The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-07
From the Cincinnati Dailu Times.

LIBERIA-CoLoNizArIoN FUGiTYR-sLAvE
LAw-DIssoLUTIoN OF THE UNIoN-THE SLAVE
TRADE, &c.--lt is as fatal to usefulness in one q
own day and generation, to be too wise as it is to
be ignorant, to be too far in advance Of public
sentiment as to be behind it. To influence man.
kind, the sympathies of the reformer must mingle
with those to be reformrd Both the intellectual
and the moral must somewhat accord In re-
forms, too, sufficient scope is seldom allowed to
the vision, to permit embrace of all the ec
ments, to see their true relation, and their adapa
ton to existing circumstances, to established in
terests.
The destruction of the slave trade, colonial
ton, the abolition Of slavery in the United States,
the political and commercial interests Of our popu-
aton, the extent and depth of religious and moral
sentiment, are all inseperahly connected No one
idea on the subject be sufficient; abstract right
and relative right must both be considered, in esti-
mating the ways and means to abolish slavery with
out destructive injury. Man s moral obligations,
his free will, his intelligence, &C., must all be
taken into consideration. The operation is partly
mental and partly physical.
Virtue and intelligence essential TO good
sefgovernment Where they do not exist the
sceptre is given to him, who, comparatively, has
them, to be exercised over the one with whom
they are not, and he shall be subject thereto
There are grades of virtue and intelligence from
the very lowest up to the highest, even the Great
Am--tbe lowest always being subject to the
higher, when they come into contact.
This is true of Individuals and races, as well as
of nations, and under it the negro has been sub
jected to the white. Of the injustice the inhuman-
y Of the slave trade and slavery, there can be no
two opinions, as an abstract proposition; yet re-
suits show elevation of the subjected race by
the very punishment, or effect Of vice and igno
rance. The cycle, from the most degraded depths
of barbarsm and idolatry to an enlightened Christ
ian civilization, must embrace many generations,
and be marked with much individual suffering,
while all the time good is being evolved We
doubt whether the progress" of any other peo-
pie to selfgovernment has been through less tr-
bulation than the negro race, though of different
kind; yet they alone are objects Of pity. Purifca-
ton and elevation are the effects, sooner later,
of adversely and the embellishments of Heaven.
The greatest slave-dealers in the world are the
negro princes themselves. They 60 to war to get
slaves, and their cupidlty is only stimulated by
others. The colonization scheme, cooperating
with the blockade of the naval powers, seems to
be the only means to putt end to the trafiic-and
the gradual elevation Of the here, as present,
by stopping fresh importations, will add to the
regenerating force in Liberia.
The present condition of the colored republic
is briefly set forth in the following extract, and
shows a growing prosperity in fact and objects
that is quite cheering:
The barge Edgar, which sailed from New York
for Liberia, with company Of emigrants, in the
early part Of October last, has returned, bringing
the latest intelligence 9th January, 1851 from the
young republic.
BY this arrival, we learn that the emigrants by
the Liberia packet of July last, were doing well,
and that general prosperity prevailed through
out the republic The authorities sof Liberia
had succeeded in restoring tranquility among
The adjoining native tribes, who were lately at
war; so that the Liberians themselves are not at
peace with the aborigines. but they have been
instrumental in spreading the blessings of peace
throughout considerable part of benighted AT
RIGA, among tribes who, previously to the estab-
lishment of the colony, were almost always at
war.
The late difficulties were among the tribes occu-
plying territory which was brought into the juris
dIctIon of the government of Liberia during the
last year, part Of which territory il occupied by
tribes who have long been extensively engaged
in the slave trade, and, as consequence, have
seldom been at peace with the ncighborlng tribes,
but who, having sold their territory to the govern
ment of Liberia, and having by solemn compact
placed themselves under the authority and laws
Of that government, have been brought TO feel the
weight Of influence which was not formerly
recognlzed--the influence ofmoral suason backed
by the legal enactments of government of civil
lied and Christian people; one of the fundamental
principles of whose political organization consists
in uncompromising hostility to the slave trade,
and who have succeeded in extermiDatlng the hor-
rid traffic from every part of their territory.
During the past year considerable additions
have been made, by purchase, to the territory of
the Republic, which now excites political Jursdic-
ton over all the territory about ten
miles Of sea-coast---from the mouth of the Shebar
river to the northern boundary Of the colony Of
/" Maryland in Liberia, which colony extends
its jurisdItIon about hundred miles along the
coast; making the sea board extent Of the two
governments about six hundred miles apart of the
coast Of Africa, which was formerly lined with
slave baracoons, and whence thousands of slaves
were transported TO the western world.
President Roberts writes: 4" We have dis
charged our liabilities to the Chief for the Terri
tories of Grand Cape Mount, Sugaree, Manan
river and Solama. We have yet to meet the pny-
ments for two other tracts, and TO purchase slip
bordering on the Shebar, to close our purchases
on the northwest, which will require about fonr
thousand dollars.
A new settlement has been formed near Grand