Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-08-19
Prom the NesV York Observer.
TERMINATION IN AFRICA.
A.. ITnilefl States.


Previous 10 the iormation0of the
American Colonization Society, the
friends of humanity had long depiored
the sad condition OF our tree people Oh
e.lor. The question had often been
,sked. what can we do for the promo
fion Of their happiness consistently win
The nreser, alton Of our ownf The de-
sire to make them happy was exclusive,
" felt. but the difficulty OF dev'sihS anu
executing a suitable plan appeared M
surm,n,table. The mind shrunk back
from the aitempt-the time had MOI ye'
arrived At length, as if BY divine I'M
nuIse. men of piety and wisdom III dii-
ferent narts of our country, sImuitane-
ouslv turned their minds to the accom-
nI;s6ment of this long desired object
In considering this question, many I'M
nortant questions arose, as, is 1t placu-
cable to colonze the free people oil
.--colors where shall the colony be ieca-
--teda shall il be in our back Hands, or
shall territory be 2rocured1h iofeiSn
country? and by what means can 'hs
desirable object be attained: AFTER a
thorough investigation OF all these points
il was decided, that, as an asylum Tor
Our colored population, AFRICA ohers
{. advantages superior TO those oil any
o,her mart of the world. The wisdom OF
: this decision has been proved by expe-
= rience.
In December, 1916, the American
.. COLONIZATION Society was formed AZ
Washington. The first object OF tins
'~-- society was to ascertain the pracaca-.
T. bi6ty of purchasing OF the fna''Ves OF
Africa a suitable territory tor q colony
AGENTS were sent to that country, VINO
returned with highly fattering account
90 of the fertility of the fri. ndly disposition
= of the natives. and of their readness'''
Grant a sufficient territory for the ior-
: nation of a colony. These important
points having been ascertained, tie So
= ciety felt encouraged to appeal to Con
= gress for their MD and support they
were not disappointed in their expecta,,
- lions. The government OF the cnited
: States have resolved to engage IN me
. suppression of the Slave Trade, at once
> saw the importance of establishing an
American colony of free blacks on the
q. coast. forming poiut OF rendezvous
: for our cruizers, and giving facility OF
gaining intelligence oil any slave vessels
) which might be on the coast Il he ap-
: NOMINATIONS of Congress for"the sup
: preston of the slave trade, together
~ with the donations OF individuals ana
/. Auxiliary institutions, enabled the So
a. ciety to prosecute their object, by send
- inq ont a vessel in 1870, containing two
2. agents of the government for the re
:. ception of captured Africans IN the CO.
: lonv. one agent of the society," and
r. about eighty colored ,ernigrants, who
= went out in the service ot the govern
& nent, to erect houses, &c. Tor the re-
.. ception Of such captured Aircans, as
might hereafter be returned to their ma
tive country, under the operation OF the
laws of Congress for the suppression OF
the slave trade.
Previous to the mission Of Mills and
- Burgess, who visited and explored the
coast under the direction of the Colo
nization Society, we know little OF the
true state of that interesting county,
-. Ut had been examined by no Americans,
save those who had frequented its shores,
like the proving panther to rob it OF its
best treasure, the sons OF the forests
These wretches found it for their in'e-
rest. to misrepresent every thing con-
nected with that country. Hence the
frightful tale. of its barren soil, of its
kissing serpents, and of Death with its
huge green ewes, and grisly visages;
tales calculated to brighten the tinaid,
and deter others from partaking in the
/, profitable concern. In this absence of
all correct information. it is not sur.
prising that the first attempt at forming
a settlement, should be attended with
some disappointment and unforeseen
disasters.
Unfortunately, there was no medical
character or other person accompanying
the first expedition, who was qualified
70 Judge of the necessary requisites in
a location for the enjoyment of health,
and the colonies were, consequently,
induced by designing natives to accept
of temporary Accommodations on the
Island Of Sherbro, until they should
have time to negoclate for permanent
settlem nt-on the river Bagloo. Sher-
bro is a owmuddy island, nearly cover
ed with water in the rainy season, its
borders thielEly set with mangroves,