The republic., 1851-01-30
with the United States. He estimates the
annual imports from the United States at one
hundred and fifiy thousand dollars. and adds:

with the United States. He estimates the
annual imports from the United States at one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and adds
"Is is worthy of remark, that, ut present. IL is
only from the United States that our merchants
import goods; and further, that the kind Of goods
most suitable for the African trade como from Eu-
rope
= The commerce OF Liberia 10 in its infancy; but
1t advances rapidly. The two principal articles Of
trade TOBACCO and powder; and no country can
compete with the United States in these items.
Provisions, Also will soon find an extensive market
in Liberia; already the natives have commenced
purchasing them, particularly beef pork. and salt
6sh.
81 am not exaggerating when say that the
trade advances At least fifty per cent. annually"
According to statement made out at the
United States Treasury Department, and ap-
pended to Mr.. GURLEY's report, the exports
from this country to the whole west coast Of
Africa have averaged $705,639 annually for
the last six years, and the imports from the
same country have averaged 1886 ,262 The
| exports of Great Britain 10 Western Africa
(excepting the Cape of Good Hope) amounted
in l847 to f5lS,QoO. Some idea may be
| formed from these details Of the field which
will be opened for the commercial enterprise Of
our citizens by increasing e facilities of inter
course with Africa, and extending the system
of colonization.
| With regard TO the climate Of Liberia, Mr..
GuRLEY states that his impressions from expert
ence were much more favorable than those he
had derived from books. The weather, during
the whole time he was on the coast, was not
greatly different from the ordinary summer
| weather of our own southern States No one can
look upon the athletic forms Of the native Afri-
cans and retain the idea that health cannot be
enjoyed on the African coast. The general
| aspect of the people of Liberia is healthy the
dangers Of the climate to colored immigrants
| are becoming less and less formidable, and soon
| will, to good decree, be averted, by the culti-
vation of the soil, an appropriate regimen, and
increased medical experience and skill Mr.
GuRLEY has seen large families in Liberia, who,
after residence there of some years, had sui-
fered no invasion from death, and who, doubt
less. found their security in their watchfulness
against excesses in diet and exertion, in the use
of medicine, and in the possession Of ample sup
plies of the necessaries and comforts Of life.
The friends Of our colored people, and of the
republic OF Liberia, cannot be too emphatcally
reminded that to send emgrants with made
quate supplies, to feel all the depression of
want, while exposed to the untried influences
OF the African climate, is an error which must
often prove fatal to human life, and sadly inju-
rious To their great enterprise.
On the subject Of education the people and
ful. Acts have been passed by the legislature
for the establishment and support Of schools;
and, by the aid Of various missionary societies
in the United States, nunISrous excellent semi
naries have for many years been sustained.
Mr.. GURLEY mentions several as deserving of
high praise. OF Mr.. JAMEs's school, at Mon
rovia, which derives support from benevolent
ladies' Of New York city, he declares his opinion
''that it would be an honor and an ornament to
any New England village"
The independence of Liberia has been ac-
knowledged by both England and France; and
between the former and the republic treaty of
peace, friendship, and commerce was ratified on
the first Of August last To our own Govern
| ment and people the Liberians cherish sincere
attachment;Rnd the recognition of their inde-
pendence by the United States is. an object of
their earnest desire. The peculiarities of the
condition Of the African race in this country
they well know, and they have no wish, by any
relations which may be established between
their government and ours, to cause inconveni-
ence or embarrassment. 1t has been suggested
that they might conduct all their public affairs
in this country with the United States, through
some one or more of its citizens, in case our
Government should feel inclined to confide to
citizens of Liberia any business it might wish
transacted in Africa with the authorities of that
republic.
The success of the plan of African coloniza-
tion, as seen in the independent republic of Lii
IBERIA, most conclusvely commends it to national
consideration. 1t has been justly said, that ssthe
great necessity of the world at this moment is
free, civilized and powerful State within the
tropics; necessity felt through every period Of
the worlds history, and now about to be. real
lied. The western coast Of Africa is in every
point Of view the most effective position for
such State to occupy. The black race, Of
which there cannot be much less than $50 ,000,-
600 on earth. is pre-eminently the race needing
such development, and prepared for it; and
the United States are exactly in condition to
found such commonwealth with this race,
and under circumstances the most glorious to
ourselves, the most hopeful TO the world, and
the most beneficial to the blacks..'
Massachusctts Senator for tho short Term.
The telegraph announces that RoBERr RAN
roUL, jr., was chosen as United States Senator
for the short term, by the Senate of Massachu
setts, on Tuesday last. The vote stood as
follows: RANroUL, 81; ;WNrHRoP, 13; PHIL
LIPS, 2; absent, l.; and one vacancy.
This, it must be understood, is for the va
cancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr..