If we but determine it shall be so, it _will_ be so; and there is nothing under the sun can prevent it. We shall then be but in pursuit of our legitimate claims to inherent rights, bequeathed to us by the will of Heaven--the endowment of God, our common Parent. A distinguished economist has truly said, “God has implanted in man an infinite progression in the career of improvement. A soul capacitated for improvement ought not to be bounded by a tyrant’s landmarks.” This sentiment is just and true, the application of which to our case is adapted with singular fitness.
Having glanced hastily at our present political position in the world generally, and the United States in particular,--the fundamental disadvantages under which we exist, and the improbability of ever attaining citizenship and equality of rights in this country,--we call your attention next to the places of destination to which we shall direct emigration.
The West Indies, Central and South America, are the countries of our choice, the advantages of which shall be made apparent to your entire satisfaction. Though we have designated them as countries, they are, in fact, but one country, relatively considered, a part of this, the Western Continent. As now politically divided, they consist of the following classification, each group or division placed under its proper national head:--
Guadeloupe, 675 124,000 Martinico, 260 119,000 St. Martin, N. part, 15 6,000 Mariegalente, 90 11,500 Deseada, 25 1,500
Santa Cruz, 80 34,000 St. Thomas, 50 15,000 St. John, 70 3,000
St. Eustatia, 10 20,000 Curacoa, 375 12,000 St. Martin, S. part, 10 5,000 Saba, 20 9,000
Cuba, 43,500 725,000 Porto Rico, 4,000 325,000
Jamaica, 5,520 375,000 Barbadoes, 164 102,000 Trinidad, 1,970 45,000 Antigua, 108 36,000 Grenada and the Granadines, 120 29,000 St. Vincent, 121 36,000 St. Kitts, 68 24,000 Dominica, 275 20,000 St. Lucia, 275 18,000 Tobago, 120 14,000 Nevis, 20 12,000 Montserrat, 47 8,000 Tortola, 20 7,000 Barbuda, 72 0,000 Anguilla, 90 3,000 Bahamas, 4,440 18,000 Bermudas, 20 10,000
In addition to these there are a number of smaller islands, belonging to the Little Antilles, the area and population of which are not known, many of them being unpopulated.