Thoughts on African ColonizationGarrison, William Lloyd
Philosophy
Thoughts on African Colonization
Garrison, William Lloyd
African Americans -- Colonization -- Africa; American Colonization Society; Slavery -- United States
'And when we [of New-England] did emancipate our slaves, we were
driven to the measure by the force of example; and we did not do
it until it was found quite convenient; and then what provision
was made for the poor blacks? Let our State Prison records
answer the question. Our Southern brethren have been _more
kind_: they will not emancipate them until they send them where
they can enjoy _liberty_, more than in name. As a Northern man I
feel it my duty, and I take pleasure in giving the _meed of
praise_ to my Southern brethren.'--[Speech of Rev. Mr Gallaudet,
at a colonization meeting in New-York city.]
'The slave works for his master, who feeds and clothes him,
defends him from harm, and takes care of him when he is sick.
The free colored man works for himself, and has nobody to take
care of him but himself.'
--[From a little colonization work, published in Baltimore in
1828, 'for the use of the African Schools in the United
States'!! entitled 'A Voice from Africa.']
'The slaveholder will tell you, that he did not take liberty
from the African--he was a slave when he found him, and he is no
more than a slave yet. The man who owns one hundred acres of
land more than he can cultivate himself, is as much a
slaveholder as he who owns a slave.'--[An advocate of
colonization in the Richmond (Indiana) Palladium for Oct. 1,
1831.]
'I DO NOT MEAN TO SPEAK OF SLAVERY AS A SYSTEM OF CRUELTY AND OF
SUFFERING. On this point I am free to say, from personal
observation and occasional residences for some years at the
South, there has been much misapprehension among our
fellow-citizens of the North. And I rejoice to add, that _the
condition of the slaves generally is such as the friends of
humanity have no reason to complain of_.'--[Oration delivered at
Newark, N. J. July 4th, 1831, by Gabriel P. Disosway, Esq.]
'Slavery, it is true, is an evil--a national evil. Every
laudable effort to exterminate it should be encouraged. And we
presume that nine-tenths of the slaveholders themselves, would
rejoice at the event, could it be accomplished, of the entire
freedom from the country of every person of color, and would
willingly relinquish every slave in their possession. But the
slaves _are_ in their possession--they are entailed upon them by
their ancestors. And can they set them free, and still suffer
them to remain in the country? Would this be policy? Would it be
safe? No. When they can be transported to the soil from whence
they were derived--by the aid of the Colonization Society, by
Government, by individuals, or by any other means--then let them
be emancipated, and not before.'--[Lowell (Mass.) Telegraph.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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