The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States | Page 2

a quarter of
a century ago, and require very different means and measures to satisfy
their wants and demands, and to effect their advancement. No wise
statesman presumes the same measures for the satisfaction of the
American people now, that may have been with propriety adopted
twenty-five years ago; neither is it wisdom to presume, that the
privileges which satisfied colored people twenty years ago, they will be
reconciled with now. That with which the father of the writer may have
been satisfied, even up to the present day, the writer cannot be content
with; the one lived in times antecedent to the birth of the other; that
which answered then, does not answer now: so is it with the whole
class of colored people in the United States. Their feelings, tastes,
predilections, wants, demands, and sympathies, are identical, and
homogeneous with those of all other Americans.
"Fleecy locks and black complexions, Cannot alter nature's claim;
Skins may differ, but affections, Dwell in black and white the same."
Many of the distinguished characters referred to in this work, who lived
in former days, for which there is no credit given, have been obtained
from various sources--as fragments of history, pamphlets, files of
newspapers, obsolete American history, and some from Mrs. Child's
Collection. Those of modern date, are living facts known to the writer
in his travels through the United States, having been from Canada and
Maine to Arkansas and Texas. The origin of the breast-works of cotton
bales on Chalmet Plains, at the battle of New Orleans, the writer
learned in that city, from old colored men in 1840, and subsequently,

from other sources; as well as much useful information concerning that
battle, from Julien Bennoit, spoken of in the work. He has before
referred to it some five or six years ago, through the columns of a paper,
of which he was then editor, and not until subsequently to his narrating
the same facts in these columns, was he aware that it was ever
mentioned in print, when he saw, on the 3d day of March, on looking
over the contributions of the "Liberty Bell," a beautiful annual of
Boston, the circumstances referred to by DAVID LEE CHILD, Esq.,
the particulars of which will be found in our version.
The original intention was to make this a pamphlet of a few pages, the
writer commencing with that view; but finding that he could not thus
justify the design of the work, will fully explain the cause of its present
volume. The subject of this work is one that the writer has given
thought for years, and the only regret that he has now in placing it
before the public is, that his circumstances and engagements have not
afforded him such time and opportunity as to do justice to it. But,
should he succeed in turning the attention of the colored people, in
general, in this direction--he shall have been amply compensated for
the labor bestowed. An appendix will be found giving the plan of the
author, laid out at twenty-four years of age, but subsequently improved
on, for the elevation of the colored race. That plan of course, as this
work will fully show, has been abandoned for a far more glorious one;
albeit, we as a race, still lay claim to the project, which one day must be
added to our dashing strides in national advancement, successful
adventure, and unsurpassed enterprise.
One part of the American people, though living in near proximity and
together, are quite unacquainted with the other; and one of the great
objects of the author is, to make each acquainted. Except the character
of an individual is known, there can be no just appreciation of his worth;
and as with individuals, so is it with classes.
The colored people are not yet known, even to their most professed
friends among the white Americans; for the reason, that politicians,
religionists, colonizationists, and abolitionists, have each and all, at
different times, presumed to think for, dictate to, and know better what

suited colored people, than they knew for themselves; and consequently,
there has been no other knowledge of them obtained, than that which
has been obtained through these mediums. Their history--past, present,
and future, has been written by them, who, for reasons well known,
which are named in this volume, are not their representatives, and,
therefore, do not properly nor fairly present their wants and claims
among their fellows. Of these impressions, we design disabusing the
public mind, and correcting the false impressions of all classes upon
this great subject. A moral and mental, is as obnoxious as a physical
servitude, and not to be tolerated; as the one may, eventually, lead to
the other. Of these we feel the direful effects.
"If I'm designed your lordling's slave,