it was preferred to the West Coast of Africa.
The committee having under consideration this subject, made the
following comprehensive report:
"_Resolved_, That the members of this Convention take into
consideration the propriety of effecting the purchase of lands in
the province of Upper Canada, as an asylum for those of our
bretheren who may be compelled to remove from these United
States, beg leave, most respectfully to report:
"That, after due consideration, they believe the resolution
embraces three distinct inquiries for the consideration of this
Convention, which should be duly weighed before they can adopt
the sentiments contained in the above-named resolution.
Therefore, your Committee conceive the resolution premature, and
now proceed to state the enquiries separately.
"_First._--Is it proper for the Free people of color in this
country, under existing circumstances, to remove to any distant
territory beyond these United States?
"_Secondly._--Does Upper Canada possess superior advantages and
conveniences to those held out in these United States or
elsewhere?
"_Thirdly._--Is there any certainty that the people of color will
be compelled by oppressive legislative enactments to abandon the
land of their birth for a home in a distant region?
"Your Committee, before examining those enquiries, would most
respectfully take a retrospective view of the object for which
the Convention was first associated, and the causes which have
actuated their deliberations.
"The expulsory laws of Ohio, in 1829, which drove our people to
seek a new home in Upper Canada, and their impoverished situation
afterward, excited a general burst of sympathy for their
situation, by the wise and good, over the whole country. This
awakened public feeling on their behalf, and numerous meetings
were called to raise funds to alleviate their present miseries.
The bright prospects that then appeared to dawn on the new
settlement, awakened our people to the precariousness of their
situations, and, in order more fully to be prepared for future
exigencies, and to extend the system of benevolence still further
to those who should remove to Upper Canada, a circular was issued
by five individuals, viz.:--the Rev. Richard Allen, Cyrus Black,
Junius C. Morel, Be
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