On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
slates ; while in the northern , though there is no slavery , there i * an limost universal prejudice against the people of colour , which keeps , them , and would always continue to keep them , in a degraded state . Beyond the question of the abolition of slavery , the Americans have to ask themselves , what is to be the condition oF the immense coloured population ? As far as can be gathered from Mr . Abdy ' s statistical reports , it amounts at present , to 3 , 000 , 000 , and the increase of its numbers goes on in n proportion considerably faster than amongst the whites . This seems to be proved , even under unfavourable circumstances , and
is without exception , unless where it is the interest of the slaveholders ( which it is in particular districts ) Father to import than to rear slaves . The question then is , What will be the condition of this great and increasing population ? Mr . Abdy warmly unites himself with that party which says— Give tnem equal rights with the whites . They are not an inferior race ; it is only their circumstances which make them now appear so . If even a complete amalgamation of the two races should in the end take place , so that America should eventually be peopled by
mulattoes , in this we see no evil . ' This party , however , is considerably in the minority , though Mr . Abdy asserts that it is increasing . Opposed to it are those , in tfap first place , who are interested in the continuance of slavery j nl ^ , still further , the great majority of all classes , who , whatever may he their feeling as to slavery , view with a kind of horror the idea of anything that can lead to amalgamation with the ' degraded people . They do look on them as an inferior race . Apparently , they would be glad to get rid of
them altogether ; at any rate they would endeavour , by a system of gradual colonization , so to keep down their numbers , as to prevent their ever becoming dangerous and troublesome to their oppressors . To this end the Colonization Society appears now to be directing its efforts ; when its object seemed to be to improve Africa , while it provided an asylum on its shores for such free blacks as wished to emigrate , it engaged to itself the
good wishes of all the friends of humanity . It is impossible to look with approbation on the means it uses . The end in view , eveu could it be considered justifiable or desirable , appears to be unattainable . A few extracts will best show the state of feeling among these conflictingj ^ jt ies ., and the extent and perversity of the prevailing prejudioHB'hey arc such as to make it really difficult for us , who areout of the sphere of the circumstances that have engendered them , to believe possible ; however likely it may be that we have among ourselves some cherished error , some favourite feelings , quite as unreasonable and as mischievous . It is unnecessary to quote any of the atrocitie 3 described in the alavehoUHng states ; it is sufficient to say that they are as bad teeny ot the worst that have ever accompanied slavery ; for instance * of tifttatt and unequal laws , harsh usage , unfeeling bahwiouB
Untitled Article
tk * VniUd Stmitm tf North Ammicm * W *
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1835, page 735, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2651/page/43/
-