We admit the following article as presenting an able view of the argument against the American Colonization Society. Though we differ from the writer in many of his positions, and generally in his opposition to the Society, we deem it right that our readers should be made acquainted with both sides of a disputed, and doubtless important question. THE EDITORS.

ART. V. The American Colonization Society.

THE American Colonization Society has become an institution of national importance, not so much on account of the actual results of its African operations, as because it has exercised, and continues to exercise, a powerful influence on public opinion. It was popular from its very outset, because its plans flattered the feelings of the people; it was respectable; for the names of good and great men, whom the nation delighted to honor, appeared on the list of its members; above all, it presented the first American scheme for the redress and improvement of a wronged and degraded race. Whatever was publicly said in its behalf came with great weight, for it had the sanction of distinguished divines, lawyers, and statesmen. The same arguments may still be truly alleged in its favor. Nay, more; it has lately been recommended to the confidence and patronage of the people by several of our ablest magazines and reviews. As, therefore, its operations are of acknowledged importance, they are fair subjects of investigation.

It is not our purpose to enter into the details of the early history of African colonization. A brief reference to prominent facts will suffice to illustrate the tendency of the sysIt has been argued in favor of the American Colonization Society, that it merely follows the path marked out by certain enlightened English philanthropists; with what propriety will be seen. In 1796 several hundreds of slaves were set free in London by a decision of the judiciary, and soon became objects of compassion. The memorable Granville Sharp, assisted by the government, undertook to colonize them in Africa, and partially succeeded. There is little similarity between the condition of these poor people and that of American free blacks, who are the objects of the charity of the American Colonization Society. They were strangers in a climate to which they had not been accustomed, among a people who knew them not, and whom they did not know. The case of the American free people of color is not so. All of them can support themselves in the land of their birth by honest labor. They are under none of the disabilities from which Granville Sharp wished to free the expatriated West India negroes. Again, the result proves Mr. Sharp's plan of amelioration to have been injudicious in the extreme. Out of four hundred and sixty persons first sent to Africa, but forty remained at the end of the year, the rest having perished or deserted. A second exportation increased the strength of the colony, which was nevertheless totally dispersed by the natives within less than a year more. Not to dwell upon the disasters of this unfortunate colony, it is admitted that more than one half of the people who have joined it have perished by famine, pestilence, and the sword. It will be evident to all who may study the subject, that the English colony at Sierra Leone has continued to exist almost in spite of fate; that the eighteen thousand inhabitants, said to have resided there in 1823, were not equal to the natural increase which might have been expected from those, whose bones fatten the pestilent soil; and that the power of Great Britain, as well as an enormous waste of life and treasure, have been requisite to keep the said settlement among the things that be. The results have been in no wise adequate to the means employed to produce them. Let the pages of Clapperton, nay, of "The African Repository," say how far the civilization of Africa has advanced. Surely, the fortune, or, more properly, the fate, of the unhappy colony of Sierra Leone ought to be an awful warning, rather than an encouragement, to American philanthropists. The reader will find this sad truth amply and ably demonstrated in an article on the American Colonization Society, in the July number of "The North American Review."

It is perhaps proper, while speaking of the history of Americo-African colonization, to say, that it originated in the legislature of Virginia; but as the measures of that honorable body had no practical result, we must attribute the birth of the Society now under consideration to the exertions of the Rev. Robert Finley, of New Jersey. We would not willingly misrepresent the American Colonization Society, or any other body of men. We might do so, did we look to the

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reports of their enemies for data. We will, therefore, chiefly rely on "The African Repository," their avowed organ, for our facts.

The American Colonization Society began its being, under the auspices of Mr. Finley, in Washington, in 1816; and two years after, two missionaries visited Africa, in order to take the preparatory measures. One of them left his bones there.* Twenty-seven of the first exportation (consisting of eighty-one persons) perished. In 1822, the poor remains of the colony were nigh being exterminated by the natives. [See "The African Repository," Volume I. Article I. for all these facts.]

We must not forget to mention the manner in which the land requisite for the proposed colony was obtained from the natives.

Dr. Ayres, who accompanied Lieutenant Stockton, states [5th Annual Report, p. 55,] that the native chief, who owned the land, was at first willing to sell. On the next day he had altered his mind. "Lieutenant Stockton's dexterity at mixing flattery with a little well-timed threat, turned all to our advantage." The bargain was concluded, a circumstance which Dr. Ayres considers as "a triumph not only over savage prejudice, but over European negotiation." Our treaties with the Indians, we suppose, are also matter of triumph. Now, considering that the well-timed threat only consisted of the presentation of Lieutenant Stockton's pistols at King Peter's breast, and that the said king was compelled to sign the treaty by the fear of immediate death, we cannot deny that savage prejudice was overcome, and we may certainly exult that an American pistol persuaded the native to a measure which European diplomacy had often tried in vain to achieve. As Dr. Ayres assures us, that a tract worth a million of dollars was thus obtained for little more than three hundred dollars, we may also compliment the American Colonization Society on the honesty of their agents.

We have no wish to pursue this discussion further. We now come to the result of the labors of the American Colonization Society. The Society has existed nearly sixteen

* This is a mistake. He died on the passage back, of a disease contracted in Liberia.

years. The number of persons colonized during that time is, if we may trust the late Address of the Managers, two thousand and sixty-one, exclusive of three or four hundred negroes recaptured from slave-ships. Six hundred and thirteen of these were slaves emancipated for the express purpose of expatriation. We are obliged to take the general statements of the Society on trust, for, though we have sought diligently for more minute information, we have found none. The Annual Reports do not enter into detail. It might be supposed that "The African Repository," which is published under the sanction of the Managers, would report every case of emigration, but such is not the fact. We have searched the first six volumes of that journal, page by page, and have found the departure of seventeen hundred and eleven persons only mentioned, some of these being white men. The "Repository" ought also to contain a record of deaths, which it does not; extraordinary mortality being always mentioned in general terms. However, we are enabled to draw logical inferences from general admissions. The article in "The North American Review," to which we have already referred, has these words: "The fact, that the population of the colony is now not far from two thousand five hundred,* goes to corroborate the statements universally made by those who have had the best opportunities of observing the truth." That is, the present population of the colony is something less that two thousand five hundred, or about the number actually transported. A number equivalent to the natural increase of the emigrants must, therefore, have perished; which is certainly strong encouragement to the American free blacks to emigrate. Let it not be said that we have gone out of our way to notice the article in "The North American Review." It has, within a few weeks, been recommended to the confidence of the Boston public by the accredited agent of the American Colonization Society, a proof that persons in trust ought to be careful what they say.

The general fact we have just stated and proved shows, conclusively, that no colored person who values his life ought to emigrate to Liberia. The following table shows, that the colored people of the United States have almost trebled their number between 1790 and 1830. There were in

1790, 50,481 free blacks, in 1830, 319,467 free blacks,

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697,697 slaves. 2,010,527 slaves. Therefore, if there be any truth in arithmetic, there should now be a great many more people in Liberia than there are, supposing that country to be as favorable to the multiplication of the human species as the United States. The result proves that it is not.

Eighty-three persons sailed for Africa in the first expedition. Twenty-seven of them died within a few weeks after they landed. Two years after, when the natives attacked the colony, thirty of the colonists only were able to bear arms. [See "The African Repository," Volume I. Article I.] All the rest were dead or disabled by sickness. These facts, stated by the official organ of the society, speak volumes.

دو

We do not object against the cause of missions generally, or against the particular design to Christianize and civilize Africa, avowed by the American Colonization Society. Would to Heaven they might spread the glad tidings of the gospel from the Mediterranean to the Cape of Good Hope, from Cape Mesurado to the straits of Babelmandel. Fain would we see the "sheik of spears become the sheik of religion and the arts of life; fain would we know that Africa would, within our time, preserve and cherish her lifeblood, instead of pouring it out on the scorched and accursed soil of slave-holding countries. Most especially do we hope that the germ, forcibly planted by Lieut. Stockton at Cape Mesurado, may take root, and flourish, and overspread the peninsula. It is time that the true ground of objection against the American Colonization Society should be understood; for it has been grievously misrepresented.

We object to the American Colonization Society; first, that the means it employs are wholly inadequate to the end it contemplates.

2dly, That it does not oppose, but rather encourages, the curse and scandal of our country; viz. negro slavery. 3dly, That it encourages the domestic slave-trade. 4thly, That it is the enemy of the United States, inasmuch as it contemplates the ultimate expulsion of our colored population, whose labor we cannot spare.