opulent. Far different is
the situation of the free blacks. How slender are their means! how mean
and limited their occupations! how inferior their advantages! Almost
every avenue to wealth, preferment and usefulness, is closed against
them. How are they persecuted! how avoided in the streets! how excluded
from the benefits of society! To point at them the finger of scorn, to
taunt them for their inferiority or helplessness, is like putting out
the eyes and clipping the wings of the eagle, and then reproaching him
because he can neither see nor fly. To boast of our superior refinement,
intelligence and virtue, is the extreme of vainglory, and adding insult
to injury. Shame! shame!

SECTION IX.

THE AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY DENIES THE POSSIBILITY OF ELEVATING
THE BLACKS IN THIS COUNTRY.

The detestation of feeling, the fire of moral indignation, and the agony
of soul which I have felt kindling and swelling within me, in the
progress of this review, under this section reach the acme of intensity.
It is impossible for the mind to conceive, or the tongue to utter, or
the pen to record, sentiments more derogatory to the character of a
republican and Christian people than the following:

'Introduced as this class has been, in a way which cannot be
justified, injurious in its influence to the community, degraded
in character and miserable in condition, _forever excluded_, by
public sentiment, by law and by a physical distinction, from the
most powerful motives to exertion,' &c. * * 'In addition to all
the causes which tend to pollute, to degrade and render them
miserable, there are principles of _repulsion_ between them and
us, which can _never_ be overcome.' * * 'Their bodies are free,
their minds enslaved. They can neither bless their brethren in
servitude, nor rise from their own obscurity, nor add to the
purity of our morals, nor to our wealth, nor to our political
strength.' * * 'Let us recollect that our fathers have placed
them here; and that our prejudices, prejudices _too deep to be
eradicated_ while they remain among us, have produced the
standard of their morals.' * * 'Nor will it be questioned that
their establishment on the African coast ... will confer on them
invaluable blessings which _in this country_ they can _never_
enjoy.' * * 'They _must be_ hewers of wood and drawers of water.
Do what they will, there is but this