The Journal of Negro History, Volume 1, January 1916 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 615 pages of information about The Journal of Negro History, Volume 1, January 1916.

The Journal of Negro History, Volume 1, January 1916 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 615 pages of information about The Journal of Negro History, Volume 1, January 1916.
points.  It is an interesting subject of investigation to watch the movements of the colored population, and ascertain where they are tending and whither they will find a resting place.
“In 1810, in the eastern States, they commenced a movement from north towards the south; and in 1820, began to diverge westward, through the most southern of the free States, and penetrated into Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.  From 1830 to 1840, Pennsylvania alone retained her natural increase, while the other eastern and northeastern free States, and also the eastern and southeastern slave States, all lost, or repelled, the greater part of their natural increase, and some of them a considerable portion, besides, of the original stock.  But where have these people gone?  That is the question which deeply interests Ohio.  The census tables furnish the solution.
“From 1810 to 1840, the colored population of Ohio has been increasing at the average rate of 20 per cent. per annum.  The increase for the ten years from 1830 to 1840, was 911/4 per cent.  Supposing the emigration into Ohio since 1840 to have been no greater than before that period, her present colored population will be 30,000.  If to this we add that of Indiana and Illinois, allowing their increase to have been at the same rate, these three States will have a population of near 50,000 colored persons, or one ninth of the present free colored population of the United States.
“Ohio, therefore, cannot remain inactive. She must do something. These men should have all the stimulants to mental and moral action which we ourselves possess.  But I shall leave to wiser men than myself the task of devising new means to secure this object, while I go forward in my labors for the only one which has yet been successful in securing to any portion of the colored people their just rights.
“The Colonization Society has in its offer, generally, more slaves than its means will enable it to send to Liberia.  Without a large increase of means, therefore, the Society cannot send out many free persons of color.  Three fourths of the emigrants heretofore have been liberated by their masters, with a view of being sent to Liberia.
“Perhaps it is well that events should have been thus ordered.  If slaves, when emancipated and instructed, and made to taste of the sweets of liberty, and to feel the responsibilities of nationality, can establish a prosperous and happy republic, and exert such an extended moral influence as to accomplish infinitely more in removing the greatest curse of Africa, the slave-trade, from a large extent of her coast, than has been done at an expense of more than a hundred millions of dollars, by the fleets of England and France, it reflects the greater honor upon the African race, and may serve to stimulate the free people of color of this country, to make the effort to join
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The Journal of Negro History, Volume 1, January 1916 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.