themselves the friends of liberty and humanity, involuntary servitude is justified, while it is even a problem within the understanding if Negroes be of the same species with that of white men." All this and more may be said of Africa. She may be persecuted, she may be degraded in theory as well as in practice to the level of the brutes-they may deny to her the very nature of humanity-but still she has a heart to feel, and an immortal soul to be saved; and although rude are her manners, and very hard her lot, and sable her complexion, as the Lord liveth, "she is one of our mother's children." nations that have perished, were received from her? The civilization which was derived from this venerable source, was of the earth, and transitory. It has often been exhausted in one country, as it was awakened in another. But that which it may be our privilege to roll back like a bright flood upon those regions of ignorance and barbarism, shall be blended with the light that came down from Heaven-that can never be extinguished-the light of immortality! T. R. P. S. In support of the above opinions and remarks, the reader is respectfully referred to the following authorities: Dr. Griffin's Plea for Africa, Rees' Cyclopœdia, Articles, "Cush, Aurite, Dispensation of Mankind, Egypt, Shepherds, Ethiopia, Copti, Carthage, Sokman, &c. Bryant's Observations on Ancient History, Calmet's Dic. of Rib, under Cush, Cathan, Antheites, Araxes, &c. Brown's Dictionary of the Bible, "Cush," Gregoire on the Litera "Whence (says a writer in the North American Review,) came the civilization of Greece? It was brought by colonies from Egypt. How was Italy civilized? By colonies from Greece. How was Europe civilized? By the Roman military colonies. Whence came the civilization of America ?" And why may not America, the best and the brightest in this won-ture of Negroes, Clarkson on Sladerful series of revolution, carry very, Well's Geography, vol. 1. p. back by colonies to Africa, now 100, Bibliothica of Ravanelles, in barbarism, the blessings which," Cush," Strabo's Geography, p.. through ages that are passed, and 21, 24. e 3 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COLONIZATION SOCIETY. structive scheme, which calls on the e This meeting was held in the 2 esidents, took the chair, when the report was read by Mr. Gurley. f Robert F. Stockton, Esq. then submitted certain resolutions of the New Jersey Colonization - Society, and made an address, from which we give the following extract: will not offend against the talent, and for the present, she can wish to increase, sir! There is a golden mean, which all who would pursue the solid interest and reputation of their country may discern at the very heart of their confederation and will both advocate and enforce-a principle of justice, conciliation and humanity-a principle, sir, which is not inconsistent with itself, and yet can sigh "Why is it, sir, that the people of over the degradation of the slave, defend these United States have thus far enjoy- the wisdom and prudence of the South ed a happiness and prosperity unex-against the charge of studied and pertiampled in the annals of nations? Is it nacious cruelty, and yet, with an eye of exclusively to be attributed to the wis-warning and a voice of thunder, invoke dom of her statesmen? To the upright and independent administration of her laws; to the physical strength and resources || of the country; to the prowess of her army, and the devotedness of her sailors? No, sir! All this is well, is excellent, is admirable; but more than this is nevertheless required. It is because, whatever may be the cancerous and alarming evils which, by its early masters have been entailed on the finest country in the world, her institutions of modern times, dating their birth with the Amer-instruct them in their creed of political ican revolution, are based substantially on moral rectitude and the equal rights of man. But, sir, let me not be misunderstood on this delicate and important question. With the enthusiasts of the North, I embark not in the wild and de them to be stirring in the great cause, Nor, sir, in the future application of morality. But surely, sir, as a citizen 1 tions; the scarcity of her patriots; the exhaustion of her resources; and the gradual progress of bloated luxury, to eventual want and general degradation. But, sir, can we be satisfied with this trite array of secondary causes-this after truth and wisdom? It is indispensable that we should answer, no. It would be interesting to analyze the his. pose, not to lose sight of those beacon lights, which are calculated on the one hand to protect us from danger, and on the other to lead us to prosperity? Is it unbecoming in me to beseech them not to mistake sin for expediency, and to be instructed by the philosophy of histo-blind, and, therefore, hopeless, grasping Fy? What, sir, in the rearing and advancement of a young, reflecting, and yet enterprising people, are the real advantages of the age in which we live?tory of Spain in support of the position Are they, that architecture is rebuilding her proudest temples; that music swells its unequalled harmony; that painting bids fair to rival the works of its ancient masters; or that all the arts, whether useful or ornamental, guided by the light of liberal science, are rapidly striding to perfection? No, sir; it is because we have before us the experience of so many ages, and the philosophy of so many human experiments and human failures to humble and enlighten us. I would maintain, but time does not permit, and if it did, to the present assembly it would, in all probability, be more than superfluous. But, sir, can there be ha zard in the assertion that Spain has, even now, however ingloriously inactive or subdued, her abundant resources, her port of dignity, her romantic chivalry, her armies of patriots? Cast your eye upon her fertile regions; breathe in the luxuries of her delicious climate; calcu late the value of her exhaustless colonies; her advantages for commerce, and the numbers of her inhabitants; and who shall deny to her abundant resources? And for her patriots-for the moral and intellectual energies, that might be expected to excite them in the great causes of national and individual inde. But unfortunately, sir, history is rarely examined as it should be. Of what avail is it, in the pursuit of the speculator, that cities and empires have been reared and overturned, and that so many towering and intrepid spirits have, with all their schemes, been tumbled from their elevation, if he fail to consider the moral influ-pendence-need they be mentioned, that ence upon human events, and to look for their accomplishment, beyond the boundary of human means? There are, sir, crimes of nations as well as of individuals; and whilst the immortal essence of the latter is reserved for judgment, when Time shall be no more, the former shall account in the only sphere to which their physical conformation is adapted, and beyond which their identity is forbiddenby the imperishable requisites for eternity. Spain, sir, has had her day of glory and of happiness, and why is it not so with her now? The short sighted politician will trace it no higher than to the natural infirmities of human institu they may be remembered? The accents of her gallant defenders, expiring on scaffolds of her own erection, are still piercing our ears. And yet, with all her elements of wealth, and pride, and chivalry-with all nature to cheer her, all art to aid her, all science to instruct, all example to rouse, and all wrongs to madden, Spain is still poor and wretched, spiritless and ignorant, the ruinous and crumbling corner of a splendid continent. But how! Spain, sir, has been arraigned before the King of Kings, and is now writhing in agony, under the torture of his retributive justice. The curse of successful, but insatiate avarice; of unin termitted wrong; of unbending insolence vidence, this giant people, too, may be Let it not be said, that, in the pride of mby the the Mr. Custis, of Arlington, then rose and said, that as there was no immediate business before the Society, he would do himself the ho He then read the following: Resolved, unanimously-That a But, sir, returning from abroad with ho these serious warnings from ancient com?munities, to the nurture and accomplish- Mr. Custis presumed it would be unorament of our youthful and interesting coun- necessary that the question should be be try, let us not be wanting in the manly ex- put on a resolution like this, or on auy cat ercise of self examination. We too, sir, measure either for the present or any le have a moral debt, contracted by our an- other purpose which had for its object atcestors, formidable in its origin,and which || the honouring of one who was the delight its has been daily accumulating. And if of all hearts. Sorry should he be, to see we desire that this young day's happi- || the day when there could be any hesitaillness may not be succeeded by a wretched er imbecility; and that our constitution i- the sublimest structure for the promulgation and protection of human rights the world ever saw-the very capital of human freedom, shall be first completed, ,and then endure, through the lapse of dages, let us not presume on the trant. quillity of to-day. This may be the calm, dout of which bursts the tornado; this the smooth and deceptive water, on the fedge of the cataract. The time may f come, when, in the dispensations of Pro tion on such a question. The presence 1 and much discouragement had been felt that posterity might witness the fruit of by its friends. The Society was as yet its exertions. If he was asked, how can but in its infancy: he hoped, however, we compass so great an undertaking? he it would grow, and gather strength with replied: by zeal; by industry; by routime. That this Republick,if not impeded sing the ardor of the wise and the good; by the depressing evil which it was the (and our country has many of both.) design of the Society to remedy, would, Look to the day when our National Liere this, have become one of the bright-berty was achieved-look at the proest and most illustrious empires the world ||gress of that little spark-then surroundever saw, no intelligent and enlighteneded by the deepest darkness, but now mind, he thought, could doubt. The tree blazing so bright and so high as to light of Liberty had indeed been planted; it the world! Nothing was impossiblehad grown, and flourished, and spread its Alinighty God never intended that a ge. nerous effort to effect a great and good branches far and wide; but there was a canker at its root, "a worm that never object, should not be rewarded one day or other. Many difficulties had indeed dies." When he turned his eyes towards the favoured portion of our coun-occurred; but what of that? Difficultry where virtute et labore florent Respub-ties were to be expected-they had allicæ, towards that "land of steady habits," ways been anticipated-they were inse that land "where every rood of earth perable from the origin of every colony maintains its man," where education, in- in a distant land. The object of the Sodustry, intelligence and contentment, society was not an affair of the moment; it eminently prevail, he said to himself, was an object which spread itself through "there is the essence of republicanism!" a wide period of time. If the Society would ever effect it, they must perseWould to Almighty God that the same blessings were every where enjoyed || vere; they must labour; they must enthroughout our land. But, when he dure disappointment; they must combat difficulties; they must first put their turned his eyes to the South, he perceived a deadly disease, the origin of which, shoulder to the wheel, and then Heaven, and hope for success. the citizens of the South were not answerable for, but which had been entail- knows but what this Society may yet be ed upon them by the fault of their fa- hold a great and flourishing republic rise on the shores of Africa? Who knows but thers. When he looked to his native land; the land of his childhood; the land that the Society may hear that Republic of his earliest recollections; that land saying to the world, "it was America that which contained his paternal hearth: founded me?--In me, the New World when he looked to the spots where he taught the old.-The chains that once played in infancy; to the hills and the bound my children are now broken in streams that were familiar to his boy-sunder, and from a feeble colony, behold hood, he asked himself, shall I ever be- I am become a great empire!" He askhold the sun, the fair sun of liberty, shineed, was not this worthy of Americans? through the cloud that now covers it? Was this a prospect to be abandoned? go He indeed might have the frost of age Would they desert the helm and upon his head, or might mingle with the low, because they saw difficulty or danclods of the valley before that happy ger? No! Let us brave the gale.-Let us never "give up the ship" while we hour, but he trusted that Heaven would prosper the objects of this Society, and can keep the sea. to Who pray be |