Liberia and the Colonization Society, Part 4 [pp. 583-594]

LIBERIA AND THE COLONIZATION SOCIETY.
only, and besides the numerous cases of illness which did not close in
death, were forty deaths on the homeward bound voyage " from the
effects of the African climate," after the commander (himself then
ill) was forced to abandon his philanthropic service in and for Liberia. The surgeon of the Cyane, and Lieut. Dashiell, placed in command of the Augusta, had both previously died.
From the tenor of Capt. Spence's official report, it is evident that
he deemed this frightful exposure and sacrifice of human life, required to aid Liberia, as being highly meritorious in himself, and in the
administration that authorized such and all other sacrifices for this
purpose. (Official Rep. of cruise of Cyane, 1823-7th Col. ReportFoote's "Africa and the American Flag"-p. 128).
The foregoing suggestions of materials for a full and correct estimate, if made use of by those having the data, and the facilities and
ability for the task which are wanting in me, would show such results as would be accurate, and also astounding for the amount of
price that the people and government of the United States have already paid, and still are continuing to pay, for the gigantic humbug
(and also dangerous nuisance to the slaveholding States), of the former colony and present republic of Liberia.
But still there is one result to be confidently expected from this effort of philanthropy, which, however different from those sought for
in vain, may compensate for all the cost of the experiment. There
will be afforded full evidence of the great truth (until recently admitted but by few, and still denied and resisted by many), that the negro
race is greatly inferior to the white, in natural capacity-and is capable of self-government, and of improvement to the extent of civilization, except under the direction and control of a superior race.
The inferiority of the negro in his savage state and original birthplace-as enslaved in the United States (though thereby greatly im proved)-as emancipated in the United States, and later in Ja maica-as under independent government in Hayti-all these dif ferent degrees of admitted debasement have been ascribed (by ne grophilists) entirely to the want of mental culture, or to tile de pressing influence of slavery, or its long remaining effects, even
after it had ceased to exist. In Liberia, the colonists were the
best of their respective classes-removed from every power or in fluence which had been supposed to depress others of their race and greater aids, pecuniary, physical and defensive, mental, moral,
and religious, have been bestowed on them by benevolence and
piety, than were ever offered to, or enjoyed by, any young colo ny, or community, since the earliest historical records. If, when
these qarly and long continued aids and advantages shall no lon ger be continued or repeated, the people of Liberia shall retro grade and decline in civilization, there then will be left not the
slightest ground or pretence longer to maintain the natural equal ity of the negro mind, or the ability of the negro to direct and
sustain himself in freedom. The longer the aid and support to
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