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

pursued him when the dU tiUe from the slave,
and not he fugitive from the law, and when neither
master State government would him or Iro-
tect him. This benehcent enterprise look the outlaw
under Its guardian and has given 10 him name
chsraetef and a country !.
During the lime this great work was in progress, y
received the aid and appreciation OF the wise ana soou
men IRON all sections OF the country resiaen nd
roe OF it's earliest aud watnest iiiehns W
there ID Monroe doctrine as TO colonization IN hi-
ca well as a colonization IN America equay 49,.
dox, although not quite so popular. -, ;,salJ "a NO .
some collateral ard from the government iise 90 pa
tional was lbe object catholic was me leelhs IN Ia
yor of lis success that even the s'fictest eohuucuonis
expressed the regret ma 'hg,e ~ aon, h
enterprise as his own and 10 extend 10 II national AID
and protection II is perhaps wen that The government
AID moi nte rere for the work has been done without the
verese OF any doubtful powers That which politicians
hesitatsd do that which our constitution with all its
liberty had not the power TO accomplish; that which
armies and Daves could not force into existence. has
been peacefully accom- pished by private enterprise, in
sligaied and supported by Christian charity. And now,
sir, the work being done, and the grand result made
manifest 10 the world, the question is whether we shall
acknowledge the event and stamp with the official APP
probation OF the nation. In my opinion both national
honor and national policy demand that we should do SO.
No one can doubt power, and the question is one
OF expediency merely IL it inexpedient for the United
States now 10 acknowledge The nationality Of Liberia!
In treating that question, intend on This occasion 10
conhne myself manly 10 commercial view OF the sub
For years past the European commercial nations
have with view 10 settlement and trade turned their
attention to Africa. For these objects England has estab
shed and maintains with much energy, her colonies
ut Sierra Leone upon the cape and at other points the
coast. France also has her possessions at Algeria;
No one. think at this day mistake the policy OF
England with regard to Incorporated fields OF com
merce. We have most striking illustration OF this in
that mighty political and commercial dominion which she
has secured in The East lndes and in her attempts upon
South and Central America No country is too remote
no island too distant for her ship; no tribe nor class too
savage or insignificant for her barter Bushmen and Hot
tenots, negroes and Mosquito Indians all objects OF
her commercial attention Wherever human beings are
found, requiring food and ramen and have something
to give exchange for them England is ready TO admin
lister to their wants To such policy Africa opens up
rich and wide field of operation and if mistake not the
signs Of the times she is preparing to improve the OPP
p0rtunlty afforded her BY our neglect OF Liberia.
II quite evident that whatever the foreign commerce
OF western Africa may be, the republic OF Liberia will
control it. Her position on the coast VIII give to her that
advantage have certain data for ascertaning the
present amount of that commerce | am, however, in
formed that the trade OF England with the western coast
OF Africa exceeds S5ooo,0o0 annualy but whatever
may be the present amount, II forms criterion OF its
future developments Up 10 ls47, the year OF Liberals
independence, it struggle for existence, with
out The power or the means TO project or regulate COM
merce and without ships without any OF the facilities
of trade the colony OF Liberia could do but little towards
developing either her domestic foreign commerce. But
these hindrances have been overcome by the esab
lishment OF national government She has now the
power to form international relations, under the drec
lions OF which productions OF that vast region of
try will find their way through the regular channels OF
foreign trade TO the markets OF the world.
This new field of commercial enterprise will attract the
observation of other nations, and If we continue 10 look
on with indifference, the republic oil Liberia, by our ne
glect midity, may become in fact II not IN name,
commercial colony OF England. And thus, SIR, will
turn that that rich commercial harvest the seeds OF
which sowed will be reaped by another and the first
fruits OF the which planted will be plucked by our
rival.
Liberia acknowledges with gratitude superior claim
all other nations TO any advantages IN trade which
she legally confer upon foreign powers, and we may
by free concession a commercial dominion
over western Africa which, IN my opinlon will in the
OF twenty years be fenod more valuable than that
shall acquire by force other portions OF the world
But 10 these advantages must put ourselves IN
position 10 obtain them To do this we must form CON-
mercial relations with Liberia; and to this end the first
step to acknowledge the nationality OF the government
which has the power 10 control the subject
England has seized the first opportunity TO form these
relations And why has che done so Not that she has
any peculiar regard for this young republic, for her
free institutions, bat simply because he sees in that infant
government weak and feeble II Is, the germ OF ma
uonal power which will hereafter direct and control
vast region OF commercial dominion
III we refuse or neglect 10 acknowledge the national
existence oil Liberia, have nothing 10 say against
the Partially OF any treaty she may form with those ma
tons who may recognise her nationality And II Eng
land or France should to-day obtain for any OF their sub
)ects the exclusive night to trade in palm OIL the pnv
llege OF introducing their manufactures Tree OF duty into
Western Africa could not Justly complain for by our
cold neglect shall be presumed not 10 know that there
il such country Liberia or if we did know of its
existence We deemed her not worthy OF our International
intercourse
But, SIR, desire to present higher view OF this sub
jec than that derived from the ucre OF trade There
Is a mighty moral power in commeTce-the power OF
civilization and humanity.
The early foreign commerce oil hall civilized country
frequently gve- tone and character TO It's Inhabitants,
which and felt during many years OF their future
progress IL not unfequenty lmpfesses deep influence
upon the very soil itself Africa Is striking example OF
this result For many years her only foreign commerce
was the slave aJc-the exchange OF her children for he
things OF other countries. The result oil this unnatural
intercourse was TO bring upon that benghied region
two fold curseaddtonal brutality TO its inhabitants and
IN increased sIenlty upon its sou Thus il was that
commerce, deprived OF ITS moral power impressed upon
centuries 10 eradicate the evil We have other examples
of the effects OF Illicit in the opium trade OF the
East, in the early slave trade OF Spanish America and
IN wbiskey dealings with the northern tribes OF
Indians
But and happier era has opened upon Africa
The republic OF Liberia has put end 10 the slave trade
IN Western Africa She has done what the three great
christian powers OF the earth-Engand, France, and
Amerna-could not accomplish. She has done ii, no,
BY force, not BY fleets and armies, yet by premiums
and prize money but simply BY working out one OF the
ample rules Of legitimate commerce, so plainly that even
the dull mind Of the native negro may comprehend it, by
teaching him that the productions of the forests the
fruits OF the trees and the vegetables OF the SOIL which
God has planted all about him, may, by the aid OF his
labor, bring TO him and his family more comfort and
wealth than all the gains OF the unnatural slave trade
A,d along the coast OF seven hundred miles, where
but few years SINCE the only marts Of trade were the
savepens which the chiefs dragged their brothers and
their children barter for foreign productions, be
lean packets may be seen, inviting the natives 10 bring
hs vegetable oils the coffee, and the spices, with all the
oher rapid and rich productions OF that sunny land and
exonsngs them equal terms for foreign merchandise