The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-03-23

But have that within
More lasting far than We;
Which lives, which but begins,
In Immortality
COLONIZATION AND AFRICAN COMMERCE.
The following article from the National lntelli-
gencer will be read with interest, not only by
every friend of the American Colonization Socie-
ty, but by every friend of American commerce.
One of the most enlightened statesmen of our
country remarked in 1926, that sit is very posi-
bic in fifteen or twenty years the commerce of
Liberia will employ greater amount OF American
tonnage than is now employed in the trade carri-
ed on witk all the northern powers of Europe,
to whom we send ministers and agents, and of
whose favour and proceedings we are so jealous
on account of that trade"
The Public generally, and particularly those
interested in the prosperity of 'our commerce,
will be grahed to learn that sloop Of war
is again, after an interval of many years, about
to be sent to the western coast of Africa TO
give protection to American commerce in that
quarter of the globe. The difficulties to be encoun-
tered on the coast of Africa have been SO great,
that our commercial men, with all their charac-
teristic enterprise, have not been able to compete
successfully with the British, who, for several
years past, have enjoyed almost monopoly Of
the African trade, and are now fast extending
it into the interior of that continent by the newly
discovered route of the Niger as well as from
their establishments at Sierra Leone and the Gam
bia. From those posts large quantities of British
goods carried into the centre of the continent
by colonsts and native merchants, and the most
valuable and portable articles of produce are re-
celved In return, consisting of ivory, gums and
gold Dust In addition to these articles, very
large coast trade is carried on in cam wood, palm
oil, teak, and other wood for ship-building besides
variety Of valuable woods for furniture
The British colony at Sierra Leone was COM
meneed III 1907 by society Of benevolent pri-
vate gentlemen In London, with the view of
suppresslng the slave trade, and improving the
condition Of the native Africans. They conduct
ed their operations with great vigor and success,
until their establishment was broken up by the
French. 1t was afterwards transferred to the
British Government, which, with great perse-
verance, have prosecuted the objects of the be-
nevoent founders, and at the same time, extend
ed their commerce both interior and coastwise
which now gives employment to very large
amount of shipping.
The colony Of Sierra Leone contains now
about 10000 inhabitants, principally recaptured
Africans, who are industrious and happy and
mostly engaged IN agriculture.
The amount expended by the British Gov
eminent in founding and sustaining this colony,
is about thirty millions of dollars. Large as this
sum is, it is not thought too much to secure the
trade of Africa. In view of this policy, one cannot
wonder that our benevolent British friends should
send US Missionaries to clamor against American
coonization and induce our citizens to pronounce
1t cruel and immoral, while the British Gov
eminent have made colonization a pretext, if not
the means OF prosecuting, even to monopoly
the great trade of Middle Africa. But the British
aRtl-colonlzaon movements in this country are
pretty well understood by the People; and the
Importance ofthe American colonies in Africa, in
commercial point OF view, appears to be apprecat-
ed by our Government, which has lately appoint.
ed Mr.. Buchanan, an lightened citizen of Pha-
delPhla. agent for recaptured Africans in Liberia,
(several hundred Of whom were colonzed near
Monrovla under the act of Congress of 1912
and granted very liberal and much-needed sup-1
ply OF arms and ammunition. Mr. Buchanan is
also commissioned by the American Colonial
non Society Governor-G General of all their colo
mes In Liberia. The countenance of the Govern
lnent and the increased efforts now making by
the friends oil colonization, will place the cause
on firm basis.
Our colonies on the coast of Afr;c, will soor
become to America what Sierra Leone &c to tho
British; the marts where American manufactures
will be exchanged for the products Of Africa: and,
fostered by the enlightened policy Of our Govern
ment, the African trade will soon become one of
the most important branches of American COM
Hefce' ERIE.