivates the soil for the production of +breadstuffs and forage, as food and feed for man and beast--all of +these are among the first people of a democratic state, whose claims are +legitimate as freemen of the commonwealth. A freeman in a political +sense, is a citizen of unrestricted rights in the state, being eligible +to the highest position known to their civil code. They are the +preferred persons in whom may be invested the highest privileges, and to +whom may be entrusted fundamentally the most sacred rights of the +country; because, having made the greatest investments, they necessarily +have the greatest interests; and consequently, are the safest hands into +which to place so high and sacred a trust. Their interest being the +country's, and the interest of the country being the interest of the +people; therefore, the protection of their own interests necessarily +protects the interests of the whole country and people. It is this +simple but great principle of primitive rights, that forms the +fundamental basis of citizenship in all free countries, and it is upon +this principle, that the rights of the colored man in this country to +citizenship are fixed. + +The object of this volume is, to enlighten the minds of a large class of +readers upon a subject with which they are unacquainted, expressed in +comprehensible language, therefore we have studiously avoided using +political and legal phrases, that would serve more to perplex than +inform them. To talk about the barons, King John, and the Magna Charta, +would be foreign to a work like this, and only destroy the interest that +otherwise might be elicited in the subject. Our desire is, to arrest the +attention of the American people in general, and the colored people in +particular, to great truths as heretofore but little thought of. What +claims then have colored men, based upon the principles set forth, as +fundamentally entitled to citizenship? Let the living records of history +answer the enquiry. + +When Christopher Columbus, in 1492, discovered America, natives were +found to pay little or no attention to cultivation, being accustomed by +hereditary pursuit, to war, fishing, and the sports of the chase. The +Spaniards and Portuguese, as well as other Europeans who ventured here, +came as mineral speculators, and not for the purpose of improving the +country. + +As the first objects of speculation are the developments of the mineral +wealth of every newly discovered country, so was it with this. Those who +came to the new world, were not of the common people, seeking in a +distant land the means of livelihood, but moneyed capitalists, the +grandees and nobles, who reduced the natives to servitude by confining +them to the mines. To have brought large numbers of the peasantry at +that early period, from the monarchies of Europe, to the wilds of +America, far distant from the civil and military powers of the home +governments, would have been to place the means of self-control into +their own hands, and invite them to rebellion against the crowns. The +capitalist miners were few, compared to the number of laborers required; +and the difficulty at that time of the transportation of suitable +provisions for their sustenance, conduced much to the objection of +bringing them here. The natives were numerous, then easily approached by +the wily seductions of the Europeans, easily yoked and supported, having +the means of sustenance at hand, the wild fruits and game of the forest, +the fish of the waters and birds of the country. All these as naturally +enough, European adventurers would be cautious against introducing into +common use among hundreds of thousands of laborers, under all the +influences incident of a foreign climate in a foreign country, in its +primitive natural state. The Indians were then preferred for many +reasons, as the common laborers on the continent, where nothing but the +mining interests were thought of or carried on. This noble race of +Aborigines, continued as the common slaves of the new world, to bear the +yoke of foreign oppression, until necessity induced a substitute for +them. They sunk by scores under the heavy weight of oppression, and were +fast passing from the shores of time. At this, the foreigners grew +alarmed, and of necessity, devised ways and means to obtain an adequate +substitute. A few European laborers were brought into the country, but +the influence of climate and mode of living, operated entirely against +them. They were as inadequate to stand the climate, as the nobles were +themselves. + +From the earliest period of the history of nations, the African race had +been known as an industrious people, cultivators of the soil. The grain +fields of Ethiopia and Egypt were the themes of the poet, and their +garners, the subject of the historian. Like the present America, all the +world went to Africa, to get a supply of commodities. Their massive +piles of masonry, their skilful architecture, their subterranean vaults, +their deep and mysterious wells, their extensive artificial channels, +their mighty sculptured solid rocks, and provinces of stone quarries; +gave indisputable evidence, of the hardihood of that race of people. + +Nor was Africa then, without the evidence of industry, as history will +testify. All travelers who had penetrated towards the interior of the +continent, have been surprised at the seeming state of civilization and +evidences of industry among the inhabitants of that vast country. These +facts were familiar to Europeans, who were continually trading on the +coast of Africa, as it was then the most important part of adventure and +research, known to the world. In later periods still, the history of +African travelers, confirm all the former accounts concerning the +industry of the people. + +John and Richard Lander, two young English noblemen, in 1828, under the +patronage of the English government, sailed to the western coast of +Africa, on an expedition of research. In their voyage up the river +Niger, their description of the scenes is extravagant. They represent +the country on each side of the river, for several hundred miles up the +valley, as being not only beautiful and picturesque, but the fields as +in a high state of cultivation, clothed in the verdure of husbandry, +waving before the gentle breezes, with the rich products of +industry--maize, oats, rye, millet, and wheat, being among the fruits of +cultivation. The fences were of various descriptions: hedge, wicker, +some few pannel, and the old fashioned zig-zag, known as the "Virginia +worm fence"--the hedge and worm fence being the most common. Their +cattle were fine and in good order, looking in every particular, except +perhaps in size, as well as European cattle on the best managed farms. +The fruit groves were delightful to the eye of the beholder. Every +variety common to the country, were there to be seen in a high state of +cultivation. Their roads and public highways were in good condition, and +well laid out, as by the direction of skillful supervising surveyors. +The villages, towns, and cities, many of them, being a credit to the +people. Their cities were well laid out, and presented evidence of +educated minds and mechanical ingenuity. In many of the workshops in +which they went, they found skillful workmen, in iron, copper, brass, +steel, and gold; and their implements of husbandry and war, were as well +manufactured by African sons of toil, as any in the English +manufactories, save that they had not quite so fine a finish, garnish +and embellishment. This is a description, given of the industry and +adaptedness of the people of Africa, to labor and toil of every kind. As +it was very evident, that where there were manufactories of various +metals, the people must of necessity be inured to mining operations, so +it was also very evident, that this people must be a very hardy and +enduring people. + +In 1442, fifty years previous to the sailing of Columbus in search of a +new world, Anthony Gonzales, Portuguese, took from the gold coast of +Guinea, ten Africans and a quantity of gold dust, which he carried back +to Lisbon with him. These Africans were set immediately to work in the +gardens of the emperor, which so pleased his queen, that the number were +much augmented, all of whom were found to be skillful and industrious in +agriculture. + +In 1481, eleven years prior to the discovery by Columbus, the Portuguese +built a fort on the Gold Coast, and there commenced mining in search of +gold. During this time until the year 1502, a period of ten years, had +there been no other evidence, there was sufficient time and opportunity, +to give full practical demonstrations of the capacity of this people to +endure toil, especially in the mining operations, and for this cause and +this alone, were they selected in preference to any other race of men, +to do the labor of the New World. They had proven themselves physically +superior either to the European or American races--in fact, superior +physically to any living race of men--enduring fatigue, hunger and +thirst--enduring change of climate, habits, manners and customs, with +infinitely far less injury to their physical and mental system, than any +other people on the face of God's earth. + + The following extract shows, that even up to the year 1676, the + Indians were enslaved--but that little value were attached to them + as laborers, as the price at which they were disposed and sold to + purchasers, fully shows: + + SLAVERY IN PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Immediately after the struggle between + the natives and some of the New England settlers, known as "King + Philip's war," it became necessary to dispose of certain Indian + captives then in Providence. The method adopted was common in that + day, but to us remarkable, as also the names of those who figured + prominently therein. Only think of ROGER WILLIAMS sharing in the + proceeds of a slave sale. The following is from the "Annals of + Providence." + + "A town meeting was held before Thomas Field's house, under a tree, + by the water side, on the 14th of August, 1676. A committee was + appointed to determine in what manner the Indians should be + disposed of. They reported as follows: + + "Inhabitants wanting, can have Indians at the price they sell at + the Island of Rhode Island or elsewhere. All under five, to serve + till thirty; above five and under ten, till twenty-eight; above ten + to fifteen, till twenty-seven; above fifteen to twenty, till + twenty-six; from twenty to thirty, shall serve eight years; all + above thirty, seven years. + + "We whose names are underwritten, being chosen by the town to see + the disposal of the Indians now in town, we agree that Roger + Williams, N. Waterman, T. Fenner, H. Ashton, J. Morey, D. Abbot, J. + Olney, V. Whitman, J. Whipple, sen., E. Pray, J. Pray, J. Angell, + Jas. Angell, T. Arnold, A. Man, T. Field, E. Bennett, T. Clemence, + W. Lancaster, W. Hopkins, W. Hawkins, W. Harris, Z. Field, S. + Winsor, and Capt. Fenner, shall each have a whole share in the + product. I. Woodward and R. Pray, three-fourths of a share each. J. + Smith, E. Smith, S. Whipple, N. Whipple, and T. Walling each half a + share." + + Signed, "Roger Williams, Thomas Harris, sen., Thomas X Angell, + Thomas Field, John Whipple, Jr." + + To gratify curiosity as to the price of Indians on those terms, the + following extracts are made from an account of sales about this + time; + + "To Anthony Low, five Indians, great and small, L8. + + "To James Rogers, two, for twenty bushels of Indian corn. + + "To Philip Smith, two, in silver, $4 10. + + "To Daniel Allen, one, in silver, $2 10. + + "To C. Carr, one, twelve bushels of Indian corn. + + "To Elisha Smith, one, in wool, 100 lbs. + + "To Elisha Smith, one, for three fat sheep." + +From 1492, the discovery of Hispaniola, to 1502, the short space of but +four years, such was the mortality among the natives, that the Spaniards +then holding rule there, "began to employ a few" Africans in the mines +of the Island. The experiment was effective--a successful one. The +Indian and African were enslaved together, when the Indian sunk, and the +African stood. It was not until June the 24th of the year 1498, that the +Continent was discovered by John Cabot, a Venetian, who sailed in August +of the previous year 1497, from Bristol, under the patronage of Henry +VII., King of England, with two vessels, "freighted by the merchants of +London and Bristol, with articles of traffic," his son Sebastian, and +300 men. In 1517, but the short period of thirteen years from the date +of their first introduction, Carolus V., King of Spain, by the right of +a patent, granted permission to a number of persons, annually, to supply +to the Islands of Hispaniola, (St. Domingo,) Cuba, Jamaica, and Porto +Rico, natives of Africa, to the number of four thousand annually. John +Hawkins, an unprincipled Englishman--whose name should be branded with +infamy--was the first person known to have engaged in so inhuman a +traffic, and that living monster his mistress, Queen Elizabeth, engaged +with him and shared in the profits. + +The natives of Africa, on their introduction into a foreign country, +soon discovered the loss of their accustomed food, and mode and manner +of living. The Aborigines subsisted mainly by game and fish, with a few +patches of maize or Indian corn near their wigwams, which were generally +attended by the women, while the men were absent. The grains and +fruits, such as they had been accustomed to, were not to be had among +the Aborigines of the country, and this first induced the African to +cultivate patches of ground in the neighborhood of the mines, for the +raising of food for his own sustenance. This trait in their character +was observed, and regarded by the Spaniards with considerable interest; +and when on contracting with the English slave-dealer, Captain Hawkins, +and others for new supplies of slaves, they were careful to request them +to secure a quantity of the seeds and different products of the country, +to bring with them to the New World. Many of these were cultivated to +some extent, while those indigenous to America, were cultivated by them +with considerable success. And up to this day, it is a custom on many of +the slave plantations of the South, to allow the slave his "patch," and +Saturday afternoon or Sabbath day, to cultivate it. + +Shortly after the commencement of the shameful traffic in the blood and +bones of men--the destiny and chastity of women by Captain Hawkins, and +what was termed England's "Virgin Queen"; Elizabeth gave a license to +Sir Walter Raleigh, to search for uninhabited lands, and seize upon all +uninhabited by Christians. Sir Walter discovered the coast of North +Carolina and Virginia, assigning the name of "Virginia" to the whole +coast now composing the old state. A feeble colony was settled here, +which did not avail, and it was not until the month of April, 1607, that +the first permanent settlement was made in Virginia, under the patronage +of letters patent from James I, King of England, to Thomas Gates and his +associates. + +This was the first settling of North America, and thirteen years +anterior to the landing of the Pilgrims. + +"No permanent settlement was effected in what is now called the United +States, till the reign of James the First."--_Ramsay's Hist. U.S._, vol. +I., p. 38. + +"The month of April, 1607, is the epoch of the first permanent +settlement on the coast of Virginia; the name then given to all that +extent of country which forms thirteen States."--_Ibid._, p. 39. The +whole coast of the country was now explored, not for the purpose of +trade and agriculture--because there were no products in the +country--the natives not producing sufficient provisions to supply +present wants, and, consequently, nothing to trade for; but like the +speculations of their Spanish and Portuguese predecessors, on the +islands and in South America, but for that of mining gold. Trade and the +cultivation of the soil was foreign to their designs and intention on +coming to the continent of the new world, and they were consequently, +disappointed when failing of success. "At a time when the precious +metals were conceived to be the peculiar and only valuable productions +of the new world, when every mountain was supposed to contain a +treasure, and every rivulet was searched for its golden sands, this +appearance was fondly considered as an infallible indication of the +mine. Every hand was eager to dig."... + +"There was now," says Smith, "no talk, no hope, no work; but dig gold, +wash gold, refine gold. With this imaginary wealth, the first vessel +returning to England was loaded, while the _culture of the land_, and +every useful occupation was _totally neglected_."... + +The colonists, thus left, were in miserable circumstances for want of +provisions. The remainder of what they had brought with them, was so +small in quantity, as to be soon expended--and so damaged in the course +of a long voyage, as to be a source of disease.... In their expectation +of getting gold, the people were disappointed, the glittering substance +they had sent to England, proving to be a valueless mineral. "Smith, on +his return to Jamestown, found the colony reduced to thirty-eight +persons, who, in despair, were preparing to abandon the country. He +employed caresses, threats, and even violence, in order to prevent them +from executing this fatal resolution." _Ibid._, pp. 45-46. In November, +1620, the Pilgrims or Puritans made the harbor of Cape Cod, and after +solemn vows and organization previous to setting foot on shore, they +landed safely on "Plymouth Rock," December the 20th, about one month +after. They were one hundred and one in number, and from the toils and +hardships consequent to a severe season, in a strange country, in less +than six months after their arrival, "forty-four persons, nearly +one-half of their original number," had died. + +... "In 1618, in the reign of James I, the British government +established a regular trade on the coast of Africa. In the year 1620, +negro slaves began to be imported into Virginia: a Dutch ship bringing +twenty of them for sale."--_Sampson's Hist. Dict._, p. 348. The Dutch +ship landed her cargo at New Bedford, (now Massachusetts,) as it will be +remembered, that the whole coast, now comprising the "Old Thirteen," and +original United States, was then called Virginia, so named by Sir Walter +Raleigh, in honor of his royal Mistress and patron, Elizabeth, the +Virgin Queen, under whom he received his royal patent commission of +adventure and expedition. + +Beginning their preparation in the slave-trade in 1618, just two years +previous, giving time for successfully carrying out the project against +the landing of the first emigrant settlers, it will be observed that the +African captain, and the "Puritan" emigrants, landed upon the same +section of the continent at the same time, 1620--the Pilgrims at +Plymouth, and the captives at New Bedford, but a few miles +comparatively south. + +The country at this period, was one vast wilderness. "The continent of +North America was then one continued forest."... There were no horses, +cattle, sheep, hogs, or tame beasts of any kind.... There were no +domestic poultry.... There were no gardens, orchards, public roads, +meadows, or cultivated fields.... They "often burned the woods that they +could advantageously plant their corn."... They had neither spice, salt, +bread, butter, cheese, nor milk.... They had no set meals, but eat when +they were hungry, and could find any thing to satisfy the cravings of +nature.... Very little of their food was derived from the earth, except +what it spontaneously produced.... The ground was both their seat and +table.... Their best bed was a skin.... They had neither steel, iron, +nor any metallic instruments....--_Ramsay's Hist._, pp. 39-40. + +We adduce not these historical extracts to disparage our brother the +Indian--far be it: whatever he may think of our race, according to the +manner in which he has been instructed to look upon it, by our mutual +oppressor the American nation; we admire his, for the many deeds of +noble daring, for which the short history of his liberty-loving people +are replete: we sympathise with them, because our brethren are the +successors of their fathers in the degradation of American bondage--but +we adduce them in evidence against the many aspersions charged against +the African race, that their inferiority to the other races caused them +to be reduced to servitude. For the purpose of proving that their +superiority, and not inferiority, alone was the cause which first +suggested to Europeans the substitution of Africans for that of +aboriginal or Indian laborers in the mines; and that their superior +skill and industry, first suggested to the colonists, the propriety of +turning their attention to agricultural and other industrial pursuits, +than that of mining. + +It is very evident, from what has been adduced, the settlement of +Captain John Smith, being in the course of a few months, reduced to +thirty-eight, and that of Plymouth, from one hundred and one, to that of +fifty-seven in six months--it is evident, that the whites nor the +Indians were equal to the hard and almost insurmountable difficulties, +that now stood wide-spread before them. + +An endless forest, the impenetrable earth; the one to be removed, and +the other to be excavated. Towns and cities to be built, and farms to be +cultivated--all these presented difficulties too arduous for the +European then here, and unknown to the Indian. + +It is very evident, that at a period such as this, when the natives +themselves had fallen victims to tasks imposed upon them by their +usurpers, and the Europeans were sinking beneath the weight of climate +and hardships; when food could not be had nor the common conveniences of +life procured--when arduous duties of life were to be performed and none +capable of doing them, but those who had previously by their labors, not +only in their native country, but in the new, so proven themselves--as +the most natural consequence, the Africans were resorted to, for the +performance of every duty common to domestic life. + +There were no laborers known to the colonists from Cape Cod to Cape Look +Out, than those of the African race. They entered at once into the +mines, extracting therefrom, the rich treasures that for a thousand ages +lay hidden in the earth. And from their knowledge of cultivation, the +farming interests in the North, and planting in the South, were +commenced with a prospect never dreamed of before the introduction of +this most extraordinary, hardy race of men: though pagans, yet skilled +in all the useful duties of life. Farmers, herdsmen, and laborers in +their own country, they required not to be taught to work, and how to do +it--but it was only necessary to tell them to go to work, and they at +once knew what to do, and how it should be done. + +It is notorious, that in the planting States, the blacks themselves are +the only skillful cultivators--the proprietor knowing little or nothing +about the art, save that which he learns from the African husbandman, +while his ignorant white overseer, who is merely there to see that the +work is attended to, knows a great deal less. Tobacco, cotton, rice, +hemp, indigo, the improvement in Indian corn, and many other important +products, are all the result of African skill and labor in this country. +And the introduction of the zigzag, or "Virginia Worm Fence," is purely +of African origin. Nor was their skill as herdsmen inferior to their +other attainments, being among the most accomplished trainers and +horsemen in the world. Indeed, to this class of men may be indebted the +entire country for the improvement South in the breed of horses. And any +one who has travelled South, could not fail to have observed, that all +of the leading trainers, jockies, and judges of horses, as well as +riders, are men of African descent. + +In speaking of the Bornouese, a people from among whom a great many +natives have been enslaved by Arabian traders, and sold into foreign +bondage, and of course many into this country, "It is said that Bornou +can muster 15,000 Shonaas in the field mounted. They are the greatest +breeders of cattle in the country, and annually supply Soudan with from +two to three thousand horses."... "Our road lying along one of them, +gave me an excellent view of beautiful villages all round, and herds of +cattle grazing in the open country."... "Plantations of cotton or indigo +now occupy the place where the houses formerly stood."... "The Souga +market is well supplied with every necessary and luxury in request among +the people of the interior." "The country still open and well +cultivated, and the villages numerous. We met crowds of people coming +from Karro with goods. Some carried them on their heads, others had +asses or bullocks, according to their wealth."... "The country still +highly cultivated."... "We also passed several walled towns, quite +deserted, the inhabitants having been sold by their conquerors, the +Felatohs." "Women sat spinning cotton by the road side, offering for +sale to the passing caravans, gussub water, roast-meat, sweet potatoes, +coshen nuts," &c. (_Dunham and Clapperton's Travels and Discoveries in +North and Central Africa_, vol. 2, pp. 140, 230, 332, 333, 353.) + +The forests gave way before them, and extensive verdant fields, richly +clothed with produce, rose up as by magic before these hardy sons of +toil. In the place of the unskillful and ill-constructed wigwam, houses, +villages, towns and cities quickly were reared up in their stead. Being +farmers, mechanics, laborers and traders in their own country, they +required little or no instruction in these various pursuits. They were +in fact, then, to the whole continent, what they are in truth now to the +whole Southern section of the Union--the bone and sinews of the country. +And even now, the existence of the white man, South, depends entirely on +the labor of the black man--the idleness of the one, is sustained by the +industry of the other. Public roads and highways are the result of their +labor, as are also the first public works, as wharves, docks, forts, and +all such improvements. Are not these legitimate investments in the +common stock of the nation, which should command a proportionate +interest? + +We shall next proceed to review the contributions of colored men to +other departments of the nation, and as among the most notorious and +historical, we refer to colored American warriors. + + + + +VIII + +COLORED AMERICAN WARRIORS + + +Among the highest claims that an inhabitant has upon his country, is +that of serving in its cause, and assisting to fight its battles. There +is no responsibility attended with more personal hazard, and +consequently, none for which the country owes a greater debt of +gratitude. _Amor patria_, or love of country, is the first requisition +and highest attribute of every citizen; and he who voluntarily ventures +his own safety for that of his country, is a patriot of the purest +character. + +When the country's attention is arrested--her fears aroused--her peace +disturbed, and her independence endangered--when in the dread and +momentous hour, the tap of the drum, the roll of the reveille, the +shrill sound of the bugler's trumpet, or the thunders of the cannon's +roar, summons the warrior on to the pending conflict--upon whom then do +the citizens place their dependence, and in whom the country her trust? +Upon him who braves the consequences, and fights his country's battles +for his country's sake. Upon whom does the country look, as the most +eligible of her favored sons? Upon none more so than he, who shoulders +his musket, girds on his sword, and faces the enemy on to the charge. +The hero and the warrior, have long been estimated, the favorite sons of +a favored people. + +In the Convention for the formation of the national compact, when the +question arose on the priority of citizen's rights, an honorable +member--Mr. Jefferson, if we mistake not--arose and stated, that for the +purpose of henceforward settling a question of such moment to the +American people, that nativity of birth, and the descendants of all who +had borne arms in their country's struggle for liberty, should be always +entitled to all the rights and privileges to which an American citizen +could be eligible. This at once, enfranchised the native citizen, and +the posterity of all those at the time, who may have been so fortunate +as to have been born on the American continent. The question was at once +settled, as regards American citizenship. And if we establish our right +of equal claims to citizenship with other American people, we shall have +done all that is desirable in this view of our position in the country. +But if in addition to this, we shall be able to prove, that colored men, +not only took part in the great scene of the first act for independence, +but that they were the actors--a colored man was really the hero in the +great drama, and actually the first victim in the revolutionary +tragedy--then indeed, shall we have more than succeeded, and have reared +a monument of fame to the history of our deeds, more lasting than the +pile that stands on Bunker Hill. + +For a concise historical arrangement of colored men, who braved the +dangers of the battlefield, we are much indebted to William C. Nell, +Esq., formerly of Boston, now of Rochester, N.Y., for a pamphlet, +published by him during the last year, which should be read by every +American the country through. + +For ten years previous, a dissatisfaction had prevailed among the +colonists, against the mother country, in consequence of the excessive +draughts of supplies, and taxation, made upon them, for the support of +the wars carried on in Europe. The aspect began to change, the light +grew dim, the sky darkened, the clouds gathered lower and lower, the +lightning glimmered through the black elements around--the storm +advanced, until on the fifth of March, 1773, it broke out in terrible +blasts, drenching the virgin soil of America, with the blood of her own +native sons--Crispus Attuck, a colored man, was the first who headed, +the first who commanded, the first who charged, who struck the first +blow, and the first whose blood was spilt, and baptized the colony, as a +peace-offering on the altar of American liberty. "The people were +greatly exasperated. The multitude, armed with clubs, ran towards King +street, crying, 'Let us drive out the ribalds; they have no business +here!' The rioters rushed furiously towards the Custom House; they +approached the sentinel crying, 'Kill him, kill him!' They assaulted him +with snowballs, pieces of ice, and whatever they could lay their hands +upon. They encountered a band of the populace led by a mulatto named +Attucks, who brandished their clubs and pelted them with snow-balls. The +maledictions, the imprecations, the execrations of the multitudes were +horrible. In the midst of a torrent of invectives from every quarter, +the military were challenged to fire. The populace advanced to the +points of the bayonets; the soldiers appeared like statues; the cries, +the howlings, the menaces, the violent din of bells still sounding the +alarm, increased the confusion and the horrors of these moments: at +length the mulatto and twelve of his companions, pressing forward +environed the soldiers, and striking their muskets with their clubs +cried to the multitude: 'Be not afraid, they dare not fire; why do you +hesitate, why do you not kill them, why not crush them at once?' The +mulatto lifted his arm against Captain Preston, having turned one of the +muskets, he seized the bayonet with his left hand, as if he intended to +execute his threat. At this moment confused cries were heard: 'The +wretches dare not fire!' Firing succeeds. Attucks is slain. Two other +discharges follow. Three were killed, five severely wounded, and several +others slightly." Attucks was killed by Montgomery, one of Captain +Preston's soldiers. He had been foremost in resisting, and was first +slain; as proof of front and close engagement, received two balls, one +in each breast." "John Adams, counsel for the soldier, admitted that +Attucks appeared to have undertaken to be the hero of the night, and to +lead the army with banners. John Hancock, in 1774, invokes the injured +shades of Maverick, Gray, Caldwell, _Attucks_ and Carr." _Nell's Wars_, +1776 and 1812, pp. 5, 6.--RHODE ISLAND also contributes largely to the +capital stock of citizenship. "In Rhode Island, the blacks formed an +entire regiment, and they discharged their duty with zeal and fidelity. +The gallant defence of Red Bank, in which the black regiment bore a +part, is among the proofs of their valor." In this contest it will be +recollected, that four hundred men met and repulsed, after a terrible +sanguinary struggle, fifteen hundred Hessian troops, headed by count +Donop." _Ibid._, p. 10. CONNECTICUT next claims to be heard and given +credit on the nation's books. In speaking of the patriots who bore the +standard of their country's glory, Judge Goddard, who held the office of +commissioner of pensions for nineteen colored soldiers, says, "I cannot +refrain from mentioning one aged black man, Primus Babcock, who proudly +presented to me an honorable discharge from service during the war, +dated at the close of it, wholly in the hand-writing of GEORGE +WASHINGTON. Nor can I forget the expression of his feelings, when +informed that, after his discharge had been sent to the department, that +it could not be returned. At his request it was written for, as he +seemed to spurn the pension and reclaim the discharge." It is related of +Babcock, that when the British in a successful charge took a number of +the Americans prisoners, they were ordered to deliver up their arms by +the British officer of the detachment, which demand was readily conceded +to by all the prisoners except Babcock, who looking at the officer +sternly--at the margin of a mud pond foot of Bunker Hill--turned his +musket bayonet downwards, thrusting it into the mire up to the armpit, +drawing out his muddy arm, turned to the British officer, and said, "Now +dirty your silk glove, and take it--you red coat!" The officer raised +his sword as if to cut him down for the impertinence, then replied, "You +are too brave a soldier to be killed, you black devil!" A few years +since, a musket evidently a relic of the Revolution, was found near the +same spot in the singular position of that thrust down by Babcock, no +doubt being the same, which was deposited among the relics in the +archives at Washington. Babcock died but a few years ago, aged we +believe 101 years. + +"When Major Montgomery, one of the leaders in the expedition against the +colonists, was lifted upon the walls of the fort by his soldiers, +flourishing his sword and calling on them to follow him, Jordan Freeman +received him on the point of a pike and pinned him dead to the earth." +"NEW HAMPSHIRE gives her testimony to the deposit of colored interest. +There was a regiment of blacks in the same situation, a regiment of +negroes fighting for our liberty and independence, not a white man among +them but the officers, in the same dangerous and responsible position. +Had they been unfaithful, or given way before the enemy all would have +been lost. Three times in succession were they attacked with most +desperate fury by well disciplined and veteran troops, and three times +did they successfully repel the assault, and thus preserve the army. +They fought thus through the war. They were brave and hearty troops." +_Nell_, pp. 11, 13. + +NEW YORK comes bravely to the call, and sends her investments by land +and sea. In the convention of 1821, for revising the constitution of the +State, the question of equal rights having been introduced, Doctor +Clarke among other things said, "In the war of the Revolution, these +people helped to fight our battles by land and by sea. Some of your +states were glad to turn out corps of colored men, and to stand +'shoulder to shoulder' with them. In your late war, they contributed +largely towards some of your most splendid victories. On lakes Erie and +Champlain, where your fleets triumphed over a foe superior in numbers +and engines of death, they were manned in a large proportion with men of +color. And in this very house, in the fall of 1814, a bill passed +receiving all the branches of your government, authorising the governor +to accept the services of a corps of two thousand free people of color. +These were times when a man who shouldered his musket did not know but +he bared his bosom to receive a death wound from the enemy ere he laid +it aside; and in these times these people were found as ready and as +willing to volunteer in your service as any other. They were not +compelled to go; they were not draughted.... They were volunteers...." +Said Martindale of New York in congress 22 of first month 1828: "Slaves, +or negroes who had been slaves, were enlisted as soldiers in the War of +the Revolution; and I myself saw a battalion of them, as fine martial +looking men as I ever saw, attached to the northern army in the last +war, on its march from Plattsburg to Sackett's Harbor." + +PENNSYLVANIA contributes an important share in the stock of +Independence, as will be seen by the following historical reminiscence: +"On the capture of Washington by the British forces, it was judged +expedient to fortify without delay, the principal towns and cities +exposed to similar attacks. The Vigilance Committee of Philadelphia +waited upon three of the principal Colored citizens, namely, James +Forten, Bishop Allen, and Absalom Jones, soliciting the aid of the +people of Color in erecting suitable defences for the city. Accordingly +two thousand five hundred Colored men assembled in the State House yard, +and from thence marched to Gray's Ferry, where they labored for two +days, almost without intermission. Their labors were so faithful and +efficient, that a vote of thanks was tendered them by the Committee. A +battalion of Colored troops were at the same time organized in the city, +under an officer of the United States army; and they were on the point +of marching to the frontier when peace was proclaimed."--_Ibid._, pp. +14-17-18.[2] + +And even in the slave States, where might reasonably be expected, +nothing but bitter hate and burning revenge to exist--where the +displeasure of Heaven and anger of God was invoked--where it is thought +the last glimmering spark of patriotic fire has been quenched, and every +aid withheld--even there, in the hour of their country's danger, did +they lay aside every consideration of the ten thousand wrongs +inflicted--throw in their contributions, and make common cause. + +Says Mr. Nell, "The celebrated Charles Pinkney, of South Carolina, in +his speech on the Missouri question, in defence of the Slave +representation of the South, made the following admission:--They (the +colored people) were in numerous instances the pioneers, and in all the +labors of our army. To their hands we are owing the greatest part of the +fortifications raised for the protection of the country. Fort Moultrie +gave, at an early period of inexperience and untried valor of our +citizens, immortality to the American arms." And were there no other +proof on record, the testimony given to the brave followers of the +renowned hero of Chalmet Plains, would of itself be sufficient to +establish the right of the colored man to eligibility in his native +country. "In 1814," continues Mr. Nell, "when New Orleans was in danger, +and the proud criminal distinctions of caste were again demolished by +one of those emergencies in which nature puts to silence for the moment +the base partialities of art, the free colored people were called into +the field in common with the whites; and the importance of their +services was thus acknowledged by General Jackson:-- + + + "HEAD-QUARTERS SEVENTH MILITARY + DISTRICT, MOBILE, SEPTEMBER 21, 1814. + + "_To the Free Colored Inhabitants of Louisiana:_ + + + "Through a mistaken policy, you have heretofore been deprived of a + participation in the glorious struggle for national rights, in + which _our_ country is engaged. This no longer shall exist. As + sons of Freedom you are now called upon to defend your most + estimable blessings. _As Americans_, your country looks with + confidence to her adopted children, for a valorous support, as a + faithful return for the advantages enjoyed under her mild and + equitable government. As fathers, husbands, and brothers, you are + summoned to rally round the standard of the Eagle, to defend all + which is dear in existence. + + "_Your country_, although calling for your exertions, does not wish + you to engage in her cause, without remunerating you for the + services rendered. Your intelligent minds are not to be led away by + false representations--your love of honor would cause you to + despise the man who should attempt to deceive you. In the sincerity + of a soldier, and the language of truth I address you. + + "To every noble hearted free man of color, volunteering to serve + during the present contest with Great Britain, and no longer, there + will be paid the same bounty in money and lands now received by + white soldiers of the United States, namely, one hundred and + twenty-four dollars in money and one hundred and sixty acres in + land. The non-commissioned officers and privates will also be + entitled to the same monthly pay and daily rations and clothes + furnished to any American soldiers. + + "On enrolling yourselves in companies, the Major General commanding + will select officers for your government from your white + fellow-citizens. Your non-commissioned officers will be appointed + from among yourselves. + + "Due regard will be paid to the feelings of free men and soldiers. + + "You will not, by being associated with white men in the same + corps, be exposed to improper comparison, or unjust sarcasm. As a + distinct, independent battalion or regiment, pursuing the path of + glory, you will, undivided, receive the applause and gratitude of + your countrymen. + + "To assure you of the sincerity of my intentions, and my anxiety to + engage your invaluable services to our country, I have communicated + my wish to the Governor of Louisiana, who is fully informed as to + the manner of enrollments, and will give you every necessary + information on the subject of this address. + + "ANDREW JACKSON, + "Major General Commanding." + + +On the 18th of December, 1814, through his Aid-de-camp, Colonel Butler, +the General issued another address to the colored soldiers, who had +proven themselves, in every particular, worthy of their country's trust, +and in every way worthy of the proudest position of enfranchised +freemen. To deny to men and their descendants, who are capable of such +deeds as are acknowledged in this proclamation, equal rights with other +men, is a moral homicide--as assassination, which none but the most +malicious and obdurate are capable of perpetrating. Surely, surely, it +cannot be, that our fellow-citizens, who control the destiny of the +country, one fully advised of the claims of their brethren in +adversity--we cannot be persuaded that a people, claiming the +self-respect and consideration of the American people, can be satisfied +that the perils of war be encountered by them--their country's rights +sustained--and their liberty, the liberty of their wives and children +defended and protected; then, with a cool deliberation, unknown to any +uncivilized people on the face of the earth, deny them a right--withhold +their consent to their having equal enjoyment of human rights with other +citizens, with those who have never contributed aid to our country--but +we give the proclamation and let it speak for itself. Of it Mr. Nell +says:-- + +"The second proclamation is one of the highest compliments ever paid by +a military chief to his soldiers." + +"SOLDIERS! When on the banks of the Mobile, I called you to take up +arms, inviting you to partake the perils and glory of your _white +fellow-citizens, I expected much_ from you; for I was not ignorant that +you possessed qualities most formidable to an invading enemy. I knew +with what fortitude you could endure hunger and thirst, and all the +fatigues of a campaign. _I knew well how you love your native country_, +and that you, as well as ourselves, had to defend what _man_ holds most +dear--his parents, wife, children, and property. _You have done more +than I expected._ In addition to the previous qualities I before knew +you to possess, I found among you noble enthusiasm, which leads to the +performance of great things. + + + "Soldiers! The President of the United States shall hear how + praise-worthy was your conduct in the hour of danger; and the + representatives of the American people will give you the praise + your exploits entitle you to. The General anticipates them in + applauding your noble ardor. + + "The enemy approaches; his vessels cover our lakes; our brave + citizens are united, and all contentions have ceased among them. + Their only dispute is, who shall win the prize of valor, or who the + most glory, its noblest reward. + + "By order, + "THOMAS BUTLER, Aid-de-camp." + + +A circumstance that reflects as well upon the devisor, as upon the +commander, or the engineer of the army, is not generally known to the +American people. The redoubt of cotton bales, has ever been attributed +to the judgment, skill, quick perception, and superior tact of Major +General Andrew Jackson; than whom, a braver heart, never beat in the +breast of man. But this is a mistake. The suggestion of the cotton +bales was made by a colored man, at the instant, when the city of New +Orleans was put under martial law. The colored troops were gathering, +and their recruiting officers (being colored,) were scouring the city in +every direction, and particularly on the Levee, where the people throng +for news--to hear, see, and be seen. At such times in particular, the +blacks are found in great numbers. The cotton shipped down the +Mississippi in large quantities to the city, is landed and piled in +regular terrace walls, several thousand feet long, sometimes double +rows--and fifteen or twenty feet high. When the sun shines in winter, +the days become warm and pleasant after the morning passes off, and at +such times, there may be found many of the idle blacks, lying upon the +top, and in comfortable positions between or behind those walls of +cotton bales. On the approach of the recruiting officer, a number of +persons were found stretched out upon the bales, lying scattered upon +the ground. On addressing them, they were found to be slaves, which the +pride of the recently promoted free colored soldiers, nor the policy of +the proclamation, then, justified them in enrolling. On questioning them +respecting their fears of the approaching contest--they expressed +themselves as perfectly satisfied and _safe_, while permitted to lie +_behind_ the bales. The idea was at once impressed--Chalmet Plain, the +battle field, being entirely barren without trees, brush, or stone, and +the ingenuity of the General-in-chief and engineer of the army, having +been for several days taxed, without successful device; the officer +determined that he would muster courage, and hazard the consequences of +an approach to the General, and suggest the idea suggested to him, by +the observation of a slave, who was indifferent to the safety of others, +so that he was secure--and perhaps justly so--whether conscious or not +of the importance of its bearing. General Jackson, whatever may be said +to the contrary, though firm and determined, was pleasant, affable, and +easily approached, and always set equal estimate upon the manhood of a +colored man; believing every thing of him, that he expressed in his +proclamation to the colored freemen of Louisiana. He did not pretend to +justify the holding of slaves, especially on the assumed unjust plea of +their incapacity for self-government--he always hooted at the idea; +never would become a member of the Colonization Society, always saying +"Let the colored people be--they were quiet now, in comparative +satisfaction--let them be." But he held them as a policy, by which to +make money--and would just as readily have held a white man, had it been +the policy of the country, as a black one in slavery. The General was +approached--the suggestion made--slaves set to work--the bales conveyed +down--the breast-works raised--the Americans protected, as the musketry +and artillery proved powerless against the elastic cushion-wall of +cotton bales; the battle fought--the British vanquished--the Americans +victorious, and Major General Andrew Jackson "all covered with glory," +as the most distinguished and skillful captain of the age. It has always +been thought by colored men familiar with this circumstance, that the +reference of the General is directed to this, when he expresses himself +in his last proclamation to them: "_You have done more than I +expected_." Doubtless this was the case. Whatever valor and capacity to +endure hardships, the General knew colored men to possess, it _was_ more +than he expected of them, to bring skill to his aid, and assist in +counseling plans for the defence of the army. + +On the _Eighth_ of January, 1851, the celebration of the Battle of New +Orleans, in that city one year ago, "Ninety of the colored veterans who +bore a conspicuous part in the dangers of the day," (the day of battle,) +held "a conspicuous place in the procession," in exaltation of their +country's glory. Nor was the NAVY without the representative of colored +interest in the liberty of the country. In speaking of the war of 1812, +a colored veteran of Philadelphia, the late James Forten, who had +himself enlisted and was imprisoned on board of a British man-of-war, +the "Old Jersey Prison Ship," affirms: "The vessels of war of that +period were all, to a greater or less extent, manned with colored men." +The father-in-law of the writer, has often related to him that he saw +the three hundred and sixty colored marines, in military pomp and naval +array, when passing through Pittsburg in 1812 on their way to the +frigate Constitution, then on lake Erie under command of the gallant +Commodore Perry. And we cannot close this view of our subject, without +reference to one of the living veterans of the battle of New Orleans, +now residing where he has for many years, in the city of Pittsburg, Pa., +to whom we are indebted for more oral information concerning that +memorable conflict, than to any other living person. MR. JOHN JULIUS, +was a member of the valiant regiment of colored soldiers, who held so +conspicuous a place in the estimation of their General, their country's +struggles for Liberty and Independence. He is a tall, good-looking, +brown skin creole of Louisiana, now about sixty-three years of age, +bearing the terrible gashes of the bayonet still conspicuously in his +neck. He was one of the few Americans who encountered the British in +single-handed charges on top of the breast-works. _Julien Bennoit_, +(pronounced _ben wah_,) for such is his name, though commonly known as +John Julius, is a man of uprightness and strict integrity of character, +having all the delicate sensibility and pride of character known to the +Frenchman; and laments more at the injustice done him, in the neglect of +the authorities to grant him his claims of money and land, according to +the promises set forth in the Proclamation, than at any reverse of +fortune with which he has ever met. He is enthusiastic on the subject of +the battle scenes of Chalmet Plains, and anxious that all who converse +with him may know that he is one of the actors. Not so much for his own +notoriety--as all soldiers have a right to--as for the purpose of making +known and exposing the wrongs done to him and hundreds of his fellows, +who fought shoulder to shoulder with him, in the conflict with Sir +Edward Packenham. Mr. Julius is the only person in whose possession we +have ever seen a complete draught of the plan of the battle fought on +the 8th of January, 1815, drawn on the field, by the U.S. Engineer. + +This consists of two charts, one quite large, and the other smaller; the +larger giving the whole plan of battle, and the other being the key, +which shows the position of the different battalions and regiments of +troops, with the several officers of command, in which the Colored +Regiment is beautifully and conspicuously displayed. He sets great +estimate upon them. Col. Marshall John M. Davis, who was an officer +under General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans, now still residing +in Allegheny Co., near Pittsburg, bears testimony to the truthfulness of +Mr. Julien Bennoit having been a soldier in the Army of the Mississippi +in 1814. The deeds of these tried and faithful daring sons of Liberty, +and defenders of their country, shall live triumphantly, long after the +nation shall have repented her wrongs towards them and their +descendants, and hung her head with shame, before the gaze of manhood's +stern rebuke. + +Mr. John B. Vashon, of Pittsburg, embarked in the service of the United +States, and in an engagement of the American squadron in South America, +was imprisoned, with Major Henry Bears, a respectable white citizen, +still living in that city. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[2] Captain Jonathan Tudas, who led the 500 brave blacks out to build +the Redoubt, is now living in Philadelphia, and since the commencement +of this publication, we learned the following particulars: When the news +arrived of the approach of the British under Major General Ross, upon +Baltimore, the expectation ran high, that the city would be taken, and +forced marches made, immediately upon Philadelphia. The whole City +consequently was thrown into great alarm, when Captain Tudas, applied to +the United States Engineer, and offered the services of colored men, who +during the week, were summoned to meet at the African Methodist +Episcopal Church, on the following Sabbath; when from the pulpit, the +Right Rev. Richard Allen, Bishop of the Connexion, made known to the +people the peril of the Country, and demands of the Commonwealth; when, +the next day, Monday, five hundred volunteered, working incessantly +during that day, and on Tuesday, six hundred more were added, swelling +the number to eleven hundred men. William Stansberry, arrested and tried +a few years ago, as a fugitive slave from Maryland, and Mr. Ignatius +Beck, an old respectable colored man, who appeared as a witness, and by +whose testimony alone, Mr. Stansberry was released from the grasp of the +oppression of his Country, and thereby saved from endless bondage, were +both under Captain Tudas, and belong to the faithful eleven hundred +Philadelphia black warriors. He farther informs us, that the Engineer +gave them credit for having thrown up superior works to any other men +employed in the service, and having done more work in the same time, and +_drank less_, by four-fifth, than twice their number of "Old +Countrymen." The relics of the breastworks, still stand on or near the +banks of the Schuylkill, as a living monument of the fidelity of the +black race to their State and Country. Mr. Stansberry, is still living, +and Captain Tudas, now quite an old man, about "turning the corner," as +he expresses it, is a very intelligent old gentleman, and a living +history of facts. There are few white men of his age and opportunities, +that equal him at all in intelligence on any subject. He is a kind of +living synoptic-historical Encyclopedia. + + + + +IX + +CAPACITY OF COLORED MEN AND WOMEN AS CITIZEN MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY + + +The utility of men in their private capacity as citizens, is of no less +import than that of any other department of the community in which they +live; indeed, the fitness of men for positions in the body politic, can +only be justly measured by their qualification as citizens. And we may +safely venture the declaration, that in the history of the world, there +has never been a nation, that among the oppressed class of +inhabitants--a class entirely ineligible to any political position of +honor, profit or trust--wholly discarded from the recognition of +citizens' rights--not even permitted to carry the mail, nor drive a mail +coach--there never has, in the history of nations, been any people thus +situated, who has made equal progress in attainments with the colored +people of the United States. It would be as unnecessary as it is +impossible, to particularize all the individuals; we shall therefore be +satisfied, with a classification and a few individual cases. Our history +in this country is well known, and quite sufficiently treated on in +these pages already, without the necessity of repetition here; it is +enough to know that by the most cruel acts of injustice and crime, our +forefathers were forced by small numbers, and enslaved in the +country--the great body now to the number of three millions and a half, +still groaning in bondage--that the half million now free, are the +descendants of the few who by various means, are fortunate enough to +gain their liberty from Southern bondage--that no act of general +emancipation has ever taken place, and no chance as yet for a general +rebellion--we say in view of all these facts, we proceed to give a +cursory history of the attainments--the civil, social, business and +professional, and literary attainments of colored men and women, and +challenge comparison with the world--according to circumstances--in +times past and present. + +Though shorn of their strength, disarmed of manhood, and stripped of +every right, encouraged by the part performed by their brethren and +fathers in the Revolutionary struggle--with no records of their deeds in +history, and no means of knowing them save orally, as overheard from the +mouths of their oppressors, and tradition as kept up among +themselves--that memorable event, had not yet ceased its thrill through +the new-born nation, until a glimmer of hope--a ray of light had beamed +forth, and enlightened minds thought to be in total darkness. Minds of +no ordinary character, but those which embraced business, professions, +and literature--minds, which at once grasped the earth, encompassed the +seas, soared into the air, and mounted the skies. And it is none the +less creditable to the colored people, that among those who have stood +the most conspicuous and shone the brightest in the earliest period of +our history, there are those of pure and unmixed African blood. A +credit--but that which is creditable to the African, cannot disgrace any +into whose veins his blood may chance to flow. The elevation of the +colored man can only be completed by the elevation of the pure +descendants of Africa; because to deny his equality, is to deny in a +like proportion, the equality of all those mixed with the African +organization; and to establish his inferiority, will be to degrade every +person related to him by consanguinity; therefore, to establish the +equality of the African with the European race, establishes the +equality of every person intermediate between the two races. This +established beyond contradiction, the general equality of men. + +In the year 1773, though held in servitude, and without the advantages +or privileges of the schools of the day, accomplishing herself by her +own perseverance; Phillis Wheatley appeared in the arena, the brilliancy +of whose genius, as a poetess, delighted Europe and astonished America, +and by a special act of the British Parliament, 1773, her productions +were published for the Crown. She was an admirer of President +Washington, and addressed to him lines, which elicited from the Father +of his country, a complimentary and courteous reply. In the absence of +the poem addressed to General Washington, which was not written until +after her work was published, we insert a stanza from one addressed +(intended for the students) "To the University at Cambridge." We may +further remark, that the poems were originally written, not with the +most distant idea of publication, but simply for the amusement and +during the leisure moments of the author. + + "Improve your privileges while they stay, + Ye pupils, and each hour redeem, that bears + Or good or bad report of you to heav'n. + Let sin, that baneful evil of the soul, + By you be shunn'd, nor once remit your guard; + Suppress the deadly serpent in its egg. + Ye blooming plants of human race divine, + An _Ethiop_ tells you 'tis your greatest foe; + Its transient sweetness turns to endless pain, + And in immense perdition sinks the soul." + + + "CAMBRIDGE, FEBRUARY 28, 1776. + "MISS PHILLIS: + + "Your favor of the 26th of October, did not reach my hands till the + middle of December. Time enough, you will say, to have given an + answer ere this. Granted. But a variety of important occurrences, + continually interposing to divert the mind and withdraw the + attention, I hope will apologise for the delay, and plead my excuse + for the seeming, but not real neglect. I thank you most sincerely + for your polite notice of me, in the elegant lines you enclosed; + and however undeserving I may be of such encomium and panegyric, + the style and manner exhibit a striking proof of your poetic + talents; in honor of which, and as a tribute justly due to you, I + would have published the poem, had I not been apprehensive, that, + while I only meant to give the world this new instance of your + genius, I might have incurred the imputation of vanity. This, and + nothing else, determined me not to give it place in the public + prints. + + "If you should ever come to Cambridge, or near head-quarters, I + shall be happy to see a person so favored by the Muses, and to whom + Nature has been so liberal and beneficent in her dispensations. + + "I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, + "GEORGE WASHINGTON. + "Miss Phillis Wheatley." + + +The tenor, style, and manner of President Washington's letter to Miss +Wheatley--the publication of her works, together with an accompanying +likeness of the author, and her inscription and dedication of the volume +to the "Right Honorable the Countess of Huntingdon," show, that she, +though young, was a person of no ordinary mind, no common attainments; +but at the time, one of the brightest ornaments among the American +literati. She also was well versed in Latin, in which language she +composed several pieces. Miss Wheatley died in 1780, at the age of 26 +years, being seven years of age when brought to this country in 1761. + +Doctor Peter, who married Miss Wheatley, 1775, was a man of business, +tact, and talents--being first a grocer, and afterwards studied law, +which he practised with great success, becoming quite wealthy by +defending the cause of the oppressed before the different tribunals of +the country. And who shone brighter in his day, than Benjamin Bannaker, +of Baltimore county, Maryland, who by industry and force of character, +became a distinguished mathematician and astronomer,--"for many years," +says Davenport's Biographical Dictionary, "calculated and published the +Maryland Ephemerides." He was a correspondent of the Honorable Thomas +Jefferson, Secretary of State of the United States, taking the earliest +opportunity of his acquaintanceship, to call his attention to the evils +of American slavery, and doubtless his acquaintance with the apostle of +American Democracy, had much to do with his reflections on that most +pernicious evil in this country. Mr. Bannaker was also a naturalist, and +wrote a treatise on locusts. He was invited by the Commission of United +States Civil Engineers, to assist in the survey of the Ten Miles Square, +for the District of Columbia. He assisted the Board, who, it is thought, +could not have succeeded without him. His Almanac was preferred to that +of Leadbeater, or any other calculator cotemporary with himself. He had +no family, and resided in a house alone, but principally made his home +with the Elliott family. He was upright, honorable, and virtuous; +entertaining religious scruples similar to the Friends. He died in 1807, +near Baltimore. Honorable John H.B. Latrobe, Esq., of Baltimore, is his +biographer. + +In 1812, Captain Paul Cuffy was an extensive trader and mariner, +sailing out of Boston, to the West Indies and Europe, by which +enterprise, he amassed an immense fortune. He was known to the +commercial world of his day, and, if not so wealthy, stood quite as +fair, and as much respected, as Captain George Laws or Commodore +Vanderbilt, the Cunards of America. Captain Cuffy went to Africa, where +he died in a few years. + +James Durham, originally of Philadelphia, in 1778, at the early age of +twenty-one, was the most learned physician in New Orleans. He spoke +English, French and Spanish, learnedly, and the great Dr. Rush said of +him, "I conversed with him on medicine, and found him very learned. I +thought I could give him information concerning the treatment of +diseases; but I learned from him more than he could expect from me." And +it must be admitted, he must have been learned in his profession, to +have elicited such an encomium from Dr. Rush, who stood then at the head +of his profession in the country. + +We have designed nothing here, but merely to give an individual case of +the various developments of talents and acquirements in the several +departments of respectability, discarding generalization, and name none +but the Africo-American of unmixed extraction, who rose into note +subsequent to the American Revolution. In the persons of note and +distinction hereafter to be given, we shall not confine ourselves to any +such narrow selections, but shall name persons, male and female, +regardless of their extraction, so that they are colored persons, which +is quite enough for our purpose. And our only excuse for the policy in +the above course is, that we desire to disarm the vilifiers of our race, +who disparage us, giving themselves credit for whatever is commendable +that may emanate from us, if there be the least opportunity of claiming +it by "blood." We shall now proceed to review the attainments of colored +men and women of the present day. + + + + +X + +PRACTICAL UTILITY OF COLORED PEOPLE OF THE PRESENT DAY AS MEMBERS OF +SOCIETY--BUSINESS MEN AND MECHANICS + + +In calling attention to the practical utility of colored people of the +present day, we shall not be general in our observations, but simply, +direct attention to a few particular instances, in which colored persons +have been responsibly engaged in extensive business, or occupying useful +positions, thus contributing to the general welfare of community at +large, filling their places in society as men and women. + +It will studiously be borne in mind, that our sole object in giving +these cases publicity, is to refute the objections urged against us, +that we are not useful members of society. That we are consumers and +non-producers--that we contribute nothing to the general progress of +man. No people who have enjoyed no greater opportunity for improvement, +could possibly have made greater progress in the same length of time +than have done the colored people of the present day. + +A people laboring under many disadvantages, may not be expected to +present at once, especially before they have become entirely +untrammeled, evidence of entire equality with more highly favored +people. + +When Mr. Jefferson, the great American Statesman and philosopher, was +questioned by an English gentleman, on the subject of American +greatness, and referred to their literature as an evidence of +inferiority to the more highly favored and long-existing European +nations; Mr. Jefferson's reply was--"When the United States have existed +as long as a nation, as Greece before she produced her Homer and +Socrates; Rome, before she produced her Virgil, Horace, and Cicero; and +England, before she produced her Pope, Dryden, and Bacon"; then he might +consider the comparison a just one. And all we shall ask, is not to wait +so long as this, not to wait until we become a nation at all, so far as +the United States are concerned, but only to unfetter our brethren, and +give us, the freemen, an equal chance for emulation, and we will admit +any comparison you may please to make in a quarter of a century after. + +For a number of years, the late James Forten, of Philadelphia, was the +proprietor of one of the principal sail manufactories, constantly +employing a large number of men, black and white, supplying a large +number of masters and owners of vessels, with full rigging for their +crafts. + +On the failure of an extensive house, T. & Co., in that city, during the +pressure which followed a removal of the deposits of the United States +Treasury in 1837, Mr. Forten lost by that firm, nine thousand dollars. +Being himself in good circumstances at the time, hearing of the failure +of old constant patrons, he called at the house; one of the proprietors, +Mr. T., on his entering the warehouse door, came forward, taking him by +the hand observed, "Ah! Mr. Forten, it is useless to call on us--we are +gone--we can do nothing!" at which Mr. Forten remarked, "Sir, I hope you +think better of me than to suppose me capable of calling on a friend to +torture him in adversity! I came, sir, to express my regret at your +misfortune, and if possible, to cheer you by words of encouragement. If +your liabilities were all in my hands, you should never be under the +necessity of closing business." Mr. Forten exchanged paper and +signatures with some of the first business men in Philadelphia, and +raised and educated a large and respectable family of sons and +daughters, leaving an excellent widow. + +Joseph Cassey, recently deceased, was the "architect of his own +fortune," and by industry and application to business, became a money +broker in the city of Philadelphia; who becoming indisposed from a +chronic affection, was obliged to retire from business for many years +previous to his death. Had Mr. Cassey been favored with health, he +doubtless would have become a very wealthy man. His name and paper was +good in any house in the city, and there was no banker of moderate +capital, of more benefit to the business community than was Joseph +Cassey. He also left a young and promising family of five sons, one +daughter, a most excellent widow, and a fortune of seventy-five thousand +dollars, clear of all encumbrance. + +Stephen Smith, of the firm of Smith and Whipper, is a remarkable man in +many respects, and decidedly the most wealthy colored man in the United +States. Mr. Smith commenced business after he was thirty years of age, +without the advantages of a good business education, but by application, +qualified himself for the arduous duties of his vocation. For many +years, he has been known as the principal lumber merchant in Columbia, +Lancaster Co., Pa., and for several years past associated with W. +Whipper, a gentleman of great force of character, talents, and business +qualifications, Mr. Smith residing in Philadelphia. Smith and Whipper, +are very extensive business men, and very valuable members of the +community, both of Lancaster and Philadelphia counties. By the judicious +investment of their capital, they keep in constant employment a large +number of persons; purchasing many rafts at a time, and many thousand +bushels of coal. It is not only the laborer in "drawing boards," and the +coal hauler and heaver, that are here benefitted by their capital, but +the original owners of the lumber and coal purchased by them, and the +large number of boatmen and raftsmen employed in bringing these +commodities to market. + +In the winter of 1849, these gentlemen had in store, several thousand +bushels of coal, two million two hundred and fifty thousand feet of +lumber; twenty-two of the finest merchantmen cars running on the railway +from Philadelphia to Baltimore; nine thousand dollars' worth of stock in +the Columbia Bridge; eighteen thousand dollars in stock in the Columbia +Bank; and besides this, Mr. Smith was then the reputed owner of +fifty-two good brick houses of various dimensions in the city of +Philadelphia, besides several in the city of Lancaster, and the town of +Columbia. Mr. Smith's paper, or the paper of the firm, is good for any +amount wherever they are known; and we have known gentlemen to present +the paper of some of the best men in the city, which was cashed by him +at sight. The principal active business attended to by Mr. S. in person, +is that of buying good negotiable and other paper, and speculating in +real estate. The business of the firm is attended to by Mr. Whipper, who +is a relative. Take Smith and Whipper from Lancaster and Philadelphia +counties, and the business community will experience a hiatus in its +connexion, that may not be easily filled. + +Samuel T. Wilcox, of Cincinnati, Ohio, also stands conspicuously among +the most respectable business men of the day. Being yet a young man, +just scanning forty, he is one among the extraordinary men of the times. +Born, like the most of colored men in this country, in obscurity, of +poor parents, raised without the assistance of a father, and to a +commonplace business, without the advantages of schools, by his own +perseverance, he qualified himself to the extent that gave him an +inclination to traffic, which he did for several years on the +Mississippi and Ohio rivers, investing his gains in real estate, until +he acquired a considerable property. For the purpose of extending his +usefulness, and at the same time pursuing a vocation more in accordance +with his own desires, a few years since, he embarked in the wholesale +and retail Family Grocery business, and now has the best general +assortment and most extensive business house of the kind, in the city of +Cincinnati. The establishment is really beautiful, having the appearance +more of an apothecary store, than a Grocery House. Mr. Wilcox has a +Pickling and Preserving establishment besides, separate from his +business house, owning a great deal of first class real estate. There is +no man in the community in which he lives, that turns money to a greater +advantage than Mr. Wilcox, and none by whom the community is more +benefited for the amount of capital invested. He makes constant and +heavy bills in eastern houses, and there are doubtless now many +merchants in New York, Boston, and Baltimore cities, who have been +dealing with S.T. Wilcox, and never until the reading of this notice of +him, knew that he was a colored man. He has never yet been east after +his goods, but pursuing a policy which he has adopted, orders them; but +if deceived in an article, never deals with the same house again. He +always gets a good article. The paper of Mr. Wilcox, is good for any +amount. + +Henry Boyd, is also a man of great energy of character, the proprietor +of an extensive Bedstead manufactory, with a large capital invested, +giving constant employment to eighteen or twenty-five men, black and +white. Some of the finest and handsomest articles of the bedstead in the +city, are at the establishment of Mr. Boyd. He fills orders from all +parts of the West and South, his orders from the South being very heavy. +He is the patentee, or holds the right of the Patent Bedsteads, and like +Mr. Wilcox, there are hundreds who deal with Mr. Boyd at a distance, +who do not know that he is a colored man. Mr. Boyd is a useful member of +society, and Cincinnati would not, if she could, be without him. He +fills a place that every man is not capable of supplying, of whatever +quarter of the globe his forefathers may have been denizens. + +Messrs. Knight and Bell of the same place, Cincinnati, Ohio, are very +successful and excellent mechanics. In the spring of 1851, (one year +ago) they put in their "sealed proposal" for the plastering of the +public buildings of the county of Hamilton--alms-house, &c.--and got the +contract, which required ten thousand dollars' security. The work was +finished in fine artistic style, in which a large number of mechanics +and laborers were employed, while at the same time, they were carrying +on many other contracts of less extent, in the city--the public +buildings being some four miles out. They are men of stern integrity, +and highly respected in the community. + +David Jenkins of Columbus, Ohio, a good mechanic, painter, glazier, and +paper-hanger by trade, also received by contract, the painting, glazing, +and papering of some of the public buildings of the State, in autumn +1847. He is much respected in the capital city of his state, being +extensively patronised, having on contract, the great "Neill House," and +many of the largest gentlemen's residences in the city and neighborhood, +to keep in finish. Mr. Jenkins is a very useful man and member of +society. + +John C. Bowers, for many years, has been the proprietor of a fashionable +merchant tailor house, who has associated with him in business, his +brother Thomas Bowers, said to be one of the best, if not the very best, +mercers in the city. His style of cutting and fitting, is preferred by +the first business men, and other gentlemen of Philadelphia, in whom +their patrons principally consist. + +Mr. Cordovell, for more than twenty-five years, was the leading mercer +and tailor, reporter and originator of fashions in the city of New +Orleans, Louisiana. The reported fashions of Cordovell, are said to have +frequently become the leading fashions of Paris; and the writer was +informed, by Mr. B., a leading merchant tailor in a populous city, that +many of the eastern American reports were nothing more than a copy, in +some cases modified, of those of Cordovell. Mr. Cordovell, has for the +last four or five years, been residing in France, living on a handsome +fortune, the fruits of his genius; and though "retired from business," +it is said, that he still invents fashions for the Parisian reporters, +which yields him annually a large income. + +William H. Riley, of Philadelphia, has been for years, one of the +leading fashionable gentlemen's boot-makers. Riley's style and cut of +boots, taking the preeminence in the estimation of a great many of the +most fashionable, and business men in the city. Mr. Riley is much of a +gentleman, and has acquired considerable means. + +James Prosser, Sen., of Philadelphia, has long been the popular +proprietor of a fashionable restaurant in the city. The name of James +Prosser, among the merchants of Philadelphia, is inseparable with their +daily hours of recreation, and pleasure. Mr. Prosser, is withal, a most +gentlemanly man, and has the happy faculty of treating his customers in +such a manner, that those who call once, will be sure to call at his +place again. His name and paper is good among the business men of the +city. + +Henry Minton also is the proprietor of a fashionable restaurant and +resort of business men and gentlemen of the city. The tables of Mr. +Henry Minton are continually laden with the most choice offerings to +epicures, and the saloon during certain hours of the day, presents the +appearance of a bee hive, such is the stir, din, and buz, among the +throng of Chesnut street gentlemen, who flock in there to pay tribute at +the shrine of bountifulness. Mr. Minton has acquired a notoriety, even +in that proud city, which makes his house one of the most popular +resorts. + +Mr. Hill, of Chillicothe, Ohio, was for years, the leading tanner and +currier in that section of country, buying up the hides of the +surrounding country, and giving employment to large numbers of men. Mr. +Hill kept in constant employment, a white clerk, who once a year took +down, as was then the custom, one or more flatboats loaded with leather +and other domestic produce, by which he realised large profits, +accumulating a great deal of wealth. By endorsement, failure, and other +mistransactions, Mr. Hill became reduced in circumstances, and died in +Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1845. He gave his children a liberal +business education. + +Benjamin Richards, Sen., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, forty years ago, +was one of the leading business men of the place. Being a butcher by +trade, he carried on the business extensively, employing a white clerk, +and held a heavy contract with the United States, supplying the various +military posts with provisions. Mr. Richards possessed a large property +in real estate, and was at one time reputed very wealthy, he and the +late general O'H. being considered the most wealthy individuals of the +place,--Mr. Richards taking the precedence; the estate of general O'H. +now being estimated at seven millions of dollars. Mr. Richards has been +known, to buy up a drove of cattle at one time. By mismanagement, he +lost his estate, upon which many gentlemen are now living at ease in the +city. + +William H. Topp, of Albany, N.Y., has for several years been one of the +leading merchant tailors of the city. Starting in the world without aid, +he educated and qualified himself for business; and now has orders from +all parts of the state, the city of New York not excepted, for "Topp's +style of clothing." Mr. Topp stands high in his community as a business +man, and a useful and upright member of society. His paper or +endorsement is good at any time. + +Henry Scott & Co., of New York city, have for many years been engaged +extensively in the pickling business, keeping constantly in warehouse, a +very heavy stock of articles in their line. He, like the most of others, +had no assistance at the commencement, but by manly determination and +perseverance, raised himself to what he is. His business is principally +confined to supplying vessels with articles and provisions in his line +of business, which in this great metropolis is very great. There have +doubtless been many a purser, who cashed and filed in his office the +bill of Henry Scott, without ever dreaming of his being a colored man. +Mr. Scott is extensively known in the great City, and respected as an +upright, prompt, energetic business man, and highly esteemed by all who +know him. + +Mr. Hutson, for years, kept in New York, an intelligence office. At his +demise, he was succeeded by Philip A. Bell, who continues to keep one of +the leading offices in the city. Mr. Bell is an excellent business man, +talented, prompt, shrewd, and full of tact. And what seems to be a trait +of character, only to be found associated with talent, Mr. Bell is +highly sensitive, and very eccentric. A warm, good hearted man, he has +not only enlisted the friendship of all his patrons, but also endeared +himself to the multitude of persons who continually throng his office +seeking situations. One of his usual expressions to the young women and +men in addressing himself to them is, "My child"--this is kind, and +philanthropic, and has a tendency to make himself liked. His business is +very extensive, being sought from all parts of the city, by the first +people of the community. It is said to be not unusual, for the +peasantry of Liverpool, to speak of Mr. Bell, as a benefactor of the +emigrant domestics. Mr. Bell is extensively known in the business +community--none more so--and highly esteemed as a valuable citizen. + +Thomas Downing, for thirty years, in the city of New York, has been +proprietor of one of the leading restaurants. His establishment situated +in the midst of the Wall street bankers, the business has always been of +a leading and profitable character. Mr. Downing has commanded great +influence, and much means, and it is said of him that he has made "three +fortunes." Benevolent, kind, and liberal minded, his head was always +willing, his heart ready, and his hands open to "give." Mr. Downing is +still very popular, doing a most excellent business, and highly +respected throughout New York. Indeed, you scarcely hear any other +establishment of the kind spoken of than Downing's. + +Henry M. Collins, of the City of Pittsburg, stands among the men of +note; and we could not complete this list of usefulness, without the +name of Mr. Collins. Raised a poor boy, thrown upon the uncertainties of +chance, without example of precept, save such as the public at large +presents; Mr. Collins quit his former vocation of a riverman, and +without means, except one hundred and fifty dollars, and no assistance +from any quarter, commenced speculating in real estate. And though only +rising forty, has done more to improve the Sixth Ward of Pittsburg, than +any other individual, save one, Captain W., who built on Company +capital. Mr. Collins was the first person who commenced erecting an +improved style of buildings; indeed, there was little else than old +trees in that quarter of the city when Mr. Collins began. He continued +to build, and dispose of handsome dwellings, until a different class of +citizens entirely, was attracted to that quarter of the town, among +them, one of the oldest and most respectable and wealthy citizens, an +ex-Alderman. After this, the wealthy citizens turned their attention to +the District; and now, it is one of the most fashionable quarters of the +City, and bids fair to become, the preferred part for family residences. +Mr. Collins' advice and counsel was solicited by some of the first +lawyers, and land speculators, in matters of real estate. He has left or +contemplates leaving Pittsburg, in April, for California, where he +intends entering extensively into land speculation, and doubtless, with +the superior advantages of this place, if his success is but half what +it was in the former, but a few years will find him counted among the +wealthy. Mr. Collins is a highly valuable man in any community in which +he may live, and he leaves Pittsburg much to the regret of the leading +citizens. Without capital, he had established such a reputation, that +his name and paper were good in some of the first Banking houses. + +Owen A. Barrett of Pittsburg, Pa., is the original proprietor of "B.A. +Fahnestock's Celebrated Vermifuge." Mr. Fahnestock raised Mr. Barrett +from childhood, instructing him in all the science of practical +pharmacy, continuing him in his employment after manhood, when Mr. +Barrett discovered the "sovereign remedy" for _lumbricalii_, and as an +act of gratitude to his benefactor, he communicated it to him, but not +until he had fully tested its efficacy. The proprietor of the house, +finding the remedy good, secured his patent, or copy right, or whatever +is secured, and never in the history of remedies in the United States, +has any equaled, at least in sale, this of "B.A. Fahnestock's +Vermifuge." Mr. Fahnestock, like a gentleman and Christian, has kept Mr. +Barrett in his extensive House, compounding this and other medicines, +for sixteen or eighteen years. + +In 1840 it was estimated, that of this article alone, the concern had +realized eighty-five thousand dollars. Doubtless, this is true, and +certainly proves Mr. Barrett to be of benefit, not only in his +community, but like many others we have mentioned, to the country and +the world. + +Lewis Hayden, of Boston, is well deserving a place among the examples of +character here given. But eight years ago, having emerged from bondage, +he raised by his efforts, as an act of gratitude and duty, six hundred +and fifty dollars, the amount demanded by mutual agreement, by the +authorities in Kentucky, as a ransom for Calvin Fairbanks, then in the +State Prison, at Frankfort, accused for assisting him in effecting his +escape. In 1848, he went to Boston, and having made acquaintance, and +gained confidence with several business men, Mr. Hayden opened a +fashionable Clothing House in Cambridge street, where he has within the +last year, enlarged his establishment, being patronized by some of the +most respectable citizens of that wealthy Metropolis. Mr. Hayden has +made considerable progress, considering his disadvantages, in his +educational improvements. He has great energy of character, and +extensive information. Lewis Hayden by perseverance, may yet become a +very wealthy man. He is generally esteemed by the Boston people--all +seeming to know him. + +George T. Downing, a gentleman of education and fine business +attainments, is proprietor of one of the principal Public houses and +places of resort, at Newport, Rhode Island, during the watering Season. +This fashionable establishment is spoken of as among the best conducted +places in the country--the Proprietor among the most gentlemanly. + +Edward V. Clark, is among the most deserving and active business men in +New York, and but a few years are required, to place Mr. Clark in point +of business importance, among the first men in the city. His stock +consists of Jewelry and Silver Wares, and consequently, are always +valuable, requiring a heavy capital to keep up business. His name and +paper, has a respectable credit, even among the urbane denizens of Wall +street. + +John Julius and Lady, were for several years, the Proprietors of Concert +Hall, a _Caffe_, then the most fashionable resort for ladies and +gentlemen in Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Julius, held Assemblies and Balls, +attended by the first people of the city--being himself a fine violinist +and dancing master, he superintended the music and dancing. When General +William Henry Harrison in 1840, then the President elect of the United +States, visited that city, his levee to and reception of the Ladies were +held at Concert Hall, under the superintendence of Monsieur John and +Madame Edna Julius, the colored host and hostess. No House was ever +better conducted than under their fostering care, and excellent +management, and the citizens all much regretted their retirement from +the establishment. + +In Penyan, Western New York, Messrs. William Platt and Joseph C. Cassey, +are said to be the leading Lumber Merchants of the place. Situated in +the midst of a great improving country, their business extends, and +increases in importance every year. The latter gentleman was raised to +the business by Smith and Whipper, the great Lumber Merchants of +Columbia, Pa., where he was principal Book-Keeper for several years. Mr. +Cassey has the credit of being one of the best Accountants, and Business +Men in the United States of his age. Doubtless, a few years' +perseverance, and strict application to business, will find them ranked +among the most influential men of their neighborhood. + +Anthony Weston, of Charleston, South Carolina, has acquired an +independent fortune, by his mechanical ingenuity, and skillful +workmanship. About the year 1831, William Thomas Catto, mentioned in +another place, commenced an improvement on a Thrashing Machine, when on +taking sick, Mr. Weston improved on it, to the extent of thrashing a +thousand bushels a day. This Thrashing Mill, was commenced by a Yankee, +by the name of Emmons, who failing to succeed, Mr. Catto, then a +Millwright--since a Minister--improved it to the extent of thrashing +five hundred bushels a day; when Mr. Weston, took it in hand, and +brought it to the perfection stated, for the use of Col. Benjamin +Franklin Hunt, a distinguished lawyer of Charleston, upon whose +plantation, the machine was built, and to whom it belonged. Anthony +Weston, is the greatest Millwright in the South, being extensively +employed far and near, and by Southern people, thought the best in the +United States. + +Dereef and Howard, are very extensive Wood-Factors, keeping a large +number of men employed, a regular Clerk and Book-Keeper, supplying the +citizens, steamers, vessels, and factories of Charleston with fuel. In +this business a very heavy capital is invested: besides which, they are +the owners and proprietors of several vessels trading on the coast. They +are men of great business habits, and command a great deal of respect +and influence in the city of Charleston. + +There is nothing more common in the city of New Orleans, than Colored +Clerks, Salesmen and Business men. In many stores on Chartier, Camp and +other business streets, there may always be seen colored men and women, +as salesmen, and saleswomen, behind the counter. Several of the largest +Cotton-Press houses, have colored Clerks in them; and on the arrival of +steamers at the Levees, among the first to board them, and take down the +Manifestos to make their transfers, are colored Clerks. In 1839-40, one +of the most respectable Brokers and Bankers of the City, was a black +gentleman. + +Mr. William Goodrich of York, Pennsylvania, has considerable interest +in the branch of the Baltimore Railroad, from Lancaster. In 1849, he had +a warehouse in York, and owned ten first-rate merchandise cars on the +Road, doing a fine business. His son, Glenalvon G. Goodrich, a young man +of good education, is a good artist, and proprietor of a Daguerreo-type +Gallery. + +Certainly, there need be no further proofs required, at least in this +department, to show the claims and practical utility of colored people +as citizen members of society. We have shown, that in proportion to +their numbers, they vie and compare favorably in point of means and +possessions, with the class of citizens who from chance of superior +advantages, have studiously contrived to oppress and deprive them of +equal rights and privileges, in common with themselves. + + + + +XI + +LITERARY AND PROFESSIONAL COLORED MEN AND WOMEN + + +Dr. James McCune Smith, a graduate of the Scientific and Medical Schools +of the University of Glasgow, has for the last fifteen years, been a +successful practitioner of medicine and surgery in the city of New York. +Dr. Smith is a man of no ordinary talents, and stands high as a scholar +and gentleman in the city, amidst the _literati_ of a hundred seats of +learning. + +In 1843, when the character of the colored race was assailed to +disparagement, by the representative of a combination of maligners, such +was the influence of the Doctor, that the citizens at once agreed to +give their presence to a fair public discussion of the subject--the +Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of the races. This discussion was +kept up for several evenings, attended by large and fashionable +assemblages of ladies and gentlemen, until it closed. Doctor Smith, in +the estimation of the audience, easily triumphed over his antagonist, +who had made this a studied subject. The Doctor is the author of several +valuable productions, and in 1846, a very valuable scientific paper, +issued from the press in pamphlet form, on the "Influence of Climate on +Longevity, with special reference to Life Insurance." This paper, we may +surmise, was produced in refutation of the attempt at a physiological +disquisition on the part of Hon. John C. Calhoun, United States Senator, +on the colored race, which met with considerable favor from some +quarters, until the appearance of Dr. Smith's pamphlet--since when, we +have heard nothing about Calhoun's learned argument. It may be well to +remark, that Senator Calhoun read medicine before he read law, and it +would have been well for him if he had left medical subjects remain +where _he left_ them, for law. We extract a simple note of explanation +without the main argument, to show with what ease the Doctor refutes an +absurd argument: "The reason why the proportion of mortality is not a +measure of longevity, is the following:--The proportion of mortality is +a statement of how many persons die in a population; this, of course, +does not state the age at which those persons die. If 1 in 45 die in +Sweden, and 1 in 22 in Grenada, the ages of the dead might be alike in +both countries; here the greater mortality might actually accompany the +greater longevity."--Note to page 6. + +About three months since, at a public meeting of scientific gentlemen, +for the formation of a "Statistic Institute," Doctor Smith was nominated +as one of five gentlemen, to draught a constitution. This, of course, +anticipated his membership to the Institution. He, for a number of +years, has held the office of Physician to the Colored Orphan Asylum, an +excellent institution, at which he is the only colored officer. The +Doctor is very learned. + +Rev. Samuel Ringgold Ward was, for several years, pastor of a white +congregation, in Courtlandville, N.Y., of the Congregational persuasion, +and editor of an excellent newspaper, devoted to the religious elevation +of that denomination. Mr. Ward is a man of great talents--his fame is +widespread as an orator and man of learning, and needs no encomium from +us. His name stood on nomination for two or three years, as +Liberty-party candidate for Vice President of the United States. Mr. +Ward has embraced the legal profession, and intends to practise law. +Governor Seward said of him, that he "never heard true eloquence until +he heard Samuel R. Ward speak." Mr. Ward has recently left the United +States, for Canada West, and is destined to be a great statesman. + +Rev. Henry Highland Garnett, was also the pastor of a white +congregation, in Troy, N.Y. Mr. Garnett is a graduate of Oneida +Institute, a speaker of great pathetic eloquence, and has written +several valuable pamphlets. In 1844, Mr. Garnett appeared before the +Judiciary Committee of the Legislature at the capital, in behalf of the +rights of the colored citizens of the State, and in a speech of +matchless eloquence, he held them for four hours spell-bound. + +He has also been co-editor of a newspaper, which was conducted with +ability. As a token of respect, the "Young Men's Literary Society of +Troy," elected him a life-member--and he was frequently solicited to +deliver lectures before different lyceums. Mr. Garnett left the United +States in the summer of 1849, and now resides in England, where he is +highly esteemed. + +Rev. James William Charles Pennington, D.D., a clergyman of New York +city, was born in Maryland,--left when young--came to Brooklyn--educated +himself--studied divinity--went to Hartford, Conn.;--took charge of a +Presbyterian congregation of colored people--went to +England--returned--went to the West Indies--returned--was called to the +Shiloh Presbyterian Colored Congregation--was sent a Delegate to the +Peace Congress at Paris, in 1849, preached there, and attended the +National Levee at the mansion of the Foreign Secretary of State, +Minister De Tocqueville; and had the degree of _Doctor of Divinity_ +conferred on him by the ancient time-honored University of Heidleburg, +in Germany. + +Dr. Pennington is very learned in theology, has fine literacy +attainments, and has written several useful pamphlets, and contributed +to science, by the delivery of lectures before several scientific +institutions in Europe. + +He has, by invitation, delivered lectures before the "Glasgow Young +Men's Christian Association"; and "St. George's Biblical, Literary, and +Scientific Institute," London. In one of the discourses, the following +extract will give an idea of the style and character of the +speaker:--"One of the chief attributes of the mind is a desire for +freedom; but it has been the great aim of slavery to extinguish that +desire." + +"To extinguish this attribute would be to extinguish mind itself. Every +faculty which the master puts forth to subdue the slave, is met by a +corresponding one in the latter."... "Christianity is the highest and +most perfect form of civilization. It contains the only great standard +of the only true and perfect standard of civilization. When tried by +this standard, we are compelled to confess, that we have not on earth, +one strictly civilized nation; for so long as the sword is part of a +nation's household furniture, it cannot be called strictly civilized; +and yet there is not a nation, great or small, black or white, that has +laid aside the sword."--pp. 7-14. The Doctor has been editor of a +newspaper, which was ably conducted. He belongs to the Third Presbytery +of New York, and stands very high as a minister of the Gospel, and +gentleman. + +Rev. John Francis Cook, a learned clergyman of Washington City, has +taught an academy in the District of Columbia for years, under the +subscribed sanction and patronage of many of the members of Congress, +the Mayor of Washington, and some of the first men of the nation, for +the education of colored youth of both sexes. Mr. Cook has done a great +deal of good at the Capitol; is highly esteemed, and has set as +Moderator of a body of Presbyterian Clergymen, assembled at Richmond, +Va., all white, except himself. + +Charles L. Reason, Esq., a learned gentleman, for many years teacher in +one of the Public Schools in New York, in 1849, was elected by the +trustees of that institution, Professor of Mathematics and Belles +Lettres in Centre College, at McGrawville, in the State of New York. +After a short connection with the College, Professor Reason, for some +cause, retired from the Institution, much to the regret of the students, +who, though a young man, loved him as an elder brother--and contrary to +the desire of his fellow-professors. + +Mr. Reason is decidedly a man of letters, a high-souled gentleman, a +most useful citizen in any community--much respected and beloved by all +who know him, and most scrupulously modest--a brilliant trait in the +character of a teacher. We learn that Professor Reason, is about to be +called to take charge of the High School for the education of colored +youth of both sexes, now in course of completion in Philadelphia. The +people of New York will regret to part with Professor Reason. + +Charles Lenox Remond, Esq., of Salem, Massachusetts, is among the most +talented men of the country. Mr. Remond is a native of the town he +resides in, and at an early age, evinced more than ordinary talents. At +the age of twenty-one, at which time (1832) the cause of the colored +people had just begun to attract public attention, he began to take an +interest in public affairs, and was present for the first time, at the +great convention of colored men, of that year, at which the +distinguished colonization gentlemen named in another part of this work, +among them, Rev. R.R. Gurley, and Elliot Cresson, Esqs., were present. +At this convention, we think, Mr. Remond made his virgin speech. From +that time forth he became known as an orator, and now stands second to +no living man as a declaimer. This is his great forte, and to hear him +speak, sends a thrill through the whole system, and a tremor through the +brain. + +In 1835, he went to England, making a tour of the United Kingdom, where +he remained for two years, lecturing with great success; and if we +mistake not was presented the hospitality of one of the towns of +Scotland, at which he received a token of respect, in a code of +resolutions adopted expressive of the sentiments of the people, signed +by the town officers, inscribed to "Charles Lenox Remond, Esq.," a form +of address never given in the United Kingdom, only where the person is +held in the highest esteem for their attainments; the "Mr." always being +used instead. + +To C.L. Remond, are the people of Massachusetts indebted for the +abolition of the odious distinction of caste, on account of condition. +For up to this period, neither common white, nor genteel colored +persons, could ride in first class cars; since which time, all who are +able and willing to pay, go in them. In fact, there is but one class of +cars, (except the emigrant cars which are necessary for the safety and +comfort of other passengers) in Massachusetts. + +Mr. Remond, appeared at one time before the legislature of +Massachusetts, in behalf of the rights of the people above named, where +with peals of startling eloquence, he moved that great body of +intelligent New Englanders, to a respectful consideration of his +subject; which eventually resulted as stated. The distinguished Judge +Kelley, of Philadelphia, an accomplished scholar and orator, in 1849, in +reply to an expression that Mr. Remond spoke like himself, observed, +that it was the greatest compliment he ever had paid to his talents. +"Proud indeed should I feel," said the learned Jurist, "were I such an +orator as Mr. Remond." Charles Lenox Remond is the soul of an honorable +gentleman. + +Robert Morris, Jr., Esq., attorney and counsellor at law, is a member +of the Essex county bar in Boston. Mr. Morris has also had the +commission of magistracy conferred upon him, by his excellency George N. +Briggs, recent governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, a high +honor and compliment to an Attorney; the commission usually being +conferred on none but the oldest or most meritorious among the members +of the bar. He also keeps the books of one of the wealthy rail road +companies, a business almost entirely confined to lawyers in that city. +Mr. Morris is a talented gentleman, and stands very high at the Boston +bar. He sometimes holds the magistrate's court in Chelsea, where his +family resides, and is very highly esteemed by the whole community of +both cities, and has a fine practice. + +Macon B. Allen, Esq., attorney and counsellor at law, is also a member +of the Essex bar. He is spoken of as a gentleman of fine education. + +Robert Douglass, Jr., for many years, has kept a study and gallery of +painting and daguerreotype in the city of Philadelphia. Mr. Douglass is +an excellent artist--being a fine portrait and landscape painter, which +art he practised before the discovery of daguerreotype. He is also a +good lithographer, a gentleman of fine educational attainments, very +clever talents, and highly esteemed in that city. Mr. Douglass has been +twice to the West Indies and Europe. + +J. Presley Ball is the principal daguerreotypist of Cincinnati, Ohio. +Mr. Ball commenced the practice of his art about seven years ago, being +then quite young, and inexperienced, as all young beginners are, +laboring under many difficulties. He nevertheless, persevered, until he +made a business, and established confidence in his skill; and now he +does more business than any other artist in the profession in that city. +His gallery, which is very large, finely skylighted, and handsomely +furnished, is literally crowded from morning until evening with ladies, +gentlemen, and children. He made some valuable improvements in the art, +all for his own convenience. There is none more of a gentleman than J. +Presley Ball. He has a brother, Mr. Thomas Ball, and a white gentleman +to assist him. Few go to Cincinnati, without paying the daguerrean +gallery of Mr. Ball, a visit. + +The great organ of the "Liberty Party" in the United States, is now +conducted by one who requires not a notice from such an obscure +source--we mean Frederick Douglass, of Rochester, N.Y. His history is +well known--it was written by more faithful hands than ours--it was +written by himself. It stands enrolled on the reminiscences of Germany, +and France, and in full length oil, in the academy of arts, and in bust +of bronze or marble, in the museum of London. Mr. Douglass is also the +sole owner of the printing establishment from which the paper is issued, +and was promoted to this responsible position, by the power of his +talents. He is a masterly letter writer, ably edits his paper, and as a +speaker, and orator, let the scenes of a New York tabernacle, within two +years, answer instead. Mr. Douglass is highly respected as a citizen and +gentleman in Rochester. + +In Syracuse, N.Y., resides George Boyer Vashon, Esq., A.M., a graduate +of Oberlin Collegiate Institute, Attorney at Law, Member of the Syracuse +Bar. Mr. Vashon, is a ripe scholar, an accomplished Essayist, and a +chaste classic Poet; his style running very much in the strain of +Byron's best efforts. He probably takes Byron as his model, and Childe +Harold, as a sample, as in his youthful days, he was a fond admirer of +GEORGE GORDON NOEL BYRON, always calling his whole name, when he named +him. His Preceptor in Law, was the Honorable Walter, Judge Forward, late +Controller, subsequently, Secretary of the Treasury of the United +States, and recently _Charge de Affaires_ to Denmark, now President of +the Bench of the District Court of the Western District of Pennsylvania. + +Mr. Vashon was admitted to the Bar of the city of New York, in the fall +of 1847, to practise in all the Courts of the State. He immediately +subsequently, sailed to the West Indies, from whence he returned in the +fall of 1850. He has contributed considerably to a number of the +respectable journals of the country. + +Mrs. Ann Maria Johnson, of the School of Mrs. Tillman and Mrs. Johnson, +Teachers in French Worsted Needle Work, at the Exhibition of the +Mechanics' Institute in Chicago, Ill., 1846, took the First Prize, and +got her Diploma, for the best embroidery in cloth. This was very +flattering to those ladies, especially the Diplomast, considering the +great odds they had to contend with. The ladies were very successful +teachers--their classes were always large. + +In Williamsburg there is T. Joiner White, M.D.; in Brooklyn Peter Ray, +M.D.; and in the city of New York, also, John Degrass, M.D., all young +Physicians, who have time and experience yet before them, and promise +fair to be good and useful members of society. + +Miss Eliza Greenfield the BLACK SWAN, is among the most extraordinary +persons of the present century. Being raised in obscurity, inured to +callings far beneath her propensity, and unsuited to her taste, she had +a desire to cultivate her talents, but no one to encourage her. Whenever +she made the effort, she was discouraged--perhaps ridiculed; and thus +discouraged, she would shrink again from her anxious task. She knew she +could sing, and knew she could sing unlike any body else; knew she sung +better than any whom she had heard of the popular singers, but could not +tell why others could not think with, and appreciate her. In this way it +seems, she was thrown about for three years, never meeting with a +person who could fully appreciate her talents; and we have it from her +own lips, that not until after the arrival of Jenny Lind and Parodi in +the country, was she aware of the high character of her own talents. She +knew she possessed them, because they were inherent, inseparable with +her being. She attended the Concerts of Mad'll. Jenny Lind, and Operas +of Parodi, and at once saw the "secret of their success"--they possessed +talents, that no other popular singers mastered. + +She went home; her heart fluttered; she stole an opportunity when no one +listened, to mock or gossip; let out her voice, when _ecce!_ she found +her strains _four_ notes _above_ Sweden's favored Nightingale; she +descended when lo! she found her tones _three_ notes _below!_ she +thanked God with a "still small voice"; and now, she ranks second in +point of voice, to no vocalist in the world. Miss Greenfield, if she +only be judicious and careful, may become yet, in point of popularity, +what Miss Lind was. The Black Swan, is singing to fine fashionable +houses, and bids fair to stand unrivalled in the world of Song. + +Patrick Henry Reason, a gentleman of ability and fine artist, stands +high as an Engraver in the city of New York. Mr. Reason has been in +business for years, in that city, and has sent out to the world, many +beautiful specimens of his skillful hand. He was the first artist, we +believe in the United States, who produced a plate of that beautiful +touching little picture, the Kneeling Slave; the first picture of which +represented a handsome, innocent little girl upon her knees, with hands +outstretched, leaving the manacles dangling before her, anxiously +looking and wishfully asking, "_Am I not a sister?_" It was +beautiful--sorrowfully beautiful. He has we understand, frequently done +Government engraving. Mr. P.H. is a brother of Professor Charles L. +Reason. + +David Jones Peck, M.D., a graduate of Rush Medical College, a talented +young gentleman, practised Medicine for two years in Philadelphia. He +left there in 1850. + +William H. Allen, Esq., A.B., successor to Professor C.L. Reason, is +Professor of Languages in Centre College, at McGrawville, N.Y. Professor +Allen, is a gentleman of fine education, a graduate of Oneida Institute, +and educated himself entirely by his own industry, having the aid of but +fifty dollars during the whole period. The Professor is a talented +Lecturer on Ancient History, and much of a gentleman. + +Martin H. Freeman, A.B., a young gentleman, graduate of Rutland College, +in Vermont, is "Junior Professor," in Allegheny Institute, Allegheny +county, Pa. The Professor is a gentleman of talents, and doing much good +in his position. + +Rev. Molliston Madison Clark, a gentleman of great talents, a noble +speaker, educated at Jefferson College, Pa., sailed to Europe in 1846, +and was a member of the Evangelical Alliance. Mr. Clark kept a regular +Journal of his travels through the United Kingdom of England, Scotland +and Ireland. As well as a Greek and Latin, he is also a French and +Spanish Linguist. He has all the eccentricity of Rowland Hill, +manifested only in a very different manner. + +William C. Nell, of Rochester, N.Y., formerly of Boston, has long been +known as a gentleman of chaste and lofty sentiments, and a pure +philanthropist. Mr. Nell, in company with Mr. Frederick Douglass, was +present by invitation, and took his seat at table, at the celebration of +Franklin's Birth Day, by the Typographical and Editorial corps of +Rochester. In 1850, being again residing in Boston, he was nominated and +ran for the Legislature of Massachusetts, by the Free Soil party of +Essex county. Mr. Nell stood even with his party vote in the District. + +He recently issued from the Boston press a Pamphlet, on the colored men +who served in the wars of the United States of 1776, and 1812. This +pamphlet is very useful as a book of reference on this subject, and Mr. +Nell, of course does not aim at a full historical view. The +circumstances under which it was got out, justify this belief. He was +collecting materials in the winter of 1850-51, when he was taken down to +his bed with a severe attack of disease of one of his lungs, with which +he lingered, unable to leave his room for weeks. In the Spring, +recovering somewhat his health, so as to go out--during this time, he +had the little pamphlet published, as a means of pecuniary aid, +promising another part to be forthcoming some subsequent period, which +the writer hopes may soon be issued. Mr. Nell, is an excellent man, and +deserves the patronage of the public. + +Joseph G. Anderson, successor to Captain Frank Johnson, of Philadelphia, +is now one of the most distinguished musicians in the country. Mr. +Anderson is an artist professionally and practically, mastering various +instruments, a composer of music, and a gentleman of fine +accomplishments in other respects. His musical fame will grow with his +age, which one day must place him in the front ranks of his profession, +among the master in the world. + +William Jackson, is among the leading musicians of New York city, and +ranks among the most skillful violinists of America. This gentleman is a +master of his favorite instrument, executing with ease the most +difficult and critical composition. He is generally preferred in social +and private parties, among the first families of the city, where the +amateur and gentleman is more regarded than the mere services of the +musician. Mr. Jackson is a teacher of music, and only requires a more +favorable opportunity to vie with Ole Bull or Paganini. + +Rev. Daniel A. Payne, commenced his literary career in Charleston, +South Carolina, where he taught school for some time. In 1833 or 1834, +he came North, placing himself in the Lutheran Theological Seminary, at +Gettysburg, under the tutorage of the learned and distinguished Dr. +Schmucker, where he finished his education as a Lutheran clergyman. To +extend his usefulness, he joined the African Methodist Connexion, and +for several years resided in Baltimore, where he taught an Academy for +colored youth and maidens, gaining the respect and esteem of all who had +the fortune to become acquainted with him. He is now engaged travelling +and collecting information, for the publication of a history of one of +the colored Methodist denominations in the United States. Mr. Payne is a +pure and chaste poet, having published a small volume of his productions +in 1850, under the title of "Pleasures and other Miscellaneous Poems, by +Daniel A. Payne," issued from the press of Sherwood and Company, +Baltimore, Maryland. + +Rev. William T. Catto, a clergyman of fine talents, finished his +education in the Theological Seminary in Charleston, South Carolina. He +was ordained by the Presbytery of Charleston, and in 1848, under the +best recommendations for piety, acquirements, and all the qualifications +necessary to his high mission as a clergyman, was sent out as a +missionary to preach the Gospel to all who needed it; but to make +himself more useful, he joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church +Connexion, and is now a useful and successful preacher in Philadelphia. + +The musical profession of Philadelphia has long had a valuable votary in +the person of William Appo, an accomplished pianist. Mr. Appo has been a +teacher of the piano forte, for more than twenty years, alternately in +the cities of New York and Philadelphia, and sometimes in Baltimore. +His profession extends amongst the citizens generally, from the more +moderate in circumstances, to the ladies and daughters of the most +wealthy gentlemen in community. This gentleman is a fine scholar, and as +well as music, teaches the French language successfully. His young +daughter, Helen, a miss of fourteen years of age, inherits the musical +talents of her father, and is now organist in the central Presbyterian +Church. The name of William Appo, is generally known as a popular +teacher of music, but few who are not personally acquainted with him, +know that he is a colored gentleman. + +Augustus Washington, an artist of fine taste and perception, is numbered +among the most successful Daguerreotypists in Hartford, Connecticut. His +establishment is said to be visited daily by large numbers of the +citizens of all classes; and this gallery is perhaps, the only one in +the country, that keeps a female attendant, and dressing-room for +ladies. He recommends, in his cards, black dresses to be worn for +sitting; and those who go unsuitably dressed, are supplied with drapery, +and properly enrobed. + +John Newton Templeton, A.M., for fifteen years an upright, active, and +very useful citizen of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, was a graduate of Athens +College, in the State of Ohio. Mr. Templeton, after an active life of +more than twenty years, principally spent in school teaching, died in +Pittsburg, in July, 1851, leaving an amiable widow and infant son. + +Thomas Paul, A.B., of Boston, a gentleman of fine talents and amiable +disposition, whose life has been mainly devoted to teaching, is a +graduate of Bowdoin College, in Maine. Mr. Paul is now the recipient of +a salary of fifteen hundred dollars a year as teacher of a school in +Boston. + +Rev. Benjamin Franklin Templeton, pastor of St. Mary street Church, +Philadelphia, was educated at Hanover College, near Madison, Indiana. In +1838, Mr. Templeton was ordained a minister of the Ripley Presbytery, in +Ohio; subsequently, in 1841, established a church, the Sixth +Presbyterian, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, from which place he was +called, in 1844, to take charge of his present pastorate. Mr. Templeton +is a beautiful speaker, and an amiable gentleman.[3] + +John B. Russworm, a gentleman of splendid talents, graduated at Bowdoin +College, many years ago. Mr. Russworm was a class-mate of Honorable John +P. Hale, United States Senator, and after leaving College as his first +public act, commenced the publication of a newspaper, for the elevation +of colored Americans, called "Freedom's Journal." Subsequently to the +publication of his paper, Mr. Russworm became interested in the +Colonization scheme, then in its infancy, and went to Liberia; after +which he went to Bassa Cove, of which place he was made governor, where +he died in 1851. + +Benjamin Coker, a colored Methodist clergyman, forty years ago, wrote +and issued, in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, a pamphlet, setting +forth in glowing terms, the evils of American slavery, and the wrongs +inflicted on the colored race. Rev. Daniel A. Payne, a talented +clergyman, mentioned in this work, has now in his possession a copy of +the pamphlet, and informs us, that the whole ground assumed by the +modern abolitionists, was taken and reviewed in this pamphlet, by Daniel +Coker. We may reasonably infer, that the ideas of Anti-Slavery, as +taught by the friends of the black race at the present day, were +borrowed from Mr. Coker; though, perhaps, policy forbade due credit to +the proper source. Coker, like Russworm, became interested in the cause +of African Colonization, and went to Africa; where he subsequently +became an extensive coast trader, having several vessels, one of which +he commanded in person, taking up his residence on the island of +Sherbro, where he is said to have lived in great splendor. He died in +1845 or 1846, at an advanced age, leaving a family of sons and +daughters. + +Henry Bibb, an eloquent speaker, for several years, was the principal +traveling lecturer for the Liberty Party of Michigan. Mr. Bibb, with +equal advantages, would equal many of those who fill high places in the +country, and now assume superiority over him and his kindred. He fled an +exile from the United States, in 1850, to Canada, to escape the terrible +consequences of the Republican Fugitive Slave Law, which threatened him +with a total destruction of liberty. Mr. Bibb established the "Voice of +the Fugitive," a newspaper, in Sandwich, Canada West, which is managed +and conducted with credit. + +Titus Basfield, graduated at Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio, +receiving his religious instruction from the late Dr. Jonathan Walker, +of that place, a physician and Covenanter clergyman. He afterwards +graduated in theology at the Theological Seminary of Cannonsburg, +Pennsylvania, was ordained, and traveled preaching and lecturing to the +people of his peculiar faith and the public, for several years. He went +to New London, Canada West, where he has charge of a Scotch congregation +of religious votaries to that ancient doctrine of salvation. + +Mary Ann Shadd, a very intelligent young lady, peculiarly eccentric, +published an excellent pamphlet, issued from the press in Wilmington, +Delaware, in 1849, on the elevation of the colored people. The writer of +this work, was favored with an examination of it before publication, +which he then highly approved of, as an excellent introduction to a +great subject, fraught with so much interest. Miss Shadd has traveled +much, and now has charge of a school in Sandwich, Canada West. + +James McCrummill, of Philadelphia, is a skillful surgeon-dentist, and +manufacturer of porcelain teeth, having practised the profession for +many years in that city. He is said to be equal to the best in the city, +and probably only requires an undivided attention to establish the +reality. + +Joseph Wilson, Thomas Kennard, and William Nickless, are also practising +dentists in the city of Philadelphia. Mr. Kennard is said to be one of +the best _workmen_ in the manufacture of artificial teeth, and _gums_--a +new discovery, and very valuable article, in this most beautiful and +highly useful art. He devotes several hours a day, to the manufacture of +these articles for one of the principal surgeon-dentists of Arch street. + +James M. Whitfield, of Buffalo, New York, though in an humble position, +(for which we think he is somewhat reprehensible), is one of the purest +poets in America. He has written much for different newspapers; and, by +industry and application--being already a good English scholar--did he +but place himself in a favorable situation in life, would not be second +to John Greenleaf Whittier, nor the late Edgar A. Poe. + +Mary Elizabeth Miles, in accordance with the established rules, +graduated as a teacher, in the Normal School, at Albany, New York, +several years ago. Miss Miles (now Mrs. Bibb) was a very talented young +lady and successful teacher. She spent several years of usefulness in +Massachusetts, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after which she went to +Cincinnati, as assistant-teacher in Gilmore's "High School for Colored +Children," which ended her public position in life. She now resides in +Sandwich, Canada West. + +Lucy Stanton, of Columbus, Ohio, is a graduate of Oberlin Collegiate +Institute, in that State. She is now engaged in teaching school in that +city, in which she is reputed to be successful. She is quite a young +lady, and has her promise of life all before her, and bids fair to +become a woman of much usefulness in society. + +Doctor Bias, of Philadelphia, spoken of in another place, graduated at +the close of the session of 1851-52, in the Eclectic Medical College, in +that city. The doctor is highly esteemed by the physicians of his +system, who continually interchange calls with him. He is also a +practical phrenologist,--which profession he does not now attend to, +giving his undivided attention to the practice of medicine,--and has +written a pamphlet on that subject, entitled, "Synopsis of Phrenology, +and the Phrenological Developments, as given by J.J. Gould Bias." No man +perhaps, in the community of Philadelphia, possesses more self-will, and +determination of character, than Dr. James Joshua Gould Bias. Mr. +Whipper says of him, that he is "a Napoleon in character." The sterling +trait in his character is, that he grasps after _originality_, and +grapples with every difficulty. Such a man, must and will succeed in his +undertakings. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[3] During the last twenty years, there have been, at different periods, +published among the colored people of the United States, twenty odd +newspapers, some of which were conducted with ability. Among them, the +"Colored American," in New York city; Samuel E. Cornish, Philip A. Bell, +and Charles B. Ray, at different times, Editors. "The Demosthenian +Shield," issued from a Literary Society of young colored men, in the +city of Philadelphia. "The Straggler," by Philip A. Bell, New York, out +of which the Colored American took its origin. The "National Reformer," +an able monthly periodical, in pamphlet form, in Philadelphia; William +Whipper, Editor. "The Northern Star," a Temperance monthly newspaper, +published in Albany, N.Y.; Stephen Myers, Editor, still in +existence--changed to ----. "The Mystery," of Pittsburg, Pa.; Martin +Robison Delany, Editor--succeeded by a committee of colored gentlemen as +Editors. The "Palladium of Liberty," issued in Columbus, O., by a +committee of colored gentlemen; David Jenkins, Editor. "The +Disfranchised American," by a committee of colored gentlemen, +Cincinnati, O.; A.M. Sumner, Editor--succeeded by the "Colored Citizen"; +Rev. Thomas Woodson, and William Henry Yancey, Editors. The "National +Watchman," Troy, N.Y.; William H. Allen and Henry Highland Garnett, +Editors. Another issued in New York city, the name of which, we cannot +now remember; James William Charles Pennington, D.D., and James McCune +Smith, M.D., Editors: the issue being alternately at Hartford, the then +residence of Dr. Pennington--and New York city, the residence of Dr. +Smith. The "Excelsior," an ephemeral issue, which appeared but once, in +Detroit, Mich.; William H. Day, Editor. + +The "Christian Herald," the organ of the A.M. Episcopal Church, +published under the auspices of the General Conference of that body; +Augustus Richardson Green, Editor, and General Book Steward. This +gentleman has, also, written and published several small volumes of a +religious character; a pamphlet on the Episcopacy and Infant Baptism, +and the Lives of Reverends Fayette Davis and David Canyou. The +"Elevator," of Philadelphia; James McCrummill, Editor. The "Ram's Horn," +New York city; Thomas Vanrensellear, Editor. There is now a little +paper, the name of which we cannot recollect, issued at Newark, N.J., +merely a local paper, very meager in appearance. "The Farmer and +Northern Star," in Courtland, N.Y., afterwards changed to the "Impartial +Citizen," and published in Boston; Samuel Ringgold Ward, Editor. "The +North Star," published in Rochester, N.Y.; Frederick Douglass, and +Martin Robinson Delany, Editors--subsequently changed to the "Frederick +Douglass' Paper"; Frederick Douglass, Editor. + +A number of gentlemen have been authors of narratives, written by +themselves, some of which are masterly efforts, manifesting great force +of talents. Of such, are those by Frederick Douglass, William Wells +Brown, and Henry Bibb. + +Of the various churches and clergy we have nothing to say, as these do +not come within our province; except where individuals, from position, +come within the sphere of our arrangement. + +There have been several inventors among the colored people. The youth +Henry Blair, of Maryland, some years ago, invented the Corn-Planter, and +Mr. Roberts of Philadelphia, 1842, a machine for lifting cars off the +railways. + +It may be expected that we should say something about a book issued in +Boston, purporting to be a history of ancient great men of African +descent, by one Mr. Lewis, entitled "Light and Truth." This book is +nothing more than a compilation of selected portions of Rollin's, +Goldsmith's, Furguson's, Hume's, and other ancient histories; added to +which, is a tissue of historical absurdities and literary blunders, +shamefully palpable, for which the author or authors should mantle their +faces. + +If viewed in the light of a "Yankee trick," simply by which to make +money, it may, peradventure, be a very clever trick; but the publisher +should have recollected, that the ostensible object of his work was, the +edification and enlightenment of the public in general and the colored +people in particular, upon a great and important subject of truth; and +that those who must be the most injured by it, will be the very class of +people, whom he professes a desire to benefit. We much regret the fact, +that there are but too many of our brethren, who undertake to dabble in +literary matters, in the shape of newspaper and book-making, who are +wholly unqualified for the important work. This, however, seems to be +called forth by the palpable neglect, and indifference of those who have +had the educational advantages, but neglected to make such use of them. + +There is one redeeming quality about "Light and Truth." It is a capital +offset to the pitiable literary blunders of Professor George R. Gliddon, +late Consul to Egypt, from the United States, Lecturer on Ancient +Egyptian Literature, &c., &c., who makes all ancient black men, _white_; +and asserts the Egyptians and Ethiopians to have been of the _Caucasian_ +or white race!--So, also, this colored gentleman, makes all ancient +great white men, black--as Diogenes, Socrates, Themistocles, Pompey, +Caesar, Cato, Cicero, Horace, Virgil, et cetera. Gliddon's idle nonsense +has found a capital match in the production of Mr. Lewis' "Light and +Truth," and both should be sold together. We may conclude by expressing +our thanks to our brother Lewis, as we do not think that Professor +Gliddon's learned ignorance, would have ever met an equal but for "Light +and Truth." Reverends D.A. Payne, M.M. Clark, and other learned colored +gentlemen, agree with us in the disapproval of this book.--EDITOR. + + + + +XII + +STUDENTS OF VARIOUS PROFESSIONS + + +There are a number of young gentlemen who have finished their literary +course, who are now studying for the different learned professions, in +various parts of the country. + +Jonathan Gibbs, A.B., a very talented young gentleman, and fine speaker, +is now finishing his professional studies in the Theological School at +Dartmouth University. Mr. Gibbs also studied in the Scientific +Department of the same Institution. + +William H. Day, Esq., A.B., a graduate of Oberlin Collegiate Institute, +is now in Cleveland Ohio, preparing for the Bar. Mr. Day is, perhaps, +the most eloquent young gentleman of his age in the United States. + +John Mercer Langston, A.B., of Chillicothe, Ohio, also a graduate of +Oberlin College, a talented young gentleman, and promising orator, is +completing a Theological course at the School of Divinity at Oberlin. It +is said, that Mr. Langston intends also to prepare for the Bar. He +commenced the study of Law previous to that of Theology, under Judge +Andrews of Cleveland. + +Charles Dunbar, of New York city, a promising, very intelligent young +gentleman, is now in the office of Dr. Childs, and having attended one +course of Lectures at Bowdoin Medical School in Maine, will finish next +fall and winter, for the practice of his profession. + +Isaac Humphrey Snowden, a promising young gentleman of talents, is now +reading Medicine under Dr. Clarke of Boston, and attended the session of +the Medical School of Harvard University, of 1850-51. + +Daniel Laing, Jr., Esq., a fine intellectual young gentleman of Boston, +a student also of Dr. Clarke of that city, one of the Surgeons of the +Massachusetts General Hospital, who attended the course of Lectures the +session of 1850-51, at the Medical School of Harvard University, is now +in Paris, to spend two years in the hospitals, and attend the Medical +Lectures of that great seat of learning. Mr. Laing, like most medical +students, has ever been an admirer, and anxious to sit under the +teachings of that great master in Surgery, Velpeau. + +Dr. James J. Gould Bias, a Botanic Physician, and talented gentleman of +Philadelphia, is a member of the class of 1851-52, of the Eclectic +Medical School of that city. Dr. Bias deserves the more credit for his +progress in life, as he is entirely self-made. + +Robert B. Leach, of Cleveland, Ohio, a very intelligent young gentleman, +is a member of the medical class for 1851-52, of the Homeopathic +College, in that City. Mr. Leach, when graduated, will be the _First +Colored Homeopathic_ Physician in the United States. + +Dr. John Degrass, of New York city, named in another place, spent two +years in Paris Hospitals, under the teaching of the great lecturer and +master of surgery, Velpeau, to whom he was assistant and dresser, in the +hospital--the first position--for advantages, held by a student. The +Doctor has subsequently been engaged as surgeon on a Havre packet, where +he discharged the duties of his office with credit. + +Also Dr. Peter Ray, of Brooklyn, named on the same page, graduated at +Castleton Medical School, Vermont, spent some time at the Massachusetts +General Hospital, Boston, where he held the position of assistant and +dresser to Surgeon Parkman, in his ward of the hospital. + +Dr. John P. Reynolds, has for a number of years been one of the most +popular and successful physicians in Vincennes, Indiana. We believe Dr. +Reynolds, was not of the "regular" system, but some twenty-three or-four +years ago, studied under an "Indian physician," after which, he +practised very successfully in Zanesville, Ohio, subsequently removing +to Vincennes, where he has for the last sixteen years, supported an +enviable reputation as a physician. We understand Doctor Reynolds has +entered into all the scientific improvements of the "eclectic school" of +medicine, which has come into being in the United States, long since his +professional career commenced. His popularity is such, that he has +frequently been entrusted, with public confidence, and on one occasion, +in 1838, was appointed by the court, sole executor of a very valuable +orphans' estate. The Doctor has grown quite wealthy it is said, +commanding a considerable influence in the community. + +Dr. McDonough, a skillful young physician, graduated at the Institute, +Easton, Pennsylvania, and finished his medical education at the +University of New York. The Doctor is one of the most thorough of the +young physicians; has been attached to the greater part of the public +institutions of the city of New York, and is a good practical chemist. + +Of course, there are many others, but as we have taken no measures +whatever, to collect facts or information from abroad, only getting such +as was at hand, and giving the few sketches here, according to our own +recollection of them, we close this short chapter at this point. + + + + +XIII + +A SCAN AT PAST THINGS + + +It may not be considered in good taste to refer to those still living, +who formerly occupied prominent business positions, and by dint of +misfortune or fortune, have withdrawn. Nevertheless, we shall do so, +since our simple object in this hasty sketch of things, is to show that +the colored people of the country have not as has been charged upon +them, always been dregs on the community and excrescences on the body +politic, wherever they may have lived. We only desire to show that they +have been, all things considered, just like other people. + +Several years ago, there lived in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. +Berry Mechum. This gentleman was very wealthy, and had at one time, two +fine steamers plying on the Mississippi, all under the command and +management of white men, to whom he trusted altogether. As late as 1836, +he sent two sons to the Oberlin Collegiate Institute, desiring that they +might become educated, in order to be able to manage his business; who, +although he could read and write, was not sufficiently qualified and +skilled in the arts of business to vie with the crafty whites of the +Valley. But before his sons were fitted for business though reputed very +wealthy, which there is no doubt he was, his whole property was seized +and taken: and as he informed the writer himself, he did not know what +for, as he had no debts that he knew of, until these suits were +entered. Mr. Mechum was an energetic, industrious, persevering old +gentleman--a baptist clergyman, and published a small pamphlet on the +condition of the colored race. And although, it evinces great deficiency +of literary qualifications, yet, does credit to the good old man, for +the sound thoughts therein contained. + +Also in the city of St. Louis, David Desara, who was a Mississippi pilot +for many years. He made much money at his business, and owned at one +time, a steamboat, which he piloted himself. Mr. Desara also failed, in +consequence of having his business all in the hands of white men, as +most of the slave state colored people have, entrusting to them +entirely, without knowing anything of their own concerns. + +Charles Moore, long and familiarly known as "Chancy Moore the Pilot," +was for many years, one of the most popular pilots on the Ohio and +Mississippi rivers. Mr. Moore made much money, and withdrew from his old +business, purchasing a large tract of land in Mercer County, Ohio, where +he has for the last ten or twelve years been farming. + +Mr. Moore was an honest man, and we believe upon him originated the +purely Western phrase, "Charley Moore the fair thing"; he always in his +dealings saying "gentlemen, do the _fair_ thing." + +Abner H. Francis and James Garrett were formerly extensive clothes +dealers in Buffalo, N.Y., doing business to the amount of sixty thousand +dollars annually. They were energetic, industrious, persevering +gentlemen, commencing business under very unfavorable circumstances, in +fact, commencing on but _seventy-five_ dollars, as the writer has been +authentically informed by the parties. + +They continued successfully for years, where their paper and +endorsements were good for any amount they wanted--highly respected and +esteemed; Mr. Francis sitting at one time as juryman in the court of +quarter sessions. These gentlemen failed in business in 1849, but since +then, have nearly adjusted the claims against them. Mr. Francis has +since settled in Oregon Territory, Portland City, where he is again +doing a fair mercantile business. They bid fair again to rank among the +"merchant princes" of the times. + +Robert Banks was for many years, a highly esteemed and extensive clothes +dealer, on Jefferson Avenue, in Detroit, Mich. No man was more highly +respected for unswerving integrity, and uprightness of purpose, than +Robert Banks, of Detroit. Mr. Banks, had much enlarged his business, +immediately succeeding a fire in which he was burnt out two years +previous to closing, which ensued in July, 1851, being the second time +he had lost his store by fire. He might have, had he done as merchants +usually do under such circumstances, continued his business; but +instead, he made an assignment, with few preferred creditors, rather as +he expressed it, ruin his business, than wilfully wrong a creditor. What +speaks volumes in his behalf, every person, even his greatest creditors +say, "He is an honest man"; and while settling the business of the late +concern, those to whom he was indebted, offered him assistance to +commence business again. But this he thankfully declined, preferring to +take his chance with others in the land of gold, California, where he +now is, than commence again under the circumstances. Doubtless, if no +special prevention ensue, Mr. Banks will be fully able to redeem his +present obligations, and once more be found prospering and happy. + +Henry Knight, of Chicago, commenced business in that city without +capital; but by industry, soon gained the esteem and confidence of the +public, making many friends. He fast rose in prosperity, until he became +the proprietor of the most extensive livery establishment in the city, +in which he had much capital invested. Determined to be equal to the +times, the growing prosperity of the city, and the demands of the +increasing pride of the place, he extended his possessions--erecting +costly buildings, besides increasing his stock and livery extensively. +He was burnt out--a pressure came upon him--he sold out his stock, staid +suits against himself; went to California, returned in a year and a +half--paid off old claims, saved his property--went back; opened a +California hotel, returned in less than one year with several thousand +dollars, and now stands entirely clear of all debt--and all this done in +the space of two and a half years. Mr. Knight is a man of business, and +will hold his position with others if he have but half a chance. With +such a man, there is "no such a thing as fail"--he could not again, if +he desired, because, his friends would not permit him. + + + + +XIV + +LATE MEN OF LITERARY, PROFESSIONAL AND ARTISTIC NOTE + + +Late Captain Frank Johnson, of Philadelphia, the most renowned band +leader ever known in the United States, was a man of science, and master +of his profession. In 1838, Captain Johnson went to England with his +noble band of musicians, where he met with great success--played to Her +Majesty Queen Victoria and His Royal Highness Prince Albert--Captain +Johnson receiving a handsome French bugle, by order of her Majesty, +valued at five hundred dollars--returning, he held throughout the +Eastern, Northern, and Western States, grand concerts, known as "Soirees +Musicales." He was a great composer and teacher of music, and some of +the finest Marches and Cotillions now extant, have been originally +composed by Captain Frank Johnson. On his Western tour, by some +awkwardness of management, he lost at Buffalo, original music in +manuscript, which never had been published--as much of his composition +had been; valued at one thousand dollars, which, although advertised, he +never got. But his name was sufficient to give additional value to the +prize; and there is no doubt, but the world is now being benefited by +the labors of Captain Johnson, the credit being given to others than +himself. This was an unfortunate circumstance, and had his amiable and +excellent widow, Mrs. Helen Johnson of Philadelphia, now this +composition, she could support herself in ease, by the sale of the +published work. Captain Frank Johnson, died in Philadelphia in 1844, +universally respected, and regretted as an irreparable loss to society. +At his death the band divided, different members taking a leadership. + +Andrew J. Conner, one of the members of Captain Johnson's band, also +became a distinguished composer and teacher of music. Mr. Conner taught +the piano forte in the best families in the city of Philadelphia--among +merchants, bankers, and professional men. He contributed to the popular +literary Magazines of the day, and very many who have read in Graham's +and other literary issues, "Music composed by A.J. Conner," did not for +a moment think that the author was a colored gentleman. Mr. Conner died +in Philadelphia in 1850. + +James Ulett, formerly of New York, became quite celebrated a few years +since, as a comedian. He played several times in the old "Richmond Hill" +Theatre, and quite successfully in Europe. Mr. Ulett was not well +educated, and consequently, labored under considerable inconvenience in +reading, frequently making grammatical blunders, as the writer noticed +in a private rehearsal, in 1836, in the city of New York. He, however, +possessed great intellectual powers, and his success depended more upon +that, than his accuracy in reading. Of course, he was a great delineator +of character, which being the principal feature in a comedian, his +language was lost sight of in common conversation. Mr. Ulett died in New +York a few years ago. + +Doctor Lewis G. Wells was a most talented orator and man of literary +qualifications. Residing in Baltimore, Maryland, he raised himself high +in the estimation of all who knew him. He studied medicine, and was +admitted into the Washington Medical College, attending the regular +courses, and would have graduated, but for some misunderstanding +between himself and the professors, which prevented it. He was a most +successful practitioner, and effected more cures during the prevalence +of the cholera in 1832, than any other physician in the city. Doctor +Wells was also a most successful practical phrenologist, and lectured to +large and fashionable houses of the first class ladies and gentlemen of +Baltimore, and other cities. Being a great wit, he kept his audiences in +uproars of laughter. Mr. Wells was also an ordained minister of the +Gospel, belonging to the white Methodist connexion; and was author of +several productions, among them, a large Methodist hymn book, containing +several fine original poems. Dr. Wells died the same year of cholera, +after successfully saving many others, because there was no physician at +that time who understood the treatment of the disease. + + + + +XV + +FARMERS AND HERDSMEN + + +Little need be said about farmers; there are hundreds of them in all +parts of the country, especially in the Western States; still these may +not be considered of a conspicuous or leading character--albeit, they +are contributing largely to the wants of community, and wealth of the +country at large. Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and +Indiana, all, are largely represented by the farming interests of +colored men. We shall name but a sufficient number to show the character +of their enterprise in this department of American industry. + +Rev. William Watson, of Cincinnati, Ohio, is the owner of a fine farm in +Mercer county, and six hundred acres of additional land. + +Mr. Richard Phillips, of the same city, is owner of a fine farm in the +same county, and three hundred and fifty additional acres of land. + +Rev. Reuben P. Graham, of Cincinnati, owns a finely cultivated farm in +Mercer county, three hundred acres of adjoining land; and one near +Cincinnati. + +Mr. John Woodson, of Jackson county, is one of the most successful +farmers in the State of Ohio. Having a large tract of land, he has one +of the best cultivated farms in the West, in a most productive state, +raising grains, fruits, and livestock. In the year 1842, his farm +produced that season, three thousand bushels of wheat, several hundred +bushels of rye, eleven hundred bushels of oats, large crops of corn, +potatoes, and other vegetables; large quantities of fruits, three +hundred stacks of hay, with a large stock of several hundred heads of +cattle on the place. Mr. Woodson has for many years, been a highly +respectable man in his neighborhood, and continues his farming interests +with unabated success. + +Dr. Charles Henry Langston, of Columbus, Ohio, is also the proprietor of +a very fine farm of eleven hundred acres, in Jackson county, upon which +he has a white tenant. This gentleman is a surgeon-dentist by +profession, educated at Oberlin College, making his home in Columbus. + +Robert Purvis, Esq., a gentleman of collegiate education, is proprietor +of one of the best improved farms in Philadelphia county, fifteen miles +from Philadelphia. His cattle consist of the finest English breed. + +Joseph Purvis, Esq., of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, a gentleman also of +education and wealth, is an amateur stock farmer. Every animal on Mr. +Purvis' farm is of the very best breed--Godolphin horses, Durham cattle, +Leicestershire sheep, Berkshire swine, even English bull-terrier dogs, +and whatever else pertains to the blooded breeds of brutes, may be found +on the farm of Joseph Purvis. Mr. Purvis supplies a great many farmers +with choice breeds of cattle, and it is said that he spends ten thousand +dollars annually, in the improvement of his stocks. + +Robert Briges Forten, also of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, is an amateur +farmer. Mr. Forten is a gentleman of fine education, a pure, chaste +poet, and attends to farming for the love of nature. He is a valuable +member of the farming enterprise in the country. + +If such evidence of industry and interest, as has been exhibited in the +various chapters on the different pursuits and engagements of colored +Americans, do not entitle them to equal rights and privileges in our +common country, then indeed, is there nothing to justify the claims of +any portion of the American people to the common inheritance of Liberty. + +We proceed to another view of our condition in the United States. + + + + +XVI + +NATIONAL DISFRANCHISEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE + + +We give below the Act of Congress, known as the "Fugitive Slave Law," +for the benefit of the reader, as there are thousands of the American +people of all classes, who have never read the provisions of this +enactment; and consequently, have no conception of its enormity. We had +originally intended, also, to have inserted here, the Act of Congress of +1793, but since this Bill includes all the provisions of that Act, in +fact, although called a "supplement," is a substitute, _de facto_, it +would be superfluous; therefore, we insert the Bill alone, with +explanations following:-- + + AN ACT + + TO AMEND, AND SUPPLEMENTARY TO THE ACT, ENTITLED, "AN ACT + RESPECTING FUGITIVES FROM JUSTICE, AND PERSONS ESCAPING FROM THE + SERVICE OF THEIR MASTERS," APPROVED FEBRUARY 12, 1793. + + _Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the + United States of America in Congress assembled_, That the persons + who have been, or may hereafter be, appointed commissioners, in + virtue of any act of Congress, by the circuit courts of the United + States, and who, in consequence of such appointment, are authorized + to exercise the powers that any justice of the peace or other + magistrate of any of the United States may exercise in respect to + offenders for any crime or offence against the United States, by + arresting, imprisoning, or bailing the same under and by virtue of + the thirty-third section of the act of the twenty-fourth of + September, seventeen hundred and eighty-nine, entitled "An act to + establish the judicial courts of the United States," shall be, and + are hereby authorized and required to exercise and discharge all + the powers and duties conferred by this act. + + SEC. 2. _And be it further enacted_, That the superior court of + each organized territory of the United States shall have the same + power to appoint commissioners to take acknowledgments of bail and + affidavit, and to take depositions of witnesses in civil causes, + which is now possessed by the circuit courts of the United States; + and all commissioners who shall hereafter be appointed for such + purposes by the superior court of any organized territory of the + United States shall possess all the powers and exercise all the + duties conferred by law upon the commissioners appointed by the + circuit courts of the United States for similar purposes, and shall + moreover exercise and discharge all the powers and duties conferred + by this act. + + SEC. 3. _And be it further enacted_, That the circuit courts of the + United States, and the superior courts of each organized territory + of the United States, shall from time to time enlarge the number of + commissioners, with a view to afford reasonable facilities to + reclaim fugitives from labor, and to the prompt discharge of the + duties imposed by this act. + + SEC. 4. _And be it further enacted_, That the commissioners above + named shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the judges of the + circuit and district courts of the United States, in their + respective circuits and districts within the several States, and + the judges of the superior courts of the Territories, severally and + collectively, in term time and vacation; and shall grant + certificates to such claimants, upon satisfactory proof being made, + with authority to take and remove such fugitives from service or + labor, under the restrictions herein contained, to the State or + territory from which such persons may have escaped or fled. + + SEC. 5. _And be it further enacted_, That it shall be the duty of + all marshals and deputy marshals to obey and execute all warrants + and precepts issued under the provisions of this act, when to them + directed; and should any marshal or deputy marshal refuse to + receive such warrant or other process, when tendered, or to use all + proper means diligently to execute the same, he shall, on + conviction thereof, be fined in the sum of one thousand dollars to + the use of such claimant, on the motion of such claimant, by the + circuit or district court for the district of such marshal; and + after arrest of such fugitive by such marshal or his deputy, or + whilst at any time in his custody, under the provisions of this + act, should such fugitive escape, whether with or without the + assent of such marshal or his deputy, such marshal shall be liable, + on his official bond, to be prosecuted, for the benefit of such + claimant for the full value of the service or labor of said + fugitive in the State, Territory, or district whence he escaped; + and the better to enable the said commissioners, when thus + appointed, to execute their duties faithfully and efficiently, in + conformity with the requirements of the constitution of the United + States and of this art, they are hereby authorized and empowered, + within their counties respectively, to appoint in writing under + their hands, any one or more suitable persons, from time to time, + to execute all such warrants and other process as may be issued by + them in the lawful performance of their respective duties; with an + authority to such commissioners, or the persons to be appointed by + them, to execute process as aforesaid, to summon and call to their + aid the bystanders, or _posse comitatus_ of the proper county, + when necessary to insure a faithful observance of the clause of the + constitution referred to, in conformity with the provisions of this + act: and all good citizens are hereby commanded to aid and assist + in the prompt and efficient execution of this law, whenever their + services may be required, as aforesaid, for that person; and said + warrants shall run and be executed by said officers anywhere in the + State within which they are issued. + + SEC. 6. _And be it further enacted_, That when a person held to + service or labor in any State or Territory of the United States has + heretofore or shall hereafter escape into another State or + Territory of the United States, the person or persons to whom such + service or labor may be due, or his, her, or their agent or + attorney, duly authorized, by power of attorney, in writing, + acknowledged and certified under the seal of some legal office or + court of the State or Territory in which the game may be executed, + may pursue and reclaim such fugitive person, either by procuring a + warrant from some one of the courts, judges, or commissioners + aforesaid, of the proper circuit, district or county, for the + apprehension of such fugitive from service or labor, or by seizing + and arresting such fugitive, where the same can be done without + process, and by taking and causing such person to be taken + forthwith before such court, judge or commissioner, whose duty it + shall be to hear and determine the case of such claimant in a + summary manner; and upon satisfactory proof being made, by + deposition or affidavit, in writing, to be taken and certified by + such court, judge, or commissioner, or by other satisfactory + testimony, duly taken and certified by some court, magistrate, + justice of the peace, or other legal officer authorized to + administer an oath, and take depositions under the laws of the + State or Territory from which such person owing service or labor + may have escaped, with a certificate of such magistracy or other + authority, as aforesaid, with the seal of the proper court or + officer thereto attached, which seal shall be sufficient to + establish the competency of the proof, and with proof, also by + affidavit, of the identity of the person whose service or labor is + claimed to be due as aforesaid, that the person so arrested does in + fact owe service or labor to the person or persons claiming him or + her, in the State or Territory from which such fugitive may have + escaped as aforesaid, and that said person escaped, to make out and + deliver to such claimant, his or her agent or attorney, a + certificate setting forth the substantial facts as to the service + or labor due from such fugitive to the claimant, and of his or her + escape from the State or Territory in which such service or labor + was due to the State or Territory in which he or she was arrested, + with authority to such claimant, or his or her agent or attorney to + use such reasonable force and restraint as may be necessary under + the circumstances of the case, to take and remove such fugitive + person back to the State or Territory from whence he or she may + have escaped as aforesaid. In no trial or hearing under this act + shall the testimony of such alleged fugitive be admitted in + evidence; and the certificates in this and the first section + mentioned shall be conclusive of the right of the person or persons + in whose favor granted to remove such fugitive to the State or + Territory from which he escaped, and shall prevent all molestation + of said person or persons by any process issued by any court, + judge, magistrate, or other person whomsoever. + + SEC. 7. _And be it further enacted_, That any person who shall + knowingly and willingly obstruct, hinder, or prevent such claimant, + his agent or attorney, or any person or persons lawfully assisting + him, her, or them, from arresting such a fugitive from service or + labor, either with or without process as aforesaid; or shall + rescue, or attempt to rescue such fugitive from service or labor, + from the custody of such claimant, his or her agent or attorney or + other person or persons lawfully assisting as aforesaid, when so + arrested, pursuant to the authority herein given and declared: or + shall aid, abet, or assist such person, so owing service or labor + as aforesaid, directly or indirectly, to escape from such claimant, + his agent or attorney, or other person or persons, legally + authorized as aforesaid; or shall harbor or conceal such fugitive, + so as to prevent the discovery and arrest of such person, after + notice or knowledge of the fact that such person was a fugitive + from service or labor as aforesaid, shall, for either of said + offences, be subject to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, + and imprisonment not exceeding six months, by indictment and + conviction before the district court of the United States for the + district in which such offence may have been committed, or before + the proper court of criminal jurisdiction, if committed within any + one of the organized territories of the United States; and shall + moreover forfeit and pay, by way of civil damages to the party + injured by such illegal conduct, the sum of one thousand dollars + for each fugitive so lost as aforesaid, to be recovered by action + of debt in any of the district or territorial courts aforesaid, + within whose jurisdiction the said offence may have been committed. + + SEC. 8. _And be it further enacted_, That the marshals, their + deputies, and the clerks of the said district and territorial + courts, shall be paid for their services the like fees as may be + allowed to them for similar services in other cases; and where such + services rendered exclusively in the arrest, custody, and delivery + of the fugitive to the claimant, his or her agent or attorney, or + where such supposed fugitive may be discharged out of custody for + the want of sufficient proof as aforesaid, then such fees are to be + paid in the whole by such claimant, his agent or attorney; and in + all cases where the proceedings are before a commissioner, he shall + be entitled to a fee of ten dollars in full for his services in + each case, upon delivery of the said certificate to the claimant, + his or her agent or attorney; or a fee of five dollars in cases + where the proof shall not, in the opinion of such commissioner, + warrant such certificate and delivery, inclusive of all services + incident to such arrest and examination, to be paid in either case, + by the claimant, his or her agent or attorney. The person or + persons authorized to execute the process to be issued by such + commissioners for the arrest and detention of fugitives from + service or labor as aforesaid, shall also be entitled to a fee of + five dollars each for each person he or they may arrest and take + before any such commissioner as aforesaid at the instance and + request of such claimant, with such other fees as may be deemed + reasonable by such commissioner for such other additional services + as may be necessarily performed by him or them: such as attending + to the examination, keeping the fugitive in custody, and providing + him with food and lodging during his detention, and until the final + determination of such commissioner; and in general for performing + such other duties as may be required by such claimant, his or her + attorney or agent, or commissioner in the premises; such fees to be + made up in conformity with the fees usually charged by the officers + of the courts of justice within the proper district or county, as + near as may be practicable, and paid by such claimants, their + agents or attorneys, whether such supposed fugitive from service or + labor be ordered to be delivered to such claimants by the final + determination of such commissioners or not. + + SEC. 9. _And be it further enacted_, That upon affidavit made by + the claimant of such fugitive, his agent or attorney, after such + certificate has been issued, that he has reason to apprehend that + such fugitive will be rescued by force from his or their possession + before he can be taken beyond the limits of the State in which the + arrest is made, it shall be the duty of the officer making the + arrest to retain such fugitive in his custody, and to remove him to + the State whence he fled, and there to deliver him to said + claimant, his agent or attorney. And to this end the officer + aforesaid is hereby authorized and required to employ so many + persons as he may deem necessary, to overcome such force, and to + retain them in his service so long as circumstances may require; + the said officer and his assistants, while so employed, to receive + the same compensation, and to be allowed the same expenses as are + now allowed by law for the transportation of criminals, to be + certified by the judge of the district within which the arrest is + made, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. + + SEC. 10. _And be it further enacted_, That when any person held to + service or labor in any State or Territory, or in the District of + Columbia, shall escape therefrom, the party to whom such service or + labor shall be due, his, her, or their agent or attorney may apply + to any court of record therein, or judge thereof, in vacation, and + make satisfactory proof to such court, or judge, in vacation, of + the escape aforesaid, and that the person escaping owed service or + labor to such party. Whereupon the court shall cause a record to be + made of the matters so proved, and also a general description of + the person so escaping, with such convenient certainty as may be; + and a transcript of such record authenticated by the attestation of + the clerk, and of the seal of the said court, being produced in any + other State, Territory, or District in which the person so escaping + may be found, and being exhibited to any judge, commissioner, or + other officer, authorized by the law of the United States to cause + persons escaping from service or labor to be delivered up, shall be + held and taken to be full and conclusive evidence of the fact of + escape, and that the service or labor of the person escaping is due + to the party in such record mentioned. And upon the production by + the said party of other and further evidence, if necessary, either + oral or by affidavit, in addition to what is contained in the said + record of the identity of the person escaping, he or she shall be + delivered up to the claimant. And the said court, commissioner, + judge or other person authorized by this act to grant certificates + to claimants of fugitives, shall, upon the production of the record + and other evidences aforesaid, grant to such claimant a certificate + of his right to take any such person identified and proved to be + owing service or labor as aforesaid, which certificate shall + authorize such claimant to seize or arrest and transport such + person to the State or Territory from which he escaped: _Provided_, + That nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring the + production of a transcript of such record as evidence as aforesaid; + but in its absence, the claim shall be heard and determined upon + other satisfactory proofs competent in law. + + HOWELL COBB, + _Speaker of the House of Representatives_. + + WILLIAM R. KING, + _President of the Senate, pro tempore_. + +Approved September 18, 1850. + MILLARD FILLMORE. + + +The most prominent provisions of the Constitution of the United States, +and those which form the fundamental basis of personal security, are +they which provide, that every person shall be secure in their person +and property: that no person may be deprived of liberty without due +process of law, and that for crime or misdemeanor; that there may be no +process of law that shall work corruption of blood. By corruption of +blood is meant, that process, by which a person is _degraded_ and +deprived of rights common to the enfranchised citizen--of the rights of +an elector, and of eligibility to the office of a representative, of the +people; in a word, that no person nor their posterity, may ever be +debased beneath the level of the recognised basis of American +citizenship. This debasement and degradation is "corruption of blood"; +politically understood--a legal acknowledgement of inferiority of birth. + +Heretofore, it ever has been denied, that the United States recognised +or knew any difference between the people--that the Constitution makes +no distinction, but includes in its provisions, all the people alike. +This is not true, and certainly is blind absurdity in us at least, who +have suffered the dread consequences of this delusion, not now to see +it. + +By the provisions of this bill, the colored people of the United States +are positively degraded beneath the level of the whites--are made liable +at any time, in any place, and under all circumstances, to be +arrested--and upon the claim of any white person, without the privilege, +even of making a defence, sent into endless bondage. Let no visionary +nonsense about _habeas corpus_, or a _fair trial_, deceive us; there are +no such rights granted in this bill, and except where the commissioner +is too ignorant to understand when reading it, or too stupid to enforce +it when he does understand, there is no earthly chance--no hope under +heaven for the colored person who is brought before one of these +officers of the law. Any leniency that may be expected, must proceed +from the whims or caprice of the magistrate--in fact, it is optional +with them; and _our_ rights and liberty entirely at their disposal. + +We are slaves in the midst of freedom, waiting patiently, and +unconcernedly--indifferently and stupidly, for masters to come and lay +claim to us, trusting to their generosity, whether or not they will own +us and carry us into endless bondage. + +The slave is more secure than we; he knows who holds the heel upon his +bosom--we know not the wretch who may grasp us by the throat. His master +may be a man of some conscientious scruples; ours may be unmerciful. +Good or bad, mild or harsh, easy or hard, lenient or severe, saint or +satan--whenever that master demands any one of us--even our affectionate +wives and darling little children, _we must go into slavery_--there is +_no alternative_. The _will_ of the man who sits in judgment on our +liberty, is the law. To him is given _all power_ to say, whether or not +we have a right to enjoy freedom. This is the power over the slave in +the South--this is now extended to the North. The will of the man who +sits in judgment over us is the law; because it is explicitly provided +that the _decision_ of the commissioner shall be final, from which there +can be no appeal. + +The freed man of the South is even more secure than the freeborn of the +North; because such persons usually have their records in the slave +states, bringing their "papers" with them; and the slaveholders will be +faithful to their own acts. The Northern freeman knows no records; he +despises the "papers." + +Depend upon no promised protection of citizens in any quarter. Their own +property and liberty are jeopardised, and they will not sacrifice them +for us. This we may not expect them to do. + +Besides, there are no people who ever lived, love their country and obey +their laws as the Americans. + +Their country is their Heaven--their Laws their Scriptures--and the +decrees of their Magistrates obeyed as the fiat of God. It is the most +consummate delusion and misdirected confidence to depend upon them for +protection; and for a moment suppose even our children safe while +walking in the streets among them. + +A people capable of originating and sustaining such a law as this, are +not the people to whom we are willing to entrust our liberty at +discretion. + +What can we do? What shall we do? This is the great and important +question:--Shall we submit to be dragged like brutes before heartless +men, and sent into degradation and bondage?--Shall we fly, or shall we +resist? Ponder well and reflect. + +A learned jurist in the United States, (Chief Justice John Gibson of +Pennsylvania,) lays down this as a fundamental right in the United +States: that "Every man's house is his castle, and he has the right to +defend it unto the taking of life, against any attempt to enter it +against his will, except for crime," by well authenticated process. + +But we have no such right. It was not intended for us, any more than any +other provision of the law, intended for the protection of Americans. +The policy is against us--it is useless to contend against it. + +This is the law of the land and must be obeyed; and we candidly advise +that it is useless for us to contend against it. To suppose its repeal, +is to anticipate an overthrow of the Confederative Union; and we must be +allowed an expression of opinion, when we say, that candidly we believe, +the existence of the Fugitive Slave Law _necessary_ to the continuance +of the National Compact. This Law is the foundation of the +Compromise--remove it, and the consequences are easily determined. We +say necessary to the continuance of the National Compact: certainly we +will not be understood as meaning that the enactment of such a Law was +_really_ necessary, or as favoring in the least this political +monstrosity of the THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS of the UNITED STATES OF +AMERICA--surely not at all; but we speak logically and politically, +leaving morality and right out of the question--taking our position on +the acknowledged popular, basis of American Policy; arguing from premise +to conclusion. We must abandon all vague theory, and look at _facts_ as +they really are; viewing ourselves in our true political position in the +body politic. To imagine ourselves to be included in the body politic, +except by express legislation, is at war with common sense, and contrary +to fact. Legislation, the administration of the laws of the country, and +the exercise of rights by the people, all prove to the contrary. We are +politically, not of them, but aliens to the laws and political +privileges of the country. These are truths--fixed facts, that quaint +theory and exhausted moralising, are impregnable to, and fall harmlessly +before. + +It is useless to talk about our rights in individual States: we can have +no rights here as citizens, not recognised in our common country; as the +citizens of one State, are entitled to all the rights and privileges of +an American citizen in all the States--the nullity of the one +necessarily implying the nullity of the other. These provisions then do +not include the colored people of the United States; since there is no +power left in them, whereby they may protect us as their own citizens. +Our descent, by the laws of the country, stamps us with +inferiority--upon us has this law worked _corruption of blood_. We are +in the hands of the General Government, and no State can rescue us. The +Army and Navy stand at the service of our enslavers, the whole force of +which, may at any moment--even in the dead of night, as has been +done--when sunk in the depth of slumber, called out for the purpose of +forcing our mothers, sisters, wives, and children, or ourselves, into +hopeless servitude, there to weary out a miserable life, a relief from +which, death would be hailed with joy. Heaven and earth--God and +Humanity!--are not these sufficient to arouse the most worthless among +mankind, of whatever descent, to a sense of their true position? These +laws apply to us--shall we not be aroused? + +What then shall we do?--what is the remedy--is the important question to +be answered? + +This important inquiry we shall answer, and find a remedy in when +treating of the emigration of the colored people. + + + + +XVII + +EMIGRATION OF THE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES + + +That there have been people in all ages under certain circumstances, +that may be benefited by emigration, will be admitted; and that there +are circumstances under which emigration is absolutely necessary to +their political elevation, cannot be disputed. + +This we see in the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt to the land of Judea; +in the expedition of Dido and her followers from Tyro to Mauritania; and +not to dwell upon hundreds of modern European examples--also in the ever +memorable emigration of the Puritans, in 1620, from Great Britain, the +land of their birth, to the wilderness of the New World, at which may be +fixed the beginning of emigration to this continent as a permanent +residence. + +This may be acknowledged; but to advocate the emigration of the colored +people of the United States from their native homes, is a new feature in +our history, and at first view, may be considered objectionable, as +pernicious to our interests. This objection is at once removed, when +reflecting on our condition as incontrovertibly shown in a foregoing +part of this work. And we shall proceed at once to give the advantages +to be derived from emigration, to us as a people, in preference to any +other policy that we may adopt. This granted, the question will then be, +Where shall we go? This we conceive to be all important--of paramount +consideration, and shall endeavor to show the most advantageous +locality; and premise the recommendation, with the strictest advice +against any countenance whatever, to the emigration scheme of the so +called Republic of Liberia. + + + + +XVIII + +"REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA" + + +That we desire the civilization and enlightenment of Africa--the high +and elevated position of Liberia among the nations of the earth, may not +be doubted, as the writer was among the first, seven or eight years ago, +to make the suggestion and call upon the Liberians to hold up their +heads like men; take courage, having confidence in their own capacity to +govern themselves, and come out from their disparaging position, by +formally declaring their Independence. + +As our desire is to impart information, and enlighten the minds of our +readers on the various subjects herein contained, we present below a +large extract from the "First Annual Report of the Trustees of Donations +for Education in Liberia." This Extract will make a convenient statistic +reference for matters concerning Liberia. We could only wish that many +of our readers possessed more historical and geographical information of +the world, and there could be little fears of their going anywhere that +might be incongenial and unfavorable to their success. We certainly do +intend to deal fairly with Liberia, and give the reader every +information that may tend to enlighten them. What the colored people +most need, is _intelligence_; give them this, and there is no danger of +them being duped into anything they do not desire. This Board was +incorporated by the Legislature of Massachusetts, March 19th, +1850--Ensign H. Kellogg, Speaker of the House, Marshall P. Wilder, +President of the Senate. Trustees of the Board--Hon. George N. Briggs, +LL.D., Hon. Simon Greenleaf, LL.D., Hon. Stephen Fairbanks, Hon. William +J. Hubbard, Hon. Joel Giles, Hon. Albert Fearing, Amos A. Lawrence, Esq. +Officers of the Board--Hon. G.N. Briggs, President; Hon. S. Fairbanks, +Treasurer; Rev. J. Tracy, Secretary. The conclusion of the Report +says:--"In view of such considerations, the Trustees cannot doubt the +patrons of learning will sustain them in their attempt to plant the +FIRST COLLEGE on the _only_ continent which yet remains _without_ one." +In this, the learned Trustees have fallen into a statistical and +geographical error, which we design to correct. The _continent_ is _not +without_ a College. There are now in Egypt, erected under the patronage +of that singularly wonderful man, Mehemet Ahi, four colleges conducted +on the European principle--Scientific, Medical, Legal, and Military.[4] +These are in successful operation; the Military College having an +average of eleven hundred students annually. The continent of Africa +then, is not without a college, but though benighted enough, even to an +apparent hopeless degeneration, she is still the seat of learning, and +must some day rise, in the majesty of ancient grandeur, and vindicate +the rights and claims of her own children, against the incalculable +wrongs perpetrated through the period of sixty ages by professedly +enlightened Christians, against them. + + A glance at the map will show a sharp bend in this coast at Cape + Palmas, from which it extends, on time one side, about 1,100 miles + north-west and north, and on the other, about 1,200 or 1,300 almost + directly east. In this bend is the Maryland Colony of Cape Palmas, + with a jurisdiction extending nearly 100 miles eastward. This + Colony is bounded on the north-west by the Republic of Liberia, + which extends along the coast about 400 miles to Sherbro. These two + governments will ultimately be united in one Republic, and may be + considered as one, for all the purposes of this inquiry. The extent + of their united sea-coast is about 520 miles. The jurisdiction of + the Republic over the four hundred miles or more which it claims, + has been formally acknowledged by several of the leading powers of + Europe, and is questioned by none. To almost the whole of it, the + native title has been extinguished; the natives, however, still + occupying, as citizens, such portions of it as they need. + + The civilized population of these governments, judging from the + census of 1843, and other information, is some 7,000 or 8,000. Of + the heathen population, no census has ever been taken; but it + probably exceeds 300,000. + + The grade of Liberian civilization may be estimated from the fact, + that the people have formed a republican government, and so + administer it, as to secure the confidence of European governments + in its stability. The native tribes who have merged themselves in + the Republic, have all bound themselves to receive and encourage + teachers; and some of them have insisted on the insertion, in their + treaties of annexation, of pledges that teachers and other means of + civilization shall be furnished. + + Our accounts of churches, clergy and schools are defective, but + show the following significant facts: + + The clergy of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Liberia are nearly + all Liberian citizens, serving as missionaries of the Methodist + Missionary Society in the United States. The last Report of that + Society gives the names of fifteen missionaries, having in charge + nine circuits, in which are 882 members in full communion, and 235 + probationers; total, 1,117. They have 20 Sabbath Schools, with 114 + officers and teachers, 810 scholars, and 507 volumes in their + libraries. They have a Manual Labor School and Female Academy. The + number of Day Schools is not reported; but seven of the + missionaries are reported as superintendents of schools, and the + same number have under their charge several "native towns," in some + of which there are schools. The late superintendent of the missions + writes:-- + + "It appears plain to my mind, that nothing can now retard the + progress of our missions in this land, unless it be the want of a + good high school, in which to rear up an abundant supply of well + qualified teachers, to supply, as they shall rapidly increase in + number, all your schools." + + The Baptists are next in number to the Methodists. The Northern + Baptist Board, having its seat in Boston, has in Liberia one + mission, two out-stations, one boarding school, and two day + schools, with about twenty scholars each, one native preacher, and + four native assistants. The whole mission is in the hands of + converted natives. The Southern Board operates more extensively. + More than a year since, the Rev. John Day, its principal agent + there, reported to the Rev. R.R. Gurley, United States Commissioner + to Liberia, as follows: + + "In our schools are taught, say, 330 children, 92 of whom are + natives. To more than 10,000 natives, the Word of Life is statedly + preached; and in every settlement in these colonies, we have a + church, to whom the means of grace are administered; and in every + village we have an interesting Sunday school, where natives as well + as colonists are taught the truths of God's word. Say, in our + Sunday schools, are taught 400 colonists, and 200 natives.... We + have this year baptized 18 natives and 7 colonists, besides what + have been baptized by Messrs. Murray and Drayton, from whom I have + had no report." + + The missionaries are all, or nearly all, Liberian citizens. + + The Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the United + States has five missionaries at four stations in Liberia. The first + is at Monrovia, under the care of the Rev. Harrison W. Ellis, well + known as "the Learned Black Blacksmith." While a slave in Alabama, + and working at his trade as a blacksmith, he acquired all the + education, in English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Theology, which is + required for ordination as a Presbyterian minister. The + Presbyterians of that region then bought him, and sent him out as a + missionary. His assistant, Mr. B.V.R. James, a colored man, was for + some years a printer in the service of the American Board at their + mission at Cape Palmas and the Gaboon River. He first went to + Liberia as a teacher, supported by a society of ladies in New York. + In the Presbyterian Church under the care of Mr. Ellis are 39 + communicants. During the year, 24 had been added, and 8 had been + dismissed to form a new church in another place. Mr. Ellis also has + charge of the "Alexander High School," which is intended mainly for + teaching the rudiments of a classical education. This institution + has an excellent iron school-house, given by a wealthy citizen of + New York, at the cost of one thousand dollars, and a library and + philosophical apparatus, which cost six hundred dollars, given by a + gentleman in one of the southern States. The library contains a + supply of classical works, probably equal to the wants of the + school for some years. The land needed for the accommodation of the + school was given by the government of Liberia. The number of + scholars appears to be between twenty and thirty, a part of whom + support themselves by their daily labor. The English High School + under the care of Mr. James, had, according to the last Annual + Report, 52 scholars. At a later date, the number in both schools + was 78. Mr. James has also a large Sabbath school; but the number + of pupils is not given. + + The second station is at the new settlement of Kentucky, on the + right or north bank of the St. Paul's, about fifteen miles from + Monrovia, and six miles below Millsburgh. The missionary is a + Liberian, Mr. H.W. Erskine. On a lot of ten acres, given by the + government, buildings on an economical scale have been erected, in + which is a school of twenty scholars. A church was organized in + November, 1849, with eight members from the church in Monrovia. + They have since increased to fourteen. Here, too, is a flourishing + Sabbath school. The citizens, and especially the poor natives in + the neighbourhood, are extremely anxious that a boarding school + should be established. To this the Committee having charge of this + mission objects, as the expense for buildings and for the support + of pupils would be great, and would absorb funds that can be more + profitably expended on day schools. + + The third station is on the Sinou river, 150 miles down the coast + from Monrovia, where, at the mouth of the river, is the town of + Greenville, and a few miles higher up, the newer settlements of + Readville and Rossville. It is under the care of the Rev. James M. + Priest. The number of communicants, at the latest date, was thirty, + and the field of labor was rapidly enlarging by immigration. The + station is new, and it does not appear that any mission school had + yet been organized. + + The fourth station is at Settra Kroo, where there are five or six + miles of coast, to which the native title has not yet been + extinguished. This station has been maintained for some years, at a + lamentable expense of the lives and health of white missionaries. + About 200 boys and a few girls have been taught to read. The + station is now under the care of Mr. Washington McDonogh, formerly + a slave of the late John McDonogh, of Louisiana, so well known for + the immense estate which he has bequeathed to benevolent purposes. + He was well educated, and with more than eighty others, sent out + some years since at his master's expense. He has a school of + fifteen scholars, with the prospect of a large increase. + + The mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church is located in the + Maryland Colony at Cape Palmas. Its last Report specifies seven + schools, and alludes to several others, in actual operation; all + containing from 200 to 300 scholars, of whom about 100 are in one + Sabbath school. Five other schools had been projected, and have + probably gone into operation since that time. The greater part of + the pupils are from native families. The Report states the number + of communicants at sixty-seven, of whom forty are natives. A High + school was opened January 1, 1850. + + The laws of the Republic of Liberia provide for a common school in + every town. It is supposed, however, that where there is a mission + school, accessible to all children of suitable age, no other school + exists; so that, in fact, nearly all the common schools in Liberia + are connected with the different missions, the missionaries have + the superintendence of their studies, and the Missionary Societies + defray a large portion of the expense. Yet it must be remembered + that a large majority of the missionaries are citizens of the + Republic, and some of them native Africans; so that the immediate + control of the schools is not generally in foreign hands. A + portion, also, of the missionary funds, is contributed in Liberia; + and something is paid by parents for the tuition of their children. + Yet the Republic evidently needs an educational system more + independent of missionary aid and control; and for that purpose, + needs a supply of teachers who are not raised up in mission + schools. And we have it in testimony, that the missions themselves + might be more efficient for good, if well supplied with teachers of + higher qualifications. + + Here, then, we have a Republic of some 300,000 inhabitants, of whom + 7,000 or 8,000 may be regarded as civilized, and the remainder as + having a right to expect, and a large part of them actually + expecting and demanding the means of civilization and Christianity. + We have,--supplying as well as we can by estimate, the numbers not + definitely given,--more than 2,000 communicants in Christian + churches, and more than 1,500 children in Sabbath Schools; some 40 + day schools containing, exclusive of the Methodists, who are the + most numerous, and of whose numbers in school we have no report, + about 635 scholars. The whole number in day schools, therefore, is + probably not less than 1,200. We have the Alexander High School at + Monrovia, where instruction is given to some extent in the + classics; the English High School, at the same place, under Mr. + James; the Methodist Manual Labor School and Female Academy at + Millsburg; the Baptist Boarding School at Bexley; and the + Protestant Episcopal High School at Cape Palmas. These institutions + must furnish some students for a higher seminary, such as we + propose to establish; and such a population must need their labors + when educated. + +However foreign to the designs of the writer of ever making that country +or any other out of America, his home; had this been done, and honorably +maintained, the Republic of Liberia would have met with words of +encouragement, not only from himself, an humble individual, but we dare +assert, from the leading spirits among, if not from the whole colored +population of the United States. Because they would have been willing to +overlook the circumstances under which they went there, so that in the +end, they were willing to take their stand as men, and thereby throw off +the degradation of slaves, still under the control of American +slave-holders, and American slave-ships. But in this, we were +disappointed--grievously disappointed, and proceed to show in short, our +objections to Liberia. + +_Its geographical position_, in the first place, is objectionable, +being located in the _sixth degree_ of latitude North of the equator, in +a district signally unhealthy, rendering it objectionable as a place of +destination for the colored people of the United States. We shall say +nothing about other parts of the African coast, and the reasons for its +location where it is: it is enough for us to know the facts as they are, +to justify an unqualified objection to Liberia. + +In the second place, it originated in a deep laid scheme of the +slaveholders of the country, to _exterminate_ the free colored of the +American continent; the origin being sufficient to justify us in +impugning the motives. + +Thirdly and lastly--Liberia is not an Independent Republic: in fact, _it +is not_ an independent nation at all; but a poor _miserable mockery_--a +_burlesque_ on a government--a pitiful dependency on the American +Colonizationists, the Colonization Board at Washington city, in the +District of Columbia, being the Executive and Government, and the +principal man, called President, in Liberia, being the echo--a mere +parrot of Rev. Robert R. Gurley, Elliot Cresson, Esq., Governor Pinney, +and other leaders of the Colonization scheme--to do as they bid, and say +what they tell him. This we see in all of his doings. + +Does he go to France and England, and enter into solemn treaties of an +honorable recognition of the independence of his country; before his own +nation has any knowledge of the result, this man called President, +dispatches an official report to the Colonizationists of the United +States, asking their gracious approval? Does king Grando, or a party of +fishermen besiege a village and murder some of the inhabitants, this +same "President," dispatches an official report to the American +Colonization Board, asking for instructions--who call an Executive +Session of the Board, and immediately decide that war must be waged +against the enemy, placing ten thousand dollars at his disposal--and war +_actually declared in Liberia_, by virtue of the _instructions_ of the +_American Colonization Society_. A mockery of a government--a disgrace +to the office pretended to be held--a parody on the position assumed. +Liberia in Africa, is a mere dependency of Southern slaveholders, and +American Colonizationists, and unworthy of any respectful consideration +from us. + +What would be thought of the people of Hayti, and their heads of +government, if their instructions emanated from the American +Anti-Slavery Society, or the British Foreign Missionary Board? Should +they be respected at all as a nation? Would they be worthy of it? +Certainly not. We do not expect Liberia to be all that Hayti is; but we +ask and expect of her, to have a decent respect for herself--to endeavor +to be freemen instead of voluntary slaves. Liberia is no place for the +colored freemen of the United States; and we dismiss the subject with a +single remark of caution against any advice contained in a pamphlet, +which we have not seen, written by Hon. James G. Birney, in favor of +Liberian emigration. Mr. Birney is like the generality of white +Americans, who suppose that we are too ignorant to understand what we +want; whenever they wish to get rid of us, would drive us any where, so +that we left them. Don't adhere to a word therein contained; we will +think for ourselves. Let Mr. Birney go his way, and we will go ours. +This is one of those confounded gratuities that is forced in our faces +at every turn we make. We dismiss it without further comment--and with +it Colonization _in toto_--and Mr. Birney _de facto_. + +But to return to emigration: Where shall we go? We must not leave this +continent; America is our destination and our home. + +That the continent of America seems to have been designed by Providence +as an asylum for all the various nations of the earth, is very apparent. +From the earliest discovery, various nations sent a representation here, +either as adventurers and speculators, or employed seamen and soldiers, +hired to do the work of their employers. And among the earliest and most +numerous class who found their way to the New World, were those of the +African race. And it is now ascertained to our mind, beyond a +peradventure, that when the continent was discovered, there were found +in Central America, a tribe of the black race, of fine looking people, +having characteristics of color and hair, identifying them originally of +the African race--no doubt being a remnant of the Africans who, with the +Carthaginian expedition, were adventitiously cast upon this continent, +in their memorable excursion to the "Great Island," after sailing many +miles distant to the West of the Pillars of Hercules. + +We are not inclined to be superstitious, but say, that we can see the +"finger of God" in all this; and if the European race may with +propriety, boast and claim, that this continent is better adapted to +their development, than their own father-land; surely, it does not +necessarily detract from our father-land, to claim the superior +advantages to the African race, to be derived from this continent. But +be that as it may, the world belongs to mankind--his common Father +created it for his common good--his temporal destiny is here; and our +present warfare, is not upon European rights, nor for European +countries; but for the common rights of man, based upon the great +principles of common humanity--taking our chance in the world of rights, +and claiming to have originally more right to this continent, than the +European race. And had we no other claims than those set forth in a +former part of this work, they are sufficient to cause every colored +man on the continent, to stand upon the soil unshaken and unmoved. The +aboriginee of the continent, is more closely allied to us by +consanguinity, than to the European--being descended from the Asiatic, +whose alliance in matrimony with the African is very common--therefore, +we have even greater claims to this continent on that account, and +should unite and make common cause in elevation, with our similarly +oppressed brother, the Indian. + +The advantages of this continent are superior, because it presents every +variety of climate, soil, and production of the earth, with every +variety of mineral production, with all kinds of water privileges, arid +ocean coast on all sides, presenting every commercial advantage. Upon +the American continent we are determined to stay, in spite of every odds +against us. What part of the great continent shall our destination +be--shall we emigrate to the North or South? + +FOOTNOTE: + +[4] It may be, that the Medical and Legal Schools, are adjunct +departments of the Scientific College, which would make the number of +Colleges in Egypt but two: as we are certain that the Military is +separate entirely from the Scientific School, and spoken of by travelers +as a splendid College. + + + + +XIX + +THE CANADAS + + +This is one of the most beautiful portions of North America. Canada +East, formerly known as Lower Canada, is not quite so favorable, the +climate being cold and severe in winter, the springs being late, the +summers rather short, and the soil not so productive. But Canada West, +formerly called Upper Canada, is equal to any portion of the Northern +States. The climate being milder than that of the Northern portions of +New York, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, or any of the States +bordering on the lakes, the soil is prolific in productions of every +description. Grains, vegetables, fruits, and cattle, are of the very +best kind; from a short tour by the writer, in that country in the fall, +1851, one year ago, he prefers Canada West to any part of North America, +as a destination for the colored people. But there is a serious +objection to the Canadas--a political objection. The Canadians are +descended from the same common parentage as the Americans on this side +of the Lakes--and there is a manifest tendency on the part of the +Canadians generally, to Americanism. That the Americans are determined +to, and will have the Canadas, to a close observer, there is not a +shadow of doubt; and our brethren should know this in time. This there +would be no fear of, were not the Canadian people in favor of the +project, neither would the Americans attempt an attack upon the +provinces, without the move being favored by the people of those places. + +Every act of the Americans, ostensibly as courtesy and friendship, tend +to that end. This is seen in the policy pursued during the last two or +three years, in the continual invitations, frequently reciprocated, that +pass from the Americans to their "Canadian brethren"--always couched in +affectionate language--to join them in their various celebrations, in +different parts of the States. They have got them as far as Boston, and +we may expect to hear of them going to New York, Philadelphia, +Baltimore--and instead of the merrymaking over the beginning or ending +of internal improvements, we may expect to see them ere long, wending +their way to the seat of the federal government--it may be with William +McKenzie, the memorable _patriot_ and present member of the Colonial +parliament, bearing in his hand the stars and stripes as their +ensign--there to blend their voices in the loud shout of jubilee, in +honor of the "bloodless victory," of Canadian annexation. This we +forewarn the colored people, in time, is the inevitable and not far +distant destiny of the Canadas. And let them come into the American +Republic when they may, the fate of the colored man, however free +before, is doomed, doomed, forever doomed. Disfranchisement, +degradation, and a delivery up to slave catchers and kidnappers, are +their only fate, let Canadian annexation take place when it will. The +odious infamous fugitive slave law, will then be in full force with all +of its terrors; and we have no doubt that fully in anticipation of this +event, was the despicable law created. + +Let not colored people be deceived and gulled by any visionary argument +about original rights, or those of the people remaining the same as they +were previous to secession of the territory. The people can claim no +rights than such as are known to exist previous to their annexation. +This is manifestly the case with a large class of the former +inhabitants of Mexico, who though citizens before, in the full exercise +of their rights as such, so soon as the cession of the territory took +place, lost them entirely, as they could claim only such as were enjoyed +by the people of a similar class, in the country to which they made +their union. The laudatories heaped upon the Americans, within the +hearing of the writer, while traveling the provinces the last fall, by +one of the Canadian officiaries, in comparing their superior +intelligence to what he termed the "stupid aristocracy," then returning +from the Boston celebration, where there was a fair opportunity of +comparing the intellect of their chief magistrate, his excellency, Lord +Elgin, governor-general of the Canadas, and Sir Allen Napier McNab, +knight baronet with that of some of the "plain republicans" who were +present on the occasion, were extravagant. The Canadians generally were +perfectly carried away with delight at their reception. They reminded us +of some of our poor brethren, who had just made their escape from +Southern bondage, and for the first time in their life, had been taken +by the hand by a white man, who acknowledged them as equals. They don't +know when to stop talking about it, they really annoy one with +extravagant praises of them. This was the way with those gentlemen; and +we dare predict, that from what we heard on that occasion, that Mr. +McKenzie nor Big Bill Johnson, hero of the Forty Islands, are no greater +_patriots_ than these Canadian visitors to the Boston husa! We are +satisfied that the Canadas are no place of safety for the colored people +of the United States; otherwise we should have no objection to them. + +But to the fugitive--our enslaved brethren flying from Southern +despotism--we say, until we have a more preferable place--go on to +Canada. Freedom, always; liberty any place and ever--before slavery. +Continue to fly to the Canadas, and swell the number of the twenty-five +thousand already there. Surely the British cannot, they will not look +with indifference upon such a powerful auxiliary as these brave, bold, +daring men--the very flower of the South, who have hazarded every +consequence, many of whom have come from Arkansas and Florida in search +of freedom. Worthy surely to be free, when gained at such a venture. Go +on to the North, till the South is ready to receive you--for surely, he +who can make his way from Arkansas to Canada, can find his way from +Kentucky to Mexico. The moment his foot touches this land South, he is +free. Let the bondman but be assured that he can find the same freedom +South that there is in the North; the same liberty in Mexico, as in +Canada, and he will prefer going South to going North. His risk is no +greater in getting there. Go either way, and he in the majority of +instances must run the gauntlet of the slave states. + + + + +XX + +CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA AND THE WEST INDIES + + +Central and South America, are evidently the ultimate destination and +future home of the colored race on this continent; the advantages of +which in preference to all others, will be apparent when once pointed +out.[5] + +Geographically, from the Northern extremity of Yucatan, down through +Central and South America, to Cape Horn, there is a variation of climate +from the twenty-second degree of North latitude, passing through the +equatorial region; nowhere as warm as it is in the same latitude in +Africa; to the _fifty-fifth degree_ of South latitude, including a +climate as cold as that of the Hudson Bay country in British America, +colder than that of Maine, or any part known to the United States of +North America; so that there is every variety of climate in South, as +well as North America. + +In the productions of grains, fruits, and vegetables, Central and South +America are also prolific; and the best of herds are here raised. +Indeed, the finest Merino sheep, as well as the principal trade in rice, +sugar, cotton, and wheat, which is now preferred in California to any +produced in the United States--the Chilian flour--might be carried on by +the people of this most favored portion of God's legacy to man. The +mineral productions excel all other parts of this continent; the rivers +present the greatest internal advantages, and the commercial prospects, +are without a parallel on the coast of the new world. + +The advantages to the colored people of the United States, to be derived +from emigration to Central, South America, and the West Indies, are +incomparably greater than that of any other parts of the world at +present. + +In the first place, there never have existed in the policy of any of the +nations of Central or South America, an inequality on account of race or +color, and any prohibition of rights, has generally been to the white, +and not to the colored races.[6] To the whites, not because they were +white, not on account of their color, but because of the policy pursued +by them towards the people of other races than themselves. The +population of Central and South America, consist of fifteen millions two +hundred and forty thousand, adding the ten millions of Mexico; +twenty-five millions two hundred and forty thousand, of which vast +population, but _one-seventh_ are whites, or the pure European race. +Allowing a deduction of one-seventh of this population for the European +race that may chance to be in those countries, and we have in South and +Central America alone, the vast colored population of _thirteen millions +one hundred and seventy-seven thousand_; and including Mexico, a +_colored_ population on this glorious continent of _twenty-one millions, +six hundred and forty thousand_. + +This vast number of people, our brethren--because they are precisely the +same people as ourselves and share the same fate with us, as the case of +numbers of them have proven, who have been adventitiously thrown among +us--stand ready and willing to take us by the hand--nay, are anxiously +waiting, and earnestly importuning us to come, that they may make common +cause with us, and we all share the same fate. There is nothing under +heaven in our way--the people stand with open arms ready to receive us. +The climate, soil, and productions--the vast rivers and beautiful +sea-coast--the scenery of the landscape, and beauty of the starry +heavens above--the song of the birds--the voice of the people say +come--and God our Father bids us go.--Will we go? Go we must, and go we +will, as there is no alternative. To remain here in North America, and +be crushed to the earth in vassalage and degradation, we never will. + +Talk not about religious biases--we have but one reply to make. We had +rather be a Heathen _freeman_, than a Christian _slave_. + +There need be no fear of annexation in these countries--the prejudices +of the people are all against it, and with our influences infused among +them, the aversion would be ten-fold greater. Neither need there be any +fears of an attempt on the part of the United States, at a subjugation, +of these countries. Policy is against it, because the United States has +too many colored slaves in their midst, to desire to bring under their +government, twenty-one millions of disfranchised people, whom it would +cost them more to keep under subjection, than ten-fold the worth of the +countries they gained. Besides, let us go to whatever parts of Central +and South America we may, we shall make common cause with the people, +and shall hope, by one judicious and signal effort, to assemble one +day--and a glorious day it will be--in a great representative +convention, and form a glorious union of South American States, +"inseparably connected one and forever." + +This can be done, easily done, if the proper course be pursued, and +necessity will hold them together as it holds together the United States +of North America--self-preservation. As the British nation serves to +keep in check the Americans; so would the United States serve to keep in +Union the South American States. + +We should also enter into solemn treaties with Great Britain, and like +other free and independent nations, take our chance, and risk +consequences. Talk not of consequences; we are now in chains; shall we +shake them off and go to a land of liberty? shall our wives and children +be protected, secure, and affectionately cherished, or shall they be +debased and degraded as our mothers and fathers were? By the light of +heaven, no! By the instincts of nature, no! + +Talk not about consequences. White men seek responsibilities; shall we +shun them? They brave dangers and risk consequences; shall we shrink +from them? What are consequences, compared in the scale of value, with +liberty and freedom; the rights and privileges of our wives and +children? In defence of our liberty--the rights of my wife and children; +had we the power, we would command the vault of a volcano, charged with +the wrath of heaven, and blast out of existence, every thing that dared +obstruct our way. + +The time has now fully arrived, when the colored race is called upon by +all the ties of common humanity, and all the claims of consummate +justice, to go forward and take their position, and do battle in the +struggle now being made for the redemption of the world. Our cause is a +just one; the greatest at present that elicits the attention of the +world. For it there is a remedy; that remedy is now at hand. God himself +as assuredly as he rules the destinies of nations, and entereth measures +into the "hearts of men," has presented these measures to us. Our race +is to be redeemed; it is a great and glorious work, and we are the +instrumentalities by which it is to be done. But we must go from among +our oppressors; it never can be done by staying among them. God has, as +certain as he has ever designed any thing, has designed this great +portion of the New World, for us, the colored races; and as certain as +we stubborn our hearts, and stiffen our necks against it, his protecting +arm and fostering care will be withdrawn from us. + +Shall we be told that we can live nowhere, but under the will of our +North American oppressors; that this (the United States,) is the country +most favorable to our improvement and progress? Are we incapable of +self-government, and making such improvements for ourselves as we +delight to enjoy after American white men have made them for themselves? +No, it is not true. Neither is it true that the United States is the +best country for our improvement. That country is the best, in which our +manhood can be best developed; and that is Central and South America, +and the West Indies--all belonging to this glorious Continent. + +Whatever may be our pretended objections to any place, whenever and +wherever our oppressors go, there will our people be found in +proportionate numbers. Even now could they get possession of the +equatorial region of South America, there would colored men be found +living on their boats and in their houses to do their menial services; +but talk to them about going there and becoming men, and a thousand +excuses and objections are at once raised against the climate or +whatever else. + +The writer, within the past few years, and as early as seventeen years +ago, then being quite young, and flushed with geographical and +historical speculations, introduced in a Literary Institution of Young +Men, the subject of Mexican, Californian, and South American Emigration. +He was always hooted at, and various objections raised: one on account +of distance, and another that of climate. + +He has since seen some of the same persons engage themselves to their +white American oppressors--officers in the war against Mexico, exposing +themselves to the chances of the heat of day and the damp of +night--risking the dangers of the battle-field, in the capacity of +servants. And had the Americans taken Mexico, no people would have +flocked there faster than the colored people from the United States. The +same is observed of California. + +In conversation, in the city of New York, a few weeks ago, with a +colored lady of intelligence, one of the "first families," the +conversation being the elevation of the colored people, we introduced +emigration as a remedy, and Central America as the place. We were +somewhat surprised, and certainly unprepared to receive the rebuking +reply--"Do you suppose that I would go in the woods to live for the sake +of freedom? no, indeed! if you wish to do so, go and do it. I am free +enough here!" Remarking at the same time, that her husband was in San +Francisco, and she was going to him, as she learned that that city was +quite a large and handsome place. + +We reminded her, that the industry of white men and women, in four +years' time, had made San Francisco what it is. That in 1846, before the +American emigration, the city contained about seven hundred people, +surrounded by a dense wilderness; and that we regretted to contrast her +conduct or disposition with that of the lady of Col. Fremont, a daughter +of Senator Benton, who tenderly and indulgently raised, in the spring +after his arduous adventure across the mountains, and almost miraculous +escape, while the country was yet a wilderness, left her comfortable +home in Missouri, and braved the dangers of the ocean, to join her +husband and settle in the wilderness. That she was going now to San +Francisco, because it was a populous and "fine city"--that Mrs. Fremont +went, when it was a wilderness, to help to _make_ a populous and fine +city. + +About two hours previous to the writing of the following fact, two +respectable colored ladies in conversation, pleasantly disputing about +the superiority of the two places, Philadelphia and New York, when one +spoke of the uniform cleanliness of the streets of Philadelphia, and the +dirtiness of those of New York; when the other triumphantly +replied,--"The reason that our streets are so dirty is, that we do more +business in one day, than you do in a month." The other acknowledged the +fact with some degree of reluctance, and explained, with many "buts" as +an excuse in extenuation. Here was a seeming appreciation of business +and enterprise; but the query flashed through our mind in an instant, as +to whether they thought for a moment, of the fact, that _they_ had no +interest in either city, nor its _business_. It brought forcibly to our +mind, the scene of two of our oppressed brethren South, fighting each +other, to prove his _master_ the greatest gentleman of the two. + +Let no objections be made to emigration on the ground of the difficulty +of the fugitive slave, in reaching us; it is only necessary for him to +know, that he has safety South, and he will find means of reaching the +South, as easily as he now does the North. Have no fears about that--his +redemption draws nigh, the nearer we draw to him. Central and South +America, _must be our future homes_. Our oppressors will not want us to +go there. They will move heaven and earth to prevent us--they will talk +about us getting our rights, and offer us a territory here, and all +that. It is of no use. They have pressed us to the last retreat--the die +is cast--the Rubicon must be crossed--go we will, in defiance of all the +slave-power in the Union. And we shall not go there, to be idle--passive +spectators to an invasion of South American rights. No--go when we will, +and where we may, we shall hold ourselves amenable to defend and protect +the country that embraces us. We are fully able to defend ourselves, +once concentrated, against any odds--and by the help of God, we will do +it. We do not go, without counting the cost, cost what it may; all that +it may cost, it is worth to be free. + +In going, let us have but one object--to become elevated men and women, +worthy of freedom--the worthy citizens of an adopted country. What to us +will be adopted--to our children will be legitimate. Go not with an +anxiety of political aspirations; but go with the fixed intention--as +Europeans come to the United States--of cultivating the soil, entering +into the mechanical operations, keeping of shops, carrying on +merchandise, trading on land and water, improving property--in a word, +to become the producers of the country, instead of the consumers. + +Let young men who go, have a high object in view; and not go with a +view of becoming servants to wealthy gentlemen there; for be assured, +that they place themselves beneath all respectful consideration. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[5] The native language of these countries, as well as the greater part +of South America, is _Spanish_, which is the easiest of all foreign +languages to learn. It is very remarkable and worthy of note, that with +a view of going to Mexico or South America, the writer several years ago +paid some attention to the Spanish language; and now, a most singular +coincidence, without preunderstanding, in almost every town, where there +is any intelligence among them, there are some _colored persons_ of both +sexes, who are studying the Spanish language. Even the Methodist and +other clergymen, among them. And we earnestly entreat all colored +persons who can, to study, and have their children taught Spanish. No +foreign language will be of such _import_ to colored people, in a very +short time, as the Spanish. Mexico, Central and South America, importune +us to speak their language; and if nothing else, the silent indications +of Cuba, urge us to learn the Spanish tongue. + +[6] The Brazilians have formed a Colonization Society, for the purpose +of colonizing free blacks to Africa. The Brazilians are Portuguese, the +only nation that can be termed white, and the only one that is a real +slave holding nation in South America. Even the black and colored men +have equal privileges with whites; and the action of this society will +probably extend only to the sending back of such captives as may be +taken from piratical slavers. Colonization in Brazil, has doubtless been +got up under the influence of United States slave holders and their +abettors, such as the consuls and envoys, who are sent out to South +America, by the government. Chevalier Niteroi, _charge de affaires_ from +Brazil near the government of Liberia, received by the President on the +28th of last January, is also charged with the mission of establishing a +colony of free blacks in Liberia. The Chevalier was once a Captain in +the Brazilian navy on the coast of Africa; and no doubt is conversant +with the sentiments of Roberts, who was charged with the slave trade at +one time. The scheme of United States slaveholders and President J.J. +Roberts, their agent of Liberia, will not succeed, in establishing +prejudice against the _black_ race; not even in slaveholding Brazil. + +We have no confidence in President Roberts of Liberia, believing him to +be wholly without principle--seeking only self-aggrandizement; even +should it be done, over the ruined prospects of his staggering infant +country. The people of Liberia, should beware of this man. His _privy +councillors_ are to be found among _slaveholders_ in the United States. + + + + +XXI + +NICARAGUA AND NEW GRENADA + + +As it is not reasonable to suppose, that all who read this +volume--especially those whom it is intended most to benefit--understand +geography; it is deemed advisable, to name some particular places, as +locality of destination. + +We consequently, to begin with, select NICARAGUA, in Central America, +North, and NEW GRENADA, the Northern part of South America, South of +Nicaragua, as the most favorable points at present, in every particular, +for us to emigrate to. + +In the first place, they are the nearest points to be reached, and +countries at which the California adventurers are now touching, on their +route to that distant land, and not half the distance of California. + +In the second place, the advantages for all kinds of enterprise, are +equal if not superior, to almost any other points--the climate being +healthy and highly favorable. + +In the third place, and by no means the least point of importance, the +British nation is bound by solemn treaty, to protect both of those +nations from foreign imposition, until they are able to stand alone. + +Then there is nothing in the way, but every thing in favor, and +opportunities for us to rise to the full stature of manhood. Remember +this fact, that in these countries, colored men now fill the highest +places in the country: and colored people have the same chances there, +that white people have in the United States. All that is necessary to +do, is to go, and the moment your foot touches the soil, you have all +the opportunities for elevating yourselves as the highest, according to +your industry and merits. + +Nicaragua and New Grenada, are both Republics, having a President, +Senate, and Representatives of the people. The municipal affairs are +well conducted; and remember, however much the customs of the country +may differ, and appear strange to those you have left behind--remember +that you are free; and that many who, at first sight, might think that +they could not become reconciled to the new order of things, should +recollect, that they were once in a situation in the United States, (in +_slavery_,) where they were compelled to be content with customs +infinitely more averse to their feelings and desires. And that customs +become modified, just in proportion as people of different customs from +different parts, settle in the same communities together. All we ask is +Liberty--the rest follows as a matter of course. + + + + +XXII + +THINGS AS THEY ARE + + "And if thou boast TRUTH to utter, + SPEAK, and leave the rest to God." + + +In presenting this work, we have but a single object in view, and that +is, to inform the minds of the colored people at large, upon many things +pertaining to their elevation, that but few among us are acquainted +with. Unfortunately for us, as a body, we have been taught to believe, +that we must have some person to think for us, instead of thinking for +ourselves. So accustomed are we to submission and this kind of training, +that it is with difficulty, even among the most intelligent of the +colored people, an audience may be elicited for any purpose whatever, if +the expounder is to be a colored person; and the introduction of any +subject is treated with indifference, if not contempt, when the +originator is a colored person. Indeed, the most ordinary white person, +is almost revered, while the most qualified colored person is totally +neglected. Nothing from them is appreciated. + +We have been standing comparatively still for years, following in the +footsteps of our friends, believing that what they promise us can be +accomplished, just because they say so, although our own knowledge +should long since, have satisfied us to the contrary. Because even were +it possible, with the present hate and jealousy that the whites have +towards us in this country, for us to gain equality of rights with them; +we never could have an equality of the exercise and enjoyment of those +rights--because, the great odds of numbers are against us. We might +indeed, as some at present, have the right of the elective +franchise--nay, it is not the elective franchise, because the _elective +franchise_ makes the enfranchised, _eligible_ to any position +attainable; but we may exercise the right of _voting_ only, which to us, +is but poor satisfaction; and we by no means care to cherish the +privilege of voting somebody into office, to help to make laws to +degrade us. + +In religion--because they are both _translators_ and _commentators_, we +must believe nothing, however absurd, but what our oppressors tell us. +In Politics, nothing but such as they promulge; in Anti-Slavery, nothing +but what our white brethren and friends say we must; in the mode and +manner of our elevation, we must do nothing, but that which may be laid +down to be done by our white brethren from some quarter or other; and +now, even on the subject of emigration, there are some colored people to +be found, so lost to their own interest and self-respect, as to be +gulled by slave owners and colonizationists, who are led to believe +there is no other place in which they can become elevated, but Liberia, +a government of American slave-holders, as we have shown--simply, +because white men have told them so. + +Upon the possibility, means, mode and manner, of our Elevation in the +United States--Our Original Rights and Claims as Citizens--Our +Determination not to be Driven from our Native Country--the Difficulties +in the Way of our Elevation--Our Position in Relation to our +Anti-Slavery Brethren--the Wicked Design and Injurious Tendency of the +American Colonization Society--Objections to Liberia--Objections to +Canada--Preferences to South America, &c., &c., all of which we have +treated without reserve; expressing our mind freely, and with candor, as +we are determined that as far as we can at present do so, the minds of +our readers shall be enlightened. The custom of concealing information +upon vital and important subjects, in which the interest of the people +is involved, we do not agree with, nor favor in the least; we have +therefore, laid this cursory treatise before our readers, with the hope +that it may prove instrumental in directing the attention of our people +in the right way, that leads to their Elevation. Go or stay--of course +each is free to do as he pleases--one thing is certain; our Elevation is +the work of our own hands. And Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, +and South America, all present now, opportunities for the individual +enterprise of our young men, who prefer to remain in the United States, +in preference to going where they can enjoy real freedom, and equality +of rights. Freedom of Religion, as well as of politics, being tolerated +in all of these places. + +Let our young men and women, prepare themselves for usefulness and +business; that the men may enter into merchandise, trading, and other +things of importance; the young women may become teachers of various +kinds, and otherwise fill places of usefulness. Parents must turn their +attention more to the education of their children. We mean, to educate +them for useful practical business purposes. Educate them for the Store +and the Counting House--to do every-day practical business. Consult the +children's propensities, and direct their education according to their +inclinations. It may be, that there is too great a desire on the part of +parents, to give their children a professional education, before the +body of the people, are ready for it. A people must be a business +people, and have more to depend upon than mere help in people's houses +and Hotels, before they are either able to support, or capable of +properly appreciating the services of professional men among them. This +has been one of our great mistakes--we have gone in advance of +ourselves. We have commenced at the superstructure of the building, +instead of the foundation--at the top instead of the bottom. We should +first be mechanics and common tradesmen, and professions as a matter of +course would grow out of the wealth made thereby. Young men and women, +must now prepare for usefulness--the day of our Elevation is at +hand--all the world now gazes at us--and Central and South America, and +the West Indies, bid us come and be men and women, protected, secure, +beloved and Free. + +The branches of Education most desirable for the preparation of youth, +for practical useful every-day life, are Arithmetic and good Penmanship, +in order to be Accountants; and a good rudimental knowledge of +Geography--which has ever been neglected, and under estimated--and of +Political Economy; which without the knowledge of the first, no people +can ever become adventurous--nor of the second, never will be an +enterprising people. Geography, teaches a knowledge of the world, and +Political Economy, a knowledge of the wealth of nations; or how to make +money. These are not abstruse sciences, or learning not easily acquired +or understood; but simply, common School Primer learning, that every +body may get. And, although it is the very key to prosperity and success +in common life, but few know any thing about it. Unfortunately for our +people, so soon as their children learn to read a Chapter in the New +Testament, and scribble a miserable hand, they are pronounced to have +"Learning enough"; and taken away from School, no use to themselves, nor +community. This is apparent in our Public Meetings, and Official Church +Meetings; of the great number of men present, there are but few capable +of filling a Secretaryship. Some of the large cities may be an exception +to this. Of the multitudes of Merchants, and Businessmen throughout this +country, Europe, and the world, few are qualified, beyond the branches +here laid down by us as necessary for business. What did John Jacob +Astor, Stephen Girard, or do the millionaires and the greater part of +the merchant princes, and mariners, know about Latin and Greek, and the +Classics? Precious few of them know any thing. In proof of this, in +1841, during the Administration of President Tyler, when the mutiny was +detected on board of the American Man of War Brig Somers, the names of +the Mutineers, were recorded by young S---- a Midshipman in Greek. +Captain Alexander Slidell McKenzie, Commanding, was unable to read them; +and in his despatches to the Government, in justification of his policy +in executing the criminals, said that he "discovered some curious +characters which he was unable to read," &c.; showing thereby, that that +high functionary, did not understand even the Greek Alphabet, which was +only necessary, to have been able to read proper names written in Greek. + +What we most need then, is a good business practical Education; because, +the Classical and Professional education of so many of our young men, +before their parents are able to support them, and community ready to +patronize them, only serves to lull their energy, and cripple the +otherwise, praiseworthy efforts they would make in life. A Classical +education, is only suited to the wealthy, or those who have a prospect +of gaining a livelihood by it. The writer does not wish to be +understood, as underrating a Classical and Professional education; this +is not his intention; he fully appreciates them, having had some such +advantages himself; but he desires to give a proper guide, and put a +check to the extravagant idea that is fast obtaining, among our people +especially, that a Classical, or as it is termed, a "finished +education," is necessary to prepare one for usefulness in life. Let us +have an education, that shall practically develope our thinking +faculties and manhood; and then, and not until then, shall we be able to +vie with our oppressors, go where we may. We as heretofore, have been on +the extreme; either no qualification at all, or a Collegiate education. +We jumped too far; taking a leap from the deepest abyss to the highest +summit; rising from the ridiculous to the sublime; without medium or +intermission. + +Let our young women have an education; let their minds be well informed; +well stored with useful information and practical proficiency, rather +than the light superficial acquirements, popularly and fashionably +called accomplishments. We desire accomplishments, but they must be +_useful_. + +Our females must be qualified, because they are to be the mothers of our +children. As mothers are the first nurses and instructors of children; +from them children consequently, get their first impressions, which +being always the most lasting, should be the most correct. Raise the +mothers above the level of degradation, and the offspring is elevated +with them. In a word, instead of our young men, transcribing in their +blank books, recipes for _Cooking_; we desire to see them making the +transfer of _Invoices of Merchandise_. Come to our aid then; the +_morning_ of our _Redemption_ from degradation, adorns the horizon. + +In our selection of individuals, it will be observed, that we have +confined ourself entirely to those who occupy or have occupied positions +among the whites, consequently having a more general bearing as useful +contributors to society at large. While we do not pretend to give all +such worthy cases, we gave such as we possessed information of, and +desire it to be understood, that a large number of our most intelligent +and worthy men and women, have not been named, because from their more +private position in community, it was foreign to the object and design +of this work. If we have said aught to offend, "take the will for the +deed," and be assured, that it was given with the purest of motives, and +best intention, from a true hearted man and brother; deeply lamenting +the sad fate of his race in this country, and sincerely desiring the +elevation of man, and submitted to the serious consideration of all, who +favor the promotion of the cause of God and humanity. + + + + +XXIII + +A GLANCE AT OURSELVES--CONCLUSION + + With broken hopes--sad devastation; + A race _resigned_ to DEGRADATION! + + +We have said much to our young men and women, about their vocation and +calling; we have dwelt much upon the menial position of our people in +this country. Upon this point we cannot say too much, because there is a +seeming satisfaction and seeking after such positions manifested on +their part, unknown to any other people. There appears to be, a want of +a sense of propriety or _self-respect_, altogether inexplicable; because +young men and women among us, many of whom have good trades and homes, +adequate to their support, voluntarily leave them, and seek positions, +such as servants, waiting maids, coachmen, nurses, cooks in gentlemens' +kitchen, or such like occupations, when they can gain a livelihood at +something more respectable, or elevating in character. And the worse +part of the whole matter is, that they have become so accustomed to it, +it has become so "fashionable," that it seems to have become second +nature, and they really become offended, when it is spoken against. + +Among the German, Irish, and other European peasantry who come to this +country, it matters not what they were employed at before and after they +come; just so soon as they can better their condition by keeping shops, +cultivating the soil, the young men and women going to night-schools, +qualifying themselves for usefulness, and learning trades--they do so. +Their first and last care, object and aim is, to better their condition +by raising themselves above the condition that necessity places them in. +We do not say too much, when we say, as an evidence of the deep +degradation of our race, in the United States, that there are those +among us, the wives and daughters, some of the _first ladies_, (and who +dare say they are not the "first," because they belong to the "first +class" and associate where any body among us can?) whose husbands are +industrious, able and willing to support them, who voluntarily leave +home, and become chamber-maids, and stewardesses, upon vessels and +steamboats, in all probability, to enable them to obtain some more fine +or costly article of dress or furniture. + +We have nothing to say against those whom _necessity_ compels to do +these things, those who can do no better; we have only to do with those +who can, and will not, or do not do better. The whites are always in the +advance, and we either standing still or retrograding; as that which +does not go forward, must either stand in one place or go back. The +father in all probability is a farmer, mechanic, or man of some +independent business; and the wife, sons and daughters, are +chamber-maids, on vessels, nurses and waiting-maids, or coachmen and +cooks in families. This is retrogradation. The wife, sons, and daughters +should be elevated above this condition as a necessary consequence. + +If we did not love our race superior to others, we would not concern +ourself about their degradation; for the greatest desire of our heart +is, to see them stand on a level with the most elevated of mankind. No +people are ever elevated above the condition of their _females_; hence, +the condition of the _mother_ determines the condition of the child. To +know the position of a people, it is only necessary to know the +_condition_ of their _females_; and despite themselves, they cannot rise +above their level. Then what is our condition? Our _best ladies_ being +washerwomen, chambermaids, children's traveling nurses, and common house +servants, and menials, we are all a degraded, miserable people, inferior +to any other people as a whole, on the face of the globe. + +These great truths, however unpleasant, must be brought before the minds +of our people in its true and proper light, as we have been too delicate +about them, and too long concealed them for fear of giving offence. It +would have been infinitely better for our race, if these facts had been +presented before us half a century ago--we would have been now +proportionably benefitted by it. + +As an evidence of the degradation to which we have been reduced, we dare +premise, that this chapter will give offence to many, very many, and +why? Because they may say, "He dared to say that the occupation of a +_servant_ is a degradation." It is not necessarily degrading; it would +not be, to one or a few people of a kind; but a _whole race of servants_ +are a degradation to that people. + +Efforts made by men of qualifications for the toiling and degraded +millions among the whites, neither gives offence to that class, nor is +it taken unkindly by them; but received with manifestations of +gratitude; to know that they are thought to be, equally worthy of, and +entitled to stand on a level with the elevated classes; and they have +only got to be informed of the way to raise themselves, to make the +effort and do so as far as they can. But how different with us. Speak of +our position in society, and it at once gives insult. Though we are +servants; among ourselves we claim to be _ladies_ and _gentlemen_, equal +in standing, and as the popular expression goes, "Just as good as any +body"--and so believing, we make no efforts to raise above the common +level of menials; because the _best_ being in that capacity, all are +content with the position. We cannot at the same time, be domestic and +lady; servant and gentleman. We must be the one or the other. Sad, sad +indeed, is the thought, that hangs drooping in our mind, when +contemplating the picture drawn before us. Young men and women, "we +write these things unto you, because ye are strong," because the writer, +a few years ago, gave unpardonable offence to many of the young people +of Philadelphia and other places, because he dared tell them, that he +thought too much of them, to be content with seeing them the servants of +other people. Surely, she that could be the mistress, would not be the +maid; neither would he that could be the master, be content with being +the servant; then why be offended, when we point out to you, the way +that leads from the menial to the mistress or the master. All this we +seem to reject with fixed determination, repelling with anger, every +effort on the part of our intelligent men and women to elevate us, with +true Israelitish degradation, in reply to any suggestion or proposition +that may be offered, "Who made thee a ruler and judge?" + +The writer is no "Public Man," in the sense in which this is understood +among our people, but simply an humble individual, endeavoring to seek a +livelihood by a profession obtained entirely by his own efforts, without +relatives and friends able to assist him; except such friends as he +gained by the merit of his course and conduct, which he here gratefully +acknowledges; and whatever he has accomplished, other young men may, by +making corresponding efforts, also accomplish. + +We have advised an emigration to Central and South America, and even to +Mexico and the West Indies, to those who prefer either of the last named +places, all of which are free countries, Brazil being the only real +slave-holding State in South America--there being nominal slavery in +Dutch Guiana, Peru, Buenos Ayres, Paraguay, and Uraguay, in all of which +places colored people have equality in social, civil, political, and +religious privileges; Brazil making it punishable with death to import +slaves into the empire. + +Our oppressors, when urging us to go to Africa, tell us that we are +better adapted to the climate than they--that the physical condition of +the constitution of colored people better endures the heat of warm +climates than that of the whites; this we are willing to _admit_, +without argument, without adducing the physiological reason why, that +colored people can and do stand warm climates better than whites; and +find an answer fully to the point in the fact, that they also stand _all +other_ climates, cold, temperate, and modified, that white people can +stand; therefore, according to our oppressors' own showing, we are a +_superior race_, being endowed with properties fitting us for _all +parts_ of the earth, while they are only adapted to _certain_ parts. Of +course, this proves our right and duty to live wherever we may _choose_; +while the white race may only live where they _can_. We are content with +the fact, and have ever claimed it. Upon this rock, they and we shall +ever agree. + +Of the West India Islands, Santa Cruz, belonging to Denmark; Porto Rico, +and Cuba with its little adjuncts, belonging to Spain, are the only +slaveholding Islands among them--three-fifths of the whole population of +Cuba being colored people, who cannot and will not much longer endure +the burden and the yoke. They only want intelligent leaders of their own +color, when they are ready at any moment to charge to the conflict--to +liberty or death. The remembrance of the noble mulatto, PLACIDO, the +gentleman, scholar, poet, and intended Chief Engineer of the Army of +Liberty and Freedom in Cuba; and the equally noble black, CHARLES BLAIR, +who was to have been Commander-in-Chief, who were shamefully put to +death in 1844, by that living monster, Captain General O'Donnell, is +still fresh and indelible to the mind of every bondman of Cuba. + +In our own country, the United States, there are _three million five +hundred thousand slaves_; and we, the nominally free colored people, are +_six hundred thousand_ in number; estimating one-sixth to be men, we +have _one hundred thousand_ able bodied freemen, which will make a +powerful auxiliary in any country to which we may become adopted--an +ally not to be despised by any power on earth. We love our country, +dearly love her, but she don't love us--she despises us, and bids us +begone, driving us from her embraces; but we shall not go where she +desires us; but when we do go, whatever love we have for her, we shall +love the country none the less that receives us as her adopted children. + +For the want of business habits and training, our energies have become +paralyzed; our young men never think of business, any more than if they +were so many bondmen, without the right to pursue any calling they may +think most advisable. With our people in this country, dress and good +appearances have been made the only test of gentleman and ladyship, and +that vocation which offers the best opportunity to dress and appear +well, has generally been preferred, however menial and degrading, by our +young people, without even, in the majority of cases, an effort to do +better; indeed, in many instances, refusing situations equally +lucrative, and superior in position; but which would not allow as much +display of dress and personal appearance. This, if we ever expect to +rise, must be discarded from among us, and a high and respectable +position assumed. + +One of our great temporal curses is our consummate poverty. We are the +poorest people, as a class, in the world of civilized mankind--abjectly, +miserably poor, no one scarcely being able to assist the other. To this, +of course, there are noble exceptions; but that which is common to, and +the very process by which white men exist, and succeed in life, is +unknown to colored men in general. In any and every considerable +community may be found, some one of our white fellow-citizens, who is +worth more than all the colored people in that community put together. +We consequently have little or no efficiency. We must have means to be +practically efficient in all the undertakings of life; and to obtain +them, it is necessary that we should be engaged in lucrative pursuits, +trades, and general business transactions. In order to be thus engaged, +it is necessary that we should occupy positions that afford the +facilities for such pursuits. To compete now with the mighty odds of +wealth, social and religious preferences, and political influences of +this country, at this advanced stage of its national existence, we never +may expect. A new country, and new beginning, is the only true, +rational, politic remedy for our disadvantageous position; and that +country we have already pointed out, with triple golden advantages, all +things considered, to that of any country to which it has been the +province of man to embark. + +Every other than we, have at various periods of necessity, been a +migratory people; and all when oppressed, shown a greater abhorrence of +oppression, if not a greater love of liberty, than we. We cling to our +oppressors, as the objects of our love. It is true that our enslaved +brethren are here, and we have been led to believe that it is necessary +for us to remain, on that account. Is it true, that all should remain in +degradation, because a part are degraded? We believe no such thing. We +believe it to be the duty of the Free, to elevate themselves in the most +speedy and effective manner possible; as the redemption of the bondman +depends entirely upon the elevation of the freeman; therefore, to +elevate the free colored people of America, anywhere upon this +continent; forebodes the speedy redemption of the slaves. We shall hope +to hear no more of so fallacious a doctrine--the necessity of the free +remaining in degradation, for the sake of the oppressed. Let us apply, +first, the lever to ourselves; and the force that elevates us to the +position of manhood's considerations and honors, will cleft the manacle +of every slave in the land. + +When such great worth and talents--for want of a better sphere--of men +like Rev. Jonathan Robinson, Robert Douglass, Frederick A. Hinton, and a +hundred others that might be named, were permitted to expire in a +barber-shop; and such living men as may be found in Boston, New York, +Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond, Washington City, Charleston, (S.C.) +New Orleans, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, Pittsburg, Buffalo, +Rochester, Albany, Utica, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukie, Chicago, +Columbus, Zanesville, Wheeling, and a hundred other places, confining +themselves to Barber-shops and waiter-ships in Hotels; certainly the +necessity of such a course as we have pointed out, must be cordially +acknowledged; appreciated by every brother and sister of oppression; and +not rejected as heretofore, as though they preferred inferiority to +equality. These minds must become "unfettered," and have "space to +rise." This cannot be in their present positions. A continuance in any +position, becomes what is termed "Second Nature"; it begets an +_adaptation_, and _reconciliation_ of _mind_ to such condition. It +changes the whole physiological condition of the system, and adapts man +and woman to a higher or lower sphere in the pursuits of life. The +offsprings of slaves and peasantry, have the general characteristics of +their parents; and nothing but a different course of training and +education, will change the character. + +The slave may become a lover of his master, and learn to forgive him for +continual deeds of maltreatment and abuse; just as the Spaniel would +couch and fondle at the feet that kick him; because he has been taught +to reverence them, and consequently, becomes adapted in body and mind to +his condition. Even the shrubbery-loving Canary, and lofty-soaring +Eagle, may be tamed to the cage, and learn to love it from habit of +confinement. It has been so with us in our position among our +oppressors; we have been so prone to such positions; that we have +learned to love them. When reflecting upon this all important, and to +us, all absorbing subject; we feel in the agony and anxiety of the +moment, as though we could cry out in the language of a Prophet of old: +"Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I +might weep day and night for the" degradation "of my people! Oh that I +had in the wilderness a lodging place of way-faring men; that I might +leave my people, and go from them!" + +The Irishman and German in the United States, are very different persons +to what they were when in Ireland and Germany, the countries of their +nativity. There their spirits were depressed and downcast; but the +instant they set their foot upon unrestricted soil; free to act and +untrammeled to move; their physical condition undergoes a change, which +in time becomes physiological, which is transmitted to the offspring, +who when born under such circumstances, is a decidedly different being +to what it would have been, had it been born under different +circumstances. + +A child born under oppression, has all the elements of servility in its +constitution; who when born under favorable circumstances, has to the +contrary, all the elements of freedom and independence of feeling. Our +children then, may not be expected, to maintain that position and manly +bearing; born under the unfavorable circumstances with which we are +surrounded in this country; that we so much desire. To use the language +of the talented Mr. Whipper, "they cannot be raised in this country, +without being stoop shouldered." Heaven's pathway stands unobstructed, +which will lead us into a Paradise of bliss. Let us go on and possess +the land, and the God of Israel will be our God. + +The lessons of every school book, the pages of every history, and +columns of every newspaper, are so replete with stimuli to nerve us on +to manly aspirations, that those of our young people, who will now +refuse to enter upon this great theatre of Polynesian adventure, and +take their position on the stage of Central and South America, where a +brilliant engagement, of certain and most triumphant success, in the +drama of human equality awaits them; then, with the blood of _slaves_, +write upon the lintel of every door in sterling Capitals, to be gazed +and hissed at by every passer by-- + + Doomed by the Creator + To servility and degradation; + The SERVANT of the _white man_, + And despised of every nation! + + + + +APPENDIX + +A PROJECT FOR AN EXPEDITION OF ADVENTURE, TO THE EASTERN COAST OF AFRICA + + +Every people should be the originators of their own designs, the +projector of their own schemes, and creators of the events that lead to +their destiny--the consummation of their desires. + +Situated as we are, in the United States, many, and almost +insurmountable obstacles present themselves. We are four-and-a-half +millions in numbers, free and bond; six hundred thousand free, and +three-and-a-half millions bond. + +We have native hearts and virtues, just as other nations; which in their +pristine purity are noble, potent, and worthy of example. We are a +nation within a nation;--as the Poles in Russia, the Hungarians in +Austria, the Welsh, Irish, and Scotch in the British dominions. + +But we have been, by our oppressors, despoiled of our purity, and +corrupted in our native characteristics, so that we have inherited their +vices, and but few of their virtues, leaving us in character, really a +_broken people_. + +Being distinguished by complexion, we are still singled out--although +having merged in the habits and customs of our oppressors--as a distinct +nation of people; as the Poles, Hungarians, Irish, and others, who still +retain their native peculiarities, of language, habits, and various +other traits. The claims of no people, according to established policy +and usage, are respected by any nation, until they are presented in a +national capacity. + +To accomplish so great and desirable an end, there should be held, a +great representative gathering of the colored people of the United +States; not what is termed a National Convention, represented en masse, +such as have been, for the last few years, held at various times and +places; but a true representation of the intelligence and wisdom of the +colored freemen; because it will be futile and an utter failure, to +attempt such a project without the highest grade of intelligence. + +No great project was ever devised without the consultation of the most +mature intelligence, and discreet discernment and precaution. + +To effect this, and prevent intrusion and improper representation, there +should be a CONFIDENTIAL COUNCIL held; and circulars issued, only to +such persons as shall be _known_ to the projectors to be equal to the +desired object. + +The authority from whence the call should originate, to be in this +wise:--The originator of the scheme, to impart the contemplated +Confidential Council, to a limited number of known, worthy gentlemen, +who agreeing with the project, endorse at once the scheme, when becoming +joint proprietors in interest, issue a _Confidential Circular_, leaving +blanks for _date_, _time_, and _place_ of _holding_ the Council; sending +them to trusty, worthy, and suitable colored freemen, in all parts of +the United States, and the Canadas, inviting them to attend; who when +met in Council, have the right to project any scheme they may think +proper for the general good of the whole people--provided, that the +project is laid before them after its maturity. + +By this Council to be appointed, a Board of Commissioners, to consist of +three, five, or such reasonable number as may be decided upon, one of +whom shall be chosen as Principal or Conductor of the Board, whose duty +and business shall be, to go on an expedition to the EASTERN COAST of +AFRICA, to make researches for a suitable location on that section of +the coast, for the settlement of colored adventurers from the United +States, and elsewhere. Their mission should be to all such places as +might meet the approbation of the people; as South America, Mexico, the +West Indies, &c. + +The Commissioners all to be men of decided qualifications; to embody +among them, the qualifications of physician, botanist, chemist, +geologist, geographer, and surveyor,--having a sufficient knowledge of +these sciences, for practical purposes. + +Their business shall be, to make a topographical, geographical, +geological, and botanical examination, into such part or parts as they +may select, with all other useful information that may be obtained; to +be recorded in a journal kept for that purpose. + +The Council shall appoint a permanent Board of Directors, to manage and +supervise the doings of the Commissioners, and to whom they shall be +amenable for their doings, who shall hold their office until successors +shall be appointed. + +A National Confidential Council, to be held once in three years; and +sooner, if necessity or emergency should demand it; the Board of +Directors giving at least three months' notice, by circulars and +newspapers. And should they fail to perform their duty, twenty-five of +the representatives from any six States, of the former Council, may +issue a call, authentically bearing their names, as sufficient authority +for such a call. But when the Council is held for the reception of the +report of the Commissioners, a general mass convention should then take +place, by popular representation. + + +MANNER OF RAISING FUNDS. + +The National Council shall appoint one or two Special Commissioners, to +England and France, to solicit, in the name of the Representatives of a +Broken Nation, of four-and-a-half millions, the necessary outfit and +support, for any period not exceeding three years, of such an +expedition. Certainly, what England and France would do, for a little +nation--mere nominal nation, of five thousand civilized Liberians, they +would be willing and ready to do, for five millions; if they be but +authentically represented, in a national capacity. What was due to +Greece, enveloped by Turkey, should be due to US, enveloped by the +United States; and we believe would be respected, if properly presented. +To England and France, we should look for sustenance, and the people of +those two nations--as they would have every thing to gain from such an +adventure and eventual settlement on the EASTERN COAST OF AFRICA--the +opening of an immense trade being the consequence. The whole Continent +is rich in minerals, and the most precious metals, as but a superficial +notice of the topographical and geological reports from that country, +plainly show to any mind versed in the least, in the science of the +earth. + +The Eastern Coast of Africa has long been neglected, and never but +little known, even to the ancients; but has ever been our choice part of +the Continent. Bounded by the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean, it +presents the greatest facilities for an immense trade, with China, +Japan, Siam, Hindoostan, in short, all the East Indies--of any other +country in the world. With a settlement of enlightened freemen, who with +the immense facilities, must soon grow into a powerful nation. In the +Province of Berbera, south of the Strait of Babelmandel, or the great +pass, from the Arabian to the Red Sea, the whole commerce of the East +must touch this point. + +Also, a great rail road could be constructed from here, running with +the Mountains of the Moon, clearing them entirely, except making one +mountain pass, at the western extremity of the Mountains of the Moon, +and the southeastern terminus of the Kong Mountains; entering the +Province of Dahomey, and terminating on the Atlantic Ocean West; which +would make the GREAT THOROUGHFARE for all the trade with the East Indies +and Eastern Coast of Africa, and the Continent of America. All the world +would pass through Africa upon this rail road, which would yield a +revenue infinitely greater than any other investment in the world. + +The means for prosecuting such a project--as stupendous as it may +appear--will be fully realised in the prosecution of the work. Every +mile of the road, will thrice pay for itself, in the development of the +rich treasures that now lie hidden in the bowels of the earth. There is +no doubt, that in some one section of twenty-five miles, the +developments of gold would more than pay the expenses of any one +thousand miles of the work. This calculation may, to those who have +never given this subject a thought, appear extravagant, and visionary; +but to one who has had his attention in this direction for years, it is +clear enough. + +But a few years will witness a development of gold, precious metals, and +minerals in Eastern Africa, the Moon and Kong Mountains, ten-fold +greater than all the rich productions of California. + +There is one great physiological fact in regard to the colored +race--which, while it may not apply to all colored persons, is true of +those having black skins--that they can bear _more different_ climates +than the white race. They bear _all_ the temperates and extremes, while +the other can only bear the temperates and _one_ of the extremes. The +black race is endowed with natural properties, that adapt and fit them +for temperate, cold, and hot climates; while the white race is only +endowed with properties that adapt them to temperate and cold climates; +being unable to stand the warmer climates; in them, the white race +cannot work, but become perfectly indolent, requiring somebody to work +for them--and these, are always people of the black race. + +The black race may be found, inhabiting in healthful improvement, every +part of the globe where the white race reside; while there are parts of +the globe where the black race reside, that the white race cannot live +in health. + +What part of mankind is the "denizen of every soil, and the lord of +terrestrial creation," if it be not the black race? The Creator has +indisputably adapted us for the "denizens of _every soil_," all that is +left for us to do, is to _make_ ourselves the "_lords_ of terrestrial +creation." The land is ours--there it lies with inexhaustible resources; +let us go and possess it. In Eastern Africa must rise up a nation, to +whom all the world must pay commercial tribute. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, +and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States, by Martin R. 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