OF LIBERIA. 41 



becoming too numerous, and therefore dangerous, 

 and Liberia in Africa was colonised to perpetuate 

 the existence of slavery in the Western hemi- 

 sphere. It may be said that free negroes are not 

 forced to go to Liberia, and perhaps actual force 

 may not have been, and may not be resorted to ; 

 — but what is the case ? — first, their lives are 

 rendered miserable by a continued series of petty 

 oppressions, and then Liberia is held out to them 

 as a sort of paradise of plenty and freedom 

 where no white man is to be allowed to tyrannise 

 or oppress. An intelligent mulatto said to me 

 on my questioning him on the subject, "It was 

 not exactly kidnapping, but we were inveigled 

 away under false pretences." 



As to civilising Africa by means of Liberia, it 

 is well known that from the time the colony was 

 first established it was constantly at war with the 

 natives, until their partial extermination left the 

 strangers in peaceable possession. It is true 

 they assert that they bought the ground with the 

 right of extension ; but this only adds hypocrisy 

 to cruelty. 



As to the commercial situation of the colony, 

 the Americans have certainly not shown their 

 usual acuteness in the choice of natural ad van- 



