Alexandria Gazette

Removal of Free Negroes.

THEIR COLONIZATION. -- The removal of the free negroes is a subject now much agitated in various states, and especially in Virginia. We do not propose to go into the question whether they are an injury or a benefit to the Southern communities. That there are among them industrious, moral and excellent persons, cannot be denied. But it is believed that the majority are idle, worthless, and exert an evil influence. Whether such be the fact or not, such at any rate is the general conviction, and where such is the general conviction, it will sooner or later produce their removal. We think there can be no doubt of this. Then the great question, the one upon which humane, intelligent and practical men should concentrate their thoughts is, by what means is their removal to be accomplished, and where shall they be sent?

We think we understand the character of our people when we say that, in considering the removal of this class of our population, they will desire to consult the dictates of humanity as well as duty to themselves. They would not, in order to be delivered from this evil, annihilate the race by the sword, nor would they devote them to a lingering death by disease or famine in some other quarter of the world. Justice and Mercy should go hand in hand. The mere removal of free blacks, keeping in view their future well-being, could not be considered inhuman. The same policy has been adopted in our country towards the remnants of another race of men who have been slaves. The great mass of the original inhabitants of this continent were driven from their hunting grounds by the sword. The tribes which remained have been one by one induced to go farther west, until but a few are left within the limits of the old states. Even now the Seminoles of Florida are urged to emigrate to another region. It has been admitted that there was no inhumanity in such removals, because, while the general welfare required them to go, a new home was provided for them. They were as deeply attached to their native spots as the negro can be, but, after all, they were better off by being separated from white communities, and permitted to enjoy uninterruptedly their own peculiar mode of life.

There is, then, no inhumanity in removing the free negroes, nor do we believe that themselves would so regard it, if they can be colonized like the Indians, in some spot where they can obtain the means of existence, of comfort and happiness. The inhumanity would be in turning them adrift without habitation, and to suffer or die, as it might happen. We treat criminals condemned to the penitentiary with more leniency than this, for they are provided with employment and subsistence. Virginians, accused as they are by their enemies of cruelty and oppression, show how false are these charges by the feeling they have already exhibited upon this subject.

The State and private citizens, we have no doubt, would both aid in the removal of free negroes, if the question can be decided, where are they to go? The subject of colonization in Liberia has excited much attention among our people. A meeting was lately held here of the Colonization Society, which excited much interest, and the subject is to be brought before our legislature. The theory of African colonization is a sublime and beautiful one. Its practicability upon the scale required for the speedy removal of the great number of free negroes in this State, is a question upon which we learn there are differences of opinion. For ourselves we wish well to this most benevolent scheme. We look upon it as one of the grandest and most philanthropic conceptions of the age. It proposes to restore the free negro to his ancient home, and make him the advance guard of the christianization and civilization of Africa. What philanthropist but must say God speed to such a noble enterprise? Yet, if it cannot command such general assent as is necessary to remove a pressing evil from Virginia, must we therefore give up the idea of removal?

We think not. Even if these people cannot be conveyed across the seas, are there not spots in the immense domain of the United States where they may be colonized? In Minnesota, or other territories of the Northwest, there is surely room for them, and the North, with its professed sympathy for the blacks, could not object to their colonization in those territories.

We throw out these hasty suggestions, trusting that they may arrest the attention of the leading and influential minds of Virginia, and aid in bringing about a result which will at once be beneficial to our own community, and promote the permanent well being and comfort of the free blacks. -- Richmond Republican.