William Watkins (b. circa 1803 - d. circa 1858)
MSA SC 5496-002535
Educator and Minister, Baltimore City, Maryland
Letter from William Watkins to Freedom's Journal:
July 6, 1827
Messer. Editors-
Being one of those coloured sons of the Union, whose degraded condition, has, of late, excited so much benevolent feeling and corresponding effort, among the good and wise of our country, and for the amelioration of whose condition, and considerable number of societies and plans, have been, professedly, instituted and devised; it cannot but be expected, that gratitude to my benefactors, as well as a concern for my own happiness, would naturally excite me to a candid investigation of any proposition, that promises to elevate me to the dignity of a man. Being thus influenced, my attention has for some time been directed to the merits of that distinguished institution, denominated the African Colonization Society. This very popular society, it is said, is composed of the wisest and most philanthropic men in the country. Those, who thus eulogize the members of that institution, are, perhaps, more thoroughly and intimately acquainted with their views and motives than we are. We know little or nothing of them, but what we gather from their writings; and from these, we cannot but think, that, if they are the wisest, they are not, however, the most philanthropic, of our country.
For, in the first place, it appears very strange to me that those benevolent men should feel so much for the condition of the free coloured people, and, at the same time, cannot sympathize in the least degree, with those whose condition appeals so much louder to their humanity and benevolence. -Nor, is this all: we are apprised that some of the most distinguished of that society, are themselves, Slaveholders! Now, how those men can desire so ardently, and labour so abundantly, for the exaltation of the free people, thousands of whom they have never seen, and feel so little concern for those who are held in bondage by themselves; whose degraded condition is directly under their observation, and immediately within the sphere of their benevolence to ameliorate, is a philanthropy, I confess, unaccountable to me. Indeed, I have thought, that a philanthropic slaveholder is as great a solecism as a sober drunkard. If these gentlemen disavow being actuated by interested motives, and would have us to think favourably of them and their proceedings, they must commence their labour of love by striking at the root of the great and growing evil; -they must commence by proclaiming deliverance to their own captives; -they must open (to the extent of their power and influence) the prison doors of those that are bound, and set at liberty those that are bruised. Until this shall have been done, or at least commenced, we shall continue to question the genuineness of their benevolence.
But there is another objectionable feature in the plan of this society, well calculated, as we think, to corroborate our suspicions of the motives of its founders. Its members hold out the anti-christian doctrine, that justice cannot be done to us while we remain in this land of civilization and gospel light. They tell us we can never enjoy the unalienable rights of man in this "land of the free, and home of the brave;" -that if we desire the privileges of freemen, we must seek them elsewhere; not in Hayti, on account of its proximity to this country, but on the burning sands of Africa, where, say they, bring permanently fixed, a mighty ocean will forever intervene as a barrier between us and them. Now, permit me to ask, why this strong aversion to being united to us, even by soil and climate: Why this desire to be so remotely alienated from us? Is it to extend to us in the hour of danger, the friendly hand of assistance? Or rather is it not to get effectually and forever rid of that "heterogeneous," or supposed "dangerous element in the general mass of the free blacks," who, it is said, "are a greater nuisance than even slaves themselves?" Thus the members of the African Colonization Society frequently speak; and, I think we may learn from such, as well as many other observations of like import, what is the life-giving principle of the African Colonization system. We are, say they, "an inferior race-repugnant to their republican feelings," in short, "a nuisance." Not, indeed, that we have made ourselves so by our crimes,-no, but we are a "nuisance," because the Creator of all things, the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe has thought proper, in his infinite wisdom, to tincture us with a darker hue than that of our white brethren. Or, if you please, because the lot of our ancestors happened to be cast in the torrid zone, beneath the scorching beams of a vertical sun. This is our crime; and for this alone we are told that we can never be men, unless we abandon the land of our birth, "our veritable home," and people an uncongenial clime, the barbarous regions of Africa. O that men would learn that knowledge and virtue, not colour, constitute the sum of human dignity. With these we are white, without them black.
Again, were the members of that distinguished institution actuated by
the motives so generally ascribed to them, why is it, permit me to ask,
that they dread, or become offended at an investigation of the principles
upon which the society is based? Why is it that they would have us yield,
with implicit credulity, without the exercise of our own judgment, to whatever
they propose for our happiness? Does not the dread of liberal enquiry,
indicate something radically wrong in their principles? They should ever
bear in mind, that if it is their prerogative to devise, it is ours to
investigate. We are all interested. Some of the benevolent societies of
our land, have proceeded on principles widely different from those which
we have just noticed. They, so far from dreading, a liberal investigation
of their views and motives, are making every possible effort to attract
public attention. It would appear, that they are never so sanguine in their
expectations of success, as when the public are disposed to scrutinize
their pretensions. They do not dread, but court investigation. And what
have they lost by this liberal procedure? Are they not daily increasing
in number, respectability and influence? So true it is, that "truth loses
nothing by investigation." But after all that has been said for, and against
the society, in question, we may safely affirm that if it be of God, it
will, (in spite of all opposition) stand: if not, it will, (in despite
of the power and high authority now combined to sustain it) fall.
Return
to William Watkins's Introductory Page
|
Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!
|