pe
of abolishing the slave-trade, but, by the abolition of slavery,
and that no measures should be pursued for its attainment, but
those which are of a moral, religious, and pacific character.'
The progress of emancipation in Europe has been, beyond a doubt,
greatly retarded by leaving slavery and the slave-holder
unmarked by public reprobation, and concentrating all the
energies of philanthropy upon a fruitless effort to abolish the
slave-trade. And in this country the Colonization scheme, with
its delusive promise of good to Africa, and its vague
anticipations of putting an end to the slave-trade by armed
colonies on the coast of that ill-fated continent, has been the
means of obstructing emancipation at home, of unprofitably
absorbing the energies and blinding the judgment of many sincere
friends of the slave, and of strengthening the unchristian
prejudice against color. The abolitionists of Europe, with few
exceptions, have seen the error of their former course of
action, and are now striking directly at the root, instead of
lopping the branches of slavery; and if further evidence of the
evil tendency and character of colonization is needed in the
United States, the recent proceeding of a meeting of the
Maryland Society at Baltimore, must convince all who are
friendly to the true interests of the people of color, that it
is a scheme deserving only the support of the enemies of
freedom.[A]

[Footnote A: "The following resolution was passed at the meeting
of the Maryland Society above alluded to:--'That while it is
most earnestly hoped that the free colored people of Maryland
may see that their best and most permanent interests will be
consulted by their emigration from this State; and while this
Convention would deprecate any departure from the principle
which makes colonization dependent upon the voluntary action of
the free colored people themselves--yet, if, regardless of what
has been done to provide them with an asylum, they continue to
persist in remaining in Maryland, in the hope of enjoying here
an equality of social and political rights, they ought to be
solemnly warned, that, in the opinion of this Convention, a day
must arrive when circumstances that cannot be controlled, and
which are now maturing, will deprive them of choice, and leave
them no alte