of Ireland is now increasing faster than any other population of Europe!"

The scheme of colonization has been popular in this country, and is still clung to with partial fondness. Those who are prejudiced against domestic slavery and averse to the presence of a negro population in the country, and who regard the mad project of emancipation in its proper light, view the plan of colonization as the only remedy for what they consider a national evil. They are perhaps correct in regarding it as the best plan which has been suggested: but whether the object desired—the removal of the negro race from this country-be within the scope of any justifiable exertion of human energy, remains to be determined. Many of the objections urged against colonization might be obviated. There is no necessity for adhering to the present experiment if a better can be suggested. If the object desired can be better, easier, or sooner attained by colonization elsewhere, than in Africa; if a healthier or cheaper site can be selected, there is no reason why Liberia should not be abandoned. It is unfair to argue against the scheme from the errors and misfortunes of the present colonyerrors and misfortunes from which another colony might be exempt. That colonization is practicable, every page of history demonstrates. Our own ex

The

istence answers all objections on that score. success of the English at New South Wales, and in all sections of the habitable world, proves that large and flourishing colonies, sufficient for the bases of future empires, may, even by a moderate exertion of the energies of a commercial nation, be established. But the question of the practicability of removing the negro race, or its increase, from this country, remains to be settled. The great obstacles alleged, those which no change of the plan

·

could obviate, and which appear appallingly formidable are, briefly, as follows:

1. The expense of the scheme. To purchase and transport 60,000 slaves annually (and the increase is now more than that number) would cost, it is supposed, $25,000,000. How is this to be raised? Private benevolence cannot even attempt it. The slave-holding States will not undertake it, for it is not only beyond their power, but would, if attempted, utterly ruin them. Shall the General Government undertake it? The Constitution will not sanction it. If it would, or if it could be changed, where or how could that sum be raised? A direct tax would not be borne. If raised by duties on imports, the burthen would fall upon the South and a double ruin be thus visited upon that hapless and persecuted section of our country. The sale of public lands would in the last resort be looked to; and if adequate to the object, would only be an indirect mode of impoverishing the country. Our people possess such elasticity and enterprize, that they can bear what would crush any other: but could they, without the worst afflictions, endure the loss of the labouring population of the South, and pay for that loss at the rate of upwards of 25 million dollars per annum, for an indefinite period?

2. The second obstacle is the difficulties attendant on colonization under the most favourable circumstances; the fearful expense of nursing an infant colony into vigor; and the very great time that must elapse before it can have attained sufficient maturity to bear an annual access of 60,000 to its numbers.

3. The habits of the negro render it doubtful whether a successful colony of that race can ever, under the most auspicious circumstances, be effected. They will not work without compulsion; and

colonization requires severe and continued toil. If the negro, when left to himself, can be induced to labour, or withheld from relapsing into barbarism—it remains to be proven. No such case has yet

occurred.

4. Will the South consent to relinquish her slaves? Will she consent to contribute her own money to buy her own property? Is she convinced, or can she be persuaded to believe, that her lands can be cultivated without negro labour? or could she consent to relinquish that labour without seeing her rich soil relapse into a wilderness?

5. The great difficulty, however, appears to be, the tendency of the natural increase to swell with the increase of the deportation. The law of population, by which the chasm left in a country by emigration is filled up by the increased activity of procreation, appears to be generally conceded, and is beyond the reach of philosophers and legislators. Unless the position assumed by the anti-colonizationists on this point can be refuted, apprehensions may be rationally entertained that the effort made to remove the slave population will only tax and enfeeble the country, without advancing one step towards the result desired.

Whatever may be the advantages or disadvantages of colonization, recent events have made the South indisposed to the agitation of emancipation in any of its shapes. At present the South is satisfied with her domestic institutions, and seeks no change. In answer to the colonizationists of the North, she bids them proceed in their work, colonize their own free blacks, the most degraded, dangerous, and unhappy population in our country— and when that is effected, it will be time to decide on the proposal of emancipating and deporting the slaves of the South. If it be urged that the free

blacks have a right to choose for themselves, and decline emigration, it may be answered, that, if the slave has a right to freedom, he may demand it unconditionally, and would be equally averse to leaving his native land. Unless the scheme of colonization can offer advantages sufficient to invite emigration, it must be abandoned, or sustained by coercive transportation, and in reference to the adoption of such measures, the different sections of our country are situated alike. If the deportation of the blacks be expedient, practicable, and proper, let the North so approve it by the colonization of their blacks and the South will be then better enabled to determine upon the scheme.

We cannot, however, dismiss this subject, without doing justice to the motives and feelings of the founders and friends of colonization. The scheme was conceived in an anxious and enlarged spirit of patriotism. Its objects are such as appeal, with irresistible force, to the heart of every American, Christian, and philanthropist. Its friends have manifested in its support a zeal, liberality, and disinterestedness which cannot be sufficiently praised. That such a scheme should have received, from the voluntary contributions of individuals, a sufficient sum to advance it to its present stage, is a fact honourable to the American people; and those who have yielded the colony, in this country, their disinterested support-those who have, on the pestilential shores of Africa, fallen victims to the cause-merit the gratitude and veneration of every friend of humanity. Time must determine the success of their efforts; but of their justice, purity, and patriotism, the white man and the slave, the North and South, America and Africa, will unite to bear grateful testimony.

CHAPTER XII.

Abolition of Slavery in the United States. Objects and designs of the Abolitionists.

We will now consider the scheme of emancipation- —a scheme which, but a few years since, found our country united, tranquil and happy, and which, in that brief period, has planted in her bosom distrust, jealousy, rage and terror-which has endangered the industry of the North, the security of life in the South, and has shaken to its very centre the Government of our common country.

The object of those who have espoused the cause of the slave is averred to be emancipation. They pronounce his bondage a sin against heaven, and claim the freedom of every negro in the countryyoung and old, male and female, ignorant and educated. Universal and sweeping emancipation is the object of their efforts; and they express their determination never to remit their exertions until the two millions of slaves in the South are released from all restraint.

This emancipation is claimed immediately. They will not submit to any gradual measures for the attainment of their wishes. The word is to be spoken by these necromancers in philanthropy, and the chains of the 2,250,000 slaves are to be shivered, as by one blow. The negro is to be instantaneously released, and turned forth, without the intelligence to direct his conduct, the habits of self