Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-17

more than has yet been the lot Of our colony. In
1894 their defeneeless settlement was attacked by
aFreuch squadron and almost destroyed. Having
NO resources similar 10 Liberia for augmenting
it's population, Sierra Leone has eince increased
chiefly by the addition of slaves, .recaptured by
British cruisers IRON the piratical traders on the
coast; and it appears, from an official statement,
that il con,aine. /" in 1895. about 5000 inhabi.
tants, Of whom about IL. 900 are liberated Africans,
who, for the most part, occupy the parishes in the
mountains; and nothing can be more gratifying
than to know, that the almost impene,rable woods,
which were the hsunts but lately of wild beasts,
have been repenished with villages, surrounded by
cultivated fields, and containing school-houses for
both sexes" The trade of this Colony is flourish
ing; the imports. for 1925, are stated at upwards
of 500 900 dollars aud the exports at rather
The freights to Great Bril- ain, on the article of
timber alone, are estimated at 440, 600 dollars for
the same year.
In this instance, with which the Colony of Libe-
ria will fully compare far az it has progressed,
and to advantage in most respects; we find, after
lapse of forty years, nothing to sustain your heo-
~, or authorize your apprehensions. The Co!onsts
have not g become beathenized by amagamation"
with the natives, but they have raised the natives
20 participation in their own improved condition;
neither have they :" cut the hroats of the poor Az
ricans and taken possession Of their lands" The
settlement has been productive OF extensive bene-
fits, both TO the Coons,s and to the natives; il has
been, and still is, powerful auxiliary in suppress
ing the slave trade: the parent country is not bur.
thensd by the charge of the Colony neither has she
any thing to fear from it, prosperity.
Here, then, is a Colony where the subjects, eli
mate, soil, situation. and every essential crcum-
stance are, in fact, the same with Liberia; of
whose experience Liberia avail herself, avoid
ing its and adopting its successful
an example, which puts to flight all your harsh sng
gestions against the American Colonization Sorie-
~ and it's schemes, and gives assurance doubly
sure, that its plans are good and will succeed
Colonization for national aggrandizement or
commerce, cannot be the true policy ofthe United
States; no one entertains such idea: Their in
terest is to promote healthy population and gem
erai Improvement within their own extensive boun.
dares; and but for the express objects of the Ame-
rican Colonization Society, or some very similar,
there can hardly be supposed sufficient cause for
Colony on foreign shore. Yet here is a sufficient
motive; not to increase trade or power, but to the
exercise Of q charity which is
Ithesseth those who give, and who receive"
Having, as conceive, sufficiently shewn that
the plan of the American Colonization Society is
not analogous to any of those examples which you
adduce to prove its mischievous and danger Gus
tendency, that il neither originated in the same mo-
shewn. by truly parallel case, that it gives the
best promise to ourselves, to the free people OF
color among US, and TO the native Africans, who
are within the sphere of its influence; I am much
disposed here to leave the argument and rest my
cause. 1t were an irksome task 10 follow you in
all your incongruous course. If, in your endea-
vours to dress this subject in tenfod horrors. you
ere led into such Inconsistencies and Injustice as to
charge your good friends and their well-iniending
w q n ne
color to cut the throats Of the native Africans and
10 take possession of their lands and this without
solitary fact to support the assertion, and against
the whole current of testimony; who will condes-
cend to rebut the charge? If, at one moment, you
pronounce the plan OF The society mpracticabIe,
and In the next, express your establishment at its
success, who would not leave GU reconcile your
own Inconsistency! Your sneers at Religion, and
charges Of fanaticsm the friends of the Society,
are equally undeserving serious reply; since it
could not be expected that any, whom they could
influence, would appreciate the argument which
should evince their impiety and folly. .
Your reflections against the Reverend Mr.. ASH
mum, may serve TO excite she smile of The scorner,
and confirm the prejudced against the Society,
whose Agen, he is at Liberia; but from the exhi-
bition OF hrs character there made, doubt moi,
that, persevering in his course, his name will have
attained proud eminence in the estimation of his
country and all friends Of humanity, when yours
and mine will be forgotten and unknown. Great
occasions usually raise up master spirit equal
to the exigency; and such does he appear. While
q merciful Providence has wonderfully preserved
his life, in climate so fatal to white men, he has
exhibited proof of heroic virtue, that would adorn
any cause. While, however, the friends of the
Colony would be thankful for the preservation add
rejoice in the correct principles and the ability of
their agent, they would be considered as pledg-
ing their cause upon the character or conduct OF
any individual
The attempts that have been made to 5sparage
MIR. Ashmun and his undertaking, bring strongly
omy mind story told in an ANCIENT book, OF an
Individual who was appointed ruler over the rem
nans OF his people, when about to rebuild the walls
of their City, which had been laid waste They
were surrounded by neighbors who were strongs
opposed to the rebuilding of The City and deter.
mined to prevent it. They first Knocked at the un.
dertaking. and said it was imprscticable; 9. aud
even that which they build if fox go up, he shall
even break down their wall" The ruler was one
of those I" fanatics" who, like the Rev. Mr.. Ash
mum, rely on God for wisdom and strength He
called on Him to turn the repsosc Of his enemies
On their own heads. The wall was bull, and
s'joined together unto the half thereof Then his
enemies, when they heard that the walls were
made up, were very wroth, and conspired all Of
them together 10 come and fight against that City.
Nevertheless, the ruler made prayer unto his God
and set q watch agsins, them day and night While
one bali the people laboured the other half STOOD
TO their arms, the builders with one hand wrous chit
IN the work, and with the other hand held wea-
pon." SO they prospered in the work, and in
spe of the insdious attempts and false rumours Of
their foes, the walls were built, even in ,roubous
times.
In my view, the Rev. Mr.. Ashmun may be fifty
compared to this perseyefing, dsvo'ed. and
fstI ~~.t-- IL