Colonization Correspondence 1824

Revd Dear Sir, Millwood February 16th 1824

It was only a few hours before the receipt of your much esteemed letter & pamphlet that I read the conclusion of the review in one of the periodical publications of of the day and said to myself "these numbers might do good in pamphlet form, I should like to have more of them." therefor you can share a few copies & should be glad of them; and let me suggest the propriety of sending some to Washington for the use of the members of Congress. You thus perceive the estimation in which I hold the pamphlet & its author. You seem indeed to be allready possessed of all those views of the subject which my own observation [seems?] assure me to be correct, and which if admitted & proper I feel by our citizens generally could not fail to lead to the happiest results. In travelling thro New England some years since to ascertain what could be done for this cause I was happy to hear your most intelligent men & most enlightened Christians acknowledge that their views of slavery in the south were considerably changed; not that esteemed it a lesser wil as it regarded the Negroes but as a lesser crime on the part of the whites who were rather to be pitied than censured for what had hitherto brought upon them the heaviest condemnation from them who were [?] not born to such an inheritance. Could such sentiments as these you have expressed in your letter & review have prevailed in the in the mids of the men of Congress from New England, we have reason to believe that something more decided & efficient would have been done before this by the great council & chief magistrate of our country. But he in whose hands are

the times & seasons as well as the {illegible} man will bring to pass all his gracious designs in the man {illegible} the time & manner by the instrumentality of the real {illegible}, wisdom & perseverance of his accepted agents. I have been considering the subject from its first agitation among us that is for seven years and have never found a moment & seen cause to doubt its practicability a great ability tho I have sometimes had very painful apprehensions that there was not virtue or piety enough in our nation to carry it thro. You ask my opinion concerninig the proposition to redeem the Fourth of July from its present abuses by devoting it to the sacred cause. it would surely be a noble worth to be accomplished & I do not see why it should not be attempted. It would be not prudent to commence it in the south but after some time - when it should have been tried in New England & the middle States I hope there are places with us where a prudent {illegible} in Purchase might do much good to the cause by a public oration or sermon on that day. You also enquire how a seminary for the instruction of Negroes planted in New England would be viewed by the people of the South? I should say without any sensations, belief to be injurious to the cause; but I must also say that I never have had much hopes from any thing of that kind in any part of our Country. The deep rooted prejudices against their color (which seemed to me greater in New England than in the south) and various circumstances as appear to me to forbit the hope of extending any other charity to them than to assent them to have a Country where they are so loathed that no {approximation either corporeal, social or itinerary would be taken to except by a very few. My {illegible} has ever been that we should ever bend all our force toward the preparations of the Colorny for their education as well as comforble subsistence. In this however I may be much mistaken and shall rejoice in the success of such a scheme as you supose will be most acceptable in New England. Pherhaps the main difficult thing to be believed is a New Eng unwillingness of Southern Slaveholderes to emancipate slaves. To this however you may answer by referring to the many & severe laws passed by the different legislatures against emancipationi caused by the numbers who were annually liberated. From my personal knowledge of the feelings & views of individuals on the subject I hesitate not to say that there wwill allways be as many masters & mistresses desirous to release their slaves as would be wished by the most judiciary friends of Colonization. Heaven has hitherto blessed our endeavors greatly & made even our blander adversities work together for good. When instead I reflect upon the many disadvantages and {?} we have laboured, & the unsuitableness of some of our agents & colonists & the unreasonableness of many indeed of men& of our movements & the scantiness of our means & the many cares of our managers & naming other things I cannot keep saying emphatically "It is the Lord's doing" Not unto us, not unto us Lord, but unto Thy name the praise be given" Let us then with the others then thank God & take courage & go forward trusting in him. Let motto be "Ora et Labora" & let our prayers & our alms ascend together as a memorial befgore God of our zeal & love in this noble cause -

It will allways afford me sincere pleasure to hear from you on a subject which I then will never fail to be interesting to my heart. With the best wishes & prayers for yourself & the worthy friends with whom you are associated I remain your friend & brother William Meade

Feb 16 1824 Wm Meade Practicability of the Soc letter of {illegible} Negro (Survincery?) Willingness to Emancipate {The Revd Wm Meade was Bishop of Virginia 1841}

Milliron 25 Feby 28 To the Revd Lennard Bacon Andover Massachusetts

Georgetown 30th March 1824

My Dear Sir,

I hope you have not forgotten that our necessities are great & that much aid is from the pious of New England. The colonists from Dr Ayres account cannot at present support themselves --probably for six months --perhaps for a year, must receive the principal Articles of food & clothing from this country. The great evil with which we have contended in Africa is insubordination. This however is confined to twelve individuals first settlers some of whm must be sent from the colony

Indolence is another prevalent vice, which I fear it will be difficult to conquer. The influence however of those who recently sailed in the Cyrus will no doubt be felt & greatly contribute to the prosperity & morality of the settlement. Dr Ayres has resigned his agency and his wish to find a suitable successor. This I fear will not be easily accomplished. He will receive pay from Government, if he unites the character of physician + agent this will amount to more than two thousand dollars. Should you hear of any lesson qualified for the arduous duties of agent, please let me know it. Unless one should be obtained, to take passage in the Fidelity which will sail in a few days the Mr. Ashmun must superintend affairs at the colony until the Fall season. What plan shall be adopted to collect money in New England; money you know is every thing. Our Board have determined to apply to Congress]; should we fail this year, we may succeed the next. I should think if desirable that the publick who are favourable to us should loudly express their opinion. Our Report is in the press & will be transmitted soon. Let me frequently hear from you. With great respect Sir your friend R R Gurley