Slike strani
PDF
ePub

Africa. The net profits on the two articles of wood and ivory, passing through the hands of the settlers from January 1st, 1826, to June 15th, 1826, was $30,786. In 1829, the exports of African products amounted to $60,000; in 1831, 46 vessels, 21 of which were American, visited the Colony, and the amount of exports was $88,911. In 1832, its commerce greatly enlarged. During the year ending the 1st of May, 1832, 59 vessels bad visited Monrovia, 32 of which were American. The exports during this period amounted to $125,549, of imports to $80,000, and the produce on hand, January 1st, 1832 was $47,4000. New and important avenues of trade are constantly opening into the interior. To those who duly estimate the Missionary cause, it may be gratifying to know, that many of the native Africans in the vicinity of Liberia, (10,000 at least,) have already placed themselves under the protection and laws of the Colony, that they desire education, that no deeply founded or strongly fortified systems of superstition stand in the way of their conversion to christianity, and that among them is already laid open a most wide and promising field for christian exertion.

The Committee would state, before concluding this address, that owing to the heavy expenses necessarily incurred by the Managers of the American Colonization Society, in aiding the emigration of eleven hundred persons during the period of a little more than a year past, the funds of the Institution have been exhausted, and at a time when numerous respectable persons of color are making application for assistance. It cannot be granted unless special efforts shall be made to augment the resources of the Society.

And while we are urged to assist this great cause, at a time when more than any other since its origin such aid is required, it should be recollected, that no general and earnest effort has at any time been made in our city and State for its advancement.

Your Committee will not permit themselves to doubt that under these circumstances, the proposed effort to raise ten thousand dollars for this cause, will receive the well nigh unanimous approbation of their fellow citizens. An appeal in behalf of any great object of charity, they rejoice to say, has seldom been made in vain to the people of Massachusetts. And when made as in this case in behalf of an afflicted people, seeking as our fathers once sought, an asylum on a distant and uncivilized shore, where they may secure for themselves and their posterity, through all time, blessings like those we so highly prize, to impart to their more wretched brethren the knowledge and the hope of the great common salvation, your Committee trust, that all hearts will feel its power, and that none will deny themselves the privilege of contributing something, at least, to a cause so worthy of the best affections and highest efforts of every friend of human freedom, virtue and happiness.

A. H. EVERETT,
SAMUEL DORR,
CHARLES TAPPAN,
HENRY HOMES,
MOSES GRANT,
E. S. GANNETT,
G. W. BLAGDEN,

HENRY CODMAN,
ISAAC MANSFIELD,
CHARLES STODDARD,
HENRY HILL,

H. H. HUGGEFORD,
T. B. COOLIDGE,

B. B. THATCHER,

COMMITTEE.

INTELLIGENCE AND MISCELLANY.

THE CANTERBURY AFFAIR.

WE have received the circular of Messrs. Adams and Judson relative to this transaction too late for insertion in this number. We are glad to see measures taken for furnishing the public with both sides of the question. When the evidence is all in, we shall probably have an opinion to pronounce.

MARYLAND.

THE present position of this State and of its highly respectable Colonization Society, in regard to slavery, is deservedly a matter of great interest with the public. A communication on the subject, from a distinguished friend of the cause at Baltimore, received as this number was going to press, will be a theme for comment in

our next.

THE STATE OF THE COLONY.

MUCH information on this subject will be found in the address of the Colonization Committee of this city, appointed for the purpose of carrying into execution, as we cannot doubt they will, the noble design of raising $10,000 in aid of the Parent Society..

THE high praise which MR. CUSHING'S Colonization Address, delivered in this city on the 4th of July, has received from the National Gazette, and other leading southern authorities, makes it needless for us to call the attention of the friends of the cause to that admirable performance.

COLONIZATION SOCIETIES, both of ladies and gentlemen, have been formed, since our last, at Newburyport; also a large Society at Portland, as noticed in a preceding article. A Society is about being formed in Salem.

MR. GURLEY'S VISIT.

THE friends of African Colonization have derived much gratification from the visit of the respected Secretary of the National Institution. He delivered several addresses in this city, much to the satisfaction of the large congregations who heard them.

CONTRIBUTIONS

To the American Colenization Society, reported at the Agency Office, Jonj's Building,

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

J. N. DANFORTH, General Agent of the American Colonization Society.

Ir being thought best to publish the Colonizationist the first instead of the fifteenth of the month, this number is dated August instead of July. It will be issued hereafter on the first of every month.

THE COLONIZATIONIST

AND

JOURNAL OF FREEDOM.

SEPTEMBER, 1833.

OPPOSITION TO THE COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

MESSRS. EDITORS:-My former communication will lead you to expect a description of the different classes of persons enlisted in opposing the Colonization Society. It has been my object to meet and converse with such, as extensively as the labors of the agency would allow, believing that those who differ on any subject, may be profited by a kind interchange of sentiments, and that it is exceedingly desirable for the friends of the colored race to act in harmony for their welfare.

Permit me to remark, in the first place, that the number of persons opposed to the Colonization Society is much smaller than a reader of the Anti-Colonization publications might suppose. A considerable number who had been currently reported as opposers of colonization, I found to be firm friends. Several complained of unkind treatment in being thus reported, stating that they had given no occasion for it. Others had been in doubt for a time, after hearing addresses, or reading the pamphlets in which the Society was attacked, but, after examining the subject thoroughly, became more decided friends of colonization than before. A number of men who had become so much enlisted as to oppose the Society in discussions or lectures, and to assist in circulating the Liberator, have become decided friends of colonization. A larger

number who had been reported as opposed to the Society, I found were only in doubt in regard to some points or possible bearing of the Society, and yet had no idea of abandoning it.

But among the small number I have been able to find there is much diversity of feeling, and indeed, several distinct classes. Some have always been opposed to it, not from examination but from an aversion to all benevolent societies. The greater portion, however, profess to have been converted from what they consider the error of colonization, by the addresses and writings of Mr. Garrison, or other agents of the New England Anti-Slavery Society. Of these there are several classes.

The first I shall mention embraces those, who without a thorough investigation, had indulged very sanguine expectations of the success of the Colonization Society. They perhaps gave addresses or contributions several years since, expecting the Society would do all that could be done for the colored race,-that nothing else need be done for the emancipation and elevation of those who remain in this country, and that, with an occasional celebration, a liberal supply of good wishes, and an annual contribution, the Colonization Society, with a wonderworking power, would transport the whole free colored, and slave population, to an African paradise. But after watching the Society for several years, they find their predictions not yet fulfilled. The Society has wrought no miracles, and after ten or twelve years it has removed but about 3,000. Thus they come to the conclusion that the society never can accomplish the entire removal of slavery. Supposing that others have patronized it with the same mistaken visionary views, they were prepared to be carried away with the attacks upon the Society, and to believe that the nation has been deceived and misled' by it.

2. Another class embraces some elderly men, who, from benevolent feeling, were jealous of the Colonization Society at its commencement. They were anxious for the speedy abolition of Slavery, and perhaps had been members of Abolition Societies which were then nearly extinct. They saw that no pledge was given by the Society to aim at emancipation, and that many of its first officers were slave-holders. These circumstances, together with the sentiments expressed by some who assisted in forming it, led them to fear that the Society would tend to perpetuate slavery. As the Society moved forward and became popular, their opposition diminished, and some were induced to examine its publications, and became moderate friends. A few of this class became contributers especially for the transportation of slaves liberated for this

« PrejšnjaNaprej »