Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-01-22
I HE VINADHCATGbEe.
STAUN ON ::
LAGOON NO. V.

:, LAGOON NO. V.
The object Of the AMERICAN COLONIZATION So
clETr is to provide for the removal to Liberia of the
free coloFed population of the United States. All
except the aboionists, agree in opinion that the
object is good-good in relation to those who go
and to US whom they leave-to the black man ant
the white man--to both contnents-to Africa sne
America In no subject perhaps is there greater
r unanlmity ofopinlon. Yet the work goes on slow
1ly. With a nations approval, it fails to secure a
nations energies. Much is done; but not enough
On no subject probably is yon constituency more
united, and the apathy that has so long prevailed is
rapidly giving place to deep feeling conviction, ac-
ton. You can hardly now go before public sent-
ment in bringing legislative action TO bear on the
great and benevolent objects of Colonization Society
Every view of it is awakening. Take it, if YOU
please, as national measure, and as such, consid-
er it in one aspect only--in its influence on the
slave trade. by the Ashburton treaty our govern
ment is pledged to keep naval force of 50 guns on
the African coast to suppress this inhuman traffic
1t cannot De doubted that, if the y. States would
settle their 500, 900 free negroes on the African
Coast, lining Its exposed ocean border from Liberia
to the Cape Colony, through 800 Of latitude, ii
might effect on the whole coast, what Liberia, with
her five SIX thousand people has done through all
her terrtory-he entire extinction Of the slave
trade. But the transportation and settlement on
purchased land Of this halfmillion at the maximum,
would cost only $4,000 600, a capitaton tax of
no. more than dollar and half on our entire pop
ulation. Can we hope to make better specula-
ton in the next haf century than that would be ?
Might not our mountains of gold in California be
well exchanged tor such an eXpurgation?
England alone is estimated to have expended
more than twice that sum in an almost lruitless at
tempt to suppress the slave trade, and for many
years, France and the United States have CO opera
ted with England in maintaining large naval force
on the African coast How easily then, could these
combined powers accomplish through colonization,
what they have fruitlessly attempted by other
means? The work belongs properly to the aror!d
Shall nations combine to preserve ''balance OF
power" to prevent oppression, and shall they not
cooperate to give political birth to nation, 10 re
deem continent?
The whole amount heretofore expended by the
American Colonization Society in the purchase OF
land, sending out emgrants and maintaining the
government of Liberia; in prosecuting this expert
ment, now trumphan,ly completed fails shor, Of a
million Of dollars Take then an amount equal to
that expended by the three great maratime powers,
England France and the United States, and ex-
pend it in judclous and extended plan of Cooni-
cation 10 cooperation with this Society; and all
that has been done for Liberia and her neigh boring
tribes, might be done for Africa, with its hundred
millions of people. England begins tosee this, and
Lord Palmerston has lately placed at the disposal
Of President Roberts, $40 ,OO0-a sum which would
hardly maintain one of her armed ships of the small
est class for year; and the President on the part
OF Liberia. has engaged, for that sum, to purchase
and defend forever against the slave trade. the
whole line Of coast from Cape Mount TO Sierra Lee
one, distance of 200 miles.
Let the christian world, then, come to this work
and it will he done--done with great saving Of
expense now useessly employ ed-and it will be
done at once. The world can supply the means
and the Colonization Society can furnish the plan
and execute it.
Let England alone apply her expenditures in this
way and the work is done. The simple interest
for one year on the whole sum she has already ex
pended would bring revenue greater than all which
Liberia and her incalcuable benefits to Africa have
yet cost.
Let the government of the United States apply
its expenditures through this channel and they will
be made available to their objects twenty fold.
Let Virginia consult her true interest in the ex-
pendtures for her free coored people, and see how
much richer she may be. In the first place, she
will be doing much in the great work of benevo-
euce. She will add to the free coast population OF
Africa. 10000 people. Worthless, and more than
worthless here, we may yet suppose that, under
the new motives of their new position, they
would rise to what others of their race have done
in similar circumstances, to the character of indus
trious and useful citizens. They will constitute a
strong and efficient guard defend the coast where
they are coonised, against the approach Of the
slavers, and exert an influence TO civlse and chris
Itianise the interior tribes. simultaneously with
the benefits extended, Virginia will receive four
fold into her bosom. She will be rid of her en-
tire free colored population and all its present anc
apprehended dangers, with provision that the e.
vii shall not again accrue. She will be rid of two
fths of the crime now punished under her statutes
with all the expense attending the loss of property
to individuals in the acts of crime ITSELF and in the
prosecution of the offenders, in their maintenance
! in the Penentiary, and in sher bad influence on
others, especially on the slave population.
Is not this, then, a work that CAN be done---ihat
OUGHT to be dune-and DONE NOW?