The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1859-11-26
OUR PHILADELPHIA LETTER.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 81, 1859


Mr.. EDITOR: Mr.. jesse E. Glasgow,
Jr., delivered a valedictory lecture at the
National Hall, in Market street, below
Thirteenth, on Monday evening, 14thinst.,
and will soon take his departure for Eu-
rope to resume and finish his studies On
Tuesday evening, T. Morris Chester, Esq,
lectured before the Philadelphia Library
Company on Liberia" at Central Hall.
The room was crowded, as in other instan-
ces during the season. He gave glowing
description of the home of his adoption,
and stated many facts, both important and
interesting to the colored people. He said,
among other things, that the colony is fast
developing its social, civil, and political ad-
vancement, and is one of the brightest
stars in the galaxy of nations. Planting
the colony was no new scheme, but it had
demonstrated the fact that the colored
people are capable of self-government.
Established under the most embarrassing
circumstances, it has become an indepen-
dent nationality. In this we have much
to rejoice over, and much to cause bitter
regrets care not from what pant of the
world the sons of Africa may come, they
are free and safe under the flag of our ma
tionality. 1t must not be thought that Ii
IBERIA is paradise, nor as unwholesome as
Botany Bay. 1t is neither the one nor
the other-but under the lone star the
standard of morals is high, and all the
continent of Africa is the Liberian's field
of labor. Until within a few years past
the black flag of the pirate coursed along
the Liberian shore for 500 miles, but if one
should be caught in Liberia now he would
be hung Immediately, and only allowed a
few minutes for prayers, There is a pen
atty for the breaking of every law, human
or divine, and he who disregards the claims
of human nature must feel the sting of a
guilty conscience Formerly the coast of
trade than any other part of Africa, but
now we have schools and seminaries of
learning-and churches have been erected,
whose spires indicate that we reverence the
Supreme Being. Palm oil, camwood and
logwood are now substituted for slaves in
the commerce of the country. Liberia is
more an agricultural than commercial
country, not being adapted to the latter
but there are several articles which are
shipped from there, such as cotton, which
is taken to England sometimes, and after
wards sold in our markets here. He had
seen in South street goods manufactured
from Liberian cotton, and also camwood,
which is used for dyeing, and commands a
good price. The mortality is sometimes
very great among emigrants, caused by
the acclimating fever, &c.
When Mr.. Chester had concluded the
lecture he said he was prepared to answer
any questions that might be asked concern
ing Liberia, which his knowledge of the
country would enable him to answer, but
at this point the following question was
discussed: "Has colonization benefited
the colored people?" During the discus
sion of this question number of questions
were put to and answered by Mr.. Chester.
Mr.. Isaiah G. Wears said-"The COLOMBIA
ton scheme was gotten up as safety-valve
to an overgrown slave population, and that
the constitution of that society contained
originally compulsory measure for the
removal of the free colored people from
this country. l do not believe that the
raising of cotton in Africa would ever in
jure Slavery here, because there are slaves
in Brazil, and there is no cotton raised
there Notwithstanding all the CON-
MERGE and resources of Brazil, the slave
trade is carried on to greater degree than
ever before. The enterprise has injured
the colored people here, by removing from
among us some of our best men, and we
should see to it that none of them 60"
Tonumerous questions the lecturer gave
satisfactory replies, of which the following
are specimens:
Mr.. Wears-Do not the names Ashland,
Clay, Buchanan, &c, given to towns in Lii
IBERIA, induce the belief that the colored
people have no hope of rising to equal po-
sition with the whites in this country7
The Lecturer-They do
Mr.. Wears-Do not more manumitted
slaves 60 to Liberia than freedom per-
sonsf
The Lecturer-Five to one.
Mr.. Wears-Does not the constitution
of Liberia contain provision that no white
person can become citizen of that coun-
try2
The Lecturer-It does, and I have Ia