Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1857-09-16
Liberia a Failure.

Liberia a Failure.
We Learn from the New York Commercial Adrsr
tizer, that information has been received at tn,
Methodist Episcopal Mission House Of that city, of
fearful famine prevailing in Liberia, attributable il
great degree, to the laziness OF large portion
the population, who cannot be induced to work
even by the prospect Of starvation. This intclli-
geuce was communicated by the Rev. Mr.. Horne,
Missionary, who adds that the prospect for the fu-
ture is tearfu!ly gloomy, and that the lend of al
things out there IS near at hand"
We regret this consummation, for more reason.
than one. We regret it for the sake of the iustri
names, more, who were actively nstru
mental in promoting the colonization Of Africa, and
who were stimulated the task by the most sublime
philanthropy. We regret it, because there Is no
prospect that similar enterprise will ever be I'M
dertaken in all future time But most of all we
regret it. because 1t proves beyond all doubt, what
we have for many years more than suspected, that
the African race cannot exist as freemen and that
as soon the restraint Of slavery is removed, il
rerogrades at once, to its primitive savage condition
This century has seen the experiment fairly tried,
and the result has always been the same. San Do
mingo was, sixty years ago. the most beautiful, the
most fourishing, the heathest island that the sun
those tropical articles Of commerce, was immense
1t fell into the hands OF free black population, and
while they themselves scarcely above their
brethren Of Congo the ivory coast in the arts Of
civilized life, thsy have converted the Paradise
around them into sterile, and appalling waste
Not pound of sugar is exported from the Island
and nothing is cultivated but such crops as are ne
cessary to keep body and soul together In less
han IF N
contrived to make Jamaica n fair match Tor San Do
mingo, and last Of all, Liberia, which promised SC
fairly, has disappointed the hopes of its sanguins
friends, and confirmed the worst predictions ofthoss
who always looked upon the experiment with dis
trust.
Cooler judgment and less enthusiasm on the part
OF their friends might have taught them that all at
tempts to erect community OF free blacks
into great commOnw ealth, must always fail. The
very constitution of the negro iorbids it. There is
truth more sefevident, than that race of free.
men, in n state Of civilization must be race O. hard
working men. But the negro is, naturally the most
indolent of human beings His idea of freedom is,
that 1t is condition in which man is not Obliged
10 work and for that reason ard that alone he de-
sires to be free His greatest enjoy is TO
himself at full length in the sun, and doze away his
existence, without thinking Of caring for the
things that may happen tomorrow. He has not
the activity of mind body attend to the dute.
which are exacted by state OF civilization. No.
where is the negro respectable except in those conn
tries where he is slave. The eternal law of the
great Creator fixed fs destiny four thousand years
ago, when lie announced through the mouth of the
patriarch that Japhet shoud dwell in the tents Of
Shem and Canaan should be his servant" All his
tory has served to confirm this prediction The
Negro race has been known to history as long rs
the race of Abraham. Representations OF them IA.
ken from the tOombs of the Pharaoh,s niaco
them before us in all their neaments precisely nc
they are at this day, and they arc
always found and followed by the task
master with the Scourge in his hand
The Kingdom Of the Pharaohs has passed awav
the very race over which they reigned has become
extinct. Yet in the slave marts of Alexandria and
Cairo, at this day, the very spectacle represented
upon the tombs of these rnonarchs three thousand
years ago. is repeated from day to day with start
ling exactness. The negro race has undergone No
change since that period, remote in antiquity thai
the head swims when we try to look back TO IL
Even then it had entered upon its destiny and tba,
was prescribed for all time to come During all tba,
mighty lapse Of time they have been within the reach
oil civilization, il had been possible to civze them
But what the Egyptians could not do three thousand
years ago, the British and Americans cannot do now
Both were working against fixed decree of a now
or FAR mightier than the powers Of this world Tn,
African still remains what he in the DAYS of So
sostrs lie is is the vilest Of all slaves to the vi
lest Of petty kings at home. He knows no art. AND
ho seeks to know none. His language is a brutish
Iargon resembling the chattering Of an ouranotang
his clothing is Of skins leaves, his knowledge o
architecture ends with the construction of n reea
house, matched with mud, his chiei pleasure con-
Sists Of lying in the sun and scratching the vermr
that consume his filthy carcass, his God is a STOCK
or stone, and his bean ideal Of beauty is black We
nus, weighing four hundIed averdupois, and creased
from head to foot, with the fat Of animals Such IA,
IS IN his native State, such he always has been.
snch he always will be. Other nations such as the
iindoOs and Chinese, being separated by enormous
tracts Of country, comprising vast deserts filed with
predatory tribes from the civilization Of tho West
have installed a civilization Of their own. They
have their own form Of government their own laws.
and their own literature. But the Africans hive
none OF these They remain as they were, when
they were hrs, known to history.
Brought to this country, they become ,l,,,..A.- .
"''t class Of beings Totally destitute Of the nvcn.
tive faculty, ihcirapttude for imitation surp,.s.s
OF any other race. They soon learn the Language, Of
the master t'sy adopt his habits they initiate IL.
language Kept within their proper sphere. ,bev
Hrs by no means contemplate race. Iils,.t.
them aud they become Immediately the mos, Al 80,
%. m' creation. They are evidently designed c,r
slaves AMI they cease To be useful as soon A. ,.,,
are set =, liberty Incur opinion. the man who s.,s I,
slave free, does him great injury.
Backing Out.
W" mega Tor Of the b"gHirr appears soucrt., H.,
posci ct ate to gently back out Of the cort,ov.,,.
81 Ilf htfefOio rgc rigdt i'd ''N''