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Mr. COLTON then offered the following resolution, which was adopted:

Resolved, That the enterprise to which this Society is consecrated, is of such importance to its immediate objects, to our Country, and to the cause of humanity in general, and its want of means to extend its operations and advance its designs, so imperative-as in a peculiar manner, to claim the auxiliary efforts of the Benevolent and the efficient patronage of our General Government.

The Hon. Mr. FReLINGHUYSEN, of New Jersey, then said,

Mr. PRESIDENT: At this late, hour I beg the privilege of a very few words. The Resolution which I am about to offer, regards the suppression of the slave trade and our duty as christians and as men, with respect to this tremendous evil. As has been stated in the Report, most Christian Nations have united in distinct expressions of abhorrence of this traffic; and several have threatened it with all the penalties of piracy. and employed a part of their naval forces to suppress it. In this noble enterprise, England, France and the United States have concurred. But it seems that the occasional interruption to which this trade has been subjected, has but aggravated its enormity, and perhaps increased its extent, and when we consider the spirit which prompts to this trade there is no cause for wonder.

It is avarice which feeds the spirit that animates the slave trade, and we all know that this is of all passions the most base and inveterate. It almost lives beyond the grave.

What cares it for the cries of afflicted humanity!-It has sold its country, betrayed the Saviour, and for thirty pieces of silver it would betray a world. The congregated navies of the world, I fear, can never suppress this traffic.

And must we therefore mourn over it and sit down in despair? I trust not. Light begins to beam upon us; Africa pleads her own wrongs, and God in his providence has opened a door for a mighty deliverance. It may be considered as enthusiasm, but I love to cherish such enthusiasm. Let the coast of Africa be once studded with settlements of emancipated and christian men, and a bulwark would be reared against the slave trade more effective than a thousand navies. Was ever it heard that white men were surprised and borne away in slave ships as the subjects of this traffic? The answer and the reason of it point to the mode of relief. We must plead the cause of Africa on her own shores. We must enlighten the Africans themselves on the nature of this evil. We must raise in their minds a fixed abhorrence of its enormities. There will be no ships with human cargoes if we cut off the supply. We must by our settlements point the African kidnapper to a more profitable commerce than that in the blood and heartstrings of his fellow men. This, it will be said, requires time. It will require time, but not so many years as bear record against us for our countenance of this horrid commerce. We have one flourishing settlement. And I rejoice to say, in this Legislative Hall of my country, I congratulate here the friends of this Society, that a way is

opening before us by which we may wipe off the stains of guilt that now abide upon us.

He then offered the following resolution, which was adopted. Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting the slave trade is not to be suppressed, without more united and vigorous exertions on the part of the several governments of christendom, and that both Humanity and Religion, invoke all conscientious and enlightened statesmen to consider and adopt more effectual measures, for putting down forever this abominable traffic.

The Hon. Mr. BATES, of Massachusetts, said:

He rose not for the purpose of addressing the Society, but of offering a resolution. As the representative of one of its branches, he had been honoured with an invitation to take part in the discussion of the evening, but he had declined it. Not that he felt no interest in the occasion, nor that the Society he represented felt none: Quite the contrary. The object is great and glorious-one that interests the heart and commands the approbation and the admiration of every friend of the human family-one, however, that will require a great, and concentrated, and mighty effort for its accomplishment, and towards which, what this Society has done, is only preliminary and preparatory. But, he said, considering the State from which he came, the delicate nature of the subject under consideration in its connection and bearing upon other subjects, and the sensitive feeling of a portion of the public in relation to it, he thought he could best subserve the interests of the Society by remaining silent. He remarked that they, in Massachusetts, were willing to follow in the path which we might trace for them to labor in such a cause whenever, and wherever, and however we might direct, without wishing to dictate or advise. That it was an object deep in the hearts of many of the people of his State, but one with which the people of the South are best acquainted, and in which most interested, and therefore that they were content to act in entire subordination to the views of the Society. He observed that his relation to the Auxiliary Societies required him to state that the Resolution he was about to offer, was put into his hands for that purpose; and he only regretted that those Societies had not higher claims to the acknowledgment it involves. He offered the following Resolution, which was adopted:

Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be presented to the various Auxiliary Societies for their generous efforts and contributions in aid of the great enterprise of this Institution.

On motion of Hon. Mr. WILLIAMS, it was

Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be given to the Rev. Clergy of the U. States, for their efficient aid in promoting the objects of this Society, and that they be earnestly solicited to take up collections annually for its benefit, on the 4th of July.

The Meeting drawing near its close, Mr. CUSTIS again addressed the Chair, as follows:

Mr. PRESIDENT: I hope I may be indulged, as an old and faithful servant in the cause, with a few additional remarks. It might appear from some parts of the addresses to which we have listened, that the people of the Southern States were responsible in their own proper persons, for the evils which have been imposed upon them by others. I rise, Sir, to vindicate my native country.

Let it be remembered, that the evil which we have inherited, was brought upon us against our remonstrances and our prayers, by our ancient Rulers. Sir, it was while our ancestors were British subjects, that this evil was brought upon us. The Colonists remonstrated in their legislative capacity and through the Press; but no, the interest, the revenue of the Mother Country required the trade.

Permit me to say to our Northern friends, that some amiable feelings are to be found in Southern bosoms. We ardently pray to be delivered from the evil of slavery, and hope the hour of deliverance will come.Let not, then, blows be inflicted, which we do not deserve. I trust that this noble charity has at length opened the way, by which we may be saved from our heaviest calamity. If there is any better mode of acting on this subject, we will honour the discoverer, abandon our views, and adopt his.

Some benevolent minds in the overflowings of their philanthropy, advocate amalgamation of the two classes, saying, let the coloured class be freed, and remain among us as denizens of the Empire; surely all classes of mankind are alike descended from the primitive parentage of Eden, then why not intermingle in one common society as friends and brothers. No, Sir, no. I hope to prove at no very distant day, that a Southron can make sacrifices for the cause of Colonization beyond seas; but for a Home Department in those matters, I repeat, no, Sir, no. What right, I demand, have the children of Africa to an homestead in the white man's country? If, as is most true, the crimes of the white man robbed Africa of her sons, let atonement be made by returning the descendants of the stolen to the clime of their ancestors, and then all the claims of redeeming justice will have been discharged. There let centuries of future rights atone for centuries of past wrongs. Let the regenerated African rise to Empire; nay, let Genius flourish, and Philosophy shed its mild beams to enlighten and instruct the posterity of Ham, returning "redeemed and disenthralled," from their long captivity in the New World. But, Sir, be all these benefits enjoyed by the African race under the shade of their native palms.Let the Atlantic billow heave its high and everlasting barrier between their country and ours. Let this fair land, which the white man won by his chivalry, which he has adorned by the arts and elegancies of polished life, be kept sacred for his descendants, untarnished by the footprint of him who hath even been a slave. Sir, a mighty appeal is about being made for Africa, both in Europe and here; may it be as successful as the warmest, nay wildest dreams of Poetry or Philanthropy could desire it to be, and new states and nations spring up, and be multiplied; but let them be in the land of the Lion, Sir, not where the Eagle his eyry builds.

At every Anniversary Meeting, there has been cause to congratulate this Society upon its rise, progress, and success; we may now rejoice that the experiment has been fully tried; that the project of colonizing Free Persons of Colour on the Coast of Africa, has been fairly weighed in the balance, and has not been found wanting; for behold, where yesterday stretched a dark and dismal coast, is now heard the busy num of industry; the arts are there, too, with education, and the blessed influences of Chris. tianity; all, all now flourish, where of late was only the desert gloom of barbarism. And if a few short years have accomplished so much, what may not half a century do. But let us admit that a century will be requisite to complete the mighty work. I repeat, in this Palace of the Supreme Legislature, that no century in the many which I trust will occur in the long enduring age of our Empire, will more proudly adorn the historic page, than that which embraces in its annals the annihilation of slavery.

life.

Sir, permit me to say, that the remarks made by our worthy friend and most liberal benefactor, (Mr. Gerrit Smith,) have done honor to this Association. From that gentleman, we have heard a great deal to admire in feelings and sentiments which are truly American. But let me say, that some allowances should be made for those who, in point of local situation, are not so happy as himself. When from the land where dwells the freeman only, you gaze around you, you behold a country thickly peopled, and all delighting in the business and enjoyment of social and individual 'Tis a sunny scene, Sir, without a single cloud to obscure its resplendent sky. Such may our worthy friend enjoy from the heights of Oneida, and long may he live to enjoy it. I greet him well, that his lot has been cast in such "pleasant places," and that his region has not endured the misfortunes of ours. Happier, far happier is his lot, than if a Southern atmosphere had tanned his cheek. Yet, with all our misfortunes, Sir, I hope time will prove, that we have some redeeming qualities; and should Heaven bless our honest endeavours, we shall leave to our posterity, a better inheritance than we received from our ancestors. A new spirit is awakened, and walks abroad in our land. Light shines, and the mists of error are clearing away. We trust that from the influences of this magnificent charity, ours will in time be no longer the land of the slave.

May it please that Providence, which, through so many trials, has preserved the old, the venerable South, the land of genius and patriotism, the home of the high-minded and hospitable, still to protect her destinies, and give speed to this benign Institution, which never will cause to humanity a tear, and may give joy and happiness to millions.

On motion by Rev. Dr. LAURIE, it was

Resolved, That the noble resolution and energy, with which the Pennsylvania Society, and especially the citizens of Philadelphia have assisted the endeavours of this Society, deserve to be remembered with gratitude and held up before the public as most worthy of universal imitation.

On motion by W. W. SEATON, Esq. it was

Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be presented to Richard Smith, the Treasurer, for his long continued, able and gratuitous services.

On motion by Hon. Mr. WHITTLESEY, seconded by J. S. Benham, Esq.

Resolved, That this meeting approves of the consistency with which the Managers have adhered to the originally avowed object of the Society as expressed in its constitution, "the colonizing (with their own consent) the free people of colour of the U. States on the coast of Africa or such other place as Congress shall deem expedient," and that it believes the success of the Society to depend in future on a strict adherence to its original principles.

The following are the remarks of Mr. Benham, on seconding the Resolution:

MR. PRESIDENT: In rising to second the resolution just submitted by my honorable friend from Ohio, it is not my intention to participate in the discussion of the very interesting topics which have been presented for consideration. The benevolence of your noble enterprise-its practicability-its peaceful character-its compatibility with existing rights of dominion, as acknowledged by our political institutions, and its meritorious claims upon the justice, patriotism, and humanity of our country, have been judiciously and eloquently pourtrayed by the honorable Delegate from New York (Mr. Smith). I trust that gentleman will pardon me for expressing the sincere pleasure and satisfaction I felt, in common I am sure with every friend of Colonization, in listening to his just and statesman-like exposition of the views and objects of your Society. It was indeed, Sir, well calculated to put to flight the unjust suspicions and calumnies which have lately been cast upon it and its friends, from a quarter not anticipated by the patriots under whose auspices it was established. I concur, Sir, in the sentiment which the resolution before you contains, that the present prosperity and ultimate success of this Society depend upon a pertinacious adherence to the principles in which it was originally founded. Its primary object now is, and ever has been, to colonize, with their own consent, free People of Colour on the Coast of Africa, or elsewhere, as Congress may deem expedient. And, Sir, I am unwilling to admit, under any circumstances, and particularly in this Hall, that it ever has swerved from this cardinal object. It is true, that the friends of African Colonization ever have and do now anticipate that the moral influence of this Association will encourage voluntary emancipation; and by removing the evil against which the laws restricting emancipation were intended to guard, induce those States so distinguished for their chivalry and independence, not only to modify or abrogate those laws, but to enact others for the safe and gradual abolition of slavery-and thus in time to obliterate the only stain upon the freedom of our political institutions. It is equally true, Sir, that these sentiments were not only entertained by the primitive patrons of the Society, but promulgated to the world in its

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