Inducements to the Colored People of the United States to Emigrate to British GuianaHildreth, Richard
History
Inducements to the Colored People of the United States to Emigrate to British Guiana
Hildreth, Richard
African Americans -- Colonization; Guyana
Transferred to a country which opens a vast field to labor, and to
all sorts of enterprise, relieved from a weight of prejudice which
now rests so heavily upon them, the free colored people of the
United States would have an opportunity which they do not now enjoy,
of proving, that when allowed to share the same moral and social
advantages, they are able successfully to compete with the white man.
It is indeed difficult to realize the effect often produced upon a
man's conduct and character, when he is removed from the withering
effect of the distinction of caste, and raised to an equality of
political and social privileges. Persons, who if they remain in the
United States, will be confined all their lives to menial and obscure
stations, by emigrating to British Guiana, which they may do in twenty
days, and without spending a cent, will alter the whole course and
prospect of their lives. With industry, application, and sobriety,
they will have a moral certainty of rising to a comfortable competency
if not to wealth, and of filling with pleasure to themselves and
benefit to the community, a respectable station in society. Surely
these considerations ought to have great weight with all,--but more
especially with the young, who are just coming forward, and with those
fathers and mothers who have families of children growing up about them.
There is now opened to the free colored people of the United States,
a city of refuge in Guiana, of which it is to be hoped they will not
fail to avail themselves; and Mr. Carbery has reason to anticipate,
should the free colored people of the United States, and those persons
upon whose advice and opinions they most confidently rely, be led to
take the same view of the matter which he does, that his visit to
the United States may result in great good to a large body of his
fellow men, who at present are cut off from many of the chief benefits
of society, and by the unfortunate operation of circumstances over
which they have no control, are subjected to influences which crush
their energies, break their spirits, and prevent them from rising
to affluence or consideration. Relieved from these impediments,
transferred to a country where they will be secured in the enjoyment of
equal social and political rights, they will become new creatures, and
many of them will display talents and capacity of which they are not
now suspected.
Mr. Carbery, however, has no desire to induce any colored person, to
emigrate to Guiana, who is not well satisfied, and whose friends are
not also satisfied, that it will be for his benefit to go. Deeply
impressed as he is with the manifold advantages which the free colored
people of the United States may derive from closing with his proposals,
he submits them to the candid consideration of those concerned,
expressly desiring that before being adopted by any body, they may be
subjected to the closest scrutiny, and most rigorous investigation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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