Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-10-30

laAt and most meritorious class have sealed
their devotion to his holy enterprise, win theif
lives, and are gone, we may trust, to reap
higher re ward that it IS IN the power OF man 10
bestow.
In the early progress of our enterprise which
contemplated the civilization OF one CONTINENT
by the partial or total relief OF another, from
evils of alarming and growing magnitude, its
vast and comprehensive design naturally inspir'
ed doubts of its success.
There are not wanting, at present. men OF u.s.
tinsuished abilities and approved PATRIOTISM VINO
think our plan will ultimately and totally TAIL.
II any remain thus sceptcal, because they
believe that the soil and resources OF Africa can
not provide accommodation. for the return OF
her exiled children, let them consider that her
territory. not only along the sea coast, but very
far up into the interior, has been depopulated oy
the slave trade: that her soil, quickened by the
warmth of a tropical sun, yields two crops IN the
year: aud that she has no winter to consume the
fruit of her double harvest.
Without these advantages, the single State Of
Ohio, itself colony, mas been known IN former
years, to provide comfortably, tor number OF emf
grants, largely exceeding moiety OF the annu
al increase of the entire colored population OF the
! United States.
| II il be doubted. whether adequate means Of
transportation could be obtained tor such mum
| her of emigrants as the annual increase OF our
whole free coIored population, would supply, to
sether with any possible addition TO them BY
voluntary emancipation. | appeal to the wei
ascertained fact, that in the present current oil
unexcted emlgran,s, from Europe to North
America, more than fifty thousand persons have
II the prosperous condition OF the colony al
ready planted ON the coast Of Africa. be ques
toned, let those who will not credit the annual
reports Of the Colonization society. refer TO the
numerous and concurrent statements OF the Ma
val officers of the United States, whohav vlsi
ted the shores of that continent, still scourget
by the slave trade, in obedience to the laws fol-
its suppression.
They would see Furnishing town, harbour
regularly visited, for purposes OF Legitimate
commerce, by the flags of all nations; and the
| flag OF Liberia floating among them. They would
behold on the summit of Cape Mesurado, chris
tan churches occupying the seat Of the but re
cent worship Of the Devil On entering these
churches on the Sabbath, they would see them
! filled by the well dressed. orderly, and plous
people, who have erected them; and whose NOR
ality stands yet unimpeached, by the impualon
Of single capital crime, or the necessary in
Fiction OF one severe punishment.
In passing through a colony of civilized men,
speaking our language and possessing all the
comforts of our arts, at peace among themselves,
and with their savage and untutored neighbours,
they would see these savages impIoring these colo
nists to admit their children into their schools,
and themselves 70 the protection Of their laws.
! Can we reflect, fellow citizens. without hearts
penetrated with gratitude, to that everything
Providence, which ELECTS good from evil, and
bends to his will all the purposes Of man, that
these coIonists, thus prosperous aud happy, the
descendants of Africa, were but few years
since IN bondage in America, or free negroes more
degraded than our slaves?
One word more and have done with this
topic.
Let those who oppose the colonization of Afri.
ca, by our co'ored population. because 1t is nota
scheme for the immediate abolition of slavery in
America. justify, If they can, to God and man,
their hostility to plan Of enlarged policy, as
well as OF expanded bene,olence aud piety, be.
it does not propose to accomplish all that they
desire, and because they desire to do that which,
if accomplished, as they propose. would PROSTATE
the fair fabric of our Union, and with it the
hopes of freedom 10 man.
The most important object which your toast
suggests, the chief support of our individual and
national prosperity, calls upon me for some con.
sideraton. Yes. fellow citizens, the best, if not
the sole, security Of all our present enjoymcnts
and future hopes, rests on popular education.
Our internal improvements may be multiplied;
the arts may hourish; refinement spread around
its polish, and wealth its splendor, without as.
sured or permanent benefit, if the great body Of
our citizens, with whom rests the political pow
er of the government. remain in ignorance: the
ready instruments of vice, cunning, and ambl.
ton.
GAS wealth accumulates,"a poet has said,
but with prophetic truth, " men decay"
10 arrest this natural or common declensio
Of one, and that the far greater portion Of society,
as the other, often the very few, advances, let
the wealth Of a country pay for the instruction Of
its people. Do not widen the extremes of socie.
ty, by adding the drbasins influence Of ignorance
to the benumbing effect Of poverty.
What is the duty of all nations, and happily
for mankind, all begin TO be impressed with its
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