The Colonization herald and general register

              Col0tiuati0tt
AND GENERAL REGISTER.
CONDUCTED  BY   THE   PENNSYLVANIA   COLONIZATION   SOCIETY
WHATSOEVER  YE   WOULD   THAT  MEN   SHOULD   DO   TO  YOU,   DO   YE   EVEN   SO   TO   THEM.
Vol. I.—NEW SERIES.
PHILADELPHIA,  WEDNESDAY, JILY   11,   I8S8.
NO.   St8«
For the Colonization Herald.
HISTORY OF LIBERIA.
No. VI.
that a full representation thereof would be transmitted
to America by the earliest opportunity; exhorting all
to industry and energy in the construction of their
houses and the cultivation of their lands during the
Ashmun, whose history is inseparably connected *» sea.sorV »"" final y " warning them against disor-
with that ofthe colony, whose bright career has shed : der and rebeIll0n as.thcy would avoid guilt, confusion,
a lustre over all her early and eventful scenes, and d,sSrace. 6»mfi ™d rum in this world, and in a fu-
whose name will ever be revered where Liberia is ^,re one lhe stl1 mo,re lerr.lb,e .Hgnicnts °f God-
known, claims now our particular attention. i The3f «■«■ reminded that their oaths were as binding
At this period he occupied a position most embar-! as whe.n firfl ,aken '- that the prospect for themselves,
rassin<T and painful. Circumstances, connected with tlie,f ,ri,,nds. «nd their children, depended on their
his former relations in this country, had been operating' conduct, and that the agent, while disposed to use the
to his prejudice ever since his departure for Africa >nguage of friendship, would act, as he had ever done,
To quote the language of his eloquent biographer, the *' '.he »"thority becoming the representative ofthe
Rev. R. R. Gurley,* " Unfortunately, he stood not now - Amf f3" Conization Society. The circular encour-
in the clear light of public confidence. The malign a»ed ,he well disposed, confirmed in duty some ofthe
eye of suspicion was upon him. The managers parti- , W*?eTinf' and st™':k with awe the spirit of outrage,
cipated in the general distrust. Suspicions which The eader of the sedition almost i.nmediately con-
were at first from misapprehension indulged against ~J a,,,d ^plored his error; and throughout his af-
him, borrowed shape and distinctness from the imagi-: ter,llfer< *W" unwavering attachment to Mr. Ashmun
nation—grew by time, and at length gained with many > ?nd *[***f*] devotion to the colony, nobly redeemed
the weight of certainty and truth." | h,s   ch"acter  from   the  deep  st.gma  of this  great
By the arrival of Dr. Ayres, he not only found him-   crl!?e-,     v __-    _-
self superseded by that gentleman in the important! . °» the 13th of February, 1824. the ship Cyrus ar-
offices he had held under the society and the govern- ( "•■ ™ h -J,?8 em,s>rantB- m<)S,1y from Petersburg,
ment, but he had the mortification also lo learn that i J lr?'nia- . ■ he accession of this company was hailed
his dtafts had been dishonored—that no appropriation j bf a11 »»s a joyful event—especially as it comprised an
had been made for his benefit-that the society had ! "nus,ial amount of intelligence, industry and morality,
invested him with no nuthority-and that he had been I ?ut J? <Lordial peelings and kind interchange ot
appointed to noagency by lhe government.    His ardu-1 frl^ndl>' "ffices- whlch made this a scene of happiness
ous services nnd sacrifices in behalf of the colony,
though acknowledged as important, were unrewarded ;
and in addition to the wound inflicted on Ins generous
heart by this cruel neglect, he was exposed to all the
annoying vexations of pecuniary embarrassment.
No mm on earth possessed a nicer sense of honor,
and no one could be more watchfully jealous of what¬
ever seemed to compromise his self-respect—but above
and hope, were soon succeeded by sadness and gloom
j Within four weeks all the new emigrants were at-
I tacked by the fever. There was no regular physician
| in the colony, and, by a strange neglect, the provisions
I supplied for the expedition were wholly inadequate,
I while the dispensary contained little that was suitable
j for the sick.
The Rev. Lott Carey, a colonist, who had before
all feelings of personal consideration, the Christian | r,endore,] _mP°rtant service to the colony, undertook
principle was predominant in the breast of Ashmun ; i *• care.of 1t0?«»k ;,and th?"gh indebted solely lor
and, though hpsaw and keenly felt that his services I fllf med'™. skill to his good sense, observation, and
in Africa were undervalued, and lhat lhe confidence ! what experience he had gamed in the colony, his sue-
to which  he was entitled   thereby  was  withheld	
though he was justly indignant that his rights were
disregarded—his attachment to the cause or coloniza¬
tion remained steadfast; and personal ease, and pri¬
vate wrongs were alike forgotten when its claims vvere
in view.
" Mr. Ashmun had been more than a year in Africa ;
with the assistance of God he had saved the colony
from extermination; devoted himself in sickness as
well as health to its interests; and now learned that
neither the government nor the society had made any
appropriation on his account; and that (although to
the latter had been Submitted a distinct proposition)
neither had determined the amount to which his past
or future services should entitle him. Should he aban¬
don the colony at this crisis, when the principal agent
wag leaving it, its rata seemed Inevitable. The most,
influential colonists were greatly dissatisfied with the
distribution ofthe town lots; their confidence, both in
the Board and their agents, was shaken, and a spirit of
insubordination had already shown itself, menacing
destruction to all law and authority. One individual
declared that he and his associates would not submit
to government twenty-four hours after the departure
ofthe Fidelity"
In this exigency, the magnanimity and heroism of
Ashmun's character were conspicuous. He determin¬
ed, despite his wounded feelings, and the threatened
dangers ofthe course, to throw himself into the breach,
and save, if possible, from destructions cause in which
he had already done and suffered so much.
The prudence of his measures, and the firmness of
his conduct, aided by his personal influence, succeeded
in preventing any immediate outbreak of violence;
and the individual who had threatened open resistance,
was compelled publicly to revoke his threat, and
| pledge himself to the maintenance ofthe laws. But
the causes of dissatisfaction were numerous; and the
spirit of insubordination had acquired too much strength
to be easily crushed. The provisions, when Doctor
Ayres left the colony, were sufficient, with strict
economy, and such supplies of rice as might be ex¬
pected from trade with the natives, to subsist the set¬
tlers for four months. Happily, a small schooner, of
about seven tons, had been sent out by the Fidelity, to
be employed by the agent in securing provisions from I
ft different points ofthe coast.    Tobacco, however, then ;caust; "e iu-ou bus iu. „..._.. ..^ ,.«_ 	
If an almost indispensable article in the African trade, i ed anxiety and peril, was on the point of rum.    Sic
* was nearly exhausted, and a small supply which it vvas i nei;s and sorrow was UP°".Inm-    Ingratitude and c
■ Ta_   a :_„, _...__.,.,-__ ,_„ ._;_, „,„„ i,..m_ „, ! position assailed him.    His authority vvas contemn
cess was remarkable.    Only three died
But sickness and scarcity of provisions were not the
greatest evils which were folt at this time. The
spirit of revolt, which for a short time had slumbered,
was again in motion, and threatened the peace and
safety ofthe community. The exigencies of their situ¬
ation soon furnished an occasion for the exhibition of
this spirit. On the 19th of March, the rations were
reduced one half, as it vvas found that even so diminsh-
ed, the supplies would not last more than four weeks.
This act of prudence was counted by the malcontents
an act of oppression; they violently reproached the
Governor in his presence, and showed in the storm of
their passions that the assumption of the right of self-
government had given them no mastery over them¬
selves.
o„ .!,_. mnrn\„„ -f ,Uo OOdnf March Mb A.l,™...-
assembled the people, and made tliem ai; address attar-
n^torieed by great kindness, but in a tone of manly
firmness and determination not unmingled with an in¬
dignant sense of the base ingratitude manifested toward
himself. He reviewed the circumstances of their past
dangers and trials, reminded them of the many signal
mercies they had experienced, of the expenditure of
inoneyt, he toil and sacrifice made by the society, and
its officers in their behalf, the distinguished privi¬
leges they possessed, and the bright prospects in re¬
version, lie bade them remember the solemn obliga¬
tions of their oaths, and finally declared that unless
they returned immediately to their allegiance, he
would act. no longer the shadow of authority.
Most of the settlers tacitly assented to the truth
and justice of this address, and Mr. Ashmun adopted
every measure in his power to relieve and preserve the
colony. But the colonists afforded him no vigorous
support. The spirit of disorganization was at work
deranging all the movements of government. Mr.
Ashmun had some months before declared to the board,
that in his opinion " the evil was incurable by any of
the remedies which fall within their existing provi¬
sions." He now prepared and forwarded despatches
containing his best reflections on the state ofthe colony,
and the increasing elements of turbulence and danger
threatening its speedy ruin.
Ilis situation now was one of the most painful and
trying to which a good man can be exposed. The
cause he loved and for which he had toiled and suffer-
~ick-
op-
ed
tbe demand and value of rice, and throwing'every I suspicion.    liut in me miasi or a
possible obstacle in the way of the traffic ofthe agents j his principles sustained him.    H
ofthe colony.    Worse than all, several ofthe leading \ was unshaken and he determined
. -j . a „. ,)„«„_.„„ ,.1Q d.,._-»;.- i path of duty though   darkness a
Ciety, that every adult male emigrant should, while
receiving rations from the public store, contribute the
labor of two days in a week to some work of public
Htility.
Before the departure of Dr. Ayres, it had been an
peals, motives of interest, and the solemn demands of thing except reason, he is too much acquainted with
religion. They declared that the agents must be obey- her dictates to obey them. A thousand new desires
ed or the colony abandoned. They asserted their de- beset him, and he is destitute of the knowledge and
termination to punish offenders while they assisted the energy necessary to resist them : tliese are masters
obedient: and, affectionately, encouraged all the sober which it is necessary to ent end with, and he has learnt
and virtuous to maintain the peace, aud guard as their only to submit and obey. In short, he sinks to such a
very life the authority of the laws. : depth of wretchedness, lhat while servitude brutalizes,
These documents were scarcely despatched when , liberty destroys him.
letters were received from the colony, charging Mr. j Oppression has been no less fatal to the Indian than
Ashmun with oppression, the neglect of obvious duties,' to the negro race, but its effects are different. Before
the desertion of his post and the seizure and abduction the arrival of white men in the new world, the inhabi-
of the public property. These charges were confirm-'■ tants of North America lived quietly in their woods,
ed by various verbal reports of officers of the U. S. N i enduring the vicissitudes and practising the virtues
and others who had touched at Mesurado soon after his and vices common to savage nations. The Europeans,
departure and there listened to those wicked calumnies, j having dispersed the Indian tribes and driven them in-
In this state of affairs the board made a strong repre- j to the deserts, condemned them to a wandering life
sentation to the executive of the United States of the ! full of inexpressible sufferings.
importance of sending an armed vessel to the colony j Savage nations are only controlled by opinion and
with some individual duly commiss onod both by the j by custom. When the North American Indians had
Government and the society to examine the entire con-1 lost the sentiment ol attachment to their country ; when
dition of the agency, the people and the property, and
empowered to make such temporary arrangements for
the'security of the public interests and the government
ofthe establishment, as upon proper consideration, cir;
cumstances might in his judgment require.
The Rev. R. It. Gurley the able secretary of the
society was commissioned for this service by the go
their families were dispersed, iheir traditions obscured,
and the chain of their recollections broken; when all
their habits were changed, and their wants increased
beyond measure, European tyranny rendered them
more disorderly and less civilized than they were be¬
fore. The moral and physical condition of these tribes
continually grew worse, and they became more barber-
vernment and  the society, and emuarked at Norfolk, I ous as they became more wretched.    Nevertheless the
late in June, 1824, in the United States schooner Por¬
poise, Captain Skinner, for the coasi of Africa.
• hoped Dr. Ayres might purchase, on his way home, at j Pos'tion  as
Sierra Leone, was not obtained.    Slave vessels in un-1in ,he colony, and the board to which he looked for
usual numbers were upon the coast, enhancing greatly ' support and sympathy regarded him with distrust and
"   ' '   " _-„'suspicion.    But in the midst of all these bitter trials,
His confidence in God
  to persevere in the
settlers were prepared to set at defiance the authority ! Path of. du,y though darkness and persecution was
ofthe agent, and openly avowed their purpose to aid j around it.
in no survey of the lots, or in any public improve-1 °" the 15th of March (1824) he addressed a letter
ments, and to leave uncleared and uncultivated the 't0 the board- ln wnteh he says, " Next after the appro-
land assigned them, until they should receive a reply j hation of God and conscience, I own that I have been
to their remonstrance, already sent home to the Board, j ambitious, in the humble part which I have acted in
It was at that time one ofthe regulations of the so-! your service, to deserve and receive that of the board
S.— .a.-.   „,i.,h -.,„iQ „m;^",_r,. __.~__u  „,„;i_ I of managers!    And I have always felt confident of the
essential equity of their decision when all the circum¬
stances under which I acted could be known to them."
Again he adds.    " I am conscious of wanting several
qualifications  which an agent of your board ought to
H_|ounced  that on the 5th  of June, 1824, all rations  have; and have often been pained for your sake and
would cease, except in case of special necessity, and  the colony's that I was not a wiser and a better man."
I that unless those who had appealed to the Board on i He expressed a desire to be relieved from any further
.  the subject of their lands, should, while their case was d»ties which might require his residence in Africa,
.-^ending, cultivate some portion of land designated by   believing under the circumstances that another might
'.the Governor, they should be expelled from the colony. , he more useful in his situation,
ijlbout twelve of the colonists not only cast off the re-!    Though he did not feel at liberty to abandon the
:intraints of the colony, but exerted themselves to se- \ country without the consent of the board, he determin-
duce otheis from obedience.    On the 13th of Decern-1 ed on a calm review of all the circumstances of his
ber, Mr. Ashmun published the following notice. } situation, to make a voyage to the Cape De Verd Is-
» There are in the colony more than a dozen healthy ; tends, hoping thereby to benefit his health, which was
persons, who will receive no more provisions out of the 'completely prostrated, and believing that a short ab-
jiublic store until they earn them." This notice ! sence from the colony might have a good effect on the
proved inefficient, except as it gave occasion for the  minds of the people.
expression of more seditious sentiments and a bolder I     For the benefit of any one who might succeed him
" violation ofthe laws. i he left a full statement of the condition and necessi-
f On the 19th, Mr. Ashmun directed the rations of; ties of the colony, appointed E. Johnson, a man of
the offending individuals to be stopped. The next tried integrity and ability, General Superintendent of
morning they assembled in a riotous manner at the Affairs, provided for the instruction of the recaptured
agency'house, endeavoured by angry denunciations to \ Africans, and took passage for the Cape De Verds on
drive the Governor from his purpose, which finding! board the schooner Reporter, Captain Preble, on the
immovable, they proceeded to the store-house, where, 1st °» April.
the commissary vvas at that moment issuing rations for      The remonstrances sent home by some of the colo-
the week, and seizing each a portion ofthe provisons, j nists and the communications of Mr. Ashmun had con-
' hastened to their respective homes. j vinced the board that immediate and strong measures
!   Towards evening, the same day, Mr. Ashmun ad-1 vvere required to prevent the subversion of the colony,
dressed a circular " lo all the colonists," setting forth ' and the total extinction of their hopes.    A reply was
, the criminality of this mutinous proceeding; stating' written to the remonstrants and an address to the co-
g" j lonists generally explaining the benevolent purposes
• "Gurley'sLife of Ashmun."    While I acknowledge ' of the society, depicting vividly the ruin impending
with pleasure my obligations to this valuable work in pre-; ovt>r ™V community that dared to violate, or even
paring these sketches I take occasion to recommend its \ ^ased to venerate the majesty of the law, the certain
p_rusal to those who desire a better knowledge of the ex- j destruction to follow insubordination in a feeble and
Inordinary man who is its subject.    It contains also in- \ exposed settlement: and enforcing industry, order and
teresting details and documents not to be found elsewhere,  the strict performance of every duty by warnings, ap-
From De Tocqueville's Democracy in America.
THE PRESENT, AND PROBABLE FUTURE
CONDITION OFTHE THREE RACES WHICH
INHABIT THE TERRITORY OF THE UNI¬
TED STATES.
The principal part ofthe task which I had imposed
upon myself is now performed: I have shown, as fitr
as I was able, the biws and the manners of the Amer¬
ican democracy. Here I might stop: but the reader
would perhaps feel that I had not satisfied his expecta¬
tions.
The absolute supremacy of democracy is not all that
we meet with in America ; the inhabitants of the New
World may be considered from more than one point of
view. In the course of this work my subject has often
led me to speak of tho Indians and the Negroes; but
I have never been able to stop in order to show what
place these two races occupy, m the midst of the
democratic people whom I was engaged in describing
I have mentioned in what sprit,and according to what
laws, the Anglo-American Union was formed ; but I
could only glance at the dangers which menace that
confederation, whilst it was equally impossible for me
to give a detailed account of its chances of duration,
independently of its laws and manners. When speak-
W^Pl.Ab.e. United republican Siaiea. I hazarded no
in the New World; and when making frequent ailu-
sion to the commercial activity which reigns in lhe
Union, I was unable to inquire into the future condi¬
tion of the Americans as a commercial people.
These topics are collaterally connected with my
subject, without forming a part of it; they are Amer¬
ican, without being democratic; and to portray democ¬
racy has been my principal aim. It was therefore ne-
cessaty to postpone these questions, which I now take
up as the proper termination of my work.
The territory now occupied or claimed by the
American Union spreads from the shores of the Atlan¬
tic to those of the Pacific Ocean. On the East and
West its limits are those of the continent itself. On
the south it advances nearly to the Tropic, and it ex¬
tends upwards to tbe icy regions of the north*
The human beings who are scattered over this space
do not form, as in Europe, so many branches of the
same stock. Three races naturally distinct, and 1
might almost say hostile to each other, are discover¬
able amongst them at the first glance. Almost insur¬
mountable barriers had been raised between them by
education and by law, as well as by their origin and
outward characteristics; but fortune has brought tli*m
together on the same soil, where, although they are
mixed, they do not amalgamate, and each race fulfils
its destiny apirt.
Amongst these widely differing families of men,
the first which attracts attention, the superior in intel¬
ligence, in power and in enjoyment, is the White or
European, the man pre-eminent; and in subordinate
grades, the Negro and the Indian. These two unhap¬
py races have nothing in common ; neither birth, nor
features, nor language, nor habits. Their only resem¬
blance lies in their misfortunes. Both of them occupy
an inferior rank in the country they inhabit; both suf¬
fer from tyranny; and if their wrongs are not the
same, they originate at any rate with the same authors.
If we reasoned from what passes in the world, we
should almost say that the European is to the other
races of mankind, what man is to the lower animals;
he makes them subservient to his use; and when he
cannot subdue, he destroys them. Oppression has at
one stroke deprived the descendants of the Africans
of almost all tbe privileges of humanity, The negro
of the United States has lost all remembrance of his
country ; the language which his forefathers spoke is
never heard around him; he abjured their religion and
Europeans have not been able to metamorphose the
character of the Indians; and though they have had
power to destroy them, they have never been able to
make them submit to the rules of civilized society.
The lot of the negro is placed on the extreme limit
of servitude, while that ofthe Indian lies on the utter¬
most verge of liberty; and slavery does not produce
more fatal effects upon the first, than independence
upon the second. The negro has lost all property in
his own person, and he cannot dispose of his existence
without committing a sort of fraud : but the savage is
his own master as soon as he is able to act; parental
authority is scarcely known to him ; he has never bent
his will to that of any of his kind, nor learned the dif¬
ference between voluntary obedience and a shameful
subjection; and the very name of iaw is unknown to
him. To be free, with him, signifies to escape from
all the shackles of society. As he delights in this bar¬
barous independence, and would rather perish than
sacrifice the least partof it, civilization has little power
over him.
The negro makes a thousand fruitless efforts to in¬
sinuate himself amongst men who repulse him; he
conforms to the tastes of his oppressors, adopts their
opinions, and hopes by imitating them to torm a partof
their community. Having been told fiom infancy that
his race is naturally inferior to that of the whites, he
assents to the proposition, and is ashamed of his own
nature. In each of his features he discovers a trace
of slavery, and, if it were in his power, he would Wil¬
lie t&t --J u; ,r -c '■'-• y-— —«•— r.:~, ...i...»
The Indian, on the contrary, has his imagination in
flated with the pretended nobility of his origin, and
lives and dies in the midst of these dreams of pride.
Far from desiring to conform his habits to ours, he
loves his savage life as the distinguishing mark of his
race, and he repels every advance to civilization, less
perhaps from the hatred which he entertains tor it.
than from a dread of resembling the Europeans.*
While he has nothing to oppose to our perfection in
the arts but the resources of lhe desert, to our tactics
nothing but undisciplined courage; whilst our well-
digested plans are met by the spontaneous instincts of
savage life, who can wonder if he fails in this unequal
contest!
The negro, who earnestly desires to mingle his race
with that of the European, cannot effect it; while the
Indian, who might succeed to a certain extent, dis¬
dains to make the attempt. The servility of lhe one
dooms him to slavery, the pride of the other to death.
I remember that while I was travelling through the
forests which still cover the State of Alabama, I ar¬
rived one day at the log house of a pioneer. I did not
wish to penetrate into ihe dwelling of the American,
but retired to rest myself for a while on the margin of
a spring, which vvas not far off, in the woods. While
I was in this place, (which was in the neighbourhood
of the Creek territory,) an Indian woman appeared,
followed by a negress, and holding by the hand a little
whito girl of five or six years old, whom I took to be
the daughter of the pioneer. A sort of barbarous
luxury set off the costume ofthe Indian; rings of
metal were hanging from her nostrils at d ears ; her
hair which vvas adorned with glass beads, fell loosely
upon her shoulders ; and I saw that she was not mar¬
ried, for she sf ill wore that necklace of shells which
the bride always deposits on the nuptial couch. The
negress was clad in squalid European garments.
They all three came and seated themselves upon
the banks of the fountain ; and the young Indian, tak¬
ing the child in her arms, lavished upon her such fond
caresses as mothers give; while the negress endea¬
voured by various little artifices to attract the atten¬
tion of the young Creole. The child displayed in her
slightest gestures a consciousness of superiority which
formed a strange contrast with her infantine weak¬
ness; as if she received the attentions of her compan¬
ions with a sort of condescension.
The negress was seated on the ground before her
mistress, watching her smallest desires, and apparently
j her tenderness, an air of freedom and of pride which
I was almost ferocious. I had approached the group,
j and I contemplated them in silence ; but my curiosity
I was probably displeasing to the Indian woman, for she
suddenly rose, pushed the child roughly from her, and
giving me an angry look plunged into "the thicket.
I had often chanced to see individuals met together
in the some place, who belonged to the three races of
men which people North America. I had perceived
from many different results the preponderance of the
whites. But in the picture which I have just been
describing there was something peculiarly touching;
a bond of affection here united the oppressors with the
oppressed, and the effort of nature to bring them to¬
gether rendered still more striking the immense dis¬
tance placed between them by prejudice and by law.
forgot their customs when he ceased to belong to Af¬
rica, without acquiring any claim to European privi* | ___*^_.___[______!        - a-   .      en      ui>      j
leges.    But he remains half-way between the two com-  d! lded bet«"* sf ron2 affecVon ,for *• ch',d and ser;
munities ; sold by the one, repulsed by the other; find- j vlle fear 5 whllst tlie savage displayed, in the midst of
ing not a spot in the universe to call by the name of
country, except the faint image of a home which the j     * The native of North America retains his opinions and
shelter of his master's roof affords. | the most insignificant of his habits with a degree of tenac-
The  negro has no family ;   woman is merely the j ity which has no parallel in history.    For more than two
temporary companion of his pleasures, and his children   hundred years the wandering tribes of  North America
are upon an equality with himself from the moment of have had daily intercourse with the whites, and they have
their   birth.    Am I to call it a proof of God's mercy, I never derived from them either a custom or an idea.   Yet
or a visitation of his wrath, that man in certain states I thc Europeans have exercised a powerful influence over
appears to be insensible to his extreme wretchedness, \ the savages : they have made them more licentious, but
and almost affects with a depraved taste the cause of not more European.    In the summer of 1831 I happened
his misfortunes]    The negro, who is plunged in this j to he beyond Lake Michigan, at a place called Green-bay
abyss of evils, scarcely feels his own calamitous situa- \ whlch serves as the extreme frontier between the Lmted
lion.    Violence made him a slave, and the habit of ser-   flates and the Indians on the north-western side     Here
vitude gives him the thoughts and desires of a slave ;   J  ,ecame acquainted wilh an American officer, Major H
.        _____* ____.__._ , _u      i     <,♦.!_       1   who after talking to me at length on the inflexibility of
he admires his tyrants more than he hates them, and ! .     T   ..        __     fa.        ________ _,. •___„     ■      _.   ,    ., T■_.
_._,,•     • ,J_ •        . ,     .     ,. ..    . .' | the Indian character, related the following fact: " I for-
finds h,s joy and his pride ,n the servile imitation ol | knew a ' ^     „ saiJ ,     uBwho ha(] been
hose who oppress him: his understanding is degraded ; et]u/atei] at co,jege -m New Englaml> „here he ha(J grcat_
to the level ot his soul. ! ly distinguished himself, and had acquired the external
The negro enters upon slavery as soon as he is born; | /ppearance of a ___ember of civilized^society.   When the
nay, he may have been purchased in the womb, and
have begun his slavery before he began his existence.
Equally devoid of wants and of enjoyment, and useless
to himself, he learns, with his first notions of existence,
war broke out between ourselves and the English in 1812,
I saw this young man again ; he was serving in our army,
at the head of the warriors of his tribe ; for the Indians
were admitted amongst the ranks of the Americans, upon
HUMAN SACRIFICES IN INDIA.
The  following may be considered,  we  believe,  a
fresh addition  to the extensive information  already
made public of the superstitious and abominable practi¬
ces of certain native castes of India.    The Madras U.
S. Gnzeite, (December 27th.) relates, with proper feel¬
ings of surprise and horror,  the subjoined particulars
of certain human sacrifices, which it appears, annually
take place in the districts of the Goomsur Country, in
the Northern  Circars,  district of Ganjam.     It says,
" We had little idea ofthe extent to which these dread¬
ful barbarities are at present carried and the ceremonies
attending the immolation ofthe unfortunate victims of
a detestable superstition.    The description   we  have
to place before out readers cannot be  read  without
feelings ofthe most intense horror.    The cruelty is so
revolting, that it is difficult to reconcile oneself to its
belief; the authorities in Goomsur are, however, but
too well assured of the fact; and our informant's  ac¬
curacy is unquestionable.    The people of the hill dis¬
tricts of Goomsur are, in every sense of the word in
the most savage state of barbarism ; they are prone to
drunkenness and all other vices to which inebration
usually leads.    That  many of them must be utterly
wanting in the. first feelings of human nature is evi¬
dent from the fact, that a large proportion of the vic¬
tims procured for their diabolical  sacrifices, are chil¬
dren who have been sold by their parents, or relations,
lo a class of persons called Vawers, who, it is beyond
doubt, earn a  livelihood  by dealing  in   human flesh,
frequently selling their own offspring for victims.   The
sacrificial    victims are  entirely   supplied   by  these
wretches, who purchase, inveigle away, or kidnap them
from neighbouring  districts, and then barter them**
the pirties hy whom ihey are requijed v.liTTdren   are
may   be   of any   caste,  sent    ac,e^nna brought up in
generally pncjv^T    hom Jthe"y are doomed to a bar-
^mll»frSm cbildren are actuaUytreatod
hend the cruel fate that awaits them, whentney are
placed under restraint,  sometimes  in  heavy irons, to
prevent their escaping.    Many ofthe victims are pro¬
cured from the districts of Bustar and Jeyapoor.    The
regular district sacrifices take place annually, and in
addition to these, victims are offered up by individuals
in propitiation ofthe Deity!    The preparations for the
ceremony occupy a month, during  which time much
intoxication and great rejoicings takes place; on the
day preceding that ofthe intended sacrifice, the victim
is adorned with chnplets of flowers, and having been,
if possible, stupified with liquor, is bound to a post close
to the village idol, or Zukawree Pennoo,  represented
by three stones, near which the effigy of the elephant
or peacock is buried.    The assembled multitudes then
dance round the post to the noise of their rude mus c,
shouting a short prayer for health and plenty in return
for  their sacrifice.    They next  address the   victim,
saying, ' We have purchased, and shall now sacrifice
you according to custom.'    On the day appointed for
the sacrifice, the victim is again stupified with liquor,
and having been bound to the post as on the preceding
day, is anointed   with oil.    Every  one present then
touches the  victim and wipes off the oil on his own
head.   The procession is then formed, led by  musi¬
cians ; the victim borne in the midst, with a pole orna¬
mented with peacocks' feathers held aloft.    It moves
around the village and returns to the spot  whence it
started.    In front ofthe idol a shallow trench or pit is
prepared by the priest, on the brink of which a hog is
slaughtered as a sacrifice, and its blood having all run
into the  trench, the wretched human victim, bound
hand and foot, is cast therein, its face forcibly crushed
into the bloody mire, and there held by means of cross
bamboos, until life is extinct through suffocation ; the
din of tomtoms drowning any screams that may have
escaped the sacrifice.    A piece of flesh  is  then cut
from the still palpitating body by the Zanec, who bu¬
ries it with much ceremony near the idol as an offering'
to the earih.    This done, the assembled  persons rush
upon the body with fiend-like eagerness, each striving-
to procure a piece ofthe flesh, which, being cut off, is
carried  away to the villages and  there offered   with
I ike ceremonies.   The head and face remain untouched-
and when the bones are  completely   bared, which  is
quickly accomplished, the  earth  is thrown  into the
trench still reeking with warm human blood !   Shocked
as our readers must be at this horrid relation, still more
| so will they feel on learning, that the  above is the
j least atrocious method  of sacrifice, and that in the
districts of Shree-Rampooron, and   Guddapooram,  as
well as  in  other  parts of the country,  the flesh   is
actually  severed  from the body of the living victim,
whose agonized writhings and piteous moans are alike'
unheeded.    Happily the blood-thirsty eagerness  with
which the diabolical monsters rush  upon the  devoted
object, their knivesactually clashing in the living flesh
I must soon ensure a release from sufferings, too great
j almost for imagination to conceive.    A buffalo's calf
\ is, after the sacrifice we now allude to, brought before
i the idol, and its fore feet having been chopped off at
! the fetlock joints, the animal is left in that state till
i the following day to complete the usual ceremonies "
j The  Madras U. S. Gazette  imploringly  urges  the
j Government to take cognizance ofthe above statement
j and use every energy to pnt a stop to these awful crimes'
of a superstitious  and  ignorant race.    Government
! policy has, heretofore, prevented any decided interfer-
i ence   with  the practices of the  natives,   but 6urelv
j Chrisiians ought to obey the dictates of their religion
| before those of a political nature. °
that he is the property of another who has an interest I condition that they would abstain from their horrible cus-
in preserving his life.'and that the care of it does not j tom 0f scalping their victims. On the evening of the
devolve upon himself; even the power of thought ap- ■ battle of* * *, C. came and sat himself down by the fire
pears to him a useless gift of Providence, and he | of our bivouack. I asked him what had been his fortune
quietly enjoys the privileges of his debasement. \ that day : he related his exploits: and growing warm and
If he becomes free, independence is often felt by; animated by the recollection of them, he concluded by
n to be a heavier burden than slavery; for having j suddenly opening the breast of his coat, saying, "Vou
him to be a heavier burden than slavery; tor having
learned, in the course of his life, to submit to every-
* See the map.
must not betray me—see here !" " And I actually be¬
held," said the Major," between his body and his shirt, the
skin and hair of an English head, still dripping with gore."
IsniA Rurber BooK-BiNniNo.—We  have seen  a
j specimen of account book binding with India rubber
1 by  Mr. P. A. Mesier, which promises  to be  useful*
j The adhesive strength of the  gum performs all the
service of sewing. - The backs of the sheets being com
pressed together, are covered with a solution, and uoon
| that is laid a strip of-canvass.    The  canvass is then
i attached to the covers in the usual way.    The honk
! appears strong, and  opens incomparably better than
! even the best open backs, bound in the common ma,
I ner.