Great efforts we learn are being made by traders at the leeward, to prejudice the natives against the colonists; in some instances, they have so far succeeded, that the natives have declared they wish no communication with us. Should they incite them to aggression on the persons and property of the colonists, which is evidently their aim, the consequence may be disastrous to the property of the movers of the mischief. It should be borne in mind that the natives know no friends in a time of war. The property of all is alike booty. In the present number, our readers will find the diplomatic correspondence between the government of Great Britain and the United States, relative to the character and jurisdiction of this colony. Although the colony is deeply interested in this discussion, and will be immensely affected for good or evil in which ever way the question shall be decided, yet we are happy that it is now brought before the world, as no time can be more proper for it, than the present. In discussing this matter, it would seem important to attend to its peculiar features, lest in viewing the subject in the light in which similar questions, when agitated between nations, are regarded, an error fatal to us be made. The question is not whether a community already possessing sufficient territory for a healthful existence," shall be allowed to extend the line of its boundary-nor whether a country moved only, by a greedy ambition, shall grasp a point where it can effect no object of general good to the human family, and which the equal interest of all requires to be maintained free and unappropriated, but whether this colony planted by Christian philanthropy, with the highest and holiest of purposes, shall be allowed any longer to have an existence. The question involves nothing less than the existence of the colony. If it be astricted to its original limits, all its former efforts will have been in vain. It must languish and drop a helpless abortion. Nor will it be of avail to extend its purchases along the coast, if within this line, there be intervening communities independent of its control, seeing the most salutary · regulations-those which its very existence may require to be enforced, may, through these exempted points, be sadly weakened, and set at naught. In whatever light the question is viewed, it teems with interest to us, and as its decision must be pronounc ed at some time, the present seems as good as any other. Our fate depends upon it; but if we should be driven henee, where shall we go? As it is in the power of neither our hand nor tongue to plead for us, may we not trust to our former circumstances and our present helplessness, to afford argument? Now that the question is agitated, would it be improper for us to send a deputation to Europe and America, to ask a recognition of the colony? We are not aware of all the qualifications that entitle a people to such consideration. If regard be had to power, in the ordinary acceptation of the term-or to population and territorial extent, of course we have no claim. But if (and it seems more consonant with certain fundamental principles,) regard is had to the amount of good to be effected-to the aggregate amount of evil and wretchedness to be prevented, then we may be permitted to plead. We throw out this by way of sugges tion, in order to engage the attention of some of our more sapient friends. Colonization and Missions. "A HISTORICAL EXAMINATION OF THE STATE OF SOCIETY IN WESTERN AFRICA, AS FORMED BY PAGANISM AND MUHAMMEDANISM, SLAVERY, THE SLAVE TRADE AND PIRACY, AND OF THE REMEDIAL INFLUENCE OF COLONIZATION AND MISSIONS." Such is the title of a pamphlet written by the Rev. Joseph Tracy, Secretary of the Massachusetts Colonization Society, and published by the board of managers of that society. The author, first, shows by an appeal to history, the inexpressibly wretched condition of Africa, under the horrid influences which prevailed over it, until its rescue was attempted through missionary labors. Whilst contemplating this part of the history of that unhappy country, it is as though we looked upon a land, on which, in rapid succession, were pouring the seven Apocalyptic vials of wrath. Poor Africa! It was not enough that the unbroken darkness, and uncontrolled depravity, and degrading superstition of Paganism, should ravage all that might have been fair in her moral aspect, and overwhelm her in wickedness and misery; but Muhammedanism must add its delusions and cruelties, and slavery its chains and oppressions, and the slave trade and piracy their rapines and murders. The representation which the historian gives of the state of Africa is inconceivably dreadful. Curses seem to have fallen on her sons, darker far than their own sable complexion. The millions of her population are presented before us, sunk to the very lowest state of ignorance and iniquity, tormenting, killing, enslaving each other, and enduring similar evils from almost all the nations of the earth. Found in such a deplorable condition, the author next informs us that Christian missions were employed for their deliverance. He gives us an account of all that was done of this kind; but the whole is a history of successive and total failures. No doubt, here, as elsewhere, missions. have in them elements of power sufficient to accomplish their end, but here that inherent power could not develope itself. The missionaries were speedily and universally driven from the land, either by the fatality of the climate, or the wickedness of the inhabitants. Hence, all efforts of this kind were fruitless, and had to be abandoned. After the account of the failure of missions, the author tells us of the trial of the scheme of colonization, and its effects so far as yet produced. Through its simple instrumentality, though yet but feebly used, we are told that all the peculiar forms of evil under which Africa was perishing, have been successfully combated; and all that good which she needs for her salvation introduced. Superstition and slavery, and the slave trade and piracy, have been banished wherever the system of colonization has operated, and civilization and its attendant benefits have been substituted, and Christian missions being protected, Christianity has shown its power to save. All this is history. Theory, so often delusive, is laid aside, while the whole appeal is made to facts, stubborn facts." 66 The perusal of this pamphlet will afford both pleasure and confidence to the friends of colonization, and must stimulate, one would suppose, those who have hitherto been indifferent to this great subject, and stop the mouths of gainsayers. The argument in favor of African colonization, deducible from the facts collected and spread out before us, is incontestible. Three truths seem to be established, upon which the argument may be firmly based. They are the following: known, endure the climate,) and in such a number as to afford to themselves a protection against the inhabitants-that is, inaccessible except to a colony of colored persons. In such a colony, therefore, must remain the only hope of benefiting Africa. The angel of death meets the white man on the shores of Africa, and Providence thus seems to have forbidden his intrusion there, even for good and holy purposes. And the colored man, if in safety he would abide there, must not go single-handed and unprotected. Slavery, or death by violence, in such a case would be his doom. As in the natural wastes of Arabia's desert, the traveller who would live may not face the dangers of a pilgrimage alone, but must join the caravan; so in the more dreadful moral wastes of Africa's shores, may not even the black man venture to be found, but as one of a protecting colony. Hence, while other lands may be approached and blessed by other methods, the only hope for Africa appears to be in colonization by persons of color. This is the only star of promise which appears to kindle its light on her dark horizon. It is In regard to the first truth, it be."the only apparent means of her salcomes manifest from the failure of vation. First, The colonization of Africa by people of color is the only apparent means of her salvation. Second, As an experiment, having this end in view, colonization has succeeded. Third, It may, therefore, be relied on, under God, to accomplish fully this end. missions when tried alone. These We rejoice, therefore, that the seccould not succeed, because the cli-ond truth finds such strong confirmamate is fatal to the white race, and because the inhabitants would either kill or expel the missionaries. In such a case, the country becomes inaccessible except to persons of the colored race, (who can, as is well tion in the pages of Mr. Tracy's pamphlet, viz: That as an experiment, having the salvation of Africa. in view, colonization has succeeded. The facts which are narrated, prove that colonies can be, and have been established in Africa, and that wherev- gives origin to Christian education er they are established, they meet and overcome all the peculiar evils under which the African race are suffering such horrid things, and they introduce every means which need be employed for its salvation. The experiment has been tried, and has succeeded. Slavery, and the slave trade, and piracy, have ceased wherever the influence of a colony has been felt; and laws and civilization have been introduced; and missions are protected, and thus Christianity exerts its blessed power. As in the land of Egypt, of old, darkness and the plagues desolated all its borders, save only where Israel dwelt, and there was light and mercy; so moral darkness and plagues curse all Africa's coast, save only where the colonist abides, and there blessings abound. No candid person, we are persuaded, can compare the state of the colonies and their immediate neighborhood, with that of the rest of Africa, and not be convinced that colonization has proven a successful experiment wherever, and to whatever extent it has been employed. Hence, we consider, also, the third truth which we have mentioned as brought to light and established by Mr. Tracy, viz: That colonization may be relied on, under God, to accomplish the whole work of Africa's salvation. When we speak of colonization, it is meant of course to include, also, all other instrumentalities and influences which it originates or protects, or sends forth. Thus it and missions where they could not otherwise exist, and to many other beneficial influences; and for this reason, they may all be viewed as elements of power embraced in the work of colonization. So understood, we may rely upon this work, under God, to save Africa. But here the objection may be made, that, although colonization has done much, yet it has effected but a very small part of the whole, and, hence, even admitting that all that is stated is true, yet it is presumptuous to look to it to accomplish all. It has recovered some moral waste spots, but shall the whole wilderness and every solitary place be glad for it, and all the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose? It has blessed some individuals, or even tribes, but can it bring forth the whole race with salvation; shall all by it "obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing flee away?" It is a different thing to save a small district with its inhabitants, and to rescue a whole continent with its teeming millions. All this is true, but it does not overthrow what has been said. It requires the same instrumentality, only increased in power, which commenced the work of Africa's redemption, to complete that noble work. Now, as colonization has commenced it, why may it not be made to complete it? And, besides, it is not the time, now, to say what it cannot do. A mere experiment has been made, a feeble one too, as yet, and it has proven amply successful. Who || wake, would almost outstrip the wind now shall say what power may appear in this simple means, as more wisdom shall be gained through experience in employing it, and more strength through the enlargement of the field of its operation. It is generally a mark of folly, as all history shows, to say to what end a small beginning may not reach, or to what a feeble, but successful experiment, may lead. Sometimes in the arm of the weakest infant there are the beginnings of a giant's strength, yet to be developed, and he is silly who judges of its power by present appearances. Sometimes in an instrumentality for good or evil, which is but just budding forth its strength, there sleep the seeds which shall germinate to an inconceivable extent. For illustration, let us suppose a case, which may have occurred. Suppose an incredulous spectator, standing on the banks of the Hudson, watching the first steamer which ever disturbed her waters, should strain his vision after it, as it slowly struggled against the wind and waves. He might be convinced that the experiment was triumphant, and yet he would hardly believe that it would lead to the wonderful results of which we know. On a smooth current, and for a short distance, he might believe the steamboat could "drag its slow length along," but he would ridicule the idea that it would in future days overcome all obstacles, dash aside the Atlantic billows, cross every ocean, and, leaving the white sail far in the itself in speed. Yet such have been the wonders performed by that which at first could scarcely toil along through its tedious voyage. Like the spectator on the banks of the Hudson, beholding the boat, we look upon colonization. It is being tried, it is succeeding, it has triumphed through toil and difficulty. The experiment is complete, and now who shall say what may not yet be the results? Let errors be corrected when discovered, and increased power be used, and who may say that Africa shall not be saved through colonization? Is it visionary to expect this? Is it not rational to anticipate this glorious result? We cannot but persuade ourselves that every unprejudiced mind must perceive that it is, and every benevolent heart must rejoice for the brightening prospects which colonization (and it only) opens for a lost continent. At least we may rely upon it, under God, to accomplish the whole work so far, that we may confidently give to it all the support which it needs to render it as powerful as it can possibly be made. It will be time to doubt its efficiency, only when we see it begin to fail. But that, perchance, may not be until "Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hands" in the joy of deliverance and salvation. And, now, is it too much to say, that, from the facts recorded in Mr. Tracy's pamphlet, an incontestible argument is deducible in favor of African colonization? It will be perceived, also, the argument is one |