1376. COLONY (Penal), West Indies and.—
The West Indies offer a more probable
and practicable retreat for them. Inhabited
already by a people of their own race and
color; climates congenial with their natural
constitution; insulated from the other descriptions
of men; nature seems to have
formed these islands to become the receptacle
of the blacks transplanted into this hemisphere.
Whether we could obtain from the
European sovereigns of those islands leave to
send thither the persons under consideration,
I cannot say; but I think it more probable than
the former propositions, because of their being
already inhabited more or less by the same
race. The most promising portion of them is
the island of St. Domingo, where the blacks
are established into a sovereignty de facto,
and have organized themselves under regular
laws and government. I should conjecture
that their present ruler might be willing * * *
to receive over that description which would
be exiled for acts deemed criminal by us, but
meritorious, perhaps, by him. The possibility
that these exiles might stimulate and conduct
vindictive or predatory descents on our coasts,
and facilitate concert with their brethren remaining
here, looks to a state of things between
that island and us not probable on a
contemplation of our relative strength. * * *
Africa would offer a last and undoubted resort,
if all others more desirable should fail
us. Whenever the Legislature of Virginia
shall have brought its mind to a point, so that
I may know exactly what to propose to foreign
authorities, I will execute their wishes
with fidelity and zeal.—
To James Monroe. Washington ed. iv, 421.
Ford ed., viii, 105.
(W.
1801)
