Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-06-28
CLEVELAND. MONDAY MORNING, JUNE 2s 1858.
Circular to the Clergy of the state Of Oh

Circular 10 the Clergy of the state Of Ohio.
The Executive Committee of the Ohio State
Colonization Society have the pleasure to sub
NIT to your consideration the following state
ment
For ages Central Africa has been to the civ
ilized nations terra incognita. Recently the
heart of the continent has been thrown open 10
commerce and missions. The vast interior,
instead Of being region Of arid wastes
and malariOus swamps, Is found to be land of
wonderful fertility and beauty-watered by no.
be streams, teeming with animal and vegetable
life, enlivened with birds of brightest plumaVe
and sweetest song, and peoPled by vast commit :
mites, who dwell in families, cultivate the sol,
weave fabrics, forge metals, and are accessible
to civilized and Christian men.
The AmericO- African community, planted on
the western coast about thirty years ago, has
grown into an independent Republic, with a
cast range Of more than five hundred miles,
commerce amounting to several millions of dol
lars per annum, and civilized and thriving pop
ulation ofabOut three hundred thousand souls
Coffee, cotton, sugar, rice, and all tropical
grains and grOwths are found to flourish there,
and the gold fields are said to cover an area Of
more than thousand miles.
Though Africa is world Of fruits and hOw.
ers, with Italian skies and perpetual summer;
though the mercury never rises higher ttan
ninety OF sinks lower than seventy, the climate
OF the coast is particularly fatal TO the white
man- The graves Of our brethren are found
from Sierra Leon to the GaboOn river; and the
sunshine which kindles life in everything there,
and stirs and inyigoFates the blood Of the Affi-
can, darts death into the white mans brain
The tropical man only can abide and flourish on
that coast. The eolOred people who are going
forth from the depTessions of our country un-
der the auspices Of the American Colonization
Society, have not lost their tropical tFaits hv
dwelling among ua, and as they share our spirit
and ideas, and are peculiarly fitted 10 propa-
gate our institutions and worship in Africa, we
must rely mainly on them, under God, as our
preachers and teachers for that dark land.
The objects proposed by the Society, ,whoss
claims We advocate, arc marked by such defin-
iteness and philanthropy, and its operations
have been fraught with such blessings 10 Ethi-
opia and her children, that VIC can cordially
commend IL to the confidence of all who seek
the welfare of the colored people Colonization
is giving homes to the hGLfess; civilizing a
race; suPpressing the traffic in human beings;
developing the resources of continent; build
ing up great English speaking smPlFe in AT.
nca, and Spreading abroad there our ideas and
worship.
Inc time has come for the Society to enlarge
the sphere ofits operations, and to plant settle
ments on the terraces and in the valleys of the
interior. The May expedition consisted of one
hundred and eight persons all well qualified for
our work In Africa. Others are now applying
for PASSAGE and as the enterprise is dependent
on the free will offerings Of the people, we be-
speak for it the liberal support Of the patriot,
the phianthropist, and the Christian
Believing that the cause Of African coloni1a-
tion merits the confidence and aid of all vii
desire the welfare Of Africa and her children;
therefore,
Resolved That the clergy Of the State be re-
quested to bring this statement before their
respective congregations, and to take I'D col
lections in behalf Of the cause on the Fourth Of
July, and remit the same to the Agent of the
Parent Society, Rev. Z. G. Nicholson, of Ham
ilton, Butler county
Resolved, That the Editors of the newspa-
pers throughout the State be requested to give
publicity TO the foregoing statements and reso-
lutions.
SAMUEL W. FISHERY osn
S. RAMSEY WILSON, r1 VI eas
A. N RIDDLE, EAeeutlve
C. G. COMEGYS, COmm't'ee-
WILLIAM JuDKISs, N. D., W.;
Hon H H. LEavrrr, Vice Pres'ts-