Testimony of Thomas Clarkson.

This lamented British philanthropist, in a letter addressed to William Lloyd Garrison in 1840, explaining in what manner he became deceived in regard to the real character and designs of the American Colonization Society, says,—

“You will see in this narrative my reasons for patronizing at first the American Colonization Society, and my reasons, also, for having afterwards deserted it. I left it, first, because it was entirely impracticable. This is a sufficient reason of itself; for no man in his senses would pursue a plan which he thought could never be accomplished. I left it, secondly, because I thought that newly-emancipated slaves were not qualified to become colonists in Africa to any good purpose. How could persons be sent with any propriety to civilize others who wanted civilizing themselves? Besides, the advocates for the Colonization Society in America had no right to send the scum of their population to Africa, to breed a moral pestilence there. * * * If the society did not take these people, then the prospectus offered to the public had no meaning in it, and slavery could never, according to its promises, be extinguished in the United States.”

Referring to the speeches made by the friends of the Colonization Society in different states of the Union, he adds,—

“It appeared from these speeches that the most violent supporters of this society were planters themselves, and that the speakers did not hesitate to hold out the monstrous and hateful proposition, that the negroes were not men and women, but that they belonged to the brute creation. It was impossible to read these speeches, which were so many public documents, and not perceive that the persons then assembled were no friends, but bitter enemies, to the whole African race, and that nothing in the way of good intentions towards the negro could be expected from them. It is unnecessary for me to attempt to describe what my feelings were upon this occasion. I will only say that I saw the scheme—shall I say the diabolical scheme?—with new eyes, and that the new light thus thrown upon it, added to the two arguments before mentioned, determined me to wash my hands clean forever of the undertaking. * * *

I have now given you my reasons for having once patronized the Colonization Society and then deserted it, and hope you will consider them satisfactory.

Published for gratuitous distribution, at the Office of the American Anti-Slavery Society, No. 138 Nassau Street, New York. Also to be had at the Anti-Slavery Offices, No. 21 Cornhill, Boston, and No. 31 North Fifth Street, Philadelphia.