The Rights Of All

AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY
New-York, October 15th 1829.

Having seen by the papers of yesterday morning, that the claims of the above society were to be laid before the citizens of our goodly city, by Francis S. Key, Esq. of the D. C. the Rev. Mr. Gallaudet, of Hartford, and Capt. Stockton, of the U. S. Navy; I left home after sun-set, and with a very swift horse, pushed my way to the city, at the rate of more than ten miles per hour. Being detained at the ferry, I arrived, but in time to hear the conclusion of the opening speech by the Rev. Mr. Gallaudet, therefore I can say but little about it. But as the gentleman has Rev. to his name, I judge that it consisted in the slander of the coloured population of the north, and the asserting of the impossibility of their ever becoming any thing in this country—They must be held in contempt and degradation for ever, no doubt was the harangue.

Capt. Stockton, of the Navy, was then introduced to the audience, by the chairman, and if the designs of the American Colonization Society, were such as represented by that pious and talented gentleman, in an eloquent and impressive speech of about 30 minutes;—I at once would be a colonizationist, and persuade every other man in America to be the same—but, alas! the society as a body, are not so pure in their purposes, nor honest in their pursuits, as the good Captain Stockton. This F. S. Key did not fail to make very plain. He of the Capital divulged the secret, in a speech of more than an hour, which tired every body, and almost emptied the house. The speech was characterized by repetitions and cunning, without logic, or good sense. His premises were all false, and consequently his reasoning the same. He began by stating the degraded situation of the free coloured people, of the free and slave states, and asserted the impossibility, in the very nature of things, while prejudice dwelt in his little heart, which cannot be bigger than a cherry; of their ever having any privileges in this country—they must always be degraded and oppressed, free but in name, impossible that they can be otherwise—CONSCIENCE, RELIGION, GOD nor the BIBLE cannot make this nation do them justice— Satan is stronger than the Deity, the prejudices of our little souls, are more than proof against the progress of light, of liberal principles, or of religion.—Is it not hypocrisy for such men to profess a belief in the bible? Is not F. S. Key a Pagan, and his God a bat
or a mole, who should he dare name the rights of the oppressed, would be driven by the poisonous effluvia of his prejudice into Capt. Symes' hole? How dare such a man to speak of the triumphs of the Cross, or the progress of light. His next absurdity, was, that the slave holders were willing to emancipate their slaves could they but be removed to Liberia. One argument which he made use of in the establishment of this position, was the unprofitableness of slave labour, and the deterioration of slave states and slave counties. This argument, if followed up, would prove too much for the man of the Capital. It would prove the certainty of universal emancipation, without colonization. Slave holders, will yet have to starve, or set their slaves free, even should it be with the view of giving them their own lands, and suffering them to be their own neighbours. One idea more, and I am done with this orator, remarkable for his cunning. He dared to underrate the labours and influence of the Hon. Abolition Societies of our country, by strongly impeaching their wisdom and prudence.--He repeatedly asked, what good they had done, and answered by asserting that they had done harm. Does not the worthy gentleman know, this very hon. body of men, have been the means of emancipating more than half the States in the Union, and by turning them from sin to righteousness, saved our national fabrick? It may be, that he is indebted to these very men, for his existence,-- The south is only the north, with which it is connected. Does not Mr. Key know that the Abolition Societies have, and are educating their thousands of coloured youth. This mode of slandering the Abolitionists is very ungenerous in the worthy gentleman,

To conclude, I think the doctrines of colonizationists are more suited to the followers of Francis Wright and of Paine, than to the disciples of the bible, The fact is, we already have a Masonic, and Anti Masonic ticket, and I dare prophecy that before three years, we shall have a colonization ticket, with Rev. colonization candidates for the Senate, and House of Representatives.

O, unsanctified ambition, love of office and power, how subversive of every thing virtuous and good,

THE EDITOR.