The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-21

candor which from such quarter deserves ac-
acknowledgement. We copy some points from
its article:
Whatever wrongs American slavery may have
lnnicted on the African race, it may be doubted
whether it has degraded them below their original
condition; or whether after all they have suffered,
they be not more intelligent, more industrious and
equally as virtuous as when our forefathers stole
them from their native shores. The African is in
fact enslaved in his own country and by his own
race; and nothing but superior Intelligence can
rescue him from his original bar ba rism There is
now In operation an enterprise that promises to
achieVe the social elevation of the African on
their native soil The establishment of a negro
Republic in Liberia which affords congenial asy-
luIn 10 the Tree negroes OF this continent, deserves
10 be ranked among the most important enterprises
OF the age. sound and healthy nucleus of a vast
emigration from North America has been formed;
and the American Colonization Society ia destined
to direct from these shores a continued stream OF
emigration that will carry to the shores of Africa
the civilization Of America. The descendants of
those who in times past were stolen into slavery
return as the missionaries of u new civilization
The returned African, on his native soil, be-
comes not only nominal but real freeman
There he hnds no superior to insist upon his
degradation; no antipathy to repulse him; no So
cial etiquette Perpeually to gall him with sense
OF his inferiority.
Gar from uniInportant as this question ia to the
whole of North America, it has for Canada an in
terest perhaps more weighty than for any other
portion of the continent. Since the Northern
States OF the Union, under the operation of the Fu
gltlve Slave law, have ceased to afford a safe asy-
lum for lugitives from slavery, Canada has become
the sole immediate suberfuge for class that at
one time distributed themselves the whole ex-
tent OF the free States. Some ten thousand fupi.
tVes are stated to have taken refuge on this soil
since that law went into operation. Whether we
regard the movement in a social, POLITICAL or eco
nomcal sense, it is impossible not to look upon
this Eruption evil; and although philan-
thropy may welcome and benevolence may assist
the successful fugitive who has eluded his pur-
suers, reason tells us that the element thus added
to our population is by means of the most de
sirable kind. To refuse them asylum would
be an act of prescription arbitrary, cruel,
and indefensibe. But it is quite another thing
to go out of our way to encourage negro immi
grafton to this province; to attempt to make il
focus OF negro colonization, not merely for those
who are in danger of being recaptured and
conveyed back to slavery, but also for the negroes
of the North who were born free. If this mistaken
benevolence meet with general indul gence, future
generations may have cause to regret the social
effects it must inevitably produce. Ham,
ilton contemporary adduces evidence of the deplo-
rable additions TO the criminal calendar of Upper
Canada, induced by the influx of unusual numbers
OF those persons into this province. The western
Journals not unlrcquently contain similar state
ment, and of the occupants of the Toronto Jail,
short time ago, large proportion was of that
class The victims of slavery entitled to every
commiser alton, and those benevolent persons who
feel 1t their duty TO direct the destiny of these un
fortunate beings should at least direct them to q
country for which the most intelligent of that race
have expressed a preference over every other as a
place OF settlement If they must help the African
and they will find plenty of scope for the broadest
philanthropy in doing so-let them do the best
thing for him and for all concerned; direct him to
the country which OF all others is best adapted to
his constitution and his necessities, and where
alone he cam in every of the word, be tho
roughly freeman