The Opposition to Colonization and African Missions.
We quote the following remarks, on the _primary sources_ of opposition
to the Civilization of Africa, from the Church Missionary Intelligencer,
December, 1853. This periodical is the organ of the English Episcopal
Church, and the opinions expressed are entitled to the most grave
consideration. Whatever interest the slave-trader may have in driving
English missionaries from Africa, will apply equally to those from
America, and to the labors of our Colonization Society. The writer,
after noticing the efforts made to withdraw the English squadron from
the coast of Africa, so as to leave the slave-trade once more free to
the traffickers in human flesh, says:
“But we have something more to say on this subject. The Missionary
element has also been introduced into the comments which have been made
on this affair, and has received no small amount of condemnation. Our
Missionaries at Lagos have thus been placed between two fires. The
efforts of Kosoko’s attacking party were evidently directed against
their dwellings, and this we can understand, for Kosoko and his abettors
well know that the extension of the Gospel carries with it the eventual
destruction of the slave-trade, and of every other enormity under which
human nature suffers. Christianity does that which the squadron can not
do. The latter cuts down the branches of the poison-bearing tree, but
the former kills it in its root. If this latter be not done, it will
sprout again. The strength of the slave-trade lies in the latent
sympathy of chiefs and people; and Christianity, by indisposing them to
it, and by directing their energies into other and wholesome channels,
is drying up the secret sources from whence its power has been derived.
The greatest benefit which the squadron has conferred upon Africa has
been to afford opportunity for the introduction of this beneficial
influence; and after a time, by the blessing of God, that influence will
have so increased, and the African mind, in consequence, have undergone
so complete a revolution, that the further presence of the squadron on
the coast will become unnecessary. That time has not come yet, but it
will do so, perhaps more rapidly than we could venture to anticipate. We
can, therefore, easily understand Kosoko’s antipathy to Missionaries,
and the exultation with which he would have seen them compelled to quit
the coast.
“But there is an unfriendly feeling on the part of some at home, which
is not so intelligible. It betrays itself in a readiness to entertain
serious charges against Missionaries on _ex-parte_ evidence. * * *
“We fear that in many quarters there is much misapprehension as to the
character and tendency of Missionary operations, and that by some they
are distrusted as being far otherwise than tranquilizing in their
influence. Has the Missionary element a tendency to complicate matters,
and render them more difficult of adjustment than they would otherwise
be? Is it irritating and war-producing? It has been so insinuated, if
not openly asserted. And we can understand from whence such insinuations
originate. The Gospel, in its action, must be subversive of the plans
and objects of numbers, especially in connection with Africa and the
slave-trade. There have been many sleeping partners in that traffic, men
who never touched a slave, but who have often clutched the gain; men who
have fed the traffic in secret, and furnished the materials for its
prosecution. It has been a wide-spread conspiracy for the degradation of
the African family. Men in Europe, America, Africa, have been bound
together in this unholy compact, each having assigned to him his own
particular department, and each full of energy in the prosecution of it.
Where were the printed goods fabricated that were used in barter between
the foreign and native slave-dealer? Where were forged the bolts, and
fetters, and chains, by which the limbs of the captured African were
constricted, and he was reduced to an incapability of resistance?
Perhaps nearer home than we could have imagined.[55] Where was launched
the well-found bark, with such admirable sailing powers, the floating
prison of the poor slave? Whence the nautical skill that designed the
craft, and the able workmen who wrought it out, until she sailed from
the port which gave her birth, in every respect equipped and fitted for
the slave-trade, but not to be so used until, on the African coast,
transferred to other hands than those which took her there?[56] How
various and extensive the interests which were engaged in the
prosecution of the slave-trade, all which have been interfered with by
the interruption of the traffic on the coast. Many of these, to save
themselves from stagnation, have engaged in lawful commerce; but it is
with regret they have done so. Of course, in the eyes of such parties,
everything that interferes to prevent a return to the palmy days of
slave-trading prosperity, when abundant opportunity was afforded for the
gratification of more than one evil passion, becomes an object of
antipathy. The squadron on the coast, and the Missionaries on shore, are
alike detestable. If both could be removed something might be done, and
what so likely means as misrepresentation? The Missionaries are
self-interested, and obstruct the development of lawful traffic. The
squadron is unnecessary, and its interference on such occasions as that
of Lagos is in the highest degree mischievous. Credulous ears are not
wanting to become the depositories of whisperings such as these; and
soon the whole gloss finds its way into the columns of the daily press,
and influential journals become the exponents of charges which would be
serious indeed if they could be proved. But these misstatements require
to be promptly met, otherwise their effect might soon appear in a
gradual diminution of the repressive force on the coast, until it became
materially weakened. Meanwhile, the devastations of the cholera in Cuba
have been seriously diminishing the supply of working hands, and many
eager eyes are directed towards Africa to see whether the attempt could
be made to reopen the traffic with any prospect of success. Already new
vessels have been fitted out, and we may soon have painful evidence that
the trade is not extinct, and that, if we remove our foot from the neck
of our prostrate but not slain foe, he will rise up to resume the
contest.”
The English Apprenticeship System.
President Roberts has written the following letter, to a gentleman in
England, in explanation of the influence exerted on the natives, by the
practice of purchasing apprentices, from the African chiefs, to serve as
laborers on the plantations of the British West Indies. Is not this
system virtually a renewal of the slave-trade, and a violation of
England’s treaty with the United States for its suppression?
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, Monrovia, September, 1853.
I assure you, sir, the Government of Liberia has no desire to, nor will
it interfere improperly with the operations of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge &
Co., nor will it place any unnecessary obstacles in the way of their
obtaining emigrants from the Liberian coast. The only object the
Government had in issuing the proclamation referred to, was, and still
is, to see that emigration from within its jurisdiction shall be free
and unconstrained.
It is proper I should remark, that no facts have come to the knowledge
of the Government to induce the belief that Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co.,
or their agents, have actually sent off persons, or that they would,
knowingly, send off any, without the voluntary consent of their natural
guardians. But the Government had good grounds for believing that
attempts were about to be made to force certain unfortunate persons to
emigrate without the facts of their coercion coming to the knowledge of
the emigration agents.
During last year, serious disturbances rose between certain Vey and
Golah chiefs in the neighborhood of Grand Cape Mount. And, in the early
part of the present year, Boombo and George Cane, Vey chiefs, residing
respectively at Little and Grand Cape Mount, attacked and captured some
three or four native towns in the Dey and Golah district, and carried
away as captives several hundred of the inhabitants. Soon after these
occurrences, a report was rife here that George Cane had contracted with
the agents of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co., to supply a number of
emigrants. Complaint was also made to the Government—by the chiefs who
had suffered—that Cane’s intentions were to send off to the West Indies
the captives he had taken from the towns.
Now, that the agents of Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co., would countenance
constrained emigration, or that they would have received those persons,
knowing them to be captives, we had no reason to believe. But it is more
than likely that nine out of ten that would have been offered as
emigrants, at that time, would be of this unfortunate class. And the
chances were a hundred to one that the emigration agents would be
deceived in regard to the real condition of the people. Very possibly,
no complaint then and there would have been uttered by them. They were
suffering painful captivity; and whatever their feelings might be in
regard to emigration, they would gladly, perhaps, have availed
themselves of that or any other opportunity to escape the cruelties of
their captors. And, further, sir, I am assured these poor fellows were
given to understand that when they should be offered as emigrants, if
they disclosed their real condition, or refused to emigrate, their lives
would be sacrificed. Many of these captives have since been released,
and returned to their homes and families; and all, I am told,
corroborate this statement. Now, sir, under these circumstances, was it
unreasonable to suppose that many might be sent off without their
voluntary consent? And was it not the duty of the Government to provide
as far as possible the means of checking such outrages? Of course, in
all this there is no blame to be attached to Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co.,
or their agents.
But, my dear sir, with respect to this emigration business, the
strictest watchfulness must be observed; otherwise, the enterprise may
lead to abuses and evils of the most painful character. Not that
respectable British agents would knowingly be the means of producing
such results; but let the chiefs along the coast find that they can send
off captives, as emigrants, to the British West Indies, and obtain an
advance of _only ten dollars_ each, and the old system—war—of procuring
slaves will again be renewed.