assisting those who are illegally retained in bondage, the work of Colonization would go prosperously onward and the fabric of slavery would crumble into ruins. Having renounced their partial alliance with treasonable doctrines and transatlantic emissaries; having sacrificed upon the altar of patriotism and union the new fangled notion of immediate and total abolition;* and pursuing those legitimate and friend remarked, he had not manifested for twenty years; and in a letter to Mr. Cresson observes, for myself, I am free to say, that of all things that have been going on in our favour since 1787, when the abolition of the slave trade was seriously proposed, that which is going on in the United States 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 to allow them to be sent to the land of their fathers, 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?' Report, pages 14, et seq. Douglas, of Cavers, contributed £200 to its funds, and the eloquent appeals of Jeffrey, Murray, Solicitor General Cockburn and Lord Moncrieff will long be remembered by the brilliant assemblages drawn around them at Edinburg. Mrs. Miles Fletcher, so justly beloved by our countrymen who have visited the northern Athens, has given to the cause the aid of her powerful influence, Rev. Josiah Pratt has furnished valuable articles in the Missionary Herald throughout the whole period of the colonial history of Liberia, * The example of the effects produced in England by the denunciations of the press, and the exhibitions of popular feeling, against slavery, by leading to an act of Parliament, abolishing slavery in Jamaica, has been thought to justify similar attempts at agitation in the Northern sections of the United States. In England, this clamour was raised among a people that had control over Slavery in Jamaica. The English Parliament had a right to legislate upon the subject. But it does not seem to be known or understood, that the legislatures of the nonslave-holding states, and the Congress of the United States have nothing to do with the existence of slavery at the South. They have no jurisdiction over the territory. Each state, with regard to its own internal concerns, is an independent sovereignty, and in relation to these concerns, it can no more be governed by the legislation of the others or Congress, than by an act of the British Parliament or a bull of the Pope of Rome. If Englishmen, who declaim at the North against Southern slavery, could be taught that they are preaching to impotent hearers, they might save themselves much unnecessary trouble and the cause much disservice. But enough is said in a former note to show, that the doctrine of these individuals, and of the Anti-slavery Societies, with respect to immediate abolition, is opposed to the sentiments of unquestioned philanthropists. Touching the fearful experiment which has been made in Jamaica, it is sincerely hoped that the event will justify the predictions of the advocates of the measure, and disappoint the confident expectations of those who were opposed praiseworthy objects which had more recently called forth their energies; they might prepare their subjects for more extensive liberty and a larger sphere of action in another hemisphere. Humanity and religion will rejoice at the spectacle of two societies, a little variant at one stage of their history, uniting and co-operating in the design of extirpating what each must regard as the greatest of social and political to it. But we already find that the apprentices, so called, do not perform half their accustomed labours; that the crops will not be quarter the usual size; and that much insubordination, disturbance and panic have been excited. These consequences have resulted notwithstanding the guard of a strict, vigilant and exacting police, and the terrors of a formidable naval force. It has, indeed, been argued that nothing worse can happen, and that things will grow better when the novelty of freedom shall have worn away. However desirable this be, is such a presumption justified by existing facts? The apprentices have yet only heard the sound of abolition, without experiencing its enjoyments. Each set are confined to their appropriate estate as formerly, and though the disposition may be imparted, the power to do mischief, has been prudently withheld. Union, concert, in a word, the ability to conspire, are wanting. But, will not the case be changed, when these apprenticeships shall have expired? The slaves must then be free and unshackled, enjoying the influence, as well as hearing the name of liberty. They will be their own masters, (and happy will it be, if they do not prove the masters of all around them,) having the right of locomotion, of which they are now deprived. Can it be doubted, that if they want only this power at present, for the commission of fell barbarities, the inclination will not be wanting a few years hence? In England, certain benevolent spirits seem to be so well satisfied that the work of freedom is accomplished at home, that they have formed a 'British and Foreign Society for the universal abolition of negro slavery,' with a view to aid the cause of emancipation throughout the world. No exception can be taken to the most expansive philanthrophy, provided it does not interfere with the exercise of that charity which begins at home. In the case before us, it is apprehended, much remains for enlightened benevolence to undertake. What has the Act of Parliament done? Has it effected that mental preparation which is necessary for the ultimate freedom of these apprentices? Has it placed the negro child at school, or given to him a spelling book or Bible? If the act has not done this, should not a society, whose sympathies-bounded only by the confines of this terraqueous globe-are felt across the Atlantic in the various forms of frothy missives and mad-cap missionaries, attend to so vital a concern? The disenthralling of the soul is quite as important as that of the body, and must necessarily precede it. Ireland is thought by some to be in an enslaved condition. What would Britain say to a society formed in this country for the establishment of universal liberty, and which, in furtherance of that design, should send out emissaries for the purpose of aiding that mild and amiable abolitionist, Daniel O'Connell, in his patriotic efforts at 'agitation' there? evils. With such concert of effort we may expect to realize those dazzling visions of the future, which open upon the imagination. We may promise ourselves the ability to explore and know that immense and interesting region which so many travellers have attempted in vain to survey and examine. We may picture to ourselves, though in distant perspective, the certain but complete civilization of a barbarous country; its majestic forests converted into beautiful and luxuriant fields; its mighty rivers rendered the great tributaries of wealth, and the highways of enterprise. We may indulge the hope that the Nile and the Niger may bear upon their swelling waters the power conferred upon navigation by the genius of Fulton, and that those other arts of America which minister to convenience and luxury here, may, in Africa, find a genial and a welcome home. We may hope that the institutions of America, save those which legalize oppression, may be transplanted into the African soil, there to flourish, blossom, and fructify. With such foundations we may expect the elegancies of literature to animate a people whom antiquity knew as illustrious-that English literature, the common inheritance of Britons and Americans, may be studied, admired and imitated. For of Africa we may emphatically say, 66 -unto us she hath a spell beyond Her name in story, and her long array Of mighty shadows-" We may picture her superstitions dissipated by the sun of science, and her idolatry converted into worship by the inspired eloquence of her Origens, Tertullians, Cyprians, and Augustines.* It is thus we shall witness the realization of prophetic truth, that 'Ethiopia shall soon stretch forth her hands unto God;' it is thus we shall witness the Christian temple rearing its heaven-directed spire in the heart of Africa, and illuminating with its divine effulgence the remotest parts of a dreary and benighted land. * These great teachers of Christianity in their day, were Africans. In the fifth century, it is estimated that there were four hundred Catholic Bishops in Africa. COLONIZATION HYMNS. The following Hymns were written on the sailing of the Ninus, with one hundred and twenty-six enfranchised Slaves, to found the new Colony at Bassa Cove, October 24th, 1834,—the 152d Anniversary of Penn's landing in the Delaware. BY MRS. SIGOURNEY. A ship came o'er the ocean When this Western World was young, And the forest's solemn shadow O'er hill and valley hung,- But 'neath the o'erarching Elm-tree Lone midnight's slumbering band, As from a brother's hand; Where now we strike the lyre of praise, A ship its sail is spreading, For that far tropic clime, The palm-tree towers sublime. To every ill a prey, Whom none have turn'd aside to heal, In many a stranger region, 'Neath many a foreign sky, It brings them, fraught with blessings, Heaven's peace, and Christ's salvation, And Freedom's holy rest. Haste, haste, on snowy pinion, Thou messenger of love, For those who sow the seed thou bear'st 7 BY REV. G. W. BETHUNE. Home for the exiled nation! Rest for the weary Slave! Hope points across the wave, The God of love has spoken; "There shall the refuge be, Her ravished sons no more. The white man's pride no longer The Negro lifts his head- The star of hope is lighted, With beams of joy divine, The Executive Committee of the Young Men's Colonization Society of Pennsylvania, deeply sensible of the importance of despatching a second expedition to Bassa Cove, before the close of the dry season, not only to secure the liberty of the highly interesting company of emigrants at Savannah and Augusta, now imploring our assistance, but to strengthen the little band sent out last month, earnestly invite the co-operation of their fellow citizens. Where pecuniary aid is inconvenient, contributions in provisions, clothing, implements of husbandry, tools, spinning wheels, a lathe, nails, iron, castings, cutlery, seeds, books, stationery, and the various articles of merchandize necessary for exchanging with the natives for food and labour, will be gratefully received by A. & G. RALSTON, No. 4 South Front street, and donations in cash by the Treasurer, Lloyd Mifflin, 252 Spruce street, or by the subscriber, 30 Sansom street. On behalf of the Committee. ELLIOTT CRESSON, Chairman. FORM OF BEQUEST. I give and bequeath to A., his heirs, executors, and administrators in trust to pay over (the profits or principal, as the case may be,) to the Treasurer for the time being, of a Society called and known by the name of The Young Men's Colonization Society of Pennsylvania,' to be applied to the objects of Colonizing free blacks on the Western Coast of Africa, and elevating their morals and intellects. |