Cham et Japhet, ou De l'émigration des nègres chez les blancs considérée comme…

(1 User reviews)   756
By Abil Kile Posted on Dec 30, 2025
In Category - Neval
Chancel, A. de (Ausone), 1808-1878 Chancel, A. de (Ausone), 1808-1878
French
Okay, hear me out. I just read this wild 19th-century book that tries to solve racism... by suggesting all Black people should move to Europe. Published in 1840, it's called 'Cham et Japhet' and it's one of the strangest, most uncomfortable historical documents I've ever picked up. The author, a French writer named Ausone de Chancel, genuinely believed this mass migration was a logical and peaceful solution to slavery and prejudice in the Americas. It's not a good idea—in fact, it's a terrible, impractical, and deeply problematic one—but reading it flips a switch in your brain. You're not just seeing old racism; you're seeing how a supposedly 'enlightened' person of the time tried to rationalize the world's biggest problems and came up with a solution that feels shocking today. It's a trip.
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II. Government Succeeding the Period of Anarchy, 1790 to 1809. III. Obstacles to Immigration. 1790 to 1809. Chapter IV. Illinois During Its Territorial Period. 1809 to 1818. I. The Land and Indian Questions. II. Territorial Government of Illinois. 1809 to 1818. IV. Transportation and Settlement, 1809 to 1818. IV. Life of the Settlers. Chapter V. The First Years of Statehood, 1818 to 1830. The Indian and Land Questions. The Government and Its Representatives, 1818 to 1830. Transportation. Life of the People. Chapter VI. Slavery in Illinois As Affecting Settlement. Chapter VII. Successful Frontiersmen. Works Consulted. Index. Footnotes PREFACE. In the work here presented, an attempt has been made to apply in the field of history, the study of types so long in use in biological science. If the settlement of Illinois had been an isolated historical fact, its narration would have been too provincial to be seriously considered, but in many respects, the history of this settlement is typical of that of other regions. The Indian question, the land question, the transportation problem, the problem of local government; these are a few of the classes of questions wherein the experience of Illinois was not unique. This work was prepared while the writer was a student in the University of Wisconsin. The first draft was critically and carefully read by Prof. Frederick Jackson Turner, of that University, and the second draft was read by Prof. John Bach McMaster, of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to suggestions received from my teachers, valuable aid has been rendered by Miss Caroline M. McIlvaine, the librarian of the Chicago Historical Society, who placed at my disposal her wide knowledge of the sources of Illinois history. The omission of any reference in this work to the French manuscripts, found by Clarence W. Alvord, is due to the fact that at the time they were found, my work was so nearly completed that it was loaned to Mr. Alvord to use in the preparation of his article on the County of Illinois, while the press of professional duties has been such that a subsequent use of the manuscripts has been impracticable. ARTHUR C. BOGGESS. Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon. September 14, 1907. CHAPTER I. THE COUNTY OF ILLINOIS. An Act for establishing the County of Illinois, and for the more effectual protection and defence thereof, passed both houses of the Virginia legislature on December 9, 1778.(1) The new county was to include the inhabitants of Virginia, north of the Ohio River, but its location was not more definitely prescribed.(2) The words “for the more effectual protection and defence thereof” in the title of the Act were thoroughly appropriate. The Indians were in almost undisputed possession of the land in Illinois, save the inconsiderable holdings of the French. Some grants and sales of large tracts of land had been made. In 1769, John Wilkins, British commandant in Illinois, granted to the trading-firm of Baynton, Wharton and Morgan, a great tract of land lying between the Kaskaskia and the Mississippi rivers. The claim to the land descended to John Edgar, who shared it with John Murray St. Clair, son of Gov. Arthur St. Clair. The claim was filed for 13,986 acres, but was found on survey to contain 23,000 acres, and was confirmed by Gov. St. Clair. At a later examination of titles, this claim was rejected because the grant was made in the first instance counter to the king’s proclamation of 1763, and because the confirmation by Gov. St. Clair was made after his authority ceased and was not signed by the Secretary of the Northwest Territory.(3)...

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Published in 1840, 'Cham et Japhet' is a historical artifact that reads like a bizarre thought experiment. The author, Ausone de Chancel, was a French writer wrestling with the monumental issue of slavery and racial inequality in the Americas.

The Story

This isn't a novel with characters and a plot. It's a political and social proposal. Chancel uses the biblical figures of Cham (Ham) and Japhet—traditionally used to justify racial hierarchies—to argue for the exact opposite. His central idea is that the persecution of Black people in the New World is so entrenched that the only peaceful solution is a complete reversal: a massive, organized emigration of the entire Black population from the Americas to Europe. He envisions France, in particular, welcoming them to cultivate its underpopulated regions.

Why You Should Read It

You don't read this book because the proposal is sound. You read it to get inside the head of a 19th-century thinker. It's fascinating and deeply uncomfortable. Chancel seems to want a moral solution, but his 'fix' is to remove an entire people from their homes rather than confront the injustice where they live. It shows how even well-intentioned ideas from the past can be rooted in a profound failure of imagination and empathy. It forces you to ask: what seemingly 'logical' solutions do we propose today that future generations will find shocking?

Final Verdict

This is for readers interested in the history of ideas, racial theory, and the uncomfortable corners of abolitionist thought. It's not an easy or enjoyable read in the traditional sense, but it's a short, potent glimpse into a mindset that helps explain why solving systemic racism has been so difficult. Perfect for history buffs and book clubs ready for a challenging, discussion-sparking text.



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This text is dedicated to the public domain. It serves as a testament to our shared literary heritage.

Nancy Young
7 months ago

Based on the summary, I decided to read it and the narrative structure is incredibly compelling. A true masterpiece.

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4 out of 5 (1 User reviews )

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