Weekly national intelligencer., 1853-03-26
DEBATE In THE SENATE.
LIBERIA AND AFRICAN COLONIZATION
In SENATE, MARCH 8. 1853

Tho ssnate having under consideration the bill making
appropriations for the support Of the navy, Mr
Of New Jersey, submitted the following sna0nu' -
For eoupmept. maintenance and supply Of an expedition
f he erporaon Of the interior Africa eastward Of Lbe
% and the aseerainng Of Of that region and
the colonization Of the free basks s M "
be expended under the dneeuon - wy - ''
$l25,oOO.'
NJ Miller proceeded to address the Senate. The
Secretary Of the Navy (sad be addressed letter to the
chairman Of the Committee on Finance recommending
ha should be made 1t has not been acted
o rs the committee and have thought it my duty to
present this amendment lot he action OF the senate Ine
Senate wi recoect that the Secretary of the Navy in
h;s annual report directed the attention of the President
and the country to this subject win read short
tract from that report
ain Commander Lynch to whom the country is already
ndebedr important service in another field have found
prompt and ardent volunteer for this employment He is
now his way to the African coast He will land at Lbe-
ria palmas and other points, and will his in
ouiries far the river Gaboon, with view TO the
tanment Of such localities the margin Of the African
tnent present the greatest facilities whether by the
river by inland for penetrating with least
hazard to the interior He will collect information touching
the geographical character the country Of afford
ing the necessary supplies and provisions the temper
ofs inhabitants whether hostile friendly the proper
cautions 10 be observed to secure the health Of party
poyed all other items of knowledge upon which it may
be proper hereafter TO prepare and combine the forces essen
a the of complete and useful exploration Of the
interior In the performance Of this duty under the most ia
vordble circumstances he win encounter the peris of eli
famed for its gnwhoesome influence upon the white
Hlty from the natives The spirit which has prompted him
TO court this peous adventure honorable to his courage
and phanhrt py trust viii enable him to brave every ha
xard with every obstacle in his progress
and TO himself for the of the great
object to which these are drecteS IN mean
the early and favorable attention Of Congress- with the ex
preston Of convicton that there no enterprise Of
the day degree favor that
will more honoraby signaze the enlightened policy of this
the estimation Of the Of future
ratons 1t will require liberal appropriation of money and
an enlarged discretion be conded to the Navy Department
for the organization and arrangement OF plan of operation
which must embrace the employment number Of men, the
supply boats araments TOOLS and the enlistment of
such scientific aid long and aborous inland exploration
bese with many dangers and difficulties, will suggest"
It will be perceived by the Senate that this expedition
has two objects in yiew The first is the exploration of
the interior of Africa and especially Of that portion of
Western Africa lying directly east Of the Republic of Lii
bera for the purpose of developing its natural wealth
and commercial 1t is believed by those who
have looked this that there large region of
country directly eastward from Liberia of higher eeva
tion productive and healthy than that bordering
the England has paid considerable attention to
the exploration Of Africa for the purpose Of developing
its in reference to her trade with the nte
rior tribes Our interests, well as the calls of hu
manty and Of civilization demand that we should do some
thing for the improvement of Africa.
The country intended to be explored lies between the
meridans Of 20o and 20o east Greenwch and the
parallels of 30 and 15o north latitude is an inhabited
country Of which have sufficiently authentic accounts
from actual observation by white men, and reliable
ports Of natives warrant belief that there live
upon it many millions Of people who need and desr
receive the products Of the agriculture and
features of more civilized nations Towards that country
adventurous explorers have made from the English
possessions the west from the mouth of the Niger In
the SOUTH and also from the Mediterranean The British
are now endeavorng trade with it from Sierra Leone
and from the Gold coast Between these two localities
lies the Republic of Liberia, offering the only means of
which be securely open to the activity Of the
United States Hence the question of exploration opens
the question whether the United States shall have
aproper share of the great inland traffic of Africa.
The second obecis is which consider of character
emnenty national for the purpose of aiding in the
colonization of free persons of color from the United
States into Africa The present position OF these people
in the United States makes IL necessary that should
this Union have passed laws excluding this unfortunate
class Of from their limits. The only way Of relief
open to them is rapid emigration from this
try Africa To promote and encourage this is one OF
the objects of this expedition
Recent discoveries aided by modern improvements,
producing strange and astonishing changes in the cond
ton and affairs of the world Under these operations the
hitherto abandoned and dispersed portions Of the world
becoming the most attractive and the waste places Of
the earth the most productive Wealth is escaping from
its old investments and population is flying from its
crowded homes wild and distant countries in search of
higher profits and more prosperous business. Lands
hitherto rejected for their serty and countries despsed
for their barbarism sought for with avdity on
Of the richness Of their national productions and
their fitness for the abode of civilized man.
The convicts land Australia, and the Indians hunting
ground in the Pacific command the respect OF the
Cvlllzeu Worlu Dy VI snoh
regulate the exchanges of London and New
and give tone and character to the commerce OF the world
Let no hereafter condemn any portion Of Gods
earth hopeless and useless.
Africa, doomed and despsed as she has been by the
opinion of the world is in less fororn condition than
Australia and California ten years ago. tneeds but
exploration and development to bring forth her natural
wealth for the Of But have not time now to
20 into this subject at large believe that Africa Is
about open Of the richest fields Of commerce In the
world. 1t needs only exploration and development to
make it OF the most attractive and profitable regions
therefore think this expedition win be of service
the country and the world than any Of the recent expe
ditions projected by this Government.
Mr. President, few days since presented to the Sc
resolution of inquiry relative to the acknowedg
ment Of the independence of the Republic of Liberia.
sought several occasions to bring that resolution be-
fore the Senate for consideration in order that might
give to the country the which induced to offer
It. but the time of the Senate has been occupied that
opportunity afforded me to do As the subject
under consideration is germane to that question,
will take this occasion to give to the county the
why think the Government of the United States should
acknowledge the independence of Liberia.
induced to os~ that resolution in consideration
Of the notorious fact that Liberia has existed inde
pendent republic for five years without any official recog
milton by our Government while England France Prus-
sia and Brazil have acknowledged her nationality and
received her into the familnof nations
This silence our part to notice the first and only
free Government upon the Continent Of Africa is the
remarkable when consider the origin and history Of
that republic.
Liberia is Of American origin nurured and protected
through all the trials and dangers Of colonial life to
her present national existence by the benevolence and