The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-02

I H E R E ? u B Lie.
From the Boston Post.

the Western Coast of Africa, and thence, via the
| Mediterranean, TO London designed TO promote
the Emigration of Free Persons Of Color from the
United States TO Liberia; also, TO increase the
Steam Navy, and TO extend the Commerce of the
| United States; with an Appendix added by the
American Colonization Society"-is the title of a
| good-szed pamphlet to which attention has
been attracted The objects, set forth in the
port, present themselves to the mind with peculiar
interest, in these times when practical effort
for the settlement Of the slave question shines With
marked brilliancy in a surrounding crowd of wild
distractions. When the great interests of ocean
steam navigation are fast developing powers
and new results TO civilized man, and when ma
tlons are beginning to learn the benefits of rapid
communica tion and "close communion" any
scheme which is devoted, either primarily or Sc
eondarily, to the advancement of mans moral CON
dition, has strong claims upon the support of the
community and deserves that sort of success which
! appeals to business men a profitable operation
one Of whose elements is selfsuppor.
! II IA hardly necessary to enlarge upon the bene-
hts TO arise to all parties concerned from coloni
zation of the western coast of Africa by means of
free African races who have been subjected to
civilization. The natural of the country
invite The industry and sagacity of the inhabitants
TO the development OF immense wealth, the climate
offers the negro those influences under which alone
he reaches his highest powers, and the vast uncul
uvatcd territories present practical mode Of set
ting those difficulties which distract us
ton, by receiving the objects of our contention,
and supporting them our allies and colonsts
beyond tho The growth of Liberia from its
earliest settlement has been object of the great
est interest to every philanthropist and while it
has been looked upon as containing the germ of a
strong and cultivated colony on the coast, whic h
should receive the fruits of emancipation, it has
also been recognised the spot from whence in
| fuences for the suppression Of the slave trade
| should spring, more powerful than the combined
! fleets Of other nations blockading every bay and
Dor. The devotion, therefore, of substantial
line of steamships to the growth of this colony be-
| comes at once matter of interest in phian-
| thrODlC DOlut of nd when learn from
this report that even in the commencement, while
but two ships are finished and ready for sea- from
5000 to IL 900 emigrants may be carried annually
from the United States, the lmpossbiity of trans
portation which has always elogged the steps OF
Ecolonzationists seems to be entirely removed.
In order to provide for any anticipated amount of
emigration and business, cit is proposed to make
| the line consist of three ships, which shall make
monthly trips TO Liberia, touching their return
at certain points in Spain, Portugal, France, and
England. thus: one ship viii leave New York every
three months, touching at Savannah for freight and
mails; will leave Baltimore every three months,
touching Norfolk and Charleston, for passen
freight, ana mails; and one will leave New Orleans
every three months with liberty to touch at any of
the West India Islands. They will proceed direct
ly 10 Liberia, with liberty to touch at any of the
islands ports of the coast of Africa; thence to
Gibraltar, carrying the Mediterranean mails
thence TO Cidiz, or some other port Of Spain, to be
designated by Government; thence TO Lisbon thence
TO Brest, other port of France to be desig-
mated as above; and thence to London, bringing
mails from all those points to the United Statcs."
Decning it unnecessary to urge the claims o.
this enterprise more fully the ground Of its phi
anthropic capabiities-ln matter which has beer
presented in all its forms the mind and 10 th,
heart for the last thirty years-we wish to exam
inc the commercial business II will meet with, anC
will undoubtedly increase and dcvelopc The al
most unexplored wealth of Africa, consisting u
gold duet, dye woods, ivory tropical fruits indigo
and spices, IN the region of Liberia, and af wool
skins, &c, along the coast to the Cape, may thus
be brought into easy possession of the consuming
markets of Europe and America, under whose
stimulating care the resources of the country and
the industry of the inhabitants may be almost in
definitely increased. That wealth and commercial
prosperity which are alone the foundation of all
ourishing colonies, thus afforded this section Of the
earth, will inevitably BRING it into valuable posi-
tion n nation. Not that three steamers TO do
ths-but they are to open the way, and point the
result.
But il is not our communication with the coast
OF Africa alone that Is to be benefited by this line
of steamers. The trade Of the Mediterranean yea
! y increasing in value and importance, is thus to
| be brought under the influence of steam. Entering
the Straits Of Gibraltar the line offers an oppor.
tunity for American enterprise to connect with it
fast and commodious boats, fitted TO take the cir
cult from Mar.clles TO Constantnople and Smyrna
and along the African coast again to Gibraltar
] Travellers who have suffered in the French, Eng
sh, and Sandman boats this sca the torInents
of crowded accommodations, and the imposition OF
e1orbitant rates of fare will appreciate the prospect
| of transfer Of those steamboat comforts 10 be
found our and lakes, TO the classic waters of
| the Mediterranean The tuisome and uncertain
navigation from tho Adriatic and the Turkish
shores 10 the Straits, la which the pcrshable car
goes obtained in these regions subjected great
depreciation may be made sure TO day 20 the cal
culAting mere chant.
The value Of ihis trade should not be overlooked.
! The American and foreign tonnage employed be-
tween this and the United States during the
ast year, entering and clearing, goo 703 tons.
The exports from the United States TO this region
amounted 20 SO 9s3, col, and near ne can be as.
cettaincd, the imports TO S5,077,ll0 The equal
zing despatch Of steam navigation applied to this
trade must necessarily increase ilsyauc TO US and
! create new stimulus for its growth there. The
benefit to be derived from immediate connc,ion
with this trade hardly be over. estimated; and
| where our steamers go, there go national i'm
huences. That line which carries free coonists tc
Liberia may well connect with another which
bears TO the Italian shores the citizens of a firm
and enlightened republic, such neither sncen,
nor modern Europe has called her own.
American thought and action applied TO the coil OF
Greece, American keels ploughing the Icllcspont
may revive brighter days than Athens or Sparta
| ever saw, or Phocion ever dreamed or And the
scholar- what will he cay when be can steam from
! New York to Cyita Nccchis, almost as rapidly as
/ he can now go TO New Orleans and st. Louis2
Respect for our position nation demands that
we should avail ourselves of all the means in our
power to send our enterprise into every sea- and
pautit on every shore. That class Of ships Which
affords st means Of business and defence, car.
rics more powerful security TO our national honor
than can be furnished in any other way large
class OF steamships, devoted 10 business in peace,
and ready TO receive armament for the protcc-
ton Of that business in time Of war, has strong
claims upon the patronage Of our Government. Al
present, our navy, with all the historical glory
! which gathers around it, presents meagrc sta
tisical table when compared with those uf other
countries In the report Of Mr.. Secretary Bancroft
made TO the Senate the I'd March, lSi6, the total
effective steam navy Of Great Britain was stated at
that time TO consist of hundred aud ninety nine
vessels OF all classes; that of France numbered
fifty four that Of Russia, without the Caspian fleet
/ thirty while the steam navy Of the United
States could boast Of but sx small vessels and one
in process Of building; and of these, one for
barbor defence and another stcamtug.
/ Since that time, however, Congress has provided
Tor the building Of four ar-steamers and for the
establishment OF fsevers lines Of steamships ged
In carrying the mails, consisting of seventeen
large vcssels suitable for purposes, and all
tunes liable to be taken for the public service. OF
| these latter, nine will run between New York and
European ports, five between New York and Cha
gres, and three between Panama and San Fran
| cisco.
! This increase, taken from tho pages OF tho re-
port, although crcditable TO the lbersty and fore
/ sight of Congress. is by no means commemorate
/ with the growth in naval architecture of other