born in America, is called an African. Although our American brethren have so long ceased to regard England as their mother country, notwithstanding that they are, in language, in religion, and in many essential characteristics, Englishmen, yet, they persist in calling Africa the native country of a race born on their own soil, of parents born in America for many generations upward; and in representing these coloured freemen, their own countrymen, every inch Americans, as 'poor unfortunate exiles from their much loved Guinea or Congo!' Our readers will require proof of this most palpable absurdity. The following are given by Mr. Garrison as illustrative specimens.

At no very distant period, we should see all the free coloured people in our land, transferred to their own country. Let us send them back to their native land. * By returning them to their own ancient land of Africa, improved in knowledge and in civilization, we repay the debt which has so long been due to them.' African Repository.

And though we may not live to see the day, when the sons of Africa shall have returned to their native soil, &c. To found in Africa an empire of christians and republicans; to reconduct the blacks to their native land.' &c. Idem.

Who would not rejoice to see our country liberated from her black population? Who would not participate in any efforts to restore those children of misfortune to their native shores? The coloured population of this country can never rise to respectability here: in their native soil they can!

The only remedy afforded, to colonize them in their mother country. ** * They would go to that home from which they have long been absent. *** Shall we . . . retain and foster the alien enemies. Idem.

Be all these benefits enjoyed by the African race under the shade of their native palms- Idem.

We have a numerous people who, though they are among us, are not of us.' Second An. Report of N. York Col. Soc.

Among us is a growing population of strangers. It will furnish the means of granting to every African exile among us, a happy home in the land of his fathers.' Rev. Baxter Dickinson's Sermon.

‹ Africa is indeed inviting her long exiled children to return to her bosom.' Circular of Rev. Mr. Gurley.

This is something less innocent than mere romance. The greater part of the coloured population of the United States of America, are the descendants of those who were forcibly torn from Africa two centuries ago. Their fathers, it is remarked, 'assisted in breaking the yoke of British oppression, and in ' achieving that liberty which' Americans' prize above all price; and they cherish the strongest attachment to the land of their birth. Nor is it many years since this patriotic attachment was so substantially evinced, as to excite the warm approbation of no

less a person than General Jackson, the present President. Mr. Garrison gives us the following translation of a proclamation in the French language, issued during the last war.

'Proclamation to the free people of colour.

'Soldiers !-When on the banks of the Mobile, I called you to take up arms, inviting you to partake the perils and glory of your white fellow citizens, I expected much from you; for I was not ignorant that you possessed qualities most formidable to an invading enemy. I knew with what fortitude you could endure hunger and thirst, and all the fatigues of a campaign. I knew well how you loved your NATIVE country, and that you had, as well as ourselves, to defend what man holds most dear-his parents, relations, wife, children, and property. You have done more than I expected. In addition to the previous qualities I before knew you to possess, I found, moreover, among you, a noble enthusiasm which leads to the performance of great things.

'Soldiers !-The President of the United States shall hear how praiseworthy was your conduct in the hour of danger; and the Representative of the American people will, I doubt not, give you the praise your exploits entitle you to. Your General anticipates them in applauding your noble ardour.

The enemy approaches; his vessels cover our lakes; our brave citizens are united, and all contention has ceased among them. Their only dispute is, who shall win the prize of valour; or who, the most glory, its noblest reward.

'By order.

THOMAS BUTLER, Aid-de-Camp.'

pp. 6, 7.

A respectable coloured gentleman of the city of New York, referring to this famous proclamation, makes the following brief

comment.

When we could be of any use to the army, we possessed all the cardinal virtues; but now that time has passed, we forsooth are the most miserable, worthless beings the Lord in his wise judgement ever sent to curse the rulers of this troublesome world! I feel an anathema rising from my heart, but I have suppressed it.'

The second part of Mr. Garrison's pamphlet is entirely occupied with numerous documents exhibiting the sentiments of the people of colour themselves; documents which, while reflecting the highest credit upon the good sense, ability, and virtuous feeling of this basely calumniated portion of the American community, place the advocates of the Colonization Society in no very advantageous light. We must make room for a few extracts from these interesting papers; after perusing which, few of our readers will be at a loss to decide which party has the best of the argu

ment.

‹ PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 1817. At a numerous meeting of the people of colour convened at Bethel Church, to take into consideration the pro

priety of remonstrating against the contemplated measure that is to exile us from the land of our nativity, &c.

'Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate in the blessings of her luxuriant soil, which their blood and sweat manured; and that any measure or system of measures, having a tendency to banish us from her bosom, would not only be cruel, but in direct violation of those principles which have been the boast of this republic.

Resolved, That we view with deep abhorrence the unmerited stigma attempted to be cast upon the reputation of the free people of colour, by the promoters of this measure; "that they are a dangerous and useless part of the community "; when, in the state of disfranchisement in which they live, in the hour of danger they ceased to remember their wrongs, and rallied around the standard of their country.

‹ Resolved, That we never will separate ourselves, voluntarily, from the slave population in this country; they are our brethren by the ties of consanguinity, of suffering, and of wrong; and we feel that there is more virtue in suffering privations with them, than fancied advantages for a season.

Resolved, That without arts, without science, without a proper knowledge of government, to cast into the savage wilds of Africa, the free people of colour, seems to us, the circuitous route by which they must return to perpetual bondage.

Resolved, That having the strongest confidence in the justice of God and the philanthropy of the free States, we cheerfully submit our destinies to the guidance of Him, who suffers not a sparrow to fall without his special providence.' p. 9.

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT. July 1831. At a large and respectable meeting of the coloured inhabitants of the city of Hartford and its vicinity, convened at the vestry room of the African Church:

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the American Colonization Society is actuated by the same motives which influenced the mind of Pharaoh, when he ordered the male children of the Israelites to be destroyed.

Resolved, That it is the belief of this meeting, that the Society is the greatest foe to the free coloured and slave population, with whom liberty and equality have to contend.

Resolved, That we look upon the man of colour that would be influenced by the Society, to emigrate to Liberia, as an enemy to the cause, and a traitor to his brethren.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting, that many of those who are engaged in this unjust scheme, would be willing, if it were in their power, to place us before the point of the bayonet, and drive us out of existence-so that they may get rid of that dark cloud, as we are termed, which hangs over these United States.

Resolved, That in our opinion we have committed no crime worthy of banishment, and that we will resist all the attempts of the Colonization Society, to banish us from this our native land.

Resolved, That we consider ourselves the legitimate sons of these United States, from whence we will never consent to be transported.

Resolved, That we will resist even unto death all the attempts of this Society to transport us to the pestilential shores of Liberia.

Resolved, That we will not countenance the doctrine of any pretended minister of the gospel who is in league with those conspirators against our rights.' pp. 28, 29.

'NEW HAVEN. Aug. 8. 1831. At a meeting of the Peace and Benevolent Society of Afric-Americans, &c.

6

• Resolved, That we consider those Christians and philanthropists who are boasting of their liberty and equality, saying that all men are born free and equal, and yet are endeavouring to remove us from our native land, to be inhuman in their proceedings, defective in their principles, and unworthy of our confidence.

Resolved, That we consider those colonizationists and ministers of the gospel who are advocating our transportation to an unknown clime, because our skin is a little darker than theirs, (notwithstanding God has made of one blood all nations of men, and has no respect of persons,) as violaters of the commandments of God, and the laws of the Bible, and as trying to blind our eyes by their blind movements-their mouths being smooth as oil, and their words sharper than any twoedged sword.

Resolved, That while we have no doubt of the sinister motives of the great body of colonizationists, we believe some of them are our friends and well-wishers, who have not looked deeply into the subject; but when they make a careful examination, we think they will find themselves in error.

Resolved, That it is our earnest desire that Africa may speedily become civilized, and receive religious instruction; but not by the absurd and invidious plan of the Colonization Society-namely, to send a nation of ignorant men, to teach a nation of ignorant men. We think it most wise for them to send missionaries.

Resolved, That we will resist all attempts made for our removal to the torrid shores of Africa, and will sooner suffer every drop of blood to be taken from our veins, than submit to such unrighteous treatment.

< Resolved, That we know of no other place that we can call our true and appropriate home, excepting these United States, into which our fathers were brought, who enriched the country by their toils, and fought, bled, and died in its defence, and left us in its possession--and here we will live and die.' pp. 30, 31.

PITTSBURGH. Sep. 1831. At a large and respectable meeting of the coloured citizens of Pittsburgh, convened at the African-Methodist Episcopal Church.

Resolved, That we hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal, and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Liberty and Equality now, Liberty and Equality for ever.

Resolved, That it is the decided opinion of this meeting, that African colonization is a scheme to drain the better informed part of the coloured people out of these United States, so that the chain of slavery may be riveted more tightly; but we are determined not to be

cheated out of our rights by the colonization men, or any other set of intriguers. We believe there is no philanthropy in the colonization plan towards the people of colour; but that it is got up to delude us away from our country and home, to the burning shores of Africa.

Resolved, That we, the coloured people of Pittsburgh, and citizens of these United States view the country in which we live, as our only true and proper home. We are just as much natives here, as the members of the Colonization Society. Here we were born-here bredhere are our earliest and most pleasant associations-here is all that binds man to earth, and makes life valuable. And we do consider every coloured man, who allows himself to be colonized in Africa, or elsewhere, a traitor to our cause.

Resolved, That we are freemen, that we are brethren, that we are countrymen and fellow-citizens, and as fully entitled to the free exercise of the elective franchise as any men who breathe; and that we demand an equal share of protection from our federal government with any class of citizens in the community. We now inform the Colonization Society, that should our reason forsake us, then we may desire to remove. We will apprise them of this change in due season.

Resolved, that we, as the citizens of these United States, and for the support of these resolutions, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, do mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honour, not to support a colony in Africa, nor in Upper Canada, nor yet emigrate to Hayti. Here we were born-here will we live, by the help of the Almighty-and here we will die and let our bones lie with our fathers.' pp. 34, 5.

From an address to the coloured citizens of Brooklyn, New York, issued in pursuance of a meeting of the coloured inhabitants of that township, June 3, 1831, we extract the following forcible and pathetic remonstrance.

⚫ Brethren, it is time for us to awake to our interests; for the Colonization Society is straining every nerve for the accomplishment of its objects. By their last publications we see that they have invoked all Christian assemblies and churches throughout the Union, to exert their influence, by raising subscriptions to send us (the strangers within their gates, as they call us) to the coast of Africa. They have got the consent of eleven States, who have instructed their senators to do something in the next Congress for our removal. Maryland calls imperatively on the general government to send us away, or else they will colonize their own free blacks. They have, by their influence, stopped the emancipation of slaves in a measure, except for colonization purposes.

We owe a tribute of respect to the State of New York, for her not having entered into the confederacy. Though she is the last in proclaiming general emancipation to the slave, yet we find her slow in adopting any such unchristian measures. We may well say, she is deliberate in her councils, and determinate in her resolutions.

Finally, Brethren, we are not strangers; neither do we come under the alien law. Our constitution does not call upon us to become neutralized; we are already American citizens; our fathers were among