Chapter V: Part 5

James Ulett, formerly of New York, became quite celebrated a few years since, as a comedian. He played several times in the old "Richmond Hill" Theatre, and quite successfully in Europe. Mr. Ulett was not well educated, and consequently, labored under considerable inconvenience in reading, frequently making grammatical blunders, as the writer noticed in a private rehearsal, in 1836, in the city of New York. He, however, possessed great intellectual powers, and his success depended more upon that, than his accuracy in reading. Of course, he was a great delineator of character, which being the principal feature in a comedian, his language was lost sight of in common conversation. Mr. Ulett died in New York a few years ago.

Doctor Lewis G. Wells was a most talented orator and man of literary qualifications. Residing in Baltimore, Maryland, he raised himself high in the estimation of all who knew him. He studied medicine, and was admitted into the Washington Medical College, attending the regular courses, and would have graduated, but for some misunderstanding between himself and the professors, which prevented it. He was a most successful practitioner, and effected more cures during the prevalence of the cholera in 1832, than any other physician in the city. Doctor Wells was also a most successful practical phrenologist, and lectured to large and fashionable houses of the first class ladies and gentlemen of Baltimore, and other cities. Being a great wit, he kept his audiences in uproars of laughter. Mr. Wells was also an ordained minister of the Gospel, belonging to the white Methodist connexion; and was author of several productions, among them, a large Methodist hymn book, containing several fine original poems. Dr. Wells died the same year of cholera, after successfully saving many others, because there was no physician at that time who understood the treatment of the disease.

XV

FARMERS AND HERDSMEN

Little need be said about farmers; there are hundreds of them in all parts of the country, especially in the Western States; still these may not be considered of a conspicuous or leading character--albeit, they are contributing largely to the wants of community, and wealth of the country at large. Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, all, are largely represented by the farming interests of colored men. We shall name but a sufficient number to show the character of their enterprise in this department of American industry.

Rev. William Watson, of Cincinnati, Ohio, is the owner of a fine farm in Mercer county, and six hundred acres of additional land.

Mr. Richard Phillips, of the same city, is owner of a fine farm in the same county, and three hundred and fifty additional acres of land.

Rev. Reuben P. Graham, of Cincinnati, owns a finely cultivated farm in Mercer county, three hundred acres of adjoining land; and one near Cincinnati.

Mr. John Woodson, of Jackson county, is one of the most successful farmers in the State of Ohio. Having a large tract of land, he has one of the best cultivated farms in the West, in a most productive state, raising grains, fruits, and livestock. In the year 1842, his farm produced that season, three thousand bushels of wheat, several hundred bushels of rye, eleven hundred bushels of oats, large crops of corn, potatoes, and other vegetables; large quantities of fruits, three hundred stacks of hay, with a large stock of several hundred heads of cattle on the place. Mr. Woodson has for many years, been a highly respectable man in his neighborhood, and continues his farming interests with unabated success.

Dr. Charles Henry Langston, of Columbus, Ohio, is also the proprietor of a very fine farm of eleven hundred acres, in Jackson county, upon which he has a white tenant. This gentleman is a surgeon-dentist by profession, educated at Oberlin College, making his home in Columbus.

Robert Purvis, Esq., a gentleman of collegiate education, is proprietor of one of the best improved farms in Philadelphia county, fifteen miles from Philadelphia. His cattle consist of the finest English breed.

Joseph Purvis, Esq., of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, a gentleman also of education and wealth, is an amateur stock farmer. Every animal on Mr. Purvis' farm is of the very best breed--Godolphin horses, Durham cattle, Leicestershire sheep, Berkshire swine, even English bull-terrier dogs, and whatever else pertains to the blooded breeds of brutes, may be found on the farm of Joseph Purvis. Mr. Purvis supplies a great many farmers with choice breeds of cattle, and it is said that he spends ten thousand dollars annually, in the improvement of his stocks.

Robert Briges Forten, also of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, is an amateur farmer. Mr. Forten is a gentleman of fine education, a pure, chaste poet, and attends to farming for the love of nature. He is a valuable member of the farming enterprise in the country.

If such evidence of industry and interest, as has been exhibited in the various chapters on the different pursuits and engagements of colored Americans, do not entitle them to equal rights and privileges in our common country, then indeed, is there nothing to justify the claims of any portion of the American people to the common inheritance of Liberty.

We proceed to another view of our condition in the United States.

XVI

NATIONAL DISFRANCHISEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

We give below the Act of Congress, known as the "Fugitive Slave Law," for the benefit of the reader, as there are thousands of the American people of all classes, who have never read the provisions of this enactment; and consequently, have no conception of its enormity. We had originally intended, also, to have inserted here, the Act of Congress of 1793, but since this Bill includes all the provisions of that Act, in fact, although called a "supplement," is a substitute, _de facto_, it would be superfluous; therefore, we insert the Bill alone, with explanations following:--

AN ACT

TO AMEND, AND SUPPLEMENTARY TO THE ACT, ENTITLED, "AN ACT
RESPECTING FUGITIVES FROM JUSTICE, AND PERSONS ESCAPING FROM THE
SERVICE OF THEIR MASTERS," APPROVED FEBRUARY 12, 1793.

_Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled_, That the persons
who have been, or may hereafter be, appointed commissioners, in
virtue of any act of Congress, by the circuit courts of the United
States, and who, in consequence of such appointment, are authorized
to exercise the powers that any justice of the peace or other
magistrate of any of the United States may exercise in respect to
offenders for any crime or offence against the United States, by
arresting, imprisoning, or bailing the same under and by virtue of
the thirty-third section of the act of the twenty-fourth of
September, seventeen hundred and eighty-nine, entitled "An act to
establish the judicial courts of the United States," shall be, and
are hereby authorized and required to exercise and discharge all
the powers and duties conferred by this act.

SEC. 2. _And be it further enacted_, That the superior court of
each organized territory of the United States shall have the same
power to appoint commissioners to take acknowledgments of bail and
affidavit, and to take depositions of witnesses in civil causes,
which is now possessed by the circuit courts of the United States;
and all commissioners who shall hereafter be appointed for such
purposes by the superior court of any organized territory of the
United States shall possess all the powers and exercise all the
duties conferred by law upon the commissioners appointed by the
circuit courts of the United States for similar purposes, and shall
moreover exercise and discharge all the powers and duties conferred
by this act.

SEC. 3. _And be it further enacted_, That the circuit courts of the
United States, and the superior courts of each organized territory
of the United States, shall from time to time enlarge the number of
commissioners, with a view to afford reasonable facilities to
reclaim fugitives from labor, and to the prompt discharge of the
duties imposed by this act.

SEC. 4. _And be it further enacted_, That the commissioners above
named shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the judges of the
circuit and district courts of the United States, in their
respective circuits and districts within the several States, and
the judges of the superior courts of the Territories, severally and
collectively, in term time and vacation; and shall grant
certificates to such claimants, upon satisfactory proof being made,
with authority to take and remove such fugitives from service or
labor, under the restrictions herein contained, to the State or
territory from which such persons may have escaped or fled.

SEC. 5. _And be it further enacted_, That it shall be the duty of
all marshals and deputy marshals to obey and execute all warrants
and precepts issued under the provisions of this act, when to them
directed; and should any marshal or deputy marshal refuse to
receive such warrant or other process, when tendered, or to use all
proper means diligently to execute the same, he shall, on
conviction thereof, be fined in the sum of one thousand dollars to
the use of such claimant, on the motion of such claimant, by the
circuit or district court for the district of such marshal; and
after arrest of such fugitive by such marshal or his deputy, or
whilst at any time in his custody, under the provisions of this
act, should such fugitive escape, whether with or without the
assent of such marshal or his deputy, such marshal shall be liable,
on his official bond, to be prosecuted, for the benefit of such
claimant for the full value of the service or labor of said
fugitive in the State, Territory, or district whence he escaped;
and the better to enable the said commissioners, when thus
appointed, to execute their duties faithfully and efficiently, in
conformity with the requirements of the constitution of the United
States and of this art, they are hereby authorized and empowered,
within their counties respectively, to appoint in writing under
their hands, any one or more suitable persons, from time to time,
to execute all such warrants and other process as may be issued by
them in the lawful performance of their respective duties; with an
authority to such commissioners, or the persons to be appointed by
them, to execute process as aforesaid, to summon and call to their
aid the bystanders, or _posse comitatus_ of the proper county,
when necessary to insure a faithful observance of the clause of the
constitution referred to, in conformity with the provisions of this
act: and all good citizens are hereby commanded to aid and assist
in the prompt and efficient execution of this law, whenever their
services may be required, as aforesaid, for that person; and said
warrants shall run and be executed by said officers anywhere in the
State within which they are issued.

SEC. 6. _And be it further enacted_, That when a person held to
service or labor in any State or Territory of the United States has
heretofore or shall hereafter escape into another State or
Territory of the United States, the person or persons to whom such
service or labor may be due, or his, her, or their agent or
attorney, duly authorized, by power of attorney, in writing,
acknowledged and certified under the seal of some legal office or
court of the State or Territory in which the game may be executed,
may pursue and reclaim such fugitive person, either by procuring a
warrant from some one of the courts, judges, or commissioners
aforesaid, of the proper circuit, district or county, for the
apprehension of such fugitive from service or labor, or by seizing
and arresting such fugitive, where the same can be done without
process, and by taking and causing such person to be taken
forthwith before such court, judge or commissioner, whose duty it
shall be to hear and determine the case of such claimant in a
summary manner; and upon satisfactory proof being made, by
deposition or affidavit, in writing, to be taken and certified by
such court, judge, or commissioner, or by other satisfactory
testimony, duly taken and certified by some court, magistrate,
justice of the peace, or other legal officer authorized to
administer an oath, and take depositions under the laws of the
State or Territory from which such person owing service or labor
may have escaped, with a certificate of such magistracy or other
authority, as aforesaid, with the seal of the proper court or
officer thereto attached, which seal shall be sufficient to
establish the competency of the proof, and with proof, also by
affidavit, of the identity of the person whose service or labor is
claimed to be due as aforesaid, that the person so arrested does in
fact owe service or labor to the person or persons claiming him or
her, in the State or Territory from which such fugitive may have
escaped as aforesaid, and that said person escaped, to make out and
deliver to such claimant, his or her agent or attorney, a
certificate setting forth the substantial facts as to the service
or labor due from such fugitive to the claimant, and of his or her
escape from the State or Territory in which such service or labor
was due to the State or Territory in which he or she was arrested,
with authority to such claimant, or his or her agent or attorney to
use such reasonable force and restraint as may be necessary under
the circumstances of the case, to take and remove such fugitive
person back to the State or Territory from whence he or she may
have escaped as aforesaid. In no trial or hearing under this act
shall the testimony of such alleged fugitive be admitted in
evidence; and the certificates in this and the first section
mentioned shall be conclusive of the right of the person or persons
in whose favor granted to remove such fugitive to the State or
Territory from which he escaped, and shall prevent all molestation
of said person or persons by any process issued by any court,
judge, magistrate, or other person whomsoever.

SEC. 7. _And be it further enacted_, That any person who shall
knowingly and willingly obstruct, hinder, or prevent such claimant,
his agent or attorney, or any person or persons lawfully assisting
him, her, or them, from arresting such a fugitive from service or
labor, either with or without process as aforesaid; or shall
rescue, or attempt to rescue such fugitive from service or labor,
from the custody of such claimant, his or her agent or attorney or
other person or persons lawfully assisting as aforesaid, when so
arrested, pursuant to the authority herein given and declared: or
shall aid, abet, or assist such person, so owing service or labor
as aforesaid, directly or indirectly, to escape from such claimant,
his agent or attorney, or other person or persons, legally
authorized as aforesaid; or shall harbor or conceal such fugitive,
so as to prevent the discovery and arrest of such person, after
notice or knowledge of the fact that such person was a fugitive
from service or labor as aforesaid, shall, for either of said
offences, be subject to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars,
and imprisonment not exceeding six months, by indictment and
conviction before the district court of the United States for the
district in which such offence may have been committed, or before
the proper court of criminal jurisdiction, if committed within any
one of the organized territories of the United States; and shall
moreover forfeit and pay, by way of civil damages to the party
injured by such illegal conduct, the sum of one thousand dollars
for each fugitive so lost as aforesaid, to be recovered by action
of debt in any of the district or territorial courts aforesaid,
within whose jurisdiction the said offence may have been committed.

SEC. 8. _And be it further enacted_, That the marshals, their
deputies, and the clerks of the said district and territorial
courts, shall be paid for their services the like fees as may be
allowed to them for similar services in other cases; and where such
services rendered exclusively in the arrest, custody, and delivery
of the fugitive to the claimant, his or her agent or attorney, or
where such supposed fugitive may be discharged out of custody for
the want of sufficient proof as aforesaid, then such fees are to be
paid in the whole by such claimant, his agent or attorney; and in
all cases where the proceedings are before a commissioner, he shall
be entitled to a fee of ten dollars in full for his services in
each case, upon delivery of the said certificate to the claimant,
his or her agent or attorney; or a fee of five dollars in cases
where the proof shall not, in the opinion of such commissioner,
warrant such certificate and delivery, inclusive of all services
incident to such arrest and examination, to be paid in either case,
by the claimant, his or her agent or attorney. The person or
persons authorized to execute the process to be issued by such
commissioners for the arrest and detention of fugitives from
service or labor as aforesaid, shall also be entitled to a fee of
five dollars each for each person he or they may arrest and take
before any such commissioner as aforesaid at the instance and
request of such claimant, with such other fees as may be deemed
reasonable by such commissioner for such other additional services
as may be necessarily performed by him or them: such as attending
to the examination, keeping the fugitive in custody, and providing
him with food and lodging during his detention, and until the final
determination of such commissioner; and in general for performing
such other duties as may be required by such claimant, his or her
attorney or agent, or commissioner in the premises; such fees to be
made up in conformity with the fees usually charged by the officers
of the courts of justice within the proper district or county, as
near as may be practicable, and paid by such claimants, their
agents or attorneys, whether such supposed fugitive from service or
labor be ordered to be delivered to such claimants by the final
determination of such commissioners or not.

SEC. 9. _And be it further enacted_, That upon affidavit made by
the claimant of such fugitive, his agent or attorney, after such
certificate has been issued, that he has reason to apprehend that
such fugitive will be rescued by force from his or their possession
before he can be taken beyond the limits of the State in which the
arrest is made, it shall be the duty of the officer making the
arrest to retain such fugitive in his custody, and to remove him to
the State whence he fled, and there to deliver him to said
claimant, his agent or attorney. And to this end the officer
aforesaid is hereby authorized and required to employ so many
persons as he may deem necessary, to overcome such force, and to
retain them in his service so long as circumstances may require;
the said officer and his assistants, while so employed, to receive
the same compensation, and to be allowed the same expenses as are
now allowed by law for the transportation of criminals, to be
certified by the judge of the district within which the arrest is
made, and paid out of the treasury of the United States.

SEC. 10. _And be it further enacted_, That when any person held to
service or labor in any State or Territory, or in the District of
Columbia, shall escape therefrom, the party to whom such service or
labor shall be due, his, her, or their agent or attorney may apply
to any court of record therein, or judge thereof, in vacation, and
make satisfactory proof to such court, or judge, in vacation, of
the escape aforesaid, and that the person escaping owed service or
labor to such party. Whereupon the court shall cause a record to be
made of the matters so proved, and also a general description of
the person so escaping, with such convenient certainty as may be;
and a transcript of such record authenticated by the attestation of
the clerk, and of the seal of the said court, being produced in any
other State, Territory, or District in which the person so escaping
may be found, and being exhibited to any judge, commissioner, or
other officer, authorized by the law of the United States to cause
persons escaping from service or labor to be delivered up, shall be
held and taken to be full and conclusive evidence of the fact of
escape, and that the service or labor of the person escaping is due
to the party in such record mentioned. And upon the production by
the said party of other and further evidence, if necessary, either
oral or by affidavit, in addition to what is contained in the said
record of the identity of the person escaping, he or she shall be
delivered up to the claimant. And the said court, commissioner,
judge or other person authorized by this act to grant certificates
to claimants of fugitives, shall, upon the production of the record
and other evidences aforesaid, grant to such claimant a certificate
of his right to take any such person identified and proved to be
owing service or labor as aforesaid, which certificate shall
authorize such claimant to seize or arrest and transport such
person to the State or Territory from which he escaped: _Provided_,
That nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring the
production of a transcript of such record as evidence as aforesaid;
but in its absence, the claim shall be heard and determined upon
other satisfactory proofs competent in law.

HOWELL COBB,
_Speaker of the House of Representatives_.

WILLIAM R. KING,
_President of the Senate, pro tempore_.

Approved September 18, 1850.
MILLARD FILLMORE.

The most prominent provisions of the Constitution of the United States, and those which form the fundamental basis of personal security, are they which provide, that every person shall be secure in their person and property: that no person may be deprived of liberty without due process of law, and that for crime or misdemeanor; that there may be no process of law that shall work corruption of blood. By corruption of blood is meant, that process, by which a person is _degraded_ and deprived of rights common to the enfranchised citizen--of the rights of an elector, and of eligibility to the office of a representative, of the people; in a word, that no person nor their posterity, may ever be debased beneath the level of the recognised basis of American citizenship. This debasement and degradation is "corruption of blood"; politically understood--a legal acknowledgement of inferiority of birth.

Heretofore, it ever has been denied, that the United States recognised or knew any difference between the people--that the Constitution makes no distinction, but includes in its provisions, all the people alike. This is not true, and certainly is blind absurdity in us at least, who have suffered the dread consequences of this delusion, not now to see it.

By the provisions of this bill, the colored people of the United States are positively degraded beneath the level of the whites--are made liable at any time, in any place, and under all circumstances, to be arrested--and upon the claim of any white person, without the privilege, even of making a defence, sent into endless bondage. Let no visionary nonsense about _habeas corpus_, or a _fair trial_, deceive us; there are no such rights granted in this bill, and except where the commissioner is too ignorant to understand when reading it, or too stupid to enforce it when he does understand, there is no earthly chance--no hope under heaven for the colored person who is brought before one of these officers of the law. Any leniency that may be expected, must proceed from the whims or caprice of the magistrate--in fact, it is optional with them; and _our_ rights and liberty entirely at their disposal.

We are slaves in the midst of freedom, waiting patiently, and unconcernedly--indifferently and stupidly, for masters to come and lay claim to us, trusting to their generosity, whether or not they will own us and carry us into endless bondage.

The slave is more secure than we; he knows who holds the heel upon his bosom--we know not the wretch who may grasp us by the throat. His master may be a man of some conscientious scruples; ours may be unmerciful. Good or bad, mild or harsh, easy or hard, lenient or severe, saint or satan--whenever that master demands any one of us--even our affectionate wives and darling little children, _we must go into slavery_--there is _no alternative_. The _will_ of the man who sits in judgment on our liberty, is the law. To him is given _all power_ to say, whether or not we have a right to enjoy freedom. This is the power over the slave in the South--this is now extended to the North. The will of the man who sits in judgment over us is the law; because it is explicitly provided that the _decision_ of the commissioner shall be final, from which there can be no appeal.

The freed man of the South is even more secure than the freeborn of the North; because such persons usually have their records in the slave states, bringing their "papers" with them; and the slaveholders will be faithful to their own acts. The Northern freeman knows no records; he despises the "papers."

Depend upon no promised protection of citizens in any quarter. Their own property and liberty are jeopardised, and they will not sacrifice them for us. This we may not expect them to do.

Besides, there are no people who ever lived, love their country and obey their laws as the Americans.

Their country is their Heaven--their Laws their Scriptures--and the decrees of their Magistrates obeyed as the fiat of God. It is the most consummate delusion and misdirected confidence to depend upon them for protection; and for a moment suppose even our children safe while walking in the streets among them.

A people capable of originating and sustaining such a law as this, are not the people to whom we are willing to entrust our liberty at discretion.

What can we do? What shall we do? This is the great and important question:--Shall we submit to be dragged like brutes before heartless men, and sent into degradation and bondage?--Shall we fly, or shall we resist? Ponder well and reflect.

A learned jurist in the United States, (Chief Justice John Gibson of Pennsylvania,) lays down this as a fundamental right in the United States: that "Every man's house is his castle, and he has the right to defend it unto the taking of life, against any attempt to enter it against his will, except for crime," by well authenticated process.

But we have no such right. It was not intended for us, any more than any other provision of the law, intended for the protection of Americans. The policy is against us--it is useless to contend against it.

This is the law of the land and must be obeyed; and we candidly advise that it is useless for us to contend against it. To suppose its repeal, is to anticipate an overthrow of the Confederative Union; and we must be allowed an expression of opinion, when we say, that candidly we believe, the existence of the Fugitive Slave Law _necessary_ to the continuance of the National Compact. This Law is the foundation of the Compromise--remove it, and the consequences are easily determined. We say necessary to the continuance of the National Compact: certainly we will not be understood as meaning that the enactment of such a Law was _really_ necessary, or as favoring in the least this political monstrosity of the THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA--surely not at all; but we speak logically and politically, leaving morality and right out of the question--taking our position on the acknowledged popular, basis of American Policy; arguing from premise to conclusion. We must abandon all vague theory, and look at _facts_ as they really are; viewing ourselves in our true political position in the body politic. To imagine ourselves to be included in the body politic, except by express legislation, is at war with common sense, and contrary to fact. Legislation, the administration of the laws of the country, and the exercise of rights by the people, all prove to the contrary. We are politically, not of them, but aliens to the laws and political privileges of the country. These are truths--fixed facts, that quaint theory and exhausted moralising, are impregnable to, and fall harmlessly before.

It is useless to talk about our rights in individual States: we can have no rights here as citizens, not recognised in our common country; as the citizens of one State, are entitled to all the rights and privileges of an American citizen in all the States--the nullity of the one necessarily implying the nullity of the other. These provisions then do not include the colored people of the United States; since there is no power left in them, whereby they may protect us as their own citizens. Our descent, by the laws of the country, stamps us with inferiority--upon us has this law worked _corruption of blood_. We are in the hands of the General Government, and no State can rescue us. The Army and Navy stand at the service of our enslavers, the whole force of which, may at any moment--even in the dead of night, as has been done--when sunk in the depth of slumber, called out for the purpose of forcing our mothers, sisters, wives, and children, or ourselves, into hopeless servitude, there to weary out a miserable life, a relief from which, death would be hailed with joy. Heaven and earth--God and Humanity!--are not these sufficient to arouse the most worthless among mankind, of whatever descent, to a sense of their true position? These laws apply to us--shall we not be aroused?

What then shall we do?--what is the remedy--is the important question to be answered?

This important inquiry we shall answer, and find a remedy in when treating of the emigration of the colored people.

XVII

EMIGRATION OF THE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES

That there have been people in all ages under certain circumstances, that may be benefited by emigration, will be admitted; and that there are circumstances under which emigration is absolutely necessary to their political elevation, cannot be disputed.

This we see in the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt to the land of Judea; in the expedition of Dido and her followers from Tyro to Mauritania; and not to dwell upon hundreds of modern European examples--also in the ever memorable emigration of the Puritans, in 1620, from Great Britain, the land of their birth, to the wilderness of the New World, at which may be fixed the beginning of emigration to this continent as a permanent residence.

This may be acknowledged; but to advocate the emigration of the colored people of the United States from their native homes, is a new feature in our history, and at first view, may be considered objectionable, as pernicious to our interests. This objection is at once removed, when reflecting on our condition as incontrovertibly shown in a foregoing part of this work. And we shall proceed at once to give the advantages to be derived from emigration, to us as a people, in preference to any other policy that we may adopt. This granted, the question will then be, Where shall we go? This we conceive to be all important--of paramount consideration, and shall endeavor to show the most advantageous locality; and premise the recommendation, with the strictest advice against any countenance whatever, to the emigration scheme of the so called Republic of Liberia.

XVIII

"REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA"

That we desire the civilization and enlightenment of Africa--the high and elevated position of Liberia among the nations of the earth, may not be doubted, as the writer was among the first, seven or eight years ago, to make the suggestion and call upon the Liberians to hold up their heads like men; take courage, having confidence in their own capacity to govern themselves, and come out from their disparaging position, by formally declaring their Independence.

As our desire is to impart information, and enlighten the minds of our readers on the various subjects herein contained, we present below a large extract from the "First Annual Report of the Trustees of Donations for Education in Liberia." This Extract will make a convenient statistic reference for matters concerning Liberia. We could only wish that many of our readers possessed more historical and geographical information of the world, and there could be little fears of their going anywhere that might be incongenial and unfavorable to their success. We certainly do intend to deal fairly with Liberia, and give the reader every information that may tend to enlighten them. What the colored people most need, is _intelligence_; give them this, and there is no danger of them being duped into anything they do not desire. This Board was incorporated by the Legislature of Massachusetts, March 19th, 1850--Ensign H. Kellogg, Speaker of the House, Marshall P. Wilder, President of the Senate. Trustees of the Board--Hon. George N. Briggs, LL.D., Hon. Simon Greenleaf, LL.D., Hon. Stephen Fairbanks, Hon. William J. Hubbard, Hon. Joel Giles, Hon. Albert Fearing, Amos A. Lawrence, Esq. Officers of the Board--Hon. G.N. Briggs, President; Hon. S. Fairbanks, Treasurer; Rev. J. Tracy, Secretary. The conclusion of the Report says:--"In view of such considerations, the Trustees cannot doubt the patrons of learning will sustain them in their attempt to plant the FIRST COLLEGE on the _only_ continent which yet remains _without_ one." In this, the learned Trustees have fallen into a statistical and geographical error, which we design to correct. The _continent_ is _not without_ a College. There are now in Egypt, erected under the patronage of that singularly wonderful man, Mehemet Ahi, four colleges conducted on the European principle--Scientific, Medical, Legal, and Military.[4] These are in successful operation; the Military College having an average of eleven hundred students annually. The continent of Africa then, is not without a college, but though benighted enough, even to an apparent hopeless degeneration, she is still the seat of learning, and must some day rise, in the majesty of ancient grandeur, and vindicate the rights and claims of her own children, against the incalculable wrongs perpetrated through the period of sixty ages by professedly enlightened Christians, against them.

A glance at the map will show a sharp bend in this coast at Cape
Palmas, from which it extends, on time one side, about 1,100 miles
north-west and north, and on the other, about 1,200 or 1,300 almost
directly east. In this bend is the Maryland Colony of Cape Palmas,
with a jurisdiction extending nearly 100 miles eastward. This
Colony is bounded on the north-west by the Republic of Liberia,
which extends along the coast about 400 miles to Sherbro. These two
governments will ultimately be united in one Republic, and may be
considered as one, for all the purposes of this inquiry. The extent
of their united sea-coast is about 520 miles. The jurisdiction of
the Republic over the four hundred miles or more which it claims,
has been formally acknowledged by several of the leading powers of
Europe, and is questioned by none. To almost the whole of it, the
native title has been extinguished; the natives, however, still
occupying, as citizens, such portions of it as they need.

The civilized population of these governments, judging from the
census of 1843, and other information, is some 7,000 or 8,000. Of
the heathen population, no census has ever been taken; but it
probably exceeds 300,000.

The grade of Liberian civilization may be estimated from the fact,
that the people have formed a republican government, and so
administer it, as to secure the confidence of European governments
in its stability. The native tribes who have merged themselves in
the Republic, have all bound themselves to receive and encourage
teachers; and some of them have insisted on the insertion, in their
treaties of annexation, of pledges that teachers and other means of
civilization shall be furnished.

Our accounts of churches, clergy and schools are defective, but
show the following significant facts:

The clergy of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Liberia are nearly
all Liberian citizens, serving as missionaries of the Methodist
Missionary Society in the United States. The last Report of that
Society gives the names of fifteen missionaries, having in charge
nine circuits, in which are 882 members in full communion, and 235
probationers; total, 1,117. They have 20 Sabbath Schools, with 114
officers and teachers, 810 scholars, and 507 volumes in their
libraries. They have a Manual Labor School and Female Academy. The
number of Day Schools is not reported; but seven of the
missionaries are reported as superintendents of schools, and the
same number have under their charge several "native towns," in some
of which there are schools. The late superintendent of the missions
writes:--

"It appears plain to my mind, that nothing can now retard the
progress of our missions in this land, unless it be the want of a
good high school, in which to rear up an abundant supply of well
qualified teachers, to supply, as they shall rapidly increase in
number, all your schools."

The Baptists are next in number to the Methodists. The Northern
Baptist Board, having its seat in Boston, has in Liberia one
mission, two out-stations, one boarding school, and two day
schools, with about twenty scholars each, one native preacher, and
four native assistants. The whole mission is in the hands of
converted natives. The Southern Board operates more extensively.
More than a year since, the Rev. John Day, its principal agent
there, reported to the Rev. R.R. Gurley, United States Commissioner
to Liberia, as follows:

"In our schools are taught, say, 330 children, 92 of whom are
natives. To more than 10,000 natives, the Word of Life is statedly
preached; and in every settlement in these colonies, we have a
church, to whom the means of grace are administered; and in every
village we have an interesting Sunday school, where natives as well
as colonists are taught the truths of God's word. Say, in our
Sunday schools, are taught 400 colonists, and 200 natives.... We
have this year baptized 18 natives and 7 colonists, besides what
have been baptized by Messrs. Murray and Drayton, from whom I have
had no report."

The missionaries are all, or nearly all, Liberian citizens.

The Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the United
States has five missionaries at four stations in Liberia. The first
is at Monrovia, under the care of the Rev. Harrison W. Ellis, well
known as "the Learned Black Blacksmith." While a slave in Alabama,
and working at his trade as a blacksmith, he acquired all the
education, in English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Theology, which is
required for ordination as a Presbyterian minister. The
Presbyterians of that region then bought him, and sent him out as a
missionary. His assistant, Mr. B.V.R. James, a colored man, was for
some years a printer in the service of the American Board at their
mission at Cape Palmas and the Gaboon River. He first went to
Liberia as a teacher, supported by a society of ladies in New York.
In the Presbyterian Church under the care of Mr. Ellis are 39
communicants. During the year, 24 had been added, and 8 had been
dismissed to form a new church in another place. Mr. Ellis also has
charge of the "Alexander High School," which is intended mainly for
teaching the rudiments of a classical education. This institution
has an excellent iron school-house, given by a wealthy citizen of
New York, at the cost of one thousand dollars, and a library and
philosophical apparatus, which cost six hundred dollars, given by a
gentleman in one of the southern States. The library contains a
supply of classical works, probably equal to the wants of the
school for some years. The land needed for the accommodation of the
school was given by the government of Liberia. The number of
scholars appears to be between twenty and thirty, a part of whom
support themselves by their daily labor. The English High School
under the care of Mr. James, had, according to the last Annual
Report, 52 scholars. At a later date, the number in both schools
was 78. Mr. James has also a large Sabbath school; but the number
of pupils is not given.

The second station is at the new settlement of Kentucky, on the
right or north bank of the St. Paul's, about fifteen miles from
Monrovia, and six miles below Millsburgh. The missionary is a
Liberian, Mr. H.W. Erskine. On a lot of ten acres, given by the
government, buildings on an economical scale have been erected, in
which is a school of twenty scholars. A church was organized in
November, 1849, with eight members from the church in Monrovia.
They have since increased to fourteen. Here, too, is a flourishing
Sabbath school. The citizens, and especially the poor natives in
the neighbourhood, are extremely anxious that a boarding school
should be established. To this the Committee having charge of this
mission objects, as the expense for buildings and for the support
of pupils would be great, and would absorb funds that can be more
profitably expended on day schools.

The third station is on the Sinou river, 150 miles down the coast
from Monrovia, where, at the mouth of the river, is the town of
Greenville, and a few miles higher up, the newer settlements of
Readville and Rossville. It is under the care of the Rev. James M.
Priest. The number of communicants, at the latest date, was thirty,
and the field of labor was rapidly enlarging by immigration. The
station is new, and it does not appear that any mission school had
yet been organized.

The fourth station is at Settra Kroo, where there are five or six
miles of coast, to which the native title has not yet been
extinguished. This station has been maintained for some years, at a
lamentable expense of the lives and health of white missionaries.
About 200 boys and a few girls have been taught to read. The
station is now under the care of Mr. Washington McDonogh, formerly
a slave of the late John McDonogh, of Louisiana, so well known for
the immense estate which he has bequeathed to benevolent purposes.
He was well educated, and with more than eighty others, sent out
some years since at his master's expense. He has a school of
fifteen scholars, with the prospect of a large increase.

The mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church is located in the
Maryland Colony at Cape Palmas. Its last Report specifies seven
schools, and alludes to several others, in actual operation; all
containing from 200 to 300 scholars, of whom about 100 are in one
Sabbath school. Five other schools had been projected, and have
probably gone into operation since that time. The greater part of
the pupils are from native families. The Report states the number
of communicants at sixty-seven, of whom forty are natives. A High
school was opened January 1, 1850.

The laws of the Republic of Liberia provide for a common school in
every town. It is supposed, however, that where there is a mission
school, accessible to all children of suitable age, no other school
exists; so that, in fact, nearly all the common schools in Liberia
are connected with the different missions, the missionaries have
the superintendence of their studies, and the Missionary Societies
defray a large portion of the expense. Yet it must be remembered
that a large majority of the missionaries are citizens of the
Republic, and some of them native Africans; so that the immediate
control of the schools is not generally in foreign hands. A
portion, also, of the missionary funds, is contributed in Liberia;
and something is paid by parents for the tuition of their children.
Yet the Republic evidently needs an educational system more
independent of missionary aid and control; and for that purpose,
needs a supply of teachers who are not raised up in mission
schools. And we have it in testimony, that the missions themselves
might be more efficient for good, if well supplied with teachers of
higher qualifications.

Here, then, we have a Republic of some 300,000 inhabitants, of whom
7,000 or 8,000 may be regarded as civilized, and the remainder as
having a right to expect, and a large part of them actually
expecting and demanding the means of civilization and Christianity.
We have,--supplying as well as we can by estimate, the numbers not
definitely given,--more than 2,000 communicants in Christian
churches, and more than 1,500 children in Sabbath Schools; some 40
day schools containing, exclusive of the Methodists, who are the
most numerous, and of whose numbers in school we have no report,
about 635 scholars. The whole number in day schools, therefore, is
probably not less than 1,200. We have the Alexander High School at
Monrovia, where instruction is given to some extent in the
classics; the English High School, at the same place, under Mr.
James; the Methodist Manual Labor School and Female Academy at
Millsburg; the Baptist Boarding School at Bexley; and the
Protestant Episcopal High School at Cape Palmas. These institutions
must furnish some students for a higher seminary, such as we
propose to establish; and such a population must need their labors
when educated.

However foreign to the designs of the writer of ever making that country or any other out of America, his home; had this been done, and honorably maintained, the Republic of Liberia would have met with words of encouragement, not only from himself, an humble individual, but we dare assert, from the leading spirits among, if not from the whole colored population of the United States. Because they would have been willing to overlook the circumstances under which they went there, so that in the end, they were willing to take their stand as men, and thereby throw off the degradation of slaves, still under the control of American slave-holders, and American slave-ships. But in this, we were disappointed--grievously disappointed, and proceed to show in short, our objections to Liberia.

_Its geographical position_, in the first place, is objectionable, being located in the _sixth degree_ of latitude North of the equator, in a district signally unhealthy, rendering it objectionable as a place of destination for the colored people of the United States. We shall say nothing about other parts of the African coast, and the reasons for its location where it is: it is enough for us to know the facts as they are, to justify an unqualified objection to Liberia.

In the second place, it originated in a deep laid scheme of the slaveholders of the country, to _exterminate_ the free colored of the American continent; the origin being sufficient to justify us in impugning the motives.

Thirdly and lastly--Liberia is not an Independent Republic: in fact, _it is not_ an independent nation at all; but a poor _miserable mockery_--a _burlesque_ on a government--a pitiful dependency on the American Colonizationists, the Colonization Board at Washington city, in the District of Columbia, being the Executive and Government, and the principal man, called President, in Liberia, being the echo--a mere parrot of Rev. Robert R. Gurley, Elliot Cresson, Esq., Governor Pinney, and other leaders of the Colonization scheme--to do as they bid, and say what they tell him. This we see in all of his doings.

Does he go to France and England, and enter into solemn treaties of an honorable recognition of the independence of his country; before his own nation has any knowledge of the result, this man called President, dispatches an official report to the Colonizationists of the United States, asking their gracious approval? Does king Grando, or a party of fishermen besiege a village and murder some of the inhabitants, this same "President," dispatches an official report to the American Colonization Board, asking for instructions--who call an Executive Session of the Board, and immediately decide that war must be waged against the enemy, placing ten thousand dollars at his disposal--and war _actually declared in Liberia_, by virtue of the _instructions_ of the _American Colonization Society_. A mockery of a government--a disgrace to the office pretended to be held--a parody on the position assumed. Liberia in Africa, is a mere dependency of Southern slaveholders, and American Colonizationists, and unworthy of any respectful consideration from us.

What would be thought of the people of Hayti, and their heads of government, if their instructions emanated from the American Anti-Slavery Society, or the British Foreign Missionary Board? Should they be respected at all as a nation? Would they be worthy of it? Certainly not. We do not expect Liberia to be all that Hayti is; but we ask and expect of her, to have a decent respect for herself--to endeavor to be freemen instead of voluntary slaves. Liberia is no place for the colored freemen of the United States; and we dismiss the subject with a single remark of caution against any advice contained in a pamphlet, which we have not seen, written by Hon. James G. Birney, in favor of Liberian emigration. Mr. Birney is like the generality of white Americans, who suppose that we are too ignorant to understand what we want; whenever they wish to get rid of us, would drive us any where, so that we left them. Don't adhere to a word therein contained; we will think for ourselves. Let Mr. Birney go his way, and we will go ours. This is one of those confounded gratuities that is forced in our faces at every turn we make. We dismiss it without further comment--and with it Colonization _in toto_--and Mr. Birney _de facto_.

But to return to emigration: Where shall we go? We must not leave this continent; America is our destination and our home.

That the continent of America seems to have been designed by Providence as an asylum for all the various nations of the earth, is very apparent. From the earliest discovery, various nations sent a representation here, either as adventurers and speculators, or employed seamen and soldiers, hired to do the work of their employers. And among the earliest and most numerous class who found their way to the New World, were those of the African race. And it is now ascertained to our mind, beyond a peradventure, that when the continent was discovered, there were found in Central America, a tribe of the black race, of fine looking people, having characteristics of color and hair, identifying them originally of the African race--no doubt being a remnant of the Africans who, with the Carthaginian expedition, were adventitiously cast upon this continent, in their memorable excursion to the "Great Island," after sailing many miles distant to the West of the Pillars of Hercules.

We are not inclined to be superstitious, but say, that we can see the "finger of God" in all this; and if the European race may with propriety, boast and claim, that this continent is better adapted to their development, than their own father-land; surely, it does not necessarily detract from our father-land, to claim the superior advantages to the African race, to be derived from this continent. But be that as it may, the world belongs to mankind--his common Father created it for his common good--his temporal destiny is here; and our present warfare, is not upon European rights, nor for European countries; but for the common rights of man, based upon the great principles of common humanity--taking our chance in the world of rights, and claiming to have originally more right to this continent, than the European race. And had we no other claims than those set forth in a former part of this work, they are sufficient to cause every colored man on the continent, to stand upon the soil unshaken and unmoved. The aboriginee of the continent, is more closely allied to us by consanguinity, than to the European--being descended from the Asiatic, whose alliance in matrimony with the African is very common--therefore, we have even greater claims to this continent on that account, and should unite and make common cause in elevation, with our similarly oppressed brother, the Indian.

The advantages of this continent are superior, because it presents every variety of climate, soil, and production of the earth, with every variety of mineral production, with all kinds of water privileges, arid ocean coast on all sides, presenting every commercial advantage. Upon the American continent we are determined to stay, in spite of every odds against us. What part of the great continent shall our destination be--shall we emigrate to the North or South?

FOOTNOTE:

[4] It may be, that the Medical and Legal Schools, are adjunct departments of the Scientific College, which would make the number of Colleges in Egypt but two: as we are certain that the Military is separate entirely from the Scientific School, and spoken of by travelers as a splendid College.

XIX

THE CANADAS