Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-01-25
LIBERIA.

fSais AT OtDer points. a territory was
purchased from the natives of Cape Me.
surado, on this western coast of Africa,
by the American COLONIZATION Soriaty.
he object ol the Society was, 10 found
there a colony OF Free Blacks from the
United States; to provide all such as
might wish to emigrste, with an asylum.
whittier thsy and their children might
go aud ENJOY real liberty, and ali the
in'munIiIes, privileges and attributes o.
ireemen. Ire scheme was immediate.
- approved and embraced by a great
number OF our distinguished ci,izens.
Under their protection, and sustained
by Individual charity, the colony grew
apeee, More emigrants were found IMAM
the society could send.
In It's infancy, Liberia, ike all SINH
lar establishments, had 10 endure many
wants and dangers. She was reduced
la the brink Of destruction by unusual
pritations, and by diseases incidest 10 a
pew settlement and foreign climate. IN
the moment Of her greatest weakness.
The natives, jealous of her preSences.
ieii upon Der ia numbers vastly SUPER.
or to her owA. Bot even then she was
toe powerful for such enemiSs The
multitude Of Tie naked savages served
only TO augment their slaughter. They
could mol stand before the howitzer ami
80 maskets of the colonlsts, but fed IN
every direction TO the woods, abandoned
their assaults, AID resumed their desul-
tory and harmless warfare. which thew
were soon glad to exchange for peace.
since that lesson, they have displayed
or attsmpted no more hostility and their
cpniederacy has dissolved again into
numerous and conflicting tribes. In
their dsunion and weakness, without
arms or ammunition, they regard the
COLONY with respect and feat.
They have learned to admire its in
stitullons from its strength and prosper
~ and from the Christian charity aud
justice which its inhabitants exercises
towards them in all their dealings. DO.
Gle and traclabie in their nature, rather
uncivilized than savages, having zone of
the ferocity and stubborness of the
North American Indian, they are aux
ious that their posterity should pastake
in the blssings which they behold, and
seventy Children, sent by their parents
tor that purpose, are now distributed a
mong The families 10 the Colony, to be
brought up as their own offspring, in the
language and arts of civilized life and
the Christian religion. Thus has Iibe-
ria begun TO realize the anticipated eff
feet OF shedding the light of civilization
and the Gospel on behighted Africa.
The Colcny how CO niains, in the
fifth year Of its existence. about FIVE
hundred Inhabitants, who live in eomfor.
table houses, and cultivate successfully
the rich fields that the Society bestow
gratnitously on all who emigraie. They
are self governed, elect their own off.
GERS, of justice, the militia, and of eli
vii duties, their institutions age, IN fine,
a miniature of those of the Republic.
We began less prosperousiy. The ter
ritory has been much increased, both in
size and value, BY recent purchase, ex.
tending along the coast for twenty miles,
anu thoCAhitSiJ ihto tuc iuttffOT MUM
rovia, the principle settlement and cap
tal Of Liberia, built on the high pro-
nioptory of Mesurado. is defended bt a
militia of ninety men, well armed, and
strong fort of masonry, amply PROV.
ded with cannon and ammunition The
commerce of this place has also surpri
singly augmented
From tbs. lst of Jau. to the 18th al
June, of this year, 1876, they were ex-
ported to New England, Great Britain.
Sierra Leone, France the West Indies,
Norfolk and Baltimore, dye woods and
ivory to the amount of 543 ,9sO.The pro.
tits on this, 10 the exporters, appear ia
calulating the difference between the AT
r'can market and those of Europe and
America, to have been about SS0,7s6
such trade must be very lucrative.
Indeed, the prosperous condition OF
the colony is strongly displayed in the
fact, that when the brig John, Captain
Clough, of Portland, Maine, arrived
there in June or July last--her whole
cargo, worth Sill, geo, was disposed oil
in ten days, and every cent paid for
its laws do not allow the people to buy
on credit.
1t is with particular pleasure that We