The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1860-03-17
From the New York lIerah
MEETING OF THE AFRICAN CIVI.
LIZATION SOCIETY

| The African CIVILIZATION Society, Of this
city, an organization composed chiefly Of
colored people, held their first meeting at
the Cooper Institute last evening Owing
to the inclimency of the weather, the hall
was by no means full, and an admission
fee of twenty-five cents doubtless further
deferred many others from attending the
meeting who would otherwise have been
present.
The meeting having been called to or
der, and opened by singing and prayer,
Rev FL. III. Garnet, colored clergyman
of this city, spoke as follows:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-It devolves upon
me to make brief statement Of the o.
jects and plan Of operation upon which We
have agreed to act. We propose to offer
such encouragements as shall induce the
African people to persevere in honorable
pursuits, and thus hasten the removal Of
the grievous expressions and unjust preu
dices which are the sources of our long and
bitter grief We have among us men Of
talent and learning, but such is the preu.
dice against our race that they are not
employed. The African Civilization S.
ciety proposes, by the assistance of God,
to aid in the removal of those unchristial
barriers which are placed in the way Of
our race, by discovering fields for the fill
and free exercise of their talents and eneT
gies, either in our own native land, in Cen
trail America, in Hayti, in any of the free
West India Islands, or in Africa, the land
of our forefathers We believe that Afr.
ca is to be redeemed by Christian civilza
ton, and that the great work is TO be chief
ly achieved by the free and voluntary
emigration of enterprising colored people
We hold it to be the duty of the Christians
and philanthropists in America, either to
send or carry the gospel and civilization
into Africa, to thus make some atonemeni
for the wrongs and crimes which the PEG
pie of this land have perpetrated upon that
injured country. In our efforts to accom-
plish this work we offer no excuse or pal
liation for the unjust prejudices which exist
towards us as people. We reject the
idea, entertained by many, that the black
man can never enjoy equal privileges il
this country with other classes. To admit
this would be TO distrust the power of the
Gospel, land to doubt its universal triumph
We regard the enslavement of our race to
be the highest crime against God andmani
and we hope, by teaching the Kings and
Chiefs of Africa better things, to induce
them to exterminate the slave trade and
engage in lawful commerce, and in this
way aid in destroying slavery in this and
all other lands. In carrying out our Oh
lects we ask for volunteers, and only fol-
volunteers. We appeal to all on the broad
grounds of humanity and Christian love
Our plan of operation in Africa is this:
1. To confirm the friendly relations a.
ready established by members of the 80
ciety now there, with some of the chiefs ID
the Yoruba country, by sending out a
company of virtuous, intelligent and enter
prising colored people, who are now ready
to act as pioneers, and who will proceed b
soon as the necessary funds are raised.
8. To purchase lands at suitable points
for the use Of the settlers, to be given 10
them in equal limited quantities, and 10
furnish the necessary mechanical and ayr
cultural implements. 2,
3. To erect school houses and houses o.
religious worship, to instruct the native
in the arts and sciences, and developes' "
intelligence and industry, the natural re
sources of the country.
4. To promote lawful commerce upon
the coast Of Africa, and the growth OF COZ
ton and other tropical products by tree ID
bor
With the blessing of God we hope to ,os 81
cure, as the results of our efforts, the GNU
sion Of the Gospel in Africa, and the COD,
sequent overthrow of idolatry and suPsl
stition, the destruction of the African slS
trade, and the establishment Of civil gov
eminent by free colored men, based uPJ
true Christian principles, where any
scope may be afforded to all foE- the eAD
else of every mental and moral iacuily.
In behalf of this important enterplD<
we appeal to the patriot, the philanthrOp"a
and the Christian believing that the 81
erous sympathy of our nature Will ri
very many to act the part OF the ~
Samaritan towards Africa, by contrlOsarps,
literally to this object, and thus ena'D"