Yet notwithstanding such numbers of mothers and children are yearly sent from a single State, "separately or in lots," to supply the demands of the internal _slave-trade_, Mr. Hayne, speaking of _freeing_ these people and sending them away, says: "It is wholly irreconcilable with our notions of humanity to _tear asunder the tender ties_, which they had formed among us to gratify the feelings of a false philanthropy!" As for the _removal_ of blacks from this country, the real fact is this; the slave States are very desirous to get rid of their troublesome _surplus_ of colored population, and they are willing that we should help to pay for the transportation. A double purpose is served by this; for the active benevolence which is eager to work in the cause, is thus turned into a harmless and convenient channel. Neither the planters nor the Colonization Society, seem to ask what _right_ we have to remove people from the places where they have been born and brought up,--where they have a home, which, however miserable, is still their home,--and where their relatives and acquaintances all reside. Africa is no more their native country than England is ours,[AF]--nay, it is less so, because there is no community of language or habits;--besides, we cannot say to them, as Gilpin said to his horse, "'Twas for _your_ pleasure you came here, you shall go back for mine." [Footnote AF: At the close of the last war, General Jackson issued a proclamation to the colored people of the South, in which he says: "I knew that you _loved the land of your nativity_, and that, like ourselves, you had to defend all that is dear to man. But you surpass my hopes. I have found in you, united to those qualities, that noble enthusiasm which impels to great deeds."] In the Virginia debate of 1832, it was agreed that very few of the free colored people would be _willing_ to go to Africa; and this is proved by several petitions from them, praying for leave to remain. One of the Virginian legislators said, "either _moral_ or _physical_ force must be used to compel them to go;" some of them advised immediate coercion; others recommended persuasion first, until their numbers were thinned, and coercion afterward. I believe the resolution finally passed the House without any proviso of this sort; and I mention it merely to show that it was generally supposed the colored people would be unwilling to go.