52 Address of the Auxiliary Colonization than a year after manumission, they are ordered to be seized and sold to a second servitude. Is there no part of the world where we could find them a 'home in which they might be happier and better than among us? Are there no instances upon historical record, of persons unhappily situated in their native country, who have in large bodies transported themselves to a distant but more propitious spot? Were not the Israelites, from a state of the most: abject slavery, conducted out of the land of Egypt, and out of the house of bondage, into a land of promise? Was not Carthage, which afterwards became one of the most splendid and magnificent empires in the world, the rival of the Roman empire in all its power and glory, at first settled, and in Africa too, by fugitives from Tyrian oppression? Was not ancient Rome itself founded by the wandering outcasts from Troy, and afterwards strengthened by convicts and adventurers from many other countries? But let us come nearer home-was not this the case with a large proportion of the first settlers in these United States of America, particularly the first settlers of New England, who, finding themselves despised and persecuted in their native land, sought an asylum on a strange and uncultivated coast, and are now one of the most laborious, prosperous, and respectable portions of the world? Does not the history of Colonies furnish us with every encouragement one could desire ? Would it not be well to try and tempt them to a place where they may become more happy and respectable than they ever can in their present situation? How pleasing and full of comfort is the thought, that the evil we seek to remove from among us, instead of increasing for the future, and spreading itself over the vast and yet fertile countries of the west, blasting, as it ever yet has done, whatever soil it touches, as though the curse of heaven attended it, shall be gradually lessening by the voluntary acts of individuals; and at the same time, that so much vice, poverty and oppressión, was departing from one quarter of the globe, the blessings of religion and civilization should be spreading themselves over another quarter of the earth, which for centuries has been the scene of the most inhuman persecution and oppression? What a noble spectacle will it be, to see Europe, and America, the two guilty portions of the earth, wearied with warring against each other, and, wishing to atone for former injuries done to Africa, uniting in a generous act of retribution, in sending back the children's children of that injured land..with all the blessings of religion, agriculture, the arts and sciences; and promising to aid them for the future, whenever it shall be needful? Surely, the good and pious must approve and assist this blessed work! Surely the God of heaven must abundantly bless it!-But is not this all fancy? Mere rhap-' sody? Is it plausible ?-Is it at all practicable ?-Will they go ?—, Is the country a fit habitation for civilized beings?-Such are the questions which are continually asked. To which we answer with strong confidence--Yes! Yes!-at any rate we have sufficient encouragement to make the trial.--Why not go ?>>What wil detain them here if a good country is provided for them else Society of Frederick County, (Virginia.) 53 where? Are they so little used to be torn from their birth places and carried to a distance, that they cannot forsake their native land, barren as it may be of joy to them? The Laplander loves his native rocks, his frozen lakes and his mountains of snow. The Tartar rejoices in his lowly hut-his clothes of skin and exults in bis uncultivated plains. But these have something which sweetens all the rest, something pure and unshackled, which the objects for whom we plead have not. Will not the love of equal rights, which here they have not, the desire of property,--the love of self government-of education and national greatness, be some allurements towards another country? The various disabilities under which they labour, the contempt ever poured upon them, their exclusion from any share in civil government, will surely make them desire to leave a country where they are thus treated, as soon as we can so far gain their confidence as to make them believe there is another, and a better, provided for them, where they will escape the operation of so many evils. Let the experiment be fairly made, and should they refuse it, then doubt whether they are human creatures, or belong to the same race with ourselves. Our laws do not even recognize their capacity of speaking the truth; their oath cannot be received in a court of justice, except indeed when they become informers against each other. They dare not look a white man full in the face. They cannot asso ciate with the whites in any of the relations or intercourses of life. Their colour and features, so different from ours, and the great prejudices arising therefrom, utterly forbid that the relations of matrimony, of government, of social intercourse, should be entered into with them. These and a thousand other circumstances, must make them willing to exchange this for a country free from such objections Difficulties, especially at first, must doubtless be encountered.--These will arise from their great distrust of the whites, with whom this scheme originated--the difficulty of fully gaining their confidence--their intermarriages with slaves--the novelty of the undertaking-the dangers of the ocean, and the hardships and exposures of a new settlement: but all these difficulties have been surmounted again and again. We go upon the supposition that they are human beings, and will act as such. Were we never to attempt any thing that is attended with difficulties, we should never be just, or generous,-rich, or great; we should never be Christians. We must first gain their confidence in our good intentions, and that we are acting in good faith toward them. Some of them must first go over to see the place. Believing, as we do, that this will be to them a land of promise, we trust that there may yet be found some Calebs and Joshuas among those spies that may be sent who shall bring them back a good report, and show them, in addition to clusters of grapes, their plantains, their dates, their yams, their ivory and their gold. But, though we should expect to meet with difficulties, we are of opinion, that there perhaps never was a colony yet settled which 54 Address of the Auxiliary Colonisation was attended with so many favourable circumstances as this. Pure benevolence and Christian charity are at the foundation of it. All the prayers of the righteous must be in its favour. Heaven will bless it. All the governments of Europe must respect and encourage it. They are pledged to do so, by consistency with those treaties which they have formed with one another, and with America. Other colonies have had to protect themselves, and have met with great hardships, and been exposed to great dangers. We have however great encouragement from a colony similar to the one proposed. The work has in fact already been begun for us, and now prospers and invites us on. Sierra Leone was the first fatal spot where the slave trade began, and here it is that the Europeans have begun the Christian work of restitution. it was commenced immediately after the close of the revolutionary war. The slaves who joined the British, from the southern States, and were carried to Nova Scotia, petitioned to be sent to some other place, where the climate would be more congenial to their constitutions and habits, and where they might enjoy more equal rightsThey were therefore sent to Sierra Leone, in Africa, and formed into a colony with a number of whites, to protect, instruct, and govern them for a time. Their organization at first was badly managed The colony fell into difficulties, and was at length broken up by a French fleet. Nothing discouraged by these things, a benevolent society in England undertook its patronage; reorganized it with complete success, and it is now in a flourishing state, abounding with schools and churches, has a free government, and excellent laws securing to them the trial by jury, with all other privileges of a free and happy people. And by the last report of the Sierra Leone society, in England, this remarkable fact is stated, "That the profits of trade to England with that colony already surpass the whole profits arising from all other parts of the African coast. The bordering native tribes often visit them, and carry back into the interior pleasing accounts of their happiness and prosperity. This intercourse is increasing, and a society is now formed in the colony for educating and sending missionaries among the natives. About two years ago Paul Cuffee, a free man of colour of great respectability, enterprise, talents, piety and wealth, having collected a number of free people of colour in the different towns of our country, carried them free of expense to the colony, where they were kindly received and generously treated; being presented each with a lot in the town, and fifty acres of land in the vicinity about two miles distant. They write home in high spirits, and represent the country as abounding in rice and other productions; and a variety of fruits are to be had all the year round. And why may we not form other colonies on the same coast? Africa is not cursed with barrenness all over. Africa has her deserts and her sands; and so has Europe, Asia and America. But Africa has also her noble rivers, whose very sources have not yet Society of Frederick County, (Virginia.) 55 been explored. Africa has her lofty mountains and fertile plains. If any of her rivers are deserted and her plains uncultivated, the history of the slave trade can tell us why. The country itself has been as much vilified as its inhabitants have been oppressed and injured. The time was, when truth on this subject must not be spoken. No representation must be given of Africa, other than of a wilderness to raise a species of beings inferior to the human, who were marked by heaven to be slaves and bondmen to the other parts of the world. This time has passed, and with it, all its infidelities and misrepresentations. Truth now speaks out in a loftier tone. Later travellers have given a very different view of the soil and the climate, as well as of the manners and dispositions of many of the tribes. The Europeans, in truth, made them much worse than they previously were, and then abused them for it, and exaggerated their vices. The country is in many places very pleasant and fertile; agriculture is not every where neglected, but in some places carried to a considerable degree of perfection. They are also paying some attention to the arts; and only need friendly encouragement to excel in all these things. They have the same feelings and affections with other nations. They have exhibited, in an eminent degree, some of the noblest qualities of the human heart. They have given evidences of epistolary, poetical, mechanical, mathematical and military genius, in those countries to which they have been carried, and where any opportunities of improvement have been allowed them all which things give them a claim to be ranked in the same class of created beings with the men of other countries, and prove them to have the same origin with ourselves. Who will venture to affirm with an înfidel Philosopher of France, "That they will be twenty thousand years hence what they were twenty thousand years ago, an inferior link in creation, and without a man of genius among them?" Let it be remembered what those parts of Europe were less than two thousand years ago, which have since produced a Shakespeare, a Newton, a Fenelon, a Gesner, a Racine, and others. The time was, when their rustic Bards did not perhaps excel the plaintive and hospitable song of the African woman over poor Mungo Park. The time was, when their savage dispositions could not, perhaps, be softened down to the compassion which was shown to this heroic but unfortunate man by some of the tribes of interior Africa. It is not for us to predict what sublime Poets, what wise Philosophers, what powerful Orators, what venerable Divines may yet adorn and bless that quarter of the globe. Africa has not been always altogether ignoble. Carthage was once famous, when Hannibal led her armies to the gates of Rome; and glorious, when Cyprian, the noblest of the ancient Fathers, led her saints and martyrs to the gates of heaven. Egypt also, now indolent, effemi nate, and servile, was once the granary of Europe, and the seat of learning and the arts. It is thought more learning was consumed in the Alexandrian Library, than the world has ever been in pos session of siace. Let us not doom Africa to barbarism, and hea 56 Address of the Auxiliary Colonisation thenism. Heaven may have decreed otherwise. The earth, we fondly hope, and firmly believe, is to be covered with the knowledge of the Lord. The heathen are to be given to Christ for his inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for his possession. Africa is no where excepted from these general promises. The religion of Christ suits all climes, and colours, and descriptions of men. The Father made all men, the Saviour died for all men : none are so bad or so ignorant as to be incapable of understanding religion and being reformed by it. It is a plain highway, that the way-faring men, though fools, need not err therein. And none are so wise or good but they may become wiser and better by it. Whatever ridicule or argument may have been used against their capacity or genius, whatever doubts may have been entertained as to the identity of their species with our own, this at least must be conceded,--that they possess one trait of character, which distinguishes man from all other animals on earth, and that is, a capacity for religion. Of many a poor unlettered African might it be said, as was said of the great, the learned, the accomplished Paul after his conversion, Behold! he prayeth! And shall we not attempt to communicate this gift of God to gentle Africa ?-What plan is so likely to succeed as that of sending back her own sons with the word of God in their hands? These they will hear, and receive. These they will know to be their brethren. A colony of this kind will be a proper place, for a time at least, for such missionaries as are designed for the natives, to stop at; and from thence they will issue with all the nccessary means of instruction to penetrate into the interior. But it is asked, If there is such an asylum already prepared for them at Sierra Leone, what need of providing any other? And if they will not go to that place, what reason have we to conclude, that they would migrate to any other, should it be provided? To which it is answered, That we have not in every part of our country a Paul Cuffee who has seen the place, and who could inspire them with confidence in the statements which he should give. There is not one in ten thousand, who have even heard of either Paul Cuffee or Sierra Leone. Besides, how are they to be furnished with the means, or a channel of conveyance, were they ever so anxious to go? Paul Cuffee transported a small number, whose consent he was happy enough to obtain, at his own expense; but it does not follow, that he either could, or would, transport some hundreds of thousands, should they wish to go. But Sierra Leone is quite a small territory, and could not congain one thousandth part of what might be sent from the United States, without a considerable accession of territory. But who is to purchase this territory, if it were attainable? Will the British government, or the friendly society in England which has been their patrons and protectors, make this enlargement of territory on our behalf?-Would we not, ought we not, to be ashamed to ask it, or even to submit to it were it offered. Besides, that colony belongs to another government should : |