Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-11-20

African Civilization.
BENJAMIN Coltes of Philadephia has publish
ed a pamphlet Of fifty two pages, comprising
"Suggestous on the Importance of the Cultivs-
ton of Cotton in Africa, in reference to the Abo-
lition of Slavery in the United States, through
the organization Of an African Civilization So
ciety." Mr.. Coates aays :-Oa the people of
the Tinted States chiefly rests the responsibility
of discovering the. best mode of emancpating
four millions of bondmen in their midst; and for
providing for their welfare, when emancipated.
This has been deemed so difficult a subject
so complexn its POLITICAL social, and economical
bearings, that many well disposed persons have
been willing to pass it By, question to be
solved by time, or by the superior wisdom of
future age, although aware that every succeeding
year strengthens the evil"
Mr.. Coates thinks the present a time to com.
mence the work, assuming that "the free (black)
labor of Africa may be made available, il proper.
ly applied, to the abolition of slavery in both
countries" He says;
1.-The most suitable agents to promote the sue
cess of the measure whose exeItions could be
made to advance their own interest and that of
their posterity, while they we're using the most
effective measures for Graduating one of the
greatest evils Of the present age, are enterpris-
ing colored men from the United States proper
ly educated, as to be qualified for the work
and who capable of approaching the immense
benefits to the world that must result from their
labors. These could form settlements on
the wnole Western coast of Africa, between the
parallels Of 20 degrees North ami 20 degrees
South latitude, which would include Upper and
Lower Guinea aud Gambia-selectng of course
the most eligible points on the coast not already
possessed by other powers, from whence they
could gradually extend themselves into the inte
rior They would thus be enabled to control the
vast and continually increasing commerce of a
hitherto unexplored region, 0mprsing the larg-
er and better portion OF Central Africa-suficient
of itself, with the Improvements in cultivation
naturally introduced by civilization, TO form
large and very lucrative portion of the commerce
of the world.
The important results that must follow from
the success of this scheme cannot fail to strike
every one who will give it attention. The down
fall OF American slavery is inevitable, and with
1t the whole system OF serYitude throughout the
world; for with the great advantage thus shown
that Africa possesses Tor the cultivation Of cotton
over the more expensive lands and labor in
America, is It to be doubted for a moment that
it eau be prohtably raised at much leas than one
half of the price It has commanded in the United
States for many years past
Cotton, however, is not the only article of gen.
eral consumption produced by slave labor, that
SoH SS nASAS SAtNpiy NdAtifateu III AlflCh ny Hee-
men Coffee and rice grow there luxuriantly,
and have already been raised to a considerable
extent and with comparatively little labor both
being indigenous to that continent. The Liberia
coffee is considered one of the best varieties in
the English market, where it commands high
price, and for that reason but little is imported
into the United States"
Hon. Eli Thayer, in letter to Mr.. Coates,
endorsing his project, says;
"rhe work viii not DO difficult of accomplish
ment, if undertaken in the right spirit, and per-
sisted in with heroic will It seems to me that
Philadelphia is the best place fos the headquar
tess of the organization You will need but one
society company. It is not necessary that
there should be great capital invested, or that
there should.be much delay in perfecting tine ma
chinery Of the company. 1t is a very simple
thing. You should forthwith procure sufficient
means to send out colony, and at once open
correspondence with those who desire 10 Join it.
You will find enough to make good colony be-
fore next spring. Your company, by proper in
vestments, can repay all contributions, agencies,
and expenses-in other words, can be seif-sus-
tanning. Therefore, l urge that you should not
labor for anything grand or imposing in the
amount of capital invested in the enterprise, or
the authority of the names connected with it,
When you launch this bark upon the river, re-
member that it is not the size which gives veloci-
ty, but the strength of the current So our fee
blest efforts in accordance with the will Of God,
will speedily attain to good results