The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-09


tic the oooniss in the first instance comfortably in
their new homes. But there is doubt that ii the
Government establish the proposed line oi 81,
ships, the people OF the different States and the
State Legislatures will at once turn ,acir attention
the subject of colonization, and hot large appro
priations will be voted and liberal collections te
in aid Of that OH ect. The state of Maryland has
already appropriated and laid out s zoo 900 Ia tnis
work, ana the Legislature OF Virginia has lately
appropriated $4,000 per year ior the pur-
pose But these insignificant in com
psrison u what may be expected, il the Govern
nent shall give its high sanction to the coopiza-
ton of Africa, and provide the of ,pocta-
ton by line of steamships. la that evcit the
whole mass OF the people, north and south, wt1 for
the most part do not appreciate the rapid pro gress
and the high capabilities OF Liberia, viii quickly
discover the vast importance of colonization, and
will urge their representatives to adopt measures
adequate to the exigeucy of the case ana the mag
nitude Of the enterprise.
There is good reason to anticipate that important
assistance viii be rendered TO the emigrants not
only by the missionary societies OF Europe, but
| also by those governments which have taken an
interest in the suppression OF the slave trade and
which are desirous Of opening channels fOr their
commerce, and marts for their man nuactures, on
the western coast of Africa.
1t is estimated, that by the tiyne when the first
two chips to be finished and ready for sea,
there will be a large body OF emigrants ready To
take passage in them, and that for the next two
years each ship will take from 900 to 500 pas
sengers each voyage, or from 5000 TO II 900 in
each of those years To furnish each family in
tending To devote themselves to agricultural pur-
suits, with a dwelling house suitably furnished,
aud piece of land Of sufficient extent cleared aud
planted, together with the necessary agricultural
implements and stock of provisions, will, ii is
calculated, cost the society sum equal To $50 OF
$4O per head Tor each emigyant, allowing each
family TO consist of five persons. The cost OF
tablishng families intending to follow trading and
mechanical pursuits, will be somewhat less than
the above estimate for agricultural families; but
the averages cost for the whole of the emgrants
E., af,Ia =
the expenses of ansportation, making a total of
from 100000 to 5000, 200 per annum, for the first
tLrO years.
As the colony increases in population, and the
interior Of the country becomes settled, any num-
Der OF einigrants that may be sent out Will BE-
dily absorbed, as there will be demand for all
kinds OF laborers, mechanics, and domestic ser
wants, and it will be unnecessary to make that pro-
vision for them which Is now Indispensable.
The Colonization Society will, heretofore, so
regulate the emigration to send out only suit
able persons, and keep up due proportion be-
tween the two sexes.
By the compact between the Colonization Society
and the republic, made when the society cedcd its
territory to the republic, ample power is reserved
by the society for the protection of enigrants who
may be sent out by them. Moreover, the authori-
ties invite emigration, and each emigrant receives
donation OF d tract of land.
The establishment of prosperous colonies on the
western coast of Africa WILL doubtless tend great
y. In the course OF time, to the augmentation of
the commerce OF this country. II appears that
British commerce with Africa amounts to no less
than five millions sterling, about S25 900 900
per annum. The belief. is confidently enter
tained in Great Britain that an immense commerce
| may be opened up with that continent, by putting
an end to the slave trade and stimulating the ma
| tives 10 the arts of peace.
The commerce of Africa is certainly capable of
great extension, and il is worthy of obseryation.
that the proposed steamers will open entirely new
| sources of trade.
On this subject, the committee beg leave to sub
| nit the tOllOXiDg he IN,
ture resources Of this vast undoveloped region may
be- TO some extent anticipated.
Palm oil is produced by the nut of the palm tree.
which grows in the grcalest abundance throughout
Western Africa The demand for It, both In Eu-
rope and America, is daily increasing. The aver
age import into Liverpool of palm oil for some year.
past has been ateast 5000 tons valued at 400 900
sterling.
Gold ia found at various points of the coast Il
Ia obtained by the natives by washing the sand
which is brought down by the rivers from the
mountains. An exploration OF the mountains will
probably result in the discovery Of large quantities
OF the metal IL 10 calculated that England has re-
ceived, altogether, $500 100000 Of gold from AZ
rica Liberia is adjacent 70 the ''Gold Cast"
Ivory Is procurabe at all points, and constitutes
an important staple Of commerce.
Coffee, OF quality superior To the best Java o.
Mocha, is raised IN Liberia, and can be cultivated
with great ease u any extent The coffee tree
bears fruit from thirty 10 forty years, and yields an
average Of ten pounds 10 the shrub yearly.
Cam wood and other dye woods are '3uni IN great
quantities in many parts Of the country. About
thirty miles cast OF Bassa Cove Is the commence
meut OF a region Of unknown extent, where scarcely
any tree IA seen eIcCps th, cam wood.
Gums OF different kinds enter largely into coul-
mcrcial transactions
Dyes Of all shades and hues are abundar', ami
they have been proved TO resist both acids and
light.
Pepper, ginger, arrow root, indigo, tamarini.
oranges, lemons, lines, and many other articles
which are brought from tropical countries 10 THE
may be added Co the ist. Indeed, there IL nothing
in tue East or West Indies which may not be pro.
duced IN equal excellence in Western Africa
The soil is amazingly fertile. Two crops Of corn,
sweet potatoes, and several other vegetables can
be raised IN year. IL yields a larger crop than
the best soil in the United States. One acre frch
land well titled, says Governor Ashman, will pro-
duce three hundred dollars worth of indigo Half
an acre may be made to grow half a ton OF arrow
/ root.
Gan immense market may be open for the cI-
change and sale Of the innumcrable products OF the
skill and manufactures Of our people. Afica Is
timated 70 contain one hundred aud sixty millions
| Of inhabitants Liberia enjoys a favorable geo
graphical position. She is projected by the great
! powers OF Europe. The Lib,rians have consttu.
tons adapted to the climate, and siuila rity of
color with the natives. They will penetrate the in
terror with safety, and prosecute their trade in the
bays and ryers Of the coast without suffering from
! the diseases which are 80 fatal to the white man.
Liberia the door Of Africa, and is destined TO de-
velope the agricultural and commercial resource,
Of that continent, besides being the of regcs
] Grating her bcnighted millions"
| The foregoing remarks have related entirely to
the advantages Of the proposed measure Il il poe
siblo some scrupics may be entertained in regard
TO its constituuOnality. This, the committee think.
cannot be reasonably doubted. The Government
has already adopted this mode Of providing pow
eriul steam navy, at the same time giving inciden-
| tai but important encouragement to great COM
| mercia interests. In this instance, the effectusl
suppression of the slave trade and the withdrawal
| of the African squadron by the substitution of a
! number Of mighty steamers regularly plying 70
that coast, afford a motive and Justification which
do not exist in regard TO any one OF the lines al
| ready established.
IL vas the opinion Of MIR Jefferson that the Uni
ted States had power establish colonies for the ire
black. on the Of Africa and he desired it. ex-
ercise Chief Justice Marshall and Mr.. Madison
concurred in this opinion And IL IL TO be observed
that the first purchase in the colony Of Liberia was
made by the Government Of the United State.
The opinions Of the leading jurists of our day do
appear to differ from those of the ~ ct found
srs Of the Constitution, who believed not only that
indirect aid TO the cause Of colonization may 'be
given in accordance with that instrument but that
the Government has power TO establish the colonies
| themselves. The proposition of the committee
does not, by any means, go TO this extent h goes
no further than recently adopted and still cxistlns