Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-07-12

49,
we have the best proof in the world, VIZ
the proof of experience-euch colony
already exists; and under circumstances
far more prosperous than could have
been anticipated in the primary stages OF
any such establishment. The late re-
ports of II are such as must kIndle a
lame Of joy IN every phIlanthropic BIO
som The last annual Report states that
the settlers Of this colony are now living
under a government mild and Republic
can 10 its form-ihat they have so lar
secured the confidence Of the nGtirs .4tTI
cans as to have tn cir children placed a
mong them-Tbat the health of the Co
lonists Chose only excepted who have
recently arrived) has been well nigh u.
niversal-That the trade OF the Colony
has Increased with q rapidity almost un'
exampled. That between the LIST Of
Jan and the 18th of July, ls26, fifteen
vessels touched at the Colony and pur
chased the produce Of the county
FINALLY, that it is to religion ruling, re
siraniug and aetualing the minds OF q
large portion of the Colonists,'' that the
prosperity ofthe Colony andtEe strength
Of its civil government must be ascrlbed
These ~animating u~uvarnished facts com
| prise abundant evidence to prove the
feasibility of this scheme. Strong IN
deed must be that scepticism which will
not yield to their influence.
And If proof be wanting to shew that
it is practicable to improve and extend
this Colony, SO as to answer oil the pur.
poses of the Society, present as well as
remote, we have it in the testimony OF
every traveller to the fertility of the soil
o fAfrica, and It's fitness for colonization
| and agriculture; and we have II most
PROFESSIONALLY in the British Colony OF
Sierra Leone, which was planted ON the
same Continent and supported in the
same way, until the year 1908, when it
was taken under the patronage of the
British Government.
Thus we close u evidence for the
practicsbility of this scheme. To prove
that the sun is a luminous body, we can
not use abstract argument or infcrential
reasoning. We can only point to the DO
dy itself and give up as hopeless subjects
Of proof, all who resist the evidence OF
sight and 20 prove the practicabiIity of
establishing a Colony upon the coast OF
Africa, we can only say. behold the two
flourishing colonies which are already
established there.
We therefore proceed to u second
point, which is to shew, that the scheme
of the 6oriety is ar patriotic, as it is
practicable. There now exists more
than 2S8,000 free people of colour 10
the United States. That this popu alton
among US. is agreat moral and political
evil cannot be doubted. Argument to
prove it would be supererogation. Eve
ny n~eighbourhood tells it; and we b.
lieve there is not an Individual in this
house who would be disposed to deny il.
II is also equally manifest that no human
means can remov the evils of this po-
pulation without removing the populs-
ton itself Nature has planted barriers
to their elevation in the ranks of Efe,
and to their amalgamation with the raj
ing people, which no power can remove.
No power, ave it be that which "can
change the skin of the Ethiopian or the
spots Of the Leopard" There remains
then, nothing for US to do but to submit
to this evil in despair, or to put forth all
our strength in some practicable plan for
forming this people into a distant and
different society. Such a scheme /, that
of the Colonization Society: it is there
fore a patriotic Scheme. And to re,
commend it in this respect, it is not ne
cessary that we should present it in a
different light from that liz which it now
stands; even without any reference to
the great national work of CoIoniziug TO
which it looks. We shew YOU now, an
association which is endeavouring to d.
mInish a great national evil, by the only
practicable method which has ever been
devised. We shew you a body OF the
most enlightened men of our country,
who are striving to fan into a fame, the
only spark of hope which exists. of de-
hverlng u country from the greatest
national curse, which was ever visited
upon it. And we ask you, whether you
will permit them to labour on, without
extending a helping hand! Whether un-
der any circumstance you can deny them
the means of sustaining their scheme
until time shall have tested It's further
efficacy and commended il to the policy
of government? If the evil which this