Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-01-31


can desire n free gevernment-a mild climate -
rich productive sol-inexhaustibe sources Of
wealth "a 1ourishing commerce, and fair securi-
ty for health and longevity. Such is the country
which invites the African of America to its bo-
som, and is freely rendered to him with all its
blessings. The people of color throughout the
United States repeat, are now invited TO
pair to this asylum, and become Free ndepend-
ent members Of a well organized republic, gov
erned exclusively by people of their own race and
color. None but enemy can dissuade them
from accepting The invitation. Every real
friend will advice them to go at once to u country
where, and where only, they can enjoy equality
Of rights and rise to the elevated stand which all
benevolent men wish them to occupy. What does
the ambition of the coored man lead him to de-
sire 7 Is il not to be connected with q communi
ty, in which he shall stand on a level with his fell
lows enjoy equal privileges, and claim and re-
ceive the same respect and Difference, which are
accorded to others? Without those rights, free
dom cannot he blessing or rather without them,
no man can be said TO be free. freedman in II
country whose inhabitants do NOT recognize him
as an equal, cannot be called a'ireemun, in the
publican sense of the tern and this constitutes
the difference between the coored man OF the u
nited States and Liberia. You the one, de-
graded and DISTINGUISHED, while the other is hon
ored and respected. Here, the coloreI man po-
lltically is nothing-there, lie is every thing. In
Liberia Ia name which indicates the freedom Of
lis inhabitunts) such distinctions exist, be-
cause white men have no participation in the gov
eminent. They are as perfectly excluded from it
there, rs the African is here. II is true, Govern
or BUCHANAN is a white man, but properly con-
sdered, he is the agent of the society, to dispose
OF the supplies sent tor the assistance Of emf
grants and is the friend and adviser rather thnil
the ruler of the people. On the other hand, Mr..
ROBERTS, the Lieutenant Governor and acting
Chief Justice Of the Colony, am informed, is q
tpan II nff
land section of the Colony, whose letters and of
fetal communications would do credit to the best
OF our own Statesmen, is also black man, ard
all the officers under him are black men. The
colonial legislature, which assemblies stately, and
trnnsacts the same business the legislature of
Ohio does, is composed entirely of colored men,
who are elected by cdored men nld their speak
er, clerk, aud other officers are of the same class
Their courts OF Justice nre organized like ours
and their judges, jurors, lawyers sheriffs and con-
stables are all colored men OF their own selec-
ton.
Travellers who have visited the country report
ihut in their legislature, and in their courts of JUS
tce, business is transacted with as much order
and decorum as it is in this country. In short,
they have well organized republic, composed
entirely Of people of color, possessing all the in
telligence and information necessary enact and
administer the laws, which the happiness and
prosperity Of the country require.
They and we have the same form of govern
ment, and the same institutions and the only dit
ference is, that ours is managed by white men,
theirs by men of color.
Ii The disconsoate people, for whom this asy-
lum has been prepared, at an immense expense,
had not been deceived by erroneous statements
aud flaltered by deceptive hopes, they would have
sought it long ago; and would now have been in
the full enjoyment of every political and social
right appertaining TO real freemen. Instead of
seeking protection and asking privileges for them
selves, they would now have been inviting others
TO participate with them in all the rights and priv
ileges which The most ambitious dosire.
What a contrast And yet it does not transcend
the truth.
Our colored friends, land | use that word to
express its Legitimate meaning may rely on the
fidelity of the statement have attempted to give.
II have not been greatly deceived, instead Of
surprising, it falls short of the reality.
The American Colonization Society, which has
accomplished all this, no doubt was formed Mt The
time designated by Providence, for The purpose of
effecng one of the most s!upendons plans OF be-
nevolence, that the earth has yet Witnessed. The
finger Of heaven seems to point 10 the Colony
they have founded, not only for the natural and
envable home oil the colored men Of the country,
but as the means, BY which the millions of be-
nighted people, who cover the continent of AT
RIGA, and are to be reclaimed from barbarisn, and
the arts and sciences, with the religion and the
morality Of the bible, carried through that vast
continent.
The experience of centuries has proved, that
the ear Of the inhabitants of Africa is sealed Il.
gainst the white man. He can make no impres-
sion on that race. His life is not safe for single
hour in the interior Of their counlry-not so with
the man of color. The inhabitants of Liberia
are already regarded by the natives superior
tribe Of their own race and so far the colo.
nists have become known 10 the neighboring
tribes, and those in the interior, strong desire is
manifested TO initiate their habits and mode of
living, and TO undertund the religion taught aud
praclised in the Colony.-These facts show, that
the society, by preparing refuge for the oppfes-
sed African of this country, has already opened a
door sufficiently wide, 10 carry Christianity md
the arts OF civilization throughout that extended
continent; and that they arc multiplying the only
class OF missionaries, who can approach the ma
tive African with the least prospect Of success.
Great events are sometimes brought about by
means apparently inadequate. If history did not
attest the fact, we should be slow TO believe that
the exposure OF the infant Moses in basket of
bnlrushes on the border of the Nile, full of de-
vourlng crocodiles laid the foundation Of the res
cue of three millions Of people from Egyptian
slavery-an event which carried to the promised
land the milton destined by Heaven TO preserve
the religion of the Bible. The exposure and res
cue OF that infant, apparently unmporant when
it took place, did not indicate The great events
which il was designed to accomplish, as clearly us
the formation of the Colony OF Liberia indicates
the emancipation of the continent of Africa.
Viewing the matter in this light, may we not
express surprise, that such an Institution should
meet with opposition from any quarter but espe-
ciay from the friends Of revelation or the ndyo-
Gates of emancipation. We live, however, in a
land Of freedom, where every man thinks for
himself and acts on his own responsibility The
friends and advocates Of our society cannot, as a
matter of right, impeach the motives of those
who withhold their aid or oppose by fair nrgu-
ment. Much less may we ussail them with vitu
peratlon and violence. This is not the course re-
commended by the parent institution. They ad-
wise their friends everywhere to rely on mild and
concillaIory measares-to make their appeals to
reason and correct feeling and rs far as possible
to avoid angry dsputation. The spirit they
breathe and incucate is derived from that divine
code which requires forbearance and kindness Q.
ven TO our enemies. In that spiri, we desire to