Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-07-27

nenf settlement in what is now the fourishing
Republic of Liberia. He guided their councils;
he shared their perils, and led them in their de-
fence against hostile bsrbarisns. On every side
except upon .the sea, he was surrounded BY
people who had superadded to the common vices
Of a savage state, al the vices that savages
could learn IRON long intercourse with pirates
and slave traders. Ashman and his little band
pitched their tents upon a coast which had been
for century the chief seat of the slave trade;
coast from which, but the year before, some
20 900 slaves had be n shipped to Brazil and to
the West India Islands.
But who were these pilgrims. and for what
purpose did they 60 forth, periling life and
health, by land and by sea, and among false
brethren They were the exiled children Of
Africa. They went forth with an object before
them, clear and well defined. They went, not
only to improve their own condition, but to es-
tablish a civilized nationality of colored men
amidst the scenes Of cruelty and barbarism. Or,
- rtA ANA VI ~ A-S+- l"-N-N- N~~-NN-f -NS
went "to prepare home for themselves and
their enslayed brethren who might be released
from bondage, and to prepare the way for the
entrance of the Gospel into benighted Africa -
Other conn anies soon followed and joined
Ashman's little colony. But how were these
people fitted for the work they had undertaken
They had 10 prestige Of social ele-
walton here Like the pilgrims Of the
Mayfower, they were few in number and poor
in the wealth Of this world; but they were rich
in faith. God had trained them for their work in
this school Of affliction to give them strength Of
characte as be trained the Isrselites in Egypt
TO 1T them for taking possession Of the promised
land, and as he trained the PuritAns Of England
to prepare them for their great work in settling
this Western continent. And this is Gods
met hod. Whenever he intends 10 use an indi-
vidual or a nation for some great work, he pre-
pares that individual or nation for his purpose
in the school Of discipline and affection. Thus
he prepared Abraham and Moses and Joseph
and Daniel. And thus he prepared our Pilgrim
Fathers. And so be prepared the Fathers Of
Liberia for their great work of establishing
Nationality Of eolored men in Africa
Some Of these African pilgrims, were educa-
ted and intelligent christian men. In their
bondage they had learned most useful Lessons.
I They carried with them the English language;
the English Bible; our laws. manners, arts and
trades. They carried them all the lessons in
respect to civil and religious liberty and the
I right government Of a state, which cur Fathers
had learned in a hundred years. This garnered
experience Of the working Of a republican gov
eminent was their own.
The brief space Of forty four years has passed
away, and what do VIC see to-day as the result
| Of these humble beginnings, We see the slave
trade abolished on 700 miles Of the West Arr
can coast. The cries and groans Of the pirate
victim have given place to the accents Of Christian
worship and to the cheerful sounds Of voluntary
industry. We see there a stable and well ordered
/ EuUEIic, larger than the SIX View England
| States, whose government Is administered by
| cllorei men. We see there some so churches-a
| college with an endowment invested in this
country. Of over $4,000. We see there the
steam engine. the sugar mill, the cotton gin.
the printing press, and five newspapers issued
weekly or monthly, IN the columns Of which we
see all the marks and indications Of prosper
Gus and thriving State. Wen may our College,
vel may the old Congregational Church Of
burlington, rejoice and thank God, that they
have educated and sent forth nan 50 largely
instrumental in founding neS empire Of liber-
I ty il benishtei Africa
J.K. C., see'y Of Vt. Col Soc.