Fiat Justitia Ruat Cœlum. this country, that they dread, with instinctive horror, the detection of their calumny. They have pronounced their elevation impossible, and every attempt to improve their condition is a blow aimed at their infallibility. the convention. Men whose principles lead to But how do the colored people propose to remove the barriers which obstruct their "elevation in society?" By disturbing the peace of their neighbors? By breaking the laws which protect them in the enjoyment of their rights? Does any sane man believe that they harbour designs upon the peace and safety of the whites? No. Such imagined dangers are too ridiculous to be believ-tian. The sessions of the convention are open. ed. They would remove the barriers which ob- If measures of the character so unequivocally asstruct their elevation, by promoting morality, re- serted, are to be proposed, there can be no difficulligion, temperance, sobriety, industry, economy ty in detecting the plot. Let those who are so and fidelity among their people-by promoting dreadfully frightened at the prospect of a few coeducation and the improvement of their minds—lored men assembling in convention, attend the and thus prove to the world that they were equal-next session as spectators, and if the order and ly susceptible of moral and intellectual elevation with the whites. This sage editor deals liberally in slanderous imputations upon those philanthropists who have presumed to "open their mouths for the dumb," and to plead the cause of the oppressed-those who, like the good Samaritan, have had the imprudence to bind up the wounds of him who had fallen among thieves, and been robbed and abused; and who had been left to perish, by the cold hearted priest, and the self-righteous pharisee. But the shameless audacity of his direct charge of fomenting war and bloodshed, is exceeded by nothing in the present age, but the offered reward of ten thousand dollars for the abduction of a free citizen of the United States. He decorum which they will witness, and the lessons of morality and obedience to the laws which they will hear inculcated, do not calm their agitated nerves and allay their fears, we shall conclude their case is hopeless and their disease without remedy. From Poulson's American Daily Advertiser. CONVENTION OF PEOPLE OF COLOUR. About a column under the head of the "Daily Intelligencer" of the 1st instant, is occupied in denouncing, in qualified terms, the existence and character, both of the present and future bearing of said Convention, on the now unfortunate but otherwise peaceful condition of this country. The writer, like most men unacquainted with their subjects, and rather ambitious to excel in intemperate declamation, has dealt out to us a lecture on bloody motives, which have had an existence only in his own imagination, and with an appawhich will occupy the deliberations of said Conrent sincerity, he declares them to be objects vention. This is rather unfriendly, but we are willing to abide the issue, provided he will adduce his proofs-which, as a matter of courtesy, we most heartily request. "The Convention for bettering the condition of the Free People of Colour," held its first session in this city in the month of September, 1830. It has since held two meetings in the month of June 1831 and 2, and proposes to hold its next session on the first Monday in next month. Publicity of its meetings have always been given through periodicals of extensive circulation-its business has always been transacted with open doors, and its proceedings published to the world. The writer has betrayed considerable weakness in asserting that Conventions, conducted as these always have been, could endanger the peace and there concocted, that would not immediately be happiness of society. 1st. What scheme could be made public through the medium of visitors. 2dly. To use his own language, "their increased intelliBut who are the men upon whom the chief regence would deter them from the practice of any act so monstrous, without a perfect safeguard." sponsibility of this daring plot is fathered? The 3dly. If they possess an insurrectionary spirit, abolitionists, who are said to be the projectors of || what better mode of detecting it? But why stop Fiat Justitia Ruat Cœlum. to discuss a fabrication, that by the first analytic these men to be guilty of quietly looking on the touch, will be dissolved into a pusillanimous ele- || bloody manufacture? Are not these sentinels of ment, fit only of itself to feed the "Mawworm" of public safety? Besides at almost every hour of envy and malice, and to alarm the ignorant and the sittings of the convention there have been unthinking, by representing to them that the mo- more or less white persons present unknown to ral and literary improvement of the People of Co- its members. Among the list of visitors, we shall lour will bring down upon them the elements of take the liberty to name the Rev. R. R. Gurley, destruction. No reflecting man could be induced || Sec'y. A. C. Society, Mr. Breckenridge, of Kento believe it. No people accustomed to view causes tucky, and the Rev. James Patterson, of this city. and their effects, could believe that such inductive || The first and last of these gentlemen addressed sophistry was other than the effluvia from the hot the convention, and were treated kindly-and are bed of prejudice and hatred. these to be ranked with those plot-makers who The original object of the Convention will be would destroy the happiness of society? Many vigilantly pursued, viz:-To elevate the character others no less distinguished, and who we are proud and condition of the Free People of Colour. To to rank our best friends, might be mentioned; and complete the promotion of said object, it has al- | who are noble safe guards of peace as ever trod ways appealed to the good, the great, and wise, to the soil. But since anti-colonization, fanaticism, support them in an undertaking that must natu- and heresy have become synonymous, it is unnerally redound to the peace, happiness, and pros-cessary to mention their names. perity of the American People. The Convention has never meddled with the abstract question of slavery, although they deny the inherent right of “man to hold property in man." They likewise differ from a large portion of the American People on the scheme of African Colonization, they prefer, to adopt the language of the paragraph, "rather to endure the ills they have, than fly to others they know not of." If the system of colonizing our people on the coast of Africa, is a scheme that promises so much towards evangelizing that benighted country, and the redemption of our people from a vassalage that ought to make the savage weep, it is certainly worthy of an investigation. No liberal mind could fault us for rejecting it, because its operation seems to us to promise destruction, while its theory promises blessings. The concluding question arises, what would our enemies have us to do? They pour fourth their indignation at our ignorance, immorality, and degradation—if we attempt to become enlightened, moral, and respectable, they scoff and persecute us, by sounding the alarm of insurrection, bloodshed, murder, and all those horrors, that is fit only to be committed by the savage, rather than the civilized. Therefore we will say to them, we cannot serve you-you are neither God nor mammon, for nothing will satisfy you. We will pursue, with the assistance of Providence, an onward, upright course, believing it to be the best adapted to promote the object of our creation, and which will secure us both temporal and spiritual happiness; and we will solicit the aid of our friends in the discharge of every duty that is consistent with our relation to God and our duty to man. The People of Colour have taken a review of It is a "philosophical axiom," "that it is neces- their situation, and plainly behold the cloud that sary to feel accutely in order that we may judge hangs suspended over them; but they are unwil correctly." Certainly our opponents will not denyling to believe but that it will dispel as their mous the advantage in this sense. Let any man sup-ral vision begins to penetrate the regions of hupose himself the work of an "almighty" hand,|| man greatness-their hope is in the advancement endowed by nature with all the qualifications that of science, morality, and religion. ennoble the creature, whose conduct and character has been such as to render him an ornament of creation, and an object of favor to the God who gave him existence-and then let him suppose that he is deprived of terrestrial happiness without having committed crime-that he must be transported from a land of science and civilization, to an uncultivated region, to share savage barbarity and heathen darkness-only because his complexion is a little more sable than a majority of his countrymen-will not his soul rise up with its majestic power and reject it. We respectfully ask colonizationists to draw their conclusions from such premises, and give us the result of their inquiries. He says, "that subjects will be there broached whose agitation sounds the tocsin of an eternal civil war." This is truly ridiculous, as it brings contempt on some of the best citizens of our country, and if true, would subject them to the crine of being accessaries to such a plot. The convention has never been a secret depot for insurrectory plots, it has been visited almost every day by men who rank among the first for usefulness in our country. Men who for literary worth, and unbounded benevolence, are fit to be compared with the greatest of this, or any past age-men whose names will live as long, and shine with as brilliant lustre on posterity, as those of a FRANKLIN, a HOWARD, or a BENEZET; and are They desire no such relief from thraldom, as was practised by the heathen nations of antiquity they do not desire to raise up a Hannibal, a Scipio, an Alexander, or a Buonaparte, or any modern warrior, that should drag them through a sea of blood, into a precarious liberty, scarcely worth enjoying,-they desire to have no such kings of murder, rapine, and blood--they rejoice that they live in other times, in an age of light, where that beautiful passage of scripture is fast fulfilling,-"when the swords shall be turned into ploughshares, and that people and nations shall learn war no more." The object of the convention, as will be seen by its publications, is to instil the doctrine, that the only true method of acquiring liberty, is by "moral suasion" alone. To accomplish this, we have recommended the total abandonment of immoral conduct, a strict attention to the advancement of education, and an honest, upright walk in life. Finally, believing that these would remove the burden of degradation from our characters, and render us a useful people, we therefore hope for its success, and that wherever the tree of science may spread its branches, our people will be found gathering its delicious fruits, until their moral light open to them the enjoyments and blessings due to all mankind. It is with reluctance I have ventured to correct the unjust accusation against the convention, but Fiat Justitia Ruat Colum. however feeble, I trust it shall never want for an SUBJECTS which may deserve consideration at the Annual Meeting of the American Colonization Society. I. Whether any, and if so, what changes should be made in the constitution and organization of the society? II. What are the best methods for increasing the funds of the society? III. What to obtain appropriations from the State Legislatures, or from Congress? IV. What shall be, precisely, the relations between the auxiliary societies and the parent society? V. Shall the society make any commercial ope rations subservient to the cause of colonization? on Saturday evening, to devise some measures to have Harris pursued.-Liberator. From the Journal of Commerce. We are indebted to Capt. Crane, of the ship John W. Cater, for Jamaica papers to March 14th. They contain no news. We subjoin a letter from our correspondent. Kingston, Jamaica, Feb. 11th, 1833. You have heard of the splendid estates and sumptuous living of the Jamaicans: Of their planters, who could vie with the princes of the earth in their georgeous palaces and rich equipAlas! those days are past. Their estates slender tenure. They know not but that their are a burthen, and even their life is held by a ment. VI. Is it advisable further to explore the Affood, served by a numerous retinue, contains the rican coast and endeavour to found new settle-deadly poison. How horrible to fear the assassin ments; and if so, what measures should be adopt-Yet such is the case, and one of the fairest islands and the incendiary, in the most familiar faces. ed for this purpose? VII. Is it desirable to colonize elsewhere, than in Africa, for instance in Hayti? (The Haytian government will allow an agent of the society to reside with any emigrants that may be sent thither to give each emigrant land with fee simple title, and to support such emigrants for one year.) VIII. How far shall education in this country or Africa, be embraced in the views and efforts of this society? of this fair earth must be abandoned to beings whose situation has made them little superior to An You the beasts, and whose course is downward. well know that I am no friend to slavery. Far be it from me to advocate it. I give facts. sured that the white inhabitants cannot remain. Under existing circumstances, I am well asof management. Credit is entirely extinct. Their costly sugar estates will not pay the expense estate of 200 negroes could not hypothecate the ensuing crop for 2001. In fact, merchants in England direct their factors to give no credit bottomed on cane top. Mortgagees relinquish immense sums, rather than pay trifling annuities on estates. A hundred negroes were sold for $7,500. But legislation here and at home, a change of time, competition, and, for aught I know, the natural Richmond, (Indiana) May 18. and necessary consequences of the system of slavery, have brought about this state of things. IX. Should any thing, and if so, what be done to secure the aid of Christian nations in Europe in the civilization of the Africans? X. What (if any thing) should be done to enlighten the free people of colour in regard to the objects and proceedings of the Society? THE KIDNAPPER. The colored child, which we mentioned some Certain it is that real estate is considered altime since as having been kidnapped from this pending, taxation intolerable, and life itself exmost without value, a heavy island debt is implace, was, on Saturday last, brought back, by Mr. ceedingly precarious, I learned the above in conGarr. The infamous kidnapper, Harris, proceed-versation with two gentlemen who have been long ed directly to the city of St. Louis, where he sold in the House of Assembly. The inhabitants gethe boy, to the captain of a steamboat, belonging nerally labour under a keen sense of injury done to Louisville, to which place the boy was taken; them by the mother country, and look to ours as where he was finally recovered through the exertions of Mr. Haines. The gentlemen who reco- making remittances to our cities. Some gentlethe land of promise. In consequence, many are vered the child, after pursuing as far as St. Louis, and hearing that he was in Louisville, did not fol-ved, and many are preparing to follow. Those men of character and fortune have already remolow Harris any further, but proceeded immediate- gentlemen informed me that the emigration would ly in quest of the child. We have learned some further particulars relating to Harris, from which earnestness respecting the agriculture of the free be immediate and large. They inquire with great it would seem that he is one of the most accomplished villains which has appeared for some time. states, as nothing would induce them to live again He has the exterior and manners of a perfect genin a slave country. tleman, and is thereby enabled the more effectually to impose upon the unsuspecting. It is pretty certain that he has subsisted for a number of years A proposition has been made to the Haytien by gambling, swindling, horse stealing, and kid-government to establish a regular intercourse benapping. In going from here to St. Louis, he succeeded in passing about two hundred dollars of counterfeit money. When he came to this neighborhood, he had just escaped from custody in the state of Kentucky. Mr. Owen, the gentleman to whom Harris sold the boy, says that, if money can be raised sufficient to bear his expenses, he will pursue him, and have him brought to justice. This should be done. Such men as Harris ought not to be suffered to run at large longer than cannot be avoided. It is proposed to hold a meeting | HAYTI. tween all the ports of the island by the introduction of steam navigation. The projector, whose name is not given, but who is presumed to be an Englishman or American, offers to maintain a suitable steam vessel, on the condition of an exclusive grant for ten years, and other minor privileges necessary to the success of the scheme. What countenance will be afforded to it by the government is yet uncertain, the principal difficulties alleged being the existence of a law which prevents such a grant to foreigners, and the inter Fiat Justitia Ruat Coelum. ference with the business of the coasting barges, in the West Indies were in Hayti, even better which such a vessel would occasion. than in the Caraccas. From the New York American. We subjoin from the report of the Commons' Committee on slavery a few extracts from the important evidence of the Hon. Charles Fleming, the Admiral of the West India station, who has resided in Jamaica, and has frequently visited Cuba, Hayti, and the Caraccas. These extracts prove that the negroes will soon free themselves, if they are not freed by the government-that the free negroes are industrious, and will work regularly, even in the cultivation of sugar-that they are competent to fulfil the duties of governors, generals, and priests-and that the free blacks of Cuba and Hayti are incomparably better fed and happier than the slaves of Jamaica: "Were you much struck with the increased knowledge of the slave population, when you last saw them, compared with what you observed among them on a former occasion? Yes, very much, and I was confirmed by that, in my opinion, that they are not inferior to white people in intel lect. · "From what you saw and what you heard from persons on whose information you can rely, are you satisfied that reading and listening to works read are very prevalent among the slaves in Jamaica?—Yes, I know it of my own knowledge. I have been informed that it is very prevalent; I have seen one man reading a Gazette to a gang of slaves. "Are you of opinion that if the power of reading becomes general among them, so stimulated by their condition as slaves, that the knowledge of what passes here upon the subject and the knowledge of what passes in the Legislature of Jamaica upon the subject, is consistent with the permanent endurance on their part of the state of slavery? No, I think it will put an end to slavery; it will be impossible to keep enlightened people slaves, treated as they now are, as has been proved by their late insurrection." The Admiral says: "I am of opinion that the West Indies could be cultivated by free labor, and I ground that opinion upon my experience of what I have seen in Hayti, in the Caraccas, particularly, where all are free, and in the islands of Trinidad and Cuba, and upon the industry of the free negroes in the islands of the Bahamas. "Was not one of the Generals in the Caraccas a black man? Yes, General Peyanga was a perfectly black man, a complete negro; he was a very well informed man, a very well educated person, and well read in Spanish literature; he was a very extraordinary man. "Did you happen to know whether English of ficers served under him? Many were serving under him; I knew many other black officers, of very considerable acquirements, in the Caraccas and in Cuba also. I have known a black priest, a perfect negro, born in the Cape de Verd Islands, a very well informed person." Speaking of the black republic of Hayti, Admiral Fleming says— "Are you aware that there is a prohibition against all corporal punishment in that country? Yes, I know there is. "Did they appear to you to be living comfortably? Yes; the most happy, the richest, the best fed, and the most comfortable negroes that I saw "Were they decidedly better than the slaves in Jamaica? No comparison. "Do you happen to know whether the population of Hayti has increased within the last twenty years? Of my own knowledge I cannot know that; neither are there any very correct returns; but I have every reason to believe that, since the last time the French retired from the island in 1800, the population has trebled. "What were their victuals, compared with the food of the slaves in Jamaica-were they superior, or much the same They were fed on meat principally; cattle are very cheap in Hayti. "Is meat much cheaper in Hayti than in Jamaica? Yes, much cheaper; it is 2d. a pound, whilst the contract price in Jamaica is 12d.; in both places these are the highest prices." From the U. S. Gazette. TO THE PUBLIC. We, the people of color of this city, being deeply impressed with the necessity of promoting among our rising youth, a proper cultivation for literary pursuits and improvement of the faculties and powers of their minds, deem it necessary to state, for the information of our friends, wherever situated, that we have succeeded in organizing an institution under the title of the "Philadelphia Library Company of Colored Persons." It will be perceived that this is not a mere fractional effort, the design of any single society among us, of which we are proud it can with truth be said there are many, all having originated for our mutual benefit and improvement; neither is it sectarian, but its features are such as to embrace the entire population of the city and county of Philadelphia, as its name imports, In accordance with which we most respectfully appeal to the friends of science and to the people of color, for such books or other donations as will facilitate the object of this institution. The following individuals are duly authorized to solicit and receive such donations on behalf of the said company, as a liberal and enlightened public may feel disposed to bestow, viz: Robert C. Gordon, jr. 212, South Seventh St. Robert Purvis, 11, Jefferson Row, Lombard Daniel Colly, Ninth, above Coates Street. From the New York Advocate. A few days since, the Dogberryans of the Journal of Commerce put forth the following unsound dogma in political economy, viz: "That a country may have no other business than agriculture, and yet may be very rich, bring all the world into her debt, and make the precious metals set in upon her like a flood." To prove this, they instance the Island of Cuba, in the following manner. "She (Cuba) does not refine any of her immense sugar crop. She does not make a yard of cotton or woollen cloths, nor even the roughest Fiat Justitia Ruat Colum. of all her implements of agriculture. Every thing || is brought from abroad. The pauper labor of the old world is poured in upon her, and yet she is not drained by the world, but compels all other nations to come humbly with their silver and their gold, before she will part with the produce of her plantations. Let it then be set down as a truth, that a country may have no ships and no shuttles-nothing but ploughs and spades, and yet pay her way in the world, nay, get rich. An agricultural population may live without the help of any other population, may live well, fully as well as the operatives of a manufacturing, or the | sailors of a commercial country." Thus, at this extremely moderate calculation, if the Island of Cuba were cultivated by free men, and produced no more than it now produces, it will be seen it would be deprived entirely of its $19,643,993 of exports. So that it appears, as we have before stated, that there is no manner of parallel between a free and a slave population, for the whole of the exports of the Island of Cuba arise from the non-consumption of food and clothing of the black population. Now, the free men of the United States can see by the statement here given, that "Free Trade” calculates to reduce them down to the lowest possible standard of living, as mere agriculturistsdenying them all the advantages of the mechanic arts and the aid of the sciences; in other words, to have only wealthy land holders and laborers. While the protective system, instead of reducing them down to a level with the slaves of Cubaby shutting out the pauper labor from abroad, en Not having then at hand the statistics of the Island of Cuba, we published a reply to the above article, showing that there was no parallel to be drawn between Cuba and a country containing a free white population. We beg leave now to submit to our readers an accurate statement, taken from a recent history of the Island of Cuba, by Don Ramon de la Sagra; for a translation of part of which, with a comment, we are indebted to our learned and distinguished fellow citizen, Felix Pascalis, D. H. M. H. S. Corresponding Memberables them to profit of every natural and political of the Royal Patriotic Society of Cuba, &c. According to this work, the population of Cuba in 1829 was 311,050 whites, and 704,487 blacks and mustees-in all, 1,015,537 souls. The whole produce of the Island, including all sorts of meats and vegetables, was, after deducting $50 per head for consumption, $49,643,993 Consumption, 50,776,590 advantage of our country, aided by every art and every science. And instead of sending the farmer abroad for a market, as the planters of Cuba are sent abroad for their market, the protective system creates one at home at their own doors. Let them choose, then, between the political economy of the Journal of Commerce, the Evening Post, and all other enemies of American industry, and that of the protective system, which it is our pride and glory to advocate. 100,420,583|| The writer remarks, "that this statement has Let them say whether they wish to be put upon been obtained from public records of exportation, a par with the slaves of either Europe or Cuba, or of entry duties. Great, therefore, as it may ap- for to this state will they be brought, if ever the pear, it is probably sufficiently exact for the pur-day shall arrive when the government of the U. pose of showing how perfectly ridiculous is the States shall refuse to them the blessings of protecnonsense of the Journal of Commerce. tion to their farms, their workshops, and their labour. By several calculations we have referred to, to ascertain the amount of the expenditure of our population, we find that the board, or in other words, the whole expense of living of working hands, is averaged at about $1 75 per week, or per annum $91. Now, as there may be some mustees who do not work, we shall take the black population at 700,000 souls, and suppose one-half of them to be laborers, which, considering that the women work, is not too large a proportion. 350,000 blacks of Cuba, working hands, if free white men, would require for food, $91 per an$31,850,000 num, 350,000 blacks of Cuba, to clothe them num, 10,500,000 5,750,000 15,925,000 27,300,000 300,000 whites, in Cuba, who do not work, would require to clothe them $30, 9,000,000 "THE PEACE MAKER. HENRY CLAY has been denominated "the peace maker." He was once also called the "Advocate of African Emancipation." But the settlement of the "Missouri Question" consigned this title to the "tomb of the Capulets." By his exertions and influence, on that occasion, he sacrificed, upon the altar of political expediency, the liberties of thousands of the African race. In the late storm of nullification, the peace offering made to southern dictation, while South Carolina remained in an attitude of defiance to the constitutional authority of the Federal govern. ment, has very much the appearance of a cowardly surrender, to slavite domination, of those principles of national policy which had become almost identified with his name. But whether he has succeeded in "settling the vexed question," let the following extract from a speech of John C. Calhoun, in the Senate of the United States, subsequently delivered, be quoted as an explicit answer. The main part of this speech is in reply to one previously delivered by Daniel Webster: but he here adverts to the re |