Memoriat

Of the Auxiliary Society of Powhatan, for Colonizing in Africa, the Free People of Colour of the United States.

To the Delegates and Senators of the Legislature of

Virginia, in General Assembly convened:

The memorial of the Powhatan Auxiliary Society, for colonizing in Africa, the Free People of Colour of the United States, most respectfully represents:

That twelve years have now elapsed, since a few individuals of the City of Washington, prompted by feelings of patriotism and philanthropy, formed themselves into a Society, under the denomination of "The American Society, for Colonizing in Africa, the Free People of Colour of the United States."

It would naturally be supposed, that a Society organized for the promotion of an object so laudable and benevolent, could not fail of receiving at once, the cordial approbation, and liberal patronage of all, who had taken but a cursory view of the civil and political condition of the free people of colour, and the pernicious and dangerous influence which they exert over the slave population. Such, however, was unfortunately not the case. No sooner had the Society commenced its operations, than it saw itself surrounded on all sides, with difficulties the most embarrassing. Its friends were held up to public view as fanatics and incendiaries; its scheme was proclaimed to be altogether visionary; and predictions of its total failure, were constantly and confidently uttered. Prejudices arising from different causes, but equally inveterate, were arrayed against it; and some even of its most ardent friends, rather hoped than believed, that it would ultimately prove successful. Conscious, however, that success could only be ensured, by "mighty, unremitted and protracted effort," the Managers of the Society, to whom all its interests were entrusted, entered upon the discharge of the arduous and responsible duties of their station, with that prudence and caution, but at the same time, with that firmness and decision, which the cause in which they had embarked, necessarily required. Believing that the scheme of the Society, was eminently calculated to accomplish the object, for which it had been adopted,

and to advance the welfare of their country, they resolved in the spirit of true wisdom, never to abandon it, until its impracticability had been fairly tested by experiment. From this resolution, they were moved neither by the derision of the unthinking, the predictions of the presumptious, nor the fears of the timid. They steadily pursued their object, undismayed by the numerous and formidable obstacles which were thrown in their way, confident that, however numerous and formidable, they must at last yield to their unwearied and unceasing exertions.

The result has shown that their hopes were not chimerical, that their labours have not been in vain. Under the auspices of the Society, supported almost exclusively by "private charity;" the Coast of Africa has been successfully explored; an Asylum has been provided, to which the free people of colour may be safely removed; a Colony has been planted, and based, it is believed, on a foundation permanent and stable. Your memorialists hazard nothing in the assertion, that history has furnished no instance of a Colony, either in ancient or modern times, which has flourished to the same extent, within so short a period, as the one established by the Society on the Coast of Africa. To this Colony more than 1400* (including those liberated and the late expedition) free negroes have been with their own consent, already removed, and notwithstanding the numerous misrepresentations which have been floating through the country, with regard to its languishing condition, and the dangers and hardships and sufferings, to which emigrants are exposed on their arrival thither, there are numbers more, who are ready and anxious to depart, whenever the Society can afford them the means of transportation.

The establishment of this Colony, and the unparalleled prosperity which has thus far attended it, constitute in the opinion of your memorialists, an ample refutation of all the objections, which have at different times, and in different forms, been raised to the practicability of the scheme. They have silenced in a measure, the insinuations of lukewarm friends, and the cavils

of open enemies. The Society is daily receiving a new accession of firm and able advocates. Auxiliaries for the purpose of increasing its funds, and advancing its object, are multi

*This estimate is rather high, though not very far from the truth.

plying in almost every State of the Union, and in none more rapidly than in Virginia. A deep and heartfelt interest in its behalf, seems to have been awakened from one extremity of the land to the other. In its successful progress it, has arrested the attention, not of individuals merely, but of the National and State Legislatures. Whithersoever indeed it has directed its course, if all opposition has not retired before it, it has at least to some good extent, gained the confidence and support of the candid, the liberal, and the reflecting.

Nor is this to be wondered at. The American Colonization Society cannot fail, when properly examined, of enlisting in its behalf, the best wishes and noblest exertions of the patriot, because its operations are directly calculated to elevate the character, and ensure the domestic peace and prosperity of the country. It may be safely assumed, that there is not an individual in the community, who has given to the subject a moment's consideration, who does not regard the existence of the free people of colour in the bosom of the country, as an evil of immense magnitude, and of a dangerous and alarming tendency. Their abject and miserable condition is too obvious to be pointed out. All must perceive it, and perceiving it, cannot but lament it. But their deplorable condition is not more obvious to the most superficial observer, than is (what is far worse, and still more to be dreaded,) the powerful and resistless influence which they exert over the slave population. While their character remains what it now is, (and the laws and structure of the country in which they reside, prevent its permanent improvement,) this influence must of necessity be baneful and contaminating. Corrupt themselves, like the deadly Upas, they impart corruption to all around them. Their numbers too, are constantly and rapidly augmenting. Their annual increase is truly astonishing, certainly unexampled. The dangerous ascendancy which they have already acquired over the slaves, is consequently increasing with every addition to their numbers; and every addition to their numbers, is a substraction from the wealth and strength, and character, and happiness, and safety of the country. And if this be true, as it unquestionably is, the converse is also true; the danger of their undue influence, will lessen with every diminution of their numbers; and every diminution of their num

bers, must add, and add greatly, to the prosperity of the country. To remove them, therefore, is truly the dictate of patriotism.

Great, however, as are the benefits which the Colonization Society promises to bestow upon this country, by removing beyond its limits, a class of the population which all acknowledge to be idle, useless and dangerous, they are by no means greater than the benefits which it will bestow upon the individuals who compose that class. The Society has been termed a benevolent institution; but this appellation it would not deserve, if it did not leave the free negro in a far more enviable condition in Africa, than that in which it finds him in America. In the removal of the free negro, his happiness ought to be consulted; and the Society has consulted his happiness. It has provided him an Asylum in a fertile country, and in a salubrious climate. It takes him from the land in which he is an alien and an outcast, and restores him to the country from which his fathers were originally torn, by the hand of violence. It wipes from his character, the obloquy which here rests upon it, and opens before his vision a bright prospect of usefulness, and happiness, and freedom. In a word it translates him from "darkness into light." In confiation of the truth of the above remarks, your memorialit confidently appeal to the past and present prosperous condition of the Colony itself. They appeal to the industry and enterprising spirit of the Colonists; to their numerous works of public utility; to their flourishing schools; to their expanding commerce; to their increasing wealth; to their mild and wholesome government. They appeal too, to the fact, that the Colonists are constantly and earnestly imploring their brethren on this side the Ocean, to come over to their infant settlement, that they may share in their prosperity and happiness. These facts speak for themselves: they clearly evince, that the removal of the free people of colour is as beneficial to them, as to the country which they leave behind.

But, this is not all. Your memorialists might go on to exhibit the tendency of the Society to deliver Africa from the thraldom of barbarism, under which that unfortunate portion of the globe has for so many centuries been groaning. The whole history of the misfortunes of that country, may be comprised in one

word, the SLAVE-TRADE. It is this, that has paralyzed her physical and moral energies, and it is this, which has brought upon this country a deadly and a lasting curse. But, the Colony planted by the Society has already done much, and will yet do more, towards the suppression of that inhuman and nefarious traffic, not so much by the force of arms, as by the moral influence which it has exerted, and will continue to exert, over the surrounding native tribes. It has kindled in Africa the light of civilization and christianity, which sooner or later, must shine over every portion of that ill-fated and unhappy continent. In whatever aspect, therefore, the cause of colonization be considered, it does, in the opinion of your memorialists, address its claims alike to the Patriot, the Philanthropist, and the Christian; for, it is emphatically the cause of Liberty, of Humanity, of Religion. In this age of expansive and expanding benevolence, when the streams of charity are flowing in ten thousand channels through the country, the wisdom of man has devised no scheme so comprehensive in its benevolence, so overflowing in its blessings, as the scheme of the Colonization Society. It has been justly and eloquently termed "a circle of philanthropy, every segment of which tells and testifies to the beneficence of the whole."

At the same time, however, that your memorialists are impelled by the interest which they feel in the cause of the Society, to speak of it in terms of high commendation, and to represent it as rapidly growing, as it certainly is, in the confidence of the American public, they are by no means unaware, that it has still to contend with opposition the most violent, and that too, from men of distinguished abilities. It is insisted in the first place, that the scheme of the Society, however plausible it may appear in the eyes of a few misguided philanthropists, is manifestly impracticable; and in the second place, that the execution of this scheme, even if it be practicable, is fraught with danger to the body politic. The reasons which have been urged to sustain the first of these objections, such as the difficulty of obtaining emigrants, the insalubrity of the climate of Africa, the hostile character of the native tribes, and so on, having been applied repeatedly to the best of all tests, the test of experience, have been demonstrated to be totally and altogether erroneous.

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