LETTER FROM PROF. WM G. ALLEN.

Frederick Douglass, Esq.:

Dear Sir—I regret exceedingly that the colored citizens of New Bedford, Mass., should have taken umbrage at an extract of a letter sent by Horace Mann to the colored Convention in Cincinnati, held January last. The resolutions recently passed by them, the colored citizens of N.B.) seem to be hasity and ill-advised; and certainly do injustice to a noble man, who has given abundant evidence of sincere love for the oppressed millions of America.

Mr. Mann believes, that as compared with the Caucasian, the African is inferior in intellect, but superior in sentiment and affection. Certainly there is nothing terrible in this, and nothing which by any means can be construed as disparaging to the African race, but rather as exalting it. The heart is king of the head. In that better way when mere calculating intellect (for this is the kind of intellect in which the Caucasian excels the African) shall have only its place—and nor more, the African will unquestionably stand at the head of a true civilization. Mr. Mann exalts the African race above all the races, not only Caucasian, but Mongolian, and others, in sentiment and affection.

Mr. Mann also believes that independent nations of each race may be greatly improved by the existence of independent nations of other races. I believe so too: while at the same time I believe that all nations are made of one blood, to dwell upon all the face of the earth; and that human beings who are equal in character are equal to one another. It is convenient that this world should be divided into nations, as it is convenient that a community should be divided into families.

Mr. Mann believes further, that there is a band of territory around the earth on each side of the equator, which belongs to the African race; and that the commotions of the earth has jostled them out of their place, to which they will be restored when the terrible crimes which displaced them shall be succeeded by reason and justice. I believe so too: but differ with Mr. Mann in regarding the colored people of this country as an African race, in contradistinction from any other. The colored people of this country are essentially a mixed race. Already more than half Anglo-Saxonized, it will not need Henry Clay's two hundred years to make them wholly such. At this moment there sits at my side a young man of two-thirds Anglo-Saxon blood: now, since he is to be designated by either the term African or Anglo-Saxon, what propriety or scientific accuracy is there in calling him an African, since Anglo-Saxon blood predominates? Among the hundreds of colored people whom Mr. Mann has seen at Washington, those who represented in their purity the African color and features, were but a fraction of a fraction, while many, very many of the so-called colored people were as white as himself. It is by no means uncommon for travellers from the north to remark, that in promenading a southern city, it is frequently a puzzle to tell, so far as complexion is concerned, who is the slave and who is the master. No one can be su[r]prised at these results who understands the character of slavery.

I repeat, I believe as Mr. Mann does, that when the commotions of the earth are settled, the African race will be restored to the territory of earth on each side of the equators; but by the African race, I do not mean the colored people of this country.—So, also, I believe if slavery were abolished to-morrow, there would be an overwhelming tide of emigration to the South, on the part of the colored people of the Northern States, and of Canada; and for the reason that that is the soil on which they were born, and which is congenial to their nature.

Had Mr. Mann come out point blank in favor of Colonization, it would have been well for our New Bedford friends to pass their resolutions; but as he has simply uttered a theory which, considered scientifically, means no wrong, I cannot but regard our friends as acting hastily, and even ungenerously, towards a great and noble man. Whether Horace Mann has outgrown fully the prejudice of color which he learned in his youth, I know not; but this I know, he has a generous nature, and deserves to be approached, not as we approach those whose hearts are little and minds narrow. So far, however, as the action of our New Bedford friends may be regarded as a protest against the Colonization Society, I rejoice at it. The idea of going to Africa is not a horrible one to me; but the idea of being the white man's slave or pet in Africa any more than in America, is to me worse than horrible—it is "terrible horrible!"

Sincerely yours,

William G. Allen

McGrawville, Oct. 25, 1852.