The Kanzas news., 1858-02-20


merchants, the mechanics, nor the landed
proprietors that We find emigrant laborers
here, SO in Africa we do not seek among
the free, who enjoy a certain degree of COM
fort and authority, for laborers willing to
expatriate themselves to work for wages un-
der foreign climate. African emigration
would be reduced to the smallest proper
| ton If it were restricted to those only who
are free; but it becomes serious when it falls
on those who have been redeemed from
slavery.
Besides, the philanthropists seem unable
to endure the idea of this emancipation
They say that an emigration so conducted
is no better than the slave trade. But it is
not enough to say so-it remains to be prov
| ed. We think this species of emigration
does not exhibit even one of the character
istics of the slave trade; in every respect it
is different. The slave trade consisted in
purchasing Africans in order to transport
them into country where they are sold as
slaves, where they are forced to work un-
der fear of the lash, and where they, as well
as their children, become the property of a
new master. Emigration, on the contrary,
as We carry it out, is based upon the imme-
diate enfranchisement of the African; and,
in consequence of this liberation, the black
freeman is transported into the country free
from bondage, and takes his place in the
bosom of free society. Thus, from mis-
erable African, emigration makes him free
citizen and an Independent workman. He
is likewise brought within Christian infu-
ence. Looked at in this light, it needs nei-
| ther justification nor excuse-it is a work
| of piety and mercy, as well as of sound
policy.
But, say the English, when you buy
slaves from the African chiefs you encour-
age those chiefs to procure others by means
of incursions, and thus perpetuate intestine
wars in that unhappy country. Unfortu-
nately, the barbarism which reigns in that
continent is exercised independently of all
outside pressure. When an African chief
does not sell his slaves he kills them.
To deprive Africa of contact with civili-
cation, under the pretext of preserving peace
among her tribes, is to act like quack,
who, to cure an eruption, kills his patient
by the internal concentration of the disease.
The African chieftains have no motive for
making war; they do so out of pure in
stinct of destructiyeness, and by this alone
they prove themselves savages. The poor
negro captives destined for human sacrifice
on the occasion of some public festival, or
on the tomb of warrior, would hardly call
it philanthropy to leave them to their fate
under pretext of humane objection to their
purchase for emigration.
Bible societies have undertaken. to sub
NIT Africa to a regime of preaching, distri-
button of edifying tracts and sanity COM
munion. Nothing more desirable. Chris
tianity, under whatever banner it may be
propagated, is always benefit. But, what
ever their object, the efforts of these soeie-
ties have not yet been crowned with any
very distinguished success. They tell US
of tribe here and there, or a territory of
some leagues square, in which the words of
the missionary are listened to; but what is
that in the immense extent of the African
continent? Why will they not then leave
us to assist In the work of civilization by
means which, in our ideas, are more effica-
cious?
In any case, we cannot see why the ultra
abolitionists should impose their particular
views upon US. Is not Africa an indepen-
dent country? Is it confded to the tutel-
age of Bible societies? And France-can-
not she act according to the dictates of her
own conscience? There exists in this re-
spect no international engagement that can
limit her action. The conventions relative
to the right of search have been suppress
ed. Engagements entered into since then
have been abandoned. The treaties of 181 5,
containing declarations against the slave
trade, have nothing in common with an en-
igration based on the enfranchisement of the
slave.
The landed proprietor is then rid of eve
ry encumbrance. Following the Times, the
philanthropists have made some stupid blum
ders, which should force them into private
life, or at least teach them to speak with be-
coming modesty in future. In this situa-
ton of things, when it has been proved that
the system has utterly failed, is it astonish-
ing that we should try another? This would
at least have two good results. 1t would
give new activity to colonial productions,
and withdraw thousands of negroes from a
miserable condition.
A touching incident is chronicled in the