That the marriage relation between slaves is not recognized or protected by the law, is another evil to the negro attending the system, and to a qualified extent it is an evil. In practice, public opinion protects the relation. The unfeeling separation of husband and wife, is a rare occurrence. It never happens when both belong to the same master. To regulate properly this relation by legislation, so as to prevent inhumanity on the one hand, and not to bind too much the owner's power of selling an unworthy or unruly slave on the other, requires great sagacity and prudence.

It would require a prophetic vision to foretell the future of the American negro slaves. Emancipation, in their present location, can never be peacefully effected. Until the white race of the South is exterminated or driven off, it can never be forcibly effected. Amalgamation, to any great extent, is a moral impossibility. Colonization on the coast of Africa could be effected only at immense cost, and at the sacrifice of the lives of at least one-fourth of the emigrants. So long as climate and disease, and the profitable planting of cotton, rice, tobacco, and cane, make the negro the only laborer inhabiting safely our Southern savannas and prairies, just so long will he remain a slave to the white man. Whenever the white laborer can successfully compete with him in these productions and occupy this soil, the negro will either be driven slowly through the Isthmus, to become amalgamated with the races of South America, or he will fall a victim to disease and neglect, begging bread at the white man's door.

CHAPTER XVIII.

AFRICAN COLONIZATION.

Two attempts have been made to colonize the negro in Africa. During the American war of revolution, Great Britain, to induce the slaves to join her standard, promised to all such freedom. At the close of the war, such negroes as had accepted the offer were carried temporarily to Nova Scotia, and finally colonized at Sierra Leone, on the coast of Africa. To these have been added large numbers of captured Africans found on board of slavers, which have fallen into the hands of British cruisers. No special attention has been aroused in the mother country, among the benevolent and Christians, to this colony; and so far as the same may be considered as an effort to evidence the capacity of the negro for self-elevation, it is an admitted failure. Without dwelling longer on its history, we turn to Liberia, where everything has been done which philanthropy or religion could suggest, to develop to its fullest capacity the moral and intellectual growth of the negro.

Satisfied that the only condition in which the white and black races could live together, to their mutual advantage, was that of slavery to the latter, and looking to Africa, the birthplace of the negro, for a home and a grave, the friends of the negro in the United States. inaugurated an effort, in 1816, to test his capacity for a self-sustaining civilization upon its shores. The philanthropists of the entire Union joined heartily in this en

terprise, some of the noblest names of the Republic being recorded as its earliest friends. The legislatures of the States, North and South, with great unanimity, approved of the movement, and earnest, zealous, active friends have devoted time, talents, wealth, health, and life, to insure its success. Never in the history of the world has a colony been planted from purer philanthropy, nor cherished with greater munificence, nor followed by more ardent prayers. Liberia is the child of philanthropy and religion. The sympathies of the civilized world have been with her. She has had no human enemies, save the savages of her own race, surrounding her borders, and a few fanatical abolitionists in our own country.

It is not necessary to our purpose to trace minutely its history. A few facts will present its inception and its present position. The first emigrants were sent out in 1820. In April, 1822, the American flag was first hoisted at the spot now occupied by Monrovia, the capital of the Republic. From that date to 1847, white Governors, appointed by the American Colonization Society, presided over its destinies. During that year steps were taken to declare its independence, and on the 3d of January, 1848, Governor Roberts was inaugurated President of the Republic. From that time to the present it has maintained its separate existence, although the Colonization Society has continued, not only its friendly advice and sympathy, but has annually sent out, at its own expense, large numbers of emigrants, besides frequent direct contributions of money for various purposes. The British Government presented to the young Republic "a man-of-war." The French Government presented her a supply of arms. Their and the American cruisers have been ever ready to extend to her their assistance and protection.' Her entire

Africa and the American Flag, by Com. Foote, 181, 182.

territory, extending along the coast seven hundred miles, has been purchased and paid for by the contributions of friends. These and similar facts only show the favorable circumstances which have attended the new Republic.

Too much should not be expected from an infant colony; but remembering that these emigrants, in the main, represent the most worthy and most energetic of the negro and mixed race of the United States; that they have annually received a fresh supply of similar emigrants from the States; that they have been fostered as before stated; and that thirty-seven years have elapsed since the planting of the colony, we are permitted to look, to some extent, for the evidence of their capacity for a self-sustaining civilization.

From this view, we will not say that the effort is a failure. The prospect of the negro being used as the instrument of civilizing his birthplace; and that, torn away a savage from his native land by the cupidity and avarice of his fellow-man, he shall be restored, a Christian, by the philanthropy of his brother man, has in it something of that sublimity which would evidence the purpose of God. We should be slow to disbelieve such a purpose, though "his ways are not as our ways."

In 1845, a census of the colony, with several interesting statistical tables, was published. From these we learn that the total number of emigrants sent out up to that date was 4454. Of these there were left in the colony only 1736. Of the remainder, 2198 had died, and 520 had removed. The Thirty-fifth Annual Report of the Society shows that, in 1851, the number of emigrants sent out had increased to 8636. In 1852 and 1853, there were sent out 1449 more, making 10,085 emigrants to that date. Estimating 700 for the four last years each, would give us 12,885. How many of these survive and remain in the colony, I have no means of deciding. The

total civilized population of the Republic does not now amount to exceeding 8000 souls. The increase of population does not show physical improvements. I am aware of the numbers who fall victims to the acclimating fever, greater, I doubt not, than publications admit. I am aware also of Dr. Lugenbeel's account of the diseases of the colony, the most troublesome and fatal of which, according to him, have their origin in a want of cleanliness, precisely what one would fear, at all acquainted with negro character.'

Another striking fact to be deduced from the tables alluded to, is the congregation of all the emigrants in the towns and villages, and their adherence to traffic, rather than agricultural or mechanical employments.3 The love of a negro for a town, and his aversion to regular labor, which are proverbial,' he seems to retain in Liberia, where, with a rich and productive soil, agriculture seems confined to the natives. Hence, the current report of the emigrants holding slaves, so often contradicted. That many of the emigrants have amassed considerable property by their industry, is a gratifying fact; although it would be more satisfactory did we

'Commander Foote, U. S. N., estimates them at 7500, in 1854. Africa and the American Flag, 198. Bowen estimates them, from the best authorities, at 7792, in 1857. Central Africa, 35.

2 Sketches of Liberia, ch. vii (published by Am. Col. Soc.).

3 Bowen estimates those devoted to agriculture, at 8 per cent.; mechanics, 5 per cent., p. 35.

Mr. Gerrit Smith gives a striking illustration of this fact in a letter, stating the number of free negroes to whom he has donated farms, in Western New York, and the very small number who have cultivated them.

Dr. Lugenbeel says, "that comparatively few of the present citizens of Liberia are regularly and systematically engaged in the cultivation of the soil." Again, "A more regular, systematic, and persevering course of farming operations must be introduced." The italics are his own. Foote says, "The want of agricultural industry has been the difficulty with the Liberians." 194. Bowen says, "A majority of the colonists appear to be, more or less, engaged in traffic." p. 35.