--[17]

"That class of the mixt population of our country [coloured
people] was peculiarly situated; they neither enjoyed the
immunities of freemen, nor were they subjected to the
incapacities of slaves, but partook, in some degree, of the
qualities of both. From their condition, and the
unconquerable prejudices resulting from their colour, they
never could amalgamate with the free whites of this country.
It was desirable, therefore, as it respected them, and the
residue of the population of the country, to drain them off.
Various schemes of colonization had been thought of, and a
part of our continent, it was supposed by some, might
furnish a suitable establishment for them. But, for his
part, Mr. C. said, he had a decided preference for some part
of the coast of Africa. There ample provision might be made
for the colony itself, and it might be rendered instrumental
in the introduction into that extensive quarter of the
globe, of the arts, civilization, and Christianity."

[Here I ask Mr. Clay, what kind of Christianity? Did he mean such as
they have among the Americans--distinction, whip, blood and
oppression? I pray the Lord Jesus Christ to forbid it.]

"There," said he, "was a peculiar, a moral fitness, in
restoring them to the land of their fathers, and if instead
of the evils and sufferings which we had been the innocent
cause of inflicting upon the inhabitants of Africa, we can
transmit to her the blessings of our arts, our civilization,
and our religion. May we not hope that America will
extinguish a great portion of that moral debt which she has
contracted to that unfortunate continent? Can there be a
nobler cause than that which, whilst it proposes, &c * * * * *
[you know what this means.] contemplates the spreading of
the arts of civilized life, and the possible redemption from
ignorance and barbarism of a benighted quarter of the
globe?"

Before I proceed any further, I solicit your notice, brethren, to the
foregoing part of Mr. Clay's speech, in which he says, ([Hand->] look
above)

"and if, instead of the evils and sufferings, which we had
been the innocent cause of inflicting,"

&c. What this very learned statesman could have been thinking about,
when he said in his speech, "we had been the innocent cause of
inflicting," etc., I have neve