The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-10-10
AFRICAN CIVILIZATION.

Of civilization for share in those blessings il,
confers; the season Of whiting a. length is pass
ed, and the time for action has begun. Ind how
j very remarkable is the character of that action
and how noble the purpose it conlempla,es. New
er in the history Of the world has a similar event
commanded the admiration Of mankind.
j Africa, which has supplied the civilized world
with menlal service, seems at length about TO be
honored as no country has ever been before. The
work OF colonization, wherever il has been con.
ducted heretofore, has always been commenced
with prospect OF strife it has almost invariably
contemplated the subjugaiion Of an aboriginal
race by force of aims, their expulsion, or exInc.
ton. The exceptions have been partial and rare.
Such cause for instance as that OF Penn stands
out in prominent relief upon the page Of colonial
history; but even the philanthropy of Penn was
insufiic ent for its purpose-he could not prevent
the expulsion of the Indians, and the Anglo
Saxon now occupies his place. Colonial history
/ has ever involved an enormous expenditure Of
wealth, health and human life, and, according
to the hes, excuse of human judgment by the
standard Of the times, unayoidably 30.
| The great colonial project Of our day is that
which relates to the continent Of Africa, and in
its details il exhibits most admirable and s,ri-
| king contrast with all that have preceded it,
The coonsts il is proposed to put upon its coasts
are the civilized descendants Of those who were
| snatched from their native soil, in condition of
bnrbarism, and carried into slavery. La restoring
them 10 the land Of their !orefathers, il is not
with arms in their hands to subdue or to expel
the present occupants of the soil. There is no
ph yscal warfare TO institute against an antago-
nism Of blood. On the contrary, the only war
fare 10 be anticipated is that Of mind with mind
an encounter OF civilization with barbaris.n, un-
der the auspices of natural kindred 1t is the
reality of the fable of Valentine and Orson, in
which the former has only to use the stratagem
dictated b, fraterna love, and his bloodless con-
quest s sure. The weapons arc those of civili-
cation and christ iany; and never was there
time when those iDstrumentalitiesc could be more
effectualy employed. Tne industrial arts enjoy
the bene fits Of science in wonderful degree:
agriculture is learning thrift from enlarged iiber-
atty; and commerce possesses the means and
appliances Of steam, by which she measures the
pathways OF the great deep, and times her ocean
trips by the hour.
| il is at this era of the worlds career, and un.
der these auspices, that the American people
have entered upon the great nd glorious pro eet
Of African redemption. A work, whose design
snnctfies the expenditure of every dollar that
can be iudiciouss applied for its promotion. ard
demef DIS the genial sympathies OF every true son
of humanity. To what extent soever tie growth
and success OF the enterprise may contribute to
onr commercial advantages, its claims upon our
cooperation are lneontestabiy genuine. Toe
work is one of which the nature Of the end can
| be understood from the beginning, although is
grandeur perhaps be only teebly conceived.
1t requires in It's earliest stages the confidence,
the cheerful aid, the generous support and lhe
patient expectation OF The civilized world. And
we should be ng2ards, indeed, IL in view OF the
| object To be attained, we would withhold these:
while history would throw up, from the vain rec
ords of the past, her reproaches againsi US. L.,
us but glance of the story of the crusades, and
think upon the vast expenditure of wealth and
life freely .av.sbed in such saperstitious services
for the attainment OF a visionary purpose. For
| three centuries has that stnpendons power in
corporated under the name of the East India
Company, struggled with varying success, and
at the mos, inordinate sacrifice of human lie, Tor
the advancement OF exclusively selfish and sordid
schemes And shall we hesitate to accept an
opportunity, which Providence has opened be-
/ fore us, 10 rescue continent from the dcgrada-
I tion of heathenism, and provide an attractive
and perpetual asylum for that race, helplcssly
depressed in the social economy Of our vexcd and
,ronbied land?
The project, it will be observed, embraces two
results, both ot which are nike benevolent in
| their design. One is 10 effect the redemption Of
| the present tribes of Africa from barbarism, and
to in,raduce them TO the en- 10 ment of civliiza-
ton. The other is 10 induce such flow OF en-
igration on the part Of the free coored people of
America into Africa as will relieve this country
| from the incenvenence and decentralization con-
seauent upon the social dsesteem they every
where experience here. and at the same time
place them in position where neither natural
nor conventional distinctions exist 70 curb the
spirit OF ambition, or to ohstruct the lahors OF
the holdest enterprise. The latter, IT Will be
observed in the order Of events, mus, take prcce-
dence of the former; for while both are conteni-
plated by the advocates of colonization, one is
look ed for as The result of The other. Under the
| present ins,rumentaities aud inducements, the
work OF African Colonization has been Sow and
costly; but the sea son for past effort has been
the first stage Of grand design. which Will
gradually develop means and energies adequate
10 its fulflment. To what extent the proposed
system of steam communication before Congess
may tend to the removal of the colorsd race from
this continent is varously conjectured by differ
eni individuals who have the sumo data upon
which to rest their opinions. Upon this point we
shall take future opportunity to advance some
views Of our own, though it is not to be denied
that the absence Of all precedent leaves OPINION
with no higher character than that OF CONJECTURE
in any case Baltimore Sun.
PARADISE Tosr.-The exact amount for which
Milton sold the copyright OF this great poem is
not known. 1t did not, however, exceed i've
pounds, and in two years afterwards he only 90.
tanned five po ands for the second edition ne had
great difficulty in getting the work licensed y
was singular error in the celebrated Waller say
ing-ssThe old blind sehoolmaster hath puoished
a tedious poem on the fall OF man. II its length
be not considered merit, it has no other.' SO
much for the judgement and literary taste OF that
period.
PoErRY-Ths following little gem we clip
from Domhey:
ssShe died. said Polly, sand was never seen a.
gain, for she was buried in the ground where the
trees grow.''
sThe cold ground" said the child. shuadering
/ again, @g