YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY PLEA FOR AFRICA BSIKG FAMILIAR CONVERSATIONS ON THE SUBJECT OP Slaijcrg ana ©oUnfjatfou, [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED UNDER THE TITLE " YARADEE."] Revised and Enlarged. BY F. FREEMAN, Rector of St. David's Church, Manayunk ; author of " The Pastor's Plea for Sacred Psalmody," etc. 'HOMO SCSI, HUMAiti ifiL A MB AiiENtJM PUTO." — Terence. SECOND EDITION. Philadelphia: PUBLISHED BY J. WHETHAM, No. 22 South Fourth street. 1837. Entered accorduig to the Act of Congress, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern Distric of Pennsylvania. ERRATA. On page 202. line- 9ih from the bottom, dele " t(." 254, line Uli do. do. in the note, lit " represcntiii" read respecting. WILLIi.nt STAVEIT, PBISTER, No. 12 Pear street. DEDICATION. TO THE HON. HENRY CLAY, THE DISTIXOriSHED SOX OP THE WEST, THE ACCOMPLISHED STATES- 5r-i:\ ASD TRUE PATRIOT, THE FBIEXD OP FBEEDO.M AND OF HUMAN BIGHTS, THE ABIE AND ZEALOUS ADVOCATE FOB COLONIZATION, AND PBESIDENT OF THE AMEBICAN COLONIZA TION SOCIETY, THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. CONTENTS. PAGE Advertiseme.nt, - - - 11-12 Conversation I. The claims of Afric worthy of consideration — Diversity of sen timent — The African race often traduced — Capable of moral and intellectual distinction — Once an enlightened people — Dis tinguished men — Degrading influence of paganism and ty ranny, 13-19 Conversation II. Origin of the African race — Africa, by whom originally settled — The curse against Canaan — ^The curse explained — The predic tion fulfilled — The enslaving of Africans not therefore just — Canaanites scattered — Africa not always to be oppressed, 20-26 Conversation III. ^Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands unto God — Color of Afri cans — DifTerent tribes assimilated — Tradition respecting Cush— Early history of Africa obscure — Interior of Africa but little known — Africa's ancient glory — Light from Africa on other lands— That light reflected back, 28-35 Conversation IV. Great reverses often in the history of nations — Much yet to ad mire in Africa — Africa's distinguished .ones — Prince Moro — Prince Abduhl Rahahman — Abduhl's father and Dr. Cox — Prince and Dr. Cox — Dr. Cox endeavors to free Prince — Prince's account of his capture — Carried to the W. Indies and Natchez, - 3S-H Conversation V. Remains of Africa's former glory— Destined to rise— Travellers in Africa— Truth and fiction found together in travels— Afri- 1* t> CONTENTS. cans not naturally indolent — Causes of indolence and incen tives to vice — African bravery— Henry Diaz — Other traits — Louis Desrouleaux — Glance at the interior of Africa — ^The Solima camp — Solima song, .... 44-55 Conversation VI. Scripture testimony to African learning— Manuscripts-Christian tribes— Large cities— Color of beauty — Domestic slavery in Africa— Manner of capturing slaves — Horrors of the slave- trade — Middle passage — Horrors of slavery — A reproach to hu manity — An evil full of danger— The evil to be removed — Something must be done — A right spirit needed, - • 56-66 Conversation VII. Self-preservation, a law of nature — Change being efTected — Common interest of our country-^Slavery, the bane of our peace and unity — Depresses the South — Is unprofitable — In troduced by, England — Policy of England — Retires South — Cannot be supported on barren soils — Occasions much anxi ety — Great vigilance necessary — Insurrectionary alarms — An evil to master and slave, - - 67-77 Conversation VIII. Slavery attended with anxieties — Severe enactments — Danger ous publications — The South must be vigilant — Insurrectiona ry attempts ruinous to the blacks— Slaves should not be kept in ignorance — Kindly feelings at the South — Difficulties of emancipation — Duty to slaves does not always require emanci pation, - - 77-84 Conversation IX. Sentiments of the South— Misrepresentations — Severity of re. mark unwise — Washington's advice, 85-99 CO.WERSATION X. introduction of Slavery — Opposed by the colonies — The first slave-ship— Early date of Slavery in Africa — Foreign Iraffic — Slaves introduced into Hispaniola— Origin of Slavery in America — Mistaken Philanthropy of Las Casas — Mistaken zeal in a good cause may lead to great error — Plea of politi cal necessity often abused — Advantage of one's own wrong — A consummation greatly to be desired, 99-109 Conversation XI. All Christendom has been engaged in the traffic— Christianity identified by the African formerly with cruelty and perfidy — CONTENTS. 7 Classification of slaves — How slaves are secured and sold — Horrors of the passage — The middle passage — Africa as she was— Extent of the trade — Cruelties, - - 110-116 Conversation XII. Cruelties of the slave-trade— Extent of the trade in later years — First cost — Domestic distress — .^fTecting case — The Afi-ican Chieftain, Stanzas, .... 117-123 Conversation XIII. Change of public sentiment — Measures in Parliament — Aboli tion of the trade by Congress — By other powers — Trade not suppressed — Something more necessary — Colonies along the coast — Early eflJbrts of Virginia — Her example followed — Slavery abolished by England — Claims of England unwarran table and immodest — An enlightened view of the whole sub ject desirable, . 124-132 Conversation XIV. The Federal government — Rights guaranteed by Constitution — Musi not be infringed — District of Columbia — South sensitive — North censorious — .All interested — Prudent measures recom mended — North not without sin — Appeal to New-England, 132-133 Conversation XV. A national debt — May be cancelled — Right of discussion — A moral wrong — Property recognized by law — Rights guaran teed — \"alue of slave property — The Federal compact — Diffi- rulties of emancipation — South tenacious of its rights — Foreign interference inadmissable — The constitutional question — Ef fects of discussion — Disunion and collision, madness — Virginia matron's appeal, - ... 140-155 Conversation XVI. Moral and religious instruction of slaves — EfTorts at the South — Religious instruction in Virginia — In Georgia — In South Caro lina — Colonization tends to emancipation — Anecdote of recap tured boy — Slavery overruled for good — Christian colonies a means of evangelizing the heathen, - - 155-168 Conversation XVII. Freedom alone will not elevate the blacks — Their depravation not strange — No stimulus to effort — No opportunity for distinc tion — Almost necessarily degraded — Natural consequence of their situation — Cannot rise or be happy here — Claims of the _ American Colonization Society — Opens bright prospects for 8 CONTENTS. Africa — Prejudices against Africans — Distinctions on account of color — Less prejudice in other countries — Anecdote of Saunders, ... ... 168-175 Conversation XVIII. Free blacks more degraded than slaves — Alarming proportion of crime among blacks — Either colonization or slavery necessary for the present — Colonization ameliorates the condition of the slave — Immediate and universal emancipation ruinous — Anec dote — An unwelcome population — Baltimore memorial — Em barkation of colonists, - . - 176-184 Conversation XIX. Africa a home for her children — Happiness and respectability promoted by removal — Motives to respectability — African im provement and colonization closely united — The foundation of a Christian empire laid — History of the American Colonization Society — Society organized — Originators and Patrons — First emigration to Africa — Colonization agents visit Africa — Samuel John Mills- Death of Mills — ^Tribute to his memory, 185-193 Conversation XX. Friends of Africa — Anthony Benezet — Object of the American Colonization Society — Generally approved— All may unite — Lafayette's views of the Society — Other distinguished friends — Auxiliaries — Legislative acts approbatory — Funds — Ecclesi astical bodies approve, . 194-201 Conversation XXI. Liberia — Location and chief settlements — Monrovia — Caldwell — New Georgia — Millsburgh — Marshall — Cape Palmas — Ad dress of the Maryland Colonists — Bassa Cove — Fertility of Li beria — Testimony of Park — Productions — Resources — Com mercial advantages-T-Commerce of Liberia — Enterprise — Pros perity, ..... 202-211 Conversation XXII. Climate — First selection of place unfavorable — Exposures of the early colonists — Discouragements at Jamestown and Plymouth greater — Difficulties at Sierra Leone — DifSculties generally at- tend new settlements — Desolations of the slave-trade — Huma nity pleads for colonization — Honor to be pioneers — Address of citizens of Monrovia — Delightful climate for blacks — No com petition, . .... 212-222 Convertation XXU. Aid from the U. States — Recaptured slaves restored to Africa — CONTENTS. 9 Early trials of the colony — Ashmun's defence — Ashmun's death — His early history — Dies praying for Africa — Menu- ment— Poetical tribe, ...... 222-227 Conversation XXIV. Government of Liberia — Literary advantages — Library — Print ing press — Testimony of Dr. Shane — Of Captain Kennedy — Of Capt. Nicholson— Of Capt. Abels— Of a British officer— Of Governor Mechlin— Of Capt. Sherman— Of Rev. B. Wilson— Of Dr. Skinner — Of Mr. Buchanan — Of Colonists — Religious privileges — Colonization a good cause — Good has been done, 228-243 Conversation XXV. Young Men's Colonization Society of Pennsylvania — First ex pedition — Interesting coincidences — Great success and encou ragement — Bassa Cove — The slavers move the natives to at- tack the colony — No apprehension for the future — Prosperity of the colony — American Society — College in Liberia proposed — Such an institution needed — College necessary — Degenera. cy without knowledge — A college in Liberia full of promise — It Will be sustained — Bassa Cove a delightful country — Co lonists contented and prosperous — The colonies must succeed — Colonies should line the coast, .... 244-260 Conversation XXVI. Right of Search- — Convention of foreign powers — Extinction of the slave-trade — Recent facts — Slave-trade not practicable where colonies are planted — Great extent of coast exposed — Our national vessels should visit the coast — Some action of Congress desirable, - . . . - 261-268 Conversation XXVII. Colonization is practicable — Best way of redressing Africa's wrongs — The cause of true patriotism — Its claims — Coloniza tion or ruin — Difference of opinion among good men — In crease of Blacks — Dangers from a mixed population, - 268-276 Conversation XXVIII. Even partial success a great blessing — Slaves of other times of the color of their masters — Colonization unites conflicting in terests — All are benefitted — An honorable instance — Views of an intelligent colored man — Our honor pledged — A na tion's oath — Christian obligations — Heaven on the side of Africa — Africa and colonization the subject of many prayers, 276-285 Conversation XXIX. A great and worthy enterprise— Africa's claims acknowledged — A 1 0 CONTENTS. missionary field — Bright prospects — Fond anticipation of Mills — What more noble cause — Emancipation not our only duty — The country must engage in the work — Right of appropria- ' tion — True liberty secured to Africa, . - - 285-291 Conversation XXX. Objections answered — Means of transportation — Great things usually accomplished slowly — Liberia compared with other colonies — Room in Africa — All opposition wrong — Shall not Africa be Christianized ? — Responsibility of opposers — Coloni zation and abolition societies not necessarily conflicting — Neither should molest or be molested — All good associations have not the same object — glorious results anticipated — If co lonization fail, high hopes are blighted — It will prosper — The cause of God, ..... 292-302 Appendix. Early and distinguished friends of Colonization — Robert Finley — James Madison — ^Thomas Jefferson — James Monroe — Charles Carroll — Bushrod Washington — John Marshall — Bishop White —Robert Ralston— Elias B. Caldwell— William H. Filzhugh — Thomos S. Grimke — Lott Carey — Dr. Randall — Dr. Ander son—Melville B. Cox— and others, - . - 303-323 Pre-eminent qualifications of the pioneers in colonization — Qualifications of the colonists generally — Acknowledgment - of the valuable services of others in aid of the cause, 323-325 Colonization and Africa have found generous friends among the fair sex, ... . 326-330 Friends to the cause in England, - . - 330-331 Objections of opposers, .... 331.347 Mission to the interior of Africa, .... 347-349 New Mission to Africa, .... 349 Notices of this work, &c. ¦ ¦ - - 351-354 ADVERTISEMENT. [TO THE FIRST EDITION.] This little volume is thrown before the world without the usual array of names to sustain its claims to consideration. Its pretensions are not lofty : it refers to the importance of its subject, and with the solemn assurance that it has been written without any subserviency to party views, and with out any unkind designs, it relies on the candor of the reader. The writer has followed the honest convictions of his own mind, and in connexion with facts that are indisputable, has expressed views which are the conscientious result of much reflection, personal observation, and a long residence and ex tensive acquaintance at the South. He may have formed an erroneous judgment in some things pertaining to the subject, for " to err is human," and he lays no claim lo infallibility ; but he loves truth, and has truly aimed at impartiality. If, on the one hand, he is constrained to admit a liability to bias from " northern pre judice," he can sincerely say that, on the other hand, his warm admiration of the southern character and his affection for southern friends unite an all-sufBcient counteracting in fluence. He is fully aware that as these pages savor none of party, they will not find favor with the ultras of any opinion ; and he conceives it more than possible that some of opposing sentiments may each suppose that the writer favors the views of the other : if, however, whilst some dis approve and condemn without cause, or are severe in criti cism, the more candid approve, the writer will not complain. That these pages may do good, is the anxious wish of one who loves his country and sympathizes with his brethren in whatever part of the country, and also pities Africa and her oppressed children. 12 ADVERTISEMENT. Particular acknowledgn^ents of the aid derived in this work from the able remarks of several distinguished advo cates for freedom and for human rights, are not given ; for the task would be inconvenient and useless. If any such find their thoughts or language here employed, they will re quire no apology, satisfied to have aided by their writings this humble attempt at a plea for Africa, and will cordially unite with that of the writer, their earnest prayer that the claims of Africa may be better understood, and that we may all and each of us soon be able to say, without an exception or a blush, " Ubi libertas, ibi Patria." [FOR THE PRESENT EDITION.] In sending to the press a second, revised, and enlarged edition of his Plea for Africa, the author gratefully acknow ledges the flattering reception which the first edition met, and the assurances he has had that it has been of utility to the cause which he seeks to promote. His prayer is that the work may still be useful, and that divine Providence may continue to smile on the efforts of all true friends of the African race. It is proper to add that much aid has been derived in the preparation, or revision of the Plea, from Rees' Cyclopedia, RoUin, Gregoire, Malte Brun, Eusebius, &c. touching the early history jf Africa and of the slave-trade ; and for later information, reference has chiefly been made to the African Repository and the other publications of the American Colonization Society and its auxiliaries. A part of the title to the first edition, " Yaradee," has been omitted in this, the name not helping to indicate the nature of the work, and having been found inconvenient, in some instances leading to the impression that the book belongs to the class of novels. £i. IPHjIIA If ©Si AWW,U(^£i,o CONVERSATION I. " Eternal nature ! when thy giant hand Had heaved the floods, and fixed the trembling land, When life sprung startling at thy plastic call. Endless her forms, and man the lord of all ; Say was that lordly form, inspired by thee, To wear eternal chains, and bow the kneel" — Campbell, ' The subject of your discussion,' said Mr. L, as he folded the paper which had for some time absorbed his at tention, and turned to his children, who in the opposite part of the parlor, whilst he was reading, had been as busily em ployed in discussing the merits of the Colonization and Anti- slavery Societies, ' is certainly one that commends itself to the heart of humanity in either sex and among all people. Your inquiries, last evening, I had not time then to answer fully ; but I shall be happy now to give you all the informa tion in relation to it, in my power.' The little group which Mr. L. thus addressed, consisted of his eldest daughter, Caroline, a lovely and interesting girl of sixteen ; Henry, a sprightly and intelligent boy, who was next to his sister Caroline in age, and their two younger brothers, and little sister Mary. Caroline and Henry were conducting the debate, but all seemed deeply interested in the subject, and the eyes of all glistened with pleasure when 14 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Diversity of sentiment. Mr. L. proposed to gratify their wishes by assisting them to understand a subject which they found attended with at least some difficulty. A beloved and respected father is authority to which a dutiful and affectionate child loves to refer for in formation and advice, and to which, ordinarily, an appeal is made with great confidence. Said Caroline, ' I thought from your remarks, last even ing, my dear father, that you supposed the views of both Henry and myself to be somewhat incorrect ; and I think nothing more probable than that mine are, for I confess I know not what to believe when I notice the conflicting opi nions of so many good men in relation to this subject.' ' It need not surprise us,' rejoined Mr. L., ' to find pre vailing some diversity of sentiment on a subject which, whether presented to the mind of patriot, philanthropist, or Christian, involves considerations of so great and important interest. Nor will it be thought strange by me, if my dear children should find, when we come to converse freely and fully on the subject, that they are in some respects in error, not in matters of opinion only, but of fact. I therefore sug gested to you, last evening, for I had not time to say more, that, possibly you might find yourself, in some things, la boring under mistake. The hint was given, you will recol lect, Caroline, in consequence of a remark of yours in re spect to the " obtuseness" of the African intellect.' 'But, Pa,' said Caroline, with some degree of surprise, and with apparent incredulity, ' I presume you do not think the remark unjust ? The stupidity of Africans, I suppose to be proverbial.' A point was now touched which it was evident had inte rested the feelings of the children in the previous conversa tion that had been held whilst Mr. L. was engaged in lead ing ; for the smaller children drew closer around the table, PLEA FOR AFRICA. 15 The African race often traduced. and Caroline and Henry looked at each other and at their father, as if this was a matter respecting which they had not only agreed, but wondered that any one, and especially one whose opinion they so much respected, could entertain a thought diflferent from theirs. The reply of Mr. L. engaged their feelings still more : ' It is true, my daughter, that in de fiance of all records of antiquity, whether sacred or profane, and equally regardless of the evidence which our own times may furnish, the African race are often mentioned as if a dis tinct order of beings, a grade between man and brute ;* but — ' O Pa !' interrupted C, ' I have no such idea as that.' 'I know that you have not,' resumed Mr. L., 'but, my daughter, you may not be doing ample justice to the Afri cans, if you suppose them incapable of the finest sensibilities and sympathies of our nature, and of making great advances in all that requires strength or even brilliancy of intellect, as any other people.' ' Is it not strange, then. Pa,' C. inquired, ' that none of * It is earnestly contended by some that the negro race are so inferior by nature to the rest of mankind that perpetual slavery is the destiny to which they are best adapted. They have been stigmatized " the disgrace and mis fortune of the human race." Others assert that the skull or cranium of the negro shows him to belong to a distinct species ; and to settle the question whether the negro race be not a distinct species, reference has in some in stances been made to the cranium. Nothing, however, can be argued from this source against yacte that show the negro race to be capable of great mental effort and distinction, if such facts can be made to appear; and we think an impartialjnind will not, upon inquiry, deny that very many in stances of both moral and intellectual distinction among the race can be ad duced. In Rees' Cyclopedia it is well remarked, " Without denying that there are diflfecences both in the extent and kind of menial power, (in the various races of men,) we are decidedly of opinion that these differences are not sufficient in any instance to warrant us in referring a particular race to an originally different species ; and we protest especially against the sentiments of those who would either entirely denj to the Africans the enjoyment of reason, or who ascribe to them such vicious, malignant, and treacherous propensities as wauld degrade them, even below the level of the brute. It can be proved most clearly that there is no circumstance of bodily structure so peculiar to Che negro, as not to be found in other far distant nations ; no character which does not run into those of other races, by the same insensible gradations as those which connect together all the varieties of mankind." — Article Man. 16 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Once an enlightened people. the African race have ever been distinguished for talent ? I can easily conceive that Africans may have warm hearts ; but it hardly seems to me that you are serious. Pa, when you speak of the capabilities of the African mind V ' My daughter may be quite as incredulous then, if told that this very people, now so degraded, and who have been as if by common consent so long and so much traduced, were for more than a thousand years, which is almost twenty times longer than the government under which we live has been in existence, the most enlightened people on the face of the globe V ' What, Pa, the Jfricans?' ' Yes, my daughter.' ' Why, Pa, you surprise me. You certainly do not mean to be understood that Africans have ever been distinguished for genius and intellectual attainments ?' ' I do, my daughter, as strange as it may seem. Africa, unhappy Africa, is now degraded, and wherever are her sons and daughters, they are reproached and trampled under foot ; but among her children stand immortalized in history a long list of names, as honorable, for aught I know, as any nation upon earth can produce.' This, C. professed, was to her a new idea ; and Henry who admitted that he had ' always thought the Africans a much injured people,' and who protested that he felt ' very little respect for those people who sometimes place the Afri can on a level with baboons? acknowledged ' that the idea of literature and science associated with an African name,' was as novel to him, as it was to Caroline. ' You do not mean. Pa,' H. inquired, ' that any consider able number of Africans have discovered genius, or been dis tinguished for the cultivation of their minds ?' PLEA FOR AFRICA. 17 Distinguished men. Caroline declared that she did not ' know a single instance, unless it be that of Phillis Wheatley, who lived in Boston, sixty years ago, and wrote some very pretty poems.'* 'You have both of you, my dear children,' said Mr. L., ' heard of Cyprian, St. Augustine, and Tertullian, those fathers of the church ; they were Africans. Terrbnce, who has been called " As sweet a bard As ever strung the lyre to song," was an African, and was once a slave. Quintillian says that Terrence was the most elegant and refined of all the come dians whose writings appeared on the Roman stage. You have also read of Hanno and Hannibal ; they were among the valiant ones of Africa. It is said that the science of M- gebra origiijated in Africa. And what is more, the time was when Religion shed her rays brilliantly upon that now be nighted quarter of the globe, and the church was there pros perous. Ecclesiastical history tells us that in one council of the church in that country, assembled on a question of great importance, two hundred and seventy-seven Bishops took their seats.' Henry now inquired of C. if she had ever thought of these as being Africans ; confessing that he had not, although it now seemed to him strange that he never had. He thought that one would hardly suppose, looking at Africa as she now is, that such men were her sons. And C. who also knew the fact that these were Africans, and could tell much of the ancient history of Africa, for she was well versed in history, both modern and ancient, but had been so long accustomed * Phillis was born in Africa — torn from her country at the age of seven, and in 1761 sold to John Wheatley of Boston. " Allowed to employ herself in study, she rapidly attained a knowledge of the Latin language. In 1772 at the age of nineteen, and still a slave, she published a volume of religious and moral poetry, which passed through several editions" on both sides the Atlantic. She obtained her freedom in 1775, and died five years afterward a2 18 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Degrading influence of Paganism and Tyranny to identify the whole of Africa with the specimens she had seen, and to judge of the intellectual powers of all by the present degradation of the great portion of the Negro race in this country, that she had lost sight of so important facts, or at least was unaccustomed to think of them in this con nexion, professed to be ' quite ashamed' of herself. ' I really do not know,' she said, ' which most surprises me, my own stupidity in relation to this subject, or the interesting views which open to my mind, by reason of the light which Pa has thrown upon it. But, Pa,' she continued, ' the whole continent of Africa is exceeding degraded now ; do you not think that the African intellect, generally, has greatly dete riorated ?' ' My daughter,' said Mr. L., ' human nature, in whatever situation is wronged, if we judge of its capacity unfavora bly, merely because we find that paganism and tyranny de grade those that fall under their influence.* Perhaps, how ever, %ve shall pursue this whole subject to greater advantage if, taking time for its consideration and discussion, we call to our aid somewhat of system in arrangement of topics, and * " From the paralyzing influence of slavery, the ancient slaves of all na tions, whatever their complexion, were considered inferior in intellect. This is noticed by Homer : ' For half his senses Jove conveys away, Whom once he dooms to see Ihe servile day.' Yet what was benumbed, was not destroyed. Outof the stagnant pool of slave ry arose a Servius TuUius, the sixth king of Rome ; an .ffisop, one of the wise men of Greece ; a Phaedrus, who wrote fables in Iambic verse • an Alc- raen, a Lyric poet; an Epietetus, the celebrated stoic philosopher; and a Terrence, a distinguished dramatic writer among the Romans. * * The present depressed state of the African mind may be accounted for without supposing any original or permanent inferiority. For thirty centuries thev have been the common spoil of the world, and treated as if they were made only for slaves. And as to those who are found in other countries, what could be expected of creatures so circumstanced ? Torn from their native soil m a state of nature, kept in the profoundest ignorance, with every ob stacle opposed to their improvement, depressed by the most cruel treatment, by a series of wrongs enough to extinguish the last spark of genius, and With no hope-no incentive to exeitioa."— President Griffin's Plea for PLEA FOR AFRICA. 19 Conversation deferred. glance in the first place at the former history of Africa, and then at her condition in later times, noticing the wrongs that have been done her in the prosecution of the slave-trade, and the claims which Africa has upon our sympathy and justice for redress. So that, if you please, we will make this the general plan of our conversations ; and as other topics of in terest connected with the general subject, and growing out of it, naturally present themselves, they also may be noticed. I am pleased to see you interested in the welfare of Africa, and disposed to acquire correct views, and cherish right feel ings in respect to so important a subject. My own sympa thies are strongly enlisted in behalf of that much injured people. Their claims to our sympathy and humanity have been too long neglected.' Both Caroline and Henry expressed much satisfaction with the arrangement proposed, which they assured Mr. L. was very grateful to their feelings, and expressed also a hope that by their attention and improvement, they might be able to give other proof that they appreciate his kindness. Mr. L., on the other hand, intimated that he had great reason to rejoice that his children gave him so much evidence of their affection and respect, and so much promise in their dutiful, and upright, and ever amiable deportment, of future respectability and usefulness and happiness. The conversation was now deferred to another time. 20 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Origin of the African Race. CONVERSATION II. " God drave asunder, and assign'd their lot To all the nations. Ample was the boon He gave them, in its distribution fair And equal ; and he bade them dwell in peace." — Cowper. ' Well, my son, Caroline and I are waiting for you that we may take up the subject of our last evening's conversation,' said Mr. L., after a little conversation with C. on various topics, while Henry seemed to be busily engaged, in the ad joining room, in turning over the pages and examining the contents of a large folio which lay before him. ' I am ready. Pa,' said H. ; 'I was looking at what is said tinder the word " Africa," in the Encyclopedia. C. and I have been examining one book after another a great part of the day, to satisfy ourselves from which of the sons of Noah the Africans are descended. The Old Testament has been C.'s chief book of reference, whilst Calmet, and Brown, and others have been searched by me, I confess, without much benefit' Caroline was confident that their father could give them more information on the subject in one half hour than they might otherwise acquire ' by a whole month's study.' Mr. L. remarked, ' I think we proposed, last evening, to glance first at the history of the African race : the question you were agitating, then, in respect to their origin, is the first to be considered. On this point we must refer to a pe riod which profane history does not reach, but on which the word of God sheds its holy light, teaching us that Africa was planted by the descendants of Ham, the son of Noah. 'Ham, you will recollect, had four sons. Of these it is generally agreed, that Cush settled in Lower Egypt, and that plea for AFRICA. 21 Africa, by whom originally settled. from him were descended the ancient .Ethiopians, known to us as the Nubians and Abyssinians, and embracing also those unknown nations inhabiting tlie equatorial regions of the African continent. Hence, " Cush" is the name applied in the Hebrew Bible to .Ethiopia, embracing also in its fre quent application Africa in general. Mizraim, the second son, peopled what was known to the ancients as the The- bais, HermopoUs, Memphis, and Delta of the Nile ; but bet ter known to us as parts of Upper and Lower Egypt, some times called in the Hebrew scriptures " the land of Ham," oftener " Mizraim." From him also were descended the inhabitants of Colchis, the ancestors of the warlike Philis tines. Phut, another son, peopled Lybia and Mauritania, embracing the kingdom of Fez, the Deserts, Algiers, and other portions. From these, with such additions as emigra tion and frequent conquest have given, it is probable that all the nations of Africa, however divided, mixed, or dispersed, originally came.' Henry suggested, ' You have not mentioned Canaan, tel ling us where he settled ; I suppose, from the omission, that he settled in Asia, in the country called by his name ?' ' Yes : Canaan, the youngest son of Ham, settled in " Canaan," so called after him, which is sometimes called in scripture " Judah," and is also familiarly known by us as the "land of promise," and is also called " Palestine." A colony of Phcenicians, known in scripture as Canaanites, settled at Carthage, and probably spread themselves over other portions of Africa.' C. here referred to an impression on the minds of many, that Africans generally are descended from Canaan ; and that they are therefore doomed to perpetual slavery by the curse which Noah denounced against him. Genesis ix. 25 — 27. She thought she had heard advanced, or had some where read a sentiment of the kind. 22 PLEA FOR AFRICA. The curse denounced against Canaan. H. thought that they who suppose this, should have better reasons than they have for considering the Africans descend ed from Canaan, before they make such an application of the words of Noah. Being requested by his father, he read the passage : " Cursed be Canaan ; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, and Ca naan shall be his servant." ' That,' observed Mr. L., 'is truly a remarkable prophecy. It is supposed, by Commentators, to have been recorded for the encouragement of the Israelites in warring with the Ca naanites. The passage is attended with some difficulty in the minds of many, who, to obviate that difficulty, read the original, " Cursed be Zfam, the/o^Aer of Canaan ;" in which case you see that Africa would, beyond doubt, be affected by the denunciation. And if it have not this meaning, it may indeed be difficult to see the propriety of applying the curse to Africa at large.' It was very natural that both C. and H. who had been giving their close attention to the instructions of Mr. L., should here ask, for they did not see, ' why any should change the reading of the translation to make the curse rest on Ham !' The difficulty, however, which some have found, or imagined, in the proper application of the denunciation, Mr. L. explained, referring them to the 24th verse of the same chapter, which verse immediately precedes the denun ciation, and reads as follows ; " And awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him." Henry now saw, at once, the difficulty. ' His younger son,' H. exclaimed ; ' Ham was Noah's second son, was he not, Pa r ' Yes ; it appears that Ham was the second, and not the PLEA FOR AFRICA. 23 The curse explained. youngest, as they suppose is implied by the term in the original translated younger. But the way in which Ham is introduced in connexion with the subject of Noah's intoxi cation and exposure, ("And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told it to his two brethren without,") has led some to infer that Ham was the youngest. At the same time, the frequent mention of Canaan, in connexion with the transaction, has suggested to the mind of others that Canaan was also criminal ; and, by them, the expression, " knew what his younger son had done," is thought to refer to Canaan, the grandson. Ca naan, they suppose, first discovered Noah's situation and told it to Ham.* ' Be all this as it may, the history of this painful trans action, is full of serious instruction. You see a very strik ing contrast between the conduct of Ham in exposing to his brethren Noah's disgraceful fall, and their commendable de portment in doing what they could to conceal their father's infirmity and guilt. It is very evident that Ham could lay claim to none of the finer sensibilities of our nature if judged by this one act. His behaviour was exceeding unamiable and reprehensible ; and he must have felt the rebuke to be deserved, when his own father was inspired to predict the consequent oppression and slavery of his posterity. And Canaan, if guilty, as has been supposed, was as severely re buked, knowing that the curse would rest especially on that branch of the family which should descend from himself. The example of Shem and Japheth on the occasion, is worthy of commendation ; and a blessing belongs to those who imitate their amiable deportment, as a curse assuredly * " The Hebrews believe that Canaan, having first discovered Noah's nakedness, told his father Ham ; and that Noah, when he awoke, haying understood what had passed, cursed Canaan, the first reporter of his expo sure. Others are of opinion, that Noah, knowing nothing more displeasing to Ham, than cursing Canaan, resolved to punish him in his son." — Calmet. 24 PLEA FOR AFRICA. The cuise fulfilled. awaits all who copy in their spirit or conduct the pattern of Ham and Canaan. ' To your inquiry, Henry, whether the prediction of Noah has been evidently fulfilled in the descendants of Ham or Canaan, I would reply, that if we are to consider the curse as resting on the descendants of Ham generally, we may see its fulfilment in the wrongs which unhappy Africa has suffered by the oppression and servitude to which her children have so long been subjected. The history of Af rica for a long period, has been, for the most, one of deep suffering, ignominy, outrage and crime ; a tale of sorrow broken by few intervals of happiness or of rest. It has been justly remarked of the whole continent that it "has lain, like some huge and passive victim, with darkness throned like an incubus upon its bosom, while every rep tile of evil omen and hateful form has preyed undisturbed on its palsied extremities." At the North of Africa, " the conflicting interest and crooked policy of Europe permitting an organized system of piracy ;" Egypt, from the days of Cambyses, a tributary province, and prey of the rapacious Mameluke ; in Abyssinia, the lamp of Christian truth glim mering in its socket, and casting its flickering beams on a degraded and brutalized population ; ignorance and barbar ism consolidated and established by Mahometan influence in the South of Africa ; at the Cape of Good Hope, human nature degraded and oppressed ; and on the West of Africa, the slave factory and slave ship doing their accursed work and sweeping into distant and hopeless bondage unhappy thousands, Africa may truly be said to have had the very dregs of bitter affliction wrung out to her.' ' But what, Sir, if the denunciation of Noah is considered to be against Canaan and his posterity alone V ' We shall still be at no loss to find in their history a re- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 25 The enslaving of Africans not to be justified. markable fulfilment. The devoted nations which God de stroyed before Israel, were descended from Canaan ; and so were the Phoenicians, and the Carthagenians who were sub jugated with dreadful destruction by the Greeks and Ro mans. The descendants of Canaan, as a general knowledge of the outlines of history will be sufficient to show, have been subjected to those of Shem and Japheth through many generations.' ' The whole posterity of Ham then appear to have been signally the victims of misfortune and oppression ?' ' They certainly have, my son.' ' I have been running my eye over this Commentary,' said C, ' on the passage of scripture to which we have referred ; shall I read a sentence ? Bishop Newton, you will see. Pa, takes it for granted that the curse denounced is upon Ham and all his descendants.' ' Read it, Caroline.' Caroline reads the sentence she proposed : " The whole continent of Africa was peopled principally by the de scendants of Ham ;* and for many ages have the better parts of that country lain under the dominion of the Romans, and then of the Saracens, and now of the Turks ! In what wickedness, ignorance, barbarity, slavery, and misery, live most of the inhabitants ! — and of the poor negroes, how many hundreds, every year, are sold and bought, hke beasts in the market, and conveyed from one quarter of the world to do the work of beasts in another !" ' But, Pa,' said she, ' even if the whole race of Africans are embraced in the curse, it does not therefore afford a vindication of slavery, or excuse for the cruel oppression of the African, does it V * From the name of Ham, also written Cham, signifying burnt, swarthy, black, an argument has sometimes been raised in favor of this position,— See CcUmet. B 26 PLEA FOR AFRICA* Africa not always to be oppressed. ' No, Caroline : God has not, as I think, authorized us to enslave Africans, whatever authority may be claimed for Israel to drive out, and scatter and destroy the idolatrous Canaanites. The covetous desires and barbarous practices of those who seek to enrich themselves with the products of the sweat and blood of Africa's unhappy sons, and for this purpose tear them away from their native country, are with out apology. Nor, whether the prediction and denunciation of Noah affect Canaan and bis descendants alone, or Harti and his posterity generally, is it to be supposed that Africa is therefore either the lawful prey of violence and outrage, or that she is doomed to perpetual degradation and wrongs. Admitting that the prediction has been remarkably fulfilled, whether on Canaan, or Africa generally, and that however wicked the oppressor has been, he was a scourge in the hand of God, fulfilling a just decree, and an important pre diction involving the authenticity of a portion of the sacred volume ; still, neither are the oppressors therefore innocent, nor are we to suppose that the oppressed are never to cease to be the victims of the denunciatory decree. The same Scriptures which, turning to Africa, appeal for one testimony of their truth to the fulfilment of the curse, are, we should remember, also to gather another argument from the fulfil ment of the prediction which says — " Ethiopia shall soon stretch out Jier hands unto God." This prediction and promise must be fulfilled, nor can all creation stay the Almighty arm that will be uplifted to break the rod of her oppressors. Africa will be free. Her chains will faU. ' We will resume the subject this evening.' PLEA FOR AFRICA. 27 .Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands unto God. CONVERSATION III. *^ How are we astonished when we reflect that to the race of negroes, at present our slaves, and the object of our extreme contempt, we owe our arts and sciences and even the very use of speech ; and that in the midst of those nations who call themselves the friends of liberty and humanity, involuntary servitude is justified, while it is eyen a problem whether the understatiding of Negroes be of the same species with that of white men." — Yolney. ' Well, Pa, I suppose you remember the encouragement which you gave us that you would resume the interesting subject of Africa this evening ?' said Caroline, as she saw her father lay aside the ' Evening News' and remove his spectacles from his eyes, the well known signal to the chil dren that the hour of leisure was come. ' You closed the conversation, this morning, with reference to that important prediction of Scripture, " .Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God;" are we to understand the Prophet who utters this, to have reference to Africa generally, or to the descendants of Cush, the grandson of Noah only ?' ' The word JEthiopia in our English Bibles, it is true, is Cush in the original Hebrew ; but the term seems to have a more extended application than the names of either of Ham's other sons. Cush, or ^Ethiopia, is a name by which Africans in general have been known. Whether it is be cause the race of Africans are mostly descendants of Cush, which I think highly probable, that this term is more used, I am not able to determine ; but such is the fact — ^Ethiopia is a term of extensive appliiation.' Henry having here inquired ' whether the Cushites, or ^Ethiopians, were always black,' Mr. L. replied, ' There can be no doubt that this people were black as long ago as the days of Jeremiah ; and, if we are to credit Arabian testi- 28 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Color of Africans. monies, ages before. Jeremiah asks, " Can the Cushite (^Ethiopian) change his skin ?" ^Ethiopian is a name de rived from two Greek words denoting the color of the skin, {ai^m, to burn, and a>-^, the countenance — that is, burnt-face,) on account of the Cushite's dark complexion.' ' What,' asked Henry, ' was the complexion of the an cient Egyptians ; were they black also V ' Herodotus, who, you know, is called the father of his tory, says, speaking of the ancient Colchos, since called Mingrelia, whose inhabitants were originally Egyptians, and colonized when Sesostris, king of Egypt, extended his con quests in the north, " For my part, I believe the Colchi to be a colony of Egyptians, because, like them, they have black skins ami frizzled hair."* The inhabitants of Egypt, * In another place this celebrated historian, who flourished in the fifth cen tury before the coming of Christ, and who travelled extensively in Egypt, and one of whose books is devoted to a description of its inhabitants, their manners, customs, character, arts and history, derived from personal inspection of the country and the narratives of their learned men, relates a fabulous ac count of the establishment of the terapte of DodonainGreece, by, as he ex plains the fable, an Egyptian priestess, represented by a black dove ; and says that ^le circumstance of its " being blcu:k explains the Egyptian origin of the priestess." In speaking of these remarks of Herodotus, Volney says, " it shows that the ancient Egyptians were real negroes, of the same species with all the natives of Africa : and though, as might be expected, after mix ing for so many ages with the Greeks and Romans, they have lost the in tensity of their first color, yet they still retain strong marks of their original conformation." Diodorus Siculus, another ancient historian, informs us that " the Ethiopians consider Ihe Egyptians as one of their colonies." It may greatly startle some who have heard of " the fame of Egypt's wisdom — of the gigantic size of her eternal pyramids — the splendor of her twenty-thous and cities — of Thebes with her hundred gates and superb palaces and tem ples — of the wisdom of her laws and policy — of her mighty conqueror Se sostris, who drew kings at his chariot wheels and left monumental inscrip tions of his prowess from Ethiopia to India," to be told that "Egypt an cient, renowned, victorious Egypt, the mother of science and arts, both an cient and modern, was inhabited by negroes — that Egyptians were in fact black and curly-headed," especially if they have been accustomed to think with a distinguished governor of the south, that God has "stamped inferiority and slavery on the negroes' brow" The author, however, does not here un dertake to settle this question— his object is impartially to state the facts in the case. There are many that have high claim to literature who un hesitatingly contend that the negro may prove " his illustrious consanguini- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 29 Different tribes of Africa assimilated. however, have long been a mi.\ed community of Copts, Arabs, Greeks, Armenians, Turks, and Mamelukes. The Copts are generally supposed to be the representatives of the ancient Egyptians, and it is said prove their origin by a striking resemblance to the paintings and sculptures of the ancient temples, and to the mummies.* They are generally described as of a dusky complexion, dark and curled hair, thick lips, and scanty beard. In some features, they differ from the negro race on the western coast of Africa, and in the interior. There are, indeed, slight shades of variety which distinguish all the different tribes of Africa. It may not be necessary to enter on a particular description of each. However diversified may be the different tribes, ty, allied in blood — in brotherhood — in color — even in his short and curling hair to the conquerors and instructors of mankind." The Hon. Alexander H. Everell, a finished scholar of great research, and who would not mak&ihe assertion inconsiderately, has said of them, " It is sometimes pretended, that, though Africans, and of Ethiopian extraction, they were not black. But what says the father of history, who had travel led among them, and knew their appearance as well as we know that of our neighbors in Canada? Herodotus tells us that the Egyptians were blacks, with curled hair. Some writers have underlaken to dispute his authority, but I cannot bring myself to believe that the father of history did not know black from white." * It may be proper here to remark that thei'e has been some diversity of opinon among Ihe learned in regard to the character of Egyptian mummies. " Blumenbaeh has observed in the craniums of mummies that which cha racterizes the negro race." Volney "saw the figure of a sphynx, (an ancient monster of Egypt,) and found the features exactly those of a negro." Gre goire, and many others, adhere to the opinions of Volney and Blumenbaeh. The present Copts, descendants from the ancient Egyptians, but mixed with the Persians and still more with the Greeks, have appeared to some, perfect raulattoes. Mr. Browne, a late traveller, could see in them no resemblance to the negro features or form, and affirms that their dusky brown and no darker color, is found in the paintings of the tombs of Thebes, and that the ancient monuments, paintings and statues, generally exhibit the visage, not of negroes, but of the modem Copts. If the same form of skull is found in the Egyptian mummies, as Blumenbaeh asserts, and once contained, as Vol ney says, the profound genius of the Egyptians ; and if it be a fact, as it un doubtedly is, that the modern Copts are descended from the ancient Egyp tians by a mixture of the blood of other nations, the presumption is strong in favor of the idea that the Egyptians were negroes — especially vvhen these facts are taken in connexion with the testimony of ancient historians. The argument derived from the ancient paintings, monuments, &c., has its weight, however, and especially if the testimony of travellers on this point should not be contradictory, e2 30 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Traditions respecting Cush. there can be no doubt of their common origin as descendants of Ham, if we except those who have from time to time mi grated from other portions of the earth ; nor can there be any reasonable doubt that the African " Cush," or " .Ethio pia," is the appropriate term or representative of the African race in general. Commentators differ, it is true, in respect to the countries which were originally included under the name ¦ ^Ethiopia ;' Michaelis supposes it to include African .Ethiopia and Southern Arabia ; Gesenius says it is to be confined in its application to Africa alone. RosenniiiUer contends that it embraces all countries whose inhabitants were black. There is, certainly, a striking accordance of complexion, language, manners, customs, &c. by which the inhabitants of the south and west of Africa, and all those who are known to be of jEthiopian extraction, are assimi lated.' ' The complexion of Africans is caused by climate, is it not, Pa ?' ' I suspect, Henry, tliat neither the African complexion, nor features, can be ascribed wholly to climate ; but must be referred to native variety at first, perpetuated by intermar riages among the same race.' ' Just, I suppose, as a part of the same brood being white and a part black, each sort may be perpetuated, as natural ists tell us, by pairing together those of the same cojor ?' said Henry. * Caroline here remarked, ' Mr. Bruce, the traveller, says, he found in Abyssinia, a tradition which had been handed down from time immemorial, that Cush was their father, and that he actually dwelt there. The tradition purports that, soon after the flood, Cush, the grandson of Noah, with his family, still terrified with the remembrance of the flood, and fearing a repetition of the same calamity, dared not re- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 31 Obscurity of the early history of the Africans. main in the plains, but travelled until he came to certain mountains in Abyssinia, and there settled. It says, further, that there Cush and his people, (with indescribable labor, requiring arts and instruments utterly unknown to us,) formed themselves commodious and wonderful habitations, composed of solid granite and marble, which dwellings are now entire, and will remain so till the consummation of all things ; and that stiU avoiding the low countries, they ad vanced along the different ridges and chains of mountains across the whole continent of Africa. The more Henry and I examine into this subject, however, the more difficult it seems to determine satisfactorily and beyond the possibility of contradiction, which, if either, alone, of the sons of Ham, is entitled to the honor of being considered the principal progenitor of the African race. We have felt great curiosity, since our last conversation, to find from the books the argu ments which go to show that the Africans, as the descendants of Canaan, are suffering their present degradation in fulfil ment of the curse pronounced by Noah. Our examination only renders " darkness more visible." One author quotes from Procopius, who says, that when the Canaanites were driven from their country by the Israelites, they first re treated into Egypt, and gradually penetrated the continent of Africa, where they built many cities, and spread them selves over vast regions, till they reached the straits of Gib raltar. This would embrace the whole northern part of Africa, or the Barbary States. This author says, that in the ancient city of Tongis, founded by them, were two great pillars of white stone, near a large fountain, inscribed with Phoenician characters, " We are people preserved by flight from the robber Jesus, (Joshua,) the son of Naver, who pur sued us." Another author says, "in the time of Athanasius, the Africans continued to say that they were descended from 33 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Interior of Africa but little known. the Canaanites, and when asked their origin, they answered • Catiani.' " ' All this, said Mr. L., ' is in corroboration of the position which I have taken. Admitting that the Canaanites mingled with other tribes in Egypt and all along the coast of the Me diterranean to the Strait of Gibraltar, still we must look for the peopling of the vast interior of Africa, and the west and south, from another source. It is almost a matter of demon stration, that the Cushites settled the greater part of Africa ; for such is the geographical situation of the country, as you will see at once by the map, that the natives bordering the Mediterranean coast, are separated from the rest of the con tinent by an almost boundless and impassable wilderness — the Lybian desert and the great desert of Sahara, which, to gether, extend across the continent from the west of Egypt to the Atlantic ocean. The deserts are an ocean of sand, and in some places eight hundred miles in breadth. This, the only highway to the south and interior of Africa, was occupied by the Cushites, who had nothing to prevent them from spreading into all regions south now occupied by the negro race. It makes but little difference, however, from which of the grandsons of Noah the natives of this, that, or the other part of Africa are descended. There is intellect among them all. They have had their distinguished men in every tribe, so far as we have known any thing concern ing the different tribes, and there is, and can be no impedi ment, no anathema of heaven, no forfeiture of their right as men among men, which can justify their being torn from the scenes of domestic life, from country and home, to spend their days in bondage. There is nothing, and can be noth ing to annul and defeat the decree which sounds from the throne of the Eternal, " ^Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God." ' PLEA FOR AFRICA. 33 Africa's ancient glory. ' I have no doubt. Pa, that the view which you have taken of the subject is correct. I think it is, on the whole, of very little importance whether most of the blood of Cush, or Ca naan, of Mizraim, or Phut, runs in the veins of the present population of Africa. It seems that they have been higher than they now are in the scale of intellectual and moral at tainments, and they may rise again for aught we know. I have the impression, Pa, that very little of the interior of Africa is at present known by the people of other countries ?' 'Yes, my daughter, very little, comparatively. Bruce, Ledyard, Park, Riley, Bowdich, Denham, Clapperton, Laing, the Landers, and numerous adventurers have from time to time added to our store of information ; but still com paratively little is known. To penetrate far into the heart of Africa has been found so diflicult and arduous a perform ance, that it has been but very partially accomplished. Still, enough is known of Africa in respect to her ancient gloyy, and her present susceptibility of mental and moral impres sions, to authorize the expectation that she may be raised to a high rank of moral worth, and of intellectual respectability. That continent which, notwithstanding her present degra dation, is pronounced in history by common consent the birth-place and cradle of civilization and of the arts and sciences, cannot always, must not long be shrouded in dark ness, and borne down by oppression. Seeing what Africa has been, and what she may yet be, our sympathies en kindle towards her. It cannot be otherwise than that they will. ' The Cushites, or -Ethiopians, let me tell you, established the first regular police which history records. The first great city described in history was built by them. They surrounded it with walls, which, according to RoUin, were eighty-seven feet in thickness, three hundred and fifty feet in 34 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Africa's ancient glory — Light from Africa on other lands. height, and four hundred and eighty furlongs in circumfer ence. And even this stupendous work they shortly after eclipsed by another, of which Diodorus says, " Never did any city come up to the greatness and magnificence of this. Pyramids, obelisks, and mausolea still stand, as if in mockery of the very credulity of man, a memorial of that spirit of dar ing enterprise and skill which made Egypt the mother of science, and, for a time, the mistress of the world !" 'It is a fact well attested by history, that ^Ethiopians once bare sway not only in all Africa, but over almost all Asia. And it is said that even two continents could not afford field enough for the expansion of their energies. " They found their way into Europe, and made the settlement on the western coast of Spain, called from them ' Iberian iEthio- pia.'" And, says a distinguished writer, " wherever they went, they were rewarded for their wisdom." ' That very light which long since blazed before the world in Greece and Rome, and which now rises to its noon-day splendor, under the auspices of Christianity, in Europe and America, be it remembered, iny dear children, was kindled on the dark shores of Africa.* When I think of these things, * " It was during the 18lh dynasty of Egyptian kings that the first coloniza tion of Greece took place. Three steps lead us from Athens through Rome to the institutions of England ; to ail and every of the advantages and bless ings we possess of fully developed civiliziition. * * \Vith them, civilized society may be said to have originaled on the wreck of the cyclopean or pastoral community ; and during this dynasty all the most momentous events connected with the human race appear lo have occurred. To this dynasty, either at its origin or during its progress, may be traced the greatest events that concern our social well-being at this very day — the establishment of judicial, legislative, and fiscal departments of government be assigned to it — and of Ihe whole frame-work of political mechanism necessary lo give motion, steadiness, and permanence to llie social machine. * * The sub lime and magnificent monuments erected by this ancient race of monarchs on the plain embraced by ' the hundred-gated Thebes' attest to this day, their taste, their ambition, their wealth, and their power. They suggest ideas of the works of fabled enchanters rather than of ordinary human be ings. It wason that myriad-columned plain, beneath its gorgeous archways and gigantic colonnades, that Champollion, in the excited language of as tonishment, exclaimed, ¦ these porticoes must be the work of men one liun- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 35 Africa's light reflected on Africa again. my spirit stirs within me, and I am almost impatient to see that light reflected back on Africa again — yes, the light of science combined with the glorious light of the gospel of Christ.' dred feet in height !' It appeared to me, says Belzoni, like entering a city of giants. Rossellini's illustrations prove that imagination itself has scarcely invested this line of potentates with attributes of loo surprising a character: Rosseilini proves, that so far from making any extraordinary advance in the arts, contributing to the splendor or the comlort of society, we have yet to recover artes perdit ry, letting the oppressed go free, I feel great confidence, since these conversations began, that this consummation will be brought about. The subject has assumed^ in many im'- portant respects, an entirely new aspect, in my humble view. The evils of slavery magnify, and the " quo modo," as Henry says, seems to be attended with very embarrassing considerations, when we contemplate the extinction of the evil. But slavery, it appears to me, must cease j Christians cannot, must not cease to pray and labor for its extinction.' ilO PLEA FOR AFRICA. All Christendom has been engaged in the trade. CONVERSATION XI. " It is the very madness of mock prudence to oppose the removal of a poisoned dish, on account of the pleasant sauces, or nutritious viands which would be lost with it" — Coleridge. ' In our last conversation, we noticed briefly the com mencement of the African slave-trade. The English and Other nations in succession followed the example of Portugal and Spain, and engaged in the horrid traffic. More than three centuries, until lately, some of the Christian powers of Europe have been engaged in it ; and, for more than a cen tury and a half, it was prosecuted by all Christendom, with out hesitancy or remorse. The English, the Dutch, the French, the Spanish, the Portugtiese, and the Danes, have all engaged in the traffic. ' The French Guinea-Company contracted, in 1703, to supply the Spanish West Indies with 38,000 negroes, in ten years. In 1713, a treaty was made between England and Spain, for the importation of 144,000 negroes, in thirty years. From 1768 to 1786, one hundred thousand slaves were an nually exported from Africa. In 1786, England alone em ployed in the traffic 130 ships. ' Some have estimated the whole number of slaves ex ported from Africa since the origin of the trade, at nearly 30,000,000. Certain it is, that the most potent nations of the earth, have seemed to vie with each other in this fiend ish work.' ' And yet, Pa, these nations call themselves civilized and Christian I' ' Yes, it is a painful reflection, as it is an indelible re proach, that for so long a time, the intercourse of Christian PLEA FOR AFRICA. Ill Africans have been led to identify Christianity with cruelty and perfidy. nations with Africa, instead of imparting the blessings of civilization and religion, has tended only to destroy the hap piness of Africa and debase its character.' ' The Africans surely cannot have conceived a very fa vorable impression respecting either our religion or our hu manity ?' ' The treatment which they have received, it is said, had caused them to identify Christianity with perfidy and cruelty, until recent efforts were made to colonize Africa with free men, and to civilize and christianize that dark continent by means of colonization. Mr. "Newton, who, you know, re sided for a time in Africa, and was engaged in the slave- trade when the world seemed to be blind to the iniquity of the traffic, says, that such has been the influence of the slave-trade, in cherishing among the unfortunate Africans the vilest passions, enkindling among them intestine wars waged for the purpose of obtaining captives, and inciting them to betray and kidnap one another, that instead of the influence of Europeans being favorable to piety, " the best people in Africa are those who have had the least intercourse with Europeans !" The Africans, he says, are worse in proportion to their acquaintance with us ; and often, when charged with a crime, they will say, " Do you think I am a , white man ?" ' ' I suppose that most of the slaves brought from Africa, are captives taken by one tribe from another, in war ?' ? Mr. Clarkson, I think, divides the slaves into seven classes. The most considerable class consists of kidnapped, or stolen Africans. In obtaining these, every species of in justice, treachery and cruelty are resorted to. This class, Mr. C. supposes, embraces one half of the whole number transported from Africa. The second class consists of those whose villages are set on fire and depopulated in the dark bl3 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Classification of slaves. Bess of night, for the purpose of obtaining a portion of their inhabitants. The third class consists of those who have been convicted of crimes. The fourth, of prisoners in wars that originate from common causes, or in wars made solely for the purpose of procuring captives for slaves. The fifth, such as are slaves by birth. The sixth and seventh, such as have surrendered their liberty by reason of debt, or by other imprudences, which last, however, are comparatively few in number.' ' Are they taken principally near the coast, or are they from the interior?' ' They are sometimes brought a distance of a thousand miles ; marched over land in droves, or caufles as they are callfed, secured from running away, by pieces of wood which yoke them together by the neck, two and two, or by other pieces fastened with staples to their arms.' ' They are then, I suppose, carried to the " slave-fac tories," and there sold in order to be shipped?' ' Some are carried to what are called slave-factories ; others immediately to the shore, and conveyed in boats to the different ships whose captains have captured or purchas ed them. The men are confined on board the ship, two and two together, either by the neck, leg, or arm, with fet ters of iron ; and are put into apartments, the men occupy ing the forepart, the women the afterpart, and the children th_e middle. The tops of these apartments are grated for the admission of light and for ventilation when the weather is suitable for the gates to be uncovered, and are about three feet three inches in height, just sufficient space being allotted to each individual to sit in one postpre, the whole stowed away like so much lumber.' 'Poor creatures '.' said Caroline,. ' how wretched they must PLEA FOR AFRICA. 113 How secured and sold. — Horrors of the passage. feel, to find themselves in this situation, confined for trans portation to a land of strangers and to a house of bondage — to scenes of ignominy and perpetual servitude. They must indeed feel wretched beyond expression. O how hard is the human heart !' ' It is said that many of them whilst the ships are waiting for their fuU lading, and whilst they are near their native shore which they are no more to set foot upon for ever, have been so depressed, and overwhelmed with such unsupport- able distress, that they have been induced to die by their own hands. Others have become deranged and perfect ma niacs, or have pined away and died with despairing, broken hearts.' ' Horrid ! Are they kept in the confined situation you have described, during the whole passage, and allowed no exercise nor access to the fresh air? I should think they would all die. Pa ?' ' In the day-time, in fair weather, they are sometimes brought on deck. They are then placed in long rows on each side the ship, two and two together. As they are brought up from their apartments, a long chain is passed through the shackles of each couple, successively, and thus the whole row is fastened down to the deck. In this situa tion they receive their food. After their coarse and meagre meal, a drum is beaten by one of the sailors, and at its sound the negroes are all required to exercise for their health, jumping in their chains as high as their fetters will let them ; and if any refuse to exercise in this way, they are whipped until they comply. This jumping, the slave- merchants call " dancing." ' ' I have read frequent accounts of these cruelties,' said Henry ; ' and have understood, as I think you also told us, that the poor slaves suffer most in what is called "the i2 114' PLEA FOR AFRICA. The middle passage. middle passage :" that is, I suppose, the whole time they are on board ship after they sail ?' ' Yes. It is the whole passage from the time the ship weighs anchor until she arrives at her destined port. On the passage, the situation of the slaves is, indeed, doubly de plorable, especially if the ship have a long passage, and is very full. A full-grown person is allowed, in the most com modious slave-ships, but sixteen inches in width, three feet three inches in height, and five feet eight inches in length. They lie in one crowded mass on the bare planks, and by the constant motion of the ship, are often chafed until their bones are almost bare, and their limbs covered with bruises and sores. The heat is often so great, and the air they breathe so poisoned with pestilence by the feverish exhala tions of the suffering multitude, that nature can no longer sustain itself. It is no uncommon occurrence, to find, on each successive moming, some who have died during the ^ night, in consequence of their suffering and confined situa tion. A large proportion of those who are shipped, die be fore they have crossed the ocean. Many also die soon after completing the voyage, from what is called " the seasoning ;"¦ that is, in becoming acclimated in the country to which they are carried.' ' Poor Africans ! My heart bleeds at their sufferings,' said Caroline, whose eyes now suffused with tears ; ' their home was, no doubt, a " sweet home" to them — as much to them, as ours is to us ; and, perhaps, they were once as happy.' ' It is said that when the slave-holders first visited the western coast of Africa,' replied Mr. L., 'the country was most delightful. The coast was covered with villages, or thickly settled towns, which swarmed with inhabitants. Simple in their manners, amiable in their dispositions, in quiet enjoyment of the profuse bounties of nature, they are represented as exceeding happy.' PLEA FOR AFRICA. 115 Africa as she was. ' They were not civilized ?' interrupted Henry. ' No,' said Mr. L., ' they were not civilized according to our ideas of civilization ; but they were a comparatively in nocent, unoffending, contented, happy race. It was not untU slave-dealers introduced among them every thing that could please the fancy and awaken the cupidity of unciviliz ed men, that the exterminating wars which since have scarcely ceased, were known. By the more than brutal cruelty of white men, quarrels were fomented, tribe was set against tribe, and each supplied with the means of mutual destruction.'* ' What proportion. Sir, of those who have been torn away from their home, are supposed to have died on the passage, or before their "seasoning" was over? There must have been an amazing sacrifice of human life in this traffic ?' ' Of 100,000 Africans supposed to have been torn away by the hand of violence from their native clime, annually, one third are supposed to have died on the passage and been consigned to a watery grave. Another third are sup posed to have died from " the seasoning," or from broken hearts.' ' So then, Henry,' said Caroline, turning to her brother, * The author does not mean here to assert that the slavery of Africans is of modern invention. Slavery is of very remote antiquity. We find it exist ing even before the flood. Moses when he gave laws to the Jews, recog nizes its existence, and gives laws respecting It. There is no doubt either that slavery has existed in Africa from a very early period, the natives having made slaves of their brethren from the earliest times of which we have any historical acquaintance; and from a very early period^ Africa has been spoiled and scatlered by other nations. "In this situation," says Park, " the great number of the negro inhabitants of Africa have continued from the most early period of their history, wiih this aggravation, that their children are born to no other inheritance." At least half the population of the entire continent have been in bondage to their own race from time im memorial, as they are now. What he would assert is, that this western coast of Africa, of which he is speaking, was, as appears by all accounts, in a com paratively happy state before the adventures of the white slaver upon th.ai coast. 116 PLEA FOR AFRICA. E.xtent and horrors of the trade. 'dreadful to think! upwards of 60,000 out of the 100,000 torn away from Africa every year, die almost immediately, in consequence of hard usage and the change of climate !' ' Yes,' continued Mr. L., ' more than 60,000, probably, die every year, in a few months after the galling chain of slavery is fastened upon them. Not a few of these, as I said before, die of broken hearts — not all from changes of climate and hard usage. A multitude of the murdered sons of Africa, will, another day, appear at the bar of eternal justice, to wit ness against their cruel murderers ! From depths of ocean alone, a vast army will appear when the sea shall give up its dead, crying for vengeance against their inhuman de stroyers ! It would be very easy to harrow up our feelings by reference to well authenticated facts which show the cruelties attending the trade. If it were not already late, I would cite one instance, as a sample of the estimation in which human life is held by those miserable men who are engaged in the trade. As it is, I will defer it until to-mor- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 117 Cruelties of the slave-trade. CONVERSATION XII. " Forth sprang the arabush'd ruffians on their prey ; They caught, they bound, they drove them far away; The while man bought them at the mart of blood. In pestilential barks they cross'd the flood ; Then were the wretched ones asunder torn. To distant isles, to separate bondage borne. Denied, though sought with tears, the sad relief That misery loves — the fellowship of grief." — Montgomery. The family were now together, and Caroline, having just risen from a short recreation upon the piano, seeing her father at leisure, reminded him that at the close of their last evening's conversation, he had ' promised to give them in the next conversation, facts showing the recklessness of slave-dealers in respect to the lives of their unhappy cap tives.' ' The case to which I designed to refer, as exemplifying the estimate in which the lives and happiness of their mise rable victims are held, by the stUl more wretched, because guilty beings, who bring the poor Africans from their native land, to suffer in chains, and then to toil for strangers, and finally to die in bondage, is that of three slave-vessels cap tured some years since by the Dryad frigate. The account which appeared in the English papers was as follows : — " The Fair Rosamond and the Black Joke, tenders to the Frigate Dryad, have captured three slave vessels, which had originally 1100 slaves on board, but of which they succeed ed in taking only 306 to Sierra Leone. It appears that the Fair Rosamond had captured a lugger with 160 Africans, and shortly after saw the Black Joke in chase of two other lug gers. She joined in the chase, but the vessels succeeded in 118 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Extent of the slave-trade in later years. getting into the Bonny river, and landed 600 slaves before the tenders could take possession of them. They found on board only 300, but ascertained that one hundred and eighty slaves, manacled together, had been thrown overboard, of whom only four were picked up." ' ' O, shocking ! a day of retribution surely must eome for such hard-hearted monsters, such murderous fiends. TFhy is it that the Christian world have ever tolerated such dreadful crimes, such worse than barbarous cruelty ? It must be that Africans have not been regarded as men ; and yet I should suppose such cruelties would hardly be practiced towards mere animals, by humane persons. Are not the cruelties attending the slave-trade, much less now than formerly ?' ' It is said they are as great, and probably greater now than they have been at any former period. Obstacles have been thrown in the way of the traffic by the planting of colonies on the coast, and the vigilance of our own and of the Eng lish government has been somewhat increased, in order to detect and capture vessels engaged in the trade ; but the slave ships are numerous, and are said to be crowded to ex cess, and the mortality is dreadful. In 1834, 130,000 was ascertained to be about the number exported from the coast of Africa that year, and a list of the names of 318 vessels^ believed to be engaged in the traffic, was given. In the year 1827, no less than 125 vessels sailed to Africa for slaves, from Cuba alone. Previous to the establishment of the co lony at Liberia, 3,000 slaves were exported annually from the single points of Cape Mount and Montserado.' ' Do you know. Pa,' Henry inquired, ' what is the average cost of slaves in Africa, to those who engage in the trade ?' ' The prime cost of the miserable victims enslaved on the shores of Africa, and sold in Havana for between two and PLEA FOR AFRICA. 119 First cost of slaves. — Domestic distress. four and six hundred dollars each, is, I think, to those who engage in the traffic on the coast of Africa, a littie more than one dollar "a log!" as is expressed in the inhuman jargon of the slaver, a log meaning a human body.' ' My mind,' Caroline here remarked, ' is continually re verting to the awful scenes of the first apprehension of the poor African, and of his adieu to his native land.' Mr. L. thought that ' it would be impossible for our live liest conceptions to portray the feelings of the poor slaves at those moments, or to tell the awM amount of that load of grief which continues for a long time to weigh down their hearts. We may imagine them turning their weeping eyes towards their native shores, at their departure, and associate with that last lingering look thoughts that overwhelm the mind ; we may think of the unutterable desolation of the fond father or mother torn from the children of their love ; the feelings of children forced away from their parents into hopeless exile ; the pangs of separation between husbands and wives no more to meet this side the grave ; but we have only a very inadequate idea after all of the bitterness of that cup of wo which they have to drink to the very dregs ! It is difficult for us to bring such scenes, and such griefs, to our own doors and bosoms, and measure the sufferings of others by what would be our own, placed in a similar condition. We are so accustomed to think disparagingly of the blacks, that our sympathy does not expand on this subject as on oc- •casions where there is actually less to move our feelings. We have acquired a habit of looking upon Africans as not susceptible of like emotions with ourselves, and when their miseries are the theme, there is comparative indifference. We associate with the black skin a want of sensibility which observation and facts will by no means justify. 120 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Affecting case of ,an African Chief. '* Fleecy locks and black complexion Cannot forfeit nature's claim ; Skins may differ, but affection Dwells in white and black the same." ' You recollect, probably, the afffecting case of the African chief captured and brought in chains to the Rio Pongas for sale, some years ago ? He was brother of Yaradee, the king of the Solima nation. His noble figure, and daring eye, and commanding front, bespoke a mind which knew no alternative, save freedom or ruin. He was exhibited for sale like a beast, in the market place, still adonied with orna- meiits of massy gold, as in the days of his glory. The tyrant who had seized and bound him, and now offered him for sale, demanded an enormous price of the chief or of his friends, as the condition of his being released, rather than sent in bondage to a far country. The warrior offered large sums for his redemption, but his owner refused to listen to the proposals. At length, distracted by the very thought of his degradation; tears stole from eyes that never wept before, and he entreated those around him to cut his hair, which had been permitted to grow long and was plat ted with peculiar care, in which wedges of gold were con cealed ; and these treasures he laid at the feet of his keeper to obtain a ransom. All, however, was in vain. The wretch who held him was inexorable. He gave the chief to understand that he should take care of the gold, and get as much gold for him as he could besides. Dark despair settiing upon the soul of the noble captive, " then burst his mighty heart." In a moment, as if by an instant stroke from on high, his faculties were shattered. Unable to sus tain himself under the workings of his wounded spirit, he be came a furious maniac ; and then suddenly withered and pe» rished! He had never ^enabled in fields of blood and PLEA FOR AFRICA. 121 The African Chieftain. death ; but he could not endure the thought of servitude and chains.' ' I recollect the story,' said Henry, ' and I recollect some lines which appeared soon after the occurrence, entitled THE AFRICAN CHIEFTAIN. " And must this mighty spirit yield. This robust frame give up its breath. Not nobly on the bloody field Where valor sinks in death ? But bound with an inglorious chain, The scorn of every coward slave ? The thought is madness — I disdain To die but with the brave. Break ! break these fetters ! and I'll bring A precious treasure to your hand — Know, I'm the brother of a king Who rules a golden land. These massy rings assert my fame, I've wealth concealed within my hair — More shall be yours, if more you claim. But save me from despair ! Thus spoke the Chieftain, and the tear Stole silent down his manly face ; Not death, not death, he cried, I fear— I fear but this disgrace ! Bold mountains of my native land, I'm lost — nor ever more shall see Those rugged heights, that daring stand. And say we shall be free. O give me drink, my hopes are dead. In mercy break this cursed chain ; Act like the lion, take my head, But not prolong my pain. Souls of the mighty Chiefs, whose blood Flow'd freely on that dreadful dayi You saw my deeds, how firm 1 stood, Take, take this chain away." K 122 PLEA FOR AFRICA. The African Chieftain. ' The memory of the incident has been preserved in my mind,' said C, 'by some elegant and pathetic stanzas from the pen of William Cullen Bryant. As we happen to be in the vein of poetry now, and as Mr. Bryant's admirable ge nius for poetry is acknowledged both in our own country and in Europe, I will repeat, in my turn, a few lines, with your permission. Pa ?' ' Ceitainly : Mr. Bryant's poetry is always good.' THE AFRICAN CHIEF. " Chain'd in the marke^place he stood, A man of giant frame. Amid the gathering multitude^ That shrunk to hear his name. All stern of look and strong of limb. His dark eye on the ground ; And silently they gazed on him. As on a lion bound. Vainly but well the chief had fought. He was a captive now. Yet pride, that fortune humbles not. Was written on his brow ; The scars his dark, broad bosom wore, Show'd warrior true and brave : A prince among his tribe before. He could not be a slave. Then to his conqueror he spake — " My brother is a king. Undo this necklace from my nedi. And take this bracelet ring. And send me where my brother reigns. And I will fill thy hands With stores of ivory from the plains. And gold dust from the sands." " Not for thy ivory or thy gold Will I unbind thy chain ; That bloody hand shall never hold The balUe-spear again. PLEA FOR AFRICA. 133 The African Chieftain. A price thy nation never gave Shall yet be paid for thee ; For thou shall be the Christian's ! slave. In land beyond the sea." Then wept the warrior chief, and bade To shred his locks away ; And one by one, each heavy braid Before the victor lay. Thick were the plaited locks, and long. And deftly hidden there. Shone many a wedge of gold among The dark and crisped hair. " Look ! feast thy greedy eye with gold Long kept for sorest need. Take it — thou askest sums untold — And say that [ am freed : Take it — my wife, the long, long day Weeps by the cocoa tree, And my young children leave their play. And ask in vain for me.' ' " 1 take thy gold— but I have made Thy fetters fast and strong ; And ween that by the cocoa shade. Thy wife shall wait thee long." Strong was the agpny that shook The captive's frame to hear, And the proud meaning of his look Was changed lo mortal fear. His heart was broken — crazed his brain— At once his eye grew wild. He struggled fiercely with his chain, Whisper'd, and wept, and smil'd ; Yet wore not long those fatal bands ; And once at shut of day. They drew him forth upon the sands. The foul Hyena's prey." 124 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Measures in British Parliament CONVERSATION XIIL " I pass with haste by the coast of Africa, whence my mind turns with indignation at the abominable traffic in the human species, from which a part of our countrymen dare to derive their most inauspicious wealth." — Sir William Jones, ' Again we will turn our attention, for a short time, if you please, my dear children, to the slave-trade.' ' Has not public opinion undergone a very great change. Pa, in regard to the slave-trade within a few years ?' inquir ed Caroline. ' The change has been great, indeed,' said Mr. L. ' Once there were hardly a few to be found to make any effort what ever for Africa's reUef. She was bleeding at every pore, but none commiserated her distress. She saw and there was none to help — she looked, and there was none to drop even the tear of pity over her miseries. Public opinion has been changing silently but rapidly in Great Britain and America for many years. Every passing year, the revolution in sen timent has been more and more apparent. ' In 1776, whilst the sensibilities of the public were much excited by the fact that 133 living slaves had been thrown overboard from a vessel engaged in the trade, David Hart ley, a member of the British Parliament, laid upon the table of the House of Commons, fetters that had been used in con fining the unhappy victims of this traffic on board of slave- ships, and moved a Resolution, " That the trade [was] con trary to the laws of God and the rights of man." ' In 1787, the Constitution of the United States fixed a PLEA FOR AFRICA. 125 Abolition of the trade by the Congress of the U. S. and other nations. period for the abolition of the trade, which by act of Con gress became a law in 1808, prohibiting the farther introduc tion of slaves into the States. ' In 1787, Wilberforce made his first motion in Parliament for the abolition of the slave-trade, which motion was renew ed annually in Parliament for twenty years, until at length it was enacted that after March, 1808, no slaves should be im ported into the British dominions. ' On the 2d day of March, 1807, an act was passed by the Congress of the United States, the first section of which enacts, " that after the first' day of January, 1808, it shall not be lawful to import or bring into the United States, or the territories thereof, from any foreign kingdom, place, or country, any negro, mulatto, or person of color, with intent to hold, sell or dispose of such negro, mulatto, or person of color, as a slave, or to be sold at service or labor." ' At length, the Dutch, the Spanish, the Portuguese,* and the Brazilians made enactments against the traffic. France also denounced it, and Austria declared that the moment a slave touches an Austrian ship, he is free. At the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the sovereigns there present, and the States represented, pledged themselves to the suppression of the trade. And on the 23d of March, 1830, the prosecution of the slave-trade ceased to be lawful for the citizens or sub jects of any Christian power in Europe or America. • The late universal emancipation of slaves by the British government in their West India colonies, which took effect, August 1, 1834, is another most important step in the deve lopment of a right feeling in relation to this subject, and I cannot but hope, notwithstanding all unfavorable circum stances, that a very few years will have brought to pass all * The Queen of Portugal has recently issued a decree dgainst the slave* trade, making it piracy. 126 PLEA FOR AFRICA. The trade not materially suppressed. that we would claim of freedom, for slaves every where, and for the continent of Africa.' ' But if I have understood you. Pa, you have said that the slave-trade is yet carried on extensively ?' ' I am sorry to say that it is, Caroline, notwithstanding the obligations of laws and treaties to the contrary. When the United States, in connexion with England, declared the slave-trade to be piracy, and forbade the further introduction of slaves into their possessions, the friends of humanity in dulged the hope that a death-blow was about to be given to the traffic. Other nations, by important measures, encou raged the hope. The event, however, has caused great dis appointment. I have before stated some of the slavery sta tistics, showing the state of the trade in 1824 and in 1827. From a document which I have seen, it also appears that from 1820 to 1831, no less than 322,536 slaves were im ported into the single port of Rio Janeiro alone. By very recent documents, it appears that the abominable traffic is still carried on to a considerable extent in Brazil. The fact that the trade is now generally denounced, and declared il legal, and although it be declared by every Christian govern ment piratical, will not alone be sufficient to destroy, or even materially to lessen the trade. ' Armed vessels may be sent to cruise off the coast, as they now do, to capture the slave-ships ; but experience proves that no squadron will be likely effectually to prevent the trade, without the aid of settiements of civilized and christianized communities along the coast. Thousands of little rivers, and bays, that indent the shores of Africa, either refuse to admit our ships into their shallow waters, whilst they afford lurking and hiding places for those concerned in the traffic and well acquainted with the geography of the country, or enable the slaver being pursued, to elude the PLEA FOR AFRICA. 127 Something more must be done. search. If any one factory, mart, or haunt, be broken up, word is immediately sent by the traders into the country, that slaves must be brought to some less frequented and un suspected part of the coast which is designated, and there they are received with impunity, the traders with their ves sels lying concealed perhaps under the woody banks of un known winding streams. ' It has been supposed, therefore, that colonies establish ed along the coast are indispensable to the entire extinction of the trade. Twenty or thirty colonies scattered along the coast, it is said, would put an end to the trade effectually and for ever. The native chiefs of Sherbro district, through a strong desire to be shielded from the ravages of the slave- trade, presented one hundred miles of coast, southward of Sierra Leone, to the colony ; and it is stated that all the coast in the vicinity of that place is now cleared of slave-factories and slave- vessels. Several native chiefs in the vicinity of the Liberi'dn colony have desired arrangements to be entered into with them for the security of that part of the coast, and are hoping for as favorable results. The New- York and Penn sylvania colony at Bassa Cove, it is anticipated, will be an efficient coadjutor with those already named, iu extending a Christian influence in Africa, and in hastening the day when the traffic in human flesh and blood will end.' ' What is there, then. Sir, to prevent the formation of co lonies like those that now exist, along the whole coast ? It would, I suppose, be a great work — but is it not worthy of great effort ?' ' Many are hoping and praying and laboring for such a result, Caroline. I shall have occasion to refer to this sub ject again in a future conversation. It will be consistent with the plan which I have proposed for these conversa- 138 plea FOR AFRICA. Colonies along the coast necessary. tions, to turn our attention now again to the evils of slavery as it exists in our own country. ' We have seen how slavery was introduced here, at an unfavorable moment, the planters consulting their immediate profit and regardless of future consequences and so falling in with the policy of England ; and how slavery was still forced on these colonies in spite of remonstrance, the final welfare of America being an object of minor' importance compared with the increase of the commerce of the mother country, and the immediate supply of the English treasury. In 1773, the Assembly of Virginia went so far as to set forth, in a re spectful petition to his Majesty, the King of Great Britain, the inhumanity of the slave-trade, and to suggest that it might " endanger the very existence of his American do minions." This warning is the more remarkable, inasmuch as it came from the first colony the English ever had in America, and one already involved in the evils of slavery ; and it was yet more remarkable in the event — for the Ame rican colonies existed a very little time after that warning, a part of the dominions of the monarch who would not deign even an answer to the petitioners. The warning were ^ro- phetic, if we might judge alone from the event.' ' Virginia, I have seen it suggested by one of her orators, "prides herself" that she has ever pursued the same course in relation to this matter,' said Henry. ' Virginia certainly deserves credit. During her colonial existence, when it was the determined policy of England to introduce as many slaves as possible into Virginia, her House of Burgesses passed no less than twenty-three acts tending to suppress the horrible traffic in slaves ; all which acts were negatived by the king ! In the original draft of the Declaration of Independence, one of her most gifted sons, Mr. Jefferson, inserted a heart-stirring passage, charg- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 139 Virginia's early efforts against slavery. ing the conduct of the king in putting his veto on these enactments for the suppression of the slave-trade, as a crime, aggravated by Lord Dunmore's endeavoring to stir up the slaves in the colonies against us. This clause was stricken out finally, because it was ascertained that it could not obtain the assent of all the States. In 1778, as soon as Virginia found herself in a situation to do it, although in the midst of a civil war, she made the African slave-trade punishable by death. And it was at her instance also that the act of Con gress was passed, declaring it piracy, subjecting the offender to capture and punishment in any court of any nation which should pass the same law. So far has Virginia the merit of having maintained her claims to " the noble, the humane, and the adventurous for the right." Nor does she now faU behind any State in the Union in her professed abhorrence of slavery, and in a professed and apparent desire to see the country free from slavery's stain. Virginia, in common with the rest of the South, sees, or thinks she sees diffi culties in the way of immediate and universal emancipation, which we in the non-slaveholding States, do not, all of us, appreciate ; but we can hardly avoid giving her credit for uniformity of practice, honesty of purpose, and a true desire to see slavery extinct in our land. It was the movement of Virginia in the correspondence which she authorized be tween her Governor, (since President Monroe,) and Mr. Jefferson, then President of the United States, a copy of which is before me, attested by William Wirt, then clerk of the Virginia House of Delegates, which led to the formation of the American Colonization Society, and to the founding of civilized and Christian colonies in Africa.' ' Did none of the other States, at an early period, adopt measures in relation to this subject ?' ' Yes, Henry, Virginia was earliest in setting the example 130 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Other States followed Virginia's example. for the exclusion of imported slaves ; but a duty on the im portation of slaves was laid by New-York, in 1753 ; by Pennsylvania, in 1763 ; and by New-Jersey, in 1769. In 1780, Pennsylvania passed a law for the gradual abolition of slavery, which has the merit of being the earliest legis lative proceeding of the kind in any country. All the States north and east of Maryland, have since passed similar laws. At a very early period, the free-holders and inhabitants of the counties of Somerset and Essex, in New-Jersey, pre sented similar petitions to that of Virginia in 1773, to the Governor, Council, and Representatives of the Province, against the slave-trade. The inhabitants of the city and county of Philadelphia also petitioned their Assembly against the slave-trade, citing the example set them by the Province of Virginia, in petitioning the king " from a deep sensibility of the danger and pernicious consequences which would be attendent on a continuation of the iniquitous traffic." ' On the adoption of the Federal Constitution, Congress was authorized to prohibit, at the end of twenty years, the importation of slaves into any part of the United States ; which power was exercised at the appointed time.' ' No slaves, then, have been legally brought into the United States since the year 1808 ?' said Caroline. ' I wish Congress had felt authorized to go one step further, and had fixed a time for the abolition of slavery in our land. We should not then be the reproach of the nations. England especially, I notice, is severe in her allusions.' ' England,' Mr. L. remarked, ' has of late appeared dis posed to do what she cap to retrace the wrongs she has oc casioned in her West India colonies. It were well if she could undo all the evil she has done. It has always been easy for her to make enactments in relation to her distant colonies ; but I fear that placed in precisely the situation in PLEA FOR AFRICA. 131 England has abolished slavery. — Claims more honor than is due. which by her reckless avarice she has involved us, the poor slaves might find as tardy justice at her hands as she charges upon us. ' Legislation for the government of others, is des patched sooner and with much less difficulty, than when the enactments are to call for sacrifices on our own part. But Britain should neither be reproached in this matter, nor utter reproaches against others. Reproach uttered by her against this country, comes from her, surely, with peculiar ill grace. She has done well, I hope it will be found, both for Africans and for her West India colonies in directing emancipation. We will commend her for the good done, and pray that all her influence may favor the cause of Africa for the time to come. Her example, it may also be hoped, will influence us to love and good works. Let her remember, however, that it becomes her to be very sparing of reproaches in her allusions to us.' Caroline here said she would acknowledge that her pa triotism tempted her to covet for her country, the honor which England enjoys of being first in the work of universal eman cipation, notwithstanding these reproaches, ' That is intended as a cutting remark, Caroline,' said H., ' which we were noticing this morning, from the pen of Mr, C. Stewart, who, I believe, is an Englishman : " Shall the United States — the free United States, which could not bear the bonds of a king, cradle the bondage which a king is abolishing ? Shall a Republic be less free than a Monarchy ? Shall we, in the vigor and buoyancy of our manhood, be less energetic in righteousness, than a kingdom in its age ?" ' ' There is much point too in those lines of Whittier,' said Caroline : " Shall every flap of England's flag Proclaim that all around are free. From ' farthest Ind' to each blue crag That beetles o'er the Western Sea ? 133 PLEA FOR AFRICA. England's example. And shall we scoff at Europe's kings, When Freedom's fire is dim with us. And round our country's altar clings The damning shade of Slavery's curse ? Go — let us ask of Conslanline To loose his grasp on Poland's throat — And beg the lord of Mahmoud's line To spare the struggling Suliote. Will not the scorching answer come From turbaned Turk and fiery Russ — * Go, loose your fettered slaves at home. Then turn and ask the like of us 2' " Mr. L. thought we should take an enlightened view of the subject, and not be too much influenced by the sound of words, whilst regardless of the real facts and circumstances of the case ; but, feeling fatigued, proposed they should now defer the conversation until to-morrow : and, said he, as the bell rung for the family to assemble at evening prayers, ' we will remember Africa, and remember our country too, in our devotions.' CONVERSATION XIV. " We have found that this evil has preyed upon the very vitals of the Union, and has been prejudicial to all the States in which it has existed." — Jarnes Monroe. ' Well, Caroline and Henry, I have another hour for Af rica — and if you please, we will resume the subject of our conversation.' Both responded at once, ' With pleasure, Pa.' ' Is it not generally supposed, Pa,' Henry inquired, ' that PLEA FOR AFRICA. 133 The government of the U. S. cannot legislate for individual States. the United States, as a nation, cannot in good faith interfere with the question of slavery in the several States where slave ry exists ?' ' I believe that it is generally agreed among statesmen,' said Mr. L., ' that the time and manner of abolishing slavery within the limits of individual states, must be left to their own voluntary deliberations. The federal government, it is conceded, has no control over this subject: it concerns rights of property secured by the federal compact, upon which our liberties mainly depend. It is a part of the collection of po litical rights, the least invasion of any one of which would, of course, impair the tenure by which every other is held. An unconstitutional interference would, therefore, be most disastrous in its results. ' When the federal compact was formed, the entire aboli tion of slavery was a favorite object with many ; but they knew that this point, or the Union, must be surrendered. As much as they loved liberty, and as ardently as they con demned personal slavery, they had no other alternative but to leave it as they found it, existing at the South, or fail of the great desideratum of an union of the States, A compro mise was therefore effected. The South conceded that in twenty years the slave-trade should be abolished ; and the North conceded that the constitution should secure to the South a representation in Congress of three-fifths of their slave population, and that each State should be bound to sur render to the citizens of other States such fugitive slaves as should be found within their limits. In addition to which, it was provided that the United States shall interpose, on re quisition of either of the States, to protect its citizens against domestic violence. These principles are fully recognized by the constitution, and as good citizens^ we are bound to 134 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Rights guaranteed by the constitution. respect them, so long as they remain a part of the constitu tion. ' In the amendments to the constitution, the effect of these provisions is confirmed, by the declaration that all powers not conceded to the United States, nor prohibited to either of the States, by the constitution, remain in the separate states. Hence, it is inferred, that as the constitution gives no control on this subject, the regulation of domestic slavery, which was the exclusive right of the southern states before the con stitution, remains with them, as one of the powers not trans ferred to the United States. The legal construction is, there fore, that the states holding slaves, retain the right of exclu sive regulation over them, which right the United States can not touch. The constitution, as it now stands, renders it as improper, it is contended, and as unavailing, for the non- slaveholding states to attempt to interfere with the regulations of the southern states touching their slaves, as it would be for us to attempt to regulate the arrangements of the British House of Commons, or the doings of the French Chambers. And if the United States cannot, under the constitution, in terfere with the regulations of slavery at the South, still less can any single state do so. ' This is, I believe, a fair state of the case, nearly in the pre cise language which has been sometimes employed by dis tinguished civilians on the question of state rights.' ' May not the constitution be atnendedP' ' It may ; but an amendment in this matter would, doubt less, result in a separation of the states. We, then, have no means of reaching the evil we propose to remedy. The South will become to us a foreign government, and we shall have no means of influencing the southern states in regard to their slave population, more than we now have of influ- PLEA FOR AFRICA. J 35 A dissolution of the Union would follow an infringement of the constitution. encing legislation on this subject in the island of Cuba. The question, therefore, seems to be, shall we have a union of states, or shall we shipwreck the whole on the qiiestion of slavery ? Many suppose that, in this dilemma, we should exercise a spirit of forbearance, and do as our patriotic fore fathers did in their determination of the same question. And they are encouraged to assume this position from the well known fact that there is an increasing disposition at the South to be rid of the evil of slavery, and because they hope that the time is very near when there will be some happy, united, harmonious and final movement on this subject. Many also beUeve that a disposition on the part of the North to interfere in this matter, has been the greatest obstacle in the way of a general movement in the South, and most inju rious to the slave, whose condition it is the object of such in terference to improve.' ' As Congress have control over the District of Columbia, I see not why slavery may not be abolished there.'' ' The United States, it is true, may enact such laws as may seem expedient for the government of the District of Columbia. Many regard it as a dark reproach upon our nation that, by the laws of the United States, the slave-trade is permitted to be carried on there. It has been said that the District of Columbia is " the principal mart of the slave-trade in the Union," and that the public prisons of the District, are used for the benefit of the slave-traders, " slaves being con fined in their cells for safe keeping, until the drove, or cargo, of human beings can be completed !" But even this reproach, which has been declared on the floor of Congress, by a dis tinguished representative from New-York, " unchristian unholy, and unjust ; not warranted by the laws of God, and contrary to the assertion in our Declaration of Independence, that ' all men are created equal,' " others contend is perpetu- 136 PLEA FOR AFRICA. District of Columbia. ated by injudicious movements, which make the question of slavery so deeply exciting, that the matter cannot at present be discussed with the desired success,,and with safety to the Union, or benefit to the slave.' ' But, Pa,' said H., ' we cannot but be interested, deeply interested in the subject, although it is a question that affects the South, more especially. All admit that slavery is a great evil, and must also allow that it afflicts our whole country. It is a national blot, inconsistent with our professions, and the constant occasion of alienation between different portions of our country.' 'For my part, Henry,' said Mr. L., ' I feel more than ever inclined to view all the States as one united whole, and hope that, as a whole, they will long be consecrated in the affections of every patriot. "This is my own, my native land," is a sentiment we should all feel, and expresses a feeling which I am sure true patriots will love to cherish.' ' But I really think. Pa,' said Caroline, ' that the South are quite exorbitant in their claims, if they require us to be either indifferent to slavery, or silent and inactive when we think duty to our country, our southern brethren, or to the slave, calls for decision and action.' ' I certainly,, think, Caroline, that there is a great degree of sensitiveness on this subject at the South, and they rnay, in some instances, seem to require too much : but I also think that, situated as they are, they have much to awaken their suspicions : and that although they cannot reasonably expect us to be indifferent either to their situation, our country's good, or the sfave's best interests, and probably do not claim this of us, we are bound to support the constitu tion ; and to respect thfe rights which it secures to a portion PLEA FOR AFRICA. 137 The South sensitive ; the North censorious. of our fellow-citizens composing a part of the Union notwith standing. It appears to me that we are also bound by the spirit of theconstitution, as well as by Christian principles, and the feelings of humanity, to abstain from all inflamma tory publications whose direct tendency is to excite insurrec tion, and which are an infringement of those rights which the constitution acknowledges and guarantees. An opposite course may jusUy be regarded as injurious, not only to the whites, but to the slave, whose condition we desire to im prove. By publications or movements tending to excite in surrection, we drive the holders of slaves to extremities — to enactments and to rigorous treatment of the slaves ; even, as we have seen, shutting from them the light of life, and with holding the ordinary means of instruction — that is, if all their enactments are meant to be strictiy enforced.' ' I suppose that Caroline,' said Henry, ' refers to an arti cle we were noticing this morning, in a southern paper, which asserts, that " the North has nothing to do with this subject of black population, and all their solicitude about it is meddling and officious." ' ' "ITie evil is ours as weU as theirs. The multitude of blacks which the severe legislation of the South drives into the free States, alone attests that we have a share in the evil. The reproaches which are cast upon our national honor, tell us that we have something to do with slavery. The convul sions which reach the very extremities of our land, and often seize upon the very heart of this great republic, and anger our national discussions, and give a character to important events and measures, show that we may not be indifferent to the slave question. It has been remarked by a distinguished scholar, that " diseased members affect the entire physical system. Soundness is to be restored to the limbs, not by excision, which would both destroy them, and hazard the l2 138 PLEA FOR AFRICA. AU are interested, and prudent measures must be pursued. entire body ; but by a general return of health, and a genial circulation to the whole." ' Another reason why I consider the evil as ours, is that the guilt of slavery is ours. We are too ready to appro priate it all to our southern brethren : but we have no power or right thus to wash our hands. From the North have gone ships and seamen and traders in human flesh, that have been polluted by the inhuman traffic, and the " pieces of sil ver" gained by them have been apportioned at the North. In the North were the forges which framed fetters and mana cles for the limbs of oppressed and unoffending Africans. It was the iron of the North that pierced their anguished souls : and overgrown fortunes and proud palaces at the North still stand, reared from the blood and sufferings of unhappy slaves, which tell that the North have shared largely in the accursed spoils. ' Besides, there is little room for boasting on our part, when it is considered that the different physical features and agricultural productions of the South and North have, as we have every reason to believe, more than the force or absence of proper moral feeling, banished slavery from the one, and perpetuated it in the other. Had New- York, New- Jersey, Pennsylvania, or even New-England produced cot ton, rice, indigo, and sugar, it is not improbable that slavery would have continued in these States and increased its num bers here to this very hour. The same may be supposed, without uncharitableness, of the new States north of the Ohio, and east of the Mississippi. ' There can be no good reason, I conceive, why, by fair argument, by our best influence, and by our pecuniary re sources, we should not aim to promote the cause of patriot ism and humanity, in civilizing and converting Africa, and in rendering mutual benefits to the oppressed among us, and to our beloved country. Nor should this be regarded by the PLEA FOR AFRICA. 139 Appeal to New-England. South as unrighteous interference, or unkindness. Great wisdom, however, is to be used in this matter. ' It was you, Henry, if I recollect, who were repeating, a few days since, some lines as an appeal to the North. Will you repeat them now, as they are not an unappropriate con clusion of this part of our discussion ?' ' They were written by Mrs. Sigoumey, and are entitied " an appeal to New-England." " When injur'd Afric's captive claim. Loads the sad gale with startling moan. The frown of deep, indignant blame. Bends- not on southern climes alone. Her toil, and chain, and scalding tear, Our daily board with luxuries deck. And to dark slavery's yoke severe Our fathers help'd lo bow her neck. If slumbering in the thoughtful breast. Or justice, or compassion dwell ; Call from their couch the hallowed guest, The deed to prompt, the prayer to swell : Oh, lift the hand, and Peace shall bear Her olive where the palm-tree grows. And torrid Afric's deserts share The fragrance of Salvation's rose. But if, with Pilate's stoic eye. We calmly leash when blood is spilt, Or deem a cold, unpitying sigh Absolves us from the stain of guilt ; Or if, like Jacob's recreant train. Who traffic'd in a brother's wo. We hear the suppliant plead in vain, Or mock his tears that wildly flow ; Will not the judgments of the skies. Which threw a shield round Joseph sold. Be roused by felter'd Afric's cries. And change to dross the oppressor's gold ?" ' 140 PLEA FOR AFRICA. A national debt CONVERSATION XV. " If the measure is, as we believe it to be, essentially national ; then we are all interested, and should be deeply concerned for ils success." — Gov. Trimble. ' I DO not see. Pa, why it should be a question to whom the duty belongs of helping forward this good cause ; nor why every citizen may not esteem it a privilege and an honor to do justice to injured Africa ; especially when, in performing this duty we act a filial part towards our own country.' ' The debt which we owe to Africa, is, indeed, a national debt ; and we are all interested in its liquidation. If, instead of mutual recrimination, South and North, East and West, could combine their wisdom and benevolence to devise ways and means for the ultimate and speedy removal of the evil, and if there could be mutual confidence between the different sections of our country in respect to this matter, I see not why the legislatures of the several States then taking the lead, our National Congress might not come up to the work and offer that national atonement which every consideration of justice and humanity would commend, and which would reflect bright honor on the generation that should do the deed. For this, if the South prepare the way, by her own action and example, I am sure the other States will not be backward in their duty ; and the debt which as a nation we owe to Af rica, may be speedily cancelled by us as a nation.' ' Why, Sir, is it necessary that the South should move first in this matter ?' ' I know not that there is any other necessity in the case PLEA FOR AFRICA. 141 The debt may be cancelled. than that of expediency and propriety. It appears to be a point universally conceded by statesman, that the continu ance, or removal of slavery, is solely within the power of the domestic legislation of the State in which it exists. It is very evident, therefore, that we can accomplish nothing by any measures on our part, except as the South approves ; whilst it is equally evident that any measures on our part of a coer cive nature, or calculated to disturb the domestic arrange ments of the South, would be a violation of our political con tract and of good faith.' ' But, Pa, you do not think that the subject of slavery ought not to be discussed even publicly if we please ; and that no arguments should be used by us with our southern brethren to encourage and persuade them to correct views and early action in respect to a final and general emancipa tion ?' ' Certainly I do not. Dr. Channing, whatever discrepan cies are found in his recent work, has clearly expressed my views on this subject : " Slavery ought to be discussed. We ought to think, feel, speak, and write about it. But whatever we do in regard to it, should be done with a deep feeling of responsibility, and so done as not to put in jeo pardy the peace of the slave-holding States. On this point public opinion has not been, and cannot be too strongly pro nounced. * To instigate the slave to insurrection is a crime for which no rebuke and no punishment can be too severe. * It is not enough to say, that the constitution is violated by any action endangering the slave-holding portion of our country. A higher law than the constitution forbids this unholy interference. Were our National Union dis solved, we ought to reprobate, as sternly as we now do, the slightest manifestation of a disposition to stir up a servile war. Still more, were the free and the slave-holding States 142 PLEA FOR AFRICA. The right of discussion. not only separated, but engaged in the fiercest hostilities, the former would deserve the abhorrence of the world, and the indignation of heaven, were they to resort to insurrection and massacre as means of victory."" ' The right of discussion is sometimes claimed in a sense which is far from reasonable ; and there is often in connexion with this claim a disposition to go beyond the law for a rule of action, and to justify that which the law and public opi nion condemns. There is indeed an alarming propensity among men at the present day, to set all rightful authority at defiance, under the dangerous pretence that the end justifies the means. Even that liberty of speech which is justified by law, it is not always expedient to exercise ; and that which is clearly inexpedient, although not condemned in civil law, is morally wrong.' ' But, suppose,' said Henry, ' that I find slavery forbidden in holy Scripture, and am impressed with the belief that, re gardless of consequences, I ought to assist and favor the slave, and on all occasions, to resist and lift up my voice against the institution ?' ' If we suppose this, we suppose one thing which it may be very difficult to prove ; and another which, if reality, might be altogether insufficient to convince the world that our impressions have any claim to an inspiration from above, or that they clothe us with any authority to trample under foot the rules of propriety and morality, and the laws of the land. It will never do for us to be guided by the va garies of the human intellect. One person thinks that there should be a community of property ; another that the law of marriage is a monopoly, and that all contracts under that law should cease at the will of the parties ; another believes the law which punishes the felon with death, involves the whole State in guilt, and that capital punishments should be resist- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 143 That which is inexpedient, may be a moral wrong. ed : suppose that each claims an unrestricted right of discus sion, and becomes the open and fearless advocate for his pe culiar opinion and its legitimate fruits, would such a course show proper respect either for civil law, or the law of God which requires that we render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are his ? The Scriptures do not undertake to legislate for the nations in respect to their domestic economy ; nor do they, in any case, decide the question of property, even though the question relate to an alleged right to the service of our fel low-man. They recognize slavery as existing under the Mosaic dispensation, and also under the Christian dispensa tion, and direct in respect to the duties of masters and of ser vants and slaves, without, as I can see, in all this, either sanctioning slavery as just, or treating it with direct censure. ' What the law of our land is, in relation to slavery, you well know. As slavery "has existed, in all time, in the fairest regions of the earth, and among the most civilized jiortions of mankind," so it has been recognized and sus tained by law. " Our own government, not long since, made a claim on Great Britain for the value of the property of citizens of the United States in some hundred human slaves. The principle was admitted by the English nation ; the amount to be paid was referred to the arbitration of the Emperor of Russia ; the claim was allowed, and the money received and distributed to the claimants for their loss of property in slaves.'-' The principle is acknowledged and guaranteed by our constitution ; and the fact is recognized, and the existence of such property acknowledged as often as a runaway slave is taken, on the application of his master, in the non-slaveholding States. " Our Supreme Court, re ferring to the period when slavery was recognized here by law, has in numerous instances adjudicated important rights on the doctrine that where slavery does exist or has existed 144 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Rights guaranteed. by the law of the land, such law did admit, and must now be deemed to admit, the existence of property in human beings." Property is thus considered " the creature of municipal law ;" and, indeed, property of no kind exists without law. The laws may be unwise, impolitic, unjust, and cruel ; but still they have their effect ; and although " arguments may very properly be urged to prove that the laws ought to be ciianged," yet no action can be tolerated in society which, while the laws stand, goes to make them " inoperative and void." Good order requires an observance of the laws so long as they remain. ' The mere right of discussion is unquestionable. It is well declared to be " one of the elements of public liberty ;" and the South require too much, if they demand of us that we shall abstain from the free discussion of any subject whatever. Still, the legal right, " like all other human rights, is to be controlled by a high moral responsibility ;" and, there are cases where " the expediency of the exercise of such rights may become matter of most grave considera tion." It is very clear that sweeping denunciations, harsh aspersions, and threatening invective, are always calculated " to produce obduracy in error and resentment for indignity, sustaining a man in his vices even, by motives of supposed self-respect." Slavery is now permitted in fifteen States and Territories ; and. the amount of property claimed in the slaves in these States and Territories by five millions of free men, is not less than jive hundred millions of dollars-— some estimates say $800,000,000 ! And the subject calls for much consideration and forbearance on our part, lest by our injudicious movements we protract the evil which we desire to see come to an end. In seeking the accomplish ment of any great object, common prudence dictates that we take mankind as they are, and not as we would have them. PLfiA FOR AFRICA. l45 Value of slave property. ' It is an indubitable fact, in my own view, that such may» through the force of circumstances, become the state of so» ciety, that great moral evils may be tolerated when the con viction is clear that acts of prohibition would produce evils far more extensive and much more to be deprecated. So deranged and disordered, or complicate, by the practice, or misfortunes, of a former age, may become the very texture of society ; and so peculiar the relations which as a people we sustain to each other, that an immediate and -entire cor rection of the evil may be impracticaWe, and that therefore neither individuals nor society are bound to attempt it. Such a state of things, however, can be no excuse for crime, nor for that indifference or cupidity that would tolerate the evil for ever, or withhold proper effort for its gradual, judicious, and effectual removals' • The supposition which 1 made, was only a supposition,' said Henry ; ' the country has been greatly agitated of late by the subject of slavery. It neither seems to me right to interfere with the southern relations, nor to resort to vio lence to suppress the liberty of speech.' ' The acts of illegal violence and shameful outrage which have grown out of the excitement kindled on this subject, in whatever part of the Union, cannot be too strongly de plored, nor too severely censured,' said Mr. L. ' Why,' said Caroline, ' did not our fathers, when our in dependence was asserted, and its acknowledgment obtained from the other country, make provision in the Constitu tion ? for the final emancipation of slaves.' ' On this subject. Gov. Everett of Massachusetts has spo ken, and I will give you his words : " It was deemed a point of the highest public policy, by the non-slaveholding States, notwithstanding the existence of slavery in their sister States, 146 PLEA FOR AFRICA. The Federal compact. to enter with them into the present Union, on the basis of the constitutional compact. That no Union could have been formed, on any other basis, is a fact of historical notoriety ; and it is asserted in terms, by General HamUton, in the re ported" debates in the New- York Convention for adopting the Constitution. This compact," Gov. E. continues, " exf pressly recognizes the existence of slavery ; and concedes to the States where it prevails the most important rights and privileges connected with it. Every thing that tends to dis turb the relations created by this compact is at war with its spirit ; and whatever, by direct and necessary operation, is calculated to excite an insurrection among the slaves, has been held, by highly respectable legal authority, an offence against the peace of the comilionwealth, which may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor at common law. Although opinions may differ on this point, it would seem the safer course, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, to imi tate the example of our fathers — the Adamses, the Han cocks, and other eminent patriots of the Revolution ; who, although fresh from the batties of liberty, and approaching the question as essentially an open one, deemed it neverthe less expedient to enter into a union with our brothers of the slave-holding States, on the principle of forbearance and tole ration on this subject." ' ^It is not strange. Sir, that the South are unwilling that strangers should intermeddle with this part of their domestic concerns. Reasons are obvious to my mind now, which did not present themselves before.' ' We all know ¦with what tenacity mankind are wont to cling to the possession of whatever is called property. Eight hundred millions (for we have to do with facts, not theories in this case,) is a vast amount, and in whatever light we may regard the justice of the claim to the kind of PLEA FOR AFRICA. 147 Difficulties of emancipation. property in question, the relinquishment of it would doubt less be regarded as an enormous sacrifice. It has been cal culated that putting down the estimate at one half the lowest value put upon this species of property at the South, that is, at 250 millions only, instead of 800 millions; the relinquish ment of this amount by about four millions of freemen, would be equivalent to a tax of more than one hundred millions of dollars on the six New-England States ; and divided, it would be upwards of thirty-six millions of dollars for the State of Massachusetts alone ; and four and a half millions of dollars would, if the amount were assessed, fall upon the city of Boston. If the amount were divided, the whole United States, North and South, agreeing to pay the amount by a general assessment for the indemnity of the slave-holders, which I think would be just, the quota for the city of Bos ton alone would be nearly one million and eight hundred thousand dollars : and the State of Massachusetts must con tribute seventeen millions and a half. Says the gentleman of Boston, the author of ' Remarks on Dr. Channing's Slavery,' who makes this calculation, " I have all reasonable faith in the generosity, the spirit and the nobleness of my fellow-citizens, but if it were asked of them to take this im mense amount and pour it as a votive gift into the ocean, or gather it and bum it on their lofty hills as a beacon-fire in honor of freedom and to relieve the southern slaves from their bondage, who ventures to believe he would live long enough to see the consummation of so much moral glory ? * * * If here then, where there is such an abhorrence of slavery, where there is so much high principle, where so many think it morally wrong, there would be found some difficulty in obtaining a contribution large enough to purchase ease to our own consciences, by relieving the country of this iniquity, what may be expected in the slave districts, where there is no such feeling, and of whose freemen we 148 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Difficulties of emancipation. ask not to contribute merely, but to take upon themselves the whole load — to reduce themselves to want — their families to beggary and their country to ruin ?" ' ' Still, / hope,' said Caroline, 'that we may live to see the day when our whole country will be ready to engage unitedly and harmoniously in this good work.' ' I would fain indulge the hope,' said Mr. L., 'notwith standing aU that is now most discouraging. We must re member, however, that if slavery is to be brought to an end in our land, in a way that shall be honorable and not destruc tive of our national existence, it must be by the consent of the South. A dissolution of the Union and civil war, perhaps a servile war also, would be the inevitable consequence of any coercion on the part of the non-slaveholding States. ' To return to the motives which influence the South — X was going also to mention an idea prevalent at the South, that a portion " of the land is susceptible only of slave culti vation, and that without this kind of labor their fine fields would be desolate." This idea, whether correct or not, is doubtless one of the obstacles in the way of abolition. An other difficulty is found in the fact that, for the want of suffi cient incentives in this country to effort and virtue, the emancipated slave generally becomes a nuisance and pest to society ; and general emancipation without colonization ¦would despoil the whites at the South of the land of their fathers, and drive them from it ; or in a short time render the South one " great prison-house" in a far different sense from what it is at present, if not a scene of butchery, massacre, and blood. But besides- these considerations, the South has become extremely sensitive of its dignity and jealous for its alleged rights ; and will not allow the least interference in xespect to this question. They will not suffer dictation or iftstruction, and they will scarcely listen to reason or allow PLEA FOR AFRICA. 149 The south tenacious of its rights. discussion. Indeed, the South may be considered as having pronounced its decision, that slavery shall not be discussed in any shape, within its borders, except as subject to restric tions which the South may see fit to impose. The reason assigned for this is, that they will not " by any affectation of liberality, endanger their social system." Claiming to be sovereign and independent States, in respect to this part of their domestic economy, they are fully resolved to resist all encroachments upon their prerogative ; regarding it wrong for one State, or individuals in that State, to interfere with, or in any way interrupt or endanger the domestic relations of another State, as it would be for a foreign power to inter fere in the domestic concerns of our common country. An interference of the latter kind would stir our whole country to indignation. Even the anti-slavery mission of an indivi dual recently sent out to this country by an association of females in Scotland, was not tolerated ; the non-slaveholding States, as well as the South, were moved at once by the al leged intrusion. With equal disapprobation do we listen to the threat of the Irish agitator, and his coadjutors in Parlia ment, " We will turn to America and require emancipation." What, should we, believing, as many do, that Ireland is in an enslaved condition, form societies in our country for the establishment of universal liberty, and send agents into the British dominions for the purpose of aiding Mr. O'Connell, or others, in efforts at agitation there: how would our phi lanthropy be regarded, I will not say by England, but by the nations ? The same view is taken by the South of any interference in the northern states with their domestic rela tions. Nay, they go further, and insist that inasmuch as " our constitution was a compromise, in which we agreed that each State should in its own domestic affairs be sovereign and independent," so " it is the highest infraction of all moral iti 2 150 PLEA FOR AFRICA. All foreign interference inadmissible. principle to violate the obligations which our contract im poses upon ais." And with the same view of moral duty, there are many at the North who abhor slavery, and can truly say with Cowper, " 1 would not have a slave to till my ground," who at the same time unhesitatingly endorse the language of the Boston Reviewer incognito, to whom I have already re ferred, but all of whose views, in extenso, I should be un willing to adopt, " In all codes of morality honesty holds the first place, and I deem it dishonest, as it is dishonorable, to do that by indirect means which I am prohibited from doing openly 'and avowedly before the world. If insurrection breaks out — if war and its atrocities are the consequence, no drop of the vast torrent of blood that is lo flow shall be laid to my account. * * I cannot reconcile it to my con science, while I daily and hourly enjoy the blessings of this republican government, to take back any part of the price that was paid for it." They consider that the present slave holders did not originate the system ; and that they cannot consistently either with theft duty to the slave, their coun try, or themselves, change the present state of things in a moment ; and that they alone, on whom the accountability rests, must determine, in the sight of God, and in obedience to the dictates of their own consciences, when, and in what way, the system of slavery and all its present evUs shall come to an end. ' The opinion of Daniel Webster, expressed net long since in a letter to a gentieman in New-York, and published with his permission, probably expresses the sentiments of the North generally : " In my opinion," says he, " the domestic slavery of the southern states is a subject within the exclu sive control of the States themselves ; and, this I am sure, is the opinion of the North. Congress has no authority to in- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 151 The constitational question. terfere in the emancipation of slaves, or in the treatment of them in any of the States. This was so resolved by the House of Representatives, when Congress sat in New- York , in 1790, on the report of a committee consisting almost en tirely of northern members ; and I do not know an instance of the expression o£ a different opinion in either house of Congress since. * * The servitude of so great a portion of the population of the South is, undoubtedly, regarded at- the North, as a great evil, moral and political. But it is re garded, nevertheless, as an evil, the remedy of which lies with the legislatures of the South themselves, to be provided and applied according to their own sense of policy and duty." It is indeed a melancholy consideration that domestic slavery in the United States is so intimately connected with civil so ciety. But we must take the evil as it is ; and seek the re medy in that way which is legally and morally right, and which will not bring about a greater evil than that which we seek to redress.' 'I wonder. Sir, whSt effect the discussions which are going forward have upon the peace of mind and happiness of the southern slaves ; I suppose that some of them are ac quainted with the agitations of the times ?' ' The effect of movements at the North which go to en danger the stability of southern institutions, on the condi tion of both the colored free, and the slaves, is seen in the severity of the recent legislative enactments. The Editor of the U. S. Gazette has well remarked, that one can scarcely read of these proceedings, without being reminded of the remark (doubtless, ironical remark) of the distinguished but eccentric John Randolph, when some anti-slavery measure was proposed in Congress — " I will hurry home and flog Juba." The effect is, that as movements are made at the North, which are regarded by the South as prejudicial to 152 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Effects of discussion. their interests, they proceed at once to " flog Juba" — in other words, pass laws and keep up an espionage grievously oppressive to the colored people. The immediate effect upon the mind and consequentiy upon the peace and en joyment of the slaves, so far as they are led to reflect on their condition, is far from contributing to either. It is impossible that they should be indifferent to the subject when it is brought before their mind ; it is impossible that they should be otherwise than uneasy, discontented, unhap py, inclined to revenge. A Virginia free black has said in respect to the laws of slavery and those affecting the condi tion of the free colored people, " these things were never felt or even known by us until our northern friends brought their existence before our remembrance." ' ' But, Pa, is it not a fact,' said Henry, ' that, if all in the non-slaveholding States were of one mind in reprobatino- slavery, and, supposing it proper for them to do so, were dis posed to insist that the South shall emancipate their slaves ; the slave-holding States are not so much in the minority that it would be possible for the demand to be enforced ? I do not imagine that such a case will ever occur ; but a supposi tion of the kind, and a correct view of the relative strength of the parties, it appears to me is calculated to dissipate every hope of truly benefitting the slave except as we act in con currence with the views of his master.' ' The slave-holding districts are the fairest and most im portant portion of our country, if we regard the extent of territory, the fertility of the soil, or the increase of popula tion. It is, of course, destined we should suppose to extend its influence and political power in the government of the country. But even now the disparity is not so great be tween the two divisions of our country that a determined collision would not be most fearful, and in all probability de- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 153 Disunion and collision would be madness. structive to both. We must never allow ourselves, how ever, to dwell on such a topic. The thought is too painful — ^the event, we will hope, can never be. It were a strange infatuation indeed that should lead to it — a strange patriot ism, and benevolence, and philanthropy, indeed ! ' We will close the present conversation, with a few ex tracts which I wiU read from an address in the Richmond Enquirer, which the editor of that paper says is, what it purports to be, the production of " a Matron of Eastern Vir ginia," elicited by discussions at Washington and else where, which she regarded as of a " highly intemperate and pernicious character, entirely subversive oif the tranquillity and happiness of society." The extract will serve to show more clearly the views and feelings which prevail at the South. " As a daughter of our eastern Virginia, and there fore most deeply interested in all that involves her interests and prosperity, permit me to entreat gentlemen no longer to discard all prudential considerations, but to pause and calmly reflect that they are compromising the safety of millions, by their ill-timed and imprudent discussions. * * Shut your eyes no longer, my countrymen — the Union is threatened ; and all the blefifi^'s it confers, and which our fathers suffer ed and died to attain, must perish with it. Scorn not the feeble voice of a woman, when she calls on you to awake to your danger, ere it be for ever too late. We are told, that the citizens of the North would arouse our slaves to exert their physical force against us — ^but we cannot, we will not believe the foul, shocking, unnatural tale. What ! have the daughters of the South inflicted such injuries on their northern brethren, as to render them objects of their deadly, exterminating hate ? Have helpless age, smiling infancy, virgin purity, no claims on the generous, the high-minded, and the brave ? Would they introduce the serpents of fear and withering anxiety into the Edens of domestic bliss ; 154 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Disunion and collision would be madness. bathe our peaceful hearths with blood, and force us to abhor those ties which now unite us as one people, and which we so lately taught our sons to regard as our pride, and the very palladiuni of our prosperity ? * * The poor slave himself merits not at their hands the mischief and wo which his mistaken advocates would heap on his devoted head. The northern people are too well acquainted with histori cal facts, to condemn us for evils which we deprecated as warmly as themselves, but which were ruthlessly imposed on us by the power of Great Britain." Appealing to the North, she continues, " We deprecate slavery as much as you. We as ardently desire the liberty of the whole human race ; but what can we do ? The slow hand of time must overcome difficulties now insurmountable. An evil, the growth of ages, cannot be remedied in a day. Our virtuous and enlightened men will doubtless effect much by cautious exertion, if their efforts are not checked by your rash at tempts to dictate on a subject of which it is impossible that you can form a correct judgment. Forbear your inflam matory addresses. They but rivet the fetters of the slaves, and render them ten thousand times more galling. You sacrifice his happiness, as well as that of hts' owner, for, by rendering him an object of suspicion and alarm, you deprive him of the regard, confidence, and I may add with the ut most truth, the affection of his master. You render a being now light-hearted and joyous, moody and wretched — yes, hopelessly wretched. You wreak on the innocent and help less, who, had they the will, possess not the power to bid the slave be free from all his imagined wrongs. You agonize gentle bosoms, which glow with Christian charity towards the whole human race, of whatever color they may be. Fearful forebodings mingle with all a mother's deep, im perishable love, as the matron bends over the infant that smiles in her face ; and with more shuddering horror she PLEA FOR AFRICA. 155 A Virginia matron's appeal. trembles as she gazes on the daughters whose youthful beauty, goodness, and grace shed the sunshine of joy and hope over the winter of life. I appeal to you as Christians, as patriots, as men, generous, high-minded men, to forbear. By all you hold sacred — by your own feelings for the wives of your bosom and the children of your love, pause and re flect on the mischief and wo you seek to infiict on both the white and colored population of the southern States." CONVERSATION XVL " A general emancipation of slaves, to be consistent with such a regard lo their good, and the public good, as humanity and religion demand, must plainly be the work of time. It must be accomplished by a wise system of moral influence and of proscriptive legislation, and must allow opportunity for a preparatory change of the habits of a whole community." — President Porter. ' YoF have intimated in former conversations,' said Caro line, ' that there is a disposition among good people at the South, notwithstanding the power with which their laws have invested them, to prevent interference on the part of strangers, still to treat their slaves as rational beings, and to ^ve them suitable moral and jeligious instruction. I wish this fact were more generally known at the North.' ' There is certainly,' said Mr. L., ' a pleasing and com mendable spirit exhibited, after all the precautionary provi sions of legislative acts, by the Christian community at the South, in respect to the religious instruction of their slaves. I have before me a letter from an eminent clergyman of Vir ginia, a part of which I will read, since you may from such sources be better able to apprehend the true feeling of Chris- 156 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Moral and religious instruction of slaves. tians at the South, and the actual condition of the slaves : — " To give you an idea of the feeling of the Christian com munity toward that unfortunate class of people which we have among us, I would refer you to the articles which ap peared in the Religious Telegraph during the last year, signed, ' Zinzindorf,' and which terminated in passing a re solution in the Synod of Virginia, recommending every church in the State, to set apart one of its best qualified members, whose duty it shall be to give religious instruction to the colored people. And I am happy to state, that many enter upon this self-denying, though pleasing duty. The present proprietor of Monticello, (Jefferson's seat,) is a gen tleman of first rate talents, wealthy, and a man of influence. He has entered into this business with all his heart. He has enjoyed a very liberal education ; but he thought that this was not sufficient to instruct the poor African in the great truths of the gospel. He is preparing himself with a theolo gical course, to fit him the better for this responsible duty.. It is a pleasing fact, that the first proprietor of Jefferson's seat, after he left it, should be a man of such benevolent and devoted piety. We hope that the public mind is fast prepar ing for a general emancipation, and that the Christian com munity will not be remiss in instructing and preparing the colored people for the colony. The redeeming spirit is amongst us, I hope, and will not rest till every slave shall be restored to the land of their fathers, and this State placed upon a footing with the other happy States of our Union, who know not the curses of slavery." ' I have also before me a letter from Georgia, written by a distinguished gentieman to his friend, on the same subject, which reads as follows : " With regard to your inquiries about the religious instruction of the negroes of the South, I would state, that whilst there is far less interest on this sub ject among slave-holders than there should be, still we have PLfiA FOR AFRICA. 15'7 EflS>rt at the South for the instruction of slaves. much reason to be grateful for what is doing, and for what in prospect may be done. My knowledge on this, subject is confined to Georgia and South Carolina ; you must apply to other gentlemen for information about other parts of the southern counhry. I visited Bryan county, Georgia, a few weeks since, for the exclusive purpose of seeing what was doing there for the negroes. On one plantation I found the slaves far more improved, both as regards their temporal comforts, and their religious instruction, than I had expected to see. The number of negroes on this plantation is, I be» lieve, about two humked. They live in framed houses, raised above the ground — spacious, and in every way com fortable, and calculated to promote health. The negroes were uniformly clad in a very decent and comfortable way. There is a chapel on the place where the master meets the adults every night at the ringing of the bell. Reading a portion of Scripture, and explaining it, singing, and prayer, constitute the regular exercises of every night in tlie week. On the Sabbath they have different and more protracted ex ercises. A day school is taught by two young ladies- — em bracing all the chUdren under twelve or fifteen years of age. The instruction in this and other schools in the county, is oral, of course ; but it was gratifying to see how great an amount of knowledge the children had acquired in a few months. A Presbyterian minister of PhUadelphia was with. me, and he said, in unqualified terms, that he had visited no infant schools at the North better conducted. This one of which I speak, is on the infant-school system. Schools on the same plan are now established on the several other plan tations in the same county. And I think I may say there is a very general interest getting up on this subject. A large portion of the wealthy planters either have already, or con template building churches on their premises, and employing chaplains to preach to their slaves. Several I could mention N 158 FLEA FOR AFRICA. Religious instruction in Georgia. who, though they are not pious themselves, have done this already, from what they have seen of the beneficial influence of religious instruction on the slaves of other plantations. Persons at a distance may be surprised at this fact, but it is so in a number of cases that I could name, if it were neces sary. Ministers of all denominations begin to awake to their duty and responsibility on this subject. Many of them are now devoting themselves wholly to this portion of our com munity ; and it is to be hoped that every Christian master will soon be brought to an enlightened sense of duty. And if we are allowed to prosecute this work without indiscreet interference on the part of our northern brethren, I feel as sured that we shall see the negroes yar more improved in a short time than they are at present." ' Of the religious condition of the slaves in South Caroli na, a clergyman in that State writes : " I am able from au thentic information to say, that of the five hundred and eighty thousand, which compose the entire population of this State, about sixty-seven thousand are members in the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and EpiscopaUan churches. Of these communicants more tha-n forty thousand are slaves. The whole slave population is 315,000. It is easUy seen, therefore, that of the white population about one-seventh are church members. It is proper these facts should come into the estimate of the religious condition and prospects of our slaves. In New-England there are twenty thousand, and in the free states a hundred and twenty thousand blacks. I should be glad to see a comparison of their religious condi tion with that of our slaves in this one item. Do you believe that one-twentieth of them are communicants ? And do you believe that in New-England as here, there is a larger pro portion of black than white communicants ? And what is doing there to improve the moral condition of the blacks ? The religious denominations which embrace these forty PLEA FOR AFRICA. 159 Religious instruction in South Carolina. thousand black members, are engaged earnestiy, if not to the extent of their abilit}-, to bring the saving blessings of the gospel lo the souls of all these 'heathen among our selves.' And are you not ready to say : — ' Go on, my brethren, and may God bless you. We would rejoice to help you if we could : but if we cannot help you, we will 'LET TOU ALONE.' " ' At the convention of the diocese of the Episcopal Church in Soulh Carolina, in 1834, a committee was appointed to take into consideration, and report upon the subject of the religious instruction of the blacks, at the next convention. This was accordingly done, and the Bishop was requested to address a pastoral letter to the diocese, embracing so much of the report of the committee as he might deem expedient. In compliance with this request, a pastoral letter from Bishop Bowen was published, containing much valuable and appro priate counsel in relation to the subject, urging attention to the religious instruction of slaves as the imperative duty of every master, and uniting with the committee of the conven tion in recommending measures for its due performance. The letter says, the persons by whom the work of instruc tion should be undertaken are, " 1st. The clergy with their assistants in Sunday schools. 2. Lay catechists usefully employed in the primitive ages of the church, and now rendered absolutely necessary by the smaU number of clergy. 3. The proprietors of slaves or their agents or overseers, with the assistance of their families. The method recom mended is : — 1. The establishment of Sunday schools, with lectures on portions of Scripture for adults, together with classes of candidates for baptism and the Lord's Supper, to be conducted by the minister. 2. The employment of mis sionaries for the colored population. One of the clergy, the committee tirusts, is as ' usefully as he is honorably employ ed' in this 'way, on the plantations of Messrs. Clarkson on 160 plea for AFRICA. Religious instriiction in Soulh Carolina. the Wateree, and the hope is expressed that the time is not far distant ' when the Lord will put it into the hearts of many of our younger clergy to devote themselves to this in teresting work.' 3. The proprietors of slaves are urged to personal labors for their spiritual improvement, and each one is recommended iu relation to the measures proposed, to ' ask himself before God, is not this my duty? And then let him pursue it, convinced that however great his dis couragement may be at first, by the blessing of God great good must ultimately result.' In the Slate of South Carohna it is estimated that there are thirty thousand communicants belonging to the slave population. ' Our clergy,' says a zealous, faithful, and highly respectable clergyman, ' gene rally pay a particular attention to the black congregations. Many of them give the entire afternoon of the Sabbath to them. Sunday schools among them are almost universally organized.' It is also well known that in religious famiUes, the instruction of the slaves is an object of general solicitude. It is by no means unusual for individual planters, or two or more in connexion, to support a chaplain for the exclusive benefit of their colored people." ' I might multiply proofs of a disposition prevaUing ex tensively at the South in all the States to give to the slaves religious instruction, and all practicable religious privileges. I think the general feeling on this subject is greatly misap prehended in the non-slaveholding States. The evUs of slavery are great, but they ought not to be magnified either by representing the slaves as deprived of all religious pri vileges, or their masters as destitute of Christian benevolence and the feelings of humanity. The South are lamentably deficient in this point after all ; but I wish as great attention were paid to the souls of the poor blacks in every free State, as they receive in the instances to which we have referred at the South.' plea FOR AFRICA, 161 Colonization tends to emancipation. ' I have understood. Sir, that an effect of colonization, since Liberia is becoming better known as the home of the free, is an increasing disposition and desire on the part of slave-holders to emancipate their slaves, that they may find an asylum in that land of freedom.' ' Yes ; within one year it is said that more than 2,000 slaves have been offered the Colonization Society from five different States, with the desire expressed on the part of both master and slave, for a passage to Liberia. As colonization gains ground, the freedom of untold thousands, it is to be hoped, wiU be secured, and Africa gladdened yet more and more with the light of civilization and Christianity.' ' It appears morally certain,' said H., ' that the bondage to which Africans have been subjected, by being torn away from Africa, and the consequent condition of many of their descendants, wUl be overruled by a wonder-working Provi dence to the christianization and salvation of not a few. There is this fact, at least, to abate the painful sensations which the thought of slavery occasions.' ' You remind me,' said Mr. L., ' of an anecdote which the Rev. Mr. Brown, of St. Petersburg, recently related, in the course of his speech at the anniversary in Boston of the Massachusetts Missionary Society. I will endeavor to re peat it, although I cannot give it the interest and effect pro duced by his recital : " Among a number of slaves who had been re-captured by a British ship, and sent into Sierra Leone, was a little boy named Tom, who had by the slavers been separated from his father and mother, and who became an object of the particular regard of the missionaries at that station. One day, after the hour of instruction had passed, the voice of this little boy was overheard in a retired place, which one of the missionaries happened to pass. The mis- n2 162 plea FOR AFRICA. Anecdote. — Slavery overruled for good. sionary at first thought Tom to be in dispute with some of his companions, but on listening was surprised and over joyed to find him earnestly engaged in prayer. To attempt to give the precise language of his broken petition, might make it ridiculous ; but the following is the substance of it, as related by the missionary, as nearly as can be recollect ed : — ' O God, me glad de wicked man take me ; me glad King George's big ship take de wicked man ; me glad me brought here, where de missionary learn me to know God, and de way to heaven. O God, me have one great favor to ask. Me pray God send more wicked man to take my father and mother. Me pray God send more King George's big ship to take de wicked man and bring my father and mother here, so they may learn the way to heaven, and father, mother, and Tom, all go to heaven together.' A few days afterwards, Tom was seen upon the shore, anxiously gazing upon the boundless ocean. On being questioned as to his object, he said, ' Me see if God hear prayer ; me pray God send my father and mother here ; roe see if God answer Tom's prayer.' Day after day, full of faith and hope, Tom paid a visit to the sea side. Long he waited for an answer to his prayer of faith, and his father and mother came not. Yet Tom confided in the faitiifulness of the God whom the missionary had taught him to know and love, till one day, when many months had expired, he came running to the missionary, clapping his hands, and exclaiming in an extacy ^ of joy, ' God answer prayer — Christ hear Tom's prayer— de big ship coming to bring my father and mother; 0 Tom glad God hear his prayer.' A British ship had, strange as it may seem, made its appearance, and soon after landed a party of slaves re-captured from the ' wicked man,' among whom was Tom's father and mother." ' ' God can indeed bring good out of evil,' said C, ' and make the wrath of man to praise him. I have under- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 163 Christian colonies a means of evangelizing the heathen. Stood, Pa, that the colony at Sierra Leone, although not so favorably situated as that in Liberia, is prosperous ; and that the church mission at Sierra Leone has been greatly blessed.' Mr. L. replied, 'If I recollect, the number of communi cants at the church missions in Sierra Leone is between 400 and 500 ; attendants on public worship, 3,000 ; day scho lars, 1,200. The divine favor, in an increasing degree, ap pears to be vouchsafed to the missionaries. It is also said that the Wesley ans have penetrated 300 miles up the Gam bia, and have established a mission in the centre of the Mandingo and Foulah tribes. Number of members " in society," about 800. In no year has so much been done for African colonization, as during the last, and to give a per manent foundation to the colonies.' ' I believe. Sir,' said Henry, ' that the plan of spreading the gospel by the establishment of Christian colonies in Iieathen lands, is beginning to be thought much of? It ap pears to me that the success of the missions to Africa will have the effect to recommend it greatly.' Said Mr. L., ' the Rev. Mr. Abeel, missionary to China, has remarked, " that the opinion is gaining rapid currency, especially among foreign missionaries, that colonies. Chris tian colonies, are demanded in the enterprise of evangeliz ing the heathen. Possessed of the proper spirit, their influ ence is incalculable. The power of a righteous and holy example, irrespective of all other benefits, would give to communities of this kind the relative importance of a sun to the dark spots on which their light would fall. They would present to the heathen in an embodied form, the lovely and attractive feature of Christianity. They would exemplify the practicabUity of those lessons which the gospel incul cates, and show their incomparable superiority over all their 164 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Christian colonies a means of evangelizing the heathen. own tenets and practices. The arts and customs of[ civilized life could in this manner be most advantageously introduced. All the useful trades and occupations among us could be em ployed for the benefit both of the colonist and of those to whose best interests they had devoted themselves. Added to these, and perhaps superior to them all, would be the direct modes of bringing truth in contact with the minds of the heathen, which the members of such colonies might employ, and which might be multiplied in proportion to the number of adult colonists. Oral teaching — the distribution of books — the instruction of the young in seminaries of every variety — from the infant school through all the inter mediate departments — to the colleges and even theological institutions, would employ all the time of some, and the leisure hours of others, to the greatest advantage. One or dained' missionary could keep a hundred assistants engaged, though their labors were the most signally blessed. That which engrosses the missionary is the simple elementary instruction in Christianity, which any layman could perform with equal propriety and effect. Formal preaching, and the administration of the sacraments requires but one man to a station. If the children of such colonists were sanctified to the great work in which all around them were employed, their services would be incalculable. The language would come to them by intuition and in its perfection." ' I suppose. Sir,' said H., ' that there is no hope of the evangelizing of Africa except by colonization ?' ' No,' said Mr. L., ' the situation of Africa is peculiar. The necessity of missionary operations through the aid of colonies, Mr. Pinney late Oovernor of Liberia, who went out as a missionary, has well illustrated in the following language : " In view of the melancholy stale of the African race, my mind \^as directed lo the importance of lifting the PLEA FOR AFRICA. 165 Christian Colonies. Standard of Christianity in the heart of that benighted land, and of endeavoring thus to stay the desolating progress of Mohammedanism among the countiess millions of her chil dren. I went to Africa, and whUe waiting at the colony, such a view was presented to my mind of the obstacles now ' existing to the progress of a missionary in the interior, as well as of the great benefit the cause of future missions might derive from such a colony on the coast, as a gate of entrance, and a place of protection, that I became satisfied the best and wisest course would be to have our missions commenced around the colony, among those of the neigh boring tribes who were friendly to the new comers on their continent. I am aware that God has all power, that should he send men among hungry and ravenous lions, as he sent Daniel, he can now, as he did then, close their mouths, so that they shall not touch his prophets to do them harm. I wUl admit, further, that missionaries might, if possessed of the dove-like spirit of the gospel, make their way unharmed through the most savage tribes, and might live in safety among them, yet this is not the case in Africa. The mis sionary among the native tribes may not inaptly be compar ed to a traveUer who lies down to sleep beneath a tree with a hornet's nest above him. "The hornets will not assail him. He might sleep there aU the year without being annoyed by them. But let some mischievous boys pass by and attack the nest with stones and clubs, can he sleep in safety then ? No : the hornets will confound him with their enemies, and wUl set upon him and sting him to death. Just so a mis sionary, or a company of missionaries, going alone among the African tribes, might remain there without harm or danger. But let the slave-trader come, and the state of things wiU soon be changed. He will poison the minds of the natives with suspicion, and in a littie whUe they wUl be persuaded that the missionaries are their worst enemies, and 166 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Christian Colonies. as such will destroy them. How was it with Lander ? He was received and treated in the most friendly and hospitable manner by the tribes in the interior, and so continued to be treated wherever he came, until he had approached within about twenty or twenty-five miles of the sea coast. There he met the influence of the traders ; and he soon found the character of the natives entirely changed ; and the cause was soon manifest enough, in the presence of an hundred slave ships on the coast. Here the same spirit, ever hostUe, and ever on the watch, wUl present obstacles to the progress and success of the missionary, unless some visible power shaU be established for his protection. Such a power is to be found at the colony, and it will increase and extend its in fluence as the colony shall become more flourishing and better known." ' Christian colonies,' Mr. L. continued, ' are of great ad vantage in the work of evangelizing the benighted, under any circumstances ; especially when they are of the same race with those whose benefit is sought. Let me quote once again from Mr. Pinney. I read from his recent address in New-York, as reported for the New-York Observer : " The colony planted on the shores of Africa is calculated to prove a great benefit to the natives of that continent, even should they never obtain the blessings of the gospel ; but that colony is calculated to be the great instrument, in the hand of divine Providence, in opening the way for the introduction of the gospel into that continent : and as such I uphold it. I do think that in addition to all the incidental good it has effected it will be the chief means of commencing and sustaining the work of African missions. Our great object, beyond and over and above all incidental and lesser good, is to convert the population of the African continent. We seek to strike the manacles off from the millions of her slaves, and I believe this colony is the means ordained of God to do it. The PLEA FOR AFRICA. 167 Christian Colonies. great difficulty, thus far, in the progress of Christian mis sions, has been to adapt the men to the work. You may take the ablest student from your theological seminary, and there let him spend two years in acquiring something of the language of the country : and when you have done, he is still a stranger and a foreigner. He cannot feel with the native inhabitants. He is not one of them : and nothing can make him like them. But, if it were otherwise, there is another difficulty in the way ; you cannot get enough men for the work. In Bombay the missionaries labored for twenty- years and scarce any conversions were effected ; and why ? the missionaries not being sufficiently numerous, had to em ploy Jews and Mohammedans as teachers in their schools. These men taught, indeed, the lessons they were employed to teach ; but they taught the chUdren, at the same time, that aU they learned was nothing but lies. But in Africa we shall soon be freed from both these difficulties. Let the work of colonization go on and be blessed of heaven to prosper as it has done thus far, and in the course of twenty years, we shall have there 50,000 pious men from the United States. With an ordinary blessing, we shall be able soon to send forth ten thousand Christian missionaries, who will go to 10,000 African villages, which will be prepared, willing, and anxious to receive them. Noble, glorious prospect ! We have the material to form the workmen, and we have people apt, and easy, comparatively, to be worked upon. In , most other heathen countries the missionary has to meet and to encounter not only the opposition of the carnal heart, but ancient institutions fortified by laws and depraved custom, and guarded on every side by an interested, depraved and artful priesthood. In China he meets with iron bars across his way, with all the strength of the government openly against him. In Hindostan he meets all the force of caste and all the mighty influence of an ancient prescriptive idola- 168 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Christian Colonies. try, which is identified with all the habits of life. But in Africa it is not so. The missionary must, indeed, meet the carnal heart : but that is all he has to meet. The African people have no idolatry to be given up. They acknowledge one God, though they do not know who or what or where he is ; and they do not worship him save as a principle of evil which it is their interest to propitiate. With this view they make an occasional offering, and purchase various charms and amulets as preservatives against evil. But they never think of such a thing as worshipping an idol. This very destitution of all system of religion pre-occupying their mind, opens, at once, a wide door for missionary effort. And the colony is the very source from which we may ex pect a supply of missionaries. It is calculated to exert a mighty influence for good." ' CONVERSATION XVII. " Tis liberty alone that gives the flow'r Of fleeting life its lustre and perfume ; And we are weeds without it. All constraint. Except what wisdom lays on evil men. Is evil ; hurts the faculties ; impedes Their progress in the road of science ; blinds The eye-sight of discovery : and begets In those who sufl^'er it, a sordid mind. Bestial, a meagre intellect, unfit To be the tenant of man's noble form." — Cowper. ' After aU, Pa, it appears to me,' said Henry, ' that it is more than freedom that is necessary to raise the African in the scale of being, and make him respected and happy. How many negroes there are in this country that are free PLEA FOR AFRICA. 169 Freedom alone will not elevate the blacks. and yet are quite as degraded as the slaves ! Emancipation, it seems to me, is but a small part of the duty to which hu manity caUs us,' ' Yes, Pa,' said Caroline, ' I have thought that the lilacks, even at the Nortli, are generally very degraded and misera ble ; and I have been told that the free blacks at the South are even more grovelling and abandoned in their morals than the sla-ves.' ' It is true, my chUdren, that whUst there are in the United States 300,000 persons of African origin who have the name of being free, they are generally wretched. But we should remember that is because invincible prejudice is continually pressing them down, and paralyzing all the energies of their nature. There are circumstances which seem to check and utterly forbid, in most cases, every rising emotion of ambi tion. They Lave, in trutli, neither home, country, or motive to effort. Let the white man be similarly situated, genera tion after geneialion growing up in ignorance and disgrace 5 and see if, in the lapse of time, he and his descendants are not wretched, their thoughts groveUing, and morals aban doned.' ' Why, as to that,' said H., ' I do not think the blacks are more degraded than many whites. I have heard it remarked, that at the South even the slaves consider it a degradation to associate with the lowest class of whites.' ' It has been said that, at the South, there are three great •classes— 4he respectable whites, the negroes, and the igno rant, or vicious and degraded whites ; the last being lowest in the scale of respectability and moral worth. At the South, the line of demarkation is more clearly drawn between the respectable and the degraded, than in the northern States. The white man who, at the South, cannot find a comfortable support, and maintain a respectable standing in society, is 170 PLEA FOR AFHICA. IVo stimulus to effort, and opportunity for distinction. generally obnoxious to the suspicion of other causes of po verty and degradation than misfortune ; whilst there is far greater equality than with us, among the respectable portion of the community. ' To return to your remark, about the unhappy condition of the free blacks. We admit that it is correct ; but let me ask if it is not strange that the blacks are not even more de graded than they are. I do not think that either free or slave will suffer in comparison with the whites, allowing for all the circumstances which have led to the present condition of the blacks. The free, however, it must be confessed, are generally more sunken to a level with the brute, than the slave. They are, as a whole, exceeding corrupt, depraved, and abandoned. There are many honorable exceptions among them, and it is often a pleasure which I enjoy of bearing tes timony to these exceptions ; but the vicious and degraded habits and propensities of this class, are known to every man of attentive observation. ' The characters of men for active industry, enterprfse, and external morality, to say the least, always depend, more than is generally supposed, upon the circumstances in which they are placed. Among the causes which, probably, ope rate most powerfully on the character, is early encourage ment. The child who is taught to expect and attempt great things, is most likely to imbibe a generous spirit of enter prise. It is the encouragement, the hope of attaining to some degree of excellence or measure of prosperity, which is wont to, develope genius and make the man. But what hopes are before the minds of the chUdren of our colored population, as motives to aim at an elevated standing in so ciety ? What honorable employment to which the genius might happen to be suited, can be promised ? To what cir cle of friendship and respectabUity whose cultivated minds and purity of morals may operate as a stimulus, can the chil- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 171 Cannot rise or be happy here. dren of a colored skin be introduced? Can the parents of those chUdren, affording powerful motives in their own suc cess and example, point to the successful merchant, the dis tinguished statesman, the eminent scholar, or physician, or divine, and say, you have the prospect of rising, with equal industry and merit, to a level with those ? Alas ! they must, at best, be hewers of wood and drawers of water. "The bar, fhe pulpit, the legislative hall, the circles of refinement, and respectability, and honor, are shut to them, by that which is irresistible — the force of public sentiment. They are de nied, by invincible prejudice, the advantages of other free men, and no talents however great, no piety however pure and devoted, no patriotism however ardent, can lift them above this cruel fate. They hear the accents, they behold the triumphs, of liberty ; but they cannot enjoy it as do we. In all the walks of life, in every society, on every path which lies before others to honor and fame and glory, a moral in cubus pursues and fastens upon them. A great man among ourselves, has said, " Their condition is worse than that of the fabled Tantalus, who never could grasp the fruits and water which seemed within his reach. And when they die, ' Memory o'er their tomb no trophies raises.' " ' Their degradation is the natural consequence of their un- forhmate situation, and not the result of any inherent de pravity in their natural constitution, or of deficiency of mental faculties. They are as capable, I verUy believe, (and I hope that by observation and by reading, if not by our conversa tions, this conviction wiU be fastened on your mind,) of the finest sensibUities as we are ; as capable of appreciating and enjoying the endearing relations and blessings of life ; as capable of self-government, and eminent attainments in know ledge, usefulness, piety, and respectability. But do what 172 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Claims of the American Colonization Society. they will, there is here, comparatively, only one prospect before them. This is- true in respect to the free negro, and it cannot be supposed to be otherwise in respect to the slave»' ' It seems to. me that we can hardly hope, under such cir cumstances, that they will ever be, in this country, what they should desire to be, and aspire after. And this is the rea son, I suppose, why so many who appear to feel for their unhappy condition, are in favor of their colonizing in Africa ?' ' It is for this reason, and also for others in connexion— the benefits that will result to Africa from such an enterprise, and the best interests of our own country — that African co lonization is warmly advocated by many. The object is thought to have powerful claims to our best and warmest wishes, and untiring efforts, whether we consult the best in terests of the free blacks, the slaves, the whites, or the many millions scattered over the dark continent of Africa.' ' I do not see why they should desire, under such circum stances, to remain, or why any should oppose their location on a more genial soil. Why should they not wish to go to the country of their forefathers V ' I am by no means a party man, in respect to this sub ject, and I hope not on any subject ; but I acknowledge that the American Colonization Society has claims to my high regard and best desires for its success and prosperity. There is much need, doubtless, of that wisdom which God imparts to them that seek it, to direct in this matter, for great interests are involved, and the question is exceeding com plicate in its bearings. There is need also of a spirit of meekness, and kindness, and forbearance, in its discussion..' PLEA FOR AFRICA. 173 Prejudices against Africans. ' You feel confident then. Pa, that the blacks, if colonized, will do weU in their fathers' native land ?' ' I can have no reasonable doubt on this subject. Place them where they may caU the land their own, where, to use the language of a distinguished and eloquent statesman of another country, " they will stand redeemed, regenerated, and disenthralled by the mighty genius of universal emanci pation," and they wUI commence a new life. Many who were fuUy sensible lo the humUiation of their condition here, are at this moment worthy and independent citizens in the country of their forefathers. It seems cruel that remaining in this country, tiiey are destined to be for ever proscribed and debased by our prejudices ; and yet, for aU that we can foresee, such must be the consequence unless public senti ment undergoes an entire change. Whilst at the South the African is held in physical bondage ; in aU our country, pre judice consigns him to a moral debasement, by which he cannot but feel that he is deeply injured. The prejudice against the color of the African which appears to exist in the breasts of the whites in this country generally, is such as notiiing short of divine power can remove. How far this difference between ourselves and the blacks should influence our intercourse with them in political life or in respect to the sociabilities of the friendly circle, I shall not here assert. I have my own views on this subject. ' Some great and good men,' said Mr. L., ' have gone to wide extremes on this question. In the view of some, a colored skin attaches an ignominy which I cannot but feel is unjust ; others are severe in their reproaches, I may almost say, anathemas, against those who indulge in any hesitancy touching the fuUest expression of equality and unrestricted intercourse. Perhaps, were I to express them, they would suit neither extreme ; and, it is even possible that I might o2 174 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Distinctions on account of color. be charged by sbme, with cherishing unjustifiable and wick ed prejudices. It is a painful subject. If we refer to the Scriptures, a diversity of sentiment remains even among good people, for they differ in their interpretations and con? slructions of duty.' ' I know? said C , , ' that I have what are C2i[\ediprejudices, and still I think I am sincerely disposed to befriend the cause of the oppressed negro. Some views have been imputed to some friends of Africans, at which my mind recoUs — and this I suppose is what is denominated prejudice. Dr. Philip, the able and distinguished missionary in South Africa, of the London Missionary Society, in a letter to a benevolent association of students at the Princeton Theological Semi nary, says, " It gives us a frightful view of human nature, that the injuries we have done to that race of men, should be the ground of our hatred against them ; and that that hatred should be evident in proportion to the cruelty and injustice they have suffered at our hands." * * * " As our children, it is hoped," he continues, " wUl be more innocent of the crimes committed against Africa, than we are, so we hope they will cherish towards Africa a more kindly feeling than we. There was no prejudice against color when Egypt was the cradle of literature and science, nor in the days when the Grecian and Roman republics were in their glory ; and these prejudices will, most certainly, pass away, as the prin ciples of the gospel prevail." ' ' I believe the same prejudice does not exist, in the same degree, in other countries, does Lt, Pa?' ' It is a singular fact that we republicans are, in this mat ter, far more exclusive in our feelings than our monarchical neighbors. In England, it is common to see respectable and genteel people, open their pews when a black stranger enters the church ; and, at hotels, nobody thinks it a degra- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 175' Less prejudice in other countries. dation to have a colored traveller sit at the same table. I have heard a well-authenticated anecdote, which iUustrates/ the different state of feeling in the two countries on this sub ject. " A wealthy American citizen was residing in London for a season, at the time the famous Prince Saunders was there.* The London breakfast hour is very late ; and Mr. Saunders happened to call on the American while his family were taking their morning repast. Politeness and native good feelings prompted the good lady to ask their guest to take a cup of coffee ; but then, the prejudices of society — how could she get over them ? True, he was a gentleman in character, manners, and dress — but he had a black skin,. and how could she sit at the same table with him ! His skin being black, it was altogether out of the question, although it is possible a black character is not always so great a diffi culty in the way of asking a man to eat with one I So the lady sipped her coffee, and Prince Saunders sat at the win dow, occasionally speaking in reply to the conversation ad dressed to him. At last, all others having retired from the. breakfast table, the lady, with an affected air of sudden re collection, said, ' I forgot to ask if you had breakfasted, Mr. Saunders ; won't you aUow me to give you a cup of coffee ?' ' I thank you. Madam,' was the reply, with a dig nified bow, ' / am engaged to breakfast with the Prince Regent, this morning." ' * Saunders received a liberal educalion in New-England, and kept a school for some time in Boston. From thence he went to St. Domingo pro fessedly to promote the cause of education in that island. He afterwards made this voyage to England lo further the same object, and was received by the friends of African improvement with the most flattering courtesy. In a speech before the managers of the British and Foreign Bible Society,. he gave an interesting account of St. Domingo, and his speech was much applauded ; he is said lo have spoken with much propriety of language and. good sense. — Griffin's Plea for Africa. 176 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Free blacks more degraded than slaves. CONVERSATION XVIII. " It is not easy to discern any object to which the pecuniary resources of the Union can be applied, of greater importance to the national security and welfare, than lo provide for the removal, in a manner consistent with the rights and interests of the several States, of the free colored population within their limits." — Gen. Mercer. ' In our last conversation, we noticed the general degrada tion of blacks in this country. The circumstance that there are so few blacks that, with their freedom, avoid poverty and vice, nobly resisting the natural tendency of their con dition, has led some to suppose that however undesirable in itself slavery may be, the blacks generally gain little, and in most instances, are great losers, by emancipation ! It has been asserted that, of free blacks coUected in our cities and large towns, a great portion are found in abodes of wretchedness and vice, and become tenants of poor-houses and prisons. As a proof of the tendency of their condition, the following striking facts among others, ascertained a year or two since, have been mentioned : In Massachusetts, where the colored population is smaU, being less than 7,000 souls, (only l-74th part of the whole population,) about l-6th part of the whole number of convicts in the state-prison are blacks. In Connecticut, l-34th part of the population is colored, and l-3d part of the convicts. In New-York, l-35th part are blacks ; l-4th part of the con victs in the city state-prison are blacks. In New-Jersey, the proportion is 1-1 3th colored ; and of the convicts l-3d. In Pennsylvania, l-34th part of a population of more than a million of souls, is colored ; and more than one-third part of the convicts are black. We might pursue these illustrations PLEA FOR AFRICA. 177 Alarming proportion of crime among free blacks. of the degradation of the free blacks in the non-slaveholding States, but it is unnecessary. Suffice it to say, it appears from these statements, (which are found in the First Annual Report of the Prison Discipline Society,) that about one quarter part of aU the expense incurred by these States for tlie support of their institutions for criminals is for colored (xinvicts. The bill of expense in three of these States for the support of colored convicts for the specified number of years preceding the report from which this schedule is made, was in Massachusetts, 10 years, $17,734 ; Connecticut, 15 years, $37,166 ? and New-York, in one prison, 27 years, 8109,166, making in all, $164,066. And this sum was ex pended, in an average of less than eighteen years, on con victs from among a population of only 54,000 colored per sons. lUustrations, borrowed from the criminal statistics of the South, I have no doubt, would place this matter in a far more unfavor-able light. References to the expenses for the maintenance of paupers, in the non-slavehoWing states, would' give a similar result. ' Another consideratiwi, and one of great weight with our southern brethren, in leading them to deprecate the exist ence and increase of a colored population in their midst, is the contaminating influence which this class spread among; the poor and degraded around them. Prostrate and wretch ed themselves, through the peculiarity of their almost hope less circumstances, they are a source of envy and restiess anxiety to the slave, who, seeing them free from domestic restraint and witnessing the facilities with which they are enabled to indulge their various propensities, is tempted, and corrupted, and often ruined by the contagious influence. Hence, some of the severest provisions of the law, and the most cruel restraints to which slavery is subjected^ — and hence too the early discouragement, and of late years the 178 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Either colonization or slavery necessary lor the present. absolute prohibition of emancipation except under severe restrictions.' « I recoUect,' said C, ' having been very much shocked sometime since at the remark of Gen. H., that " it would have been better for the free blacks had they been kept in bondage, where the opportunity and the inducements to vice would not have been so great." I did not at the time ap preciate the remark.' ' Such, my daughter, is the opinion of many, who I am sure are no advocates for slavery, and who have made sacri fices to their good feelings towards the African, both slave and free. "I am clear," says a distinguished Virginian, who feels a deep interest in the welfare of our colored popu lation, " that whether we consider it with reference to the welfare of the State, or the happiness of the blacks, it were better to leave them in chains, than to liberate them to re ceive such freedom as they enjoy." ' ' The condition of slaves themselves, I suppose, would be much ameliorated by the removal of those that are freed, and I should suppose that no one can doubt that our free black population may find themselves much more favorably located in a community by themselves.' ' There can be no doubt that colonization has a tendency to ameliorate the condition of the slave ; and that it is well calculated to hasten the time when all shall go free who are now oppressed. It has long been a source of regret among many discerning, well-informed, and Christian people, to my own knowledge, that they cannot free their slaves with out adding to their wretchedness, and throwing, as it were, loose on the community so many materials to be manufac tured into every form of indolence, degradation and vice.' ' I suppose,' said Henry, ' that if the immediate eraanci- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 179 Colonization ameliorates the condition of the slave. pation of the whole slave population were to be effected, the situation of the whites at the South would be very far from enviable ?' ' It is thought by the South, and by many at the North,' said Mr. L., ' that immediate emancipation would render it necessary for the whites to exterminate the blacks, or aban don the southern soil. The late abolition of slavery in the West India colonies is pleaded as a refutation of this idea ; but those who are best qualified to judge, assert that the emancipation of slaves upon the West India estates, is a very different thing from the immediate emancipation of two mil lions of slaves in the southern country ; and that, without raising the question of the ultimate effect upon the whites in the West Indies, the banishment of the blacks, or the ex patriation or annihUation of the whites from the South, would be the necessary consequence of immediate and universal emancipation here. ' The duty of immediate emancipation,' said Caroline, * would be very plain, I suppose, if the continuance of the system is wrong under any circumstances. The aboli tionists, I believe, view slavery in all cases, as a sin— a " malum in se," I think they express it; and they suppose it is hardly proper, and somewhat inconsistent, to advise leaving off sin gradually, as convenience dictates.' • The Rev. Dr. Fisk, President of the Methodist Univer sity in Middletown,' said Mr. L., ' Ulustrates the consequence of carrying out the views of our abolitionist brethren, by th« following anecdote : " The eccentric Lorenzo Dow, had by building a milldam across a stream flooded his neighbor's grounds above the dam. They commenced a suit against him, and obtained a verdict in their favor, on the principle that he was invading their rights. This verdict convinced Lorenzo that every moment he kept the water in its present 180 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Immediate and universal emancipation ruinous. position he was guilty of a legal sin : and on the ground that every man should quit sinning im/mediately, he at once be came a convert to the doctrine of immediate abolition. He according went to work and forthwith abolished (or de molished) his milldam. The immediate consequence of let ting off so large a quantity of water at once, was the delug ing of the country below, and a great destruction of property. And Lorenzo was taught by a second prosecution and assess ment of damages, that his invmediate abolition had led him into a greater sin than he was guUty of before.' ' We have,alrcady noticed,' Mr. L. continued, ' the con dition of the free black population in several of the most higlily favored States in the Union. Let me advert to a few other facts : In the State of Virginia the free colored people are not less than 38,000 4 and yet of this number, not 200 are proprietors of landl Again, look at their unwelcome reception wherever they go, among the whites ; and consider the fact that their presence is regarded as an evU wherever they are. To some States they are prevented from going, by enactments which expose them to a forfeiture of their freedom if they should dare to «et foot upon the soil. Lou isiana, sometime since, required all free persons of color who had removed to the State since the year 1825, to leave it. Thousands who had taken refuge in Ohio, driven out from that State, sought a home in Canada ; but the result is that tiie Canadians, in their turn, have threatened their ex pulsion. They are laid under restrictions which cannot but be exceeding painful, in most of the States both North and South; and in none do they enjoy any thing much better than a mere nominal freedom. Various expedients -are re sorted to by the Stale legislatures to free themselves from a free colored population, by disabilities and other embarrass ments. Every State seems to cherish a disposition to be PLEA FOR AFRICA. 181 Baltimore memorial. free from a free black population.* The South casts them off: the North has no place for them : the West pushes them away : Canada expels them : and where shall they go ? What shall they do ? They are here isolated ; have no home of their ov^n ; no community of their own ; no country of their own ; no government of their own ; no system what ever, inteUectual or moral, in which their individual exist ence forms a part of the machinery : but every cheerful hope seems crushed. They are, I was going to say, dislo cated from humanity. ' The free people of color in Baltimore, seem to have taken a correct but painful view of this subject, in a memo rial which is now before me : they say, to the citizens of Baltimore, " We have hitherto beheld, in silence, but with intense interest, the efforts of the wise and philanthropic in our behalf. If it became us to be silent, it became us also to feel the liveliest anxiety and gratitude. The time has now arrived, as we believe, in which your work and our happi ness may be promoted by the expression of our opinions. * * * We reside among you, and yet are strangers ; na tives, and yet not citizens ; surrounded by the freest people and most repubUcan institutions in the world, and yet enjoy ing none of the immunities of freedom. This singularity in our condition has not faUed to strike us as well as you : but we know it is irremediable here. Our difference of color, the servitude of many and most of our brethren, and the pre judices which those circumstances have naturally occasion- ¦* The project for a colony upon our own borders has often been thought of, and even the Legislature of^ Virginia made some advances, at the time 6f the cession of Iiouisiana to the United States, lo obtain a territory for free colored people there. Objections, however, of a serious nature, and pro bably insuperable, seem always to meet every plan of this kind. Instead of a State, it has been said, such colony, especially in case of general eman cipation, would soon be a nation. In 25 years, the population of the colored would be nearly 6,000,000,— in 55 years, a nation of more than 14,000,000. It it thought that it is better and safer that they should reniaio among ua, tiian be collected in masses near us. P 182 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Baltimore memorial. ed, will not allow us to hope, even if we could desire, to mingle with you, one day, in the benefits of citizenship. As long as we remain among you, we must (and shall) be con tent to be a distinct caste, exposed to the indignities and dangers, physical and moral, to which our situation makes us liable. All that we may expect, is to merit by our peace able and orderly behaviour, your consideration and the pro tection of the laws. It is not to be imputed to you that we are here. Your ancestors remonstrated against the introduc tion of the first of our race, who were brought amongst you ; and it was the mother country that insisted on their admis sion, that her colonies and she might profit, as she thought, by their compulsory labor. * * Leaving out all conside rations of generosity, humanity, and benevolence, you have the strongest reasons to favor and facilitate the withdrawal from among you of such as wish to remove. * * But if you have every reason to wish for our removal, how much greater are our inducements to remove ? Though we are not slaves, we are not free. * * Beyond a mere sub sistence, and the impulse of religion, there is nothing to arouse us to the exercise of our faculties, or excite us to the attainment of eminence. Though under the shield of your laws, we are partially protected, not totally oppressed ; never theless, our situation will and must inevitably have the effect of crushing, not developing the capacities that God has given us. We are, besides, of opinion, that our absence will ac celerate the liberation of such of our brethren as are in bond age, by the permission of Providence. When such of us as wish, and may be able, shall have gone before to open and lead the way, a channel wUl be left, through which may be poured siich as hereafter receive their freedom from the kind ness or interests of their masters, or by public Opinion and legislative enactment, and who are wUling to join us who have preceded them. * * Of the many schemes that have PLEA FOR AFRICA. 183 Baltimore memorial. been proposed, we must approve of that of African Colo nization. If we were able and at liberty to go whitherso ever we would, the greater number, willing to leave this community, would prefer Liberia, on the coast of Africa. ^ * We shaU carry your language, your customs, your opi nions, and Christianity to that now desolate shore, and thence they will gradually spread with our growth, far into the con tinent. The slave-trade, both external and internal, can be abolished only by settlements on the coast. * * We fore see that difiiculties and dangers await those who emigrate, such as every infant establishment must encounter and en dure. * * * But 'Ethiopia shaU lift her hands unto God.' Thousands and tens of thousands poorer than we,, annually emigrate from Europe to your country, and soon have it in their power to hasten the arrival of those they left behind. * * If we were doubtful of your good will and benevolent intentions, we would remind you of the time when you were in a situation similar to ours, and when your forefathers were driven by religious persecution, to a distant and inhospitable shore. * * An empire may be the result of our emigration, as of theirs. The protection, kindness, and assistance which you would have desired for yourselves under such circumstances, now extend to us," &c. This memorial, of which I have given the greater part, was adopted at meetings of " respectable free people of color, held in the Bethel" and African churches, which meetings were composed of " several denominations, from every part of the city." The memorial is a well written document, and cannot be read without interest.' ' There is,' said Henry, ' a wide field for enterprise in Africa, and for Christian effort; if I were an African, I think I should not hesitate to go.' ' I was exceedingly interested a few years since to witness 184 plea for AFRICA. Embarkation of colonists. the embarkation of emigrants from one of our principal ports ; and was surprised to find in how many instances the native origin in respect to particular districts, of those who were about to sail, might be determined. Said a dear friend who soon after laid down his life, on a mission to Africa,* " There is the aged Fantee and Haousian — they say ' I go to encou rage the young— rthey can never be elevated here^I have tried it sixty years — it is in vain — could I by my example induce them to embark, and I die the next day, I should be satisfied.' There is also the Congoese, the Gufan, the An golan, the Aceran, and Ashantee — all with their faces to the East. And there is one ease of great interest — the name of that girl, is A-cush-u-no-no. In Africa she would be styled a young Fantee Princess. She is an heir of heaven, we have every reason to believe." ' It is delightful to anticipate, as I think we may, with great confidence, the result of the colonization enterprise. It is glorious in its object — it wUl, I doubt not, be truly glo rious in its results.' * The Rev. Horace Sessions. He was actively engaged in the coloniza tion cause, accompanied an expedition to Liberia, and died on his return lo resume his labors in behalf of the cause in this country. The death of this amiable and excellent young man, was greatly lamented. PLEA FOR AFRICA. 185 Africa a home for her children. CONVERSATION XIX. " For myself, I am free to say, that of all things that have been going on in our favor since 1787, when the abolition of the slave-trade was seriously proposed, that which is going on in the United Stales is the most, important It surpasses every thing that has yet occurred. No sooner had your colony been established on Cape Montserado, than there appeared a disposition among the owners of slaves to give them freedom voluntarily and without compensation, and allow them to be sent to the land of their falhere, so that you have many thousands redeemed, without any cost for their redemption. To me this is truly astonishing. Can this have taken place without the intervention of the Spirit of God V — Thomas Clarkson. ' It isa settled point, I should think,' said Caroline — ' I consider it as settied in my own mind, at least, that Africans and their descendants cannot be so useful or happy as citi zens of this country, as they might be in their fathers' native land.' Said Mr. L., ' I have been-looking over a discourse by the Rev. Dr. MUler of Princeton, which was delivered in 1823, before the Synod of New-Jersey. The Dr. holds this lan guage, in reference to this subject, which, if you please, I will read : "If liberated and left atnong the whites, they would be a constant source of annoyance, corruption, and danger. They could never be trusted as faithful citizens ; for they could never feel that their interests and those of the whites are precisely the same. Each would regard the other with painful suspicion and apprehension. * * It is essential to the interests of each that they be separated to such distances from each other, as to avoid too frequent in tercourse. They should be in a situation to live a separate and independent people. If we would consult their tempo ral and eternal well-being, this must be done ; if we would p2 186 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Motives to respectability. consult our own interest and happiness, it is equally neces sary." Again he says, " They could never be either re spectable or happy in the midst of a white population. They can never, whilst public sentiment remains what it is, asso ciate with the whites on terms of equality. They may be industrious and regular ; they may be enterprising and suc cessful in business ; and exhibit talents, knowledge, and wealth ; but after all they can never associate with the whites on terms comfortable to either. They will be treated, and they wiU feel as inferiors. They cannot live under the in fluence of that sense of character, of those excitements to aim at high standing in society which operate upon a corres ponding 'number of white people. As they cannot faU to have a degraded standing, so this wUl confer on them in a greater or less degree a degraded character. Place any num ber of human beings, of whatever complexion, in a situation in which they can never aspire to an equality with those around them, and you take away from them one of the main incitements to industry, to honorable enterprise, and to'emu- lation of exceUence." ' This is indeed but a repetition of the sentiments which I have already advanced in these conversations. Slavery will sooner or later, cease from among us ; and I pray that the hour may hasten when our country shall be delivered from its scourge and reproach. But the more I contemplate the subject, the more I am convinced that the plan which gives promise of greatest and most extensive benefit to the slaves in our country, as well as to the whites, is emancipa tion united with colonization. Nor can I doubt that the colored people of this country who are already nominally free, wiU best promote their own interests, as well as the best interests of their race and the salvation of their fathers' native continent, by planting themselves in some position on the inviting shores of Africa.' PLEA FOR AFRICA. 187 The foundation of a Christian empire laid. ' But, Pa, they must be prepared by education, and suita ble moral and religions instruction, in order to be good citi zens of any country ?' ' Certainly. African improvement and colonization should be considered inseparable. Great care must be taken not to destroy the hope of a rich blessing for Africa by sending thither a people who are not prepared to assist in laying the foundation of a great and cultivated, prosperous and Christian nation. The germ of such an empire, I am happy to say, has already, as I confidentally believe, taken root in Africa. The leaven of Christianity is already in the midst of her dark and absurd superstitions. And I have no doubt that before a century has passed away, millions of free and enlightened and Christian people will lift up their hearts on the shores of Africa, in thanksgivings to God, in grateful recollection of the Pilgrims of Mesurado !' ' We should like. Pa, to know more than we do of coloni zation, and of the object and history of the American Co lonization Society.' ' I was just about to suggest the same,' said Henry. 'It will give me great pleasure to gratify your wishes in this respect. The American Colonization Society is a voluntary and benevolent association which was formed at Washington, District of Columbia, in the December of 1816. Who is entitied to the honor of first suggesting its forma tion and character, I shall not undertake to determine. As early as 1777, Mr. Jefferson proposed to the legislature of Virginia to have incorporated in the revised code of that State, a plan for colonizing the free colored population of the United States. He proposed to establish a colony in some part of our Western country. Dr. FothergUl and Granville Sharp appear the first in England who entertained 188 plea for AFRICA. History of the American Colonization Society. the subject of colonization in Africa, the latter of whom may be regarded as the founder of the colony of Sierra Leone. The earliest suggestions that I have met with on the subject of colonization, from over the waters, were from the pen of Granville Sharp, bearing date 1783. It is said that Anthony Benezet, of Philadelphia, in a letter addressed to Dr. Fother- giU, 1773, proposed to colonize the negroes of this country, in " that large extent of country from the west side of the Alleghany mountains to the Mississippi, on a breadth of four or five hundred miles." Benezet also writes, under date of 4th month, 28th, 1773, " I am like-minded with thee, with respect to the danger and difficulty which would attend a sudden manumission of those negroes now in the southern colonies, as well to themselves as the whites." A society seems to have been formed in Pennsylvania in 1785, for pro moting the gradual abolition of slavery, and received a char ter in 1789 ; but it does not appear that this body contemplat ed the colonization of the free blacks in a separate com munity. For this society, however, it has been claimed by an able advocate for colonization, J. R. Tyson, Esq. that it is " the parent of perhaps all the similar institutions in this country." ' In 1787, Dr. Thornton, of Washington, it seems, form ed a project for colonizing, on the Western coast of Africa, free men of color, from the United States ; and published an address to those residing in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, inviting them to accompany him to Africa for the pur pose of forming a settlement. He was enthusiastically en gaged in the enterprize, and was so far successful that he found a sufiicient number of free blacks ready to go ; but unfortunately his efforts failed for want of funds, the public mind not being then suflacientiy prepared for any such enter prise of benevolence to afford that pecuniary aid which is so eomraendably furnished when any good object presents itself at the present day. In 1789, the Rev. Dr. Hopkins, of plea for AFRICA. 189 Society formed. Rhode Island, corresponded on the subject with GranvUle Sharp, and in 1790, an able article, promotive of the same object, was published by Ferdinando Fairfax, of Virginia. In 1801, the legislature of Virginia resolved instructions to their Governor, Mr. Monroe, to apply to the President of the United Slates, and urge him to institute negotiations with some of the powers of Europe possessed of colonies on the coast of Africa, for an asylum to which emancipated negroes might be sent. A correspondence followed between President Jefferson and the Sierra Leone Company, and af terwards with the government of Portugal ; but obstacles presented and that project was at length abandoned. ' The plan of a Colonization Society, it is generally con sidered, was proposed by the Rev. Robert Finley, of New- Jersey. He, it seems, devoted much thought to the subject in 1814, as also in 1815. It is also evident that the Rev. Samuel J. MiUs, of Connecticut, was not, at this -time, without the conception of the great plan in his own mind. Some, who assert that they speak from personal knowledge, represent Mr. Mills as the man, who, under God, was at the foundation of this institution. Be that as it may, be was confessedly a warm advocate for the measure, and great ly eflacient in bringing about the desired result. The Ameri can Colonization Society was formed, as I have said, in 1816, and in the steps immediately preliminary to its organization are recorded the names of Mr. Finley, Mr. Mills, the Hon. C. F. Mercer of Virginia, and F. S. Key, and E. B. Cald- weU, Esqrs., of Washington. Among those who attended the first meeting, for the organization of the Society, may be mentioned also as conspicuous, the Hon. Bushrod Washing ton, who was first President of the Society, and the Hon. Henry Clay, one of its earliest Vice-Presidents, and now its President. ' The first Emigration of colored people to Africa from 190 PLEA FOR AFRICA. First Emigration to Africa. the United States, was in 1815, about a year previous to the formation of the American Colonization Society. This expe dition was under the direction of Paul Cuffee, a colored man, and truly respectable, benevolent, and wealthy member of the denomination of Friends. Capt. Cuffee, (of New-Bed ford, Mass.,) sailed from Boston, in his own vessel, taking with him thirty-eight persons to ' Sierra Leone, thirty of whom he carried out gratuitously, at an expense to himself of more than three thousand dollars.' ' Did you say that he was a colored man, Pa ?' ' I did ; and very much of a gentieman he was too. His father was a poor African, whom the hand of unfeeling ava rice dragged from his native home and connexions into slavery ; but by his good conduct, faithfulness and persever ing industry, he, in time, obtained his freedom. Paul, the son, was poor in his early days ; but was industrious and enterprising, by which traits, joined to much practical wis dom and sterling common sense, he at length rose to opu lence. He was largely concerned in commerce ; and in many voyages to Russia, England, Africa, the West Indies, and southern States, commanded his own ship. A man of the strictest integrity, modest and yet dignified in his man ners, of a feeling and liberal heart, public spirited and versed iu the business of the world, his acquaintance and friendship were valued by many who greatly honored him, both in this country and in Europe. I remember seeing him often, in my youth. The last time was as he was passing through my native place, in his own private family carriage, drawn by beautiful white horses, with a coachman of his own com plexion, on his Way lo attend a Yearly Meeting of the So ciety of Friends, of which I have said he was a worthy and highly respected member.* * It is said that " few could remain long in bis presence without forget ting their prejudice against color, and feeling their hearts expand with jiister PLEA FOR AFRICA. 191 Colonization Agents visit Africa. 'In 1818, the American Colonization Society appointed as agents, the Rev. Samuel John Mills, whose labors. and prayers, in the short time that he lived, accomplished much for the glory of God, and laid the foundation for great re sults in the conversion of perishing heathen, and the Rev. Ebenezer Burgess, now Dr. Burgess, the excellent Pastor of one of the churches in New-England ; and instructed them to proceed to the coast of Africa, by the way of Eng land, to make the necessary inquiries for_ a suitable location of a colony. These gentiemen visited aU the ports from Sierra Leone to Sherbro, and acquired much valuable infor mation. Mr. Mills, as you know, died on the passage from Africa, leaving the church to mourn the loss of one of the best and most useful of men. You recollect, probably, the just and eloquent tribute to the memory of this man of God, by the Rev. Mr. Bacon of New Haven. Mr. Bacon, you know ; and know also that he is the ardent and faithful friend of Africa. I must, through respect to the memory of the sainted MUls, read to you an extract from Mr. Bacon's dis course. We wUl then postpone any further conversation until evening, when we wUl hope to resume the subject.' " A young minister of the gospel once said to an intimate sentiments towards the most injured portion of the human family." Besides the voyage to Africa with the emigrants, he is said to have previously gone both 10 England and Africa in aid of the same great object, the improve ment of the African race. He died in 1817, leaving an estate valued at $20,000. The Rev. Peter Williams, a colore! man, and Minister of an African Church in the city of New- York, connected with the Protestant Episcopal Church, in a sermon preached on occasion of the death of Captain C, has these remarks, which we quote both as honorable testimony to the estimation in which Captain C. was held, and as pleasing evidence of the good "sense and respectable talents of the Rector of St Philip's Church : " His countenance was serious, but mild ; his Speech and habit plain and unostentatious ; his deportment dignjBed and prepossessing, blending gravity with modesty and sweetness, and firmness with gentleness and humility. * * He rose like the sun, diffusing wider and wider the rays of his bene ficence ; nntil, having attained his zenith, even the nations beyond the seas were made to rejoice in his beams. " * His voyages are all over: he has made his last, and it was to the haven of eternal repose." — ,V. Y, Spectator, 1817 ,- and Griffin's Plea. 192 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Samuel John Mills. friend, ' My brother, you and I are littie men, but before we die, our influence must be felt on the other side of the world.' Not many years after, a ship, returning from a dis tant quarter of the globe, paused on her passage across the deep. There stood on her deck a man of God, who wept over the dead body of his friend. He prayed, and the sai lors wept with him. And they consigned that body to the ocean. It was the body of the man who, in the ardor of youthful benevolence, had aspired to extend his influence through the world. He died in youth ; but he had redeem ed his pledge ; and at this hour, his influence is felt in Asia, in Africa, in the Islands of the sea, and in every corner of his native country. This was Samuel John Mills; and all who know his history, will say that I have exaggerated neither the grandeur of his aspirations, nor the result of his efforts. He traversed our land like a ministering spirit, silently, and yet effectuaUy, from the hill country of the Pilgrims to the vaUey of the Missouri. He wandered on errands of benevolence from village to village, and from city to city, pleading now with the patriot for a country growing up to an immensity of power, and now with the Cliristian, for a world lying in wickedness. He explored in person the desolation of the West, and in person he stirred up lo enterprise and effort the churches of the East. He lived for India and Owhyhee, and died in the service of Africa. He went to heaven in his youth ; but his works do foUow him, like a long train of glory that stiU widens and brightens, and wUl widen and brighten for ever." ' Let me repeat,' said Caroline, ' as a supplement to the truly eloquent extract from Mr. Bacon's eulogium, the poe try of one whom I love to quote, and whose effusions you. Pa, and Henry, both love to hear, and then I will consent to adjourn ; although, I confess, I shall long for the evening PLEA FOR AFRICA. 193 Samuel John Mills. to come, to resume the subject, for I have become deeply in terested.' ' I wiU hear you with pleasure, Caroline,' said her father. Caroline remarked, ' They are the lines of Mrs. Sigourney, on reading the Biography of Mr. Mills.' " Oh Africk ! raise thy voice and weep For him who sought to heal thy wo. Whose bones beneath the briny deep Bleach where the pearl and coral glow. Unfetter'd by the wiles of earth. And girded for the race of heaven, Even from his dedicated birth To God and thee his soul was given- la hermit cells of prayerful thought. In meditation's holy sphere. He nursed that sacred wish which sought The darkness of a world to cheer. Our western wilds where outcasts roam. Sad India's vales with blood defac'd. Blest Obookiah's sea-girt home The ardor of his zeal embrac'd. But thou, indebted clime, that drew Through torrid seas his stranger sail. Whose tall cliffi heard his fond adieu. Pour forth the wildest, bitterest wail." 194 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Friends of Africa. CONVERSATION XX. " Many circumstances at present seem to concur in brightening the pros pects of the Society, and cherishing the hope that the time will come when the dreadful calamity which has so long afflicted our country, and filled so many with despah:, will be gradually removed, and by means consistent with justice, peace, and the general satisfaction : thus giving to our country the full enjoyment of the blessings of liberty, and to the world the fliU bene fit of its great example." — Madison. Mr. L. remarked, at the opening of this conversation, ' It has occurred to me that, in mentioning the early friends of Africa, I ought not to have omitted mentioning more parti cularly the name of Anthony Benezet. His name will live, whUst virtue and benevolence are respected among men ; and his earnestness in the cause of humanity will be remembered long after the history of Africa's redemption shall be written. Benezet established a free school in Philadelphia for the education of colored people, which is stUl in operation in WiUing's alley, and at which John Williams and Peter Harris, interesting youths from the native tribes of Bassa Cove, have been partially educated ; the former of whom has returned to Africa, and the latter, an African prince, is now at Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., for the completion of his education. Benezet was always prompt to plead in the behalf of the colored race, as, to their honor be it told, have ever been the respectable Society of Friends, of which he was a member, to feel a deep concern to ameliorate the condition of this unhappy class of their fellow-men. Bene zet early caused to be republished in Philadelphia the cele brated tract of GranviUe Sharp, on the injustice of the slave- trade, and also wrote and published a work on the subject himself, which was republished in England. He commenced PLEA FOR AFRICA. 195 Anthony Benezet. a correspondence with Mr. Sharp on the subject, in 1772 ; of this correspondence I wiU give you another extract : — " I doubt not," he writes, " but thou wilt, upon inquiry, find more well-minded people ready to cry thee ' God speed,' in this weighty service, than thou art aware of. The most solid amongst all dissenters, particularly the Presbyterians, would be well-pleased to see an end put to the slave-trade, and many, to slavery itself. The people of New England have made a law that nearly amounts to a prohibition of the trade, and I am informed, have proposed to the governor and coun cU, that all negroes born in the country shall be free at a eertain age. The people of Maryland and Virginia, are so convinced of the inexpediency, if not of the iniquity of any further importation of negroes, that twenty thousand people would freely join in a petition to parliament, against any further import." Roberts Vaux, in his life of Benezet, says, " During the sitting of the legislature, in 1780, a session memorable for the enactment of a law which commenced the gradual abolition of slavery in Pennsylvania," Benezet " had private interviews on the subject with every member of the government, and no doubt thus essentially contributed to the adoption of that celebrated measure." ' I will now endeavor to satisfy your inquiry in respect to the object of the American Colonization Society. This can be done in a few words, by referring to the constitution itself, of the Society, the first two articles of which are as follows : ' "Article I. This Society shaU be called the American Society for colonizing the free people of color of the United States. ' " Article II. The object to which its attention is to be exclusively directed, is to promote and execute a plan for colonizing, with their consent, the free people of COLOR residing IN OUR COUNTRY, IN AFRICA, OR SUCH OTHER PLACE AS Congress shall deem i;xpepient." ' 196 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Object of colonization. ' Is this alone the object of the Society V said Caroline, ' I had supposed that it contemplated also the suppression of the slave-trade, and also the final emancipation of slaves in our country.' ' Its whole object,' said Mr. L., ' is stated in the second ar ticle of its constitution. Other important ends may be ob tained as the means of establishing and building up the co lony, or as consequences of the efforts for colonization ; but this is the one object it has in view. Pursuing this one ob ject, the North and the South may unite in harmonious action. The subject of emancipation it passes by, knowing that this belongs exclusively to the several States in which slavery is tolerated, and to individual proprietors in those States, under and according to their laws. The subject of the slave-trade is not contemplated directly in the constitu tion of the Society, for the authority for its suppression is vested only in the government of the nations. Nor does it directiy aim at the education and improvement of the blacks in this country ; for this must be under the direction of State governments, or of State Societies, and no interference in the domestic concerns of any one State, is admissible on the part of -inhabitants of another State. At the same time, to use the language of one of its Vice-Presidents, Mr. Clay, " It hopes that if it shall demonstrate the practicability of the successful removal to Africa, of free persons of color, with their own consent ; the cause of emancipation, either by States or by individuals, may be incidentally advanced. At the same time, our country will be relieved of a great evil in proportion as colonization succeeds ; those who may remove wiU find their condition greatly improved ; and by introduc ing knowledge, industry, and religion into Africa, we shaU contribute to the suppression of the .«lave-trade, and to "the civilization and conversion of a continent ! These are ends PLEA FOR AFRICA. 197 Colonization generally approved. which will be obtained although the object of the Society is one." ' The course which the Society takes, unites a greater number of judicious and well disposed persons of every sec tion of our common country, probably, than any other plan could. It is true, there are not a few who object : the slave holder has, in some instances, indulged the suspicion that an interference " with the rights of property," may be intended > and the advocate of general and immediate emancipation without discrimination, has cast upon the Society his keen est reproaches, alleging that its influence, if not its direct ob ject, is to perpetuate the existence of slavery. These objec tions, however, so diametrically opposite, many advocates of colonization regard as matter of felicitation, rather than otherwise, inasmuch as they evince the wisdom of the plan of operation which is proposed. The virulent denunciations of both extremes of public sentiment, they say, were to be expected by a Society rejecting the hurtful in the views of either, although adopting the liberal in both. Besides, had it been warmly espoused al the first by either, it would have been irreconcileably opposed by the other, and would have been itself the dividing line between two great parties, leav ing no middle ground on which the great majority of the nation might stand, as now, and safely urge forward this cause of phUanthropy and of patriotism, without compro mise of principles, or the violation of the constitution and endangerment of the Union.' . ' This Society,' Caroline here remarked, ' we know, is approved by many judicious and good men, and I do not see why it should be opposed, or suspected of designing to take any other course than that which it has taken, and stUl pursues. " Charity thinketh no evU." ' Henry said, ' I wonder how the subject would strike the q2 198 plea for AFRICA. Lafayette's views of the Colonization Society. mind of a man of enlarged views and philanthropic soul, who was in a situation to see it as it is, and to judge without prejudice. I should think now, that the opinion of such a man as Lafayette, would be worthy of regard ; if he ap proved of colonization, or disapproved of it, I should think that his unprejudiced opinion would have influenee.' ' Lafayette was a Vice-President of the Colonization So ciety, Henry,' said Caroline. ' O no, Caroline,' said H.; ' are you not mistaken ?' ' Yes,' said Mr. L., 'Lafayette was an honorary Vice- President of the Colonization Society. And we have his opinion, expressly, on the subject of colonization. In a let ter, dated at " Paris, Oct. 29, 1831," he says, " The pro gressing state of our Liberia establishment, is to me a source of enjoyment and the most lively interest. Proud as i am OF the honour of being one of the Vice-Presidents of the Society, I only regret that I cannot make myself more use ful. * * When the Society meet, be pleased lo present my wishes, gratitude, and respect." ' ' Who are some of the other officers of the Society ; many of our most distinguished public men ?' 'It has enjoyed both the entire confidence of our most distinguished men, and the high honor of their influence and services as its members and officers. Some of these "are not, for God has taken them ;" others are with us, and long may they be spared to help forward the cause of co lonization, and as ornaments and blessings to the world. — The Hon. Bushrod Washington, I have already named, as its first President. Charles Carroll was President of the Society after the death of Judge Washington. James Ma dison was its late President. Henry Clay is its President at the present time. The late Chief-Justice MarshaU and the plea for AFRICA. 199 Other distinguished men. venerable and lamented Bishop White, have been among its Vice-Presidents ; also, Hon. Wm. H. Crawford, Bishop Mc- Kendree, and Robert Ralston. Among its present officers, besides Mr. Clay, are John C. Herbert of Maryland, Gen. Mason of Va., Samuel Bayard of New-Jersey, Daniel Web ster of Boston, Gen. Mercer of Va., President Day of Yale CoUege, John Cotton Smith of Conn., Theo. FreUnghuysen of New- Jersey, Bishop Meade of Va., Samuel Southard of N. Jersey, Geo. W. Lafayette of France, Nicholas Brown of R. I., Pres. Fisk of the Wesleyan Seminary in Conn., and — ^I wiU not undertake to enumerate more, although I might recoUect and mention many others of distinguished eminence in different parts of the Union. Its Secretary is the Rev. Ralph R. Gurley, and its Treasurer, Joseph Gales, Sen. Esq., both residents in Washington. The Coloniza tion Society has, indeed, become an object of admiration in different parts of the globe.' ' I recoUect,' said Henry, ' among, those whose appro bation it received, the name of WUberforce.' ' In respect to Wilberforce, your apprehension is correct that it receivedhis approbation,' said Mr. L., " Trojafuit! ' It may be considered a mooted point, however, as relates to the final decision of the mind of the philanthropic and la mented WUberforce. It is asserted that he withdrew con fidence from the cause, although he had been the unhesitat ing friend and advocate of colonization. In regard to this matter. Dr. Hodgkin, of London, says that " Wilberforce continued to avow his approbation of the Society until near the period of his lamented death, when the exparte state ments of those who knew the importance of his authority, obtained a triumph, the achievement of which confers no honor." ' The Society has not been without many and distinguish- 200 plea for AFRICA. Auxiliaries. ed friends abroad. Lord Althorp, the late learned Chancel lor of the Exchequer, and one of the most enlightened and distinguished noblemen of England, has publicly pronounced the foundation of the colony of Liberia to be " one of the greatest events of modern times." The immortal Clarkson, whose labors in the cause of African freedom have been greater than those of almost any other man living, is "strong ly attached to the society;" the Duke of Sussex, Lord Bexley, the Duke of Bedford, the Archbishop of Dublin, and others of the highest standing in society, are officers of a Society denominated The British African Coloniza tion Society, which has been formed in Great Britain in aid of the colonization enterprise. They consider the plan of the American Colonization Society as "admirably ad apted to introduce Christianity and civilization among the natives of Africa, and to extirpate the slave-trade, which the moral efforts of Great Britain and other powers, have been unable to suppress." I might mention many eminent foreigners who have expressed their decided approbation of the Society.' ' Auxiliaries are found, I presume, in almost every State of the Union ; are they not. Pa ?' ' I am not able to specify the number, but I recoUect there are State and other auxiliaries in Maine, New Hampshire, Ver mont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Delaware ; and resolutions approving of the Society, have been passed by the Legislatures of most of these and other States, and by most of these also the American Colonization Society has been recommended to the patronage of the General Govern ment. Some of the Stales have made conditional appropria tions from their respective treasuries. Maryland has set a plea for AFRICA. 201 Funids. noble example to her sister States by granting $200,000 from her treasury — that is, the sum of $20,000 annuaUy for ten years — lo enable the free blacks of Maryland, if they feel disposed, to remove to Liberia. ' The Society has also received the approbation of all pro minent denominations, by the acts of their ecclesiastical ju dicatories, whether assemblies, general associations, synods, classes, meetings, or conventions. Episcopalians, Presby terians, the Dutch Reformed, Methodists, Congregationalists, Baptists, Lutherans, Moravians, and Friends, have thought proper, in their larger ecclesiastical bodies, to commend the objects of the Society lo the patronage and good wishes of the community.' .' Has the Society considerable funds by whicji to sustain its operations ?' ' It has almost none, aside from voluntary contributions, which are made from week to week. Its income, however, from these sources, has been considerable, and gradually in creasing from its commencement. From 1821 to 1828 in clusive, the amount of donations was nearly $83,000. In 1829, it was upwards of $20,000. In 1830, more than $27,000. In 1831, rising $32,000. In 1832, more than $32,000. In 1833, 849,000. In 1834-5, nearly $52,000. A heavy debt which had accumulated upon it, and had like, for a time, to have disheartened its friends and suspended its operations, has, by a better arrangement in respect to its fiscal operations, been nearly extinguished, and its prospects are again brightening. ' In our next conversation, we will turn our attention to Liberia.' 202 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Liberia. CONVERSATION XXL " Yes ! thy proud lords, unpitying band, shall see That man hath yet a soul, and dare be free ; A little while, along thy saddening plains. The starless night of desolation reigns; Truth shall restore the light by Nature given. And, like Prometheus, bring the fire of heaven ! Prone to the dust Oppression shall be hurl'd — Her name, her nature, wither'd from the world." — CampbeU. ' You promised, in our last conversation,' said Caroline, ' that we should this morning hear something of the history of Liberia; and I assure you, Pa, that Henry and I have a great deal of curiosity to satisfy on this subject, so that you may expect lo be troubled with a great many questions. Why, Sir, was the country in which the colonies are located, caUed Liberia ?' ' I am much gratified to find that you both take so deep an interest in the subject ; .and shall be pleased to hear and to reply to as many inquiries as you may feel inclined to make. The name " Liberia," was given to the district of country in which the colonies are found, because it is the land of the free' d ; the name being coined from the Latin adjective " liber,^' or " libera," />-ee it. ' The central point of the old colony of Liberia, proper, now caUed the colony of Monrovia, is Cape Mesurado, or Montserado, which is represented as a most beautiful and commanding site. Liberia, embracing all the distinct colonies which are or may be planted, is situated about 5 degrees N. of the equator, and 250 mUes S. of Sierra Leone, the En glish colony. It extends along the coast to the length of 150 or 300 miles ; and reaches into the interior indefinitely. FLEA FOR AFRICA. 203 Location and chief settlements. — Monrovia — Caldwell. Rivers, some of considerable size, water the country through out. The soil is extremely fertile, and abounds in all the productions of tropical cUmates. The population, at the pre sent time, is more than 4,000 ; perhaps it may be, as is esti mated by some, 5 or 6,000. ' The chief city in the old colony, or colony of Monrovia, is Monrovia ; so called in honor of the late ex-President of the United States, James Monroe. It is situated on Cape Montserado, at the mouth of the Mesurado river ; and con tains about 500 houses and stores — a court-house — five churches, one Presbyterian, two Methodist, and two Bap tist — three flourishing schools, one of which has upwards of 100 scholars — a temperance society, numbering upwards of 500 members — and about 1500 inhabitants. The houses are generaUy well buUt, and of a pleasant appearance. The city is seventy feet above the sea ; and the temperature is mUd and agreeable, the thermometer not varying more than from 68 to 87 deg., and the inhabitants enjoying, most of the time, a refreshing sea-breeze. The streets are 100 feet wide, crossing each other at right angles. The harbor, which is formed by the mouth of the river, is convenient and capacious for vessels of moderate dimensions. ' Seven mUes north of the outiet of the Mesurado, is the river St. Paul's on which is the town of Caldwell. This town, after the plan of some American villages, has but one street, which, a mile and a half long, is planted on either side with a beautiful row of plaintain and banana trees. CaldweU is an agricultural establishment, and is flourishing. It has three churches, three day schools, and three Sunday schools. It is an interesting fact that one of the native kings recently applied at one of these day schools for admission of twelve children ; which request, however, could not be granted, as the school was already full. ' Between CaldweU and Monrovia, on Stockton creek, is 204 PLEA FdE AFRICA. New Georgia. — Millsburgh. a settlement of recaptured Africans, called New Georgia, and planted in part, by the aid of our General Government. It contains 500 inhabitants, who, although they were once the miserable tenants, in chains, of the loathsome slave-ship, are now living in the enjoyment of the blessings of Christian and civilized life. This place has a church and near two hundred houses. Mr. Buchanan, Agent of the Young Men's Society of Pennsylvania, who visited the place, says respect ing this settlement, " The air of perfect neatness, thrift, and comfort, which every where prevails, affords a lovely com mentary on the advancement which these interesting people " have made in civilization and Christian order, under the pa tronage of the Colonization Society. Imagine to yourself, some two or three hundred houses, with streets intersecting each other at regular distances, preserved clean as the best swept side-walk in Philadelphia, and Uned with well planted hedges of Cassava and of Plum ; a school-house full of or derly children, neatiy dressed, and studiously engaged ; and then say whether I was guilty of extravagance, in exclaim ing as I did, after surveying this most lovely scene, that had the Colonization Society accomplished no more than has been done in the rescue from slavery and savage habits of these happy people, I should have been weU satisfied." ' North-east of Monrovia, twenty miles, on the same river, at the foot of the highlands, is another flourishing town caUed Millsburgh, containing about 500 inhabitants, two churches, and one school, and rapidly increasing by new colonists. Millsburgh has peculiar advantages, enabling it to become the commercial medium between the interior and the sea-coast.* The land is fertUe, and the forests abound with excellent timber. The town is represented as very * The St. Paul's River is supposed to have a course of from 200 to 306 miler. plea FOR AFRICA. 205 Marshall. — Cape Palmas. — Address of Colonists. neat and healthy. Another town of recent settlement is Mar.shall, ' Another considerable settlement in Liberia, is that very flourishing colony formed under the patronage of the Mary land Colonization Society, and also fostered by the State, at Cape Palmas, caUed New Maryland. This colony, which now numbers between three and four hundred inhabitants, is advantageously located, and promises to excel in agricul ture. Its situation is high, open, free from any surrounding marshes, and most favorable to health. Its inhabitants are j-epresented as temperate, inteUigent, and industrious ; and as giving evidence of mental as well as physical energy, that greatiy encourages the confident hope and expectation that they wiU yet occupy an honorable rank among the civUized world. ' I must give you an extract from an address from this colony to the .colored people of the United States. " We wish," say they, " to be candid. It is not every man that we can honestly advise, or desire to come to this country. To those who are contented to live and educate their chil dren as house servants and lackeys, we would say, stay where you are ; here we have no masters to employ you. To the indolent, heedless, and slothful, we would say, tarry among the flesh-pots of Egypt ; here we get our bread by the sweat of our brow. To drunkards and rioters, we would say, come not to us ; you never can become natu ralized In a land where there are no grog-shops, and where temperance and order is the motto. To the timorous and suspicious, we would say, stay where you have protectors ; here we protect ourselves. But the industrious, enterpris ing, and patrioti*, of whatever occupation, or enterprise — the mechanic, the merchant, the farmer, and especially the latter, we would counsel, advise, and entreat, to come over, and be one with us, and assist us in this glorious enterprise, R 206 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Edina. — Cove. — Fertility jf Liberia. and enjoy with us that liberty to which we ever were, and to which the man of color ever must be a stranger, in America. To the ministers of the gospel, both white and colored, we would say, come over to this great harvest, and diffuse amongst us and our benighted neighbors, the light of the gospel, without which liberty itself is but slavery, and free dom perpetual bondage." ' Besides these, there are the flourishing settiements more recentiy commenced at Edina and Bassa Cove, the one beautifuUy situated on the south, and the other on the north side of the St. John's, near its mouth, of which I will give you a particular account at another time. Also, about eighty miles south-east from Bassa Cove, on the river Sinon, the Mississippi Colonization Society have purchased a territory, and commenced a colony. The Louisiana So ciety propose the settlement of a colony on the opposite side of the same river. And soon I hope to be able to teU you of the prosperity of the colony which Virginia, by her State Colonization Society, has resolved to plant upon the African coast, within the Liberian territory, and under the auspices Of the Parent Society, to bear the name of New Virginia ; also, that Kentucky feas a prosperous colony there ; and in deed that many States have in Liberia, distinct colonies, lining the coast of western Africa, for many hundred mUes, and thus furnisTiing a barriej to the approach of the slaver, on the one side, whilst on the other, they pour the light of civilization and Christianity upon benighted millions.' ' The prosperity of Liberia is truly wonderful,' said Henry ; ' but I have heard it asserted, that the soil is sterile. It has been said that the country is mostly a desert.' ' A more fertile soil, Henry, and a more productive coun try, I suspect it would be difficult to find on the face of the earth. Its hills and its plains are covered with a verdure PLEA FOR AFRICA. 207 Testimony of Park. — Productions. that never fades ; the productions of nature keep on in their growth through aU seasons of the year ; and even the natives of the country, almost without farming tools or skUl, with very little labor, make more grain and vegetables than they can consume, and often more than they can sell. They who represent Liberia as sterUe, must do so through pitiable igno rance, or a criminal design to injure the colony. ' It is true, there are in Africa, extensive deserts : but what should we think of an attempt to persuade us, who are surrounded with the luxuries ef a genial soil and climate, that our continent is an uninhabitable waste, because it contains within its limits, " rocky mountains," " dismal swamps," and " barrens ?" Mr. Park, the traveUer, says, " All the rich and valuable productions, both of the East and West Indies, might easily be naturalized, and brought lo the utmost perfection in the tropical parts of this immense con tinent Nothing is wanting to this end, but example to en lighten the minds of the natives, and instruction to enable them to direct their industry to proper objects. It was not possible for me to behold the wonderful fertility of the soil ; the vast herds of cattle, proper both for labor and food ; and a variety of other circumstances favorable to coloniza tion and agriculture ; and reflect, withal, on the means which presented themselves of a vast inland navigation, without lamenting that a country so gifted and favored by nature, should remain in its present savage and neglected state." ' Indeed, all tourists and journalists, who have explored the continent of Africa, whilst they find barren spots, pic ture also widely-extended regions of the most exuberant and astonishing fertUity — an exuberance affording so rich and spontaneous a profusion of productions, that the un- governed natives have not the necessary excitement to exer tion. Liberia lays claim, supported by the testimony of 208 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Resources. undoubted witnesses, to equal fertility with any other portion of the continent. ' The colonists have aU the domestic animals which are found in this country. They raise a great variety of vegeta bles and tropical fruits. Coffee grows spontaneously, and of an exceUent kind. The attention of several of the most respectable colonists has been turned to its cultivation, and 20,000 coffee trees have been planted by a single individual. The indigo plant is indigenous, and grows wUd almost every where on the coast ; cotton is easily cultivated and the crops are productive ; the sugar-cane is found on many parts of the coast of Africa, and may be cultivated in Liberia ; rice is €asy of cultivation, and has long been the principal article of food to the natives ; bananas of an exceUent and delicious kind, plantains, oranges, fine flavored and very large, and limes, are common ; maize, or Indian corn, ripens in three months, and succeeds well ; pineapples are very good and in great abundance ; cocoanut trees flourish weU ; pump kins, squashes or simelins, cucumbers, watermelons, and rauskmelons, arrive at great perfection in that climate ; cas sada and yams are found in all parts of the coast, and are much used for food ; palm oil is produced in abundance ; tamarinds of various kinds ; gum Senegal and copal are arti cles of export in vast quantities ; pepper, and a variety of other spices, including cayenne, ginger, cubebs, cardamum, nutmegs, and cinnamon, are common on the coast ; several valuable dye-woods are found, of which camwood and bar- wood are exported in considerable quantities ; gold abounds in many parts of Africa, and the amount exported may be greatly increased ; ivory is also a great article of commerce, and timber of almost every quality. All these, and many other productions, are found in Africa, and are, or may be, sources of advantage and of profit to the Liberian colony. The hte colonial agent speaks of seeing at one of the beaw - PLEA FOR AFRICA. 209 Commerce of Liberia. tiful viUages of the recaptured Africans, a tract of one hun dred acres planted with cassada, interspersed with patches of Indian corn and sweet potatoes.' ' The colony, I should think, would enjoy very considera ble commercial advantages.' • ' Yes, Henry ; such is the position of the colony, that its commercial advantages are great. It is the central point in a long extent of sea coast ; and extensive relations of trade may be established between it and a vast interior. New avenues are continuaUy opening with the interior tribes, and no one can calculate the importance which some parts of Li beria may be expected to assume at some future, and not far distant day.' ' The colony is already engaged considerably in com merce, is it not. Sir ?' ' Yes ; and, my son, it may be interesting to notice the progress which the colony is making in this department of wealth and prosperity. From January 7, 1826, to June 15, 1826, the nett profits on wood and ivory alone, passing through the hands of the settiers, was $30,786. Passing on to 1829, we find the exports of African products to amount to $60,000. In 1831, 46 vessels, 21 of which were Ameri can, visited the colony, and the amount of exports was $88,911. During the year ending May 1, 1832, 59 vessels had visited the port of Monrovia, and the exports during the same period amounted to $125,549 16, whilst the imports amounted to $80,000. ' A portion of the colonists are continually and actively engaged in trade, disposing to the natives, of English and American, and other goods, and receiving in return dye- woods, ivory, hides, gold, palm oU, tortoise sheU, rice, &c., which become articles of exportation and of great profit. r2 210 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Enterprise of Liberia. — Prosperity. ' Hand in hand with the progress of civilization, wiU be the march of commerce. Even now, the harbor of Monro via presents, at times, a most animating scene to the beholder, of commercial activity and enterprise. You may see there often the harbor whitened with saUs — they are anchoring and taking their departure — blading and unlading — ware houses are stored with rich cargoes — you hear the busy- hum of industry — you see the alert movements of busy men, once, most of them, sluggard slaves ! Freedom has transformed them into another kind of men. ^ Elliott Cresson, Esq., a generous and constant friend of the African race, as well as sincere patriot, who has al ready achieved for himself imperishable honor by his inde fatigable and disinterested efforts in the cause of this noble phil-anthropy, thus expresses himself in an address before the Colonization Society, at their fourteenth anniversary, which was as long ago as 1831 : — " Only nine years have elapsed since the little band of colonists landed at the cape, and a nation has already sprang into existence — a nation des tined to secure to iEthiopia the fulfilment of the glorious prophecy made in her behalf. Already have kings thrown down their crowns at the feet of the infant republic, and formed with her a holy alliance, for the holy purpose of ex changing the guUty traffic in human flesh and blood for legi timate commerce, equal laws, civilization and religion. ' From many an ancient river. From many a palmy plain. They call us lo deliver Their land from error's chain.' They ask for schools, factories, churches. Nearly 2,000 freemen have kindled a beacon fire at Monrovia, to cast a broad blaze of light into the dark recesses of that benighted land ; and although much pains has been taken to overrate the cost, and undervalue the results, yet the annals of coloni- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 211 Prosperity. Zation may be triumphantiy challenged for a parallel. Five years of preliminary operations were requisite for surveying the coast, propitiating the natives, and selecting the most eli gible site ; numerous agents were subsequentiy employed, ships chartered, the forest cleared ; school-houses, factories, hospitals, churches, government buildings, and dwellings erected, and the many expenses requisite here defrayed ; and yet, for every $50 expended by our Society from its com mencement, we have not only a settier to show, but an ample and fertile territory in reserve, where our future emi grants may sit under their own vines and fig-trees with none to make them afraid. During the last year, an amount nearly equal to the united expenditures in effecting these ob jects, has been exported by the colonists ; and from Phila delphia alone, 11 vessels have sailed, bearing to the land of their forefathers a large number of slaves manumitted by the benevolence of their late owners." Much more may be said in reference to the greatness of the success of the colony at the present time.' 213 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Climate. CONVERSATION XXII. " The condition of Africa, just in proportion as she is improved, will re flect beneficial influences on our own country. As Africa rises in the scale of improvement, and sends over the earth a respect for her name and her people, so shall we look with increasing interest and sympathy upon her de graded children that are cast on our shores. And just in proportion as she emerges from barbarism, and puts on the garments of civilization, will she attract our colored people to return to her, and dispel the dread which is now common to them, of emigrating to a land of barbarism." — Gerrit Smith. ' The unhealthiness of the climate, I suppose, is the greatest obstacle in the way of the prosperity of the colony at Liberia, is it not. Pa ?' said Caroline, on the conversation being resumed. ' Liberia has the reputation among many of being un healthy,' said Mr. L. ' If we should judge, however, only by the health of the natives on that part of the African coast, we should suppose it to be far otherwise. It is healthy, it appears, to acclimated emigrants. When once acclimated, it is said by those, who are competent to decide, and who could have no inducement to make an erroneous report, that Africa proves a more genial climate to the men of color than any portion of the United States. They enjoy, in Liberia, even now, a greater immunity from sickness, and the pro portion of deaths is less than in Baltimore, Philadelphia, or New-York.' ' Have not a great proportion of those who have emigrat ed died soon after their arrival ?' ' It was to be expected that during the early years of the colony ,many deaths would occur for want of suitable houses; on account of the fatigue and danger to which the colonists PLEA FOR AFRICA. 213 First selection of place unfortunate. were necessarily exposed ; and in consequence of the irre gular mode of life at first almost unavoidable. ' An unfortunate selection was made for the first emigrants, which increased the mortality among them. They found it impossible to obtain at that time a more suitable place, and were compeUed, by a variety of untoward circumstances, to make a temporary establishment in the low, unhealthy island of Sherbro. WhUe here detained, endeavoring to purchase land, they were attacked by fatal disease, which carried off the agent of the Society and twenty out of eighty emigrants, together with two agents sent out by the United States Gov ernment. The second expedition also suffered much by sickness and death. And deaths were also frequent among the colonists on their first arrival for some time. From 1827 to 1832, however, five years, not one person in forfy of those from the middle and southern Slates, died in Liberia from the change of climate. And later experiencehas proved that no unusual danger is to be apprehended by any who are sober, and have no radical defect of constitution. The change of climate, it was to be expected, would be felt more sensibly by those who go from the northern States, or from the mountainous parts of the middle States. ' There is to me one consideration which amidst all that has been most discouraging in the eariy mortaUty of the African colony, has been comforting. It is this : whilst the mortality is to be attributed but partiaUy to causes which cannot be controlled, the evU is limited to a single genera tion : but the good accomplished by colonization is to bless all succeeding generations. The natives of no country en joy better health than those of Africa ; and the children here after born to those who emigrate, wiU be Africans, and know notiiing of the dangers which their forefathers may have en countered. 214 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Discouragements at Jamestown and Plymouth. ' The settlement of new places is generally amended with trials by sickness. What is the fact in respect to the now flourishing state of Louisiana ? The colony of IbberviUe was begun to be settled in 1699, and in the ensuing thirteen years, 2,500 colonists were landed there, out of whom only 400 whites and 20 negroes remained at the end of that time ; on the Island of Orleans, where a settieraent was begun in 1717, the early settiers died by hundreds ; and both settlements were given up once or twice, by those who began them, and commenced anew by other hands. It was so with James town, Virginia ; it was so with Plymouth, Massachusetts, although in a northern cUmate. These both were desolated ]py sickness, and the mortality was far greater than it has ever been in Liberia. Five hundred emigrants at one time lartdsd in 'Ja!Hesto'.vn, and in less than five months their numbers were reduced to sixty. Disaster and defeat seemed to embitter aU the struggles of the Pilgrim fathers at Ply mouth. More than half their number died the first winter. And yet from the two feeble settiements, at Plymouth and Jamestown, has sprung a population which, in spite of dis couragements, have erected towns, cities, and an empire ! ' It has been remarked in regard to these early trials of colonies, by the eloquent and excellent FreUnghuysen, that "such has been the course of divine Providence with aU colonies, of which either sacred or profane history affords us any account, that He intended to cherish or to establish. It is the moral and mental discipline which God would pre scribe ; it is the discipline, of all others, calculated lo throw the human mind upon its own resources — to try its strength — to caU into action its powers, and, if there be energy within it or about it, it wiU be caUed into action. It tries its strength — its patience— its fortitude. In fact all the sterner virtues are created by this scheme of colonization. And it teaches, above aU, other lessons, for man to learn — ^his deep PLEA FOR AFRICA. 215 Difiiculties at Sierra Leone. dependence on divine power. How was it with the Jews, who were a caUed and chosen people ? Were they not sub jected to trials and difficulties ? How did God act toward them ? After years of gloomy and grinding bondage in Egypt, did he not send them to the land of promise ? He knew they were degraded and debased by moral and corpo real bondage. And indeed their debasement we clearly learn from their complaints. He put them to the trials which await colonization. He led them through the howling wild erness. He required them to endure fatigue — to meet the enemy's onslaught. In the divine wisdom and mercy they were subjected to these conflicts, dangers and terrors, both by night and by day. And when discipline had done its office, and when liberty and the promised land were in view, (and even then, they enjoyed not a bed of down,) even then they were to contend for every inch of land they were about to acquire." ' In respect to Liberia, however, we are not reduced to the necessity of reasoning from analogy ; we have facts : colonies may be estabUshed on the coast of Africa, for co lonies have been established there, and are flourishing. The EngUsh colony at Sierra Leone, after many sad reverses in its infancy, is now a thriving territory with 20,000 inhabi tants. It was founded under the most unfavorable circum stances, those who first composed it, coming from a northern latitiide. Nova Scotia, or the stireets of London. Besides bad habits prevailed among them, and did more for their de struction than the climate. ' This colony has ever been cherished by Christians and phUanthropists in England, and is stiU, as an institution, full of promise to Africa, and one that has conferred signal bless ings on those who were once outcasts in Britain, although it has known no such prosperity as has attended the coloniz ing of Liberia. The Liberian colonies are no longer an ex- 216 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Difficulties attending new settlements. periment ; their present condition is such that they speak, for themselves, a disproval of aU the predictions that have doomed them to destruction, and all the calumnies that have pronounced the enterprise a failure.' ' There is great misapprehension in the public mind, I should think,' said C, ' in regard to the difficulties generaUy attendant upon the beginning of new settlements ; and es pecially in regard to the difficulties which, in its first be ginning, the colony of Liberia was caUed to encounter, as contrasted with those of similar enterprises.' ' There is,' said Mr. L. ; ' and yet, so far are the trials of Liberia from being greater than has been the usual lot of similar enterprises, that the contrast is surprisingly in its favor. In fact, comparing its success with some otiier establishments, we may safely say that, after aU that has been adverse, if a remarkable protection afforded the colony from enemies without, and exemption from the pestUence that walketh in darkness and the destruction that wasteth at noon-day, as well also from internal discord and convulsion, is any evidence of the favor of Providence, that colony surely enjoys the divine favor. ' I will advert again to the early history of other colonies, for the facts in the case, and the instruction and encouragement which they furnish, are greatly important. If we look to Virginia, the situation and prospects of the Virginia colony in 1610, the first settlement of which was attempted in 1585, and to which numerous reinforcements were despatch ed from time to time during a term of twenty-five years, are thus depicted by Dr. Holmes, in his American Annals : " Smith left the colony furnished with three ships, good for tifications, twenty-five pieces of cannon, arms, ammunition, apparel, commodities for trading, and tools for aU kinds of labor. At Jamestown there were nearly sixty houses. PLEA FOR AFRICA. 217 DifHculiies attending new seltlements. The settiers had begun to plant and to fortify at five or six other places. The number of inhabitants was nearly five hundred. They had just gathered in their Indian harvest, and, besides, had considerable provision in their stores. They had between five and six hundred hogs, an equal num ber of fowls, some goats, and some sheep. They had also boats, nets, and good accommodations for fishing. But such was the sedition, idleness, and dissipation of this mad peo ple, that they were soon reduced to the most miserable cir cumstances. No sooner was Captain Smith gone, than the savages, provoked by their dissolute practices, and encourag ed by their want of government, revolted, hunted and slew them from place to place. Nansemond, the plantation at the falls, and all the out-settlements, were abandoned. In a short time, nearly forty of the company were cut off by the enemy. Their time and provisions were consumed in riot; their utensils were stolen or destroyed ; their hogs, sheep, and fowls kUled and carried off by the Indians. The sword without, and famine and sickness within, soon made among them surprising destruction. Within the term of six months, of their whole number, 500 persons, sixty only survived ! These were mostly poor, famishing wretches, subsisting chiefly on herbs, acorns, and berries. Such was the famine, that they fed on the skins of their dead horses ; nay, they boUed and ate the flesh of the dead. Indeed, they were reduced to such extremity, that had they not been relieved, the whole colony, in eight or ten days, would have been ex tinct. Such are the dire effects of idleness, faction, and want of proper subordination." The English, in fact, made four attempts to colonize Virginia before they succeeded. Once after a year's trial, the whole surviving remnant of the colony was transported back to England. 'If we turn our mind to North Carolina, which was settled in 1668, we find, by Williamson's History, that in 218 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Humanity pleads for colonization. 1694, " the list of taxables did not exceed 787, being little more than half the number that were there in 1677, seven teen years before. Such," WiUiamson continues, " were the baneful effects of rapine, anarchy, and idleness." 'In the Plymouth colony, commenced in 1620, besides the mortality to which we have before adverted, that swept off half their number in the first six months, they were sub ject to much inconvenience by reason of " false-brethren," and were " often in great straits with the Indians." A slight knowledge of the early history of " the Pilgrims" wiU suffice to show a strong contrast in favor of Liberia, so far as the early difficulties of founding the colony are re garded. At Plymouth, they received frequent reinforce ments, and yet there remained but 300 colonists in the year 1630. Two hundred persons, out of fifteen hundred, that came with John Winthrop to Boston in 1630, died in six months ! A sensible writer has weU said, " what incalcu lable benefits had been lost to the world, had the first set- - tiers of these United States retired faint and despairing from ous shores, at the first blow and shock of calamity ? God be praised for their firmness of heart !" ' Another consideration has been one of interest to me, amidst all discouraging reports concerning the health of the first emigrants ; if colonies can be once planted along the shores of Africa, and the slave-trade cut off, a vast sacrifice of life will thereby be prevented. In a single slave-ship, more persons have perished, often in indescribable agony, than have died from the influence of climate, since the origin of the colony of Liberia. The slave-trade, it has been well remarked by Judge Story of Massachusetts, "desolates whole villages and provinces. * * The blood of thou sands of the miserable children of Africa has stained her shores, or quenched the dying embers of her desolated towns to glut the appetite of slave-dealers. The ocean has receiv- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 219 Honor to be pioneers in this cause. ed in its deep and silent bosom, thousands more, who perish ed from disease and want, during their passage from their native homes" to foreign cUmes. ' It has been ascertained that an average of not less than 100,000 per annum, have been transported from Africa, and that half the number have ordinarUy died within two years, either during the passage or seasoning. Fifty thousand deaths every year, occasioned by the slave-trade ! In the name of humanity and of our holy religion, then, we may ask every one to judge whether the glorious- work of esta blishing civilized and Christian colonies along the coast of Africa shaU be abandoned, because some few suffer and die in efforts to redeem themselves and save their dying fellow- men? The amount of suSeving prevented and the lives saved by the American Colonization Society, is incalculable ; vastiy more than aU the sacrifice of life, and all the sufferings or privations which wiU ever be endured in accomplishing the regeneration of that great continent and the salvation of gene ration after generation of untold millions. ' To be useful, is to be blessed. And our Saviour has said " It is more blessed to give than to receive." They who laid the foundations of the colony at Liberia, wiU testify that they have already reaped a rich reward for all their toils. They wiU unitedly declare thatlhe blessings now theirs, have a value far beyond the price they cost. When they look to the future — when they consider the privUeges and blessings secured lo their posterity, they feel that the worth of these is inestimable. And they who feU martyrs in sounding the trump of jubilee in the land of the oppressed — in a land of comparative barbarism ; to caU the nations forth to the Ught and blessings of civUized life — in a land of blood and crime ; to hold up before the people the sign of the cross, that purity and peace, the hope of immortal glory and ever lasting songs of salvation, may supplant the dark influence 220 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Delightful climate for blacks. of the destroyer of souls ; have fallen in a noble attempt, and will be held in grateful remembrance by generations yet unborn. • A very sensible address is now before me, adopted "at a numerous meeting of the citizens of Monrovia," in Liberia, which speaks well to the point. The meeting, it seems, was called, and held at the court-house in Monrovia, in 1827, " for the purpose of considering the expediency of uniting in an address to the colored people of the United States." In the address they say, " We enjoy health, after a few months' residence in this country, as uniformly, and in as perfect a degree as we possessed that blessing in our native country. * * Death occasionally takes a victim from our number, without any- regard at all to his residence in the country ; but we never hoped by leaving America to escape the common lot of mortals. But we do expect to live as long, and pass this life with as lillie sickness as yourselves. * * Nothing like an epidemic has ever appeared in the colony ; nor can we learn from the natives, that the calami ty of a sweeping sickness ever yet visited this part of the continent. The change from a temperate to a tropical coun try is a great one — too great not to affect the health more or less. In the early years of the colony, want of good houses, the great fatigues and dangers of the settlers, their irregular mode of living, and the discouragements they met with, greatly helped the other causes of sickness which prevailed to an alarming extent, and was attended with great mortality. But we look back to those times as to a season of trial long past, and nearly forgotten." ' ' I have no doubt,' said Caroline, ' that after the first sea son, Liberia is a delightful climate for the blacks. They have constitutions probably better adapted to that climate than to ours.' PLEA FOR AFRICA. 221 Delightful climate for blacks. ' Yes, Caroline, the colored man going to Africa, goes to the lands of his fatiiers, for a residence in which nature has peculiariy fitted him. TFe should sicken and die where the native African, invigorated under the influence of a vertical sun, glories in its blaze, and grapples with the lion of the desert. Expose the African to tiie cold blasts of a northern clime, he shivers and drags out a miserable existence, whilst the white man can bare his bosom to the blast. "Nature," says Mr. Custis, "seems to draw a line of demarcation be tween the country of the white man and the black."* ' It sometimes has been said that Europeans wUl, notwith standing the planting of colonies along the coast, and after all that can be done for Africa, hold the mouths of the rivers emptying round the Cape of Western Africa ; and that the African will always, therefore, be measurably under the in fluence of a promiscuous white population. To me, how ever, it seems most obvious, that the elastic pressure of a colored population in Africa will, and must, ultimately, ex- *" There seems to be a peculiar fitness in placing the negro in Africa, when it is recollected that large portions of its immense tracts are suited only to his constitution. The white man will languish and die beneath a sun which is congenial to the nature of the black man. Nature herself, therefore, would seem to concur with philanthropy, unless it be thought that she designed those regions, which are so well calculated for the residence of the latter, and for him only, to lie waste and uninhabited." — Tyson, " If we look to that well-marked and vast peninsula, we find that equally marked'race, the negro, with slight modifications, forming its native popula tion throughout all its regions. We find the temperature of hie blood, the chemical action of his skin, the very texture of his wool hair, all fitting him for the vertical sun of Africa ; and if every surviving African of the pre sent day who is living in degradation and destitution in other lands, for which he was never intended, was actually restored lo the peculiar land of his peculiar race, in independence and comfort, wiould any man venture to affirm, that Christianity has been lost sight of by all who had in any ways contributed to such a consummation ? It matters not to brotherly love on which side of the Atlantic the negro is made enlightened, virtuous, and happy, if he is actually so far blessed ; but it does matter on which side of the ocean you place him, when there is only one where he will be happy ANU RESPECTABLE as benevolence would wish to see him, and certainly there, a rightly applied morality and religion would sanction hia being placed."— Edinburgh Phrmologicat Journal. s 2 223 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Aid from the United Slates. elude ail other people. It is the land of the colored ; and we may confidently say of Africa, " Despite of every yoke she bears. That land of glory still is theirs." The advantage in physical constitution which the blacks will enjoy, is one which wUl give them decided superiority to all other people as occupants of the soil. The puny and sickly colonies of other nations can never compete with them. The sceptre of influence wiU, without a doubt, be ultimately wielded in Africa by those whom heaven has ap pointed, lo wield it, the blacks themselves ; they will receive their character chiefly, I have no doubt, from emigrants going from our own shores. ' We must now close the subject for the present. Each of us, I trust, in conclusion, can say from the heart, of that vast, injured, benighted, but awaking continent, " Oh ! to thy godlike destiny arise — Awake, and meet the purpose of the skies!" * CONVERSATION XXIII. "The removal of our colored population is, I think, a common object, by no means confined to the slave Slates, although ihey are more immediately interested in it. The whole Union would be strengthened by it, and re lieved from a danger, whose extent can scarcely be estimated." — Marshall. ' You observed in your last conversation,' said Henry, ' that agents of the Government of the United Stales went out with the first emigrants sent to Africa by the Coloniza tion Society : why were agents sent by the United States ?' ' In the act of Congress for the suppression of the slave- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 223 Aid from the United States. trade, passed in the year 1807, there was a clause by which negroes brought into the United States, in consequence of the law authorizing the capture of vessels engaged in the slave-trade, were to be " subject to any regulations not con travening the provisions of the act, which the legislatures of the several States and Territories might make for the dispos ing of such negroes." By an act of the Georgia legislature, in 1817, captured negroes brought into Georgia in pursuance of the aforesaid act of Congress, were to be sold, or deliver ed to the Colonization Society to be returned to Africa. A slaver containing thirty-eight negroes was captured by one of the United States vessels, and brought into Georgia. The negroes were, according to law, advertised for sale. The Colonization Society, availing itself of the provisions of the law above referred to, appUed for the slaves to be returned to Africa, paid as was necessary the expenses incurred on their account, and rescued the victims of piratical cupidity from perpetual slavery. Cases of this kind having previously occurred, had directed the attention of Congress to the ne cessity of providing somewhere an asylum for recaptured negroes, and a law had been enacted authorizing the Presi dent lo make such regulations and arrangements as he might deem expedient for their safe-keeping, support, and removal beyond the limits of the United States, and also to appoint a proper person or persons residing on the coast of Africa, as agent or agents, in the fulfilment of such arrangements in respect to all negroes seized by United States' vessels. It was thought that the ends of this act could be better accom plished by the aid of the Colonization Society ; and accord ingly, the first expedition to Liberia, in 1820, was by the Colonization Society and the U. S. Government in conjunc tion. The Elizabeth was chartered, and took to the coast two Government agents, one Colonial agent, and about eighty emigrants, the latter of whom were to be employed 224 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Ashmun's defence of the colony. at the expense of the Government in preparing accommoda tions for the reception of the recaptured negroes.' ' This expedition. Sir, you remarked, were very unfortu nate in their location, which you said was on the river Sher bro : is that in Liberia ?' ' No, Henry ; it is 200 miles north of Liberia, and 109 miles south of Sierra Leone. It was not until 1822, that a permanent location was obtained at Cape Mesurado.' ' The colony had much difficulty with the natives at its commencement, had it not?' ' They had ; and perhaps it has been correctly said that no struggle of anqient or modern times surpasses the defence which that little band of colonists made. The lamented Ashmun, forced in opposition to all his habits and feelings, lo become a warlike commander, acquitted himself in a man ner that discovered military skill of the highest order. With out ever aspiring lo military renown, he shone forth, a hero in arms, whose coolness, firmness, wisdom, and courage could hardly be surpassed. The littie band of thirty-five Af rican emigrants, about one half of whom only were engaged in action, were threatened by a host, whose numbers were untold, and destruction seemed inevitable. Ashmun was himself sick, of fever ; and was, besides, in great affliction, having just buried his wife, an amiable and heroic woman who insisted on sharing her husband's toils and dangers in Africa ; but notwithstanding, he rose from the bed of sick ness, and day by day, after tossing with the delirium of a burning fever through the night, spent his time in directing his little band in constructing their hasty and imperfect de fences, and teaching them to manage their artillery, and how to succor each other in their defence. The result was, the natives were successfuUy repulsed, and the colony was saved PLEA FOR AFRICA. 225 Ashmun's death. from destruction ; whilst such an impression was made on the natives as put to rest, probably for ever, any thought of a simUar attempt.' ' I suppose,' said Henry, ' it is in reference lo this exploit particularly, that Ashmun is sometimes called the founder of the colony of Liberia ? Mr. Ashmun died at New Haven — I have seen his monument — he died soon after arriving there from Liberia for his health. But, falling a victim to his de votion to the cause of colonization, I am sure that he nobly died, in a noble cause.' ' Yes : Mr. Ashmun's great and untiring efforts continu ing through nearly six years of constant anxiety and labor in Africa, destroyed his physical constitution and brought him lo a premature grave ; but he fell nobly. Mr. Ash mun's life, so far at least as is connected with Africa, in which we are now more particularly interested, you will find full of interest.' ' Where was Mr. Ashmun born, Pa, and how came he to ernbark in the colonization cause, as an agent to Africa V ' Mr. A., whose Christian name was Jehudi, was born in Champlain, N. Y., in 1794. I wiU relate, if you please, some of the leading incidents of his history as they occur, on recollection. In his chUdhood, Mr. A. was thoughtful and reserved, remarkably fond of books and ambitious of literary distinction. In his studies he made rapid progress. He became a devoted Christian in the morning of his days. He graduated at Burlington College, Vt., and soon after en tering the ministry was elected Professor in the Theological Seminary at Bangor, Me. After leaving that Seminary, he became a member of the Protestant EjHscopal Church. He prepared the Memoirs of the Rev. Samuel Bacon, the earliest martyr in the cause of colonization ; and, after other efforts 336 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Ashmun dies praying for Africa. to advance the cause, by which his feelings were more and more deeply interested, he-embarked for Africa in 1832. In Africa, he found himself unexpectedly in a situation where he must be of necessity legislator, engineer, soldier, physi cian ; almost every thing that was needed, his benevolent heart inclined, and his superior talents enabled him to be. Emphatically a good man, he enjoyed the confidence of the colonists, and of the Board, and shared in the warmest affec tions of aU that knew him. ' The scene, at his death, is represented as one of true ~ moral sublimity. He died, as you have said, at New Ha ven, a few days after his return from Africa, whose shores he had left with feeble health, hoping to find the voyage and a short residence in his native country, conducive to its re storation. It was otherwise ordered. His last moments were spent in fervent prayer. Africa was not forgotten. "O bless the colony," was his cry, " and that poor people among whom J have labored," ' He has left a name to be remembered by generations to come, when many who may now be far more conspicuous, will be forgotten. The gratitude of the Colonization Society* directed the monument to his memory which you saw at New Haven, but his best monument is in the hearts of the people, and that record of him which is on high. ¦* A monument has also been raised to his memory in Liberia. The mo nument at New Haven is after the model of an ancient monument still in perfection at Rome, *' the tomb of Scipio." Dr. Silliman describes it as ** grave, grand, simple, and beautiful." It is constructed of the Connecticut red sand stone, of the finer variety, seven feet long, four high, three and a half wide, raised on a foundation of one foot. It is said above, that the gra titude of the Colonization Society directed this monument ; but it is believed and should be stated that the whole expense was borne by the spontaneous contributions and united liberality of friends of humanity and religion, pre venting the necessity of making any appropriation towards it from the funds of the Society, and at the same time furnishing a most honorable attestation of the gratitude and respect with which his devotion to the best interests of the world is regarded, and of the sincere affection with which his memory is cherished by those " who have learned lo love and to admire the sub limity and glory of virtue." , PLEA FOR AFRICA. 227 Ashmun. " Although no sculptured form should deck the place. Or marble monument those ashes grace. Still, for the deeds of worth, which he has done. Would iloweis unfading flourish o'er his tomb." ' ' A favorite poetess has embalmed his memory,' said Caroline : ' shall I repeat her words ?' " Whose is yon sable bier ? Why move the throng so slow ? Why doth that lonely mother's tear. In sudden anguish flow ? Why is that sleeper laid To rest,.in manhood's pride ? How gain'd his cheek such pallid shade? I spake — but none replied. The hoarse wave murmured low, The distant surges roar'd — And o'er the sea, iu tones of wo, A deep response was poured. I heard sad Afric mourn. Upon her billowy strand ; A shield was from her bosom torn. An anchor from her hand. Ah ! well 1 know thee now, Though foreign suns would trace Deep lines of death upon thy brow — Thou friend of misery's race ; Their leader, when the blast Of ruthless war swept by ; Their teacher, when the storm was past. Their guide to worlds on high. But o'er the lowly tomb, Where thy soul's idol lay, I saw thee rise above the gloom, And hold thy changeless way. Stern sickness woke a flame. That on thy vigor fed — ¦ But deathless courage nerv'd the frame, Wben health and strength had fled. 228 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Government of Liberia. Spirit of power — pass on ! Thy homeward wing is free ; Earth may not claim ihee for her eon — She hath no chain for thee : Toil might not bow thee down, Nor sorrow check thy race — Nor pleasure win thy birthright crown,— Go to thy honor'd place !" CONVERSATION XXIV. '' We must plead the cause of Africa on her own shores. We must en lighten the Africans themselves on the nature of this evil. We must raise in their minds a fixed abhorrence of its enormities. There will be no ships with human cargoes if we cut oflTthe supply. We must by our settlements point the African kidnapper to a more profitable commerce than that in the blood and heartstrings of his fellow-men." — FreUnghuysen. ' We should like to know this evening. Pa, something more of Liberia. What is the government of the colonies V ' The government is in a great measure republican ; and is designed expressly to prepare the colonists ably and suc cessfully to govern themselves. For the first, or parent co lony, at Monrovia, a form of government was, in August 1 824, submitted to the assembled colonists, and by them unani mously adopted. The colonial agent of the original colony receives his appointment from the Board of Managers of the Colonization Society, and it is generally expected that he will be a white man. All the other officers are men of color, the most important of whom are elected annually by the people. Besides other oflacers. Boards of Agriculture, of PubUc Works, of Health, &c. are chosen, and the whole business of the colony is conducted with spirit and with PLEA FOR AFRICA. 229 Literary advantages. much wisdom. A Court of justice is established, which consists of the agent, and two judges chosen by the people, and exercises jurisdiction over the whole colony, meeting monthly at Monrovia. It is a highly honorable fact that no capital crime has ever been committed in the colony. The crimes usuaUy brought before the court are thefts committed by natives within the colonial jurisdiction. ' The government of the colonies at Cape Palmas and Bassa Cove, is simUar to that of the old colony. The respective societies which planted these last, appoint the Governor of each. A Constitution has recently been proposed, designed for the General Government of Liberia, rendered necessary by the multipUcation of colonies. This constitution propos ing a durable foundation for the future union, freedom, and independence of the colonies, provides that the several colo nial settlements planted in Liberia, on the principles of the American Colonization Society, shaU be united under one government. The old colony is to be known as the colony of Monrovia ; the colonies at Cape Palmas and Bassa Cove are to retain their present denomination, or to receive such other, together with other colonies which may be planted, as the societies planting them may respectively bestow. The constitution also provides for a legislature to be entitied the Congress of Liberia, an executive, a supreme judiciary, &c. &c.' ' Do the colonists pay proper attention to education, and have they any considerable literary advantages ?' ' The subject of education has ever been one of primary importance with the Board of Colonization, and the interests of literature are promoted as far as circumstances permit. In 1830, the Board established permanent schools in the towns of Monrovia, Caldwell, and Millsburgh. They adopted a thorough system of instruction, which is now in successful SSO FLEA FOR AFRICA. Testimony of Dr. Shane. operation. There are two female schools conducted on li beral principles, one of which was established by a lady in PhUadelphia, who sent out the necessary books and teachers. It is said that there is not a child or youth iu the colony but is provided with an appropriate school. Some of these schools have valuable libraries. There is a public library at Monrovia *hich contains between 1200 and 2000 volumes. A printing press is in operation there, issuing a weekly and well conducted gazette, the " Liberia Herald." It is inte resting to look over this sheet and see tiie various advertise ments, notices of auctions, parades, marriages, &c., together with its marine list, and items of news, as if the print were issued from the midst of an old and long established commu nity.' 'I do not see but they have in Liberia already tiie ele ments of wealth and gieatness. They are beginning to be a commercial community ; and, with an agricultural interior in prospect, and they a civilized and Christian people, what is there to prevent their ultimate prosperity ?' ' Their prospects are bright, Henry, very bright. Their progress, hitherto, has certainly been rapid and truly won derful. Dr. Shane, of Cincinnati, went with a company of emigrants to Liberia in 1832, saUing from New-Orleans ; and, among other things, writes, " I see not in Liberia as fine and splendid mansions as in the United Slates ; nor as extensive and richly stocked farms as the well tiUed lands of Ohio ; but I see a fine and very fertUe country, inviting its poor and oppressed sons to thrust in their sickles and gather up its fullness. I here see many who left the United States in straightened circumstances, living with all the comforts of life around them ; enjoying a respectable and useful station in society, and wondering that their brethren in the United Stales, who have it in their power, do not flee to this asylum PLKA FOR AFRICA. Mt Testimony of Captains Kennedy, Nicholson and Abels. of happiness and liberty, where they can enjoy all the un alienable rights of man. * I do not think an unprejudiced person can visit here without becoming an ardent and sincere friend of colonization. I can attribute the apathy and indif ference on which it is looked by many, as arising from ig norance on the subject alone, and would that every free co lored man in the United States could get a glimpse of his brethren, their situation and prospects. * Let but the co lored man come and see for himself, and the tear of gratitude will, beam in his eye, as he looks forward to the not far dis tant day, when Liberia shall take her stand among the nations of the world, and proclaim abroad an empire founded by be-*^ nevolence, offering a home to the poor, oppressed, and weary. Nothing but a want of knowledge of Liberia, pre vents thousands of honest, industrious free blacks from rush ing to this heaven-blessed land, where liberty and religion, with all their blessings, are enjoyed." ' ' Are the colonists generally contented and happy in their situation ?' ' Captain Kennedy, who visited Liberia in 1831, says, " with impressions unfavorable to the scheme of the Coloni zation Society, I commenced my inquiries." The colonists "considered that they had started into a ntw existence. * They felt themselves proud in their attitude." He further says, " many of the settiers appear to be rapidly acquiring property ; and I have no doubt they are doing belter for them selves and for their children, in Liberia, than tiiey could do in any other part of the worid." Captain Nicholson, of the United States' Navy, gave as favorable a report. .Captain Abels says, " My expectations were more than realized. I saw no intemperance, nor did I hear a profane word uttered by any one. I know of no place where the Sabbath seems to be more respected' than in Monrovia." 232 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Testimony of a British officer. Governor Mechlin and Captain Sherman. ' A distinguished British naval officer, who passed three years on the African coast, published a favorable notice of the colony, in the Amulet for 1832, in which he bears this testimony : — " The complete success of this colony is a proof that the negroes are, by proper care and attention, as susceptible of the habits of industry, and the improvements of social life, as any other race of human beings ; and that the amelioration of the condition of the black people on the coast of Africa, by means of such colonies, is not cliimerical. Wherever the influence of the colony extends, the slave- trade has been abandoned by the natives, and the peaceable pursuits of legitimate commerce established in its place. They not only live on terms of harmony and good will to gether, but the colonists are looked upon with a certain de gree of respect by those of their own color ; and the force of their example is likely lo have a strong effect in inducing the people about them to adopt it. A few colonies of this kind, scattered along the coast, would be of infinite value in im proving the natives." ' Governor Mechlin has said, " As to the morals of the co lonists, I consider them much better than those of the people of the United States ; i. e. you may take an equal number of the inhabitants from any section of the Union, and you will find more drunkenness, more profane swearers and Sabbath- breakers, than in Liberia. You rarely hear an oath, and as lo riots and breaches of the peace, I recollect but one instance, and that of a trifling nature, that has come under my notice since I assumed the government of the colony." Captain Sherman has said, " There is a greater proportion of moral and religious characters in Monrovia than in the city of Phi ladelphia." ' The Rev. Beveriy R. WUson, (an inteUigent colored min ister of the Methodist Episcopal Church,) spent fourteen months in Liberia, which he visited at his own expense, to PLEA FOR AFRICA. 233 Testimony of Rev. Beverly R. Wilson. ascertain whether he could find tiiere an advantageous home for himself and family. His statements are received by all who know him, as entitled from his character to entire con fidence. On his return in 1835, he says, " Liberia for eli- gibUity of situation is not often exceUed, and the facUities held out for a comfortable living rarely equalled ; industry and economy are sure to be rewarded and crowned with a generous competency, for proof of which I cite you to a Williams, to a Roberts, to a Barbour. The successful pro secution of any enterprise in Africa, (as in America) depends to a very great extent upon the amount of capital invested — money is power every where, put particularly so in Africa, and he who emigrates thither witli capital, possesses decid ed and very great advantages over every other class of emi grants ; a small capital I esteem of paramount importance, and would by aU means persuade my colored friends, who intend lo emigrate, to provide themselves with the means lo commence business previous' to going. This I esteem of vital importance, and ought not to be neglected. The soil of Africa is exceedingly fertile, and will produce as much to the acre as the famous lands of the great valley of the Mis sissippi. Fruits of several kinds are abundant, and from experiments made, most of the tropical fruits succeed as well as in their native clime. But little attention thus far has been paid to agriculture, owing to the fact tiiat but few emi grants possess the means to embark in it. The cultivation of the land is attended with the same expense there as here, and the same obstacles present themselves to persons destitute of money. Timber of various descriptions abounds, some of which would not for beauty and durability lose by a compari^ son with the mahogany of St. Domingo, or of any other country. I have seen articles of cabinet ware manufactur ed in Monrovia that would grace our most fashionable houses, and would vie for beauty and taste with most of the same 234 PLEA FOR AFRICA. 'f estimony of Rev. Beverly R. Wilson. articles made in this country. As it regards the health of the colony, I consider it as good as that of most of the south ern States. The Aborigines live to an advanced period, and are unquestionably the most athletic, hardy race of men that I have ever seen. They are remarkably shrewd and cun ning, and are very far from being those " dolts" or " idiots," which they have been represented to be ; many of them read and write, and are very frequently an over-match for the co lonists in trade. * * The morals of the colonists I regard as superior to the same population in almost any part of the United States. A drunkard is a rare spectacle, and when exhibited is put under the ban of public opinion at once. To the praise of Liberia be it spoken, I did not hear during ray residence in it, a solitary oath uttered by a settier ; this abom inable practice has not yet stained its moral character and reputation, and Heaven grant that it never may. In such de testation is the daily use of ardent spirits held, that two of the towns have already prohibited its sale, or rather confined the sale to the apothecaries' shops. In Monrovia it is stUl viewed as an article of traffic and merchandise, but it is des tined there to share the same fate. The Temperance So ciety is in full operation and will ere long root it out. The Sabbath is rigidly observed and respected, and but few cases occur of disorder, and they are confined to the baser sorts, a few of which infest Liberia. Religion and all its institutions are greatiy respected ; in fact a decided majority are Re ligionists, and by their pious demeanor are exerting a very salutary influence, not only upon the emigrants but also upon the natives, among whom a door has been opened for the propagation of Christianity."* *Mr. Wilson, addressing himself to Ihe colored people in this country, con cludes by saying, " If you desire liberty, surely Liberia holds out great and distinguished inducements. Here, you can never be free ; but there, liv ing under the administration of the laws enacted by yourselves, you may en- plba for Africa- 235 Testimony of Dr. Skinner. ' Dr. Skinner, formerly Governor of Liberia, who returned to this country, Nov. 1836, in his report to the Board of Man agers of the American Colonization Society, says, "The industry of the colonists is evidentally on the increase, and their attention has of late been especiaUy turned towards ag riculture. There appears to be a general conviction resting on the minds of the people that they must raise their own provisions, and not be dependent either on the natives or for eigners for the necessaries of life. Several of the colonists have, during the past season, raised corn and rice in consid erable quantities, and some are beginning to cultivate the cot ton plant and sugar cane, while others are preparing exten sive coffee plantations." Dr. S. says further, "The mor tality has been less than it has been generally estimated, and greatiy less than took place in the colonization of this coun try." Dr. S. says, that he " laid out one hundred and six teen farms for the New Georgians," whilst he was with the colony, and further, "I visited New Georgia a few days be fore I left the colony, and was pleased to see the increased energy with which they had cultivated their lands, and the luxuriant crops of corn, cassada, rice and potatoes, with which their ground was covered, which but a few months before, was impassable to man. The sight was an ample compensation for aU my toUs, and all my sufferings. It is believed, by those who are well able to judge, that these in dustrious citizens, in the past season, have raised four times the crops that they have obtained in any previous year." joy that freedom which in the very nature of things you cannot experience ia this country. , , , ^ , Liberia, happy land I thy shore Entices with a thousand charms ; And calls — his wonted thraldom o'er — Her ancient exile to her arms. Come hither, son of Afric, come. And o'er the wide and weltering sea. Behold thy lost yet lovely home, "That fondly waits to welcome thee. 236 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Testimony oC Mr. Buchanan. * Mr, Buchanan, late Governor of the Colony at Bassa Cove and recently returned to this country, says "the colonists are prosperous, conlenled, and happy. Although all express the warmest affeclion for America, if you were to ask them whether they do not wish to return, they would laugh at you." At Monrovia, Mr. B. *' attended a colonization meeting, al which the warmest gratitude was expressed toward the so cieties in this country and the highesteulogium passed upon their benevolent enterprise, not only without a dissenting voice, but with enthusiasm."* He '* also attended their *Al thia meeting of the citizens of Monrovia, it was Resolved, That this meeting enlerlain ihe warmest graiiiiide !or what the Colonization Society have done for ihe peoplu of color, and tor lis parliciilarly, and ihal we re gard the scheme as eniiiled lo the highest confidence ol every man of color- Also, whereas, it has been widely and maliciously circulated, in the United Slates of America, ihat Ihe inhiibitanis of this colony, are unhappy in their Biluation, and anxious lo relitrn : Resolved, that the report is false and ma licious, and originated only in a design lo injure the colonv, by calling off the support and sympalhy of its friends : that, so far from a desire to reiurn, we would regard such an eveni as tlie grpaieal calamity ihal could befall us. Among ihe sentiments expressed by different individuals at this meeting, were the following, as reported in the Liberia Herald : Mr. David White, who armed in Africa, 'May 24, 1828, said, "Never have I seen the moment in which I repined at coming lo the colony. My object in coming was liberiy, for which [ am willing loendure greater hard ships than those I have already encountered, And under the firm convic tion that Africa ia the only place, under existing circumstances, where the man of color can enjoy Ihe ineslima.l^le bles-sings of liberty and equality. I feel grateful beyomi expression to tjp.e American ColoniZiiliou Society for preparing this peaceful asylum." Mr. George Baxter remarked, "I beg ihe liberty, on this occasion, to ex press my deep gratitude lo Ihe American Colonization Society, for the great deliverance effecied by them of myself and family. I ihank God that he ever put it in Iheir hearts lo seek out this free soil. I and my family were born in Charleston, South Carolina, under the appellation of free people ; but freedom wenrVer knew until, by the bene\olenre of the Colonization Society, we were convoyed lo the shores of Africa." Mr. R. Matthews, who arrived in Liberia in the year 1832, said, "My place of residence was ihe city of Washington, D. C, where I passed for a freeman. But 1 can now say, 1 was never free, until I landed on ihe shores of Africa-'' Mr. David Logan, said, '* My situation is greatly altered for the better, by coming to Atnca. My object was liberty and equality ; under a convic tion, founded on experience, that the colored man cannot enjoy them in tho United States. I have been in ihis colony about ten years, and when I arriv ed here, was without a dollar; yet, as poor as ihe couniry is said to be, (find tb« industrious can make a cumfurtable living. My political knowledgo is PLEA FOR AFRICA. 237 Testimony of Mr. Buchanan. courts, and was gratified to observe the perfect good order and decorum with which their proceedings were conducted. The dignity and good sense of the judges, the shrewdness and legal acumen of the counsel, the patient attention of the jury — all, of course, colored men." As to the climate, Mr. Buchanan says, " it is entirely a mistake to suppose that it ia destructive of health." He " went there with his mind filled with the graphic pictures, drawn by the prolific pencil of the poet, of burning sands, mephitic marshes and scorching winds ; but saw nor felt neither." He " was struck with the beautiful luxuriance of the soil. And as to the heat, the re sult of the regular thermometrical observations taken at Bassa Cove, was, that in the hot season the mercury ranged between eighty and eighty-eight degrees Fahrenheit, and in the cold or wet season, it seldom falls lower than seventy. There is besides a continual and refreshing breeze from the sea, dur ing the day, and from the land during the night." During his residence at Bassa Cove " not a single death had occur red in the colony, which consists of about two hundred per sons. Monrovia, one of the old settlements, is less favored far superior to what it would have been had I remained in America a thou^ sand yeara." Mr. James R. Cheesman observed, " Mr. Chairman. I cannot on this oc casion suppress my feelings. Animated by the past, and encouraged by the bright prospects which lie before us, let us proceed undauntedly in our noble career. Let us appeal to the pious, the liberal, and the wise : let us bear in mind the condition of our fathers. When assembled on the shores of America they embarked amid the scoffs and false predictions of the as sembled multitude — and succeeded, in spite of all the perils of the ocean and dangers of the forest, in laying the foundation of this infant republic." One other resolution of the above meeting was, on motion of the very re- •pectableand talented editor of the Herald, Mr. Hilary Teage, also a color ed man: " Resolved, That this meeting view with regret the degree to which the anti-colonizationists of America carry their opposition. That they re gard the opposition of the anti-colonizalionists as detrimental to the true in- terest of the colored people generally. That their unmeasured abuse of the colonization scheme is unholy and unjust. That the degree to which they uniformly slander and misrepresent this colony, goes a great way to dis credit their profession of disinterested benevolence ; and we beseech them by all that we suffered in America — by all that we have suffered here — by all the bright prospects before us, and by a regard to their own eharacter, to acandali^e and vilify ua no mors." 238 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Testimony of Mr. Buchanan. in point of healthfulness. There are low grounds in its vi cinity, which operate against it. This, however, is the only exception. The colonists, throughout Liberia, are general ly moral and temperate, and a large number of them profess ing Christians. At Bassa Cove the introduction of ardent spirits is prohibited. The occupations of the people are mechanical, mercantile, and agricultural. In the old colonies many of the citizens have become wealthy. Such is the re spect with which the native blacks regard the colonists, that many of them of high rank in their tribes have considered it a great favor to be permitted to put their sons in the fami lies of the ' America men,' as servants, for the purpose of learning their language and manners. These on their return to their homes act as so many missionaries of civilization — rough and uncouth, indeed, but sufficiently improved to make their savage associates conscious of their own inferiority, and to increase their respect for the colonists." ' ' You have intimated that there have been some accounts of a contrary character ?' ' There have been some few instances of dissatisfied emi grants, who have made, in some respects, a different report; but it has been confidently believed that they were prompted by feelings growing out of the peculiar circumstances in their individual case. They were certainly not of such a charac ter as to invalidate or discredit the testimony of the many judicious, impartial, and highly respectable persons who have borne opposite testimony.' ' I should think. Sir, from what you have told us of the number of the churches in Liberia, that the religious privi leges of the colony are great ?' ' Much is done to promote the cause of religion in the co lony, and this seems always to be an object of much solici- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 23^ Religious privileges. tude on the part of the Colonization Society. The churclies in Liberia are generally well supplied with respectable and faithful ministers. In all these churches there are Sunday schools established, to which the most promising young peo ple in the colony have attached themselves either as teachers or as scholars. The Sunday schools are also furnished with libraries. ' I have in the pamphlet before me, which was printed in Monrovia, the " minutes of the first Convention of the Li' beria Baptist Association," by which it appears that there are in the colony of Liberia six Baptist churches, compris ing about 220 members, located in the different settlements. These minutes represent the Baptist churches as in a flour ishing condition ; and the proceedings of the convention and their circular to the churchesj evince talent, judgment, and piety, of a very respectable order. I will give you one extract from these minutes: "Princes shall come out of Egypt, Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God, is the prediction of a holy prophet, uttered ages antecedent to the advent of the Messiah. And when we reflect on the midnight darkness, which, from time immemorial, has shroud' ed this portion of Africa, we hail with rapture, the first dawn ing of that glorious gospel-day which is signified in this oracle. * * He, with whom a thousand years is as a day, and a day as a thousand years, works his own sovereign will, and effects his purposes of grace and goodness, in a manner above the comprehension of men. For ages, Africa has been ' meted out and trodden down.' Her deep moral degradation seems, by universal consent, to have been justi fication in'Tegarding her as lawful plunder, and as a land on which a curse rests. But we rejoice that these days are going by. The darkness of ages is yielding to the bright rising of the ' Sun of righteousness.' Idolatry and supersti tion are retiring before Christianity and civilization, and on 240 Plea tOR AFRicA. Religious privileges. the mountain top, once defiled by sacrifices to devils, the banner of the cioss is unfurled, while a voice in the wilder ness is proclaiming : ' The kingdom of heaven is at hand,' repent and believe the gospel." ' I have here also the " Report of the Liberia Mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the minutes of their Annual Conference in Liberia in 1835." This document is full of interest, and displays the same zeal, energy, and ability which you find generally among the .colonists. Of the conference, the report says, " The greatest harmony and peace prevailed during our session, and it is confidently hoped that this little band of ambassadors for Christ have gone to their respective appointments with increasing zeal in the cause of their Divine Master, and holy resolutions to spend and be spent in the blessed work of winning souls for God. * * Our love-feast and sacramental occasions were attended by manifestations of the Holy Spirit of God, in the quickening of his children, the conviction and conver sion of souls, and the spread of divine truth. The altar was thronged on the last evening with weeping, broken hearted seekers of Christ and his great salvation. Having been very aflectionately requested by our brethren of both Baptist churches to occupy their pulpits throughout the meeting, and especially on the Sabbath, we appointed la borers accordingly ; so that the word of life was dispensed nine times on Sunday in the town of Monrovia by preachers of the Methodist conference. May he who giveth the in crease, water the good seed from on high, that it may bring forth abundantly to his eternal glory." It would seem by the minutes that the number of ministers of this denomina tion in the colony, was, at the beginning of 1835, twelve ; and the number of communicants upwards of 200. The report also speaks of the appointment of a missionary " for the interior of Africa, to carry the light of the gospel of PLEA FOR AFRICA. 241 Religious privileges. Jesus Christ into the dark regions of this benighted land." The appointment, it is said, seems to be regarded by the members of the conference with the warmest approbation, and one good result already discovered from it is the awaken ing a missionary spirit among the preachers. Several are ready to say, " Here are we, send us. We covet the pri vilege of carrying the gospel to the heathen tribes." The Report concludes, " If we are to judge from the appearance of the fields around us, which are already • white unto harvest,' we should conclude that ' the set time to favor Zion has come,' yea, that ' now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.' Men and brethren, help ! O help to dis enthral poor bleeding Africa from the hellish grasp of the enemy of all righteousness ! Help to promote the moral and religious prosperity of this, infant colony, destined as it is to be rendered the savor of life unto life to this benighted continent !" ' In a number of the Liberia Herald, which is now before me, dated February 28, 1836, I find pleasing evidence of the advancement of the colony in all that is good, and of the rich blessings which God designs to pour through it upon a benighted continent, in the fact that a number of na tives who had been brought under the influence of the gos pel, and had been for some time communicants in one of the Baptist churches, have been dismissed from that particular church to form a new one in a situation more advantageous to their extended usefulness. I will give you the article aimouncing this event, as I find it in the Monrovia paper ; <' On Sunday, the 7th inst, thirty-six native Africans, resi dent at New Georgia, late members of the First Baptist Church in this place, having been dismissed by letters, were brought into visibility as a church, in the place of their re sidence. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Skinner, charge and right hand of fellowship by Rev. H. Teage, and concluding 242 ' PLEA FOR AFRICA. Religious privileges. prayer by Rev. A. W. Anderson. The exercises of the oc casion were truly solemnly pleasing and impressive. They naturally threw the mind back to the period when they who were thus solemnly dedicating themselves to God, to be constituted into a ' golden candlestick' from which the divine light is to chase the surrounding gloom, were in the dark ness of nature, without God, without revelation, and con sequently without the hope it inspires. These reflections seemed to produce a reaction of the mind, and threw it on an immoveable foundation, the promise that ' Ethiopia shall soon stretch forth her hands unto God.' On this circum stance, the mind seemed invited to repose, as an earnest of the full completion of the promise, and earnestly to ejaculate, ' Lord, let thy kingdom come.' " ' I must give you one more extract from the same paper. It is a communication from a correspondent of the Herald, in Monrovia, and relates to the dedication of a Presbyterian church : " Mr. Editor, as every circumstance which has any relation to the spreading of our blessed religion in Africa, must have a tendency to give satisfaction to every lover and follower of the religion of Jesus Christ, you will confer a favor on one of your constant readers by giving publication to this. Having understood that the First Presbyterian Church was to be dedicated to the service of God on the 26th November, I attended, and was happy to find the prin cipal part of the inhabitants of this town present on so inte resting an occasion. Every denomination of saints seemed to rejoice that another temple had been erected and dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. It was enough that the pure religion of Jesus Christ was to be inculcated from that sacred pulpit, and, as that servant of God, the Rev, C. Teage, remarked, that where he then stood preaching the dedication sermon, sixteen years past, the devil's bush stood. What skeptic could doubt that colonization and missionary PLEA FOR AFRICA. 243 Religious privileges. enterprise had done much good ? The service commenced at 11 o'clock, A. M., by singing a hymn selected for the occasion, and reading the 8th chapter of the 2d book of Kings, by the Pastor, Rev. James Eden ; sermon by Rev. C. Teage ; concluding prayer by Rev. A. D. Williams, of the M. E. Church. How truly animating it is to see tem ples arise for the worship of God, where not long since there was nothing to be heard but the savage yell of the native, or the clinking of the poor slaves' chains. On Sun day the 27th December, Mr. H. B. Matthews was ordained a ruling elder of the church, by Rev. Mr. Wilson of Cape Palmas." ' ' I do not see, Pa, why the Colonization Society and the interests of the colony should be so virulently opposed as they are by many V ' It is strange that it is opposed by so many from whom we might have expected better things ; and especially since something, it is admitted by all, must be done, and since no better scheme has yet been devised.' ' Should not the mighty scheme of colonization be realized in aU its parts and to its utmost extent,' said Caro line, ' blessings will nevertheless be attained, it seems to me, wliich will abundantly repay every effort and sacrifice made.' ' Great good has already been done, and far more than proportionate to the efibrts made. The germ of an Ameri cano-African empire has been planted ; and even if coloni zation should for ever cease, that colony will extend and extend, I doubt not, until its influence shall overshadow the continent. The plan will succeed. Heaven's blessing will attend it. Glorious things are in store for Africa. That con tinent has a rich blessing in the Liberia colony.' 244 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Young Men's Colonization Society of Pennsylvania. .. ' It appears to me. Pa, that the object is one of the most noble philanthropy ; we have read of the philanthropic spirit of a Howard, and have admired : but here is a philanthropy that seeks to disenthral and elevate two millions of outcasts who are now among ourselves, and to establish the liberties and secure the best good of a continent.' ' And that continent, Caroline, is estimated as containing fifty millions of immortal souls ! some say, two hundred millions !' • ' Truly a«oble cause !' '¦ A noble cause, indeed ; and we may all, if we will, enjoy the honor of engaging in its interests, and of helping forward this blessed enterprise. In our next conversation I shall call your attention to some further progress in the great and good work, as exhibited in the more recent establishment of the sub-colony at Bassa Cove.' CONVERSATION XXV. " Non enim est ulla res in qua proprius ad Deorura numen virtus accedat humana, quam civitates aut condere novas, aut conservare jam conditas." Cicero, ' In our last conversation, I promised you some account of another enterprise in connexion with the colony at Liberia, by which the colonization cause has been greatly advanced. This enterprise is the result of the efforts of the Young Men's Colonization Society of Pennsylvania. Of the origin of this Society and its success, I must give you a brief history. PLEA FOR AFRICA. 245 First expedition. — Interesting coincidences. ' This Society, organized May, 1834, acting as auxiliary to the American Colonization Society, was formed with the design of pursuing strictly a system of political economy which shall foster with special care the agricultural interests of the colony by them established, checking the influence of petty and itinerant traffickers which has been found detri mental in the other colonies, excluding from the colony the use of ardent spirits, and withholding the common tempta tions and means for any aggressions upon the native popula tion of Africa. The great principles upon which the So ciety professes to act, are thus expressed by their philan thropic and distinguished Secretary of foreign correspon dence, E. Cresson, to whose warmhearted and untiring ef forts in this cause, much is to be attributed : " 1. Entire temperance in every colonist: 2. Total abstinence from trade in ardent spirits and arts of war : 3. An immediate Chris tian influence and operation upon surrounding heathen : All designed to accomplish the second article of (its)-constitu- tion, ' to provide for civilizing and christianizing Africa, through the direct instrumentality of colored emigrants from the United States.' " This Society commenced under very favorable auspices, and their first expedition sailed from Nor folk, Va., October 24th of the same year; the very day of the one hundred and fifty-second anniversary of the arrival of Penn, with the first English settlers, on the shores of the Delaware.' ' This,' said Caroline, 'was a very happy coincidence.' ' It was,' Mr. L. continued, ' and there is yet another — the good ship Ninus, in which this expedition embarked, sailed from Philadelphia to receive the emigrants at Norfolk, the 14th of October, which was on William Penn's one hundred and ninetieth birth day. All this was apparently entirely ac- u2 246 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Great success and encouragement. cidental, and was regarded not only as somewhat remarkable but as a favorable omen. ' The outfit of the Ninus cost about eight thousand dol lars, and the number of emigrants was one hundred and twenty-six. Every adult previous to the sailing of the ship, was a subscriber to the temperance pledge of entire absti nence from the use of ardent spirits. They all arrived safe at Liberia on the 9th December following, and immediately proceeded to Bassa Cove, their contemplated territory, the purchase of which from the natives had been consummated a few days previous to their arrival. Such was the zeal and energy of these colonists, that by the first day of January next succeeding, a plot of ground had been cleared and a house erected for the agency family, and within six months the whole colony were comfortably located, eighteen houses having been erected by them for their own accommodation ; " the lots around them presenting a bright prospect of luxu riant crops of various kinds;" and ten additional bouses to receive the emigrants expected by a second expedition. Be sides these, the agent had caused to be "prepared a large and substantial Government-house, 20 feet by 50, and two stories highj with a well stocked garden of two acres, substantially enclosed, and had cleared upwards of forty acres of land ; he had also a smith-shop, with a pit of coal, nearly ready for operation ; a kiln of lime burned, and six head of cattle procured and partially broken to the yoke." And " what rendered this picture more peculiarly pleasing, is the fact that this was achieved on the very spot where a slave facto ry had long stood, and from whence no less than 500 vic tims had been shipped during the one month preceding (the) purchase." An extensive and kindly intercourse was opened with the surrounding tribes ; and promises obtained even from the more distant, of the extirpation of the traffic in human flesh and blood. The location " was admirably PLEA FOR AFRICA. 247 No apprehension for the future. adapted, just beyond the territorial limits of the American Colonization Society, and commanding at the same time, the mouth of the *St. John's River, and the only harbor occurring for many miles round, to repress that nefarious traflic along a considerable portion of coast." ' This colony, so favorably commenced, was, however, destined to meet with a sudden and very grievous discourage ment and suspension. A slaver arriving in the vicinity, ope rated upon the cupidity of one of the chieftains in the neigh borhood, and by the guilty use of ardent spirits, urged him to an attack upon the unsuspecting colony. Three men, four women, and thirteen children, were massacred in one night, and the remainder were obliged to take refuge at Mon rovia.' ' Might not this dreadful catastrophe have been avoided, if the colony had been prepared with fire-arms and other instruments of defence?' ' It probably might. It is now confidently believed by those who have knowledge of the character of the surround ing tribes, that the very fact of the colonists being possessed of the means of defence, will operate, in accordance with the spirit and language of the constitution of the Society, as " a dissuasion from warfare," and induce them to reject any future overtures of the slavers. It is not to be expected that the slavers will regard any attempts to plant colonies on the coast, with other feeling than hostility ; for the slave- trade cannot long survive amid the salutary influences of civilized and Christian colonies on the surrounding pagan darkness. The chief, however, who was engaged in the at tack upon the colotiy, has expressed contrition for his con duct, and given solemn assurances of a desire for peace ; and there is reason to believe that the colony, which is now amply furnished with the means of defence, but instructed to 248 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Prosperity of the colony. carry out the original design of the enterprise by prosecut ing the humane and benevolent purposes originally contem plated, " in a spirit of affectionate regard for the best inter est of the natives," using " every efibrt for the preservation of the most friendly relations with them," will not be again molested; or, if they should be, it is believed that they have nothing to fear. The slavers must retire before the light of civilization, and the influence of agriculture and commerce. ' Several expeditions for this colony have been despatched since that which we have noticed, by the joint benevolence of the New-York Colonization Society and the Pennsylva nia Society ; the energies of both institutions, by an arrange ment to that effect, having been devoted to the colony at Bas sa Cove. Among the emigrants are a goodly number of superior education and intelligence, as well as some who are possessed of considerable property. Clergymen are as sociated with the colony as missionaries from the Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian churches, and great efforts are made to extend among the natives the united blessings of literary and religious instruction. The princi ple of " entire abstinence" from ardent spirits, I have men tioned was adopted by the Pennsylvania Society at its for mation. All the reinforcements to the colony, it is said, " sailed without a drop of ardent spirits," and the " colonists pledged to total abstinence have not in any instance been known to violate" the pledge. It may be proper also to re mark that the influence of this temperance movement has been happy upon the old colony. Hundreds have signed the pledge, and so temperate is the colony that Captain Abies, on a recent visit, ascertained that " no spirit was sold at any house of entertainment at Monrovia." The colony at Bassa Cove appears, at the present time, to be prospering greatly.' ' I notice,' said Henry, ' that a collegiate institution in PLEA FOR AFRICA. 249 College in Liberia- Africa, is proposed, and about to be established by Thb American Society (of New-York) for the Promotion of Education in Africa.' ' Yes,' said Mr. L. ; ' this Society is the same to which reference has before been made under the name of " the Young Men's Colonization Society of New York," the name of the Society having been changed. The reasons which have been assigned for this change are, that the former name "did not fully express the principal object in view by its founders," and that it " tended to identify (the Society) with one of the two great parties who have made the color ed race the object of their sympathies and charitable exer tions, but who differ widely from each other as to the man ner in which their exertions should be directed." ' This Society professes an intention to be separate from each, and yet, by a plan of benevolent operation accomplish objects which cannot but be gratifying to all sincere friends of the colored race. Its design is to educate the colored man in Africa, whether he come there through the immedi ate efforts of the abolitionists, or the gradual influence of co lonization, or is found there a native of the soil ; to prepare him for that freedom which he can there, and there only, enjoy without alloy, but which, without mental and moral culture, would prove far worse than slavery itself. The So ciety hopes to " have a bearing on the interests of the color ed race in our own country by the reflux influence of the moral elevation of Africa itself." The establishment of a College in Liberia has long been a favorite idea with many prominent friends of the African race. Believing that know- iedge is power ; and that self-preservation even, whether of the individual or a people, is not secure by physical force alone ; they have looked forward to the location of such an institution in Western Africa, as an object of great interest. As intelligence creates resources, opens channels of wealth, 250 PLEA for AFRICA. College iu Liberia. extends commerce, improves the arts, establishes manufac tures, gives permanence and honor to a community, and when founded in moral principle, raises the standard of hu man character, securing domestic virtue and national pros perity ; so it also throws a shield of protection around liberty, life, and property. The colored race cannot be effec tually disenthralled from their present degradation, except as they enjoy the blessings of a good education. Great pains have been taken for the establishment of primary or com mon schools in the colonies, and for extending the benefits of elementary instruction to all classes of the children. The American Society for the promotion of Education in Africa, proposes to extend these principles still further, having spe cial reference in its operations to the benighted tribes scat tered over the continent.* A college is needed to give efficacy to all these institutions, and to foUow up to its full blessing the good work nobly begun, t * From a circular issued by this Society it appears that the object is " to extend the blessings of Christian Education to the benighted millions of Africa ;" but it supposes that " education for a people ignorant and de graded like those it would benefit must for some time be confined to its elementary stages. It is therefore proposed to commence with several branch'es of useful knowledge that are most needed, and to establish a de partment. 1, For Agriculture. 2, For Mechanics. 3, For Grammar, Geo graphy, and Arithmetic. 4, For Commerce and Navigation; and over these departments to place practical and well qualified professors. Associated with this part orthe scheme, will be common and Sunday schools. As the enterprise advances, and the condition of the people justifies it, the higher branches of education will be introduced. It will be an object of early solicitude and constant care to qualify teachers of common schools from among the native papulation of Africa." tit is a fact for which credit should be given, that beside a desire raani- fested from the beginning by the American Colonization Society, to encou rage education in the colonies, ladies of Philadelphia formed a " Liberia School Association," in 1832, which contributed largely by pecuniary aid and good influence to the great object ; and, in 1834, an association was farm ed, denominated " The Female Society of the city of New- York, for the support of schools in Africa," the object of which is " to prepare and sup port Christian teachers in Africa." The first is still prosecuting its good work as auxiliary lo the Colonization Society ; the last named is still operat ing efficiently in conjunction with the recently formed American Society for the Promotion of Education in Africa, through the agency of the Rev. Bcnj. M. Palmer, D. D. a gentleman well known for his soimd judgment, piety and talents, and late Pastor of one of the churches in Charleston, S. C. PLKA FOR AFRICA. 251 College in Liberia. ' A philanthropic and judicious writer in the New-York Observer has these very sensible remarks in respect to the location of such an institution in Liberia : — " Great changes are in progress. It requires no prophetic vision to perceive that the destinies of the African race are opening and bright ening. The elevation of many individuals is not to be pre vented by slander or unkind treatment. There are among them some of nature's noblemen in intellectual power, no less than in physical structure. Their redemption from ig norance and abjectness at home, and the melioration of their state in foreign exile, hasten on with rapid stride. The ge nius of the age, and the intimations of the divine will, point to such results. Selfish interests and personal prejudices die with men, while time rolls on its tide without our aid or consent. Some of these changes will be accelerated, not re tarded, by the rod of oppression. New-England was filled with emigrants by ecclesiastical tyranny. Men of cultivated intellect and various talent will be wanted among the people of color, as soon as they can be educated. They are to oc cupy responsible stations, and to do a momentous work. They are to prosecute researches into the geography and commercial resources of Africa, to establish a republic on its western coast, and to publish the gospel of the Saviour to its superstitious tribes. It is contrary to all analogy to sup pose otherwise. White men may make establishments, commercial and religious, on the capes and islands of that continent, but it is for men of color to pass up its rivers, to cultivate its vallies, and introduce the arts and institutions of a Christian land through its wide extent of surface. It is for men of color to found schools and churches, pursue its agriculture and commerce, and conduct the whole machinery, on which depends the wealth, prosperity, and elevated cha racter of this infant republic. • '• There is a strong sympathy with the African race. It 852 PLEA FOB AFRICA. Such an institution needed. can hardly be restrained by sober judgment and a regard to the principles of common justice. It seeks to find out chan nels in which its exuberant compassion may flow forth. That race, in the mystery of Providence, has been subjected to much suffering. To say that many have endured a long bondage, a period of exile from the land of their fathers, like the slavery of Jacob's family iu Egypt, or the captivity of Judah in Assyria, is only a declaration of historical facts. And this injury has been inflicted by the most intelligent and Christian nations on the globe. That a rich return is to be made to their descendants in the arts of civilized life, and in the inestimable blessings of the Christian religion, cannot well admit a doubt. * * If we stop with the rudiments of knowledge, we only begin the work. The paths of science are not trod, the powers of the intellect are not de veloped, the dignity of our nature is not fully displayed. No historian records a nation's annals, and no poet writes its songs ; no astronomer marks the phenomena of the heavens, and no geologist digs into the treasures of the earth. With out a college, there are no profound scholars, no elegant writers, no large libraries, no inquiries into the antiquities of past ages, or into the aspects of future times. Soon will the common school lower its standard, if there is no higher in stitution. Soon will the general intelligence of a people de cline, if there are no learned men, with whom they are con versant and to whom they may look as examples. Soon will the authority of the Bible be veiled in doubts, if there are none who are competent to read its ancient languages, demonstrate its divine origin, and answer the cavils of infi dels. There is no security against a retrograde movement in any human society but in a constant effort to advance. ' " Who are to navigate their ships ? Who are to teach their children ? Who are to be the pastors of their churches ? Who are to be their legislators, governors, judges ? Who PLEA FOR AFRICA. 253 College in Liberia necessary. are to lay the sure foundations of an intelligent, virtuous, and happy republic ? Who are to extend a civilizing influence over hundreds of petty tribes along a coast of three thousand miles and into regions of the interior, as yet untraversed by Europeans ? It sickens the heart to hear it suggested that the ignorant and vicious are to be entrusted with these stu pendous interests, which involve the dearest hopes of many generations, and on which depends the successful prosecu tion of one of the noblest enterprises which has ever blest humanity in this or any other age. It sickens the heart to think that its government may degenerate into anarchy, and its religion into fanaticism, — that its energies may be ex hausted in selfish and mercenary speculations, until the slave-trade shall be renewed where it is now extinct, and the arts of war supplant the peaceful pursuits of agriculture and the manufactures. It sickens the heart to think that many lives may have been sacrificed and much treasure expended to little purpose, that tears have been shed and prayers offer ed in vain. The failure of Liberia, as the germ of a free and prosperous republic, is not to be contemplated as possible. But there are various means to be employed to render the enterprise more sure. Among others, a liberal system of education is one, which requires a college as an indispensa ble appendage." ' Amongst the reasons which this writer assigns for the lo cation of such an institution in Liberia, are these : — " It will be in the land of the African race. That land is a continent wide in territory, rich in resources, and open to the entrance of her own children. If three or four millions of that race are dispersed in foreign lands, twenty or thirty pillions are to be found on their native soil.* Some thousapds of free men, who are advancing to wealth and high distitjction, have ' Some suppose 200,000,000. X 254 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Without knowledge, a colony will degenerate. made it their home. The native population is easily acces sible.* It places the pupils beyond the reach of that oppres sive power which they feel in this country, and they are left to the influence of all the high and inspiring motives of am bition, honor, and usefulness. In these States, in the vici nity of their enslaved brethren, they are dispirited. They do not find themselves stimulated by the prospect of emolu ment, or office, or equal rank. Why should they study ? * In reference -to the opportunities and desire for instruction among the natives, which is indeed truly remarkable, Mr. Pinney, who went from Georgia, as a missionary, under the Western Board of Foreign missions, re ports, ".Many of the children of the natives have seen what they call * Ame rica man fash,' (fashion,) and through their report, and from their own ob servation, the natives in the vicinity of our settlements are informed as to the superiority of our knowledge, and desire to partake of Ihe benefit. This desire exists, I will venture to say, at this hour in more than 100,000 of the natives in the neighborhood of our colonies. Most of Ihe young men, sons of chiefs or headmen, act as servants, to bring wood and water, and go on errands, and perform all sorts of servile offices, for the sake of obtaining a smattering of the English tongue. It is the leading youth of the country, such as in their own tribe are considered as gentlemen and princes, who are in a particular manner anxious lo learn our language, and adopt our customs. Who does not see, in this important fact, the germ of Africa's future improve ment ?" In respect to another portion of the same continent, the Rev. J. L. Wilson, a missionary from South Carolina, in the employ of the American Board, says, in conjunction with his companion, Mr. Wynkoop, " along the whole coast where we have been, we uniformly found the people desirous of schools, and from what we have seen ourselves and heard from others, we are induced to believe there is not a town on the coast where a Christian teacher would not be heartily welcomed. We would confidently say, that there is a universal desire, nay, an imperious demand for Christian schools. Wherever it was made known to the inhabitants of Ihe towns on the south ern coast, that we were going to Cape Palmas for the purpose of teaching the natives, we received applications to send American teachers to their towns. Not unfrequently tliey asked a written promise to this effect." At Rocktown Ihey gave the king and his head men a written promise that a teacher should be sent them if possible. Yet, they say, " after we were dis tant 290 miles on our way home, we received a message from them, remind ing us of our promise. 1'his desire for schools has doubtless grown out of an acquaintance with civilized nations. From the example Of a few natives whom we have seen pursuing their educations and the earnestness and fa cility with which they learn^we cannot think Ihat any judicious effiirts to meet, their dtesires in this respect will be fruitless." The Rev. Dr. Philip, of South Africa, furnishes testimony to the same «reot representing that portion of the continent, and, what is arausine re lates that " one chief among the Caffre tribes of South Africa, proposid to purchase a missionary— and was willing lo give one Thousand head of caltle lor a teacher to come and live with him and instruct his people." PLEA FOR AFRICA, 255 A College in Liberia promises rich blessings. Why aspire to learn ? What is the reward of diligence ? Besides they do not often enjoy the facilities of instruction and books, which fall to the lot of other children, especially in early years. It is not chiefly any want of industry or native talent, which leaves them behind others of their age. This disparity can be satisfactorily traced to causes which cannot be removed till they are taken out of this state of so ciety and allowed to inhale a free atmosphere. See the Afri can youth on his native soil, erect, gay, and buoyant ; here he is depressed and downcast. There are some schools for children of color in this country, and many individuals of both sexes have made commendable improvement. They have evinced sufiicient capacity. But as a diffident child cannot look up in the presence of strangers, so they are op pressed with an incumbent load which no impulse of genius can enable them to shake off. A fair experiment in their education cannot be made in this country. The constitution of society forbids it. In their own land no distinction of color will remind them of their exile, no frown of a master will check the rising emotion of joy, no exclusion from pub lic oflSce, and no inferiority of rank will chill the energy of the soul. Fame, and wealth, and official honor will invite them to aspire to excellence, and reward their patient indus try. Why should they not become learned in abstract and useful science ? Why should they not cultivate the fine arts, painting and sculpture, music and poetry ? Some of the colonists grow rich with great rapidity ; why should they not accumulate funds of knowledge ? Give them the opportunity and the inspiring motive, and there is no unr certainty respecting the result. If a literary establishment should be made in the colony of Liberia, there is no ap.- parent reason why it should not be perpetuated through the successive periods of its future histoty with enlarged re sources and increasing usefuhiess. Pupils need not be want- 256 PLEA FOR AFRICA. The College will be sustained. ing. The intelligent sons of native chiefs, the sons of co lonists, young men of enterprise and talent in the West India Islands and the United States, may here find an asylum where they may prosecute their education without prejudice. This will stimulate the ambition of the native tribes, reward the fidelity of colonists who have borne the burden of the work, and elicit the talent of the face wherever it may be found. Especially may such a seminary prove to be a ' school of the prophets,' where the Saviour of the world may prepare his servants to publish his gospel of mercy to the millions on that continent. Besides that continent is to be their future theatre of action. And it is an ample field. It is not a little island environed by the sea. It is not a section of country where they will be exposed to encroach ments from men of a different color and superior power. It is not in subjection to a despotic government with which they can feel no sympathy, and in the administration of which they can aspire to no share. Nor is its language, like that of Hayti, intelligible to a handful only of all the race. Nor is its religion mystical and established by law, denying to individuals entire liberty of conscience in the worship of God. Whatever islands or sections of country may in the course of time fall into the possession of the people of color, the continent of Africa itself is the cradle and the home of the race. The results of their enterprise and talent are to be exhibited there. In despite of all that philanthropy can accomplish, neither the United States nor the British Islands will furnish an inviting field to men of color for half a century to come. As they advance to wealth and knowledge, they will resort to the fatherland, whether for culture or commerce. They will seek it as an asylum, a home. There will be no need of external compulsion or constraint. Nor will they wait for pecuniary aid. It will not be easy to retain them to hew wood and draw water in PLEA FOR AFRICA. 257 Bassa Cove a delightful country. Other lands. They will there be the proprietors of the soil which they cultivate, establish a government which they themselves administer, and introduce the religion of their en lightened choice. And shall the want of a few thousand dollars prevent the immediate commencement of a work so imperiously demanded by the wants of a whole race ? Will not the statesman, the philanthropist, the rich merchant, give to this enterprise a candid investigation and a liberal patronage 1 And especially may it not be commended with confidence to Him who controls the destinies of nations, and who is pleased with the good conduct and highest happiness of men?'" ' Such an institution,' said Caroline, ' would reflect great honor upon its founders, and I am sure would greatly en courage the hope of Africa's final triumphs. I have seen very encouraging accounts from time to time of Bassa Cove. It seems to be greatly favored.' ' Yes ; Mr. Buchanan, late governor of the colony, in a letter to the corresponding secretary of the Pennsylvania So ciety, has said, " You may congratulate yourself on your steadfast aflection for Bassa Cove, for indeed it is a paradise. The climate is absolutely good — the soil prolific and various in its productions — the rivers abound in excellent fish and very superior oysters, and the water is pure and wholesome. Our position is somewhat remarkable, having a river in our rear, the ocean in front, and the magnificent St. John's sweeping past on our right. The luxuriant and various foliage which overhangs the banks of the river, and recedes back into the interminable forests, gives a perpetual fresh ness to the scene which ever animates and gladdens the be holder. In America it is difficult to conceive of African scenery without picturing to our imagination a plentiful sup ply of burning sand, with here and there a fiery serpent ; but x2 258 PLEA FOR AFRICA. The colonists contented and prosperous. what a pleasing reversion the feelings undergo when for the first time we witness the reality ; then the arid scene, with its odious accompaniments, is exchanged for the broad river of blue waters, the stately forest, and the ever verdant land scape, and all nature charms with her ever-varying, yet ever- beautiful and living riches. ' " We have very little sickness among us. When our land is cleared up and cultivated, I have no doubt that people may come here from any part of the Union and suffer little or nothing in the process of acclimating. The site chosen by Dr. Skinner, and upon which the town is now laid out, is one of the most beautiful and picturesque that could be found in any country. A commanding and remarkable eminence at the north end of the town I cut off and appro priated for the agency house and officers. This eminence is washed on three sides by the ocean and two rivers, and commands an unlimited prospect seaward, overlooking com pletely all parts of Bassa Cove, Edina, and an extensive tract of the St. John's and Benson rivers, and may, with a very little labor, be rendered impregnable against any native force. I am at present mounting a long nine-pounder on a pivot, on one corner of the hill, which will range our principal street, the harbor and river. ' " Our setdement has grown very rapidly, and quite asto nishes every visitor by its appearance of age, and the indus try of its inhabitants. No description that I could give would convey an adequate idea of the change in their de portment, and it would savor too much, perhaps, of self- praise, to dwell on this subject ; suffice it to say, that gene ral industry, contentment, and good order prevail. Every man is now in his own house, with a lot cleared, well fenced, and planted. Many have small rice plantations, besides their village lots, and, by the blessing of Providence, they will be nearly all independent of foreign produce another year. PLEA FOR AFRICA. 259 The colony must succeed. ' " The people are unanimous in their expressious of grati tude to the societies for their continued patronage, and ap pear to be well satisfied with the laws and their administra tion. All have sworn to support the constitution, after hav ing it read at three different times, and carefully explained. With proper care at home, and judicious management here, the experiment must succeed. Your location is good — perhaps the very best on the whole western coast of Africa. A magnificent interior country can be added to your territory, as occasion may require, while the whole line of sea coast down to Cape Palmas, can ultimately be occupied by your villages and cities. A climate of great comparative salubrity, and a soil rich in the various productions of the tropics, are among the advantages you calculate upon with ever-increas ing certainty. Industrious men alone are wanting to render your labors triumphant in converting this African wilderness into a paradise of loveliness ; and creating here a home of peace and serenity, where thousands may come and rest from all their wrongs." ' It is a very pleasing circumstance,' added Mr. L., ' that young men come " to the rescue," and associate together, as in these instances in our two great cities, to help carry forward so great and blessed an enterprise. When the Young Men's Society of Pennsylvania was formed, the pe cuniary concerns of the Parent Society, through a variety of causes, had begun to assume a very discouraging aspect. But the formation of this Society, together with renewed and vigorous efforts on the part of its -friends elsewhere, soon revived the hopes of the friends of Africa. Subsequent suc cess has banished many doubts in regard to the final and complete success of the enterprise. ' We have now reason to hope that the time is very near when many colonies shall be planted on the shores of Africa. Maryland, I have before intimated, has already moved in 260 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Colonies should line the coast. this good work. Mississippi has also opened a door for her self, having purchased a suitable territory for that purpose. The settlement is already made, and the Colonization So ciety of the State appropriates to the colony $20,000 per annum. Virginia, it seems, will not be backward in the work. Louisiana has resolved to establish a colony, and has made its selection and purchase of territory. And, what is there to hinder all the States from coming up to this work, and planting a chain of ten, or twenty or more States in Af rica, which shall form a republic in close affinity with our own, extending far and wide the blessings of peace, liberty, light, and joy ? " Light of the world, arise .' arise ! On Africa thy glory shed ; Felter'd, in darkness deep she lies. With weeping eye, and drooping head. Light of the world, arise ! arise ! Millions in tears await Ihe day ; Shine cloudless forth, O cheer our eyes, And banish sin and grief away." ' FLEA FOR AFRICA. 261 Right of search. CONVERSATION XXVI. " Lo ! once in triumph on his boundless plain, The quiver'd chief of Congo lov'd to reign ; With fires proportion'd lo his native sky, Strength in his arm, and lightning in his eye ! Scour'd with wild feet his sun-illumin'd zone, The spear, the lion, and the woods his own ! Or led the combat, bold without a plan. An artless savage, but a fearless man ! The plunderer came : — Alas, no glory smiles For Congo's chief on yonder Indian isles. For ever fallen ! no son of nature now. With freedom charter'd on his brow ; Faint, bleeding, bound, he weeps the night away. And, when the sea-wind wafis the dewlcss day, Starts, with a bursting heart, for ever more To curse the sun that lights the guilty shore." — Campbell. ' There is one subject,' said Mr. L., ' that I meant to have noticed before, and that is the importance of some better understanding between our own government and others, in respect to the right of search. By treaties be tween some of the powers, the mutual right of search is con ceded to the government vessels of each nation, of such mer chant vessels of the other as may be reasonably suspected of being engaged in the slave-trade, or which have been fitted out with that intent, or that, during the voyage in which they are met with by said cruisers, have been employed in the slave-trade ; and the said cruisers are authorized to detain them, and send or conduct them to one of the places appoint ed by the convention of treaty for trial ; this mutual right of search not to be exercised in any part of the Mediterranean sea, nor in the seas of Europe which lie north of latitude 37, 262 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Convention of foreign powers. and east of longitude 20 W. from Greenwich. To prevent difficulties and injuries which might otherwise arise, it has been provided, that -when vessels of either nation shall be arbitrarily and illegally detained by the cruisers of the other, the government whose cruisers have caused the detention, shall indemnify the owners, &c. of the vessels for all dam age resulting therefrom, which is to be determined agreeably to provisions made for that purpose. Such a treaty between the United States and other friendly powers, would greatly facilitate the absolute abolition of the slave-trade. I say ab solute abolition of it, for it is a painful and notorious fact, that notwithstanding all the precautions that are now used, vessels are fitted out from some of our own ports by unprin cipled men, whose vile purpose is obvious, but who escape with impunity, because the proper officers cannot arrest ves sels without proof of their having violated the law, by the commission of overt acts. A law giving to our local autho rities and naval officers, powers over American vessels, touching this matter, similar to those which Great Britain exercises over her commerce ; and especially, if practicable, an understanding with foreign powers which shall concede a limited and mutual power similar to that to which I have al ready adverted ; and the presence of a few American cruisers on the African coast, to co-operate with those of other nations authorized to destroy the slave-factories and barracoons wher ever they may be found on the coast, would greatly hasten the final and total extinction of the trade.' « But I am surprised. Pa,' said Caroline, ' to hear that there are any yet remaining in our own country who would clandestinely engage iu the African slave-trade, and that it is possible for vessels to sail from our shores to be so em ployed.' ' It is lamentably true, as it is surprising. By recent in- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 263 The extinction of the slave trade. formation from Africa, it appears that American built vessels are regularly engaged in this accursed trade. The way of procuring them is said to be as follows : — " Mercantile houses in the Havana, and other ports in Cuba and Porto Rico, send orders for fast sailing vessels to their correspon dents here, of course saying nothing about their being de signed for slavers. When launched, they are frequently equipped at Baltimore and New-York. Even the shackles for securing the slaves, and the gratings to cover the hatches, not unfrequently go from this country ; though a part of the latter are sometimes prepared on board. The shackles are put up in barrels, and shipped as merchandise. The crews are principally Spanish and Portuguese, French and Dutch Creoles, and a sort of Lingua Franca-men, of no nation, or rather of all nations, belonging nowhere, or everywhere, and speaking aU the Atlantic languages. Some of them picked up in New- York or Baltimore for the voyage, and others after she arrives in the Havana. These are all desperadoes. Some of the crew, I am sorry to say, are said to be, in some instances, Americans, who sometimes do not know the na ture of the voyage until they arrive on the coast of Africa. The slaver sails from our port as an American vessel under the American flag, with American papers, and appears like a regular trader. She goes to the Havana, is denationalized, receives a new name, and takes Spanish colors and Spanish papers. Sometimes, but rarely, this is done at the Cape de Verd Islands. These vessels frequently put into Sierra Leone, and occasionally into Monrovia ; and, as all appears fair and smooth, and strictly en regie, it is impossible to prove that they are slayers." ' ' Where, Sir, are the slaves which they obtain carried V ' Some have been carried to Brazil ; some to the Spanish Islands, from whence they have been smuggled in considera- 264 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Recent facts ascertained. ble numbers into Guadaloupe and Martinique, and it is even said that some have found their way into Florida, and vari ous places on the Gulf. In this morning's paper I notice an article extracted from a late Lisbon paper, which is as fol lows : — " A slave-trader has lately arrived in the Tagus, consigned to Mr. S., a German. She returns after having sold her slaves at Rio Janeiro and the Havana, with a nett profit of 95,000 crowns, or 10,000/. after deducting every outlay, and she will soon start again on another expedition of this kind. ¦ There are three French residents here con nected with Mr. S. in the nefarious and infamous expedition, and unless our government adopt some other course, the traffic from hence will increase." ' ' Are those places from whence slaves are now obtained remote from the colonies of Liberia and Sierra Leone ?' ' Yes ; the same gentlemen who, on their return from Af rica, recently communicated the facts to which I have now referred, say that there are no slave-factories, from Cape Palmas eastward, for several degrees of longitude. But to show you the extent of the trade on different parts of the coast, probably at this moment, I will mention the establish ments which through the colony at Liberia have been ascer tained to exist beyond the reach of any colony's present in fluence. This information you will find communicated in the Colonization Herald, for December 19, 1835. I give it as it was communicated : — " At Bissao, a Portuguese settle ment near Gambia, it is carried on extensively, but not with the open countenance of the local government. The River Pongas, 120 miles north of Sierra Leone, is an extensive slave-market. The river is navigable for large vessels 60 or 80 miles, and has several slave-factories on its banks. About 2000 slaves are carried away annually. Three of the gentlemen who communicated these facts, saw seven slavers PLEA FOR AFRICA. 265 Slave-trade not practicable where colonies are planted. in the river at a time. At the mouth of the Shelear river, a little south of Sherbro Island, a considerable number are sold annually. The mouth of the Gallinas is the great slave- mart north of Cape Palmas. At this place are two very large factories, with their appropriate suite of barracoons, or out-buildings to house the slaves, as they are sent in by the neighboring chiefs. These factories are about 120 feet in length, are handsomely fitted up, and elegantly furnished. They are occupied by two Spaniards, whose names we know, one of whom is very rich. They are said to have their regular agents in (two cities in these States !) No less than eight thousand slaves are annually shipped from this one place. Slavers are almost always lying there. They saw four slavers at the Gallinas in October last.' One of them was to sail on the 14th or 15th, with 450 slaves on board. Two of our informants saw them dancing in tviro circles on the beach. At Sugry River and Cape Mount, about 80 miles north of Monrovia, a considerable number are sold every year. They saw two slavers lying there in Oc tober. Cape Mesurado was formerly an extensive slave- market before the settlement of Monrovia. It is now wholly broken up. The same is true, in a degree, of the mouth of Junk River, One of the gentlemen has seen the remains of the old slave-factory, which stood near the mouth of St. John's River, before Edina and Bassa Cove were planted. In 1834, before the purchase of Bassa Cove, 500 were ship ped from that place, in a single month. Since then, the slavers have left the river. Sestras River, is, as they sup pose, the only remaining regular slave-market between Cape Palmas and Monrovia, and, in the numbers which it furnishes annually, is probably inferior only to the Gallinas. In ad dition to this, the slavers lie at anchor for a few days, in numerous other places along the coast, where no factories have been erected, to pick up the slaves in the in^mei^ate 266 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Great cxiejil of coast exposed. neighborhood, who have been just taken in war. The cap tains of the slavers are generally men of polished manners, and gentlemanly appearance. One of them was, some time ago, particularly kind lo ihe captain of the vessel in which one of our informants sailed ; sending him a case of claret, and utterly refusing all compensation. The slavers are all sharp built vessels, intended expressly for fast sailers. They mount commonly one gun, sometimes as many as eighteen. The one gun is a long 32 pounder; and, where there are more, some are always of this description. * At least 100 slavers are to be found annually between the river Pongas and the Bight of Benin, including both. The fol lowing places in the Bight of Benin are extensive slave- markets, with regular factories : Badagry Point, Lagos River, Benin River, ihe River Nun, and more especially on Brass ¦ River, one of its bayous. The following are similar estab- .lishraents on the Bight of Biafra : Old Calebar River, the Camaroons, the River Gaboon, and Cape Lopez. The slavers in the Bight of Biafra are at present exceedingly nu merous, and are spoken of as amounting to /iMndrerfs." '* ' I have seen it objected,' said Henry, ' to the colony of Liberia, that it has not suppressed the slave-trade: but both that and the colony at Sierra Leone, have certainly done something, if they have not yet accomplished every thing.' * Facts of more recent dale, Dec. 1H36, as pnldiKhed in Ihe New York Commercial Advertiser, in a teller inim Sierra Leone, show that " the slavc- ', trade is carried on lo a,greater extent than e\er, nndall under IhePorlnguese flag." The leiter sa}s, " there have been sent into ihis harbor, in the year 1836, 54 slavers. 44 of which are actually condemned. The Columbine has captured the Veloz, a large brig, with iiOS slaves; she has arrived. The new Portuguese treaty will do lillie loward extirpating the slave-trade ; the ¦ only effective mode would be Iu declare ii piracy. 'I he sla%ers now in the rivers, where they emhark Iheir cargoes, have laniled their slave decks, fittings, and irons, and will only ship them again when Ihe slaves are on ihe beach, and arrangements have heen already made v\iih Americnn \essel8to bring these fltmenis of a slave vessel from Havana or Rio de Janeiro." The Liberia Herald of Jiinuary, 1837, says, " Intelligence, lately received , from the captain of an English merchnnlman, gi\es sixiy-three slave vessels '" lying at one time al Loango, wailing for cargoes .' ! J " PLEA FOR AFRICA. 267 Our national armed vessels should visit Ihe coast. ' It is unreasonable in the extreme,' said Mr. L., ' for any thus to object. To break up the slave-trade on that whole extended coast will require time, and the planting of other Colonies, and the aid of Christian governments. It is certain ly a matter of great gratulation that so much has been done.' ' Are not our national vessels occasionally cruising upon the African coast? I am sure, I ihink I have seen frequent accounts of them there,' said Henry. 'They have occasionally visited the colonies: not often, and scarcely at all of late. We have not rendered that aid and protection which we ought to have done. Especially does" that coast demand our regard in consideration of the fact that the regular legal trade with Africa is carried on chiefly by Ainerican vessels. These are left almost entirely to be protected by the English flag. It is to be hoped that our Government will soon take this subject in hand, and that there will be some efficient action by Congress in unison with other powers, for the suppression of the trade. Then not only will the native African " drink at noon The palm's rich nectar, and lie down at eve In the green pastures of remembered days^ And walk, lo wander and lo weep no more, On Congo's mountain-coast, and Gambia's golden shore ;" but the pro.sperity of the colonies planted there will be greatly promoted, and rendered far more efficient than they can otherwise be. Besides, the reproach will be taken away from us which I had the mortification of reading this morn ing from a paragraph in one of the papers professedly de- . voted to the cause of the colored race, in these words : — " True, America has proscribed the foreign trade, on parch ment; and that is all. For to this hour, she stands alooff and will not come into such arrangements with foreign pow ers, as are indispensable to an effectual execution of the law. 268 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Colonization is practicable. A British cruiser gives chase to a slaver — ^up go American colors ! America denies the right of search in the case, and off' goes the slaver untouched and unharmed. Thus does America nullify her own law, and, so far as she can, the laws of all other civilized powers, and unfurl her flag for the escape and protection, rather than the arrest and punish ment of the slaver !" ' CONVERSATION XXVII, " As in ancient Rome, it was regarded as the mark of a good citizeOr never to despair of the fortunes of the republic ; so the good citizen of the world, whatever may be the political aspect of his own times, will never despair of the fortunes of thehuman race : but will act upon the conviction, that prejudice, slavery, and corruption, must gradually give way to truth, liberty, and virtue." — Dugald Stewart. ' I HOPE, Pa,' said Caroline, ' that the scheme of the Co lonization Society is, beyond any doubt, practicable V ' Some have pronounced it otherwise,' said Mr. L., ' and so almost every great enterprise has had to encounter simi lar objections. The first suggestions touching the feasibility of employing the agency of steam — the first proposition for supplying by artificial means the absence of natural facilities for inland navigation — and the object of our revolutionary struggle, were treated by many as impracticable. So were the plans of him " who first unfurl'd An Eastern banner o'er the Western world."* * The expeditions of Columbus, Cabot, Raleigh, Hudson, Winthrop, Ogle thorpe, were all considered visionary. PWA FOR AFRICA. 269' Colonization is practicable. But the experiment in this case also is made ; the obstacles have been overcome ; and their remains, in my mind, not the slightest doubt of its entire practicability. ' The views of those who at first asserted the impractica bility of the enterprise, and augured its defeat, were certain ly entitled to consideration ; nor am I even now disposed to join with such as say that those who, at this late day, assert the impracticability of the colonization enterprise, " deserve a straight jacket" — but it does appear to me that since a pros perous colony has been established, and the most formidable difficulties have been encountered and overcome, ultimate success, on a scale of vast magnificence, may be confident ly expected. It has been well remarked, by a sound phi losopher, that " the greatest of all obstacles to the improve ment of the w'orld, is the prevailing belief of its improbabi lity, which damps the exertions of so many individuals ; and that, in proportion as the contrary opinion becomes general, it realizes the event which it leads us to anticipate." Mr. Dugald Stewart further remarks that "if any thing can have a tendency to call forth in the public service the exer tions of individuals, it must be an idea of the magnitude of that work in which they are conspiring, and a belief of the permanence of those benefits which they confer on man kind, by every attempt to inform and enlighten them." Thia enterprise has suffered much from unnecessary discourage ment and opposition ; but it is a noble work, and in respect to the benefit which it promises, may well rank among the first of the benevolent and patriotic effiarts of man.' ' It certainly appears no more than just,' C. remarked, * that we seek in this way to do Africa good ; we have long enough done her wrong.' ' True, my daughter ; and I cannot better express my sentiment on this part of our duty, than to use the language y2 270 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Colonization the best way of redressing Africa's wrongs. of Mr. Frelinghuysen : — " We have committed a mighty trespass. Africa has a heavy claim against us. It is a long and bloody catalogue of outrage and oppression. The re port of our national crime has gone up to heaven. It rose upon the groans and tears of her kidnapped children — the infernal horrors of the slave-ship have, in ten thousand in stances, wrung from distracted bosoms the cry for vengeance; and there is a just God to hear and regard it. On the front of this blessed scheme of humanity is inscribed, in better than golden characters, ' Recompense to the injured.' " ' There is another consideration of interest to every one who loves his country and the cause of God. We shall, by colonization, establish the liberties of Africa, under our own, the very best form of government, and cheer that whole land with the pure light of Christianity.' ' Pa, I cannot think of an object which seems to afford a fairer field for the exercise of the finest feelings of the true patriot and Christian.' ' What is patriotism ?' said Henry : ' I have thought it would be difficult to define it, according to the generally un derstood meaning of the term at the present time. Is it not a feeling that influences to the practice of benevolent acts of self-denial and noble deeds for one's country's good ?' ' That, Henry, is the very best meaning of the term when property used. True patriotism is not a mere selfish love of country, but an expansive feeling that regards the evils that threaten or afflict the community at large, and every portion of that community, and labors to avert or remove them. Show me thy patriotism without thy works, every true patriot may say, and I will show thee my patriotism by my works. Empty is the boast of a patriotism that nerves the grasp of sordid lust when our country calls. FLEA FOR AFRICA. 271 Colonization has claims on Ihe patriot. " Can he be strenuous in his country's cause. Who slights the charities, for whose dear sake That couniry, if at all, must be belov'd ?" There is much such patriotism in our day ; and also too much of that which will sacrifice every benevolent, and Christian, and patriotic cause on the altar of sectarian illibe- rality, and the littleness of party interests. Ours should be a patriotism that is worthy of the descendants of revolution ary heroes. The evils of slavery in this country, extend their influence to every part of the Union ; and the guilt of having encouraged, in times past, the introduction of slavery and the continuance of the slave-trade, rests upon every part of our country ; and all should be willing and desirous to do what may be done with propriety to avert these evils and to expiate this guilt. As respects Africa, the wrong which she has received from us, is, in an important sense, a national sin ; and as such, its expiation should be national. What our country, as such, however, is not yet prepared to do, true patriotism may attempt, according to its ability, to ac complish. If we wait for national action on this subject, Africa in the meanwhile suflrers, and our country must suffer. Without arrogating to ourselves any disputed right whatever, we may individually or in associated capacities, do much for Africa's relief — much for our country's relief; whilst, in so doing, we also confer a great blessing upon the colored people in our land, both bond and free. And what tuay thus be done without offence, surely ought to be done, and done at once. There is danger in delay, for God is a God of justice. We may shut our eyes to the fact, and the mercenary hand of avarice may clench the fist which ought to be the open hand of benevolence and patriotism, but the evil will one day obtrude itself upon our notice. We were now the happiest people upon earth, but for this leprosy that is upon us. These 2,000,000 of bondmen who tread this 272 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Colonization or ruin. soil of freedom, and those 500,000 of their brethren who are nominally free, but are connected with them in all their sym pathies and in all their interests, with their constantly and rapidly increasing numbers, greatly eclipse our prospects and are portentous of calamity ! ' It surely needs not a prophet's ken to foretell what will be the result of a continuance of the present state of things. A slight knowledge of human nature, aided by the history of the past, is sufficient for the purpose. Our black popu lation was once a mole-hill, comparatively ; it is now a mountain — and what is worse, that mountain is, as we have seen, volcanic ! Short as yet have been its irruptions and few ; but they have laid waste valuable lives, and have caused many a family to mourn, sending also a thrill to the very ex tremities of our land. These momentary emissions, are pro bably but the prelude, if something more efficient be not done for our relief and that speedily, of a general and awful explo sion. Southampton and St, Domingo furnish some idea of what may be, unless the Christian and patriotic of this re public, so backward in its duty to itself and to Africa, awake to vigorous effort. The same causes with concurring cir cumstances, will produce like effects so long as the laws of nature remain unchanged, and the nature of man the same. ' Some, it is true, make a mock at the evils of slavery, and always puff at the idea of danger ; but for myself, although not made of so yielding materials as to be easily alarmed bv merely imaginary fears, I confess it appears far more than possible, that should we be indifferent to our duty, and angry discussions continue, the great and glorious Author of all our happiness and prosperity may be provoked by our sins, to blast our national blessings, and lay prematurely in the grave all our prospects. Emphes rise and fall at His command. We look back through the long vista of ages, and many na tions that were once, are now no more. Others are mere PLBA FOR AFRICA. 273 Colonization or ruin. fragments and shadows of what was once their pride. Na tions will not exist as such in another world, and therefore receive the retributions of divine justice here. In what has been in the history of nations, we may read our own doom. It is written — and if we repent not of the evil, confessing and forsaking our sins, and endeavoring to make suitable amends, whatever our national or individual sins may be, we must abide the consequence. There is, in what we now see, cause to fear. Those local interests, and that local jea lousy and personal ambition and unfeeling cupidity which are already supplanting the former sterling patriotism of our country, creating discord, justifying opposition to authority, trampling constitution and law under foot, glorying in party devotion, lightly esteeming the national compact, and even threatening the dissolution of our Union, may be the very prelude of a visitation of wrath from the power of infinite Justice. A foreign influence encouraged by ourselves, cher ished by blind party zeal, is also every day acquiring strength, and may one day throw its whole weight into whatever scale may tell most to the ruin of our hopes. Our own native ci tizens of the North are divided in sentiment — not in respect to the evils of slavery itself — not in respect to the necessity of doing something to avert from us and from our country the disgrace and the danger — but in respect to the manner of doing it ; and angry debate, divisions among friends, and rioting and bloodshed is the consequence !' ' The violence of party spirit, and the atrocities that have been committed of late years by mobs, it appears to me. Pa,' said Caroline, ' are evidence of a great decline in correct moral sentiment, and forbode still greater insecurity and danger.' ' This is, indeed, a most alarming feature in the present political aspect of our country,' said Mr. L, ' Against mob 274 PLEA FOR AFRICA, increase of blacks. law in any country, but especially one like ours, there is no security, except in the sound principles and correct moral feeling of the mass of the people. The spoke of the wheel which is upward this moment, may be down the next, and they who are to-day applauded, may to-morrow be the foot ball of an infatuate and infuriate populace. Nature's great poet has well described the influence and caprice of a mob ; •' Yon are no surer, no. Than is Ihe coal of fire upon the ice, - "* Or hailstone in Ihe sun- Your virlae is. To make him worthy, whose offence subdues him. And curse that justice did it. * * » » * He that depends Upon your favors, swims with fins of lead And hews down oaks with rushes. Hang ye ! Trust ye ? With every minute you do change a mind ; And call him noble, Ihat was now your hate, Him vile, that was your garland.*^ A resort to mob violence is ever to be depiecated, and should always be discouraged by every good citizen, let the offence which is made a plea for the measure be what it may.'* ' The increase of slaves in our country is "very rapid, is it not. Pa ?' said Henry, * The author is happy here to quote Ihe foUoiving correct and very sensi ble remarks of the Rev. George A. Baxter, D. t)., ol Virginia : — " Ii should always he kept in mind, Ihal in a free country, the worst thing that can hap pen, is the destruction of the authority of law. Ii may seem to be an inno cent, or even a laudable thing, l.... 7,491,737. 276 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Even partial success a great blessing. when we shall look over the long catalogue of the victims of the nocturnal massacre — whole sections of our land being turned into bloody sepulchres, filled with the ghastly corpses of our friends, hoary age and smiling infancy, manhood in its strength, and womanhood in its loveliness, virgins in their beauty, and young men in their vigor, involved in promis cuous butchery, and strewed beneath the bleeding thousands of slaves and their abettors, who, having done the deed, are made to atone for it by their own blood.' CONVERSATION XXVIIL "I behold with thesincerest pleasure the commencement of an institnlion whose progress and termination will, 1 trust, be attended with the most suc cessful results. I shall probably not live to witness the vast changes in the coni^ition of man which are about to take place in the world ; but the era is already commenced, ils progress is apparent, its end is certain. * * Where then, my dear Sir, will be the last foot-hold.of slavery in Ihe world? Is it destined to be the opprobrium of this fine couniry ?" — l/ifayetle. The conversation being resumed, Mr. L. said, ' If the ¦colonization scheme succeed, even partially, does it not ap pear beyond doubt, my children, that our country will be greatly benefitted? It will be enriched. Tens of thousands of places will be opened for those of our own color and habits and sympathies — and by a more wholesome popula tion and grateful labor, industry will be promoted, misery alleviated, our counU'y strengthened. Africans themselves will be enriched and blessed in their father's native land, and the benefit will be thus mutual.' Said Henry, ' I should think it would be considered a set- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 277 Slaves in other times of the color of their masters. tied point that general and immediate emancipation is hardly safe, and not preferable to slavery either for the whites or the blacks V Mr. L. considered it to be 'a sadly demonstrative truth that the negro cannot, in this country, become an enlighten ed and useful citizen, so long, at least, as what are deno minated our prejudices against color, &c. remain the same ; for such are the circumstances in which he will be placed, unavoidably — that he wiU not, cannot feel a citizen's name less incentives to a manly and noble conduct. The almost united voice of those who have had the best opportunity of judging in the case, is "liberate them only on the condition of their going to Africa, Hayti, or some place where they wiU be blessed by their liberty, and we secure." Nor is this the sentiment of those who are advocates for slavery ; but of those whose souls indignantly disclaim so unworthy a bias, and whose hearts bleed for injured Africa. ' The slavery of other nations has been that chiefly of men of the same complexion with the free. As soon as the slave was released, he and his descendants might mingle and lose himself in the general community of the country, undistinguished by any stamp of nature upon his original. But here, the features, the complexion, and every peculiarity of his person, pronounce upon the ransomed slave another doom. He feels it — and he feels it too just as we should feel it, our conditions reversed. And if the day ever arrives when an universal emancipation of the slaves of the South shall be effected, and they remain upon the soil, those whites who may remain with them in portions of the country where there shall be a decided superiority of numbers on the side of the blacks, will be made themselves to feel that the dif ferences which nature has caused, are serious obstacles in the way of their peace and happiness. The blacks will, in their turn, resent the idea of inferiority, assert a superiority z 278 PLEA FOR AFRICA, Colonization unites conflicting interests. themselves, and will become the oppressors. Such is the honest opinion of thousands. ' The object of the Colonization Society, therefore, meets the views of those who wish the slaves to be freed, but who desire also to see them in a community of their own, " where they may taste the joys, sustain the honors, and be stimu lated by the lofty aspirings of freemen ; where their color shall be the common color, and where a darkness of skin shall neither cramp the expansive energies of their intellects, slacken the vigor of their efforts, nor in any way establish an insuperable barrier between them and the first honors of the state." Believing as they do, and in perfect consisten cy with the kindliest regard for their colored brethren, that black and white can never associate in society as white now associates with white, on equal terras, having one commu nity of interest in business, in marriage, and the participa tion of all rights ; and that, therefore, they can never live together in happiness, and that one of these two great and distinctive bodies must always hold the ascendency, they feel impelled by a sacred regard for the best interests of their colored brethren, to encourage their colonization in a land, where if their happiness consists at all in independence, they may be most happy.' Said Caroline, ' It is very evident that great wisdom and prudence are necessary in determining a question of such moment. O, I wish that good men could all think alike, and act together in this matter, pursuing right measures and cherishing right desires, I am satisfied that the whole subject, in all its relations and bearings, is too little un derstood.' ' Dr, Hodgkin, of London, a warm friend and advocate of Colonization, has suggested that the fundamental principle of the Colonization Society may be compared with that of PLEA FOR AFRICA, 279 Both blacks and whites benefitted by Colonization. the Bible Society, whose avowed object is the diffusion of the pure word of God, " without note or comment, an ob- ject to which few can be opposed who are not opposed to the Bible." " Its single object is ' the colonization of the free people of color, with their consent, in Africa, or such other place as Congress maj-- deem most expedient.' I con ceive," says Dr. Hodgkin, " that the founders of the society are entitled to praise for having given so brief, and, at the same time, so comprehensive a definition of their object. It sets forth explicitly abundant work for any society to under take, without advancing any thing which can come in colli sion with the expressed or even secret opinions of any par ties or individuals, unless it be of those who believe that the well-being of the blacks- will be promoted in proportion to the increase of their numbers within the States, a doc trine which appears to have originated since the formation of the Colonization Society, * * It cannot, however, be supposed that the supporters of the Bible Society merely contemplate the scattering of Bibles and Testaments, from which no other effect is to proceed than the mere occupa tion of space. They look forward to their becoming the powerful agents of an enlightening and moralizing influence. But if we interrogate the members of that society individually, we shall probably find, that, besides the one object in which they all cordially unite, there are other inducements, differing in each, and which could not be brought forward without their again becoming the subjects of schismatic convulsions and violent dispute. * * * The principal motive appears to be to benefit the colored population ; and more especially that portion of it, which, though not literally loaded with servile chains, is nevertheless suffering from the pains of slavery, and, with but few exceptions, reduced to a misera ble and degraded rank in society, and for whose assistance many comparatively unsuccessful efforts have previously 280 PLEA FOR AFRICA. An honorable instance. been made. At the same time the founders of the Society were fully sensible that the baneful influence of slavery was by no means limited to those objects of their care, but that it was also generally felt by the great mass of the white population." ' Permit me here, my dear children,' said Mr. L., ' to mention the case of one whom I respect and esteem, with whom I have often sat at the table of our common Lord, and whom I have seen year after year shedding around him the influence of a Christian example, in circumstances both prosperous and afflictive. I took some pains, a few years since, when travelling in the southern part of our country, to call upon him, that I might converse with him on the sub ject of our present conversation. This man — I will recall the expression — this gentleman, for gentleman he was, in the legitimate sense of the term, had been himself a slave. He gave for his freedom, from what he had earned over and above the daily sum which was required by an indulgent master, who had hired him his time, one thousand dollars. He then, by patient and persevering industry and frugality, purchased his wife and child who were also slaves ; and for them was required to give to their exorbitant master, fourteen hundred dollars ! When he told me of this latter fact, which I knew before, he said, with a smile of self-gratula- tion, and with two meanings, both of which I believe were most sincere, " She is my dear wife !" He still lives to enjoy the fruit of his noble efforts, except as death has re moved his companion. He is of a commanding person, modest demeanor, gentlemanly address, well-informed mind, humble piety, good judgment, business talents, and was, when I last saw him, surrounded by an interesting family, and possessed of two valuable plantations. He was also said to be owner of a large number of slaves, and had been instrumental in procuring the freedom of a still larger num- PLEA FOR AFRICA. 281 Views of a virtuous, intelligent colored man. ber. Said this individual, in answer to my inquiries, de signed to elicit his views, " I cannot, to be sure, contemplate the condition of my family without feeling. Color is a dividing line that of course separates them from the society of white people, in a great measure, and there are few as sociates for them of sufficient respectability among the color ed. Respectable colored people are not indeed at home in this country. I feel most for my children," said he, the big tear starting in his eye and falling down his manly cheek. I suggested that some had thought to better their condition by removal ; he said, " Some recommend Ohio, some New- England, or elsewhere, but the same difficulty exists in every place. Much has been said of Hayti, but our own govern ment and institutions are better than their's. I have read and thought much of Liberia, and approve of the colony, but the colored people generally prefer to remain where they are ; I am myself getting to be old, and shall soon be done with earth." He expressed himself with modesty and cau tion, but with proper self-respect, intimating that if he could see his family differently situated, not isolated as here, he should die happy. It was decidedly his opinion that the whites and blacks can never live together as one community, both enjoying all those privileges which are indispensable to the happiness of either. ' I will now advert briefly to other considerations which should influence us in desiring to see the evils and the re proach of slavery done away. A powerful motive, in my mind, is the fact, that whilst humanity and patriotism call us to the work, the nations of the earth look to us that we should do it. They have before them, hung up, as it were in mid-heaven, in view of the whole world, for all to gaze upon, that noble instrument, our Declaration of Indepen dence. That Declaration, it has been well said, is a nation's oath ; the solemn and direct appeal of a Christian nation to z 2 283 PLEA FOR AFRICA. A nation's oath Our obligations as a Christian countij. the high Providence above ; an appeal, the responsibilities of which were assumed in the face of the -whole -jvorld. When I think of that declaration, and of the comment which slavery furnishes upon a certain line of it, I confess that I feel the patriot's glow of wounded pride and deep regret ; and, were it practicable, I would fain hold up that memorable instrument to the view of my countrymen, and beseech them to weigh again its solemn import, and retract, amend, justify, or unite in practice which shall be consistent with our declarations. With a voice that should sound from the St. Lawrence to California, and from these shores to the farthest West, could it be done consistently with our obliga tions to all, I would exhort our country, and intreat every individual to look, and by harmonious action, wipe off from our national escutcheon this dark blot. Would the South pre pare the way, and could the resources of our national trea sury be brought to the accomplishment of this noble deed, every section of our common country uniting cheerfully in the arrangement, I would greatly rejoice. It would reflect high honor upon our beloved land. ' Again, we should feel that as a Christian people we owe a duty to Africa and her oppressed children. Although a Christian country, our fathers, such was the ignorance of those times in respect to the true nature and evils of slavery, sinned against humanity, and wronged that unhappy, pagan continent. We should feel that it is our duty to do all that Providence now permits, to recompense Africa. And we should also feel that if we neglect our duty in this respect, we have the more reason to tremble for our safety, since, where much is given, the more ia required. To'these con siderations, if I temember, I have in some way adverted before.' ' I cannot see,' Caroline very properly remarked, ' how PLEA FOR AFRICA. 283 Heaven on the side of Africa. any one who has the heart of a man, can be indifferent to the object ; much less how any Christian can oppose.' Mr. L. after a moment's pause, here repeated those lines from Pierpont, " Hear'st thou, 0 God, those chains. Clanking on Freedom's plains. By Christian's wrought ? Them who those chains have worn. Christians from home have torn. Christians have hither borne. Christians have bought!" ' God does hear,' JMr. L. continued, ' and already does he who has said " .Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God," see her beginning to stretch out her hands, and implore his blessing. She lifts one hand to heaven and prays ; with the other she beckons her children to come up from their house of bondage. If we awake to our duty, heaven will be with us ; if we will hold back or resist, we may still be assured that God is with Africa. Her cause is the cause of justice, of religion, of humanity. God will favor it, and if we oppose, he may do it at our cost. It is true, the Almighty has not broken the silence of the heavens, to speak in favor of Africa's cause, and of the colonization enterprise ; but his approbation has not been withheld. Con ducted with reference to his will and glory, with regard to his authority, having also the moral and religious good, as well as the civil and political elevation of the colonists in view, God will still favor the cause. There can be no rea sonable doubt that the colonization enterprise is approved by him. As my greatly esteemed friend, the Rev. Dr. Beecher said, the other day, in his colonization address at Pittsburgh, " I do not think that a society, heaven-moved as this society was, by such wisdom as Samuel J. Mills was blessed with, and by such wisdom as he commanded into its service, moved 284 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Our obligations as a Christian country. on by such faith and prayer, and so blessed of heaven, as this has been in its past labors, and still is, could have been born by wisdom from beneath. As the natives who chased Captain Wilson, the commander of the Duff, un til they saw him plunge into a stream so full of alligators that if a man did but put his finger in the water it would be bitten off, and who supposed when they saw it, that they need do no more, but upon beholding him emerging and climbing up the bank on the other side, cried, ' Don't fire, he is God's man :' so I would say of this society, it is God's Society. In its commencement it was his ; in its progress it has been his ; and the station it now occupies in the midst of all the difficulties which have grown out of inexperience, and the peculiar nature of the subject, shows it to be his ; and so does its success in Africa." ' ' It appears to me,' said Caroline, ' that the favor of heaven towards the colonies, and the cause of colonization, is very apparent ; and I wonder that any should dare oppose, lest, haply, they "be found fighting against God." And then the fact that so many good and wise men who can be influenced on this subject iy no sinister motives, some of whom were once unfavorable to colonization, but on examination have ' changed their minds, are among the warm friends and self- denying promoters of colonization, is to my mind evidence that is almost " Confirmation strong As holy writ." A Madison, a Monroe, a Carroll, Judge Washington, our greatly venerated and now lamented good Bishop White, Robert Ralston, John Marshall, William Wirt, Fitzhugh, Finley, Evarts, Cornelius, Wisner, sainted spirits now in heaven with Ashmun, and Mills, and Carey, and Randall, and CoX, and Anderson, and others who died in the service PLEA FOR AFRICA. 285 A great and worthy enterprise. of Africa ; what a noble list might we write of its, friends from the catalogue of the lamented dead, whose remem brance is blessed ! And then the living — what an array of the names of the great and the good come up before t|he mind !' ' Many prayers ascend to heaven,' said Mr. L., ' in behalf of the colonization enterprise. It is a cause dear to many a pious heart.' CONVERSATION XXIX. " In vain ye limit mind's unwearied spring : What ! can ye lull the winged winds asleep, ^ Arrest the rolling world, or chain the deep ?" — Campbell. ' Good morning, my children.' ' Good morning. Pa,' said Henry. ' Good morning. Pa,' said Caroline. ' I have been think ing much of Africa and Colonization, of America and our duty,' said Caroline ; ' and the more I contemplate it, the more the work in which the Colonization Society is engag ed, appears so noble and godlike, that I should think it would be considered by all as worthy of the noblest energies of our nature — worthy the efforts and prayers of every patriot and Christian in our land.' ' We have reason to hope that the time is not far distant,' said Mr. L., 'when the benevolent and pious of our land will all engage in this work, regarding Africa, more than we have hitherto done, as a wide field for missionary enterprise, where our most ardent wishes and untiring efforts should be directed... Every passing year, the condition and claims of 286 PLEA FOR AFRICA, Africa's claims beginning to be acknowledged. Africa are more and better understood, and the subject is taking deeper and deeper hold on the honor, the justice, the patriotic and Christian sympathies of our highly favored country. The work will be done — and I love to anticipate the day, " Where barb'rous hordes on Scythian mountains roam. Truth, Mercy, Freedom, yet shall find a home : Where'er degraded nature bleeds and pines. From Guinea's coast to Siber's dreary mines. Truth shall pervade th' unfathom'd darkness there. And light the dreadful features of despair; There the stern captive spurn his heavy load. And ask the image back Ihat heaven be^low'd : Fierce in his eyes the fire of valor bum. And as the slave departs, the man return." Yes, it will be done, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. It will be done — and Africa, enlightened, rege nerated, blessed, will remember the Colonization Society as her MosES, which led her up from bondage. Forgetting her wrongs, obliterating from her mind the dark history Qf all her griefs, and remembering only the blessings received, she will look to this happy land, and say, breathing the sweet spirit of the gospel of Christ, "There are our Benefac tors." ' ' I trust. Pa, the vision will be fulfilled. I love to think of Africa as a field of missionary enterprise. It is so ex tensive, and gives promise of such rich blessings.' 'As a missionary field,' said Mr. L., 'it is limited only by the confines of one of the largest quarters of the habitable globe. Other missionary operations, although successful to a considerable degree, have not had a success corresponding in extent with the piety and benevolence of their aim, or with the amount of means which have been applied. Great advantages are united in the colonization enterprise. "Every emigrant to Africa is a missionary going forth with his cre dentials, in the holy cause of civilization and religion and PLBA FOR AFRICA. 287 Africa a missionary field. free institutions, and the colonies which we establish will be so many points from which the beams of Christianity and civilization will radiate on all that empire of ignorance and sin. These influences must be poured in from the western coast. The northern boundary is within the dominion of the false Prophet, and no light is to be expected from that direction. If we look towards its eastern border, we look to the region and shadow of death." Colonization devi ates from the practice of other missionary institutions, and employs as agents the very brethren of the people sought to be converted. "It proposes to send, not one or two pious men into a foreign land, among a different and perhaps sus picious race, of another complexion ; but to transport an nually, for an indefinite number of years, hundreds and thou sands of missionaries, of the descendants of Africa herself, with the same interests, sympathies, and constitutions of the natives. This colony of missionaries is to operate not alone by the preaching of the gospel, but also by works of oculac demonstration. It will open forests, build towns, erect tem ples of worship, and practically exhibit to the sons of Af rica the beautiful moral spectacle and the superior advan tages of our own religious and social systems." Its means are simple ; its end is grand and magnificent. Christianity will beautify Africa, and civilization will enlighten it. The Mahometans of the North will feel the influence ; the Pa gans who worship in her forests and groves, will be saved ; Abyssinia, now lighted by a few rays of Christian light, will feel the fuU shining of the Sun of righteousness ; idols will fall ; human blood will no more be poured from victims sa crificed ; the slave-ship will be driven from the coast ; and Africa will feel a return of more than Egyptian greatness — more than Carthagenian glory,* •Touching the advantages for prosecuting this great work in Africa, the Qicular of the Mew York Ladies' Society remarks ; " access to her coast ia 288 PLEA FOR AFRICA, Bright prospects. — Fond anticipation of Mills. ' This seems to have been the viev? which the sainted Mills had at the very first, "If," says he, "by pursuing the object now in view, a few of the free blacks of good character could be Settled in any part of the African coast, they might be the means of introducing civilization and re ligion among the barbarous nations there, and their settle ment might increase gradually, and some might in suitable time go out from that settlement, and from others, and prove the occasion of great good," To what work more noble, could the powers of this whole nation be applied, than that of bringing up from darkness, debasement, and misery", a race of men, and shedding abroad over the wide territories of Af rica, the light of science, freedom, and Christianity. Whilst humanity points to the thousands of the victims of the slave- trade, and conjures us to aid in its suppression — and whilst patriotism calls us to seek our country's good and wash our hands as a nation of the guilt of slavery ; religion speaks with loftier tone and instructs us that aUmen are " one flesh" — that we are brethren — that he who loves not his brother, cannot love God — that all are equally bound to the service of the Almighty — that all are equally entitled to the good offices of each other, and that he who would not lay down his life for his brethren, has not ascended to the height of the Sa viour's charity. The day will come when Christian princi ples shall rule the worid, and Africa will be a bright and happy part of the Saviour's dominions.' easy— a voyage requiring not more than about thirty days' intercourse with her inhabitants is practicable. '1 housands have been settled on her coasts who are well acquainted with our language. There are no cords of cnste, ns in many other heathen countries, to be broken— no regularly constructed and long standing systems of idolatry to be undermined or overturned. The African mind is vacant ground to be entered and occupied by Christian truth. On Ihis subject, Mr. Pinney remarks, * the carnal heart is all the mis- sionary has to meet. The African people have no idolatry to be given up. They never think of such a thing as worshipping an idol. This very desti tution of all system of religion preoccupying their mind, opens at once a wide door for missionary eflbrt.' The Africon temper is mild— Ihe African character more pliable to the influences of the gospel, than that of most, if not ony other heathen community." PLEA FOR AFRICA. 289 Emancipation not our only duty. Henry here started a difficulty on which he had thought much. ' We will admit,' said he, ' that emancipation can not liberate us from the responsibility that rests upon us ; that we must do what we can to provide for our colored po pulation in a country where they shall be truly free ; and that we must be satisfied with nothing short of the annihila tion of the slave-trade, and the regeneration of Africa. But is it not to be feared that there may be a lack of mental ca pacity for self-government, which will after all, render it im possible for the blacks to become a free, civilized, and indepen dent nation, and make abortive all plans for their separate and independent existence V ' RecoUect, Henry,' said his father, ' that but a few years since, the colored population of St. Domingo was sunk in all the degradation and ignorance and improvidence of slavery. They took the work of emancipation into their own hands, and effecting their deliverance, established a regular govern ment, enacted wholesome laws, ably administered those laws, and commenced a march of improvement which promises happy results. The world cannot exhibit a brighter ex ample of wisdom and prudence, if we consider that example in connexion with their former debasement.' ' But, oh !' said Caroline, with energy, ' 'twas a bloody, cruel struggle.' 'Yes,' said Mr. L., 'there were scenes of violence at tending it, which every benevolent heart deplores. The very thought of it makes one shudder.' ' And yet, Pa,' said Henry, ' we cannot but respect the mental capacity and the energy of character, which brought the final result. Why, Pa, since the stain of slavery is na tional, and we as a nation are so deeply concerned in its re moval, may not appropriations be made from the national A a 290 PLEA FOR AFRICA. The United Slates must engage in the work. treasury to aid in the object ? If our national Congress would ¦agree to sustain the expense of the removal of the blacks who feel disposed to colonize, and to relieve the owners of slaves of a part of that sacrifice which must be consequent on relinquishing their claims, it appears to me that the work might proceed with as much despatch at least as would be consistent with the safety of the settlements.' Mr. L. replied, ' Several of our most eminent statesmen have recommended the appropriation of the income arising from the sale of the public lands, to the aid of African colo nization. Mr. Madison has suggested that if doubts are en tertained by any as to the power of Congress to appropriate the national funds to the object, the requisite authority might easily be obtained by an amendment of the Constitution. It is to be presumed that the States both North and South would approve the measure. In my own view, there is no doubt of the right of appropriation. The public money has been expended in aid of colonization, and why may it not be still further appropriated ? Mr. Jefferson said in 1811, in a letter to Mr. Clay, in reference to a colony in Africa, " In deed, nothing is more to be wished than that the United States would themselves undertake to make such an estab lishment on the coast of Africa." His various correspon dence and efforts in relation to this matter, clearly show what were his views. And, said Mr. Monroe, " As to the people of color, if the people of the southern States wish to emancipate them, (and I never will consent to emancipate them wiihout sending them out of the country,) they may invite the United States to assist us ; but without such an in vitation, the other States ought not, and will not, interfere. I am for marching on with the greatest circumspection upon this subject." These distinguished men seem to have had no insuperable difficulty in regard to the constitutional ques tion of the right of appropriation.' PLEA FOR AFRICA. 291 Right of appropriation. ' I love,' said Caroline, ' to think it possible that the day will come, and that it is already near, when our country will find every obstacle removed for the free exercise of our ut most benevolence. I long to see our country free from slavery's stain ; I long to see the children of Africa go forth by the free consent of the South, and by the friendly aid of our whole country, from their house of bondage ; and I con fess I long as much, or more, to see Africa free through the influence of the gospel. I was never accustomed, until these conversations, to look upon colonization as a missionary en terprise. But now, viewed in this light alone, it appears to me one of the grandest schemes of true Christian benevo lence that was ever undertaken by man,' ' Colonization,' Mr. L. rejoined, ' proposes liberty to Af rica and her children in a nobler sense than is generally con sidered. It proposes freedom, indeed, from physical bond age ; and, although not by any compulsory or objectionable process, which surely should greatly recommend it to all friends of peace and justice, it proposes to secure great tem poral blessings to a now enslaved people, and to a continent ; but it proposes more — a liberty " unsung By poets, and by senators nnpraised ; Which monarchs cannot give, nor all the powers Of earth and hell confederate take away. Which, whoso feels, shall be enslaved no more ; 'Tis liberty of heart derived from heaven." ' The conversation was now closed with the understanding that it should be resumed on the morrnw. 293 PLEA FOR AFRICA, Objections answered. CONVERSATION XXX. "The God of heaven, I believe from my very soul, is with us. Under such auspices we cannot fail. With zeal, energy, and perseverance, we shall subdue all difficulties and ultimately realize every hope." — Henry Clay. Henry observed that he had ' noticed, on looking over the anti-colonization publications, that it is objected that, even if funds are furnished, it will be impossible to transport so great numbers to Africa as the present and rapidly increasing co lored population of our country, vessels not being sufficient ly numerous for the purpose.'* Mr. L. replied, ' I know that this is said ; and it, perhaps, strikes the mind of the casual observer with some force. The annual increase of our colored population, 80,000 or more being added every year, is great ; and the annual in crease may be more than 100,000 before the necessary ar rangements can be made for the removal of a much greater number per annum than hitherto. But with adequate means, and under the protection of the national government, the transportation of emigrants will become a great and impor tant branch of business. Our navigators will provide ships enough, when they are sure of a reasonable recompense. A profitable commerce will be opened with Africa for her im portant native productions ; and the growing colonies will themselves navigate the seas, claiming a share of the honor and profits of the transportation. Increasing numbers of the free will, unaided, also find their way to the land of their fathers, and " having formed establishments of their own, and in their turn visiting our shores with crews of colored * It has been well asked, " If it bo a fact that sixteen millions have been torn awav from Africa by the hand of avarice and cruelty, cannot the gene rosity and kindness of a Christian nation carry back two millions?" PLEA FOR AFRICA, 293 Means of transportation. men, enterprising and prosperous, they will draw others after them" to the then happy and growing colonies from which they come. ' How many, suppose you, are every year transported into Canada and to this country, from among the refuse popula tion of Great Britain and Ireland ? Thousands of these are sent in crowds and landed upon our shores as forlorn out casts. We would do better by Africans than Great Britain, with all her boasted philanthropy, does even for her own children. We would place them under far more favorable circumstances. And our resources are fully equal to all that we can desire, if the national aid may only be obtained. United States' ships of war might be advantageously em ployed in this service, in time of peace, transporting under the stars and stripes of the national flag, to the land of their ancestors, the sons of injured Africa, where they may enjoy the full blessings of religion and liberty. It would be a noble service, and an honor to our flag. ' It is true, we do not expect to remove a world, without preparing for the operation ; but the transportation of our colored population can be effected, and expeditiously too, in comparison with the magnitude of the work. Great things are usually accomplished slowly. Liberia has ad vanced far more rapidly than did the infant colonies of this country.* It has met with obstacles, in its progress, and so did these colonies ; and we may well ask, what great human undertaking was ever exempt from difficulties ? Are we re- * The slow increase of a colony at its commencement is Ihe dictate of prudence. "The French colony at Cayenne was begun, as Ihat nation ex presses it, on a grand scale ; 12,000 settlers embarked, and almost all perish ed. A few people form the best germ for a colony. Double or treble their numbers every year, and you will see them thrive. Pour in a larger popu lation than can be provided for, and the whole must perish. In this, nature points out our course : the shoot from an acorn rises at first slowly ; but as it acquires strength it gains beyond conception, at every annual ring, till the insignificant fruit of one short season sees numerous generations enjoy its amp'e shade." — Repository ¦ A a2 294 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Compared with other enterprises. ferred to Liberia's bills of mortality ? A large portion of the deaths are attributable to rash exposure, and other im- prudencies, under the action of an untried sun, and subject to the action of a strange climate. Another cause is proba bly to be found in the destitute condition of some of the co lonists, who having been just released from bondage, had neither the foresight nor the means requisite for a suitable outfit, leaving them in a situation of exposure which I am sure the experience and wisdom and benevolence of the friends of colonization will guard against in futui^.* Still the colony can triumphantly challenge a comparison with the bills of mortality of other colonies, in their early history, on any continent. Where were the first settlers of James town e'er the four seasons had rolled by ? In their graves. Where were a majority of those who landed on Plymouth Rock, before the rigors of the first winter were past ? They were numbered with the dead. The same must be confessed of other colonies. True, they were a sacrifice to public good. So the event is now regarded by their pos terity and the world ; and so the lesser trials which Liberia has encountered will be viewed when the page of history shall bear a fair record of the past and the present, and of a few years to come. ' A writer in the Boston Recorder has remarked, " Men may sacrifice life in the pursuits of gain at Havana, at Cal- * It is to be hoped that those whose generous feeling leads them to libe rate their slaves for the purpose of their voluntary settlement in Africa, will avail themselves of Ihe experience which is had in relation to Ihis subject, and see that those whom they manumit for emigration are provided with all suitable apparel and other necessaries and comforts. A maUress and bed clothes, and a full supply of cotton and woollen clothing, are indispensable. The author is happy to find Ihat Ihe ladies, who, their benevolent hearts al ways prompting them to kind actions, are generally found efficient suppor ters of the cause of colonization where its claims are undersiood, have in many instances rendered very great assistance in Ihe prejiaralion and gra tuitous offering of bedding and garments for the destiiiile among Ihe emigrat ing colonists. May this good work of charity be continued, and Ihe number wno shall lend a helping hand be greatly increased .' PLEA FOR AFRICA. 295 Great things usually accomplished slowly. cutta, and at any other unhealthy spot on the globe, most prodigally, and no complaint is made. But if a number of individuals fall a sacrifice in a benevolent enterprise, in an effort to pour the light of eternal life on dark and forlorn Africa, why it is a criminal waste of human life. But no, it is not thus. Ashmun lived only six years after he went to Africa, but lie lived nobly. Mills lived hardly six months, but Mills lived not in vain ; his example shines with no feeble lustre ; his voice speaks from the depths of the At lantic, and it will speak till Africa is free. Anderson, and Lott Carey, and Randall, and Skinner, were soon cut down, but their names will live till time shall be no longer. " ' Caroline here remarked, ' if we look at missionary opera tions in India, the sacrifice of life has been as great as in Liberia ; has it not. Pa ?' Mr. L. replied, ' the average life of the missionaries of the American Board, in India, has been but five years. Fiske, and Newall, and Hall, and Parsons, and other choice spirits were soon numbered with the dead. But though they found an early grave in heathen lands, and the benevolent mourn their loss, and Christianity weeps at the desolations of paganism, we do not cease to aim at the conversion of the heathen world. India is not abandoned, because trials are there endured in founding the church. Liberia is to the colored man a land of promise, compared with what India is to missionaries from this country.' Caroline said, ' I do not think that it can be reasonably objected to colonization that its success has been slow, for two reasons ; one is, as appears, that such is not the fact ; but, if it were, another reason is, that the same objection would be against every good cause, even against the Chris tian religion.' 296 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Room enough in Africa. ' True, Caroline,' Mr. L. replied ; ' notwithstanding the toils of its friends for near two thousand years, and the blood of its many martyrs shed in the cause, even the knowledge of OUT holy religion is confined to a comparatively small part of the human family.' ' Another objection,' said Henry, ' vfhich I have heard, is that, if all the blacks would go to Africa, they would not find room there for so many.' ' This objection, I am sure,' said his father, ' can never be seriously urged, unless through extreme ignorance. What are two millions and a half of people to the vast extent of the African continent, stretching 4,800 miles from North to South, and 4000 miles from East to West? They would not be more than would be needed to help civilize and chris tianize the benighted natives, and establish among them arts, and commerce, and agriculture, and the like. Africa, when we consider ils extent, its variety of soil, and capability of sustaining an immense population, is thinly peopled. Colo nization, it should be remembered, is not necessarily confined to Liberia and its vicinity. It is a lamentable reflection,' said Mr. L., ' that, charity leads us to think, for the want of a faithful examination of the subject, the most serious ob stacles which the cause has met in its progress, have been the untenable and oft-refuted objections, bitter opposition and severe denunciations of professed friends of Africa in our own country. It grieves me that it should be so, since among them are some whom I greatly esteem, notwithstand ing this their very great error.' ' I do not see, Pa, how any who understand this subject, (and all ought to understand it,) can oppose. If the Coloni zation Society cannot, in their labors of benevolence, do all that is needful to be done, and as soon as is desirable, yet why should good men object to their attempting all that is PLEA FOR AFRICA. 297 All opposition is wrong. really practicable, and that would be, if accomplished, really useful V ' Professor SiUiman has gone so far as to remark,' said Mr. L., ' that all efforts on the part of the friends of Afri can improvement to discountenance and oppose voluntary African colonization, are morally wrong, and can be called by no milder name than systematized opposition against the whole African cause, embracing slaves, free colored people, and the native nations of Africa. ' Could the demands of many be realized, and the color ed race be made free in this country, however well they may intend, I am sure they would at once and continually have cause to mourn over those who are now slaves, and in their labors of love would find ample employment in visits of mercy to our jails and penitentiaries, and to the haunts of vice, and abodes of poverty. They would find the country involved in great ruin ; the colored people in great wretch edness, and their very success would be their own defeat, so far as benevolent interest is concerned. But their wishes, I am morally certain, cannot he realized, even though rivers of blood should be shed ; and the longer the duration and the greater the fierceness of their opposition, the longer do they perpetuate the evils of slavery in our land, and the stronger do they rivet the chains of the slave, and the heavier the calamity which they bring both on the bond and the free, especially the slave and the free blacks. ' And then, let them say, shall not Africa be civilized and converted to God ? " While on the distant Hindoo shore Messiah's cross is reared. While Pagan votaries bow no more With idol blood besmeared — While Palestine again doth hear The gospel's joyful sound, 298 PLEA FOR AFRICA. Shall not Africa be christianized. While Islam's crescents disappear From Calvary's holy ground — Say, shall not Afric's fated land With news of grace be blest? Say, shall not .Ethiopia's band Enjoy the promis'd rest ?" ' They who have considered colonization in its influence on our own country only and on the blacks that are in it, have taken a very inadequate view of its amazing interest and unbounded extent. If the plan fail, or be hindered by opposition, they who oppose this great and good work, I do believe, will have a tremendous account to give.' ' I do not see. Pa, that the Colonization Society and the Abolition or Anti-slavery Society, are associations of neces sarily conflicting interests.' ' They are not, and there should be no controversy be tween them. "The cause of emancipation will advance as fast as means of emigration and of comfortable settlement in Africa or in other lands are provided. Cut off this hope, and remove this security, and the slave-holding States will refuse to add to the mass of free people of color, already, in their view, too numerous for safety." They will resolve on making more strong their chains, hopeless of relief, to guard against a greater calamity than appears to them even slavery itself; and "linked in full military preparation and in wake ful vigilance," they will await the issue. " In the meantime, the slightest appearance or even suspicion of revolt will be visited by prompt and sanguinary retribution." Thus, "anxiety will shroud the domestic circle of the slave-holder in gloom, and despair will settle upon the dark mind of the slave" — ^until perhaps some awful explosion shall come ! ' There is one objection to the American Colonization So ciety which, it appears to me, may with equal propriety be PLEA FOR AFRICA. 209 Colonization a noble branch of benevolence. urged against the benevolent institutions of the day general ly, and the unreasonableness of which is too apparent to justify any misapprehension of the force of the objection, or to permit its further use ; that is, that the Colonization So ciety does not itself engage in the work of emancipationi urging the duty of immediate abolition. This truly is to object that one great and good institution, which, with great sacrifice, zeal, perseverance, and success, pursues a great and worthy object, is not another institution, aye, quite an other thing, which it never professed to be. Why may not the same be objected to all Missionary Associations, Educa tion Societies, Bible Societies, Tract Societies, &c. that their professed object and direct aim is not abolition ? They are formed for the accomplishment of great and good objects ; but they have nothing to do with an interference in the do mestic relations which they find existing in our country. They would send the gospel to all, without distinction of color, that are perishing for lack of vision — they would assist in raising up and qualifying the pious and self-denying lo preach the everlasting gospel to a world that lieth in wick edness — they would put into the hands of every son and daughter of Adam the word of life — they would scatter abroad by every proper means that light which may guide in the paths of peace and lead to holiness, happiness, and heaven ; but they have each their distinct object in view, whilst they are but several parts of one great system of Christian benevolence. The American Colonization Socie ty aims, as one branch of the great system of that' benevo lence which the Spirit of God has awakened in Christendom, to open an asylum for the oppressed in our land, encourag ing voluntary emancipation, and to put an end to the slave- trade and the oppression of Africa by planting Christian co lonies upon her shores. Is not the object great and good ? Is it reasonable to oppose a good object because, forsooth, it 300 PLEA FOR AFRICA. All good associations have not the same object. is not another good object ? Why should so much opposi tion centre upon colonization ? ' Those who constitute the Anti-slavery and Colonization Societies, I may confidently say, without at all approving of all the principles of the former, much less of all their lan guage and measures, are agreed for the most part, in their views of slavery as a great evil, and in respect to the desira bleness of its termination ; and disagree in respect to the best and proper and most effectual means by which, under all the circumstances, its extinction shall be consummated. With an honest difference of opinion on this subject, surely each may move under its own banner without molestation of the other, each in its own sphere, at its own proper work : in the use of all proper means, and ultimately, indulging the spirit of kindness and love, and pursuing lawful and honor able measures, they may join together in the celebration of a glorious triumph.' ' I trust. Pa,' said C, ' that bright days are yet before us, and that great and happy results will crown the efforts of the true friends of Africa. I certainly do not see how any can oppose the colonization cause, nor yet, indeed, how they can refuse to sustain its efforts.' ' Should the cause of colonization fail,' said Mr. L., ' those efforts which have hitherto been crowned with such signal success being discouraged, or through opposition ren dered fruitless, I am sure that the fond hopes of many a pa triot — the devout prayers of many a Christian — the awaken ed sensibilities of many a master — and the delighted visions of many a slave — will be most sadly disappointed. ' Suppose, for a moment, this to be : — the American Colo nization Society has opened an asylum for the oppressed — she points to a luxuriant soil, to a genial climate — with gra titude, she tells how God has turned the hearts of the heathen PLEA FOR AFRICA. 301 It will prosper — Ihe cause is of God. towards the colony — thousands press upon her anxious to depart to the land of their fathers — masters are ready to permit thousands more to swell their numbers — and she calls to us to help Africa, to help America. The voice of opposition and bitter reproach is heard ! Some fold their arms with listless unconcern — others are disheartened and cease from their wonted benevolence — and the opposition triumphs ! That wisdom and phUanthropy which have been successfully exerted in devising the plan which has caused this hitherto soul-cheering progress in the cause of liberty, humanity, and religion, and in unfolding the resources for its final accomplishment, has all been in vain ! That terri tory, so extensive, so salubrious, so fertile, must be yielded again to savage beasts of prey — those flourishing towns, fair villages, peaceful habitations, must be no longer tenanted by a harppy new-born race of freemen — those farms must be laid waste — that commerce must close — those lights of religion and science, churches and schools, must be extinguished — those banners of freedom, and those impregnable fortresses over which they wave, and that free republican government and the press which vindicates the righteous cause, must cease — those nearly 5,000 souls charmed with a Pisgah view of promised blessings of learning, freedom, and reli gion, must be exiled from their schools, their temples of jus tice, their churches dedicated to God, and from all they now hold dear — and Afric's dreary coast must again reverberate the deafening yell of despair wrung from many an agonized heart ! Would this be a blessing? or, say, would it be an awful CALAMITY ? A Calamity ? Why, but because the Co lonization Society, by the blessing of God, has effected this GREAT GOOD ? ' And now, may this Society, which has been enabled to do so much, and whose prospects are so cheering, be per mitted to go on with more than arithmetical progression in Bb 302 PLEA FOR AFRICA. The cause is of God. its work of mercy. It will, I am confident, never cause to humanity a tear ; it may, and I doubt not, will give joy and happiness to millions ! Shall it not live? — shall it not be permitted to prosper ? It is preparing the way for the final REDEMPTION of Africa, and for the universal sway of thb KINGDOM OF THE LoRD Jesus ! TVho will prcsumc to stay its progress ? To detach from its holy influence is treason TO our country ^MOST UNMERCIFUL TO AfRICA SACRI LEGE IN THE VIEW OF HEAVEN ! But to aid this cause, is HIGH HONOR A MOST DISTINGUISHED PRIVILEGE!' APPENDIX EARLY AND DISTINGUISHED FRIENDSOT COLONIZATION. In the progress of the foregoing -Conversations, particular reference has been made to several of the early and distin guished friends of African Colonization : the author is sen sible that in an attempt to do justice to some, he may by omission seem to do injustice to others. He cannot, how ever refrain from a passing tribute, btifore these sheets pass from the press, as an acknowledgment of the valuable ser vices of a few among the noble friends of Africa, whose work is done on earth, but who have left a memorial behind them, and " shall be in everlasting remembrance." And first may be mentioned, with propriety, more particularly than before. The Rev. Robert Finley. To Mr. Finley, at that time resident at Basking Ridge, New-Jersey, is conceded by all, a great share in the honor of originating the American Colonization Society. For years, this eminent Christian had viewed the condition of the free colored population of our country with sympathising in terest, and " the whole vigor of his intellect was aroused, to form plans for their relief." Among " the exiled children of Africa, this good man saw not merely the heirs to a tem- 304 APPENDIX. \ poral, but to an eternal existence ; not those possessing mere- 1 y the virtues of natural and social affection, but also capaci ties for the high improvements and joys of an immortal state." Early in the year 1815, he expressed himself to a friend as follows: "The longer I live to see the wretched ness of men, the more I admire the virtue of those who de vise, and with patience labor to execute plans for the relief of the wretched. On this subject, the state of the free blacks, has very much occupied my mind. Their number increases greatly, and their wretchedness, as appears to me. Every thing connected with their condition, including their color, is against them ; nor is there much prospect that their state can ever be greatly meliorated, while they shall continue among us. Could not the rich and benevolent devise means to form a colony on some part of the coast of Africa, simi lar to the one at Sierra Leone, which might gradually induce many free blacks to go and settle, devising for them the means of getting there, and of protection and support till they are established? Could they be sent back to Africa, a three fold benefit would arise. We should be cleared of them ; we should send to Africa a population partly civilized and christianized for their benefit ; and our blacks themselves would be put in a better situation. Think much upon this subject, and then please to write me when you have leisure." Mr. Finley was satisfied of the practicability and utility of the project, aud encouraged by the opinions of others, " resolved to make a great effort to carry his benevolent views into effect. * * In making preparatory arrange ments, he spent a considerable part of the fall of 1816," and, " determined to test the popularity, and in some mea sure the practicability of the whole system," he at length in troduced the subject to public notice in the city of Washing ton. For this purpose, he visited several members of Con gress, the President, the heads of Department, and others. His conversation and zeal is said to have done much in ar- APPENDIX. 305 resting attention to the subject, and conciliating many who at first appeared opposed. He proposed a special season of prayer in reference to the object, and several pious persons met him for the purpose of spending an hour in such an ex ercise. When told that some were incredulous, and that some ridiculed the plan proposed, he replied, " I know this scheme is from God." Having disinterestedly and perseveringly prosecuted the great object of his desire, and performed a conspicuous part in the organization of the Society, he was soon called from his Christian labors on earth, to his reward in heaven. His name stood enrolled among the Vice-Presidents of the insti tution — but his work is done ; and upon the foundation which he laid, others are called by the providence of God to build. James Madison, the profound statesman, the accomplished scholar, the hum ble Christian, who filled with so much honor the highest executive department of the nation, was the early friend of the Society, for many years one of its Vice-Presidents, its President at the time of his lamented death, and besides ap proving its plans and lending to it the influence of his name, contributed largely to its funds, and remembered it also in his last will and testament, leaving to assist in its operations when he should be no more, the sum of $4,000 — even more valuable, it is hoped, hi its moral effect, than because of the pecuniary amount A Jefferson, Monroe, and Carroll, may also be mentioned as among the zealous advocates of colonization, the last of whom was elected President of th» Society upon the demise of Judge Washington. Bb2 30(5 AFFENmX. The Hon. Bushrod Washington, the talents and virtues of whom are well known to have been of high character, and who having practised with re putation and success in the profession of which he was so bright an ornanient, was appointed by the first President Idams, in 1797, as Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States — the highest judicial tribunal of our country, was also the Society's early friend. Of this Society, he be came the President at its origin, and ever felt much interest in its success. He gave much of his time and thoughts to the advancement of its designs, and was liberal in his dona tions. His views of the Society and its operations, are ex hibited in an impressive manner, in an address which he de livered at the first annual meeting of the Society. The fol lowing is an extract: " In the magnificent plans now carry ing on for the improvement and happiness of mankind, in many parts of the world, we cannot but discern the interpo sition of that Almighty power, who alone could inspire and crown with success these great purposes. But amongst them all, there is perhaps none upon which we may more confidently implore the blessing of heaven, than that in which we are now associated. Whether we consider the grandeur of the object and the wide sphere of philanthropy which it embraces ; or whether we view the present state of its pro gress under the auspices of this Society, and under the ob stacles which might have been expected from the cupidity of many, we may discover in each a certain pledge that the same benignant hand which has made these preparatory arrangements, will crown our efforts with suceess. Havings therefore, these motives of piety to consecrate and strengthen the powerful considerations which a wise policy suggests, we may, I trustj confidently rely upon the liberal exertions of the public for the necessary means of effecting this highly interesting object." Nor was he at all discouraged by the obstacles, which it was necessary to encounter in the further appendix. 307 prosecution of this good enterprise, or by the prospect of the greatness of the work which he saw was to be done. In a subsequent address, he says, " If much yet remains to be done, we may nevertheless look back with satisfaction upon the work which has been accomplished ; and may, I trust, without presumption, indulge the hope that the time is not far distant, when, by means of those for whose happiness we are laboring, Africa will participate in the inestimable blessings which result from civilization, a knowledge of the arts, and, above all, of the pure doctrines of the Christian religion." Chief Justice Marshall also was a distinguished friend of colonization. The Colo-^ nization Herald has said, on noticing his lamented death, "It is not of the statesman or the judge that we would speak. Our humble tribute is paid to the early and stead fast friend of African Colonization, the oldest Vice-President of the American Colonization Society, and the patron of our own. Surrounded from his birth by a slave population, he knew its evils, and as a patriot, a philanthropist, and a Christian, was sincerely desirous of doing all in his power to promote the welfare of his country, and render justice to the oppressed slave. His clear mind saw the difiiculties of the subject, and the necessity of removing by degrees an evil which had grown too mighty to be forcibly overthrown without spreading devastation through the land. He saw that the sudden emancipation of the slaves of the southern States, was morally impracticable, not only by the municipal law which forbade it, but by the still stronger law of nature, which declared it cruel and unjust, both to the masters and the slaves, to cast them forth unprotected and unprepared for their new condition. In the plan of colonization he saw the means of opening a door by which the oppressed may go free, with the prospect of attaining comfort and happi- 308 appendix. ness, and vindicating their equal participation in the dignity of manhood. He was therefore among the earliest promoters of the American Colonization Society, and to his latest breath continued its steadfast friend. He generally attended the annual meetings of the society ; and, as the oldest Vice-Pre sident, frequently presided. He was a liberal contributor to its funds, and always manifested a lively interest in its wel fare. One of the latest acts of his life was to contribute largely toward fitting out an expedition with colonists from Norfolk ; and even in his last illness, though forbidden by his physicians to speak much, he showed an unabated zeal in the cause. We mourn his loss. But we may still ap peal with confidence and satisfaction to his example, and when the enemies of colonization attempt to brand our so ciety with ignominy, and charge its friends with hypocrisy, and cruelty, and oppression, we may with honest pride repel the charge, and say it is the cause which won the ap probation and secured the prayers and the services of John Marshall." In this connexion it is highly proper to mention also and record the name of that venerable man, who, for many years, as one of the Vice-Presidents of the Colonization Society, and in various ways, contributed much to the advancement of the cause and the best interests of an oppressed race. The Rt. Rev. William White, D. D. Within the short space of about one year, a mournful blank was left in the list of the officers of the Parent So ciety, by the translation of its illustrious President, James Madison, and from among its Vice-Presidents, the late Chief Justice of the United States, John Marshall, and last, the venerable Bishop White, " nomen clarum et veneiabile !" These distinguished names were also stricken by the hansi APPENDIX. 309 of death from the list of '''Patrons of the Young Men's Colo nization Society of Pennsylvania.' It was not many months before his death, that the lamented Bishop, having braved, at the age of fourscore and eight, the inclemency of a stormy, snowy night, was seen presiding at the anniversary of a Co lonization Society. Robert Ralston of Philadelphia, was another Vice-President of the Parent Society, and distinguished friend of Africa, whose name was greatly respected, and who closed his earthly pilgrimage, honored and lamented, in the ripeness of a good old age. Another early friend of colonization, was Elias Boudinot Caldwell, Esq. of Washington, first Secretary of the Society, present at its organization, and justly classed with Finley, Mills, and Gen. Mercer, as one of the most efficient projectors and promoters of the institution. His Christian principles and works are his best eulogium. The African Repository contains thia notice of his death and tribute to his memory : — " Having taken a very distinguished part in the formation of the So ciety, having carefully investigated its claims, and prepared himself for the obstacles which he saw to be inevitable in its progress, and especially having committed the cause to God, he was not disconcerted by misfortunes, nor discouraged by the calamities of its earliest history. He recollected that the events connected with the infancy of almost all colonies are analogous to those which have occurred in our own, and that they. prove rather that experience is requisite to success, than that success is impossible. To no individual in the country was the colony more indebted for aid and success during the months of its greatest peril and distress ; and while his strength enabled him to act, none was more earnest in exer tions for its prosperity. Often indeed did his zeal for others 310 APPENDIX. render him forgetful of himself, and his feeble frame feel the debilitating effects of excessive mental exertion. Near the conclusion of his life, the ordinary affairs of the world ap peared to lose their power to affect him, and his faith fixed itself upon the things which are unseen and eternal. Per fection with God was the object of his supreme desire and highest hope. His anticipations of immortality, however, could not diminish his affection for the cause of humanity and of God on earth. A few days before his death, he ad dressed to a friend this note, " The Lord hath given me THE desire of MY HEART RESPECTING AfRICA. FaREWELL." Blessed is his memory, and great his reward." The Board, desirous to perpetuate in Africa the name of this benefactorj of Liberia, directed that the name of Cald well be given to the first settlement or town estabUshed by the colony. William Henry Fitzhugh, of Virginia, was a warm and early friend of the Liberia co lony, and for several successive years one of the Vice-Presi dents of the American Colonization Society, the value and importance of which institution he ably set forth in a series of essays under the signature of Opimus. Descended from two of the most ancient and respectable families of Virginia, and by education, talents, fortune, and character, peculiarly fitted for eminent usefulness, his death was lamented as a pubhc loss ; and in the general grief which it occasioned the American Colonization Society was called to bear a full share. At the time of his death, Mr. Fitzhugh was em ployed in plans for bettering the moral condition of his slaves, with the hope of preparing them for a different sphere of action. His designs towards them are sufiiciently indicated by his will, enjoining their freedom under certain conditions. One who was intimately acquainted with him has said. APPENDIX. 311 " Mr. Fitzhugh was no ordinary man. His highly gifted and well-balanced mind, improved and polished by the best education, by self-discipline, and by constant intercourse with cultivated and refined society, controlled in its operations by sentiments just, honorable, magnanimous, rendered him a model of the virtues most admired in private and in public life. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, who have shared in the hospitalities of Ravensworth will bear testimony to the no bleness of his disposition, the urbanity of his manners, and to those attractive powers of conversation which drew around him, as by magic, a numerous circle of friends, who found that to know was to love him ; and that every successive in terview increased the strength of their attachment. As a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, of the Senate, and of the Convention, he filled the high expectation of his friends, and stood acknowledged by all an able, honorable, and eloquent statesman. While the reputation of Virginia was dear to his heart, while he cherished towards her charac ter and her interest, even a filial affection, he looked abroad upon the Union with patriotic pride, and rejoiced in the ho nors and prospects of this glorious national republic. Nor were his desires for the improvement of mankind confined within the limits of his country. He was a philanthropist ; and felt that human beings, whatever may be their country, circumstances, or complexion, were related to him by the ties of a common nature, and must not be excluded from his regards. * * His example survives him. And while friend ship and affection shed their tears upon his grave ; while honor, genius, patriotism, and philanthropy gather around it in silent grief, may his example, like an oracle from the abodes of the departed, give confidence and energy to virtue, and perpetuate its influence to relieve the miseries, and to improve and exalt the character of mankind." We must notice anqther who greatly served the interests of colonization in our own country, 312 appendix. Thomas Smith Grimke, of Charleston, S. C. By the death of this distinguished Christian, scholar and civilian, in 1834, the Colonization So ciety was deprived of one of its Vice-Presidents and most efiicieni members, and the cause of Africa of a liberal and devotpd friend. It has been well said of Mr. Grimke that he was no ordinary man, either in his intellectual or moral endowments. In the legal profession pre-eminent, a states man of enlarged views and purity of motive, his patriotism a part ef his piety, always aiming at the approbation of heaven, he was qualified for distinguished usefulness. His memory is blessed — his example lives. Nor should we pass by unnoticed, the names of others, besides the sainted Ashmun and Mills, who left their native land, aspiring to serve this good cause more effectually in Africa. We may mention, firstj' The Rev. Lott Carey. Among the names of those who have devoted themselvfes to the great work of founding a colony in Liberia, and who shared the cares and toils and privations consequent upon the first attempt, stands conspicuous that of the Rev. Lott Carey, for some time the Vice-agent of the colony, Mr. Carey, as appears by an obituary of him in. the 5th volume of the Repository, .from which this tribute is chiefly quoted, was born a slave, near Richmond, Virginia. He was early hired out as a common laborer in that city, where, for some years, he remained, entirely regardless of religion, and much addicted to profane and vicious habits. Convinced of the misery of a sinful state, and brought to true repentance be fore God, in 1 807 he professed faith, in the Saviour, and be- APPENDIX, 313 came a member of the Baptist Church. His father was a pious and much respected member of the same church, and his mother died giving evidence that she had relied for sal vation upon the Son of God. He was their only child, and though he had no early instruction from books, the admoni tions and prayers of his illiterate parents, it is supposed, laid the foundation for his future usefulness. " A strong desire to be able to read was excited in his mind by a ser mon to which he attended soon after his conversion, and which related to our Lord's interview with Niepdemus ; and having obtained a Testament he commenced reading his letters, by trying to read the chapter in which this interview is recorded. He received some instruction, though he never attended a regular school. Such, however, was his diligence and perseverance that he overcame all obstacles, and acquir ed not only the art of reading, but of writing also. Shortly after the death of his first wife in 1813, he ransomed him self and two children for $850, a sum which he had obtained by his singular ability and fidelity in managing the concerns of a tobacco warehouse. Of the real value of his services there, it has been remarked, no one but a dealer in tobacco can form an idea. Notwithstanding the hundreds of hogs heads that were committed to his charge, he could produce anyone the instant it was called for; and the shipments were made with promptness and correctness, such as no per' son, white or black, has equalled in the same situation. It is said that while employed at the warehouse, he often de voted his leisure time to reading, and that a gentleman on one occasion taking up a book which he had left for a few moments, found it to be ' Smith's Wealth of Nations.' As early as the year 1815, he began to feel a special interest in the cause of African Missions, and contributed probably more than any other person in giving origin and character to the African Missionary Society established during that year in Richmond, and which, for many years collected and appro- 314 APPENDIX. priated annually to the cause of Christianity in Africa, from one hundred to one hundred and fifty dollars. His bene volence was practical ; and whenever^ and wherever good objects were to be effected, he was ready to lend his aid. He became a preacher several years before he left this coun try, and generally engaged in this service every Sabbath among' the colored people on plantations a few miles from Richmond. A correspondent, from whom we have already quoted, observes, ' In preaching, notwithstanding his gram matical inaccuracies, he was often truly eloquents He had derived almost nothing from the schools, and his manner was, of course unpolished, but his ideas would sometimes burst upon you in their native solemnity, and awaken deeper feelings than the most polished but less original and inarti ficial discourse.' A distinguished minister of the Presby terian church said to the writer, ' A sermon which I heard from Mr. Carey, shortly before he sailed for Africa, was the best extemporaneous sermon I ever heard. It contained more original and impressive thoughts, some of which are distinct in my memory, and never can be forgotten.' " Mr. Carey was among the earliest emigrants to Africa. For some time before his departure he had sustained the ofiice of Pastor of a Baptist Church of colored persons in Richmond, embracing nearly eight hundred members, re ceived from it a liberal support, and enjoyed its confidence and affection. When an intelligent minister of the same church inquired why he could determine to quit a station of so much comfort and usefulness, to encounter, the dangers of an African clima|e, and hazard every thing to plant a colony on a distant heathen shore ? his reply was to this effect, ' I airi an African, and in this country, however meri torious my conduct and respectable my character, I cannot receive the credit due to either. I wish to go to a country where I shall be estimated by my merits, not by my com plexion i and I feel bound to labor for my suffering race,' APPENDIX. 315 He seemed to have imbibed the sentiment of Paul, and to have great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart for his brethren, his kinsmen according to the flesh. At the close of his farewell sermon in the First Baptist Meeting house in Richmond, he remarked in substance as follows : — ' I am about to leave you, and expect to see your faces no more. I long to preach to the poor Africans the way of life and salvation. I don't know what may befall- me, whether I may find a grave in the ocean or among the savage men, or more savage wild beasts on the coast of Africa ; nor am I anxious what may become of me. I feel it my duty to go ; and I very much fear that many of those who preach the gospel in this country, will blush when the Saviour calls them to give an account of their labors in his cause, and tells them, ' I commanded you to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature ;' (and with the most forcible emphasis he exclaimed) the Saviouj' may ask, Where have you been 2 what have you been doingTTHve yotTendeavor- ed to the utmost of your ability to fulfil the commands I gave you, or have you sought your own gratification and your own ease regardless of my commands ?' " On his arrival in Africa he saw before him a wide and interesting field, demanding various and energetic talents, and the most devoted piety. His intellectual ability, firm ness of purpose, unbending integrity, correct judgment, and disinterested benevolence, soon placed him in a conspicuous station, and gave him wide and commanding influence. Though naturally diffident and retiring-, his woirth was too evident to allow of his continuing ij^ obscurity. It is well known that great difficulties were encountered in founding a settlement at Cape Montserado. So appalling were the cir cumstances of the first settlers, tljat soon after they had taken possession of the cape it was proposed that they should re move to Sierra Leone. The resolution of Mr. Carey was not to be shaken ; hS determined to stay, and his decision 316 APPENDIX. had great effect in persuading others to imitate his example. During the war with the native tribes, in November and De cember, 1833, he proved to be one of the bravest of men, and lent his well-directed and vigorous support to the mea sures of Mr. Ashmun during that memorable defence of the colony. It was to him that Mr. Ashmun was principally indebted for assistance in rallying the broken forces of the colony at a moment when fifteen hundred of the exasperated natives we're rushing on to exterminate the settlement. In one -of his letters he compares the little exposed company on Cape Montserado at^that time, to the Jews, who, in rebuild ing their city, ' grasped a weapon in one hand, while they labored with the other,' but adds emphatically, ' there never has been an hour or a minute, no, not even when the balls were flying around my head, when I could wish myself again in America.' At this early period of the colony the emigrants^^ere peculiarly exposed ; the want of adequate medical attentions, and the scantiness of their supplies, sub jected them to severe and complicated sufferings. To re lieve, if possible, these sufferings, Mr. Carey availed himself of all information in his power, concerning the diseases of the climate, made liberal sacrifices of his property to assist the poor and distressed, and devoted his time almost exclu sively to the destitute, the sick, and the afflicted. He ap peared to realize the greatness of the work in which he had engaged, and to be animated by a noble spirit of zeal and re solution in the cause of his afflicted and perishing brethren. His services as physician were invaluable, and were for a long time rendered without hope of reward. " He was elected in September, 1826, to the Vice-agency of the colony, and discharged the duties of that important office until his death. In his good sense, moral worth, pub lic spirit, courage, resolution, and decision, the colonial agent had perfect confidence. He knew that in times of difficulty or danger, reliance might be placed upon the APi^fiNDIX. 317 fehetgy and efficiency of Mr. Carey. When compelled in the early part of 1828 to leave the colony, Mr. Ashmun committed the administration of the colonial affairs into his hands. But amid his multiplied cares and efforts for the co lony he never forgot or neglected to promote the objects of the African Missionary Society, for which he had long cherished the strongest attachment. His great object in emigrating to Africa was to extend the power and blessings of the Christian religion. Before his departure from Rich mond, a little church of about half a dozen members was formed by himself and those who were to accompany him. He became the pastor of this church in Africa, and saw its numbers greafly increased. Most earnestly did he seek ac cess to the native tribes, and endeavor to instruct them in the doctrines and duties of that religion which in his own case had proved so powerful to purify, exalt, and save. In one or two instances of hopeful conversion from heathenism, he greatly rejoiced ; and many of his latest and most anxious thoughts were directed to the establishment of native schools in the interior. One such school, distant seventy miles from Monrovia, and of great promise, was established through his agency about a year before his death, and patronized and superintended by him until that mournful event. On this subject, by his many valuable communications to the Mis sionary' Board, ' he being dead yet speaketh' in language which must affect the heart of every true Christian disciple. " For six months after the first departure of Mr. Ashmun from the colony, Mr. Carey stood at its head, and conducted himself with such energy and wisdom as to do honor to his previous reputation, and fix the seal upon his enviable fame. On his death-bed, Mr, Ashmun urged that Mr; Carey should be permanently appointed to conduct the affairs of the colo ny, expressing his perfect confidence in his integrity and ability for that great work. The tidings of Mr. Ashmun's death had not reached the colony until after the decease of c c 2 318 APPENDIX. Mr. Carey. How unexpected, how interesting, how affect ing the meeting of these two individuals, (so long united in Christian fellowship, in benevolent and arduous labors,) in the world of glory and immortality ! ¦ " It has been well said of Mr. Carey, that ' he was one of nature's noblemen ;' and had he possessed the advantages of education, few men of his age would have excelled him in knowledge or genius. The features and complexion of Mr. Carey were altogether African. He was diffident, and showed no disposition to push himself into notice. His word? were few, simple, direct and appropriate. His con versation indicated rapidity and clearness of thought, and an ability to comprehend the great and variously-related princi ples of religion and government. To found a Christian co lony which might prove a blessed asylum to his degraded brethren in America and enlighten and regenerate Africa, was, in his view, an object with which no temporal good, not even life, could be compared. The strongest sympathies of his nature were excited in behalf of his unfortunate people, and the divine promise cheered and encouraged him in his labors for their improvement and salvation. A main pillar in the society and church of Liberia, the memorial of his worth shall never perish. It shall stand in clearer light when every chain is broken, and Christianity shall have as sumed her sway over the millions of Africa." The following lines " to the memory" of Mr. Carey, ap peared in the African Repository soon after his death, from an anonymous correspondent, with the signature of V. — " Shall none record the honor'd name Of Afric's favor'd son. Or twine the deathless wreath of fame For him whose race is runi While angels crown the saint above, Has earth no voice to own her love ? APPENDIX. 319 Where'er the Patriot rests hia head A stately pile appears ; While warrior's sleep on glory's bed. Beneath a nation's tears; And shall no tribute rise to thee, Thou fearless friend of liberty? Yes, Afric's sunny skies have gleam'd On many a scene sublime ; , But more than hope has ever dream'd Is destin'd for that clime. The chain shall burst, the slave be free. And millions bless thy memory. Thy meed shall be a nation's love ! Thy praise, the freeman's song ! And in thy star-wreath 'd home above Thou may'st the theme prolong ; For hymns of praise from Afric's plains Shall mingle with seraphic strains." Dr. Richard Randall, who generously proffered his services in the cause of colo nization and of Africa, and to whom was therefore entrusted the honorable and responsible station made vacant by the decease of the lamented Ashmun, was born at Annapolis, Md. ; received his education at St. John's College, and took his degree as Doctor of Medicine in Philadelphia. From a sphere of usefulness in his profession in Washington City, he was called to the Professorship of Chemistry in the Me dical Department of Columbia College. He was also an able and efficient member of the Board of Managers of the Colonization Society. But his expansive benevolence and the warm interest which he took in the welfare of the Liberia colony, would not allow of his enjoying longer the flattering prospects which were before him in America. An intimate friend of Dr. Randall has said, " The magnitude of the object of the Colonization Society, the attained success, the inimitable prospects for usefulness which the scheme displayed, soon engaged the feelings of his generous and 320 APPENDIX. benevolent mind. * * He was a generous, kind, noble- hearted man." He once thought unfavorably of the So ciety, the colony, and its objects ; but " his mind was en lightened," and he resolved to devote his best energies to the glorious cause. As a member of the Board of Mana gers at Washington, he was discriminating, judicious, re solute, and benevolent, and became so intimately acquainted with all that relates to the object of the cause, that great respect was due to his decisions. When Ashmun died, Dr. Randall was deeply affected, fully sensible of the shock which the institution had sustained. " The workings of his generous mind" could not long be concealed. He hesi tated ; but " his hesitation was the result of a diffidence of his own powers. Admonished of his danger, and implored by his friends to remain in the flattering career which he had commenced," his reply was decided, that " in doing his duty he disregarded his life — that with his feelings and pur pose, he could readily exchange the endearing intercourse of relations, the alluring pleasures of refined society, the pro mised success of professional exertion, for the humble duty of promoting the happiness of the poor negroes in Africa, and be happy in so doing." Dr. John Wallace Anderson, of Maryland, graduate of the University of Pennsylvania in 1823, after being settled as a practising physician, resolved that it was his duty to devote himself to the cause of African colonization, by serving, in his professional character, among the colonists of Liberia. He accordingly left behind him the attractions of a delightful home, and with that sentiment deep in his heart, which, when leaving this world, he di rected should be inscribed on his tombstone, "Jesus, for thee I hve, for thee I die," he committed himself to the di rection of a wise and good Providence, and planted himself on the shores of Liberia. Useful in his profession, and dis- appendix. 321 tinguished by unremitting efforts to promote the best good of the infant colony, he was called to the agency of the colony during the absence of Dr. Mechlin. His efforts laid him upon the bed of sickness ; there, although he could no more serve the colony as he had been wont to do, his re maining breath was spent in fervent prayer for its success, until, in a few days from his attack, with entire resignation to the Divine will, and with unshaken and triumphant con fidence in the glorious Saviour, he was called to pass the valley and shadow of death. One who was with him when he died, has remarked, " Well might I have said, when Dr. Anderson breathed his last. Come and see how a Chris tian can die." He is said to have evidenced " a remarkable devotion to the cause of God and man," and to have been possessed of " a spirit so mild, retiring, disinterested and unwavering, as at once to win the affections and deeply im press the heart" of all who became acquainted with him. The Rev. Melville B. Cox is another, whose name will go down to many generations as one of Africa's early and faithful friends. Mr. Cox went out to Liberia under the direction of the Methodist Mission ary Society, " to promote the cause of Christianity in Li beria, and among the African tribes in its vicinity." He is represented as a minister of great sincerity and zeal in the cause of Christ, and of distinguished abilities. In reference to his mission, he said before his departure, " I will have nothing to do with worldly gain in any form. If God per mits me to go, it shall be to preach the gospel." Devoted to this work of piety and mercy himself, he was greatly anxious to enlist the feelings of others. " I would," said he, " that our colored friends felt on this subject as they should. * * When was there ever such a door opened ? * * We cannot but feel. Africa calls us with millions of voices. She pleads in the strong wailings of suffering hu- 322 appendix. manity. She speaks in the accents of dying spirits ' polish ing for lack of knowledge.' Will not her sons in America hear ? O that God would move their hearts to this work. Money and means are at their command — public sympathy is deeply enlisted in their favor. Will they still refuse ? God pity them. And may he pity those who have sown the seeds of such deep-rooted prejudices against Liberia ; and may he pity us who have so long enslaved intellect as to have rendered it almost entirely insensible to moral and religious enterprise." Some friend of humanity, who also knew how to appreciate the worth of this excellent mis sionary now fallen a martyr to the interests of Africa, has embalmed his memory in these lines, entitled " the Grave of Cox." "From Niger's dubious billow, From Gambia's-silver wave, Where rests, on death's cold pillow, The tenant of the grave, We hear a voice of weeping, Like low-toned lutes at night. In plaintive echoes sweeping Up Mesurado's height. The palm-tree o'er him waving, The grass above his head. The stream his clay-couch laving, All — all proclaim him dead ; De^d ! but alive in glory, A conqueror at rest ; Embalmed in sacred story, And crewned amidst the blest. A martyr's grave encloses His wearied frame at last, Perfum'd with heaven's sweet roses, On his dear bosom cast ; And Afric's sons deploring Their champion laid low. Like many waters roaring. Unbosom all their wo. appendix. 323 The moon's Iqne chain of mountains, The plain where Carthage stood, Jugurtha's ancient fountains, And Teembo's palmy wood, Are wild with notes of sorrow, Above their sainted friend. To whom there comes no morrow, But glory without end." It has been suggested by a judicious friend, that " in form ing an opinion upon a subject of such vast importance to the best interests of our country and the very existence of the Union, as the negro question, it is well to look at the array of the great and the good, who have not only given the weight of their names, btit have hallowed with their latest blessing the great cause they never ceased to love. The conscript fathers of the revolution, who laid the foundation of their country's greatness, who endured all the perils of the times that tried men's souls, and who showed that they knew how to appreciate the value of our happy union by mutual concession and a spirit of conciliation without which the blessings sought could not be secured to their posterity — these, almost to a man, were ardent colonizationists." It is also worthy of remark that those who have gone forth as pioneers in the noble cause of colonization, have embraced in their number some of the choicest spirits of the age. The leaders in this enterprise of humanity, patriotism,' and bene volence, have not been men of an inferior order of intellect,' nor mere visionaries ; but of first rate minds, of enlarged views, sound judgment, great discretion, humble and unwa vering piety, persevering zeal, entire devotion to the cause of God and the best interests of man. If a different opinion has prevailed, as it may, in some instances, it must be through want of proper information, and proper pains to obtain it. It is a remarkable fact that they who have been most efficient in this good work, have so generally been those possessed 324 appendix. of pre-eminent qualifications — men who would have shone bright and been greatly honored remaining in their own na tive land, but whose piety and benevolence, manifest to all, led them to forego the flattering prospects before them here, that they might serve God and their generation on the shores of Africa. Nor should this remark be wholly confined to those who as agents, sub-agents, physicians, or ministers of the gospel and missionaries of the cross, have gone forth in this good work. Among the colonists generally, has been an honor able share of all that is ennobling to humanity. As speci mens of the views and feelings and qualifications of many, we may find much that is honorable in their own deeds, and in the testimony of the disinterested. Take, as a specimen of the noble spirit and good judgment of not a few, the fol lowing extract of a letter from a free man of color, then be longing in Georgia, who sought an asylum in Africa in 1831. It need not be said after reading the extract, that he was highly esteemed for his intelligence and piety where he then lived. He writes to the Secretary of the Colonization So ciety : "I have always viewed the principle on which the So ciety was grounded, as one of much policy, though I saw it was aided by a great deal of benevolence. And when view ing my situation, with thousands of my colored brethren in the United States, who are in a. similar situation, I have often wondered what prevented us from rising and with one voice, saying, we will accept the offer made us at the risk of sacri ficing all the comforts that our present situation can afford us. 1 have often almost come to the conclusion that I would make the sacrifice, and have only been prevented by the un favorable accounts of the climate. I have always heretofore, viewed it as a matter of temporal interest, but now I view it spiritually. According to the accounts from Liberia, it wants help, and such as I trust I could give, though ever so little. appendix. 325 I understand the branches of a wheelwright, and blacksmith, and carpenter ; I also have good ideas of machinery and other branches. I trust also, were I to go there, Iwouldadd one to the number of advocates for religion. I will thank you to inform me what things I should take for the comfort of my self and family. I don't expect to go at the expense of the Society, and therefore hope to be aUowed to take something more than those who do not defray their own expenses." On looking over the pages that have preceded, the remem brance of other eminent friends of colonization among our countrymen who have also been distinguished by their sta tion, talents, acquirements, and virtue, admonishes us of many omissions : Among the departed might have been mentioned the names of Wirt, Crawford, Lowndes, Judge Workman of Louisiana who contributed to the Society's funds S10,000, and others ; and among its surviving friends, (and long may they be spared to bless their country and the world,) might have been named, of civilians, without dis tinction of party or locality, those bright lights of our land. Clay, Mercer, Webster, Frelinghuysen, Southard, Vroom, Cotton Smith, McLane, Porter, McKean, Everett, Butler, and others ; in the mercantile world, Gerard Ralston, Anson G. Phelps, Henry Sheldon, and others ; and among the clergy, Breckinridge, Proudfit, Gurley, Burgess, Bacon, Fisk, Milnor, DeWitt, and others ; but the limits assigned to this appendix forbid our pursuing this subject as the thoughts would lead. We should also advert, by acknowledgment, to the fact that Dd 326 appendix. Colonization and Africa have found generous friends among the fair sex. Our fair countrywomen, the author is happy to say, have not withheld the pleasing influence and encouragement of their good example and charities from this great and holy cause. Always ready to feel for the wretched, nor ever backward in efforts of benevolence when humanity calls, they have, in many instances, done themselves high honor by the aid which they have rendered to the cause of Africa and of colonization. Did the respect that is due to the re tiring modesty of the sex not forbid it, it would be grateful to bear testimony to their disinterested benevolence, and re cord the names of not a few, who, though their good works and alms' deeds may not be heralded by the trump of earthly fame, have truly a record on high. As an encouragement to others to " go, and do likewise," and as a just recognition of that moral influence which the ladies of our land, like ministering angels of love and mercy, may exert — often undervalued by themselves, but acknow ledged by humanity and religion to be of unspeakable' worth — reference may be here made to a few instances of untiring friendship and devotion to the cause, as communicated in a note by Elliott Cresson, Esq. in answer to an inquiry touch ing the extent of female benevolence in support of the free schools in Liberia. Omitting the names of individuals, and passing by some parts of the communication, Mr. Cresson writes as follows : " Colonization owes as much, perhaps, to female zeal and self-sacrificing devotion, as any benevolent enterprise of the age. In the infancy of the Society, when its friends were few and timid, and its enemies many and determined, the untiring efforts of Bishop M were most nobly seconded by his excellent sisters, the Misses M , who contributed very largely from their own restricted means, eliciting by their example and personal exertions, the co-operation of appendix. 327 their friends, and finally dedicated most of their property by will, to sustaining this ' holy cause. The sisters-in-law of that devoted friend of Africa have never ceased from the per formance of deeds of kindness towards her oppressed chil dren. This has been manifested by liberal and frequent do nations, by unwearied care over the moral and religious cul ture of those entrusted to them by Providence, and recently, on the sailing of the first expedition for Bassa Cove, one of them, Mrs. P , not only liberated fourteen choice slaves to aid the enterprise, and gave them an ample outfit, but ge nerously added S500 to ensure them every thing necessary in their new home. " These noble examples were not lost on their friend and neighbor. Miss B — ¦—, who in addition to the liberation of eleven slaves, (contributing nearly all her little property,) mortgaged the residue and raised $800, with which she pur chased the freedom of the husbands of two of her women, who were held by persons in the vicinity. Nor was her strong affection for this degraded people stopped here. By devoting the proceeds of her needle, and the profits of her little dairy to their welfare, she has yearly increased the humble resources of the Society, and many a neighbor at her instance has pledged a head of young stock to the same purpose, so that at the year's end, the united tributes of these little riUs have done much to swell the stream of benevolence. One sister, who recently died, made the freedom of a family now settled in Liberia, a parting request to her surviving re latives. Mrs. W , of Mount Vernon, another sister, has lately sent an interesting and valuable family of slaves to Liberia, and at the same time made a handsome donation to the funds of the Pennsylvania Society, whose want of means alone prevented their fitting out another expedition to convey them and a number of other slaves now pressed upon the care of that Society by their benevolent owners, to Bassa Cove. 328 appendix. " Mrs. M , Mrs. B , and Mrs. C of Arling-- ton, might be mentioned among many of the same circle, who have for years heroically devoted themselves to the task of instructing and evangelizing their own slaves, and those of their pious neighbors, and aiding in support of schools in Africa. Rarely have we listened to a more deeply interesting narrative than that of a clergyman recently on a visit in the South, who was present when the former of those ladies, now perfectly blind, on learning that her young est and darling son was alone deterred from offering himself as a missionary for Africa by the fear that she would not bear the separation, called for her guide and waited on the venerable senior Bishop of that diocese, to assure him that however severe was this test of her faith, she could not but cheerfully resign him for the performance of a service so holy. " The name of Miss M M will descend to pos terity as one of the illustrious of the age. Descending from one of the most ancient and distinguished families of the South, and brought up in the possession of all that wealth could bestow, this noble woman did not hesitate, on the death of her father, to liberate her own share of his slaves, together with such others as could be purchased ; and send ing the young, the active and the vigorous, at her own cost, to Africa, she, one of the loveliest and most accomplished of her sex, converted the mansion of her ancestors into a board ing school, and has for years devoted herself to the arduous duties of superintending it, that she might discharge the debt thus incurred, and sustain the ' old and the worn out.* What a beautiful comment on the charge of our adversaries, that such only are the objects of the pretended benevolence of colonizationists ! It has been the privilege of the writer of this faint tribute to female worth, to visit Cedar Park Seminary at the period of its annual fair, when hundreds of the surrounding gentry assemble to enjoy the charming scene appendix. 329 presented by her fair charge, joyously displaying the fruits of the past year's industry, and devoting the proceeds of their skill and their taste to the cause of education in Libe ria, by which they have already contributed upwards of $1 100 toward tlie proposed college at Bassa Cove. The venerable mansion — the natural features of the scene, almost unparal leled for sylvan charms — the rich display of articles of uti lity and beauty — the happy and animated groups engaged in the duties of the day, were all highly attractive : but it must be confessed that all this was infinitely heightened, when, on approaching the white-headed little company of merry old negroes assembled beneath the ample shade of the monarchs that had for centuries spread their giant arms athwart the verdant lawn, and asking some questions touch ing themselves and their absent descendants, they poured forth a torrent of blessings upon their ' good missis' for the benefits she had showered on ' them and theirs.' " Who can forget the spirit-stirring lays of the sweet singer of the north, Mrs. S , or her touching appeals for the dark-browed sons of Africa ? To her discriminating judgment and patient care, do the earliest schools of Africa owe much for the selection and preparation of young co lored females who subsequently became eminently useful as teachers. Or who but must revere the admirable patron of those schools — the venerable Friend, B S , of Philadelphia, who first planted and sustained them, and who has since presided over the Ladies' Liberia School Associa tion, to which those schools gave rise, with untiring assi duity and liberality, until many hundreds of the offspring of Africa now rejoice in the privileges of a Christian education ? "Many other bright names might be added to this hur ried list of the eariy female friends of colonization ; but having already exceeded the limits I had proposed for an swering the query of yesterday, permit me to close with that of the widow of the revered Finley, who, on advert- Dd2 330 APPENDIX. ing to his love for Africa strong in death — added, 'one son is now there, the other is on the banks of the Mississippi pleading her cause — and if I possessed twenty, I would gladly dedicate them all to thejsame'holy cause.' " In another portion of this work reference has been made to distinguished Friends of the cause in England. This reference might here be extended ;¦ but we wiU close our notice of those who have dedicated their time, their ta lents, their money, and their prayers to this great enter prise, with a beautiful tribute to the merits of colonization, from the pen of the late Jonathan Hutchinson, one who enjoyed in a remarkable degree the love and veneration of his fellow Christians, and the respect of all who knew him. This extract is from testimony borne to the mission of one who visited England not long since to promote the views of the American Colonization Society.* "After a serious and deliberate consideration of the plan exhibited by my friend , for educating, chris tianizing and instructing in the arts of civilized life, the emancipated slave ; and thus preparing him as a fit instru ment for conferring similar benefits upon his countrymen in Africa — on this review I am led to the conclusion that it is *" Hannah Kilham, who was a member of the Society of Friends in England, and well known for her great benevolence and ardent piety, visited Liberia in 1B32. She thus expresses herself in a letter written while in the colony : ' This colony altogether presents quite a new scene of com bined African and American interest. I cannot but hope and trust, that it is the design of Infinite Goodness to prepare a home in Ihis land for many who have been denied the full extent of privilege in the land of their birth, and that some, who are brought here but as a shelter and resource for them- _ selves, may, through Ihe visitation of heavenly goodness in their own minds, and the farther leadings of Divine love, become ministers of the glad tidings of the gospel, to many who are now living in darkness, and the shadow of death. appendix. 331 the most intelligible in theory, the most efficient in practice, and the least expensive of any proposition on this important subject, that has hitherto met my observation. Should this scheme of pure benevolence be so far able to surmount the difficulties attending its course, as to produce the full amount of good of which it appears capable, I think it will ultimately prove to have been one of the greatest blessings ever be stowed by a gracious Creator, through the instrumentality of man, upon suffering and degraded humanity. Under these impressions, I cannot but desire its success — and that every one, who with proper motives and qualifications, shall engage in the service of so noble a cause, may be aided by the sympathy and support of every friend of the human race ; and that he may also be favored in the prosecution of this great object, with assistance and pirotection from the universal Parent of the whole family of man, who is ' God over all, blessed for ever !' " Gedney, 8mo. 13, 1832." OBJECTIONS OF OPPOSERS. colonization unites some of conflicting views. It has been said by those that are opposed to the coloniza tion scheme, that inasmuch as the Colonization Society has for its object simply the removal of the free people of color, with their own consent, to Africa, and is supported in this enterprise " by one class of people for one reason, arid by other classes for other reasons," the action of the Society " being suited to the views of all," it is liable to great and serious objections. On the other hand, the friends of colonization think that the singleness and simplicity of its aim, give it great and manifest advantages. 332 APPENDIX. What though its aim being one, and steadily pursuing that one object, it finds favor from those of somewhat op posite views and in some respects conflicting interests ; must it therefore be abandoned ? Let it be so, that some give it countenance whose philanthropy is questionable, whose piety has no existence, whose motives are sinister, still, if the object of the Society is good, and the end to be desired by the philanthropist, the patriot, and Christian, ought we not rather to rejoice that the cause of benevolence and patriotism is promoted? " The presiding spirit, the life and soul of the institution has ever been, and ever must be. Christian principle. The patriot and the statesman are deeply concerned in its success, and they cannot withhold their influence and co-operation ; but it commends itself es pecially to the Christian heart, for there it finds a chord that vibrates in unison with its noble design. The most active and efficient friends of the scheme have been those whom Christianity claims as her own."* *" The patrons of this enterprise doubtless contemplate its character through different mediums, and yield it Iheir friendliness under the influ ence of different motives. So various are the objects which it is adapted and intended to accomplish, that one may regard it with favor for one rea son, and another for a different reason, while each may feel that the aspect in which he views it, and Ihe particular consideration which appeals effec tively to his generous sympalhy, are of sufficient importance to justify his unreserved co-operation. Hence, among the variety of reasons that secure the concurrence of its numerous friends, we find the foreign reason and Ihe domestic — the southern reason and the norlhern — the political, the com mercial and Ihe religious reason. " But, there is one patron of this enterprise, whose discerning eye contem plates it in every aspect, and whose candor appreciates all its designs and tendencies, and in whose bosom all these reasons are blended into one, and whose kindness hesitates not lo express the cordial wish, and extend Ihe liberal hand, and offer the fervent prayer for its enlarged success. Her name is Christianity. It is because the objects of this Society are good, that she approves them — and because Ihey are both great and good, Ihat she fosters them with her patronage. Conlemplating the final removal from our country's escutcheon of a stain which is hourly growing deeper and broad er and darker — and designing to alleviate the v^¦retchedness of the free colored population, and place them in circumstances favorable lo their physical and moral improvement — and aiming at the elevation of the black to a platform parallel with the white man, she delights in its high purposes for they are kindred to her own — and she would be recreant to her profes sions, did she not extend to it her cordial encouragement, and sanction it with her choicest beuediclions." — Rev. C. Stowe. APPENDUC. 333 objections contradictory. The opposers of colonization say that to advocate the scheme "on the ground of kindness to the people of color, as a means of removing the free from prejudice which they cannot rise against here," which, say they, " is the motive with many, is to sacrifice at least two other objects — the mis sionary cause in Africa, and the extinction of slavery at home. For when we once admit the conclusion that the free people of color cannot be elevated here to an equal enjoyment of the civil and social principles of our institu tions, you cease to labor for it. Your philanthropy then aims at the removal of the whole body of the free colored people. But the removal of such a body, so little improved by education and religion, to a heathen shore, cannot but be prejudicial to the spread of Christianity there." Again say they, " the effect of colonization is to fasten the bonds of the slave — for slave-holders avail themselves of the facilities which it affords, to drain off the excess of the free blacks, that they may oppress, with the greater safety, those who are still in bondage !" This last objection has been suggested, in substance, even by one to whose philan thropy and benevolence, few who know him, would hesitate to yield the tribute of their cheerful testimony, and the purity of whose motive it is confidently believed is above suspicion. He says of African colonization, " It is a ques tion, whether it should be patronized, whilst American slave ry endures. Is it right to induce a portion of the colored people of this country to turn their backs on their brethren in bonds ; to go to a returnless distance from them, and to enter upon the creation of new interests and attachments, which are calculated to efface the recollection of those left behind them? We must remember too, that this is the only portion of that unhappy population, which is at liberty to remonstrate against the cruelty and wickedness of oppres- 334 appendix. sion, and to plead for the exercise of mercy. Those for whom they are required to open their mouths, are not per mitted to speak for themselves — -and we must remember too, that amongst these dumb ones, whose cause we should there by deprive of its most natural advocates, are, in innumer able instances, the fathers, mothers, children, brothers, sis ters, of those -whom we propose to carry away. Were we, our families, and neighbors, to be carried captive into a foreign land, and were you and I to be released from bon dage, would it be natural and right in us to separate our selves by thousands of miles and for ever, from our friends and kindred, still pining under the yoke of slavery ? or would it not be a more humane and suitable use of our liberty to cleave to those beloved sufferers — to study the consolation of their aching hearts — and to be getting up every righteous appeal in their behalf to their guilty oppressors ? I would not say, that there is in the consideration I here present, a fatal objection to the colonization scheme. There is certain ly, however, enough in it to lead us to inquire whether we are clearly doing right, and as we would be done by, when we labor to induce our free people of color to desert their enslaved brethren. There is certainly enough in it to ex cuse the following resolution, (of certain blacks,) — ' Resolv ed, That we never will separate ourselves voluntarily from the slave population of our country. They are our brethren by the ties of consanguinity, of suffering and of wrong ; and we feel that there is more virtue in suffering privations with them, than in enjoying fancied advantages for a sea son.' " These objections are thus stated at some length, for can dor requires it. But in reference to them, it may be proper to ask, whether the one objection does not in a good degree nullify the other ? If the colored people to whom the So ciety would afford facilities for removing to Africa, are of such signal service at home, and so essential to their " breth- appendix. 335 ren in bonds," might they not be greatly useful in Liberia ? Or, is the avowed object of their detention to secure their in crease, and to encourage their co-operation with the slave stimulated by the arguments and persuasions and flatteries of a portion of the whites, until fearful and bloody scenes shall be the result ? It is believed by many that there is but one possible way in which, opposing colonization, the blacks can be led to expect that they shall expedite the abolishment of slavery in our land, or that they can be of essential bene fit to their "brethren in bonds," by remaining here; and that is, by the system of compulsion which has been alluded to. For how will the free blacks " remonstrate with the holders of slaves ? — hoiu appeal in behalf of their enslaved brethren, to their guilty oppressors?" Will their remon strances be suffered at the South? — will their appeals be lis tened to ? Or are the blacks who are already free, to " re monstrate" indirectly, and to " appeal" indirectly, to those who are termed " guilty oppressors," through the influence of the people in the northern States ? Could the great ma jority of the non-slaveholding States be brought to be of one mind on the subject, and should they think and declare their conviction that it is the duty of the slave-holder to give imme diate and universal freedom to his slaves, what can they do more ? Violate the constitution ? Amend it ? Either at tempt will be the certain signal for the dissolution of the Union, and perhaps for the flowing of rivers of blood. The South are evidently resolved to allow of no interference ; and it is honestly believed by many that a much surer way of bringing about unity of sentiment in relation to the course of the slave-holder, is to relieve all parts of our country as fast as possible from the evils which seem inseparable from the presence of a degraded population of the colored free. But why, again it is asked, why the solemn remonstrance against aiding the emigration of such free blacks as desire to settle in Liberia, on the ground that their " appeals" and 336 appendix. " remonstrances" are needed at home, and that it would bs a great dereliction of- duty in them, " to turn their backs on their brethren in bonds ?" Whether the resolution referred to would ever have emanated unsolicited from any portion of the colored people themselves, is a question concerning which some have expressed doubts ; and how far such a re solution, and the declaration and use of it as above, is politic and calculated to benefit either the slave or the free, or con ciliate feelings supposed to be adverse to the interests of both, admits also of doubt. colonization will advance Christianity. As to this first objection — it is declared by the friends of colonization that they never designed to remove to Liberia such as forbid the hope of their becoming good citizens of the colony. Moreover when the humane, encouraged by the door which colonization opens for them to better the condition of their slaves, have resolved on their emancipa tion, there has usually been an effort preparatory, to qualify them for the new station which they are to occupy. Be sides, not only is great pains taken by the Society in respect to the morals of those sent to the colony, and great encou ragement given by the Society to the slave-holder to emanci pate his slaves, and prepare them for freedom ; but it is a fact well understood, that those freed blacks who are here without sufiicient incentive to manly effort, and without the means or opportunity to rise, are inspired with new life when placed in a situation which furnishes greater motive to energy and virtue. Circumstances have great influence in forming the cha racter. " The early circumstances of the people of New- England," says the Repository of 1831, "rendered them proverbially enterprising ; and we recently heard a foreigner remark, that England had hardly made a single invention in AlfPENDIX, 337 the mechanic arts, which has not already been improved upon in the United States. National, like individual cha racter, is often elevated and strengthened by circumstances ; and no one can doubt that many causes that can never be realized here, will operate in Africa to develope the talents, invigorate the faculties, and dignify the purposes of the peo ple of color. Nationality is indispensable lo the proper elevation of any people, and the full developement of the humaii intellect.* How mai^y, who, had they remained here, would have been hewers of wood and drawers of water, undistinguished either for their enterprise, or any virtue, are achieving for themselves and descendants, great honor in Liberia ?t The * Dr. Beecher has well remarked, that " There is no such thing as raising the human mind without nationality. You must have Ihe whole machinery of society, or you never will do it. That is the reason the Indians cannot be civilized. It is a slander to say that there is any thing in the Indian mind to prevent it. They are not improved, because you cannot bring upon them the motives for improvement. They have no national existence to bring out their powers. I mourn over their condition ; and sure I am, that if they could have one state where their mind would have a fair field to show itself, it wonld develope as great and noble traits as ever distinguished humanity^ I never knew human nature in a state of barbarism where it exhibited such features as it does among our American Indians. As to Ihe poor African, he never can rise without space to move in, and motives to action. If you refuse to remove him, you will have an equal number of paupers thrown upon your shores, and then you must support both. The ways of God are high and dreadful. He takes the wickedest of men and causes them to accomplish his own purpose. Their hearts think not so, neither do they mean so ; but; in their wickedness they do that which God blesses and overrules for good. The coast of Africa has been environed with dangers. It is almost inaccessible to the approach of Ihe white man, and that whole continent has yet to be civilized and christianized ; and how is it to be done? God has permitted what has come to pass. He has suffered its inhabitants to be brought here as slaves, and the transposition has scarcely increased their miseries. God is not in a hurry in accomplish ing his designs; and by bringing them into a Christian land, he has pre pared the way for their being thrown back in a christianized condition on their native shore. I believe that colonization is destined to stop the slave- trade. Your colonies will stand like a chain of light from point to point along the whole dark coast of benighted Africa, and from the colonies will your missionaries go into the interior, until they shall have spread a belt of salvation over that benighted portion of the globe." t " It would be very difficult to point to any part of the world where new colonisU are not, both intellectually and morally, superior to the people in the old country from wholn they sprang. Especially is this the case where any pains have been taken to extend to the new settlement the means of moral and intellectual improvement. The colony in New South Wales, composed to a great extent of the most degraded class of the British people, E e 338 APPENDIX. instances are not a few, and the facts are irresistible. And whilst they have done well both for themselves and posterity, by removal, it is also said in truth, " The elevated religious character of the colonists, their serious observance of the Sabbath, their strict integrity in commercial intercourse, and their habitual propriety of conduct, have secured the respect of the natives, and placed matters in such an attitude, that any efforts to promote their temporal and eternal welfare would be kindly received and abundantly successful." Is the colony of Liberia such as " cannot but be prejudi cial to the spread of Christianity ?" It is not the testimony of one alone, as given above ; but credible witnesses who have been at the colony, and seen for themselves, and were com petent to form a correct and unprejudiced opinion, declare that a more moral community cannot be found together in any part of our own highly favored country ! That a good Christian influence has been exerted by the colony, facts that call for gratitude to heaven, and that powerfully urge the claims of colonization upon our benevolence, fully attest. By the removal of the free blacks, they, as a whole, and their posterity, are blessed ; at the same time, Africa is blessed, and our own country is benefitted. The influence of the example of the colony upon the surrounding heathen, al though that example may not be perfect, is good ; facilities are afforded by the colony to missionary effort which, with out the colony, could not be enjoyed, and without which fa cilities in the then present state of Africa, every effort would be comparatively hopeless ; the slave-trade is interrupted, and will finally be utterly broken up ; and Africa is being restored to respectability and happiness, that she may rise from the dust, and her once enslaved children and their de scendants may obtain a name and a place among the nations of the earth. of men and women condemned to transportation for their crimes, is now an industrious, moral, and flourishing community, and bids fair to become Ihe nucleus of a great and respectable nation. New colonies, from Ihe nature of the case, are favorable to the improvement of charsictet."— Repository. APPENDIX. 339 It would be easy here to multiply instances showing the rapid deterioration, generally, of slaves, as respects morality, industry, and all virtue, when freed, without the stimulus which a new location, where are encouraging prospects of due elevation, gives. We will refer to an instance or two. Said WiUiam Ladd, Esq., of Maine, in an address before the Massachusetts Colonization Society, in 1833, in support of a resolution ' that the American Colonization Society merits the confidence and patronage of all who are opposed, on principle, to slavery,' " Many years ago I loaded a ship in Savannah, and had for my stevedore, one Joe Blog. He was one of the smartest and most faithful men I ever em ployed. I gave his master a dollar a day for him, and gave Joe privately half a dollar a day beside. Joe was active, sleek, well-dressed, and sprightly. Joe was a slave. Some years after, I returned to the same port, and sought out my old friend Joe, and employed him. He was idle, restless, ragged, and lazy, and I soon disniissed him. Joe was free. And as far as my observation has extended, and I have lived long in slave countries, this is a fair sample of the liberated slaves, though there are noble exceptions. But I consider it more their misfortune than their fault. With no other in centive to labor than the fear of the lash, uneducated and ig norant, what better can we expect ?" The illustrious Madison, in a letter to a gentleman, pub lished just before his decease, says, " You express a wish to obtain information in relation to the history of the emanci pated people of color in Prince Edward. I presume those emancipated by the late Richard Randolph more especially. More than twenty-five years ago, I think, they were libe rated, at which time they numbered about 100, and were settled on small parcels of land of ten to twenty-five acres to each family. As long as the habits of industry which they had acquired while slaves, lasted, they continued to increase in numbers, and lived in some degree of comfort, — but as 340 APPENDIX soon as this was lost, and most of those who had been many years in slavery, either died or became old and infirm, and a new race raised in idleness and vice sprang up, they began not only to be idle and vicious, but to diminish instead of in creasing, and have continued to diminish in numbers very regularly every year — and that too, without emigration ; for they have almost without exception, remained together, in the same situation as at first placed, to this day. Idleness, poverty, and dissipation are the agents which continue to diminish their numbers, and to render them wretched in the extreme, as well as a great pest and heavy tax upon the neighborhood in which they live. There is so little of in dustry and so much dissipation among them, that it is im possible that the females can rear their families of children — and the consequence is, that they prostitute themselves, and consequently have few children — and the operations of time, profligacy, and disease, more than keep pace with any in crease among them. While they are a very great pest and heavy tax upon the community, it is most obvious they themselves are infinitely worsted by the exchange from slavery to liberty — if, indeed, their condition deserve that name." In reference to the other objection — that colonization per petuates slavery, we may also appeal to facts. Mr. M. Carey has said truly, that " Among the most promising and encouraging circumstances attending the career of this So ciety, are the numerous manumissions that have taken place in almost all the slave states, on the express condition of the freed people being sent to Liberia. These manumissions have occurred on a scale that the most sanguine friends of the scheme could not have anticipated. Entire families have been blest with their freedom, from the most pure motives, a conviction of the immorality and injustice of slavery — and in many cases ample provision has been made for the ex pense of their passage, and in some, for their support in Li- APPENDIX. 341 beria. They have been thus released from the debasement and degradation of slavery, and sent to the land of their fa thers, to partake of aU the happiness that freedom and the certainty of enjoying all the frnits of their labor, can in spire." COLONIZATION PROMOTES EMANCIPATION. It would be impracticable here to enumerate all the cases that have transpired in which the opening at Liberia has been an inducement to the liberation of slaves. The facts which Mr. Carey collected and published in his letters, and those additional instances which have fallen under notice recently, cannot all be mentioned here. But a few instances may be given as specimens, to show the good influence of the society in encouraging emancipation, and to show the encourage ment which is given to the Society to persevere and abound in its great and benevolent work. Col. Smith, an old revolutionary officer, of Sussex county, Va., ordered in his will, that all his slaves, seventy or eighty in number, should be emancipated ; and bequeathed above $5,000 to defray the expense of transporting them to Li beria. Patsey Morris, of Louisa county, Va., directed by will, that all her slaves, sixteen in number, should be eman cipated, and left $500 to fit them out, and defray the expense of their passage. Dr, Bradley, of Georgia, left forty-nine slaves free, on condition of their removal to Liberia. Mrs. Elizabeth Morris, of Bourbon co. Va., provided by will for the emancipation of her slaves, about forty in number. Da vid Patterson, of Orange co. N. C, freed eleven slaves, to be sent to Liberia. A gentleman in N. C. last year, gave freedom to all his slaves, fourteen in number, and provided $20 each, to pay their passage to Liberia. Wm. Fitzhugh, bequeathed their freedom to all his slaves, after a certain fixed period, and ordered that their expenses should be paid to whatsoever place they should think proper to go. And, E e 2 342 APPENDIX. " as an encouragement to them to emigrate to the American colony on the coast of Africa, where," adds the will, " I be lieve their happiness will be more permanently secured, I desire not only that the expenses of their emigration be paid, but that the sum of fifty dollars be paid to each one so emi grating on his or her arrival in Africa." David Shriver, of Frederic co. Md., ordered by his will, that all his slaves, thirty in number, should be emancipated, and that proper provision should be made for the comfortable support of the infirm and aged, and for the instruction of the young in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and in some art or trade, by which they might acquire the means of support. Rev. Ro bert Cox, Suffolk CO. Va., provided by his will for the eman cipation of all his slaves, upwards of thirty, and left several hundred dollars to pay their passage to Liberia. A lady, near Charlestown, Va. liberated all her slaves, ten in num ber, to be sent to Liberia ; and moreover purchased two, whose families were among her slaves. For the one she gave $450, and for the other $350. Herbert B. Elder, of Petersburg, Va. bequeathed their freedom to all his slaves, twenty in number, with directions that they should be con veyed to Liberia, by the first opportunity. Mrs. J. of Mer cer CO. Kentucky, and her two sons, one a clergyman, and the other a physician, offered the Colonization Society sixty slaves to be conveyed to Liberia. Rev. Fletcher Andrew, gave freedom to twenty, who constituted most of his pro perty, for the same purpose. Nathaniel Crenshaw, near Richmond, liberated sixty slaves, with a view to have them sent to Liberia. Mr. Isaac Ross, of Mississippi, an officer in the war of the revolution, more recently left all his slaves, 170 in number, on the following conditions, viz : that after the death of his daughter, (now a widow,) the slaves who may be over twenty-one years of age shall decide whether they will remain in bondage or go to Africa. If they deter mine to go to Africa, all the property is to be sold, and the APPENDIX. 34^ proceeds, together tclth the proceeds of the crops till thai time, (12,000 or 15,000 dollars excepted,) are to be eoqtend- ed in their transportation and comfortable settlement in the colony of Liberia, and the establishment of an institution of learning in some part of the colony. If they determine not to go, they and all the estate is to be sold, and the pro ceeds applied to the endowment of the aforesaid institution of learning. A gentleman of Louisiana, not long since, left thirty to go to Liberia, and directed his executors to pay their passage — an outfit of tools, implements of husbandry, provisions and clothes for one year, and to two of them he gave 8500 each. Another, from the same State, left thirty, making similar provisions for their removal to Africa, and for their comfort after their arrival. In Virginia, recently, one has manumitted twenty-three, another fifty, another six teen, and a fourth twenty-five ; and many others with similar and smaller numbers. But all were manumitted on condition of their going to Africa. In Tennessee, many ex amples similar to the above have been given during the past year. One man liberated twenty -three, and another twenty- one, supplying them with ample funds, and also providing clothing for them, and furnishing them with suitable tools, and for paying the expense of their removal to Africa. Her legislature has promised to give $10 toward defraying the expenses of each one who shall go to Liberia. The ex cellent example of Mr. Turpin, who some time since eman cipated all his slaves in South Carolina, and gave them his estate valued at $329,000, is worthy of constant remembrance and imitation. Eighteen were liberated by Mrs. Greenfield, near Natchez, on the condition that they should go to Africa ; and on the same condition E. B. Randolph, of Columbus, liberated twenty ; Wm. Foster, Esq. twenty-one ; another twenty-eight ; a gentleman in Kentucky, sixty ; a lady in the same State, forty ; all for the most part young, and all, with very few exceptions, under forty years of age. The 344 APPENDIX. Society of Friends in North Carolina had liberated, in 1835, no less than 652. Numerous applications are constantly before the Society, or its auxiliaries, for assistance in emigrating to Africa. A large number of slaves are, by the decision of their masters, free in prospect, and in a course of preparation for liberty ; whilst others will be free the moment they can find a pas sage to Liberia. It is an unquestionable fact, well worthy of consideration, that the fewer slaves there are in any section of country, the more easy is it to emancipate ; and the stronger becomes the tendency to emancipation. The same remark may ap ply to the absence of a free colored population in slave-hold ing districts. It is not easy to emancipate the slave whilst, by so doing, you will in all probability increase the dangers that threaten society, and swell the number of those whose freedom seems to be a curse. Besides, as instances are multiplied, those who emancipate their slaves, become a standing monument, in the midst of a slave-holding commu nity " of the triumph of Christian principle over selfish in terest — a constant, living reproof to all who still retain their fellow-men in bondage."* If colonization were abandoned, many Christian slave holders, who desire to emancipate their slaves, would be de prived of the power of doing so, the laws of the slave-hold ing States generally prohibiting emancipation unless the slaves are removed from the State. True, it may be said, * Much has been said in reference to emancipation, of a mental renuncia tion of the right of property in slaves; "a renunciation which Ihe law would treat as a nullity, aiid which might be mentally retracted, at any moment, without the knowledge of the communily." One instance, in ihe midst of the slave-holding Slates, of bona fide emancipation, evidenced by self-denying exertions to locate Ihe emancipated in a land where they may be truly free and blessed, will, it is conscientiously believed, have more force in freeing others, than a hundred auxiliaries at the North, or tens of thousands of speeches and resolves which never reach the eye or ear of a single slave-holder, or if Ihey do, serve only to irritate the slave-holder, and shut up every avenue lo conviction. APPENDIX. 345 " these are wicked laws ;" and the sincerity of such slaves holders may be treated with discredit, and affected contempt and ridicule may assail them in the place of kind remon strance and argument — as in the following instance, taken from an "immediate abolition" periodical : — " But are you not aware. Sir, that in many States there are laws against emancipation ?" This was uttered with a most imposing air by a man who was defending slave ry under the present circumstances. " Indeed," replied his opponent, " but who make the laws ?" " The slave-hold ers, to be sure." " So I thought ; and the unfortunate con dition of the poor slave-holders, who have tied their own hands by such laws, reminds me of an anecdote. A lady somewhere in Virginia, on going out for a few hours, left some trifling matters to be attended to in her absence, by her little daughter. On her return, she found that all the things which were to be done, had been neglected. — ' How is this, my dear,' said she, ' why have you not done this, and why not that ?' ' Because I could'nt mamma.' ' But why could'nt you V ' Why, don't you see, mamma, I am tied to the leg of the table ?' ' Indeed, so you are, but who tied you to the leg of the table, my dear ?' ' Oh, I tiedmy- self, mamma! !' " This anecdote, quite amusing in itself, whether founded in fact or supposed, is in its application, to say the least, unfair and sophistical. It supposes that those slave-holders who find the laws an impediment in the way of emancipa tion, are the identical majority of the several States, which majority has enacted those laws ; this, it is well known, is not the fact — and unless it be so, how is the comparison just or otherwise than unkind and insulting to the benevolent and Christian feelings of those who, seeking the best inter ests of the colored race, are desirous of giving freedom to their slaves ?* Besides, it is possible, not only for individu- * " In the year 1770, Ihe Friends in the United States declared slavery to be inconsistent with the principles of Christianity, and prohibited it among 346 APPENDIX. als who can have but little influence in legislation, but even for the majority, even for a whole people, without an indi vidual exception, to propose, and enact, and continue, and support such laws, without being liable to the inconsistency and reproach which is intended in the above comparison. Laws are designed for the general good ; and if it be not safe for the community at large ; and not generous and truly kind, but greatly injurious to the slaves at large, to emanci pate them universally and immediately — ^laws for the pre servation of the slave, and the protection of the common wealth, are necessary and unavoidable ; and by those laws all good citizens must be governed, without exception. — Every good citizen in that case is " tied," not by himself, but by invincible necessity — the peculiar circumstances of the members of their body. The Friends of the Yearly Meeting of North Carolina, including a part of Tennessee and Virginia, amounting to many thousands, petitioned the Legislature of North Carolina, for permission to emancipate their slaves. It was refused. They continued to press the subject with petition after petition for forty years, and with no better suc cess. They at length, without law, emancipated their slaves upon the soil ; and what was the consequence ? More than one hundred of those emanci pated slaves were taken up, and sold into perpetual and hopeless bondage, under the laws of the State. Emancipation on the soil was plainly im- possible in the existing state of public feeling. After various expedients, and having expended in ten years more than $20,000 in procuring asylums for their slaves in the free States, the free States made enactments prevent. ing this intrusion of free blacks upon them. Pennsylvania, New-Jersey, and New- York were applied to in vain, the door was shut. Some years since, they embarked one hundred of their liberated slaves for Pennsylva nia. They were refused a landing in the Slate. They went over to Hew Jersey. The same refusal met them there. They were then left to float up and down the Delaware river without a spot of dry land to set their feet upon, till the Colonization Society took them up and gave them a resting place in Liberia. " They have now five hundred slaves led, whom they are anxious to li berate ; and what shall Ihey do ; Get the laws of the Slate altered » They labored after that for forty years, and more than one whole generation of black men died in bondage while their masters were striving to effectuate immediate emancipation. Immediate emancipation they found to be so tiam aprocess that Ihey were obliged to resort to colonization, in order that something might be done immediately. And in such instances, what possible mode of immediate relief is there except colonization 1 Shall they resist the laws of the Slate ? This would be contrary to the principles of Quakerism; and on this point at least, the unlawfulness of aggressive re sistance even to legalized oppressibn, the wrongfulness of destroying human life for the attainment of any political purpose — on this point I must con ceive that Quakerism is Christianity." — Prof. Stowe. APPENDIX. 347 the case which render such laws necessary both as an act of humanity toward the slave, and of sacred regard to the com mon weal.* MISSION INTO THE INTERIOR. From the twentieth annual report of the American Co lonization Society, we learn that " Commissioners were some time since appointed by the colonial government to proceed into the interior as far as Bo Poro, the residence of King Boatswain, for the purpose of negotiating a peace between certain hostile tribes, and opening a friendly and mutually advantageous intercourse with the people of that region. D. W. Whitehurst, one of these commissioners, has recently visited the United States, and made report to the managers of his observations during his absence of four months from the colony. The commissioners resided at Bo Poro, (from 80 to 100 miles from Monrovia) several weeks, and though they failed, owing to the very disturbed state of the country, to effect the main object, they acquired information of great value. They passed through a fertile and beautiful country, upon which were scattered numerous fortified native towns, inhabited by a savage but active and industrious people, and abounding in the productions of tro pical agriculture. Of a town within eight miles of Bo Poro, Mr. Whitehurst writes, ' Every thing conspires to render this spot desirable for human happiness, if the propensity for war which the people have could be gotten over ; but as it is, every thing is secondary to the grand object of con quest or capture. Groups of cheerful beings were passed * Though every virtuous man will aim to promote that state of society vchich secures freedom and equal rights Jo every member of the communi ty, and though of the possibility of such a state under the influences of ci vilization and Christianity, we ought not to despair, yet it is unquestionable that individual freedom and individual happiness should ever be considered subordinate lo the public good. /( is not right that men should be free when their freedom will prove injurious to themselves and others. Hence, in all enlightened communities, the restraints upon minors," and upon all who are found incapable of judging and acting for themselves." — Repository. 848 APPENtllX. through, either planting or grubbing, while at the towns the women were generally employed in spinning cotton. Cot ton grows abundant throughout the country, and every town is furnished, more or less, with the apparatus for dyeing and weaving. The sugar cane, too we observed frequently, while the plantain and banana were in the greatest profusion. The first notice, at times, that we would have of our proximity to a town, would be the dense and beautiful foliage of those trees, giving us notice of human habitations. We approach ed Talma through beautiful walks of lofty and magnificent trees, very thickly interspersed with those of camwood, whose fragrant blossoms imparted delightful aroma to the atmosphere.' He remarks, ' The situation of Bo Poro is very obscure, being located in a valley formed by a chain of double mountains, completely encircling it and giving to their elevation a remarkable sirailitu^Ie to the seats of a theatre. The scenery by which the town is surrounded, is magnifi cently grand ; as far as the eye can see, you discern moun tain towering above mountain until they are lost in the dis tance. The chain runs regularly for some miles, then a por tion more lofty than the rest towers aloft, whilst from base to summit the eye can behold but one expanse of the greenest foliage. The land then assumes a gentle acclivity, and its in creasing altitude soon raises it upon an elevation with other prominences, until the whole assumes the appearance of one continuous chain. Here, perhaps, the eye is met by a por tion under cultivation, whilst there a path is distinctly visi ble leading to regions beyond. At their base is to be seen the plantain, the sure evidence of the habitation of human beings, whilst from their shade will be seen ascending smoke from their various fires. On their summit the eye catches the outline of a distant town, whilst a barricaded one is more distinctly visible. Upon the whole, the scenery is more magnificent than any that I remember having seen, and it is to me a matter of great regret that I am unable to sketch what was most vividly impressed upon my mind.' APPENDIX. 349 But amid these scenes, so adorned and enriched by the hand of nature, and where the useful arts are not wholly un known, men are the victims of the worst superstition and vice. By the slave-trade they have been rendered more im placable foes to each other than are the leopards of their for ests, and even cannibalism: a crime not against reason and the moral sense alone, but revolting even to instinct, exists among them." NEW MISSION TO AFRICA. The Rev. J. Payne, and the Rev. L. B. Minor, sailed from Baltimore on the 18th of May, last, 1837, for Cape Palmas, as Missionaries from the Protestant Episcopal Church in these United States. At the late annual meeting of the Board of Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church, held since that time, the fol lowing important action was had : Resolved, That it is expedient to have a Missionary Bishop of this Church for Foreign parts. Resolved, That the station of the said Missionary Bishop should be Africa. The Missionary Bishop thus provided for, is expected to extend his Episcopal supervision to other Missionary Sta tions of the Board in Foreign Countries — probably to the several stations at Athens, in Syra, in Crete, in Persia, in China. But his location will be in Africa, the land of Ter tullian, Cyprian, and other Fathers of the church. It is in deed delightful to witness the interest which is now taken by the several denominations of evangelical Christians in behalf of that long neglected, but most interesting conti nent ; and it is, to the author, matter of devout gratitude to God, that the Episcopal Church is thus coming up to the great and good work, and is about to be again efficiently organized in that once enlightened but now benighted land. rf IN FAMILIAR CONVERSATIONS ON THE SUBJECT OF SLAVERY AND COLONIZATION: BY REV. F. FREEMAN, RECTOR OF ST. DAVID'S CHURCH, Manatunk, Pa. AUTHOR OF THE PASTOr's PLEA FOR PSALMODY, ETC. This work, now republished with considerable additions and and improvements, should be extensively read, since it contains more than any other publication, full and general information, given with strict impartiality, on subjects of vast importance and increasing in terest in every part of our widely extended country. The first edition of 3000 copies being exhausted, it has been considered by distinguish ed friends of colonization, a desideratum that a revised and improved edition should be issued in such a form as may ensdTe its extensive circulation. The attention of all, favorable to free inquiry, and who know how to appreciate facts, and kind and candid reasoning, whatever their present views of the subject discussed may be, is therefore very respectfully invited to the work. The perusal of the work will abun dantly compensate for the trifling cost, whilst its possession will be of great value for occasional reference. A few notices recommendatory of the work, consequent upon the ap pearance of the first edition, have been selected from various leading periodicals, and are here inserted, that those who may feel inclined to aid a good object, and favor the circulation of the " Plea," may be the better acquainted with the estimation in which it is held. From the Colonization Herald, Philadelplda. This work, so long a desideratum, will be read with equal pleasure and profit by every true friend of the African race ; correct principles, sprightly narrative, and thrilling anecdote, being happily blended in a work of high literary merit. * * We hope the time is not far dis tant when a copy of it will be found in every family of our land. The spirit with which it is written must commend it to the attentive perusal of every one of good feeling. From the Journal of Commerce, Jfe-w York. This is an able defence of colonization in the form of familiar dia logues. The author goes over the whole ground of the controversy which has of late so agitated the country, bringing to his aid many appropriate observations of distinguished men, or extracts from their speeches, whieh are made to bear, in an interesting and instructive Ejanner, upon the points under discussion. 352 From the Presbyterian, Philadelphia. " Mr. Freeman has succeeded in making a very readable book, at once attractive and instructive. The conversational form adopted fur nishes the opportunity of introducing great variety of matter without confusion and all bearing on the principal design. Sketches, anecdote, history and argument, are happily blended in furnishing a full view of the subject, and in leading the mind to the conclusion that colonization is the only true remedy of an acknowledged evil, for the cure of which such unskilful means have lately been applied. * * * We recom mend the perusal of Yaradee as a seasonable publication, and even our southern brethren, although they may possibly object to some of its details, will, nevertheless, give credit to the author for his good spirit." From the JVational Gazette, Philadelphia. " The author's ' Conversations' treat of a variety of interesting to pics in connexion with the main subject, and much historical informa tion is included in his pages." From the Baptist Monthly Paper, Philadelphia. " It.is, as it put"ports to be, a series of familiar conversations thrown into an'attractive form. In this day of e.xcitement upon the subject of slavery, abolition, and colonization, of clashing statements of fact, and conflicting opinions, we think Mr. Freeman has performed a va luable service for the community ; and we hope not in vain. There seems a very pleasing variety of fact and incident embodied in the work, which will, as we before remarked, render it attractive, while we fear not to predict its utility, if it is read. From the United States Gazette, Philadelphia. A part of this volume contains a learned dissertation upon the ori gin of slavery, and of the cause of that evil upon Afirica. The wri ter quotes from many ingenious authors, and gives great interest to his work by his happy use of his reading. * * * He sets forth the evils of slavery to the master as well as to the slave, and points to co lonization as a remedy." From the Commercial .Advertiser JVe-w York, " It appears to be designed to present, at one view, a summary of the views of the different parties on these two topics, (slavery and coloni zation,) and the arguments and facts on which each of them relies. In the main we regard the spirit of the author to be unexceptionable. * • * We have been pleased with the general tendency of the vo lume, which is to exhibit the present attractive position which Provi dence has given to the scheme of African colonization. The informa tion it contains, ought to be universally disseminated in our own coun try, and if British philanthropists and orators would read it they would spare themselves, and others, the exhibitions of - windy eloquence, by which they are making themselves ridiculous, and slandering the nation." 353 From the Keystone, Harrisbtirg, Pa. " We have perused the above work with as much pleasure as we could probably peruse any work treating upon the subject of Africa, and her much injured race, and we would most cheerfully recommend it to the perusal of all others, especially those who feel interested in the subject; and who does not at this timel It contains a glance at the origin of the African race, and the history of Africa — a brief history of the slave trade, slavery, and of the Colonization So ciety. The work is written in familiar style of dialogue, and breathes throughout a pure spirit of enlightened philanthropy. The author's views are, as he says, ' the conscientious result of much reflection, personal observation, and a long residence at the south.' The book should be in every family." From the Lancaster Journal, Pa. " Those wishing a full illustration and investigation of the subject of slavery and colonization, we refer to the above work. We think none can rise from its perusal without having their minds enlightened on this very important subject," From the Philadelphia Observer, " Yaradee, a Plea for Africa, is the title of the interesting book in which Mr. Freeman has collected and judiciously arranged a number of important facts relative to the history and evils of slavery ; he has also rendered the work more valuable by collating and presenting in their connexion with each other, the sentiments of many of the most enlightened and distinguished men, both in Europe and America, who have contributed of their influence and talents in aid of the cause which he pleads. He has appropriately adopted a conversational style and so happily blended entertainment with instruction, as to render his Plea a captivating manual, not only for the use of mature inquirers but also of those who are soon to assume an active agency in consumma ting the plans which their seniors shall have commenced. * * We be lieve that whoever shall read it, and we believe they will be many, will derive from it much knowledge, and receive such impressions as^will better qualify them to act with an intelligent zeal in promoting the ob ject the attainment of which it contemplates." From the Christian Intelligencer, JVew York. " In this work the author has arranged and collected a number of facts in relation to the history and evils of slavery, and the whole is de signed and calculated to excite sympathy for the colored race, and to prompt to measures for the melioration of their condition. Mr. Free man is the enlightened and zealous friend of the cause of colonization ; he views it as most auspiciously operating upon the cause of universal emancipation ; securing in its success the moral and spiritual renova tion of long oppressed and degraded Africa. A great variety of mat ter is introduced, and amusement and instruction are happily blended. Sketches, anecdotes, history, and argument, are furnished in order lo rf2 354 give a full view of the subject. We know of no work on the subject better adapted for popular use, in imparting interest and instruction, and we feel free in recommending it to oar readers." Besides the above editorial notices a reviewer of the work, who is known to he a distinguished clergyman, in a series of numbers in the JWzo York Observer, says : " This is a most seasonable and useful publication, called for by the peculiar state of the public mind in reference to the now all absorbing topic, both in the political and religious world, viz. the colored race ; called for also by the discussions in progress on that subject." The author " has happily succeeded in avoiding almost entirely the language and spirit of reprehension and severity towards any party or individual whose views may difler from his own. No one can, certainly no one ought to complain, who entertains different sentiments from the author since he so carefully avoids those ' grievous words which stir up anger,' and so copiously employ those ' soft answers which turn away wrath.' " To the foregoing notices is subjoined the following from the respect ed Secretaries of the Pennsylvania Colonization Society and the Ame rican Society for the promotion of Education in Africa : " The Plea for Africa is recommended to all the friends of the Colo nization Society, and to all friends of Africa, and of the colored peo ple in this land, as the best exhibition of the argument for the Coloni zation scheme now extant. It is full of interesting information. ORSON DOUGLASS, Gen. Agt. and Cor. Sec. of the Penn. Col. Society. REUBEN D. TURNER, Cor, Sec. and Gen. Agt. of the Am. Society for Edc. in Africa. June 17, 1837. 355 PSAIilTIODIA, OR THE PASTOR'S PLEA FOR SACRED PSALMODY. By REV. F. FREEMAN, RECTOR OF ST. DAVId's CHURCH, MANAYUNK ; AUTHOR OF THE "PLEA FOR AFRICA," &C.; BY J. WHETHAM, NO. 22 SOUTH FOURTH STEET, PHILADELPHIA, AND EZRA COLLIER, 148 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK. The following are some of the notices which have been taken of this work by religious and other periodicals ; Extract from " The JMissionary," Burlington, JVJ. " In this little volume, so very neatly printed, with the most appro priate mottoes most tastefully arranged, the Rev. Mr. Freeman, Rector of St. David's, Manayunk, has done the Church good, and we should hope acceptable service. We are happy in an auxiliary so zealous and so able, in a cause which we have so much at heart ; and commend his pastoral plea to all who have — and keep us clear of all who have not — music in their hearts. Our Pastor of St. David's — an excellent pa tron for Psalmodia — pleads earnestly, first that it is our duty to sing God's praise, and second, to do it well. Under the latter head, he argues that singing should be congregational, the lune appropriate both to the occasion and sentiment, the deportment decent and devotional, the heart engaged — singing and making melody in our hearts unta the Lord." Extract from the " Episcopal Recorder," Philadelplda. "This little work has long been needed. The subject of Church music, as important as it is, has been altogether unattended to in the degree that its proper merit would reasonably demand. Especially in a Church whose public devotions admit so much singing as does the Episcopal Church, should Psalmody claim much attention. This is a subject, however, which has been almost entirely overlooked, and in view of this fact, the little work, whose title we give above, has been produced. The work before us considers the duty of singing God's praise, and the manner in which that duty should be performed ; under 356 which two heads are briefly discussed almost every thing that properly pertains to Church music. We commend it earnestly to those whom it concerns, and tvhom does it not 1 with a hope that the subject will meet with more attention than it has heretofore had. We hope that the work will be widely circulated and carefully read." Extract from " The Churchman,'' New York. " This work is divided into four parts, the first consisting of intro ductory remarks, and the last of a conclusion and appendix. The second part contains three chapters on " singing God's praise," and the third contains twelve chapters on " the manner in which the duty should be performed." Of the correctness of its scientific prrnciples, we are incompetent to give an opinion ; but the spirit and design of it are excellent." Extract from a Brooklyn Paper, N. Y. " This is a very pretty duodecimo, and is well worthy an attentive reading. The views of the writer are sound and Christian-like. The importance of music, vocal and instrumental ; the duty of each indi vidual to join in the service ; the parts to be performed by the leader, the choir, and the congregation ; the disapproval of all singing by proxy, i. e. of the choh for the congregation ; and the remarks on the proper use of instruments, are each deserving of the consideration of the members of churches of all denominations." Extract from a Review in " The Musical Magazine,'" New York, by Thomas Hastings, Esq. " We greet this little volume with peculiar pleasure, as furnished by the pen of a worthy clergyman. This, we would fondly hope, is the commencement of a better era in the American Churches. Who shall become the successful advocates of true devotional praise while ministers treat the subject with manifest indifference T * * We are glad that the author has come before the public, and are persuaded that his little book, coming from such a source as it does, will be of service to the cause. The religious claims of the cause, the duties of the teacher, the organist, the choir, the congregation, the clergy— on such topics as these the writer seems quite at home, and desirous of delive.-- ing his message with faithfulness and zeal. We hope that such men as he will continue to speak till songs of praise shall echo through the land." 357 TO CLERGYMEN, STUDENTS IN THEOLOGY, &c. J. WHETHAM takes this opportunity of informing his customers and the public generally that he has lately imported a large assortment of the most important works in the various departments of Theology, Church History and Biblical Literature, selected by a competent agent in Europe, with a view to the wants of clergymen, students of theo logy, and persons engaged in a course of collegiate education ; and on such terms as to enable him to offer them at lower prices than they can be obtained at any other store in the United States. The following books are published by Joseph Whetham : — GILL'S COMMENTARY ON THE OLD AND NEW TES TAMENT, 9 vols. 4to. DICK'S THEOLOGY. Lectures on Theology, by the late Rev. John Dick, D. D., with a Preface, Memoir, &c., second American edition, 2 vols, royal 8vo. WATSON'S DIVINITY. A Body of Practical Divinity in a Series of Sermons on the Shorter Catechism, with sermons on various subjects, by Thomas Watson, 1 vol. royal 8vo. COLLYER'S LECTURES. Lectures on Scripture Facts and Prophecy, by William Benj. Collyer, 1 vol. 8vo. CHRISTIAN ANTIQUITIES. Antiquities of the Christian Church ; edited by Rev. C. S. Henry, 8vo. JONES' CHURCH HISTORY. The History of the Christian Church from the Birth of Christ to the XVIIIth Century, including the interesting account of the Waldenses and Albigenses, by Wm. Jones, 1 vol. 8vo. CALVIN ON ROMANS. A Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, by John Calvin, translated by F. Sibson, A. B. 12mo. MEMOIR OF RICE. A memoir of Ihe Rev. John H. Rice, D. D. First Professor of Christian Theology in Union Theological Seminary Virginia, by Wm. Maxwell, Esq. 12mo. ALEXANDER'S EVIDENCES. Evidences of the Authenticity, Inspiration, and Canonical Authority of the Holy Scriptures, by A. Alexander, D. D., of Princeton, N. J., 12mo. DREW ON THE RESURRECTION; 12mo. BROWN'S CHRISTIAN PASTOR'S MANUAL; 12mo. CANON OF SCRIPTURE. The Canon of the Old and New Testaments ascertained, or the Bible complete without the Apocrypha and underwritten Traditions, by A. Alexander, D. D., 12mo. CLERICAL MANNERS. Letters on Clerical Manners and Habits ; addressed to a student in the Theological Seminary, Prince ton, N. J., by Saml. Miller, D. D., 12mo. RAMSEY'S MISSIONARY JOURNAL. Journal of a Mission ary Tour in India ; performed by the Rev. Messrs. Read and Ramsey Edited by Rev. Wm. Ramsey, 1 vol. 12mo. 358 YARADEE. A Plea for Africa, in Familiar Conversations on the subject of Slavery and Colonization, by Rev. F. Freeman, 12mo. BRIDGES ON THE H9th PSALM. Exposition of Psalm CXIX, as illustrative of the Character and Exercises of Christian Experience by the Rev. Charles Bridges, M. A., 1 vol. 12mo. MEMOIR OF HALYBURTON. Memoirs of Rev. Thomas Halyburton, with an Introductory Essay, by Robert Burns, D. D., and a Preface by Rev. A. Alexander, D. D., 12mo. CASES OF CONSCIENCE. Religious Cases of Conscience, answered in an evangelical manner, at the casuistical lecture in little St. Helens, by S. Pike and S. Hayward, 12mo. EVANGELICAL MUSIC ; Or the Sacred Harp and Sacred Minstrel united — designed to accompany the new arranged edition of the General Assembly's Psalms and Hymns. DREW ON THE SOUL. An Original Essay on the Immateri ality and Immortality of the Human Soul ; founded solely on Physical and Rational Principles, by Samuel Drew, A. M., 12mo, LIEE OF CALVIN. The Life of John Calvin, by Theodore Beza, translated by Francis Sibson, A. B., with copious Notes by the American Editor, 12mo. THE NUN, by Mrs. Sherwood, third Edition, 12mo. FABER ON INFIDELITY. The Difficulties of Infidelity, by George Stanley Faber, B. D. Rector of Long Newton, 12mo, MILLER ON BAPTISM. Infant Baptism Spiritual and reason able, by Baptism, by Sprinkling, or Affusion, the most suitable and edifying mode, by Samuel Miller, D. D., 12mo. DIVINE PURPOSE. The divine purpose displayed in the works of Providence and Grace, by Rev. John Matthews, D. D., 18mo. PSALMODIA ; Or the Pastor's Plea for Psalmody, by Rev. F. Freeman, 18mo, THE TEST OF TRUTH, by Mary Jane Graham, 18mo. THE FREENESS OF GOD'S JUSTIFYING AND ELECT ING GRACE, by Mary Jane Graham, 18mo. SCRIPTURE CATECHISM. The Catechism of the Westmin ster Assemblies of Divines, with Spiritual Questions and Answers, by Rev. Matthew Henry, D. D. Also a Familiar Exposition of the Lord's Prayer, 18mo. THE YOUNG COMMUNICANT'S CATECHISM, by Rev. John Willison, with questions. &c., by Rev. Ashbel Green, 18mo. ELEMENTS OF GEOMETRY, by Eugenius Nulty, royal, 12mo. SMART'S LITERAL TRANSLATION OF HORACE, 2 vols. 18mo. new edition. KENNEDY'S THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ARITH METIC, 18mo. 359 PSALMS AND HYMNS adapted to Public Worship, and approv ed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America ; the latter being arranged according to subjects, together with titles prefixed to each and directions for Musical expres sions, &c. &c., 32mo. do. do. do. 32mo. do. do. do. I2mo. The following are published by J. W. in connexion with a house in London, and offered to the trade in quantities. Neal's History of the Puritans, 3 vols. 8vo. Witsius on the Covenants, 2 vols, 8vo. Edwards on the Freedom of the Will, 8vo. Ellis's Knowledge of Divine things, 12mo. Massillon's Sermons, with Life, &c. 8vo. Fisher's Manner of Modem Divinity, 12mo. Howe's Delighting in God, ISmo. Leland's Deistical Writers, 8vo. Jenning's Jewish Antiquities, 8vo. Cole on God's Sovereignty, 13mo. Pascal's Thoughts, 12mo. Gumall's Christian Armour, 8vo. Hervey's Theron and Aspasio. Bp. Berkley's Works, 3 vols. 8vo. YALE 3 9002 00948