The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-21
oorhmissee, that II IL highly Important to prevent
Ae further Anticipating Of the American cont.

oohmittee, that II II highly Important to prevent
the further Anticipating Of the American cont'
nents",s W.
All agree that this desirable object can be accom-
p'ished only by the entire Annihaton of the slave
F3fade sNd the experiences of more than half cen.
| tpry has demonstrated that the measures upon
which main reliance has been placed to attain this
! object have proved utterly abortive.
An experience for much brieter period has,
however, shown conclusivey that by the establish
ment of colonies of free blacks the western coast
| OF Africa, more potent influence has been and
may be exercised than by any other means yet de-
vised. The committee employ the following Lam
guage. They "beg leave to present some inter
esting facts which satisfy them that the territory
/ Of Liberia is cminenty adapted TO colored emf
grants from the United States; that the establish
ment Of this line of steamships by the Government
| will be powerful stimulus to the Of coloni-
zation, and will be the of securing the emf
grafton of great numbers Of free blacks; that the
slave trade will be substituted by peaceful egi-
l mate and valuable commerce, opening new sources
| Of enterprise and wealth to our people, and that
l the civilization and chrisanization Of the whole
continent of Africa may be expected eventually to
| follow"
| This summary is fully established by the numcr-
| Gus authentic facts which the report contains,
COLLECTED chiefly from the publications of the Co.
ionization Society and which will be found repete
with interest to all to whom the subject is not al
ready familiar. f'M
Independently of these considerations, which adj
dress themselves powerfully to the phianthro-
pst, the christian, and the patriot, other views
have been presented by the committee, which we
can at present but briefly notice.
"Thc proposition" say the committee, "involves
an extension of that system recently commenced
by Congress, which has for its object the creation
Of a powerful steam navy, to be used in time of
peace in carrying the mails, and in effectng great
public objects not to be attained by private en-
terprise without the aid of Congress. Z"
The report then proceeds to state what has been
done by the United States, Great Britain, and
France, to give efficiency and strength to this i'm
portant arm of the national power. 1t points out
the increased necessity for large extension of
steam navy, from the acquisition of territory the
shores of the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico, and de-
duces from our own position, and comparison of
our present public force with that Of other coun-
tries, powerful argument in favor of the proposed
PLAN
A view of this matter has long since occurred to
our minds, which we would respectfully suggest to
the consider alton of the honorable chairman of the
committee. The aspect of the times has imposed
upon the great powers Of Christendom the real
or supposed necessity of keeping on foot u great
military force prepared to meet any exigencies
which may arise. Our position, separated by the
Atlantic from any of these powers, renders in q
measure inaccessible to land force. The same cir
cumstance, however, lays open TO attack by
sea. With vast an extent of coast on the Allan
tic, Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific, with foreign
and coast commerce already of vast extent, and
al
to resist attack, to assai enemies, seem
indispensable The settled inclinations and policy
of the country forbid the expectation that the
ton will submit to the enormous expense in
cident to the keeping on foot large military or
naval force. Still, it would be incompatible with
our interest or our honor to be wholly unprcparcd
for the occurrence Of war.
Experience has demonstrated that, with compar-
atively small regular army, to constitute
cleus on any sudden emergency, volunteers, adm-
rably othcered and organized, may be procured
adequate 10 any wants of the Country. No such de-
pendence, however, be placed upon similar adj
ditions TO naval strength-yessels adapted to
war purposes cannot, sudden, be built, equip
ped, and manned. We will not keep up in time of
peace war establishment, yet the necessity may
arise for having the sudden a strong naval
force.
VIC CoHicos our IiiiOiilty 10 perceive any pFaCt-
cal mode Of accomplishing what is required, other
than that recommended by the committee. Vessels
constructed for war purposes ready at brief no.
tce to be taken into the service, with number OF
officers trained 10 their management are thus pro-
yidcs Until the necessity arises or is to ap
proach, these vesscs, originally constructed under
the supervision Of the Govern sent, having on
board five officers of the navy-providcd with COM
petent engineers, are to be employed for purposes
purely pacific the transportation of voluntary emf
grants to Africa the carrying the mais to Liberia,
and TO various ports in the Mediterranean and TO
London, and to be engaged in the valuable com
merce which these different places offer to citi
zens. Within few days four weasel. have arrived
in the United States from Africa with rich cargocs
and the present trade of Great Britain with that
region is already estimated at $4,000 900, exceed
ing S25, 900 900, and this must annually and rap
idly increase.
We would further suggest whether the law as
proposed may not be modified to provide that
in any case in which the Government, in anticpa-
lion of hosties, may take these vessels into their
employ tho power should not be retained Of re-
turning them to tho company when the emergency
has terminated, and continuing the contract with
out further legislation Itstrkes that this would
conduce equally to the interests of the private pro-
prictors and the Government.
We cannot conclude this brief notice of the docu-
mcnt in question without word upon the valuable
and interesting collection Of documents, added as
an appendix, compiled by the able, intelligent, and
most worthy Matthew st. Clair Clarke, one OF the
earliest and most eff ciont friends of the OF
colonization-embracing opinions of some of our
most distinguished statesmen, and the proceedings
Of many Of the State Legislatures expressing their
hearty appreciation Of, and cordial concurrence in,
this great object From one extremity Of the Union
to the other, from Maine and Massachusetts, to
Louisiana, Marshall and Webster Randolph and
Clay, and multitude Of othcrs-and in this
nesion we may introduce the nano Of Charles Fen
ton Mercer. whose unwearicd Efforts have been omit
ted in this document-al have united in this great
enterprise.
We cannot more appropriately conclude this
article than with extract from the speech Of
Mr.. Webster, delivered IN tho Senate March y,
1850 "lf any gentleman from the South shall pro-
pose scheme of colonization TO DC carried on by
this Government upon a large SCALE for the trans-
portation Of FREQ oolorod people to any colony or
any place in the world, should be quite disposed
TO incur almost any degree of exDense To accom-