Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-03-22
CoLoNlZArioN soclsrY.

Extracts trUa rho PAPERS read By Dr Daris
lGen. Hsrper's letter continued from our last !
The greatest benefit, however, to be
hoped from this enterprise, that which
10 contemplation most delights the phil
anthropic mind, still remains to be un.
folded. VI is the benefit to Africa her
self, from this return of her sons to her
bosom, bearing with them arts knonI.
edge and civilization, to which she has
hitherto been a stranger. Cast your
eyes my dear sir on this vast continent.
Pass over the northern and north cas-
tern parts, and the great desert, where
sterility ferocious ignorance and fanati-
clsm seem TO hold exclusive and pefpe-
tuat sway. Fix your attention on Sou.
dan, and the widely extended regions
to tue South. You see there innumera-
BILE tribes and nations Of blacks, mild
aud humane in their dispositions, suffi.
ciently intelligent, robust active and vi.
gorous, not aveTse IRON laborec or
wholly ignorant of agriculture and pos
sessing some knowledge of the rader
arts, which minister to the FIRST wants
OF civilized man. You see a soil sener
ally iertile} climate healthy for the ma.
tlves, and mighty river, which rolls
its waters through vast egions inhabit-
ed by these tribes, and seems destined
by an all wise and beneticient Provi-
dence, one day 30 connect them with
each other, and all Of them with the rest
Of the world, in the relations of com.
merce and friendly intercourse. What
field is here presented for the blessings
OF civilization and christianity, which
colonies OF civilized blacks afford the
best probably the on!y means of intro
ducing!! These colonies, composed OF
blacks already instructed III the arts OF
civilized life, and tbs truths of the gos-
pei; judiciously placed, well conducted,
and constantly enlarged; will extend
gradually into the interior, will form
commercial and political connections
with the native tribes in their vicinity,
will extend those connections to tribes
more and more remote, viii incorporate
many Of the natives with The colonies,
and ~ their turn make establishments
and settlements among the natives, and
thus ditiuses all around the arts OF civih-
cation, and the benefits of literary NOR
al andSreligiods Instructions
That such must be the tendency OF
colonies of this description, if we'll pla-
ced we'll formed and welt conducted,
cannot think be reasonably doubted
Such q colony has already been estab-
lished, with satisfactory success, and
dattering prospects. But 1t may be
doubted perhaps whether the situation
has been fortunately chosen, with res
pect to al! the objects that ought to be
kept in view; and II 10 still more ques-
tionabls whether sufficient supply of
colcnists, oil proper description, to give
it the extent necessary for rendering it
in any considerable degree beneficial,
can be drawn from the sources on which
it must rely. 1t is in the United States
alone that such coionsts can be found,
in any considerable numbers. In the
choice OF good situation too, OH which
so much depends, we have far more as
sistance from recent discoveries, and
the extension of geograp hical knowledge
in that quarter Of the globe, than was
possessed by the founders ofthat cniony.
We have the benefit of their experience,
of their discoveries, and even Of their
errors; which we may be able TO cor
rect or avoid. Useful therefore and
meritorious as their establishment GER
talnly is we may hope to rsnder ours
far more extensively beneficial
An objection of some plausibility ia
frequently urged, against this scheme Of
colonizing the free people of colour,
which il may be proper in this place to
notice. These people it is said, espe
cia'ly the industrious and estimable part
of them, will not go to the new colony.
That many of them will decline to 60 at
first and some always, cannot be doubt
ed. II is even probable, and may be
safely admitted, that but few of them
now think farourably OF the project; for
men, especially ignorant men, venture
unwillingly upon great changes, the ex-
tent nature and consequences Of which
they are little capable of understanding
But itby no means follows that the same
unwillingness or hesitation willcontinue,
after the ground shall have been bro
ken, the way opened, and settlement
formed. In the first instance none will
engage, but the most industrious intel
ligent and enterprzing, we are capable
OF discerning the advantages OF the IN
4 o-I ~.