Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-09-28
For the Burlington Free Press
.rpucay CIVILIZATION SOCIETY.

AFRICAN CltlLiLA AAoN
Some efforts were made, twelve months since, Tor
the purpose of forming an association in vermont
for the aiding in the civilization of Africa. Henry
H. Garnett of New York, was expected at Mont
pelier while the Legislature were in session, 70
explain the objects of the Society, but he faingto
attend, the forming such an association In Vermont
was for the time extinguished.
Now, as wo are again approaching correspond
Ing period, the question again presents ITSELF
Shall zoe form an african Civilization Soeidy N
Vermont The inquiry will, Of course, be made
What are its obj.e,s' Every well in ormed man
in Vermont knows something of the influence which
Slavery in America exerts upon the rights and
privileges of the people, and every humane man
watches with painful interest its enerOachments
upon legitimate liberty He sees, too, with alarm,
the efforts that are being nsde for re.Opening the
foreign slave-trade 1t is confidently believed
that such as are earnestly opPosed to the reopen
ing of that trade will cheerfully embrace any
opportunity for working FOR the abolition of such
enormous evils.
The trade in slaves between the shores Of Amer
lea and the shores of Africa, claims attention,
and without attempting to weigh very exactly the
genuineness Of the christianity in America that
gives countenance to such trade, let US visit the
.oast Of Africa, and there TO our dishonor, we find
that wherever chr stianity has been heartily en-
braced by the African people, that they have shown
a preference for lawful commerce in the fruits of
the earth, instead of tho inhuman one Of trading
in their follow mortals. And through the COM
bined influence Of christian men in America and
England, some hundreds of miles OF sea coast are
closed against the inroads of the slave trade It's
to lengthen and strengthen this aHtsLdusry Gordon
on the coast of Africa that the African Civilization
Society has in view among its chief objects.
There is another desirable result that may fellow
this movement If it is we'll sustained. The lsglfirl.
a-,pars of American commerce may receive benefit.
" The great tropical districts along the southern
side Of the Great Desert the fine plains ard gently
rising country from the north bank of the Rio de
Fornosa, and from the Niger to the base Of the
Kong Mountains are adapted to the culture Of
cotton President Benson of Liberia says, in his
fifth annual message: L" l have directed measures
to be adopted for the procurement of several bar
rsls Of the best cotton seed this month Iearly in
th, year], at Cape Mount aud vicinity, to be dis
tribused among the native chiefs along our coasts
for cultivation the ensuing season."
We know that American shipping could bring AZ
rican cotton to the New England coast with nearly
the same facility as New England lumber is
carried to the African coast.
They will Guy our New England Lumber and
yankee Motions" and We want their jrss pa, oy
Cotton. Such Cotton finds ready market in Liv-
erpool-vhy should it not meet with the same
welcome in Boston Then lot American machine
~ be employed in tbs conversion of this article
into wearable fabrics, and Northern politicians Of
any grade may yet have the privilege of wearing
a cotton shirt tha: is ursta,aed nth the blood Of
oppr,s'ioH.
The Association, it is contemplated, will work
in such a manner as not to interfere materially
with any other benevolent enterprise here else
where. Men Of various occupations are rFering
themselves, willing to be sent out as missionary
laborers Into this field The design Of the A.rican
Civilization Society, is TO essist educated, irtei
gent viros aad eH:epissng eolorsd ptrso7J to scale
IN Af7ea, Of sievatiH3 the mora! condition
Of the Satsvss, and adsareiHgis seo-k Of CkristiaH
CivrAzatou among them" The friends Of the
movement look with hopeful interest to the lber-
ty loving people Of Vermont for aid in this be-
nevolent movement. Who will respond to this
appeal, and share in the responsibility Of signing
call for Convention at Montpelier, during the
next session of our legislature The subscriber
has learned from Henry Il. Garnet, the President
of the New York Association, and A. 4. Constan
tine, the Secretary, that one or both Of them
would endeavor to attend our meeting at Mont
pelier, if desired.
The subscriber has also received letter from
Dr.. Beckwith Of Boston, the Secretary Of the
American Peace Society, renewing his invitations
TO Vermonters to organize Vermont Peace Soce-
ty. Hoping ADLER hand will take up this cab
ject, and others will be found to sustain him.
HENRY MILES
Monkton, vt. 9th mo-, eth, 1860.