Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-08
NUMBER l75.
Correspondence of the Pennsylvania Inquirer
Liberia Letter from an Emigrant.
GANDILLA, New YoRK SETTLEMENT.
H.. L. n. u


On the St. Paul's river, Liberia
MY DEAR FRIEND: Words will not convey the
pleasure take in sitting down to write you. |
have continued to enjoy excellent health, and also
to prosper In my business, thanks to Him who
holds the destnies Of all In His hands
have under cultivation 20 acres Of land--six
in sugar cane, ak in cassada six in Coffee and the
remainder In corn, and the whole OF the latter
sown with rice. The condition of the soil allows us
to cultivate more land at cheaper rate than can
be done in America. For instance, as the rains
60 OIL, we go to work and cut down a piece Of
woods; in a couple of months after during the dry
season) 1t will be so dry that by putting fire to the
stubble It Is soon consumed, and what remains is
allowed to rot, save the camwood, which of course
we SELL and it Is sawed into boards or timber for
houseframes, or exported; rice is then planted.
Should have cut and planted moro, but sugar cane
and coffee scions are 80 scarce and high that was
prevented. Sugar cane stalks $25 per thousand
coffee scons three feet high are worth $40 per
hundred. have twelve hundred coffee trees,
some Of which have coffee on them expect the
majority of them will bear next year.
have also twelve thousand shoots, which wero
grown from the seed. They viii not be fit toplant
for two years. The sugar stalks bought this year
will give me enough to plant 40 acres next year.
for which shall commence clearing the land i'm
mediately. commence clearing thus early as
expect to leave on a visit to the States in April
and then hope to purchase steam saw mill, when
we will begin to manufacture and ship sugar by the
hogshead. Myself, with Spencer whom now have
as partner, carry ON business which brings us
$4,000 per year. We deal in camwood, palm OIL
&c. We furnish houses complete with lumber, &C.
think this is a much better and more profitable
business than following the menial employment In
the white mans kitchen, in hotels or playing about
his head or chin as barber, or about his feet as
bootblack in America.
hava fvvaf farp I n h,,0 az
IL by 10, beside two out-houses for grains, &c.
am about making contract for putting up two
brick houses as soon as the dry season commences.
l am very well acquainted with Mr.. c., also
with Mr.. No; the first personally--the lat
ter by reputation. Mr.. and Mrs. c. bad n
hard time Of it at first, learn; but who does not,
especially when moving to new country, and
more SO as you have to make comforts. Now sup
pose they had been among the first settlers Of
Massachusetts, or Virginia, think you 1t would have
been better with themy Indeed, do not suppose
their suferngs were anything to be compared to
some others who are here, and are now in comfort
able circumstances. Until we (the colored people)
be placed In positions where we viii have to learn
and practice the great lesson Of selfdependence,
not much need be expected of us.
Mr.. G. is an intelligent young man, and is now
making good living. He was recently married
again here, for which he was arrested and tried
for bgamy, convicted, and, by our laws, banished
from the country. But SO well does he like Libc-
ria that he absolutely refuses to 60. TWAS thought
the courts were rather severe in its sentence as
he produced letters from his former wife positively
refusing ever to return to him. He win certainly
never return to the United States to reside.
Mr.. g. resides at Cape Palmas, and s In the en-.
ploy of the government lie will be sure to pet.
tion the Legislature for divorce, in order to get
married again.
You say that some doubt my assertion that
Northerners can stand the acclimating process
better than those from the South. Well, here is
the proof The brig Elizabeth brought immigrants
to this country in 1890 Aer thirty -four years Of
every hardship, some are still living while some
of the best families we have are the sprigs of the
same stock. The brig leila de Cuba left the States
In 1858. Twenty-seven of her emigrants were from
the North, yet not one of them died with actual
fever. Both of these vessels were from New York
Tbs Pennsylvania company have lost but few,
psrhspe not more than two, of their number; one
sR44 jady, who had not walked for years before
~ ~ The States. can name several who came
&ooa Ne North but sailed from the southern ports
M hAve had no fever at all. Again, there is
Nim neynolds, a missionary from New York, had
very little fever. B. V. r. James is another from
New York. He has been here long while has
the best health, and probably would have been
dead long ago, had he remained in New York
The Rev Z. w. Stokes is another. A. Washing
con, from Hartford, is another. A. b. Thompson
Of New York, Is another. Henry Williams, whom
everybody knows is another. The Rev. Aexan-
der crummel, is another, to say nothing of myself
But why stop to prove selfevident fact? About
20per cent of Southerners die whilst going through
with the acclimatng fever. It Is not for me to say
why this is-whether their previous over work on
the plantation, or what, cannot say--it is for me
TO state the facts and leave you to draw your own
inference. Please observe that when speak OF
Northern men, mean those from the extreme
North, and extending as far South as Maryland and
Virginia. could name hundreds who came from
Maryland, who are here doing well in fact, very
few would die, did they understand better the
principles Of their existence, and had little more
care taken Of them by those employed by tho
Colonization Society.
might discuss largely upon this subject, but as
the Rev. A. Russell, eminent citizen, s now
writing upon the matter, will send you the pa
pers containing his letters. Before leaving this
nothing Of what supposed to be the effects ofn
tropical climate, as far as heat is concerned feel
now as though should like to be by the side OF
hot stove have not at any time, felt il unpleas-
antly hot, but, on the contrary, have felt Il un.
pleasantly cold, and am often obliged to sleep un-
der heavy counterpane. wear woollen clothing
altogether, and often go with my coat buttoned
up. The air feels more like November day in
Philadelphia, than anything else can compare IL
to; but you must recolect this is what is called the
rainy season. What think you Of hailstones fall
ing here Qast rain) as large as marbles
OREGON PoLIrlcs.-The general election in Ore
gou for delegates to Congress, county officers, aud
for the election TO gil vacancies in the legislative
council Of the State is to be holden on the 4th
Monday in June. General Joseph Lane, tho
Democratic nominee for delegate TO Congress-, and
General John p. Gaines, the Wing nominee, arc
stumpng the State together. Both political par
ties out with full tickets and the canvass seems
to be conducted with the utmost zeal and spirit
The Times says:
The drafts for the payment Of the expenses Of
the Rogue River war begin to come on in abund
ance every steamer. Thus, the citizens Of Oregon
win receive some 100000 from government--a
very respectable item about these hard times.
RAIS-THE CRoPs.--The fine showers Of the
past week have been invaluable to the farmer.
They came too late to save the wheat which will
not make anything like half an average in the Val
ley The fate of that crop, indeed, was In a great
measure decided by the drought Of last fall Much
of the seed failed to germinate. From most other