The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-22

Our readers may remember the very curious
letter which the African Aid Society recently ad-
dressed TO that ferocious and sanguinary des.
pot, the King of Dahomey. We presume from
the steps which have been recently taken by the
Society to coonize another part of the coast of
Western Africa that "Majesty BADAHUNG" persists
in his evil courses, and cannot be persuaded to be-
come, in the language of the remonstrants, b" a
"wise, and a great, and good King" Indeed
there is evidence that his bloody instincts are not
to be controlled by words of entreaty even when
accompanied, as in the instance referred to- with
seductive offers of lucrative trade and an annual
present in silver or in rare textile fabrics. Since
the sending of that letter the news has reached us
of the slaughter of two thousand victims
at the annual festival and the pride
which this savage incarnate took in
took in offering so terrible sacrifice in honor of
his ancestors. 1t is, as we have remarked on a
previous occasion, the custom of the country, and
the present King of Dahomey, during his brief
reign, has not shown himself disposed to become
an innovator upon old usages. He clings, as his
father dill before him, to his slave hunts his con-
cubines, his fetch worship and his annual sacri-
it is, from the sale of captives on the coast, to
growing Cotton at the instance of English manu-
facturers, and settling down to life of ignoble
ease in the midst of thrifty and industrious pop
ulation. Finding BADAHUNG insensble alike to
brides and Establishments, the African Aid Society
has sought to effect its object by other means 1t
now proposes to COLOMBO slip of territory on
the coast which has been recently obtained by
treaty from The King and Chiefs of Abbeokuta
The coonsts to consist of the free blacks of the
UNITED STATES and Canada who are to be invited
to take possession of the lands which have been set
apart for their use and TO cultivate them under
the auspices of the Society which will furnish the
means that are necessary for their support, until
such time as they have become established in
their new home, and are capable of providing for
themselves. The ruling idea of the English phi
lanthropists is of course, the production of Cotton
though it is hoped that it will conduce also to the
introduction of knowledge of the Christian be-
lief among the neighboring tribes The scheme has
been laid before the Birmingham Chamber of Com
merce by Lord ALFRED CHURCHILL, the Chair
man of the African Society, and appears to have
been well received. But however praiseworthy
it may be, there is one difficulty to be overcome
which, in our opinion, is nsuperable. Every
possible inducement has been held out to the free
blacks of this country to migrate to Liberia; but
Notwithstanding the strenuous efforts which have
been made by private individuals and the liberal
assistance that has been granted in various in
stances by our State Legislatures, the work of
Colonization goes slowly on. Nearly forty years
have elapsed since the Colony of Liberia was
founded, and at this day that little Republic does
not contain more than ten thousand American
Africans. The precedent therefore, is by no
means an encouraging one 1t is true that the
climate of Abbeokuta is said to be more salubri-
Gus than that of Liberia but this refers only to the
uplands of the interior, where the countrys open
and the soil has become impoverished from long
continued cultivation. Buteyen were inducements
OF the most tempting character held out to our free
coored population, we hazard nothing in saying
that they would prefer remaining here inferior
race, and subject 10 all the disabilities which IN
friendly legislation may impose upon them, rather
than respond to the call either of the Hayen Gov
eminent, the American Colonization Society, or
the new African Aid Association.