The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-10-09
From the Smyrna Times.
NO. q. a
TO Ayers seocEkly, ESQ.


TO Ayers stecIxly, Esq.
Ny Dear Sn;- ' 1a
According to the course Of observation
| have marked out for myself, now propose
LIST, to show "the kind of slavery that was re-
cognized in the Holy Scriptures" But be-
fore Ienter upon this subject, shall endeav-
or to expose the chronological error into which
the elder of an Old School Presbyterian
Church" has fallen, in regard to the origin of
the negro race.
That we may not misunderstood the EEL
der" | shall quote his own language: he de-
clares that, it has been the commonly re-
"ceived opinion of all ages, that the negroes
"are the descendants of Canaan. Our knowl-
ledge of history prior to the Grecian Empire
is very imperfect, too much SO to prove or
"disprove this point with certainty. The
traditional belief of all ages and peoples on
this subject is, in view of the circumstances,
Sufficient to satisfy my own mind but l
quote for your benefit from DR.. Rees' Cyclic
"pedia, under the head of "Canaanites,
"Joshua extirpated great numbers, and obli-
eyed the rest to fly, some into Africa, and
"others into Greece. Procopius says they first
retreated into Egypt, but advanced into
africa, where they built many cities, and
"spread themselves over those vast regions
(which reach to the straits, preserving their
sod language with little alteration. In the
"time of Athanasius, the Africans still said
"they were descended from the Canaanites,
land when asked their origin, they answered
Canaan up, 9 of the letter,
give you, sir, the benefit of this long quo
tation from the Letter" to show how vague,
uncertain, and unsatisfactory are the elders"
notions in regard to the origin of the negroes
1t has been the commonly received opinion"
says the Elder" " of all ages, that the ne
groes are the descendants of Canaan" He
has not favored us with the name of single
respectable author who advances this opinion;
but confesses, that "our knowledge of history,
prior to the Grecian Empire is very imperfect,
too much SO to prove or disprove this point
with certainty" And yet he makes very
weak effort towards offering such proof, by
averring the traditional belief of all ages and
peoples on this subject" which, in view Of the
circumstances, seems sufficient to satisfy the
mind of the Elder. In support of this " ira
dition Of all ages" this learned ELDER" in
stead of going to the fountain head of history
the Holy Bible-to ascertain the location
and settlements of the descendants of Canaan,
or of his father Ham, contents himself with a
quotation from DR.. Rees' Cyclopedia, which
relates simply that Joshua extirpated great
numbers of the Canaanites, and obliged the
rest to fly, some into Africa where they built
many cities, and spread themselves over those
vast regions which reach to the straits"-that
is to the straits of Hercules, now Gibraltar,
at the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea-
1t will be seen then, from the whole of this
parade of the wonderful historical knowledge
Of this very learned " Elder'-derived from q
single book, DR.. Rees' Cyclopedia-that some
of the canaanites on fleeing from the land OF
Cinnamon Palestine-settled in the North
of Africa upon the coasts of the Mediterra-
mean. But does this prove that these Canaan
ties were negroes? Does not the Elder"
know, and does not every body else know,
that the ancient inhabitants of Northern
Africa, from Egypt to the straits of Hercules,
were not negroes but were of the same type
and color of thep present Moors, Algerines, &C.,
who inhabit those districts2 Can this learn
ed Elder" produce single respectable
author who tells US that the Canaanites, or
any Of their descendants, or any of the descen-
dants of Canaan, ever emigrated into, and
settled in the tropical regions of Africa--the
present and proper home of the negroes2
But why refer to Grecian history at all2-
What Greek historian gives us any consistent
satisfactory account of the different settle
ments of the descendants of the sons of Noah?
Heroditus, one of the Oldest Greek historians
called "the Father of History'--composed
history about AS years before Christ, or
more than thousand years after tie death of
Moses. In his second book "Euterpe"-
speaking of the settlement of Egypt, Herodi-
tus is "of opinion that the Egyptians did not
commence their origin Nth the Delta, but
from the first eristance Of the human race !''
He gives us no satisfactory account of the
settlements of the interior of Africa, which
was, in fact terra incognita to the Greek
historians, Heroditus acknowledges himself
to be indebted to the Egyptian Priests for
much Of his traditional knowledge. These
artful Priests told him many wonderful stories;
and we all know what little reliance is to be
placed upon most of his traditions, and crude
notions.
1t is manifest from the authorities cited bv
the "Elder"-Procopius or Athanasias-that
the Canaanites, who were expelled from the
land of Canaan by Joshua, settled upon the
shores of the Mediterranean. 1t was natural
they should do so. AS they were maritime
people in their own land, they would found
| their new settlemanta m, tba MoJ:4o...-.