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Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0088 Enlarge and print image (4M) |
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Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0088 Enlarge and print image (4M) |
| (From the Protestant Episcopalian.) Gray's Elegy in a Country Churchyard, has probably been more read and admired than any piece of composition in the English language. It was seven years from the time the author began this exquisite morceau before it was finished : and though it has a thousand imitators it will not be contended that any one has reached the touching simplicity of the original. An American writer, 'unknown to fame,' has most successfully ap- proached it : several years since an anonymous author published in a Rhode Island paper, the presented amendment, or addition, thinking that 'Gray had not given the subjects of his muse enough of a religious character to make the charm complete.' There is a piety and poetry in every line of it- It was suggested that it should follow the stanza beginning— "Far from the maddening crowd's ignoble strife.' &c. No niry dream.* their MMJM faneie* fired, N" i.nt i fur wealth mm ptntinjc aftir fame i But trutn divine sutilim M bapM i i^pirrd, And hi ;¦ ,1 the in onward to ;i nobler aim. From every cutisse, wtili the day an>*c The hallow, d volte of fpirtidMMMatt| prayer . And artless anthem*, at the peaceful 0MM, Like holy incense, charmed MM evening air- Though they, MMB MM* »f human lure unknown, The hrilli int path of tclenei never trod, The sa-r--d vii.iiine elitin'il linir marls alone, Which taught the way to glory and to God. Here they from truth'* eternal fountain drew The pure and 0MMB*tag nnt.-rs day by day; Learned, -nice our d:i\s aie t-vil. Meet, tad t'.-w. To walk in wisdom's biiijht and peao ml way. In y«m Inne pile, o'er which hath ftcruly pasa'd The heavy hand or" ,ill itMlroilf lime, Thro' whose low monldrini: aWM BOW MjM the hla»t, And round tMH altars pMM and ivy chuib : They gladly MfQQfMl tin ir gntPfW liymns to raise, t'M as I.:- enhn mid holy Sabbath MM ; The MttgM d tni'Uie oi' th.-ir prayers and prai*e, In MM communion rose before the throne. Here, from IMM huimr'd lip-, winch sacred fire Fruin henvi-n's hi(>h chancery hath InucliM, the) hear Truth- which tlnir ml inflame, their bSBMJ inspire, Give MMJi to faith, and check affliction'* tear. When lite flowed by. and, like an anjiel, death Caine Id retaaaa ttMM i" the world m hmh, PraiM- tn-nibl- d Mill on each expiring breath, And holy triumph bi amM from every eye, VMM : nil'' hands their "dn.-t to dint1 consign ; Willi quiet tears, ihu simple MM an HMl; And lure they sleep, till ai tlie trump divine, The faith and MMM render up their dead. MARYLAND COLONIZATION JOURNAL. America. You may have lilt disgust, or contempt, or pity for the degraded negroes around you in Amend; but here is hatred the meet malignant, fear and envy constantly resting against the white race, and straight hair of the Caucasian race. And it is only the influence of the second feeling, which occasionally restrained the outbreaks of the first and third. Among the natives, indeed, those feelings have no existence.' That the 'white Han't correspondent had yet to learn what does not, nor ever existed, is by no means surprising, lor in the most unqualified terms, 1 assert that there is no such prejudice in Liberia. If the most marked politeness and courtesy—if an undeviating readiness to betriend—if an untiring fidelitv in times of sickness, affliction, bereavement—if ex- pressions of heartfelt sympathy in deed as well as word—if all these are evidences of prejudice,' and the -most malignant hatred, fear, and envy.' then do the citizens of Liberia, envy and fear and hate the white man. But if among all savage. civilised and christian communities, we take such attentions and kindnesses as marks of good feel ing and friendship, then are the citizens of Libe- ria fiiends to the white man. It is nearly four ve.irs since I first landed in that country, and more than three years since my family joined me there. Darin.; this period, as is well known, my house was frequently one of affliction, tif mourning, or death. I suffered in my own person from long and lingering disease. I have seen those who wi re dear to me. sicken and fade and die. In all this, I ilid not know the want of kind, attentive clu istian friends to hind up my aching head, or watch around the bed of my dying friends, and that too without fee or reward. Nay, such is the conldence which the people of Liberia have caused me to place in them, that I left I wile ami three little children among them for live months, during a visit to America, and my absence was only the signal for redoubled attention and kiud- M*S M the part of the citizens to mv family. That they do not and will not 'ciinge, fawn, and flatter ' because we are of -fairer skins,* and have 'straight hair,' I admit; and why ? simply because they are in Liberia, the land of the fret coloured man, and there they have no more reason to fear our frowns, or couit our smiles, or care about our contempt—not so much as we have theirs. 1 will admit too that as free men, knowing and appreciating their rights ami privileges, they de- mand from the hands of those white men who visit their country or reside among them, a reciprocity of respect and courtesy. Hence, when a white man goes among them and thinks his 'science or intelligence,' or 'his devotednets to the Coloniza- tion Society,' 'or his unquestionable integrity,1 or h cause of his 'fair skin,' or straight hair, or be- cause of 'his respectable connections in this coun- try,' he is thereby authorized to thrash about him Review of the White Man's Letter from Liberia. To the Editor of the Middletown Sentinel: Mr. Editor,—At the close of a colonization meeting, held in the city of New fork some time in June last, a number of papers were scattered among the assembly purporting to contain copies of certain letters from a white man then in Libe- ria. One of these papers fell into my possession, and notwithstanding I then felt that as a lover of truth, it became me to make some etibrt at least, to check the evil tendency of their contents, yet the fact that these letters were anonymous, induced me to abandon the idea of spending either time or thought on such an irresponsible production. Cir- cumstances which have occurred since, however, have led me to think otherwise. I was called upon yesterday, by the Hev. Dr. Skinner, recently from Liberia, and now an authorized travelling agent of the American Colonization Society, with the filth number of a paper published in Hertford, Connecticut, called the Charter Oak, in whit lithe above letters have been published, as copied from the Emancipator of New York. In conversing with the doctor on the subject, it was natural to conclude that this said white man's letters would go the usual round of all the papers hostile to the colonization cause, and if no attempt at a refuta- tion of their malicious slander be made, an inno- cent and unodendiug people might suffer greatly, under their blasting influeuce. On whom devoh ed this refutation was the aextquestion. Whether it was better to leave them in the hands af the friends of the colonization in America, or put them in those of some other 'white man.' w ho bad been also in Liberia, and hid beta furnished with opportunities forjudging of their claims to ciedi- bility. The latter was the course considered, most judicious, and at the urgent request of the gentle- man named above, I have, not without some reluctance, however, undertaken to review this 'white man's' letters. Let me premise, sir, that this reluctance arises not from any fear as to suc- cess of exposing this evil speaker to the contempt of all who are not of his cral'l, but from a uniform aversion to leaving my more immediate and pro- per work, that of a missionary to the heathen, and engaging in tin* political quarrels of the day. To be silent in this case would be sin. To sillier false witness against my neighbour to pass un- heeded, and that too when mv neighbour is four thousand miles from the spot where lie is calum- niated, and therefore cannot defend himself, would be little short of being a partaker in the crime ; so that in justice to myself, 1 must disclaim all fel- lowship, all agreement or concord with such a 'white man,' his being 'one of the most scientific and intelligent white men tint ever went to Libe- ria—extensively known as an active and devoted colonizationist—and a man of unquestionable inte- grity—and of most respectable connections in this country'—all this notwithstanding. My first inquiry in prosecuting the following investigation will be, who can this white man be • This individual, who had 'been led to Africa through his zeal for the colonization cause, to which be had been devoted for years,' who writes under the dates August 21, 1837, and May 12, 1838 and 'is still in that country, concerning which, he tells the truth.' He is not to be found in the list of the missionaries labouring in Libe- ria at the time of the dates of those letters, for I hesitate not to challenge the world to produce any such sentiments from the pen of Wilson, Savage, Minor, Payne, Crocker, Mylne, Clarke or Barton. He is not among the white governors, or lieute- nant-governors, for such truth savours not of Skin- ner. Matthias, Finley or Johnson. So that we ,,ri. not furni-hed by the publishers of his letters with data Iron) which to give him either a local li.ihita- tatiou or name, we must judge of the man by his productions, as we would the tree hy its fruit. Let us examine them. He says 'you have yet to learn, that the prejudices of colour work backwards here, among those who sudered under them in like a maniac, to compliment them at every step with the terms 'black rascal,' and 'mulatto scoun- drel,' to threaten ministers of the gospel with shooting rifle balls through their churches and houses, if their religious meetings are protracted so late at night as to disturb his slumbers—to treat with fisty-cuffs respectable men for fancied insult?, to ridicule all law, order and discipline among them, and boldly to question whether they have either right or capacity to enact laws, organize courts, or inflict punishments—in such ease 1 ask. is it a matter of surprise if such men are treated with neglect and contempt ? But when did such things ever happen in Liberia, may b" inquired? Did ever a white man act thus there 1 I answer yes! these are facts. And I question very much whether the author of the white man's letters is not well acquainted with the individual who prac- tised all these feats, and much more among the people of Liberia. Hut to proceed. He adds 'distress anguish and want, form common scenes here, the most deplo- rable and hopeless, because the sulleriug is all due to the viciousness and laziness of the sufferers. While jour folks have been filling from opulence to poverty, ours ha\e been tailing from one depth of suffering and scoundn lism to another.' This is not all true, though it may come from one of reputed 'nnqiaettfonaDla integrity.' Dis- tiess, anguish and want may be felt ley some, by many in Liberia, but it is not trot that the sutfi i- ing is all ilu ¦ to tbt ricioatntai and kurineteol tii- -inhieis. Much of it is due to unforeseen calamities. Families emigrate. Death enters their dwellings, and throws widows and fatherless chil- dren, without the means to meet a long series of subsequent allliction from disease,on the charities of their benevolent fellow citizens. What has vice to do with this ' Nor is it any more due to lilintll Liberia is a new country. There are no large factories, no great internal improvements going on, all'oiding occupation and bread to the labouring class. What are poor widows and or- phans to do! enfeebled by disease and pennyless as they are. if such as cannot procure honest employment, resort to the public asylum in the colony for a maintenance—if some live on private charity—why distress, anguish and want are said to be common, and it is ascribed to laziness. Why are there so many poor-houses in every state and county in the United States, and why are they so well tilled ? Is it all due to the vice and laziness of their inmates? if so, why is it remarkable in Liberia ? and if not, if other causes have produced some of the suU'ering here, why may they not there ? It is not true that the 'folks in Liberia are fall- ing from tM depth of poverty and scnumlieli-iu to another.' It is not true of any settlement in Liberia. Bassa Cove and Cape I'almas are deci- dedly making r.ipnt advancement in respectability and 'wealth. This is equally true of Millsbnrs and Caldwell. And in Monrovia where in 1830 the prospecU appeared gloomy, there is a most pittllna tbangt for the better. Men who had dvoted their time and little capital to mercantile pursuits and had neglected the rich fertile soil around them, are discovering their error, have turned to farming, and the cultivated banks of the St. Paul are witnesses that instead of scouniLrelism and laziness increasing, industry and honest ell'ort are multiplying on every side. Take the taftt- mony of a respectable and pious anti-colonization- ist,* who spent three months of this year in Libe- ria and visited several of the settlements. He was constrained by his lore of truth to say and per- mit to be published as his opinion, that 'the time is not far distant when our ships will he a*M returning to the United Stat, s freighted with the productions of (boat eoloniet.' Hut go on. The white man 'heartily accords with Ins eomtpoa. d.-nt in the decisive condemnation of colonization, not only as concerns the relief and improvement of the colonists themselves, but also in its influ- •Capl-nn W. Water,, of «aJ«m, Mm ence on the condition of the natives of the coun- try.' 'In its practical operation it has thus far been a renewal of the worst scenes of conquest, op- petition, and extermination, presented in the his- tory of the dealings of white men with the alio tigines of the southern states.' These are Ugh •welling words, but touch t!n in, and like the bub- ble on the water, thev prove to he emptiness and vanity. If colonization is to he condemned he cause of its failure in the relief and Improvement of the colonists themselves, who is the proper indue as to the amount of relief and Improvement in question? The man who 'tnti rtaina all p^ssj. ble contempt for the idea that the coloured man stands on the same platform of natural equality with us,' exclaims, 'let them' (the coloured race) •have a freeman's liberty of going where they think they can do best, but every where, over them as a peculiarly degraded, vicious, malignant race, let the rod of justice be a rod id iron.' I- this man to be the judge? or shall we appeal to the parties themselves who are the subjects of this relief and improvement ? Ask them, and they will say in ninety-nine cases out of the hundred, 'I had rather sutler and die in Liberia, than in Ame- rica.* But where are the scenes of conquest, oppression, and extermination, talked of? The lands claimed by the colonization societies and ap- propriated to the emigrants, wen purchased and paid for. If subsequently, difficulties, quarrels, and war ensued, and these have ran ly occurred, there is not an instance known, but the natives of the country have been the first aggressors, Urged by' a love of plunder so legitimately connected with their sagave and barbarous state. And in- stead of being exterminated by reason of the emi- icratiou of American coloured people, save in a case or two where a defensive war on the part ol tbt latter ended in the destruction of a few natives, they are improved in a temporal, intellectual, moral and religious point of view by the establish- ment of the colonies in Liberia, I appeal to every gospel minister who has ever name to Liberia as a missionary. To every white man who has irone out as an agent for the respective colonization so- societies—lo every physician, teacher, to every master of the several American, English, French, Danish anil Dutch vessels that trade to those colo- nies—and to the naval commanders and officers erbott testimonies are before the public. But I reject the testimony of him who'enter- tains all possible contempt lor the idea that the Coloured man stands on tin- same platform of natu- ral equality with us,' and who would have -the red of justice a rod of iron over them.' 'As to the proposals of the abolition scheme' being 'wild spe- culative folly' I attempt not to inquiie, with this I have nought lo do. The white man concludes by affirming 'that colonization has failed to fulfil its proper mission,' and therefore 'its further exis- tence is not needed.' This leads to an inquiry as to the nature of its proper mission. In prosecuting this inquiry we shall see how lar it has failed. Did colonization propose to effect the freedom and emigration to Africa of the whole coloured population of the United States, in three, live,or even twenty \< ai- ; Did it promise that all who emigrated to Liberia should surely live and not die. the deleterious cha- racter of the climate notwithstanding! Did it pledge itself that every man and woman emigrat- ing would Certainly Ct industrious, moral, vir- tuous, and become wealthy—that there should be ill the colonies no disease, no death, neither po- verty nor vice ? If so, then colonization has tailed. But if the object held out from the beginning was to help such free persons of colour to do so, who chose of their own free will and accord to preler Africa to America for their future homes—to pro- tect and foster them while there—to open facilities for their intellectual, and moral improvement, and lor them to spread civilization and religious ligbt over that dark country—then colonization has thus fir Fulfilled its proper mission. '!'„ the peo- ple of Liberia 1 appeal. 1 ask whether in raising them from menial offices amoiu; the whites in America, from bondage and wretchedness, to be- come free citizens of prospering coloniei in Africa, colonization has failed in that which it proposed? Thus much for a brief review of the white man's letters. Hut with himself I have not yet done. II,' is said to be extensively known as 'an active and devoted coloni/.aiionist,1 and was led to Africa 'through his zeal lor the colonization cause to which he has been devoted tor years*1 Here i- a grand mistake somewhere to say the least of it. Did he go out in the employ of the society to which he had been devoted for years and yet en- tertaining the views expressed in these letteis? If so, he is not a colonizationist in etatimtnt. ffa genuine colonizationist 'entertains all possible contempt for the idea that the black man should stand on the same platform of mutual equality with the whites.' Did he conceal what were his private views of colonization, while seeking an office in her employ and going out under her ban- ner, believing all the while that her protoitees were 'a peculiarly degraded, vicious, malignant race,' and that 'over them the rod of justice should be a rod of iron ? If so, what becomes of the unques- tionable integrity of this white man? It rather comes to us in a most questionable shape. Hut perhaps bis views were changed on becoming acquainted, on the spot, with the people of Libe- ria, and the failure of the colonization scheme; then let his 'unquestionable integrity,' come out and show itself, in openly and candidly renounc- ing all connection with that society, and giving the public his reasons for being converted from a colonizationist, i. e. a friend to the coloured race, to one denouncing them as malignant, degraded and vicious, and deserving every where to be ruled with a rod of iron. 1 conclude by remarking that as these letters are giving as 'colonization testi- mony' and 'for what they are worth,' that in the first place it appears extremely doubtful whether the writer was ever a colonizationist in principle ; that secondly, his integrity is rather questionable, in aspersing and slandering a community whose general industry, morality, kind feeling to the white race, ami decidedly beneficial influence on the natives of Africa, so many white men efsrtMe! integiity have borne testimony to, and lastly that 'as to its worth'—such testimony as his is just worth aM passible contempt. 1 am yours respectfully, John Seys. Middletown, Aug. 21, 1838. First Annual Report Of the Baltimore Ladies Society for the promotion of Education in Africa. Knowing that associations have been formed by female exertion in various parts of our coun- try, to promote the cause of education among tin' colonists and natives in Africa, some' of the belies of Baltimore, feeling the necessity of a simi- lar institution in this city, and anxious to take part in this deeply interesting cause, formed a society for this purpose on the — of May, 1837, called the 'Baltimore Ladies' Society, for the pro- motion of education in Africa,' and is auxiliary to the State Colonization Society. The officers are a president, four vice-presidents, two secretaries, and a treasurer, with twenty-lour managers, to be chosen from the different religious denominations. The name of this society explains its object; but it is the design of the board to confine their efforts at present to educating the children of the colo- nists, and hereafter, to enlarge their operations as circumstances may admit. From the depression of feeling consequent on the situation of public affairs, and distress through- out the country at the time of its organization, many were fearful that it might not succeed. The board of managers in presenting this report, have every reason to feel encouraged, with the interest already taken, and they bavt no doubt that when the objects of this society are more generally known, many more will gladly avail themselves of the opportunity of supporting and encouraging the board in their efforts to promote a cause of such incalculable importance to the future well-being of a much Rtgiecti d portion of our race. Alter the organization of the society, the managers imme- diately commenced their operations. Orders were given by the Maryland State Colonization Society for the building of a school house at Cape I'almas for them, and efforts were made to raise funds suf- ficient for the necessary expenses. At a meeting of the board in October of the same year, a reso- lution mi patted stating that should the State Society. not require during tin- present year, pay- ment for the bouat built at Cape I'almas for the use of their teacheri then the executive committee were suthorit d to employ a qualified teacher to take charge of a school in the Maryland colony, allowing two hundred dollars for un outfit, and three hundred dollars salary for the fust year—leav- ing it to the discretion of the board to increase or diminish it hereafter. A coinmiinieation was re- ceived hy the committee from tfie Home Agent of tbt Maryland Colonization Society, stating that it had been resolved by their board, not to call on the Ladies' Education Society, for the payment ol a school-house built for them at Cape I'almas, so long as they furnished a teacher or teachers, or pro- vided for their support. In the report of the com- mittee read to the board, it was stated that being thus authorized, after much deliberation and many inquiries as to the necessary qualifications, 8cc. Benjamin Alleyne, a coloured man of very respec- table character and attainments, was employed by them, and after receiving the necessary instruc- tions, embarked with his wife in the brig Niube, November 4th, 1837. The report likewise stated, that the treasurer paid to Mr. Alleyne threehundreil dollars—two hundred dollars allowed for his outfit and one hundred dollars of his salary in advance ; — that this money was raised principally by making the clergy of various denominations, life mem- bers ;—that fourteen had already been so con- stituted, and that the greater number had returned most kind and polite acknowledgments to the hoard and very particular remt mhrauces to the ladies of their respective congregations, who had Conferred upon them this mark of their regard ; ami at the same time wishing that the laudable efforts of this society might lie abundantly pros- pered. The report closis with earnestly recom- mending t" tin- managers, the utmost diligence in endl avowing to procure annual subscriptions, as hereafter tin* support of the teacher and ataef expenses, will entirely depend upon this fund. The hoard thought it adv Liable that letters should be written to competent pi isons residing in the colony, requesting information whether the sum allowed the teacher would be sufficient for the coiuforiahle maintenance of himself ami family. Letters were accordili'lv addressed to the Kev. That. s. Ravage and the Rev, J. L. WQton, reel- dent missionaries Answers have beta received from both the gentlemen, saying that after a careful consideration id' tie- question and having consulted the sjVtnl of the colony and a few other persons on the subject, it was unanimously concluded, that alter the prtaenl year, not less than four hun- dred dollars would h neee.-ary for his support, owing to the rise of native produce caused by the influx of colonists, missionaries and others. Mr. Widon likewise sa\s, 'that the establishment of your school promises much real and lastins good to this infant colony, and so far I am much pleased with your representative.' The receipts of the treasurer during the past year have been . . . $828 62 The expenses have been . . . . 370 00 The balance in the treasury . . . $458 62 The ladies of this board would acknowledge the polite and liberal conduct of the board of mana- gers of the State Colonization Society, and to them and to the Home Agent for his uniform kindness, that would tender their grateful thanks. It will be observed that the expenses of the board are greater than at first were anticipated ; they must therefore appeal to the liberality of christians, and would ask their prayers, their influ- ence and their support, at the same lime trusting in the kindness of a superintending Providence, and asking bis blessing on their eilort. N B. Editors of papers who are friendly to the people of Liberia, and the Emancipator and Char- ter Oak will oblige the writer by publishing the above. We follow the world in approving others, but we go before it in approving ourselves. 'I Preach better than I Practice,' said Mr. S. who had long been a profane drunkard, and wasted his estate, poisoned and crippled his body, and led all his sons but one to become drunkards also, to the Key. Mr. A. 'You have had your great gun, T------, lecturing on temperance here! I e in d liver a better lecture on that subject than he can, without saying one word. Let ine only show mv gouty lata and feet, my phthisicy, bloat- ed body and my family, and neither your T-----, nor any body else, would deliver half so forcible a temperance lecture.'—Sunday School friend. PRINTED BY JOHN D. TOY, CORNER OF MARKET AND ST PAUL STREETS, Who executes book and job printing with neatness and accuracy. 92 |