 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
|
Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0092 Enlarge and print image (4M) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
|
Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0092 Enlarge and print image (4M) |
| 96 Since writing the above we have made a visit up the river, and we know of no seen.' which has reminded us so Dutch of American plantation?, as that which opened to view, a* we ascended the small eminence, on landing at New Georgia. The golden tassels ot'the luxuriant com,Waving to the wind, contrasted with the deep men of the bothy eassada; and the whole spreading out into a field of no ordinary extent, presented a scene alike gratifying, as a subject of contemplation, ami pleasing to the senses of those who delight in rural scenery. In addition to the experience we have acquired in niattcis relating to African ngri- culture, a modicum of aeeurianee would now enable the colony to rise Phenix like from its ashes.—id MARYLAND COLONIZATION JOURNAL. On the 20th inst. the Moral Friendship So- ciety, celebrated its fourth anniversary. Though the day was rathei wet and unpleasant, the turn- out was respectable and agreeable. At 11 o'clock, A. M.the society met at the house of the president, E. Johnson, Esq. and at 12 o'clock, moved on in the follow-hip order: 1st. Moderator, 2d. President and Vice President, 4d. Chaplain and Orator, 4th. Treasurer and Secretary, 5th. Standing Committee, 6th. Private members. The procession proceeded to the Presbyterian church, where after tinging, prayer, and the read- ing of the constitution by Mr. B. P. Yalta, an appropriate address was delivered by the orator, Mr. John \. Lewis. At the conclusion of the address, another hymn was tang, and a prayer of thanksgiving offered to Almighty God. Leaving the church, the member! returned their order in procession, and returned to the house of the pre- sident, to transact the constitutional business of the society. This being done. the society rest ned its march to the house of Mr. II. Teage, to partake of a collation prepared for the occasion. The society, in the opinion of all spectators having done ample justice to this last exhibition, of which the component parts were ham, ducks, turkey fowls, a little hog, &c. &c. the members retired to ruminate ; and at 7 o'clock", r. at, re- assembled at the house of the president, each accompanied by his better half, and I select com- pany to partake of a cup of lea, anil a few hours of social converse. Every thing passed oil' with the greatest eclat, and at 12 o'clock the company retired. In justice to the sensibility and gratitude of the society it should be stated, that while sitting before the substantial collation at the house of Mr. 11. Teage, the members in view of the many mercies they have enjoyed, could not resist ¦ reso- lution, to distribute the sum of twenty dollars. from the treasury of the society, among the poor and destitute of this place, and the neighbouring settlements. We have been promised an extract of the address, which we shall with pleasure lay before our readers.—lb. Streets.—Our streets are putting on a most beautiful appearance. The rank weeds and nox- ious shrubbery that infested our streets, and seemed almost unconquerable by the cutlass, or any other mode of denudation, is at length yielding the ground, and in some of the principal streets giving place to a deep green sward of delightful softness and beauty. To have grass plots either for pas- turage or ornament we have only to keep down the noxious weeds for a short time to give the grass a fair chance and then we need indulge no fear that its place will be usurped.—lb. What is happiness ? We know not what answer a philosopher would give, nor do we care. One thing we know—if his definition should dilfer from ours, it must neces- sarily be erroneous. His would most probably be a theoretical—a creature of the brain—an intan- gible—may-be but never-has-been something, whose beauty, as Robert Hall says, would he the beauty of frost; for what philosopher wal erar happy ? Happini tat is the twin sister, the insepa- rable companion of ignorance. Then be silent a moment and we will tell all about it. Happiness consists in being editor of a paper when.- one eternal monotony reigns from day to day, and from year to year—where men and measures an* too unimportant for record—where there are neither treasury deposites, banks, nor abolition, to quarrel about—where there is so close a proximity among all the members of the community, that he can't abuse one without coming in personal contact with him before night—where all his description! (oh delightful) can he immediately compared with their subject. The happiness however would be considerably diminished if he possessed that kind of knowledge tuat would force the rocks to reveal their character; the flowers and shrubs to tell who they are : and the beasts and birds to acknowledge their race. But suppose him fatting an uncon- scious gaze around, capable of recognizing no other property in rocks than their density ; in flowers but their delicate and variegated hues; and in animals the faculties of walking, living, and eating. Suppose further, that his subscribers were continually demanding the natural history and general character of the country : why instead of going into details he could with all the ecetac] of ignorance and stoicism of Zeno reply : as to the geology of the country the rocks are hard and reij numerous, and the soil is earth—the botany; the flowers are pretty and plenty, but not very sweet— and as to general character, the country has none, the people are all werry vicked. Think not that this happy creature is a phantom of the brain ; it has a separate independent exis- tence, embodying all the above essential elements. And as evidence for the truth take Ourselves. who had put thenisehes Under the protection of the Americans, and thus liquidate their debt, by a method less expensive than that of paving stave! they bad purchased. As no direct act could be proved upon then, they were of course discharged, but their goods were seiced and confiscated, under the act of the legislature, which, forbids any goods, wares, or merchandise to be introduced into the eolonv, unless under the inspection of the officers, regularly authorized lor that purpose. ° lb. On the 8th inst. brig Mail, Captain N'owell, from New Orleans, with emigrants for Missis- sippi, in Africa, arrived in our harbour. By this Veaeel we received a few letters ami papers. The latter are filled with wars, rumours of wars. Senii- noles, hard times and sub-treasury bill. We are of very pacific disposition ourselves, and have an unconquerable aversion to war, unless we have ten chances against our adversary. We have no sympathy with leminolet. In consequence of some circumstances connected with pay, the word stmt', has become exceedingly odious. Our trea- son h' re, is all Mi, and for reason of these things, the papers are not very interesting to us. The contest between those intellectual giants, MetSTI. Web-ter and Calhoun, reported m these pspi is. has however, given rise to some little moral musing. All the papers that have reached the colony, seem pretty unanimous in the opinion, that the contest baa retailed rather unhappily for the gentleman fr"in the south. Indeed to use a down east expression,—Webster has rowed him ¦up salt river,' so say the papers. Now the tp eo- lation to which this has given rise, has afforded us no little pleasure. Our South Carolina and II. orgU friends here, seem to think that the paper! we have seen are the organs of a party and their opinion, merely the echo of party feeling. It is impossible, they say, tin- northern men to do any tiling with the southerners, and that there are men at tiie south superior to Calhoun, who, should they enter the lists with Webster, would fully sustain the character of the south. We know very little about it ourselves, hut it reminds u- af a boy who when about to receive the reward ot his waywardness at the hand of another, exclaim- ed, if you can beat me, vou can't beat uncle Bob. We have never seen Webster, we have been bear- ing about him ever since we heard of ourselves, and we know of no men at whom we are more anxious to have a peep, than Messrs. Webster and Clay. To us there is something in intellectual superiority, the ability to think with closeness and clearness, and the facility to clothe these thoughts in elegant, lucid and forcible language, and all de- voted to the interest of one's country, infinitely more attractive) than all the soul-stiring, but fero- cious greatness that clustered around the car of the vicior, or all the pomp and unmeaning pa- geantry lavished upon the person of royalty. Since the above went to press the schooner Columbia has arrived, on her return home, from Maryland, in Liberia, whither she had carried emigrants. The captain merely called to put a few passengers on shore, and unceremoniously left tile same day, so that we had no opportunity of writing by him. By this vessel, we received papers,—a 1'evv letters,'three numbers C-f the Afri- can Repository,—February, March, April, and one case of garden seeds, presented by a lady in the state of Ohio, for which as they came very opportunely, we present her in the name of the colony, our sincere and hearty acknowledgments. The character of the colony and of colonization, is fully sustained by the splendid speeches made befbra the society at its list anniversary; so far at lead as speech making is concerned : and if bril- liant speeches and noisy declamation will drive a cause ahead, colonization will outstrip at the south, every enterprise of the day. One scarcely knows which most to admire, the chaste elo- quence and apparent Lrretlttibte force of coloniza- tion speeches, or the tameneti with which they are received and the facility with which not only the speeches, but their object pas! away from the mind. The text of every colonisation speech should btpatrioium. Let the speaker dwell long ami loud on this;—.-how in colour! bright . ¦ ven's sun the advantages which would result In the couiitiy, from the removal of the anomalous el.is-, and tin ii consideration! ol philanthropy, might be advantageously lugffed in, to fill up chinks, to embellish and adorn the piece, and to make tile whole as Jack Downing, would proba- bly say, long enough in the middle, and not too short at both tends.—lb. A few wee's ago a number of natives armed with muskets and cutlasses, were observed loitering in and about the settlement of Millsburg, without any ostensible design, either for trade or residence. After the lapse of a few davs, it trans- pired that the object of their visit was to procure slaves. Rev. Mr. Wilson, with praiseworthy- energy, had them immediately arrested in order if possible to ascertain the truth of the report. The investigation resulted in a general conviction, that they had come to procure slaves. They ap- pear to be agents for the slave factory at Digtx v. and sent out with money to purchase slaves ; for they acknowledged in court that they had four tlavt money. The truth is, these men had been credited with goods to the amount of four slaves to be paid at a certain time. Their object in loitering ahout Millsburg, was to surprise some of those poor offending and unsuspecting natives. hum of taxes, or Impost duties, or by their vol- untary combined and individual effort. That this has borne heavily upon the people, must be ob- vious from the fact, thai in all countries goods art iheap or dear in proportion to the duty that the;, pay on their Introduction into market, and in our case, it is particularly obvious from the cir- cumstance that goods e,m be bought cheaper any where out of the limits of the colony, than in it. This i- the only colony that levies duties, and as a matter of course, good! will lie cheaper in any other than ill this. It is easy then to see that if, in any other colony, that levies no duties, the same amount of mercantile business is carried on, and an equal extent of Improvement is made by the funds of the society, that is made in this, by the funds of the people, six thousand dollar! par annum, at least- are gained to the people. Ac- cording to this calculation, the old colony might fall rapidly behind other colonies, without being neo isarily regarded a lazy, idle, worthless set. Hut |f on examination they be found to keep their distance ahead, the opposite of these epithets ought in justice to he applied to them. Wert it not for the good opinion of some abroad for whom. we entertain the highest respect, art Would neYet for a moment advert to any scandal that might be published against us. In one or two instances. disappointed colonist! have chimed in their pitiful howl with the slanderous chorus. These, from some circumstances in America, some white man perhaps had clapped them on the shoulder, with Jack you're a smart fellow, swelled them with a conceit of themselves that only prepared them for deep and cutting mortification here. But more frequently those reports have rone from ignorant captains, who came out to Africa, with all their prejudice of caste as fresh and as vigorous as when they were in America. Though their re- ception here in the intercourse of business, has been altogether such SI one man has a right to expected' another, yet it has not been altogether such, as they have been accustomed to receive from coloured men. The idea of equality, even lor a few days they can't endure, and therefore go olf, and report us idle, lazy, and proud. To de- fend our people from the charge of laziness, far- ther than to state facts, would he to blow our own trumpet, we then lore drop the subject, after we declare that we would equally regret any un- kind and uneourleous conduct to strangers, and a pitiful fawning spirit, that would yield an inch to such mean spirited visitors, beyond the line of manly conduct. Perhaps We should explain what we mean when we say, the regulation above referred to has been misconceived. It has been supposed by some, that the board of managers in this regulation in- tended a kind of compromise—delegated a certain portion or power to us, on condition that we take the burden of certain Improvements off their bands. This we are confident is an error; though not an error of deleterious influence if not indulged too far. So far as it tends to excite foiling- of re- sponsibility, and quicken energy, Its effect is ab- solutely salutary. But farther than this, it only tends to produce despondency and cripple action. lb. revelation would have had any knowledge of the Deity; that for file next debate is, whether it is policy to admit indiscriminately, persons of all nations and colour lo become citizens of Liberia! lb. We would by no means make any inviduoiis comparisons with regard to the several colonies along the coast, nor Would we apeak or write aught, that candour or liberality would regard calculated to excite hostile feelings. We cannot feel too deeply the necessity of preserving har- mony and a good understanding among ouim Ivi s and we should pray lor the day, and earnestly and ardently look forward to it, when our own strength, moral and physical, will enable i,~ with perfect fidelity to ail former obligations to throw olf all allegiance to the various foreign aaaoehv tions, which now for the beat of reasons are suf- fered to control, and thereby in some measure to dismember us, and take the government into our own hands, as one compact and undivided whole. This said, we may be permitted to expn-- our opinion of the circumstance! of the old colony, maugre all the uncharitable attempts that have been made to repudiate it. The colony, for the last two years, having the newly arrived emi- grants out of the calculation, has cost the coloni- zation society comparatively nothing. By a regu- lation made by the society, some three or lour years ago, granting the people the privilege of levying taxes, customs, &c. and applying them as they think proper, (misconceived in its design as we humbly think,) sums of money have been raised, which no one, before the attempt was made, would have thought possible. In 1836, the amount of duties secured was about $3,300. In 1837, it was something less. Since September, 1837, the amount paid into the treasury is $2,000; and there is now in bonds and open accounts due the commonwealth, for duties on goods introduced into the colony, the sum of $800, according to the collector's accounts, rendered to the council at its teatlon this month. This amount has all been applied fo the purposes of internal improvement; lo just such purposes without detaining them, II the society's funds were applied to, anterior to this regulation, and to which they would have continued to be applied, were it not for these said regulations. We know not of a single improve- ment, excepting the public farm that lias been made by the society's funds, for the, las two years. If any thing has been done, it has been done by the people, either by their funds raised in the Doctor Goheen's Letter.—In the African Repository for------, we have seen a letter from Doctor Goheen, which contains an able refutation of the numerous llandert circulated about the colony. The document is alike creditable to the bear! and head of the writer, and tin.' method of confutation, the very best that could have been adopted : which is, by the simple statement of facts.—lb. Ladies Benevolent Society,—The mem- bers of this association have lately exerted them- selves in a most praiseworthy manner for the relief of the poor and destitute femalei of our settlements. In a late inspecting and distributing excursion to Caldwell. they witnessed spectacles of misery and wretchedness, on the part of many families, of which tin v had no previous idea, and which de- termined them to more vigorous exertioni for their relief. The funds of the society are necessarily small, having little more than one hundred dollars in I he treaiury, they therefore ii solved to try what could be dole' in llie way ot soliciting donations. Committee! were forthwith appointed to solicit in person, donations for this special purpose. The committee! went from hen-.' to bouse, and to the cndit of Monrovia, he it said, they obtained the sum of seventy doll ir- in two days. Where are the Union Sisters of Charity, We have the highest opinion of the activity'and benevolence of that institution, and shall be happy to hear from them. This is the time for action. Lid our enemies abroad talk, but let us be up and serving our generation.—lb The article of leather is begining to be very extensively manufactured in the colony. We Were lately admiring an excellent pair of shoes, which a gentleman had on, when he told us, that he i deed the animal of whose skin his shoes Here made. He added that he eat the meat and tanned the hide. We felt a little grieved, however, when to our inquiry, (which, as he i- a shoemaker, we thought quite pertinent.) whether he made the shoes—he replied he did not. We think, if we had carried the process so far as to make the hide into the perfect leather, we should hue felt our piide concerned to complete the work by making the shoes. We weie shown a few day! ago a piece of leather manufactured from the skin of a sheep which is pronounced by one of our knights of the last, to lie excellently done. Now mav we not ask what hinders us from having shoes.—lb. Schooner Natchez.—On the 20th inst. this little vessel, built at Missis-ippi. in Africa, call anchor in our harbour. This fine little vessel Commented by Mr. D. Johnstone, and finished by workmen, who went down from this place fur that purpose, is twenty-nine feet on the keel. twelve feet across the deck, and live feet in the hold, and is consequently of the burthen of 18 ton-. Success to Mississippi in Africa! May her future progress be equal to her beginning.—lb. The following queries have been sent out by the board. They were originally prepared as topics of inquiry, by the Rev. R. Turner, who was expected to come out to the coast. We have taken upon us to answer them thus publicly, be- cause we deem them of public concern. We take them up and attempt to answer them in order. 1. What additional territory can probably be obtained on the coast north of Cape Mesurado? It is not certain that we possess any on the north, beyond St. Paul's river. On the south, our terri- tory extends to Junk river. It would he desirable to own what lies between that and the Bassa Cove settlement. 2. Whether any considerable tracts of land suitable for farming, can be obtained in the inte- rior country. 3. We have heard that Boatswain, a powerful chief, in the Bo-Poro country is dead,—learn who succeeds him, and whether it is likely any portion of that country, which lies adjacent to our terri- ritory, on the St. Paul's river, can be obtained. 4. At what points of the coast can produce, such as rice, palm oil, &c. be most certainly sup- plied ? 5. Are Indian corn, cotton, sugar, or coffee, cultivated to any extent, either by emigrants or natives ? 6. Have any mills been erected or introduced cither for grinding the sugar-cane, or corn ? 7. What progress ha- been made by the agri- cultural association, lately formed in the colony ? ANSWEBS. 1. All the land between this place and Edina, with the exception of a small space south of Boo- lain town, is now in the possesion of the Coloni- zation society. It would not be desirable nor beneficial, for the old colony, to approach nearer to the territories of the New York and Peunsvl- vania societies, than its present boundaries. The newly acquired territory of Little llassa, is an im- portant and valuable acquisition, and opens a wide field for agricultural and commercial enterprise. The society has no land north of the St. Paul's, excepting the -mall tract ceded to the colony as an indemnity for the destruction of Logan's pro- perty. 2. No effort having yet been made to acquire territory at any distance from the coast, we dare only hazard a conjecture as to the possibility of obtaining poteeeeioni in the interior. Vet success in all other endeavours to negociate with the lords of the soil lor laud, alfords ground lor hope, that prudent and well-timed applications would not be altogether fruitless, it is a point of considerable doubt, whether the possession of such land would bo of any present practical utility. It is far less a matter Of doubt that the occupancy of such land, would involve expense anil difficulty, probably bloodshed. The utility may be doubted of leaving the abundant fertile lands on the margin, and iu the vicinity of the St. Paul's river, where the set- tlers would be compact and ill a posture of de- fence and mutual assistance, and extending and diffusing through the country, where from the nature of their location they must be an easy prey- to the cupidity of their neighbours, and where they might be entirely cut olf from any assistance from the other settlements. 3. Boatswain has been a long time dead, but a luecsesof has not vet been declared, till when, nothing ,,f importance can be done by the Kon- d.ihs. The reply to the second query, we deem equally applicable to thil. 4. If the windward coast is referred to, palm oil can be obtained in very large quantities in its teason, from Little Bassa, inclusive to Cape Pal- mas ; perhaps in larger quantities, in the vicinity of Trade low ii, than at any other of Ihoss points. A large quantity has been purchased in this settle- ment thil season, and the natives will extend the supply in proportion to the encouragement they meet in selling it. .\'e\t year we have no doubt the quantity will be doubled. Dice, in the ordi- nary st.ile of thing! < an be bought along the coast from .Monrovia to Palmas. The most prominent points for thii article, are from Kroo country to some distance below Cape Palmas. From various circumstances, there has been and is yet in un- usual scarcity of this article all along the coast. We have heard that it is a- scarce at (.'ape Pal mae, and as difficult to be obtained there as here. 5. None Of those cultivated to any extent, nei- ther by the colonists nor the natives. More corn and sugar-cane have been cultivated this year, than iii any preceding, but as their cultivation is in its infancy, it would be a misrepresentation to replv in the affirmative, 6. No mill yet Introduced, either for grinding the sugar.c.nie or corn. Since the cultivation of sugar has been commenced a strong eonfklenee, has been indulge,1 that the society would introduce a mill into the colony, abd at it was regarded rather as an experiment, private individuals have been waiting the lesult of a trial, by the society. There are a tew hand-mills used by families for grinding corn. 7. The agricultural association has yet done nothing. Various causes entirely beyond the con- tiol of the colonists, have rendered it prudent to delay the commencement of operations. Whether when these causes cease to operate, which is now nearly 1he case, the subscribers will take hold of the business, it is beyond our ability to say. Many of the persons interested in the association have, since its formation commenced individual operations.—lb. Liberia Lyceum.—Since the formation of this association, some few collections of shells, rocks, minerals, and plants have been made, and a few books presented. Arrangements' are on loot for a commodious room, in which the specimens and books may be kept, and displayed to advantage. The questions that have been already discussed before the lyceum, are first, whether more infor- mation is to he gained by reading than travelling > Secondly, which ha- been ot most advantage to man, the magnetic needle, or the printing press; and thirdly, in substance, whether man without Conforming to the customs of other countries we propose for the future to give in addition to our usual prices current of foreign commodities those of our own production. We common, e by putting down the price of fresh beef, at 12 1/2 cents per pound; mutton 12 1/2 cents ditto.; fresh pork 16 cents ditto.; rice $2 50 a bushel, or 4 cents per pound; potatoes $1 per bushel; cassada, 1 cent per pound; green corn 25 cents per dozen years, Fowls, $3 per dozen ; pigs from two to three dol- lars each. We omit a large number of edible roots and fruits, as unentitled to so high consideration. The supply in potatoes, cassada, and pigs good, and the demand fair, Rice scarce. A few bushels came in from Junk some days ago.—lb. PRINTED BY JOHN D TOY, CORNER OF MARKET AND ST PAUL STREETS, Who executes book and job printing with neatnes and accuracy. |