The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-27

THE UN.
h.. name and position in the family OF nations Thai
,he people and the institutions OF that country are re-
spected by the great powers OF The EARTH let them under
stand that you have interest IN their commerce let
them see the ships returning from Africa laden with rich
caTxoes OF merchandise OF native production and owner
ship; let them the flag OF their country waving in
your habors side by side with the merchant flags of Eu-
rope In word, give TO the Tree negro ocular demon
straton that money may be made in Liberia that Tor
tunes may be accumulated and that social and public
positions OF honor and profit there al his command,
and we shall that the degraded and sus
picous negro is subject 10 the laws and influences
which govern the white emIgTant The negro not the
only emigant who is moved by sight more than by faith
All the speeches. reports and books that made and
published about the wealth and commercial advantages
OF California produced but little effect upon our people
they wondered and talked. but they did not believes and
was not until some adventurer returned from The mines
and presented to sight and touch the shining ingoh
and the golden sands fresh from the digglngs that our
people reused 10 that spirit OF emigration which has
since sent them In thousands, by sea and by land 10 The
So, sir, it will he with emigration to Africa. II will
move cautiously and slowly until commerce. shall ex,
pose to the eye Of the world the rch mines OF na'l ,s,
neglected continent. When this expose 10 male have
no doubt the free negro will have many white COM
petor in the race OF emigration even to hfnca
In urging this subject upon the consideration OF the
Senate have not been indifferent to the fact that there
are difficulties in the way OF our forming iu interna-
tOnal relations with Liberia. Iney are OI uoucsul
character, applicable alone TO this country, and required
to be treated with decacy and prudence My desire 10
to keep clear OF these difficulties, and have, therefore,
made my resolution one OF inquiry merely leaving !. 70
the Committee on Foreign Relations TO decide the proper
way and manner OF accomplishing the object
My desire is to obtain simple recognition oil Inc ma
tonay OF Liberia. preparatory 10 forming commercial
relations with that government reservng the more del
cae question OF diplomatic relations to the future aGnon
of the Executive under the advice OF The Senate When
under what circumstances, and in what form, this gov
lanar ipto
whether shall send representative there or receive
from her here, is not necessarily involved IN the ac
know edgment OF her independence.
That question have no desire to obtrude upon tne
Senate, and which. whenever presented, should De
treated with reference to our peculiar domestic instu
tons. and disposed of in such manner as would be least
offensive the feelings and habits OF the people OF ms
country. -,
The acknowledgment of independence may be made by
Congress- and have precedent TO show that IS the
duty OF Congress take the fret step in cases OF this
kind refer TO the of Texas. You will recollect
that for time after the existence oil that government
de acto the President General jackson, on account OF
frerdlv relations with Span hesltaed to form dplo
matte relations with Texas,
In the mean time Congress took up the subject OF the
recognition OF her independence and IN 1886 passed Teso
uiions in both houses acknowledging the independence
OF that young republic.
But, sir whatever difficulties the fears of gentlemen
may suggest upon this point can assure them that Ii
IBERIA will oblrude herself oicously upon this gov
eminent. She knows too well how much forbearance
and prudence required by her friends here TO over
vancemsn than 10 do any act now which might tend
revive opposition All she asks at our hands is that
shall not now abandon our own great work OF free
government IN Afrea by neglectng to express our conn.,
dence in its strength, and our faith in It's durability
have heard il suggested objection 10 the recog
milton by this government oil the independence OF Liberia,
that ii would reflect upon the legal institutions OF domes
tic slavery they exist OF the States OF this
Union; that cannot admit the capability OF the Alr
for sefgovenmeni. and al the same time jus.
fy ourselves before the world IN holding portion OF
that in bondage This objection, admit must. TO
certain extent be met and answered in determining the
present question
ous fact the mprovabilily OF the African race has al
ready been established Liberia is living witness Of
its truth and we. by refusal 10 ADM, its existence,
cannot get nd OF any OF the legitimate results which must
flow from tina, living fact.
Nay, more, SIR tins experiment. whether for good or
for evil 10 US, ID our experiment We have worked out
The problem ourselves, and 1t too late now, alter the
demonstration has been made 10 the world for US TO shrink
from the result
But, sir deny that this successful demonstration in
favor of the improvement OF the African race can in any
manner cast odum upon domestic institutions, or
affect The legal rights OF the master over his slaves but,
the contrary this experiment has given 10 American
Institutions OF slavery moral power and sanction which
neither law nor constitution could invest them with IL
does because II has opened sale way OF deveanee
from the evils OF slavery, legal way by Shch awiul
servitude may be safely and legally abolished IL has
taken from slavery many Of IT'S dark and gloomy features
II has dispeed that hopeless aspect OF slavery which
couded the future with fearful forebodngs OF evil
OF evil TO the institution OF slavery IN the United States
She bears living testimony TO the fact that The African
has been improved and not debased by servude IN
this country The oil Liberia could not have
been formed out of the native African negro. IL was
upon the American born negro trained and pepafed oy
Christian masters that the experiment has proved sue
cesslul Slavery in America has brought liberty TO Al
rca Our free institutions, by Their benencent workings
have shown that they capable oil improving The low
grades Of humanity and OF making even our slaves
capable Of self government than many oil The sub
iec,s OF European despousms
Sir no apologies, for slavery IN any oil ITS forms,
much less would seek TO excuse the deep wrongs which
the Christian world has perpeiraied upon Atnca but u
is 10 be found for criminal aggression up
on Africa must be sought for in the restitution OF Der
children 10 their fatherand improved and trained under
our domestic institutions for the enjoyment OF civil and
religious liberty.
Ii this generation atone for the slRs OF the past
that Mt can only be made by Offering up rich
ona sacrifice upon the affairs of liberty and religion
erected IN Liberia
Why should Ne hesitate 10 acknow Wedge this triumph
OF humanity, attempt TO cover result as honorable
TO us It will be glorious TO the world Rather let us
proclaim az with trumpet, in the dull OF the des
poc nal,ons tina, the spirit OF American liberty will pen
citrate the deepest desposm, and enlgbien the darkest
barbarism with potency sufficient even TO degenerate The
negro and to give liberty and civilization to Africa.
Mf President, absorbed as we have been for The last
month with questions of great national import-questions
involving the peace and The dominion OF the world, and
exciting oy their importance the public mind up TO the
highest point OF national pde aud glory, feel, when
surrounded by such influences, that striking bat
low note OF public sentiment in advocating the modest
claims OF Liberia fear that the Senae has erudged
the short hour which have consumed in presenting
this humble subject TO their consideration. Yet sir
IL