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"Law Provides for Amistad Africans; Work of American Colonization Society,"
New York Journal of Commerce, 14 November, 1839, p.2.
Correspondence of the Journal of Commerce
Washington, 8th November 1839
Gentlemen, -- I observe that the Africans now in confinement in New Haven continue
to excite general sympathy. The questions decided by Judge Thompson furnish no indication
of the fate that awaits them; nor can I see how the prosecution and imprisonment
of the Spaniards can benefit them, though it may embarrass the Government.
I believe that they will be ultimately disposed of by executive and not by judicial
authority; and that their case is provided for by the law of the U.S. of 3d March,
1819, which puts all Africans introduced into the United States in violation of the
several Acts against the slave trade, under the protection of the President, and
provides for their restoration to their native land, and when practicable, to their
homes. The practice under the law referred to, is too well known to be here recited.
Suffice it to say that about four hundred recaptured Africans have been settled in
Liberia, under the general care and supervision of the agents of the American Colonization
Society.
If the humane service of removing these people to Africa, is to be performed, it
would be a mercy to them to have it done soon. The weather is becoming cold, and
whatever care is extended to them, the poor fellows will suffer greatly from a New
England winter. If they remain in the North it would not be surprising if one half
or three fourths of them should die before the spring.
It may be interesting to those who feel for the misfortunes of these men, to know
that the Africans who have been released from slavery under the laws referred to,
and those who have been rescued from slave traders on the coast of Africa, have been
settled near Monrovia, on the St. Paul’s river, in a village called New Georgia.
A more industrious and orderly population can not be found. Their improvement has
astonished all who have visited them--presenting the interesting spectacle of a community
composed of recently rude savages of different tribes and castes, become industrious,
civilized, and religious; discharging the various offices incident to civilized towns,
and executing their duties in such a manner that peace and good order are maintained.
The following article from the Liberia Herald for May, from the pen of Mr. Teague,
the editor, who had just returned from a visit to the settlement of New Georgia,
is so descriptive of those people that I give it entire.
“Our host was anxiously awaiting our arrival, and had made ample preparation for
our receptions. The house, a neat wooden cottage about twenty feet by sixteen, finished
in a style that indicated a laudable ambition in the master, displayed in its interior
all the paraphernalia that are ordinarily found in the cottage of the decent liver
in America. Of a piece with the house was the garniture of the table. Fish, fowls,
meats, rice, cassava, and potatoes, abundant and well served up, was the fare set
before us at each meal, all of which was rendered doubly palatable by the cordiality
and hearty welcome with which bro. Davis served us. Help yourself, said he.
I no be Mexico man; any ting you see, eat em: pese man come my house, I like see
him eat plenty: while with great difficulty we prevailed on him to join us at
table, insisting on waiting till we had finished. We had selected this instance as
a fair specimen of these people’s general hospitality. At Church on the Sabbath,
their conduct was not only pleasing, but exemplary. There was a large number of persons
from the Cape, (Monrovia) and the church was filled to overflowing-- and as soon
as a stranger was seen standing for want of a seat, some one of the New Georgians
would arise and tender the stranger his, until at length they were all standing in
the aisle or without the door, while the strangers occupied the seats. These people
were once the subjects of a dark and disgusting heathenism, without hope, and without
God in the world --then the victims of a cruel and relentless avarice--the doomed
of slavery and bitter scorn--apparently consigned, while breathing the breath of
animal life, to a moral, mental, and political tomb--but better things were in store
for them. In a propitious hour they were rescued from a monster’s fangs, their chains
unrivetted, and they [were] brought back to the land of their fathers, where now
they sit and worship under their own vine and fig tree, none making them afraid.
This is what colonization has done. Where is the man that assumes the hallowed name
of philanthropist, who can in view of such godlike results oppose the peaceful redeeming
scheme of voluntary colonization?
Should the Africans in New Haven choose to join the settlement of New Georgia rather
than return to their several tribes, their friends in America can pursue them with
their benevolent and kind offices, and aid them in acquiring education and stocking
the farms, upon which the American Colonization Society will locate them the same
as Americans. Or if they prefer to go into the interior and join their tribes, every
faculty will be given them to do so. As the Government is about sending out a squadron
to cruise on the coast of Africa, it is presumed that great numbers of Africans will
be released from slave ships and delivered over to the American Colonization Society,
who will exert themselves to provide for their moral and physical improvement, and
we hope that those who are seeking opportunities to do good to the colored race will
unite their efforts in elevating and happifying these natives of benighted Africa.
Yours, &c. S. W.
