h, await us in all their horrors. We are emboldened thus to
speak, not from a reliance on the mere arm of flesh; no--it is
the righteousness of our cause, a knowledge of the attributes of
Deity, combined with a consciousness of innocence under
suffering, that have inspired us with a moral courage which no
oppression shall shake, no fulminations overawe. Our limits will
not permit us to expatiate, at this time, on the import of the
terms, "_a system of measures--the sternest principles_," &c. We
would barely remark that the climax of injustice and cruelty,
here suggested, nay, recommended, is the legitimate fruit of the
operations of the American colonization societies relative to
the free people of color. We have always believed that the
"_system of measures_" here recommended, would be the dernier
resort of these _christian_ associations. The unmerited abuse,
that has been so unsparingly heaped upon us by colonizationists
for expressing our opinions of their project as connected with
our happiness, their manifest determination to effectuate their
object regardless of our consent, abundantly corroborate the
opinion we have long since entertained. We turn, however, from
the contemplation of the persecution and oppression, which, it
seems, are in reserve for us, to notice, briefly, the moving
cause of this virulent and relentless attack upon our rights and
happiness. "The _census just taken_," says A Marylander,
"_admonishes_ us in the strongest manner, of the necessity of
prompt and efficient measures to drain off this description of
our population." Here then is the _patriotic_, the _benevolent_,
the _christian_ principle, by which the colonization societies,
throughout our land, are actuated. This is the selfish policy of
which we complain, and which should be execrated by all _true_
patriots, philanthropists, and christians. Our increase is
represented as an "_alarming evil--an evil_," said one of our
colonization orators in the pulpit, not long since, "which
_threatens_ our very _existence_." Now, if all this be true, how
can they, on their own principles, say we can _never_ be a
people in this country? Surely, they are taking effectual steps
to convince us, that the enjoyment of our rights in this, our
native land, is not only possible, but highly probable. This we
have