The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-16


BY the President
WM. S. DEnnicK, Acting Secretary Of State.
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Letter from MeDonogh, tho Millionaire, on
African Colonization.
The following letter, written last summer by the
late John McDonogh, of New Orleans, will be read
with interest at the present time It presents his
| character in a favorable light than any ac-
| counts of him published since his decease:
New OaLEANs, June TO- 1850
DEAN SRi A thousand thanks for your goodness
! in giving me the pleasing information you have
communicated in your letter of the 9th of March
last, in relation to Liberia, and her prospects in
general and 10 the people who, IN the providence Of
God, had some little fundamentally in assisting
| to reach their ihthcrland, in particular. If have
not acknowledged the receipt Of your highly -es-
| eeIned favor at moro early day, (for ii reached
me III due course OF mail, twas because was in
capacitated by sickness from addressing you.
| have had lately an attack OF rheumatism, from
which, indeed, am suffering at this moment. For
| the last twelve months, however. have not
Ijoyed my accustomed feelings of health, having
been i'll at my ease, without being sick imputed
it TO the closing of the SEVENTEEN year of my age
Generally critical period Of mans litc)
Whether that WAS the cause or not ! cannot say;
at any rate, with you sir am assured IN advance
| that 1t will be accepted as a sufficient apology in
not having sooner addressed you.
heard OF your departure for Africa, and your
return TO your native land, with feelings of great
satisfaction and joy, knowing that the grand OBJ
iect of your existence earth (like your proto
type, st. Paui) was the honor of God, and, conse
Guently, the benefit and salvation Of your fellow
| men; and that wherever you moved his honor and
glory would be promoted by you.
| Your opinion Of Liberia and her prospects filled
my heart with Joy; and agree fully with you, sir,
that the scheme of African colonization Is one OF
vast beneficence, merting the earnest and liberal
support of the American peoples" and that Liberia
will az you Observe attract to her bosom a large
I of nj a mr.
try. She must also receive III time, and that time
is not far distant, the slave population Of the South,
manumitted and sent to their fatherland by their
owners. God, in his mercy, ID preparing the
means and the way. few years more and white
labor in our country (from the natural well as
foreign increase OF our popuiation) will be cheap
az it is now in France and Italy. Whenever that
is the case (and 1t has been going down lower and
lower for many years past,) the STAKEHOLDER will
not retain his slaves-will not agree to keep and
support them, bat will drive them away, white
labor will then cost less than it would require TO
feed clothe and lodge his slaves, besides being in
other respects more profitable.
The account you gave me, cir of the moral and
religious character OF those people whom assisted
to get to Liberia, and of their happiness and pros
perty there, Affords me great joy. My fret great
object in assisting them to reach that country was
the honor Of our Lord and Master. To that end !
strove to instruct and prepare them through long
series of years, day and night, and had them in
structed in the knowledge OF Him and bis righteous
law. To know then, sir, that they are laboring in
His divine with holy and pious ZEAL fills my
soul with delight and thankfulness to Him, the
glorious author OF all.
Can you inform me- sir, how and why il is that
the missionary societies of our country look with
apathy coldEes Of may cay SOY on the vast
field of labor which Is white for the reapng, hea-
then Africa, and send nohelpng hand, no laborers,
to the harvest Why, sir, are they not engaged in
educating and preparing hundrsds, aud thousa ads
even, Gf po.sibe,) Of pious black and colorod men
for the ministry for the African held seeing that the
IA al Ia vi
rics established for that purpose where the black
and coored man could be educated for the minis
try, aud supported free of expense, and advertise
mcnt thereof nude, ! doubt not hundreds would
rcspond 10 the call. in cause the most glorious Of
earth.
will the Government Of the United States do
nothing in the way Of an appropriation Of money
say half million of dollars annually, during ten
black and colcrod population Of The United States
TO their iatherlsut; The time should think IA.
vornble one for pressing the subject on the at.cn-
ton of Congress, more especially a. that great,
yirtuous, and good man, General Taylor, (who,
without any information or knowledge Of his opin-
ions views on the subject, doubt not, Is iayOra
bly, disposed towards itfor bis heart s the seat OF
every NOBLE every benevolent ahcction,) is in the
Presidency What subject ia thore, sir, after that
Of the Union, which interests the American people
more than this3 A special message on that subject
to Congress, from tho President, recommending,
at the same time, the lndt pcndence Of the Lbernn
republic, and the forming commercial treaty
with her, would, have no doubt. be sccedcd 10 by
that body, and law passed in conformity.
| perceive, sir, in your interesting addresses,
delivered before the Now York State COLONIZATION
Society lately, and before the American Colonial
ton Society, on The 10Th OF January last, in Wash
ingtOn, that you advocate, a. form Of govern
ment best suited Liberia, that Of consolidn ed
republic, in preference 10 Federal one union
OF States. You will excuse me, sir, If mention
this-it is not done 10 express opinion, bat
merely 20 express my iesrs. The object Of you
a II - -.
pority of that people. You have reflected on tho
subject, and studied tho people, their position and
situation; have not. But, as you Observe, sir,
she IL destined 10 become a powerful nation, and
20 extend her sway over q great portion Of that
continent. In her present state Of weakness and
for length Of time 20 come, no doubt tho mosi
simple Grm for her would be consolidation; but in
time, when her limits will DO greatly extended by
annexation, and her population increased by mil
Ions and tens Of millions, (fOr ambition free the
breast Of the black Il does that Of the white
would il not be found necessary, 10 satisfy her
bilious men. 60 have other high posts Of honor
such ns we possess in different State govern
meats OF governors, lieutenant governors, State
senators, representatives, would not their con
solidatod government be driven 20 the alternative
Of keeping Up large standing armies with all their
certain and inevitable dangers,
! have been taught 90 believe that tho safety and
pcrpctuity Of our glorious republic depend (under
God) upon our federal systcn, the honors Of our
State governments acting a. escape pipes for the
high steam Of our ambitious men 70 90 by and
evAporatc, without ondangering the body polite
You. sir, who have studied man ~ he ia, and re
iecied much and deeply on the subject, do you he
lieve that our happy republic would have descend
Ell from our revolution 70 the present day under n
/ consolidated form. without shocks, attempts nj
revolution, or "a large standing army,
VITA every wish for your health and happiness
and that Of your family, am, sir, with great re-
| spect, your friend and obedient servant,
JOHN McDONOGH
To the Rev. r. r. GuELrY.
CorrEE.-A commercial letter from Havana, Of
the 2glh ult, published in the Charleston NstrS