Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-08-21
Liberia.

#fst Liberia
4 convention OF free coored persoas was held
during the first week August, at indianapolis, at
which, we learn from partial report of the pro
ceedings. a resolution was adopted by large ma
jori;y, recommending the colorei people, il the
laws Of Indiana should become 50 oppressive as to
he intclcrable, 20 emigrate to Canada, Jamaica,
ar any place in preference to liberia. The feel!
ing among the members Of the Convention was
decidedly in favor of emigration. Canada seeaas
to be preferred because ii is easy OF access; and
the prejudice against LIBERIA seemed 70 be deep
rooted and inera,icable.
In view of thor present coatihor; the sis,n-
gent laws which have been passed against them
III many Of the States; and ii further view Of
what their condition would be ii Canada ana ia
macia, in contrast with VIVA, Liberia offers To
them, this determination of Tie colored people of
Indiana, and the prejudice out Of which il has
grown, are very much 10 be regretted.
What can the colored man hope to heeons in
Canada or Jamacias Can he evpectto rise to the
station or rank of the whites? VIII he have any
greater rights or privileges there, than he now has
under the laws Of Indiana? Masi he not always,
even there, occupy an inferior positions Is not
the Liberty and equality they offer him \ mere
mockery?
On the other hand, Liberia offers him freedom
IN every sense of the worl--social, political aud
personal. No prejudice of color stands in his
way there, to bar his advancement. The high
est Offices in the State are within his reach. He
is IN every respect citi.sa,ard endowed with all
the rights Of citizenship. lie has The opportunity
Of demonstrating to the world whether the negro
raca are capable Of great moral, intellectual aud
social improvement; of becoming manufacturers,
mechanics and sk;ifu. ar,isars. Through his IN
struuaenta6ty, we may even yet see the day, when
Africa viii be restored 10 her ancient grandeur.
That Liberia is capable of becoining one Of tho
most productive agricultural colonies in the world,
all the accounts from that country lead Us to b.
lievc. No better coffee is growa IN the wogld.--
There is no better laaa sor cotton, rice sweet po-
iatoes and all the other vegetable products OF the
Soatl; all these grow luSarioasly aaa a5aadaat'y
in Liberia. II may be in the course o. good
Providence 10 direct that the free colored people
Of Liberia, upon their own fatherland. shall re-
deem the errors Of their race, BY supplying the
world with large portion o. The necessary pro
ducts of the tropics.
But il seems there IS prejudice in the minds
Of the colosed people in the United States against
emigration 10 Liberia. Part OF this no doubt ari-
ses fsom lis distance from this country, and part
from the presumed unhealthiness Of the climate,
We say nothing of wha: we can Only ccajscsure
does exist--a spirit of opposition 10 the wishes
Of that portion of oar people who are aaxioust that
all free coloTed persons should be removed from
the country. We have no ioub;, however, that in
coming 10 the conclusion they did, the conveG-
lion At Indianapolis stood very much in their own
light 1t shoa.d certainly weigh Something in
favor Of Liberia, tina, the free co,ored people Of
that coloay have established Republic, with
constitution framed on the same basis OF that Of
the United States; tina, they have enacted unser-
sal suffrage, and that their officers are all elected
by the pacpl,; that they have lately pessea ,hro'
al exciting Presidential election without unllt
or disorder; that the Republic !, recognized b.
the principal powers Of Eaaoa,, ana has achie.
cd for itself The respect and confidence OF thecr
ilzed world; that its relations, internal and exer
nal, are in peaceful permanent ana prosperous
condition, ana likely TO remain so;-and that all
this has been accomplished b. free negroes, emf
grants from the United States. We have yet TO
learn such favorable accounts OF the condition Of
the co!ored population of Canada and Jamaica, or
that the climate of either country is more fayora-
bic to the Constitution of the black man than that
Of Liberis. The latter is the true home Of the
negro, and the best adapted in every respect for
the Development Of his moral. physical and
intellectual! character. From all that we know
Of Liberia, and from all that we do not know, il
is the country of all others in the world, to which
the free negroes of this country should be aasis-
cd to emiyrate.