The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-02-21
RRESPoNDENCE.
Letter from Princeton, N. j.
FEBRUARY 18th, 1888.
Colonization.

MeSSrS. EditOrS,-Of course you re-
member how warmly the scheme of Afri-
can Colonization was nurtured in Vir
ginia. Many of her prominent men out
of mere philanthropy, others out of mis-
sionary zeal, were enthusiastic in the
cause. l need but mention Charles Fen
ton Mercer, as representing one class, and
Bishop Meade, the other. When l was
child the subject was brought, with amaz
ing interest, into my own household.
The society was sending out to. Liberia a
ship-load of emigrants, among whom were
the parents, younger brothers and sisters
and an aunt of my mothers seamstress
Colbert, the father, old Colonel
Ton, Ya.,) blacksmith,
4dracter and intelli-
as early seized with the
4,sne TO 90 to Africa, but, being past
middle life, his friends tried to dissuade
him by representing the fatal nature of
the climate to people of his age. My
father often quoted his dauntless reply ::
Let me go to Africa; let me set my foot
upon her soil, and lifting my face to
heaven say, I am free man, and l am
willing to die" He did go; slept ashore,
4,
and died. One by one, his family fell
victims to the climate until scarce rep
resentative of it was left The tragic
story sent thrill of dsmay through
those left behind from which they never
recovered for when, many years after,
l said to his grandson, my young dining
room servant, who fell heir to his integ-
rity and intelligence. but not to his en-
ergy and pluck, Edward, wouldn't you
like to 90 to Liberia p he promptly re-
piled he would not. And so any practi-
cal personal interest in the cause faded
out, though retained a strong approval
Of it up to the war Long before that
time Liberia had pushed off from her
colonial moorings and become an estab-
lished republic. Roberts, her President,
had paid visit to the United States
had had entertainments given him in
Washington City by distinguished men,
at which eminent statesmen and private
gentlemen had been guests; had unosten-
tatiously gone to Petersburg, his native
place; had worshipped in Dr. Plumer s
church in Richmond, taking a seat with
his Old companions in the gallery had,
everywhere, conducted himself, in his
difficult circumstances, with singular tact
and decorum, and we had all grown into
the conviction that colonization, under
the flag of the Union, had achieved a
signal success. Since the war, however,
there has seemed little vitality in the old
colonization scheme, and scarce any mo-
tive for its continuance The negroes
are all free to seek their own homes, and
Liberia, as far as | could hear, was no
longer in request, our freedmen being
content, for the most part, to be the INA
tons Wards" and tools Of political dem
agogues. Occasionally l read of some
great exodus to the West, where, Of course,
as they only change the place, but keep
the pain, disaster and failure ensued.
But within week, new departure has
come to my notice Of a hopeful and in
spring kind.
Two Colored Preachers.
Some years ago there were two colored
preachers here settled over the Methodist
and Presbyterian colored churches. To
their pastoral duties they added a course