The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-02-01


and OF civilization. Whodoes not take dee,
interest in that enterprise which, in obedienc,
to the principles of our holy religion, Is sendinc
out Missionaries to convert the heather? An5
who can fail to see that Native Missiona,ie
Will be the most effective for the conversion o
their African brethren, who are of the sam,
blood with themselves, and with whom thev
can completely harmonic in all their interest,"
sympathies and affections? At this momen
there have been four or five thousand colonist,
sent TO Africa, and we have heard that there
are IN the Republic Of Liberia, TWENTY-FIVE
places Of public worship, dedicated to the same
Lord and Savior whom we worship. and that
thousands of the natives are running into the
colonies in order to obtain the benefits of eiu.
cation and knowledge of the arts; and at the
same time, the blessings of Christianity will be
lnstlled into their hearts. This, fellow-citizens
was one OF the great purposes which we had in
view when, thirty-one years ago, we met to-
gether in consultation for the establishment OF
tins Society: and in few years afterward.
when the purchase of suitable territory was
made-now about twenty-five years ago-the
first colonistS were transported from this ma
ton to the shores of that happy countryside
country Of the black race, the inheritance of 4
long line of their ancestors.
| know, felow-citizens; that it was agreed
then and since that time, that there were other
places than Liberia, TO which these Colonists
might be sent with equal advantage; but do
not concur in tbs opinion. Looking at the ex-
penSe alone, Africa is the most inviting place
for we have been told that S5O-is sufficient TO
transport one Of these Colonists and support
him six months after his arrival. Tono other
place could you send an emigrant on such
terms as these; TO no part of the Pacific coast
to Mexico or to Oregon. But Africa was also
the most inviting in another and more impor-
tant point Of view. Would you send your AZ
rlcan enigrant to any other place, you deprive
yourself OF this great moral principle; their har-
monious union with those among whom they
go to reside, mingle and amalgamate. To no
other place can this consideration attach.
BUTT Is said that the purposes of Coloniza-
ton, were they undertaken by the Govern
ment itself, cannot be accomplished; that it is
impossible to transport TO Africs, by such
means, all the free people of color in the Uni
ted States. Why, gentlemen, if am not mis-
taken, there comes yearly into the single port
OF New York an emigration amounting almost
to the annual increase of the population in that
city, and perhaps exceeding the annual in
crease Of all the free people Of color in the u
nited States. And this is done voluntarily.
upon the great motives of all human action.
Thus, the German and the Irish emigrants flock
to our shores annually, with no inconsderable
aid on the part of their Governments and with
no individual aid, in numbers equal perhaps to
the annual increase of all the Africans in the
United States, bond and free These all come
to our country in obedience to one of the laws
OF our nature-in Pursuance TO the great con-
trolling principle of human action and which
enters into all great enterprises, they come
here to better their condition: and hope they
viii better their condition. And so it would
be with all our free people of color. Were
they TO be transported from the United States
to Africa, would not their condition be phvsi-
cally, morally, socially and politically better
and happier than anything which they could
attain or hope for here. 1t is in vain TO hone
to eradicate the feeling which keeps asunder
these two classes 1t Is in vain for the office
of Philosophy or Humanity TO attempt what is
50 utterly impracticable as joining together
those whom God himself, by the difference Of
color and various other distinctions, perhaps,
has declared ought TO be separate. Cheers. I
Then, TO send them TO Africa-not by vio-
lence, not by coercion, not against their will,
but with their own free consent-let me say to
Abolitionists and to those ON the other extreme.
TO all men-why should not the free colored
race residing among Us have the option to 20
Africa or remain in the United States?
| know that 1t Is sometimes alledged that it
is inhuman and cruel to send those blacks to
TO Africa, where the climate is so inhospitable
that death soon takes them. Upon this sub
ject our records bear the most gratifying tes-
timony, to which, if you please, We will now
listen.
The colony of jamestown, in Virginia, after
seventeen years had elapsed, and after 5000
colonists had first come out, and one hundred
and fifty pounds sterling had been expended in
planting that colonv-and at the end of seven
teen years, of these 1000 emigran:s less than
1000 remained; all the rest had fallen VIC
tins, either to the climate, the savageS, or the
circumstances connected with their change of
condition. And if we 70 to that other early
settlement in this conntry-the Plymouth Col
ony-I think history has recorded, if do not
mistake the testimony, that IN less than six
months after their landing, one half was de-
stroyed, Or died from the ravages of disease.
Now, compare these with the history Of Libe-
ria, and what is the result q? In twenty five
years, during which emigrants have been trans
ported from this country TO that colony, the
/ total uedtiS OILY aIuOuti 10 twenty per CtHt.
on the total emigration; showing a mortality in
twenty-five years far less than that which took
place within six months after the settlement at
Plymouth, and far less than that of the Colony
of jamestown for the first seventeen years.
Indeed, the mortality at jamestown in seven
teen years was mere than four times greater
than in Liberia during the twenty five years
of the estimate to which | refer. We have
nothing. then, in the bills Immortality to frigh-
ten US in this experiment, dissuade us from its
prosecution.
But it is said we have yet done but little.
Well, all the great enterprises ofmen have but
small beginnings. The founders of Rome her
sell, if we may credit history in the case, were
sucked by WOLF The colonies of Plymouth
and jamestown, to which have referred, Ian
guished for years after the period to which l
have called your attention, and now, on what
land is there spot, on what sea is there sail
floating, that does not carry the enterprise, the
skill and the courage of our New England
1 H.