The Liberator

Colonization Effrontery!

A person unacquainted with the past history of the American Colonization Society, and who has not reflected upon the character of the American Church, would naturally suppose, that after the accounts, which have just been spread before the public, of the late bloody and brutal war in Liberia, the former would not have the impudence, for at least a twelve month, to call upon the latter for funds to aid in the further prosecution of its worse than barbarous plan for civilizing and christianizing(!) a heathen people!

What would such a person say to the following official bulletin from the Colonization Office at Washington?

COLONIZATION ROOMS,

Washington City.

At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Colonization Society, June 12, 1840. the following resolution was unanimously adopted :-

Resolved, That in view of the animating intelligence received by the Saluda, from Liberia, demonstrating the rapidly increasing prosperity and power of that colony, its ability for self-defence, its salutary influence upon the native tribes(!!) its operations against the slave trade, and that it is opening a wide door for civilization and Christianity(! !) in Western Africa; and in view of the importance of the early return of the Saluda with a cargo and emigrants—requiring, in connection with the discharge of existing engagements, from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars—this Board recommend to all its friends liberal and energetic exertions in its behalf; and especially and most earnestly to the churches of every denomination throughout this Union, to take up collections for its benefit on the 5th of July next.

S. WILKESON,

President Board of Directors.

R. R. GURLEY, Secretary.

We would suggest to clergymen, when they call for contributions, that they had better read to their people the 'animating intelligence' published by us last week, in order that the 'salutary influence' of the Colony upon the native tribes,'(!) and its mode of 'opening a wide door for civilization and Christianity'(!) may be distinctly seen and duly appreciated.

After all, there is nothing incongruous or surprising in this call for funds. Why should we expect that a church which tolerates war and slaveholding, and maintains the divinity of governments based upon violence and brute force, should be shocked, or even seriously disturbed, by intelligence like that recently received from Liberia? The conduct of the missionaries is the legitimate fruit of the principles maintained by the great mass of the clergy and the church of this country,—and, indeed, by all the defenders of human governments ; hence it is no wonder that the latter should aid the former in the prosecution of their ' holy war' in behalf of American civilization and Christianity!