The Journal of Negro History, Volume 6, 1921Various
History
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 6, 1921
Various
African Americans -- Periodicals
But the views of the Society are limited to the case of blacks,
already free, or who may be _gratuitously_ emancipated. To
provide a commensurate remedy for the evil, the plan must be
extended to the great mass of blacks, and must embrace a fund
sufficient to induce the master, as well as the slave, to concur
in it. Without the concurrence of the master, the benefit will be
very limited as it relates to the negroes, and essentially
defective as it relates to the United States; and the concurrence
of masters must, for the most part, be obtained by purchase.
Can it be hoped that voluntary contributions, however adequate to
an auspicious commencement, will supply the sums necessary to
such an enlargement of the remedy? May not another question be
asked? Would it be reasonable to throw so great a burden on the
individuals distinguished by their philanthropy and patriotism?
The object to be obtained, as an object of humanity, appeals
alike to all; as a national object, it claims the interposition
of the nation. It is the nation which is to reap the benefit. The
nation, therefore, ought to bear the burden.
Must, then, the enormous sums required to pay for, to transport,
and to establish in a foreign land, all the slaves in the United
States, as their masters may be willing to part with them, be
taxed on the good people of the United States, or be obtained by
loans, swelling the public debt to a size pregnant with evils
next in degree to those of slavery itself?
Happily, it is not necessary to answer this question by
remarking, that if slavery, as a national evil, is to be
abolished, and it be just that it be done at the national
expense, the amount of the expense is not a paramount
consideration. It is the peculiar fortune, or, rather, a
providential blessing of the United States, to possess a resource
commensurate to this great object, without taxes on the people,
or even an increase of the public debt.
I allude to the vacant territory, the extent of which is so vast,
and the vendible value of which is so well ascertained.
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