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Successful Colonization

Successful Colonization image
Parent Issue
Day
1
Month
September
Year
1841
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Five freemen, just escaped from slavery in Kentucky, passed by here some three veeks since, with a view of bettering their condition in Canada. One of them left a molhcr moro than 6eventy years of age, her head being as white as cotton, raking1 and binding sheaves in the harvest field. One of them was tho slave of hia father. A number of brothers and sisters suslaned the doublé relation of children anil property. The abolilionists will soon ouldo the Colonizationists in colonizing the free peopleof color, and more emphatically, "with their own consent." Some fifteen or sixtecn have passed through here, on their way to Canada, in about three months. These wore in the prime of life, and could not have been worth to their masters less than Sl6,000. - The number that has emigratcd must be very large. An intelligent olored man vho has travelled some time i;i Canada, remarked to us, that he had seen large colicoli ons of colored people, while in slavery, hut he had never seen such multitudes as there were in Canada. While passing the streets of Ann Arbor, we said to hirn, do you eee that tall young gentleman yonder? Yes. Wel), he has just returned from the South, and he knows that the slaves are so far from being unhappy and discontented that they would not take their Iiberty if it wasofiered them. Ho has asked many the question, and they have uniformly told him so in so many words. What of that? said he. I have told people so a great many times, and yet I was determined to become free tho first opportuoi ty. Why, only a ïnunlh before I lcft Kentucky, a wliite man questioned me about my cotidition, inquiring if I would not rather be free"? I said to him, "No, why fchould I wish tobe free? IVloster takes care of me when I am eick, and provides me vith food and clothes, and I do not have to work hard, and why should I desire to change my condition? I would not take my freecom if it were offercd me." But at the same time, I took care to ask him many questions about the condilion of the free, and to get all the information from him that I could, ihat would be useful to me in escaping from slavery. - I was obliged to take this course. If I hr.dtold hirn I wantod to bo free, lie would have informed my mas ter, who would have sold me down the river imraediateiy, lest I should run away. This conversation shows how little can be known of the re'il feelings of the slaves, from the reporta of our Northern people who visit the South. It is natural that the slave should reveal his aspirations after liberty lo hisfriends, not to the oppressor, or to the friends of that oppre6sor. We belicve that the fugitives, passing through thiSjState, areseldom tnolested by the inhabitants. Although there are many sons of Belial among us, yet public opinión, on the whole, a rather favorable to t-iose who are trjing to be free, and perhaps there is no part ofthe State, where some cannot be found who are willing to cornply with the command ot Jesús Christ, by receiving the stranger, and providing him with food, drink and raiment. Qr'Gidding's speech on the Florida war is attracting attention in New England. It hes been published in the Northampton Courier and Keene Sentinel.