VI. OFFERS MADE TO SUCH FREE COLORED PERSONS OF THE UNITED STATES, AS MAY CHOOSE TO EMIGRATE TO BRITISH GUIANA.
Mr. Carbery arrived at Baltimore in September last. He came to the United States partly for pleasure, and partly for the benefits of a change of climate. He had been but a few days at Baltimore, when his attention was attracted by the large number of free colored persons in that city; the difficulty they seemed to have in gaining a livelihood; and the discomforts of various kinds to which they are subjected.
Knowing the great want of laborers in British Guiana, and the strong disposition, existing there, to encourage immigration, it immediately occurred to him, that by the transfer of a certain portion of the free colored people of the United States to Guiana, not only might a great benefit be done to that colony, but what all must regard as of still greater importance, a boon of vast value might be conferred upon the free colored people themselves.
Much impressed by these considerations, Mr. Carbery procured a meeting of several of the free colored people of Baltimore, at which he proposed to them to select two of their own number, in whom they had confidence, whom he would send to British Guiana, free of expense, in order to give them an opportunity to examine the country, to judge for themselves, and to report to their brethren, what the prospects for immigrants really are.
The free colored people of Baltimore, upon this suggestion and offer, organized a Committee of Emigration, of which Mr. Green was appointed chairman, and selected Messrs Peck and Price, two of their number, as delegates to visit Guiana. These delegates sailed, free of expense, in the barque Don Juan, from Boston, on the 21st of December last. The result of their mission is not yet known, the agents not having returned,—nor indeed has Mr. Carbery yet heard of their arrival in the colony. The news however of their arrival and reception is daily expected.
In the mean time certain letters which Mr. Carbery had previously written to his friends in Guiana, giving an account of the numbers and the condition of the free colored people in the United States, had excited great attention and sympathy there. A public meeting was held in Georgetown the capital; an "Immigration Society" was established, and a very large sum of money was at once subscribed to form a fund for paying the expenses of all such immigrants as may choose to go to that colony. Of this sum, a considerable amount has been already remitted to Mr. Carbery, who is appointed Agent of the Society for the United States, to be applied towards the outfit of emigrants,—the Society undertaking to pay the charter or passage money on the arrival of the vessels, and to make all necessary arrangements for the entertainment and comfort of the immigrants, until such time, as they may select some regular employment. Mr. Carbery is assured that should the colored people of the United States or any part of them, be induced to accept the offer he now makes, any amount necessary to carry his proposals into effect, will be furnished as it may be needed.
As the agent of the above society Mr. Carbery offers to transport, from the United States to British Guiana, free of any expense to themselves, together with their baggage, all such sober and industrious free colored people as shall see fit to embrace this opportunity, so rare and extraordinary, of at once relieving themselves from the great disabilities and disadvantages under which they now labor, and of securing not only a comfortable subsistence, and perhaps wealth, but what is of far greater importance, both for themselves and their children,—a full participation in all the rights, privileges and immunities of freemen, and a standing and consideration in society, which at present is wholly beyond their reach.
Mr. Carbery is also authorized by the society to guarantee to all emigrants, who may accept his offers, maintenance at the colonial expense, and comfortable and commodious lodgings, until they shall succeed in obtaining such employment as they may prefer.
Transferred to a country which opens a vast field to labor, and to all sorts of enterprise, relieved from a weight of prejudice which now rests so heavily upon them, the free colored people of the United States would have an opportunity which they do not now enjoy, of proving, that when allowed to share the same moral and social advantages, they are able successfully to compete with the white man. It is indeed difficult to realize the effect often produced upon a man's conduct and character, when he is removed from the withering effect of the distinction of caste, and raised to an equality of political and social privileges. Persons, who if they remain in the United States, will be confined all their lives to menial and obscure stations, by emigrating to British Guiana, which they may do in twenty days, and without spending a cent, will alter the whole course and prospect of their lives. With industry, application, and sobriety, they will have a moral certainty of rising to a comfortable competency if not to wealth, and of filling with pleasure to themselves and benefit to the community, a respectable station in society. Surely these considerations ought to have great weight with all,—but more especially with the young, who are just coming forward, and with those fathers and mothers who have families of children growing up about them.
There is now opened to the free colored people of the United States, a city of refuge in Guiana, of which it is to be hoped they will not fail to avail themselves; and Mr. Carbery has reason to anticipate, should the free colored people of the United States, and those persons upon whose advice and opinions they most confidently rely, be led to take the same view of the matter which he does, that his visit to the United States may result in great good to a large body of his fellow men, who at present are cut off from many of the chief benefits of society, and by the unfortunate operation of circumstances over which they have no control, are subjected to influences which crush their energies, break their spirits, and prevent them from rising to affluence or consideration. Relieved from these impediments, transferred to a country where they will be secured in the enjoyment of equal social and political rights, they will become new creatures, and many of them will display talents and capacity of which they are not now suspected.
Mr. Carbery, however, has no desire to induce any colored person, to emigrate to Guiana, who is not well satisfied, and whose friends are not also satisfied, that it will be for his benefit to go. Deeply impressed as he is with the manifold advantages which the free colored people of the United States may derive from closing with his proposals, he submits them to the candid consideration of those concerned, expressly desiring that before being adopted by any body, they may be subjected to the closest scrutiny, and most rigorous investigation.