"We are told that the Colonization Society is to civilize and evangelize Africa. 'Each emigrant,' says Henry Clay, the ablest advocate which the Society has yet found, 'is a missionary, carrying with him credentials in the holy cause of civilization, religion and free institutions!!'"
"Who are these emigrants—these missionaries?"
"The Free people of color. 'They, and they only,' says the African Repository, 'are qualified for colonizing Africa.'"
What are their qualifications? Let the Society answer in its own words:
"'Free blacks are a greater nuisance than even slaves themselves.'"—African Repository, vol. ii, p. 328.
"'A horde of miserable people—the objects of universal suspicion—subsisting by plunder.'"—C. F. Mercer.
"'An anomalous race of beings, the most debased upon earth.'"—African Repository, vol. vii, p. 230.
"'Of all classes of our population the most vicious is that of the free colored.'"—Tenth Annual Report of Colonization Society.
An Education Society has been formed in connection with the Colonization Society, and their complaint is principally that they cannot find proper subjects for instruction. Why cannot such subjects be found? Simply because our ferocious prejudices compel the colored children to grow up in ignorance and vicious companionship, and when we seek to educate them, we find their minds closed against the genial influence of knowledge.
When I heard of the Education Society, I did hope to find one instance of sincere, thorough disinterested good-will for the blacks. But in the constitution of that Society, I again find the selfish principle predominant. They pledge themselves to educate no colored persons unless they are solemnly bound to quit the country. The abolitionists are told that they must wait till the slaves are more fit for freedom. But if this system is pursued, when are they to be more fit for freedom?—Never—never—to the end of time.