well, and that of Mesurado adds to our
prospect of success. Under this view the Colonization Society is
to be considered as a missionary society, having in view,
however, objects more humane, more justifiable, and less
aggressive on the peace of other nations than the others of that
appelation. The second object, and the most interesting to us, as
coming home to our physical and moral characters, to our
happiness and safety, is to provide an asylum to which we can, by
degrees, send the whole of that population from among us, and
establish them under our patronage and protection, as a separate,
free and independent people, in some country and climate friendly
to human life and happiness. That any place on the coast of
Africa should answer the latter purpose, I have ever deemed
entirely impossible. And without repeating the other arguments
which have been urged by others, I will appeal to figures only,
which admit no controversy.[57]

There is, I think, a way in which (the removal of the slaves to
another country) can be done; that is by emancipating the
after-born, leaving them, on due compensation, with their
mothers, until their services are worth their maintenance, and
then putting them to industrious occupations until a proper age
for deportation. This was the result of my reflections on the
subject five and forty years ago, and I have never yet been able
to conceive any other practicable plan. It was sketched in the
_Notes of Virginia_. The estimated value of the new-born infant
is so low (say twelve dollars and fifty cents) that it would
probably be yielded by the owner gratis, and would thus reduce
the six hundred millions of dollars, the first head of expense,
to thirty-seven millions and a half; leaving only the expenses of
nourishment while with the mother, and of transportation.[58]

From what fund are these expenses to be furnished? Why not from
that of the lands which have been ceded by the very States now
needing this relief? And ceded on no consideration, for the most
part, but that of the general good of the whole. These cessions
already constitute one-fourth of the States of the Union. It may
be said that these lands have been sold; are not the property of
the citizens composing these States; and the money long ago
rece