Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-08
PRESIDENT ROBERTS.

PRESIDENT ROBERTS.
We have often admired the ability and even scholarly
correctness of the writings of ROBERTS President Of
late colony in Africa His annual messages the Libe
ran Legislature would do credit Of State
Governors; and all of his writings marked by pro
priety, good sense, and good TASTE the be adj
mred from the disadvantages of his early training The
srboined letter will, we think, sustain opinion 1t is
letter to the phianthropic Mr. RALsToY of London,
which we find in the public papers
GOVERNMENT House, rMoSnovIA,) JuLT 8, 1853.
Nj DEAR SIR Many thanks for your kind favor Of
May 3d. enclosing copies of your letters addressed to
Hon. Edward Everett United States Senate, in regard
Liberia. We greatly indebted to you for your
tnued efforts to promote the welfare of little Repub
lie by endeavoring to interest distinguished individuals
Of the United States and of Europe in her behalf Mr.
Everett has already many occasions noby employed
bis commanding eoquence in advocating African colon
zaton and in his present position has it in his power to
do much to advance the interests Of Liberia and the
cause Of humanity Your letter to him contains impor
tant facts and suggestions which must arrest his atten
ton, and which doubt not will have his immediate
sheraton. You already know my opinion, however, in
regard to the hope of speedy recognition of Liberian
independence by the United States Government.
But why the United States Indifferent to the
advantages which must in the of things, before
great many years. result from the traffic Of this coast
is really unaccounabe. II does appear to me, in view
Of many considerations both in relation to colonization
and commerce, that the establishing Of speedy and di
rect communication between the United States and Lii
IBERIA is matter OF no little Importance. The
rapdity with which is increasing along this
coast almost incredible though easily accounted for
Thousands and thousands Of the inhabitants of the coast
and Of the intersr who obtained their supply Of
foreign goods by Of the slave trade that
odous traffic. at least this part of the African coast is
abolished, have necessarily to turn their attention
TO legitimate commerce the collection Of palm oil,
wood ivory &c. to procure their accustomed supply of
foreign merchandise.
A few days since an old chief who had come down
with large caravan from the interior, eighty
hundred miles, called me- and in the of
sation remarked that he had felt exceedingly indignant
towards the Lberans for interfering with the slave trade
His grandfather and his father he said for many many
years had sold slaves and they rcb but the Libe
rians had made him poor he had therefore intended
TO visit Monrova have any thing to do with the
Americans He convinced however that the slave
trade very cruel that it has produced great deal
Of distress and suffering among the country peoples and
when he used to sell slaves he often felt much disque
tude and he very glad that the Lberians had
neposed to prevent the foreign slave trade but says
the old fellow, with arch SMILE "Nericnn man must
no talk slave Ralaver gin, spose sell him Spanyar
man." Meaning, Of course we must not interfere with
domestic slave trade For the last year. he said he had
employed the slaves he would have sod had oppertu
nifty offered in cultvatng large rice fields and in making
palm OIL collecting cam-wood &C., which he found yield
ed him than the amount he would have received for
his slaves had he sold them And this sentiment is
almost daily expressed by many Of the chiefs in our
neghborhood.
The great trouble now is and to which we turning
attention the extinction of domestic slavery among the
native tribes 4 y We shall doubtless
have considerable difficulty with some Of the chiefs in
gard to this matter, but quite sanguine shall
succeed The fact is Liberia is the Canada Of Africa
for fugitive slaves Slaves constantly taking refuge
within our jurisdiction.
You quite right in regard to the ncorrecness Of
Mr. Hsnsons statement respecting the quantity Of palm
oil annually exported from the African coast 1question
whether it exceeds now, seventy eighty thousand
Liberia yields present about eight thousand
TONS which is increase of ut least IS per cent within
the last three years Three years at the
will give u.s. should think about fifty per cent.
Liberia my dear sir is child Of Providence the past
clearly shows and though she may yet in her progress
have to contend against crafty and difficulties,
she will be sustained and outive them all
The effort you refer to which is being made for colo
MIXING Jamaica with American colored persons cannot
succeed believe it to be the design Of Heaven that
nation Of eolored persons sha be reared up in Africa
and ii strikes being the only place where the
lored raise himself to his legitimate position in
society He feel that identity Of nationality
in the West Indies that inspires Lberian citizens and
depend upon il, the intelligent coored people Of the Uni
ted States understand mis- and when they shall have
made up their minds to seek home, and rid them
selves Of oppression Liberia will be the asyam Your
reply to the gentlemen who consulted you this subject
is quite in accordance with my views Why sir, there
is country in the world say il fearesslytha offers
the colored greater inducements and advantages
social political and pecunary, than Liberia. And am
clearly Of opinion that tie only feasible hope of the Afr
race with respect 10 obtaining ond maintaining an
equality with other Of men is separate and dis
tnc nationality Would that the friends Of my unfor
tunate brethren in England viewed the subject in this
light If 50, they would aid heartily in building
up Liberia
Mrs Roberts joins with me in kniost regards to yoa.
And believe me, my dear sir most respectfully your Ole
/ dent servant, J. J. RoBERTS.
/ O. RALsToS, Esq, 81, Tokenhouse Yard, London.
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