Thoughts on African ColonizationGarrison, William Lloyd
Philosophy
Thoughts on African Colonization
Garrison, William Lloyd
African Americans -- Colonization -- Africa; American Colonization Society; Slavery -- United States
that has been so unsparingly heaped upon us by colonizationists
for expressing our opinions of their project as connected with
our happiness, their manifest determination to effectuate their
object regardless of our consent, abundantly corroborate the
opinion we have long since entertained. We turn, however, from
the contemplation of the persecution and oppression, which, it
seems, are in reserve for us, to notice, briefly, the moving
cause of this virulent and relentless attack upon our rights and
happiness. "The _census just taken_," says A Marylander,
"_admonishes_ us in the strongest manner, of the necessity of
prompt and efficient measures to drain off this description of
our population." Here then is the _patriotic_, the _benevolent_,
the _christian_ principle, by which the colonization societies,
throughout our land, are actuated. This is the selfish policy of
which we complain, and which should be execrated by all _true_
patriots, philanthropists, and christians. Our increase is
represented as an "_alarming evil--an evil_," said one of our
colonization orators in the pulpit, not long since, "which
_threatens_ our very _existence_." Now, if all this be true, how
can they, on their own principles, say we can _never_ be a
people in this country? Surely, they are taking effectual steps
to convince us, that the enjoyment of our rights in this, our
native land, is not only possible, but highly probable. This we
have always believed. And we hope and pray, that it may be
accomplished in a way sanctioned by the gospel of peace:
"without confused noise, or garments rolled in blood." But this
glorious victory over pride and prejudice, by gospel weapons,
will never be accomplished by colonization principles. Nor will
those ministers of the gospel have any part or lot in this
matter, who solemnly declare, in the face of heaven and earth,
that we can _never enjoy, in this country_, those inalienable
rights of man, whose inviolable preservation promotes the
welfare of the whole human family. Such ministers virtually
declare that they do not believe the doctrines they are bound to
preach; that He, from whom they profess to have received their
commission, is, indeed, "a hard man, reaping where he has not
sown, and gathering where he has not strawed;" that He requires
of them and their flocks, that which they are morally incapable
of performing; that they _cannot_ love their neighbor as
themselves, or do unto others what they wish done unto
themselves, because their Lord, in his wisdom, has given some of
their fellow creatures a different color from their own. These
temporising, retrograde reformers are doing a serious injury to
the people of color. They heed not the warning of Heaven: "Do my
people no harm." They are doing more to strengthen the cruel and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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