Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-01-26

Inc COLONIZATION
We learn that the late annual meeting o.
the American Colonization Society in W ash
ington, was equal in interest to any tha'
have preceded it. 1t was not, indeed Illus
trated, as other anniversaries have been. by
the eloquence of Clay, Webster, or Everett
but it had the charm of being addressed BY
men, who have actually been on the soil Of
Africa, and have labored in that land for the
good of the natives. The speeches of Messrs
Bowen and Seys, attracted great attention.
hardy men, ready to 90 to the ends of the
earth for the good of their fellow creatures
and they gave some chapters of their OBJ
servation and experience in that land, which
as been the mere hunting ground OF most
civilized nations. The importance of colo
NAL possession was set forth by great va
riety of facts. On the one hand, wherever
the Liberans, or other oolonists have plan
ted themselves, illegal trade has dlsap-
peared, and a lawful traffic succeeds. On
the other hand, in Central Africa, in the Vi
cinity of the Niger, Mr.. Bowen visited eigh-
teen towns, that were in utter ruin, as the
effect of the slave trade. One Of these had
contained 80 900 inhabitants. 600 miles Of
the Liberian coast is free from the trade
Gold fields will be opened of SURPRISING
value. But the iron will be more valuable,
as means of awakening genuine industry
in self-indulgent race. Mr.. Seys exhibited
a specimen of pure iron, and Of native cot,
to- from Liberia. The negroes have foun,
dry to work it; it needs no smelling. Now
we all know that iron is the great "civllizer''
of nations. Mr.. Seys Indignantly denied
the truth of the rumors circulated last sum
mer about famine" in Liberia. The wars
had indeed taken off laborers from the fields,
thus diminishing the crops; but where might
not this happen? Pestilence and famine are
the natural concomitant5 of war. But the
soil is there in oil its fertility, yielding abun,
dainty, to tue slightest cultivation, the nutrl'
ment of life in various forms: and the deer
bound in troops through the forests; so that
they had surplus of venison. Only two
men died in the region of Careysburg, and
they were the victims of orereating! Tha,
did not look like starvation. The region is a
fine, salubrious one, very attractive to emf
grants. Houses are building, and an altar
cree ted to God, not the unknown" but the
honored ard the worshipped.
We understand the Society appointed a
committee to wait on Gen. Mercer, now in
Washington, but unable to attend the meet
ing, to pay their respects, and to express the
gratitude of the friends of the cause for bis
early and constant services. See article
in another column. This gentleman, in
conjunction with James Monroe, the pa
triot president, did much for the cause in
its infancy, not only as men, but as members
of the government. But Of late years, the
policy of the government has lent but little
encouragement to the efforts Of the Society.
Though true Yirginian, and among the
most cautious and discreet Of statesmen, Mr..
Monroe did not withhold the fostering care
of the national government as far as it was
constitutional and proper, from this great
enterprise. Neither Madison nor Marshall
were Indifferent to its success. How CLAY
patroaized 1.-THE man of broad views, bener-
client purposes, and patriotic impulses the
world knows They sleep in death, but "stlll
live" in their works.
The "Kapsas Documents" furrished on