The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-23


il. through which the contractors expect to derive
by far the larger portion Of income, its connexion
with the objects OF the Colonization Society must
serve TO link to it the sympathies Of all, save inn
practicable Abolitionists. Virginia, from her early
history TO the present time, has been friendly the
purposes of the Colonization Society. Whilst a
colony, her House of Burgesses enacted laws
against the foreign slave trade. and the Legisla
ture OF the State in December, 1916, few months
before the institution Of the Colonization Society,
adopted a resolution, requesting the Executive to
correspond with the President OF the United States
for the purpose OF obtaining territory The coast
Of africa Tor free persons of color Any plan which,
with any thing like probability of success ID pro-
posed TO remove the evil of her free colored popula-
ton, or even TO diminish it, has received the
careful attention OF her people. very interesting
| statement of the action of Virginia, and some of
her most distinguished sons, is to be found in the
appendix TO MIR. Stantons report. She has recent
ly shown her interest in this matter, by her late
generous annual appropriation in aid of the ColaI
nizaton Society.
| Whatever incidental aid can be rendered by the
General Government, acting within the scope OF
It's acknowledged powers 10 the objects of this
| ciety, should be cordially given. The cause Of
colonization is no longer mere chimera; many of
the prejudices formerly entertained against il have
disappeared. The only opposition OF any violence
it meets with is from the rancor of Abolition
lists. The practicability of the colonization of free
negroes on the coast OF Africa may now be consid
| cred 90 fixed fact" States associations and
individuals are lending il succor Seven thousand
have already cmigrated to Liberia, and eighty
| thousand natives have become citizens of the re-
public. Treaty stipulations have been made by
her with tribes, numbering 100000. for the sup
preston OF the slave trade, and she is gradually
extending her laws and institutions from the Brit
ish colony to the gold coast. Infant colonies in
every age of the world have had great diic ulties
to encounter. In l6lS, the eleventh year of the
settlement of Virginia, the colony only numbered
six hundred souls. When Sir Walter Raleigh in
1890 sent out his relief to his second large exped
ton of 1887. "not a vestigo of them to be
| found'' Where ID parallel to the growth and
prosperity OF Liberia? Docs not her history,
In its trials and reverses, give to the most doubt
ing the assurance that hereafter there will be in
western Africa mighty republic with laws
| and language, commanding the respect and conf
dence Of the world
Is it not glorious destiny for us, to give back
| the light which Europe once borrowed from Africa,
and to make American commerce the handmade to
spread liberty and learning on the now darkened
commercial connexions with the world, her hsto-
ry heretofore and the facts stated by Mr.. Stanton
| sufficiently prove. A magnificent opportunity,
| consccrated too by most peculiar reasons, is now
offered to US, to the effective agency of steam
in developing her vast resources. Africa is des-
olate, frlghtfu, desert waste with all her interior
one vast blank, as our old maps seem to indicate.
If 1t has its Sahara it has its extensive forests its
noble streams, and its abundant tropical produc-
tons. Mr.. Ashman, long ago, wrote this: "The
whole country between Cape Mount and Trade
Town is rich in soil and other natural advantages,
| and capable of sustaining numerous and civil
| lied population, beyond almost any other country
on earth. Leaving the seaboard the traveller eve
rywhere, at the distance of few miles, enters
upon uniform upland country, of moderate
elevation, intersccted by innumcrable rivulets,
Astounding IN springs OF unfailing water and COW
cred with verdure which knows no other changes
except those which refresh and renew its beauties
The country directly on the sea, although verdant
and fruitful to a high degree is found everywhere
to yield, In both respects, to the INTERIOR The
gentlemen who have offered this proposition to the
government must be well satisfied az TO the profits
TO be derived from commercial intercourse with
Africa, or they would never have left wide a
margin for their commercial business to fill up.
BY the present proposed arran cement, the Govern
ment Tor the sum of : $3.50 900 per annum, about
one half the cost of building a single steamer or
ganzes and efficiently establishes this commercial
arrangement-has its mails carried to Africa and
southern Europe, furnishes direct swift commu-
nication TO those and all intermediate points, and
while thus cultivatIng the arts OF peace has, in the
event OF war, three first class steamers put
Immediately, and almost in fighting trim, into its
service.
Moreover, the Government, by the force of trea-
ties Is required to keep certain naval force the
African coast for the purpose of REFRESHING the
slave trade What is the actual expense attending
this arrangement, we are not informed. At pres
ent, only know it is the burial place of our gall
liant officers and brave crews-a sort of briny Col
gotha-a station, perhaps where Providence never
intended son OF Japhet should be kept on any
duty for any length OF time, but where the negro,
especially if from south OF Mason md Dixon Is line,
could live, and would live WELL With reference
To the North Carolina emigrants TO Liberia Mr.
AshTnan says, 'al the change thew have under
gone seems to be less a disease than sataru effort
OF nature TO accommodate the physical system of
its subjects 70 the influence of the tropical climate"
Moreover, IT has been fully ascertained that for all
ofectual purposes OF depressing the slave trade the
African squadrons approach huinbug! In ls47
81, 1856 persons exported from Africa to Cuba
and Brazil! At present, it seems that human be-
ngs form the most considerable item Of commerce,
Mr. stanton's bill, an effect, substitutes for this item
certain other articles, the trade in which is
near akin to piracy il proposes to foster Liberia,
50 that her commercial arms will clasp the whole
coast in a sort of Christan-like and civilized en-
brace-its tendency will be TO chow the "natves''
that there other profitable means of gain besides
deporting human bcings-its effect will be, that
commerce will escort, she always does civiliza-
ton and religion, where robbery and slaughter re-
velea.
Africa has peculiar claims upon Christendom-
almost every nation has pariaken directly or indi-
rectly in this traffic A noble opportunity is now
offered 10 make atonement TO Africa by MAX
ing the descendants of her children the in
strunents of civilization and redemption.
ton may slumber for centuries, like Italy, around
the tomb of its dead glory-a people, like the de-
scondants of Pharaoh, may relapse into ba rbarism,
but the instance Is nowhere TO be found of bar
barous people achieving civilization unaided. The
fret light must come from abroad That light is
now streaming from Liberia, penetrating the inte-
rior OF Africa. We can add TO the eflulgcnce by
this timely commercial arran cement. The OK
amples of bcnevoence and justice, shown by tho
coonjss, will strike favoraby the attention Of the
natves-children will be adopted into the schools
ana a Dcnehcent commerce Will Drlng INTO proper
play faculties which heretofore have only been cx-
erciscd in brutal violence.
This plan also commcnds itself TO the people Of
this country, in consequence of the increased ia
cilities offered by it for the removal Of free
groes. II lie believed that each steamer will dcport
500 each trip. This will serve TO smu late the
friends of colonization TO increased activity, and
the example of Virginia will be followed by sister
States. population socially degraded hcre-a
class now afiording the material of our jails and
penitcnta ries-wl have their proper commission.
The curse of tho slave trade will be turned into
blessing; and Ham, having been brought to the
gospel will return with its blessings TO his own
land and race.
DEATH OF Hon JEesE MGLLER.-We regret TO
learn that yesterday, about noon, Hon. Jesse
Miller died at Harrisburg, Of congestion of the
liver. He ate freely Of corn Thursday, took
sick afterwards, and died yesterday. II has not
been our fortune 20 agree with MIR. Miller upon