Gazette Of The United States

HUMANITY.
Emancipated Africans have been complained of as defeating the benevolent designs of their friends, by unworthy conduct in a state of freedom: Admitting the fact, in some instances, the following is an attempt to assign the cause.

To the enquiry upon the subject of the Africans, principally with respect to the behaviour of those who have been emancipated:—
It may be observed, That all circumstances considered, their conduct is as irreproachable, as could reasonably be expected—and notwithstanding what has been asserted, but few instances have occurred, of flagrantly bad characters: It is however granted, that many having obtained their freedom, become idle, vicious, and poor, and so a burthen to society; but all this is to be accounted for, from their former situation in life.
It is a general opinion among those who keep Slaves, that ignorance is the best security for obedience hence these children of misfortune, are brought up in an alienation from all instruction and knowledge—and at an age, when the human mind is found incapable of imbibing ideas, or receiving instruction, have been sent adrift, as it were without oars, sails, rudder, or compass to assist their progress in the voyage of life—or with little more to distinguish them from irrational animals, than their shape. I say they are turned out to get their living, in an inhospitable world, entirely destitute of that knowledge, which is absolutely necessary to enable them to stand a common chance for a livelihood.—Not only destitute of this knowledge, but arrived to that advanced period of life, when experience testifies it is too late to learn.
This incapacity is not a circumstance peculiar to the Africans: A gentleman of my acquaintance, who was, at a former period, engaged in the business of a publick Instructor, has assured me, that he had both black and white scholars, who were men grown—and in proportion as they had been neglected in the early part of life, in that proportion it was found equally difficult to instruct either.—
These unhappy persons therefore ought not to be arraigned upon the principles that apply to those who have enjoyed the blessing of an early education—for how can fruit be expected, where no preparation was made for the harvest?
The least attention to the conduct of white persons, who labour under the disadvantages of ignorance, will shew, that vice, indolence, and wretchedness, are not confined to the colour of the skin.—
It may be asked, Whether there is reason to suppose, that, enjoying equal advantages, in point of education, with the whites, they would make equal improvements? Unfortunately, experience does not at present furnish us with documents to decide the question upon a general scale; but nevertheless there are a great many instances to prove, that blacks, who have had their education begun at a proper period, have proved good mechanicks, farmers, traders, and respectable members of Society. A variety of particulars in point might be enumerated, especially in the country towns.
This information applies both to those who were imported young, and to those born in the country—with this difference however, against the kidnapped Africans, that they are, in general, past the age when impressions are made to the greatest advantage, when first ent into slavery.
C.