speak logically and politically,
leaving morality and right out of the question--taking our position on
the acknowledged popular, basis of American Policy; arguing from premise
to conclusion. We must abandon all vague theory, and look at _facts_ as
they really are; viewing ourselves in our true political position in the
body politic. To imagine ourselves to be included in the body politic,
except by express legislation, is at war with common sense, and contrary
to fact. Legislation, the administration of the laws of the country, and
the exercise of rights by the people, all prove to the contrary. We are
politically, not of them, but aliens to the laws and political
privileges of the country. These are truths--fixed facts, that quaint
theory and exhausted moralising, are impregnable to, and fall harmlessly
before.

It is useless to talk about our rights in individual States: we can have
no rights here as citizens, not recognised in our common country; as the
citizens of one State, are entitled to all the rights and privileges of
an American citizen in all the States--the nullity of the one
necessarily implying the nullity of the other. These provisions then do
not include the colored people of the United States; since there is no
power left in them, whereby they may protect us as their own citizens.
Our descent, by the laws of the country, stamps us with
inferiority--upon us has this law worked _corruption of blood_. We are
in the hands of the General Government, and no State can rescue us. The
Army and Navy stand at the service of our enslavers, the whole force of
which, may at any moment--even in the dead of night, as has been
done--when sunk in the depth of slumber, called out for the purpose of
forcing our mothers, sisters, wives, and children, or ourselves, into
hopeless servitude, there to weary out a miserable life, a relief from
which, death would be hailed with joy. Heaven and earth--God and
Humanity!--are not these sufficient to arouse the most worthless among
mankind, of whatever descent, to a sense of their true position? These
laws apply to us--shall we not be aroused?

What then shall we do?--what is the remedy--is the important question to
be answered?

This important inquiry we shall answer, and find a remedy in when
treating of the emigration of the colored people.

XVII

EMIGRATION OF THE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES

That there have been people in all ages under certain circumstan