Slavery in Maryland briefly consideredCarey, John L.
History
Slavery in Maryland briefly considered
Carey, John L.
Slavery -- Maryland
“If colonization proposed by any probable means at its command, even
with the most munificent assistance of Congress, State Legislatures
and individuals, to remove the whole colored population of the United
States to Africa, it would well deserve to be considered visionary, as
idle indeed as to attempt to ladle Lake Erie dry. No means that could
be obtained would be competent to this end. But the means, scant as
they were, continued Mr. L., were ample to establish colonies on the
coast of Africa, capable of self-support and self-government--moral
and religious communities, where wealth and station would be offered
to the colored man as the incentives and rewards for labor--colonies
that would be as attractive to him as America is to the European. In
1832 the immigration to America was said to be upwards of two hundred
thousand, more than double, nearly treble the annual increase of the
entire colored population of the Union. These immigrants, with few
exceptions, came at their own expense. In point of means they were in
no way superior to the corresponding class of free colored people in
the United States--they came, because America presented attractions
which their home did not. It is in the power of colonization to invest
Africa with the same attractions for the colored immigrant, that
America presents to the white one. Where the latter has one inducement
to remove the former has ten. In Europe there are few avenues to
worldly honor which are closed to those, who, nevertheless, leave them
all behind. In America there are few, if any, avenues open to those for
whom colonization labors.
“The object of colonization, therefore,” said Mr. LATROBE, “may be
stated as the preparation of a home in Africa, for the free colored
people of the State, to which they may remove when the advantages which
it offers, and, above all, the pressure of irresistible circumstances
in this country shall excite them to emigrate.”
Rightly understood then, as to its views and purposes, colonization
may not be so impracticable a scheme after all. At any rate, whatever
it does accomplish, is so much of good achieved, practical, permanent,
substantial good. What the future may disclose to urge, nay, to compel,
the separation of the two races now dwelling together in this country,
no one can tell. But COLONIZATION looks with an anxious eye to such
a future contingency, and in the meantime it will do all it can to
prepare the way for the easy accomplishment of that consummation, if it
should become inevitable.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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