The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-02-23
A Parallel to the Liberia Colony.

"Where," said jealous colonizationst, in al
luding to Liberia, " can we find parallels"
We are willing to grant that the scheme of ex-
patriating men, women and children, as a condi-
ton of freedom, does not find parallel in the his
tory Of the most cruel and barbarous nations Even
the iron hearted government of Rome, when it
accorded to any of its bondmen subjects the name
of freemen, did not withhold the dignity of free
dom, but gloried in the magnanimity that bloted
from public remembrance the degradation of their
former servitude.
The settlement of the colony of Georgia was
undertaken ostensibly as benevolent enterprise
While those who originated the design are ac-
knowledged to have had Interior objects of politi-
cal policy in view, it is known to have assumed
the character of beeoozence the settlers in its
prosecution; and to have addressed itself to the
philanthropy of the age. To Afford an asylum for
the poor and las appears to have been contempla-
ted by some) to make an opening for the intro
duction of the gospel among the southern Indians
of North America, were objects calculated to open
eral private donations; while the government in
subscribing its own policy, made large grants to
the trustees who had the management of the en-
terprise. Whether the patrons of the colony tho't
of promoting the happiness of the settlers, or look
ed to the transportation of a class of people, who
were esteemed nuisance to England they were
all equally sanguine in their expectations of see
ing fourishing colony built up in the wilder
ness Of America from materials afforded by Brit
ish jails and poor houses While vessels bound
to this prototype Of Botany Bay, made up their
cargoes from the lanes of beggary, the seclusions
of poverty, or from the cells of criminals, the in
fatuated public mind INDUCED the vain expecta-
ton that transportation would change those sent
out to a peaceable, honest and industrious yeo-
many. Many wise provisions were indeed made
by the Trustees" for the securing of this object
among which was the prohibition of slauery AS
able missionaries as the venerated Wesleys were
sent out to preach to the colony and to the neigh
boring Indian tribes.
So far do the two enterprises (of Liberia and
Georgia) appear to have been parallel in their char
acter; combining in their support naughty aris-
tocratic pride, which repealed the suffering poor
from the presence of those who might have afford
ed the means of making them comfortable at home,
with mean spirit of sordid avarice that sought to
relieve the public treasury from the expense of
them, CLOSED over with hypocritical
pretensions to christian benevolence which have
been equally successful with both in enlisting in
their support many honest well disposed philan-
thropists
But what are the results of the two enterprises?
So far as that of Liberia has progressed, it has
afforded striking coincidence to the early history
of Georgia.
1t was soon discovered that those who had been
driven from England by the arm Of the law, or
by the constraint of circumstances, wanted the
requisite energy for clearing and cultivating the
wilderness or spirit that would endure peacea-
bly,, the hardships and trials incident to new
country Animosities and jealousies continually
springng up among the miserable herd Of ignor-
ance and debasement, kept the little community in
continual commotion and jeopardy, while the want
and wretchedness resulting from Incidence almost
beggard description. Let any person read the
journal Of the Wesleys' residence in Georgia, and