OCR Text |
Show '. ADDITIONAL NOTK SINCE the original of the Portraiture of Slavery was composed, a highly respectable meeting. consisting of a considerable number of the members of our nation:1l legislature, with many benevolent and intelligent citizens of the District of Columbia, has been held in tht: city of \Vashington, (on the 21st Dec. ult.) for the purpose, M exprt:ssed by the gentleman who presideP as chairman, (l\Ir. Clay,) "of com·idering· the propriety and practicability of colonizing the free" people "oj f;Oiour in the United Stales, and of forming an t1sylw" ill rela· tion to that object." As the proceedings of this meeting indicate a flattering prospect of the consummation of a measure, on which I had recorded my sentiments, ami hope* of its adoption, several weeks previous to the time that the meeting was announced, it is deemed useful and appropriate to :omnex a sketch of their deliberations, as publiJShed in the Nationallntelligencer. Extracts from the speech of Mr. Clay, (on tnking the chair.) H That class of the mixt population of our country was pc· culiarly situated. 'They neither enjoyed the immunities of freemen, nor were thoy subject to the incapacities of slaves, but partook in some degree of the qualities of both. }""rom their condition, and the unconquerable prejudices resulting from their colour, they never could ama1gam3te with the free whites of this country. It was desirable, ·therefore, as it respected them, and the residue of the population of the coun- * See page 29. I consider it a fortunate circumstance, nnd one wbich yill protect me effectually from the Imputation of plagiarism, in respect to the similurity of what ]' had previously written on the aubjeN of colonization by "beu~/U:ent 3ocitlil!3,'' ami tiJC nationaJ ransom of slaves (see page 58 and 61) to nuy thing advanced at this me~ting; that Ill ad commuqicnted the contents of the original manuscript of the preceding work to page 62, except some notes and slight all~rutions, to Roberta V nux, Esq. one of the members of the common council, of the city of Philadelphia, on or previous to the 8Utof Dec. 1816-And the fact is made public, in tbis manner, with his consent and approbation. · |