The Journal of Negro History, Volume 1, January 1916Various
History
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 1, January 1916
Various
African Americans -- Periodicals
"It seems that our old friend Gerrit Smith is anxious to form a colony
of colored people in the State of New York. It is not known that he pays
the expenses of any to get to that happy spot, but he certainly offers
them a share in the property of earth, when they arrive. Some have
thought his effort in this respect, another proof of his great
liberality. Perhaps it is--but of the character of those lands we know
nothing. The _Journal of Commerce_ seems to understand the subject from
the following, which we cut from a late number:
"'_Bounty of Gerrit Smith_.--Some of the newspapers are eulogizing
this once sensible man, because he is giving away deeds in any number
to colored men, of forty acre lots of his vast tract in Hamilton
county. The considerations in the deeds are as follows:
"'"For and in consideration of the sum of one dollar to me, in hand
paid, and being desirious to have all share in the subsistence and
happiness, which a bountiful God has provided for all, has granted,
sold, etc."
"'If the negroes do not run away from the bears and wolves and
climate and sterility of Hamilton county, with more anxiety than they
ever did from Southern slavery, then we do not understand their
character. We do not blame the negroes for getting their liberty if
they can, but to make them take farms in Hamilton county, is too bad.
The wild beasts up there will rejoice in a negro settlement among
them, especially at the beginning of winter.'
"Had Judge Leigh taken the Randolph negroes there, they might have fared
as well as they have done in Ohio, and certainly he could have gotten
the land much cheaper!
"After all, 'there is no place like home!' And there is no 'home, sweet
home,' for the colored man, but in Liberia!"
--_The African Repository_, XXII, 320-321.
"FREEDOM IN A FREE STATE
"Facts are almost daily transpiring which show the immense importance of
colonization. Among them, none are more conspicuous than those which
come to us from the free States. If the colored people cannot enjoy
freedom in a free State, what can they do? Where shall they go? Here is
a fact:
"_Randolph's 'John'_.--We are told by the _Lynchburg Virginian_, that
John, the well-known and faithful servant of the late John Randolph,
who, with the emancipated slaves of his master, went to Ohio, and
were there treated by the citizens in a manner of which our readers
have been apprized, has returned to Charlotte with the intention of
petitioning the legislature to allow him to remain in the
commonwealth. He says, they have no feeling for colored people in
Ohio, and, if the legislature refuse to grant his petition, he will
submit to the penalty of remaining and be sold as a slave--preferring
this to enjoying freedom in a free state.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account