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1862.] LIBERIA'S CONTRIBUTION TO LETTERS AND THEOLOGY. 363 invite special attention to the concluding passage of Mr. Blyden's discourse:

"Our prosperity depends as much upon the wholesome and elevating influence we exert upon the native population, as upon the progress we make in agriculture, commerce, and manufacture. Indeed the conviction prevails in Liberia among the thinking people that we can make no important progress in these things without the co-operation of the aborigines. We believe that no policy can be more suicidal in Liberia than that which would keep aloof from the natives around us. We believe that our life and strength will be to elevate and incorporate them among us as speedily as possible. "And, then, the aborigines are not a race alien from the colonists. We are a part of them. When alien and hostile races have come together, as we have just seen, one has had to succumb to the other; but when different peoples of the same family have been brought together, there has invariably been a fusion, and the result has been an improved and powerful class. When three branches of the great Teutonic family met on the soil of England, they united. It is true that at first there was a distinction of caste among them in consequence of the superiority in every respect of the great Norman people; but, as the others came up to their level, the distinctions were quietly effaced, and Norman, Saxon, and Dane easily amalgamated. Thus, 'a people inferior to none existing in the world was formed by the mixture of three branches of the great Teutonic family with each other and the aboriginal Britons.' *

"In America we see how readily persons from all parts of Europe assimilate; but what great difficulty the Negro, the Chinese, and the Indian experience. We find here representatives from all the nations of Europe easily blending with each other. But we find elements that will not assimilate. The Negro, the Indian, and the Chinese, who do not belong to the same family, repel each other, and are repelled by the Europeans. 'The antagonistic elements are in contact, but refuse to unite, and as yet no agent has been found sufficiently potent to reduce them to unity.'

"But the case with Americo-Liberians and the aboriginese is quite different. We are all descendants of Africa. In Liberia there may be found persons of almost every tribe in West Africa, from Senegal to Congo. And not only do we and the natives belong to the same race, but we are also of the same family. The two peoples can no more be kept from assimilating and blending than water can be kept from mingling with its kindred elements. The policy of Liberia is to diffuse among them as rapidly as possible the principles of Christianity and civilization, to prepare them to take an active part in the duties of the nationality which we are endeavoring to erect. Whence, then, comes the slander which represents Liberians as 'maintaining a distance from the aborigines-a constant and uniform separation?'

"To take part in the noble work in which they are engaged on that coast, the Government and people of Liberia earnestly invite the descendants of

*Macaulay's History of England, vol. i, chap. 1.

Africa in this country.* In all our feebleness, we have already accomplished something; but very little in comparison of what has to be done. A beginning has been made, however-a great deal of preparatory work accomplished. And if the intelligent and enterprising colored people of this country would emigrate in large numbers, an important work would be done in a short time. And we know exactly the kind of work that would be done. We know that where now stand unbroken forests would spring up towns and villages, with their schools and churches-that the natives would be taught the arts of civilization-that their energies would be properly directed-that their prejudices would disappear-that there would be a rapid and important revulsion from the practices of heathenism, and a radical change in their social condition-that the glorious principles of a Christian civilization would diffuse themselves throughout those benighted communities. Oh! that our people would take this matter into serious consideration, and think of the great privilege of kindling in the depths of the moral and spiritual gloom of Africa a glorious light-of causing the wilderness and the solitary place to be glad-the desert to bloom and blossom as the rose-and the whole land to be converted into a garden of the Lord.

"Liberia, then, appeals to the colored men of this country for assistance in the noble work which she has begun. She appeals to those who believe that the descendants of Africa live in the serious neglect of their duty if they fail to help to raise the land of their forefathers from her degradation. She appeals to those who believe that a well-established African nationality is the most direct and efficient means of securing respectability and independence for the African race. She appeals to those who believe that a rich and fertile country, like Africa, which has lain so long under the cheerless gloom of ignorance, should not be left any longer without the influence of Christian civilization to those who deem it a far more glorious work to save extensive tracts of country from barbarism and continued degradation than to amass for themselves the means of individual comfort and aggrandizement-to those who believe that there was a providence in the deportation of our forefathers from the land of their birth, and that that same Providence now points to a work in Africa to be done by us their descendants. Finally, Liberia appeals to all African patriots and Christians—to all lovers of order and refinement—to lovers of industry and enterprize-of peace, comfort—and happiness to those who having felt the power of the Gospel in opening up to them life and immortality, are desirous that their benighted kindred should share in the same blessings. 'Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.'

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*The Legislature of Liberia. at its last session, 1861-62. passed an act authorizing the ap pointment of Commissioners to itenarate among and lecture to the people of color in the United States of North America. to present to them the claims of Liberia. and its superior advantages as a desirable home for persons of African descent." The President appointed for this work, Professors Crummell and Blyden and J. D. Johnson, Esq.

PENNSYLVANIA ANNUAL MEETING.

The thirty-sixth Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Colonization Society was held on Monday evening, October 13, 1862, at the Rooms of the Society, No. 6.9 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. An unusually large number of our prominent and influential citizens were present. The Rev. W. W. Spear, D. D., was called upon to preside, and Robert B. Davidson, esq., was chosen Secretary.

After the reading and approval of the minutes, and the transaction of other business, the annual statement of the Board of Managers for the year ending September 30, was submitted and approved. The following extracts will interest our readers:

"It is with feelings of no ordinary kind that the Managers present their statement for the last year-a year that has resounded with the stately march of great events. But while the land has been shaken with the tread of mighty armies, we have rejoiced to find that in war, as in peace, this Society alike demands our efforts and our prayers."

FINANCES.

The receipts since October 1, 1861, including $2,375, then on hand, were $10,991 18; and the disbursements were $4,57 69; leaving a cash balance at this date of $6,420 49. Of the disbursements $1,150 35 reached the treasury of the Parent Institution. As the great bulk of the funds remaining in our possession was received for certain named objects, it is hoped that an increasing activity will characterize all our friends, and that the coming twelvemonth will be as the past, and much more abundant" for the general purposes of the Society.

EMIGRATION FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

A goodly number of the colored residents of the State have expressed a desire to settle in Africa, but owing to various causes, but fourteen have actually taken passage for the new Republic. Of these one was from Lycoming county, five from Mifflin county, and eight from Philadelphia. Several are preparing to remove by the packet "Mary Caroline Stevens," which is expected to sail from Baltimore about the first proximo. The earnest spirit which now characterizes many of these people, may be learned from the subjoined extract from a recent letter penned by one of the most worthy and best educated black men in Pennsylvania:

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"I have determined to make Liberia my future home. For two or three years past, I have been fully resolved to leave this country, but have been waiting so as to be better prepared. But I have now resolved to wait no longer. I must go, poor and unprepared as I am. If Africa need the products of my brain, well. If not, she shall have the labor of my hands I make these personal statements to you, sir, as the medium through which they may reach the Society, under the auspices of which I expect to place myself, and sail for Liberia in the May packet of 1863. Through the mercy of the All-Wise, though once I was blind to duty, to the best interests of myself and my race, yet

now I see; see, what it seems to me, nothing but stupidity, ignorance and wilful neglect could have prevented my seeing years ago. Thank the Lord, the scales have at last fallen from my eyes.

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GALLERY OF PORTRAITS.

Two additions have been made to the Gallery of distinguished African Colonizationists, in original portraits of Thomas Sully, esq., and Hon. John H. B. Latrobe. They are both admirable likenesses, and give the peculiar expression of the originals with perfect fidelity. They were executed at our request by the eminent artist, Sully, and were generously presented by him.

RECAPTURED AFRICANS.

Advices of an encouraging character continue to proceed from the Liberian Republic. Prosperity attends all interests. Peace has prevailed. Agriculture is meeting with greatly increased attention. It is peculiarly gratifying to be assured that the beneficence and humanity extended to the four thousand five hundred native Africans taken by our Government cruisers from slavers, and landed in that thriving State between August 26, 1860, and May 8, 1861, a period of less than nine months, have been worthily bestowed, and that they are duly advancing in knowledge, virtue, and the more ennobling usages of Christian life. We trust that

no change will be made in the disposition of recaptured Africans, but that the policy inaugurated by President Monroe will be faithfully adhered to-that of returning all such to their native conti

nent.

THE SLAVE TRADE.

It is believed that the shipment of slaves from the western regions of Africa have been much reduced of late, owing mostly to the operation of the new treaty between the Governments of the United States and Great Britain, which authorizes the detention and search of suspected craft, in certain localities, by the men of war of each nation. Before many mouths, we trust, the exigencies of affairs at home will allow our authorities to enlarge the squadron in that quarter, and substitute steamers for sailing vessels. It may not be too much to express the further hope that ere long the Government of Great Britain may unite with our own in another measure to put an end to this execrable traffic, and that is to demand that the only Government that now admits of its being carried on within its limits shall cease to encourage or allow it. Settlements of civilized colored men, scattered along the African seaboard, are the most effectual barriers in the prosecution of this high crime against humanity. Liberia has swept this terrible evil from nigh seven hundred miles of the coast-her own territory-and in this regard is worthy of the best wishes, active sympathy, and liberal support of Christendom.

EXPLORATION OF LIBERIA.

Considering the employment of our navy in the promotion of valuable public interests or enlarging the boundaries of science,

what more noble and important mission could be prosecuted by our Government than an exploration of the interior of western Africa, that large tract of country lying east of the Republic of Liberia. The preliminary investigations have been made.

The channels of commerce which might thus be opened would doubtless prove an ample compensation. England has thus long sought employment for her ships, work for her people, and a market for her manufactures. Her appropriation for the exploration of the Niger during the year 1861-62, was £7,000 or $35,000. And her efforts have met and are meeting with marked success. Her importations from Western Africa for the first six months of the last and the present year, as officially published, are as follows, in American currency:

1861. From British possessions on West Coast of Africa...... $356,030 From other parts of the West Coast of Africa........ 2,093,610

Total.........

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1862. $295,065 3,242,265

2,449,740 3,537,320 This return exhibits also a surprising growth of the products. of this region of West Africa, and their absorption by that sagacious people. The trade is admitted to be very lucrative.

RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES.

Since the Declaration of Independence by the Republic of Liberia, July 26, 1847, African Colonizationists generally have been desirous that it might be formally welcomed into the family of nations by the Government of the United States. Applications to this end have been made to every subsequent administration, and the labors of influential men sought in all parts of the land. During the past winter and spring this Board again memoralized Congress, and readily obtained the signature of several hundred of the prominent and honored citizens of Philadelphia to a petition invoking the prompt consummation of this measure. These were forwarded and presented by Representatives and Senators; and we have reason to say, produced a good effect.

A bill having this object in view was reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and passed in that body by a vote of thirty-two yeas to seven nays. It subsequently met with the approbation of the House of Representatives by a vote of eighty-six yeas to thirty-seven nays; and received the signature of the President, June 5, 1862. A diplomatic representative, Abraham Henson, esq., has proceeded to Monrovia, via England. The Government of the United States, therefore, ranks as the twelfth power of the world that has acknowledged Liberian independence, and joined in the elevation of the American colored race to the dignity of nationality. We also take pleasure in being able to state that a treaty, just and liberal in its nature, is now in course of negotiation between the two-mother and daughterRepublics.

THEIR PERMANENT HOME.

Never has the welfare of the colored population in our midst

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