Camden gazette and mercantile advertiser. (Camden, S.C.) 1818-1822, July 29, 1819, Image 4

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I POETRY. "V: .""7" TUB TOBMENTOR, ??? BY SBLECK OSBORNE. A petrifying plague there is, Which sours the sweetest cup of bliss, And clouds life's brightest sun; Of happiness the worst annoy, The mortal foe of every joy, 1 ?? v, _ J. * . Videlict?a dun ! Not old Medusa'* fabled head, i Whose dreadful eyes could tun?? 'tis said, The boldest form to stone; E'er quench'd the blaze of mirth, or try'd* With magpcspell, tbe form of pridtf Like this aforesaid dun Hard Cures, ana! the luckless wight, Whose steps can, neither day nor night, . This hide tormentor sbtin; Who, at each corner, crook or turn, Where e'er his weary feet sojourn/ Is hauntdd by a dun / ? 9 '? ?>' jr. v -v, . ;-v#j ~ ?; ? ; . ? ?*>' i ? h * ' ? ? i Ambition drops her busy schemes, r Avarice awakes from (golden dreamy Blithe wit adjures his fun; Pride sinks her bold aspiring crest, E'en potent Genius stoops opprest^ Before the mighty dun S Muae \ tell how oft thy. angel song, ?Has kedt my captive soul along, With more than mortal tone; How I, entranced whilst thou hast smil'df ?Have wtk'd-the sweet enchantmentepoil'd JjJy an intruding dun J '' s ?? ' 4 i' ? V.'y t f ? i N Let toil my haggard limbs embrown, Let w*nt and sickness weigh roe down) V Gout, fever, cbolic, stone 5 ;Civo me a tcold in marriage noose, And e'en Old JWck himself let loose But sav??ne from a dun / ' '? *? l A PATHRJCS AD VICE TO HJS SOJV. When e'er you marry, (to his son A prudent father said,) Take for thy loving helpmate on* Rich widow, or rjch maid? for any wife may turn oi\t ill, 4*ut gad!?.the money never will. '? ' -'.A 'i ru Miscellaneous. COLONIZATION SOCIETY. Communicated for the National Intelligent cer. Bepprt of the Rev. William Meai>e, to the Managers of the American Coloniza * tion Society, relating torn journey through . ,'' th .Southern States. ' $ / > ^ ZLJk Gentlemen?You have already received and laid before (be public, jmy letter, written from Milleugville, statins the arrangement* made in be half of the Africans, for whose re lief 1 was specially sent to that place. 1 will only add, that they are now placed in such a situation as to incur no further expence, and are awaiting v the issue of a trial pending between the claimants and the state, the re sult of which, it is confidently be* lieveil, will throw them into the arms of a benevolent society or a government, to be restored to '?ISillS??? The interporition of tbe society, which seemed to some of unr friends not justifiable by the state of its fun|i but Whidi was nevertheless uQdn taken in a spirit of faitb and clmi in (proved itself to be a most o|*poriuiu and favorable circumstance. It at traced public attention by its novelty I excited public feeling by its human! ty, and gave assurance to thewerldf that our society was about to do something. 1 bis was tbe com mencement of a new era; hope was roused in the hearts of the humane I and pious, that Africa w*s now about I to receive good instead of evil from, our ? countrymen. Home, indeed, Who bail but little hope at tbe success^ ?f our general enterprise, declared I their willingness to contribute for the ransom of these; andf a few, who intended to have become purchasers * at tbeir sale, expressed a pleasure at the thought of tbeir restoration to I Africa, and proved their sincerity I bj> uniting with tbe society at Mil ledgevillr. To this auspicious com* ntfocement do I ascribe more than I : the success which attended my I subsequent efforts. It becomes me) while on tliis sub ject, to mention, that there arc some hundreds of these unfortunate beings in Georgia, held by individuals* throughout the state, to be returned to the Governor in case of their con demnation; in which event they wllT belong to the society, on the same terms with those at Milledge ville. The individuate who claim them profess to be agents for Spanish merchants in the Havanna or else where, who maintain that the Ame rican officers seized them contrary to the laws of nations. Out of four or five cargoes thus brought in surely the claims of humanity will be able to defeat some at least, of the cruel attempts of^ftaud and oppressiob. The formation of three auxiliary so cieties, under the direction of the Irst citizens of the state, will surely tave a happy effect in urging the ex ecution of all our laws against the horrid trade in human beings, which tas heretofore been carried on by abandoned wretches, hovering along he coast, aqd smuggling them into m interior. My appearing in behalf of the Africans, on the day of sale, pro duced a very desirable effect upon the citizens of Milledgeville and the surrouudiag country. Many of them came and offered me their services n any way that could be available to lie object of my visit, and assured me, there were many others, in all parts of the state, who would cheer fully co-operate with the society in all its designs. The method which I pursued in Milledgeville, and in all other places where societies were organized, was, to spend a few days in visiting the citizens,paying all that respect which, in an affair of this general nature, is due to age, office, wealth, and in fluence, to converse freely with them, and leave for their perusal such pub lications as I had with me; then to spend one or two days in carrying about a subscription|>aper, and hav ing obtained a sufficient number ,o ubscribers, to call a meeting ant organize a society. In each place where I succeeded in establishing societies, 1 continued my own per sonal application for subscriptions, until twelve or fifteen hundred dol lars were on the paper, as donations or auuual subscriptions; after which 1 left in the hands of the managers, to conduct in such a manner as should MftAn lu>it in tlwm. The second auxiliary society was formed at Augusta, where 1 pursued he same plan, where the first citi zens in otiice, talents, wealth, and nflueuce, lent their aids, and were chosen to precide over its manage ment. It is also due to the citizens >f that place to mention, thaToniy m few weeks before my arrival, they had contributed between two ami three thousand dollars as a donation |o a certain number of free negroes, who bad been obliged to leave the J lace by a late law of that state, 'rum Augusta 1 proceeded to 8a v annah, where the same favorable eeling excited, and where, without difficulty, subscriptions were obtain d, a constitution acioptcdgiind a day > p| join ted for the choi^Puf officers ud managers. W hile in this place, ? he.id a conversation, in the pre sence of several of the citizens, with tour of the people of color, who ^ere recommended for their intelli yptff good character and influence. Uaviug heard me explain our views, having listened to some passages from Mill's journal atid Paul luttee's lei iers, and asked some very sensible ques ions ; they said this ft us a very different account from what they bad heard of our society ; that they ex pected to be forced away, and to a place not calculated to better their erudition, and liot provided with a * itable protection. They had no idea that it was the offspring of piety and benevolence, and intended for their real benefit. J SThey expressed it as their decided opinion, that, if such were our views, ami such was the country, many of their brethern would go. i gavto them one of our reports, which they wished to read, saying that they would take pains 10 give their bretliem correct views <0 the whole matter. One of tlietn ob served,* that he really believed this tiling was of God, nnd. though there might seem many hardships about it, yet, if God undertook*, it, it would easily be done: I passed from thence to Charles ton, arriving there rather too Boon for a favorable attempt in that place. Some of the mast influential citizens W not yet returned frtyn their coun try residence, whose advice and pre sence it was deemetTproper to have. Very few appeared to have given much attention to tbe subject, and the friends of the measure, of whom there were some very zealous,thought it beat that I should not attempt a re gular organization of i society at that time, but only circulate subscription [papers among its friends, and leave it to them to form a society at a more convenient |ieriod. I deemed it pro rsr to folio wtbeir advice, especially as had only a few days to spend in the place* Although no regular so ciety was formed, yet were my hopes of success to our general scheme much increased by several circum stances which occurred during the short time of my stay in that place, j was informed, that two or three pious uegroes were much disposed to go as missionaries to Africa, and wished to see me; accordingly, a meeting was appointed at the house of one of tlie citizens. Ongoing, I found seven, explained to tbem our designs and. prospects, and before 1 was naif done, three declared their determination to go over as colonist**, saying it was no sudden thing with them, they had been thinking, pray ing and conversing on this subject for some time, and were willing to go as servants of God, to tlie land of their forefathers. I was ha$|>y to learn their characters were without reproach, and that they enjoyed the esteem aud confidence of both classes of tbe community. Another meet inn was proposed by tbem, when at least twenty of the most respectable and intelligent of the town assem* bled, Myself and the gentlemen with roe were equally surprised and 'delighted at the good sense, piety, sagacity and information, Manifested in all jtheir remarks, questions, hopes land feafWas expressed on that oc casion. Vfliey regarded it as glori ous work for their posterity, and said, they bad no doubt, if things were properly explained/ a suitable pre paration made in AJgca, and right measures pursued, ^>at numbers would go. On the next morning, 1 was cAll^^n by an old free man <;f color son-in-law, whose in formation added no little confirmation to my hopes. The sojt-in-law, whose name is Holman, is tie son of an Englishman who married an African woman, and settled hi South-Garo Una, on lite Santee. v He had two sons and three daaghters; the sons were sent to England to be educated, Pmd from thence went to Africa, lived at Hio Pangas, and were concerned iu the slave trade. The one of w hom i aiu now speaking, seems to have a just abhorrence of that trade, hav ing relinquished it many years sinoul he has frequently been in this coiot I ry, where be married, and is now awaiting the issue of a suit on which a considMble amount depends, and means, ?M?n as it is over, to re move to Sierra Leone, and thereto settle himself as a merchant. He has a correspondence between him self and Governor McCarthy, as to the terms on which he and any Ame rican negroes might settle at Sierra Leone; he is well acquainted at that place, and also at Sherbro: Ms ac counts agree perfectly with those of our agents, relative to these two places. tie was there when our agbnta visited that country, and has seen, within the last eight months, those whom Paul Cuftee carried there, and says they are well and [satisfied. What is still mote favorable to All our views, iff, that, since he has betin in Charleston, many have applied tat him to join in an expedition to Afri ca. 1 ihink he said at least forty ; and heWleclares \m willingness to afford then* all tlse aid in bis power. He lias promised, from time to lime, to inform me of his movements, and the. probable lime of his departure*. I must here ties; leave to mention, for the gratification of the pious and humane, and in justice to the charajr ter of the place, 1 hat 1 rowryrt ha\e seen any town to the south of this, where so much attention was paid to the moral ami religious culture of the black |>eople; their attendance in the church latere 1 was invited to offi ciate, (ana it was the same, 1 am told, in all tlie others) was truly grcatful to the soid of the Christian. 'I lie of|j6 and other places in the church; s^apart for them, were filled with young and old, decently dressed, and many of them having their prayer books, and joining in all the respon ses of t|ie church. Such a stftte of things as this roust surely favor the success of the ohjects of our society. 1 must also beg leave to add a gener al remark concerning the whole southern country, in which 1 am justified by the repeated assurances of t)>e most pious and benevelent, that the condition of the negroes is greatly ameliorated in every respect. As to food, raiment, houses, labor and correction, there is yearly less and less over which religion uud hu manity must lameut. 1 shall now proceed in my state ment by mentioning that, on my ar rival at Georgetown, which Was the next place 1 visited, I found the citi zens just breaking u|rfor the summer, and retiring to more healthy abode*. I, however, saw eight or ten of the qiost wealthy ami influential, and ob tained assurances of their cordial co operation. A few subscription pa pers were headed, and several gen tlemen promised to make good use oi them during the summer, and on their return in the fall to meet and or ganize a society. I proceeded thence to Fayetteville, where all the citizens were preyed for a co-operation 5 1 had only to go to their houses and take down their names. Here also, 1 conversed with a number of the free people, who took the same interest in the measure as in other places, and expressed ti.eir belief that if tlie colony was estab lished, there would be no difficulty in getting them to go. They pro posed to me to let them publish the second annual report 1 carried with me, for the benefit of their brethren who were scattered through the state, and even offered to subscribe to the society. 1 answered them that we had better publish a small iiamph let for their use; and that, if any of their brethren, who were poor, want ed to ?0, then they, wlio were better off, might help them. * At Kaleigli, 1 found the same una nimity of sentimeut. The supreme Court being in session, many of the judges and lawyers were collected from different parts of the state, who conHally joined the society, and tes tided to the general prevalence of good will to it throughout the state. At a meeting to form a constitution, the highest talents, authorities and wealth of the state were present and unanimously sanctioned the measure. 1 also paid a visit while at Raleigh, to Chapel Hill, the seat of their uni versity, about twenty eight miles distant, where the annual commence ment of the students assembled trus tees and ministers of religion from different places, whose influence it Mas desirable to obtain. I was hap py to And the same feeling here, and that a small society had already been formed. 1 obtained assurances from two or three gentlemen that tliey would endeavor to forward all our views in the neighborhoods where they resided, by the establishment of auxiliary societies, in which they thought they could succeed. It was my wish and, intention to have visited the towns of Wilming ton and Newliern, but the real w?ut of a public conveyance preranted; and the friends of our scheim who dwell there, will, 1 hope, do all that is needfnl to make up this una voidable neglect. In passing through the towns of Camden and Coulumbia, on mj way to the south, 1 spent a day in each. place, and was assured liy seme of ,the lending jxirsous raid the ministers iof the gosptl, that tlicy would not neglect to aflbwt l1?eirctM>pj>eratioiK ; From this journal it will appear that I there are six organized societies in the (3arolinas and Georgia, and ten? or twelves other places- where socie ties will he formed, or some mea ! sures pursued for aiding the Amc , rican l$ociet\. The amount of sub- ? j scriptions which w ere made to the agent himself/ were from seven to eight thousand dollars; about one third of which will l>e due the ensu ing fall. It may be asked if the measure be so important; if it has |so much of the public favor; if large sums be required to execute it, why were not greater subscriptions obtain ed? Hulhcient reason can be given - for this. In the first place, the pecu niary distress is, by universal con* sent, greater than ever was known; a deep gloom hangs over every citv; each man seemed in a state of awiol suspense, not knowing Low soon himself might be affected. 1 wag told a hundred times that no other cause but this would ilicit any thing; and that to this, at any oilier time, there would have lieen a much mote generous contribution. (jyaother reason operating against us, is, that for the last year or two more has been spent in the erection ot churches, the promotion of reli gious and charitable objects, in all Uie places i visited, than at any pre vious period; so that the funds of charity, were, in a measure exhaus ted. Another cause is, that a very reasonable opinion was entcrtambd that the general government would take up the measure, and that it was only required of individuals aud so cieties to make a commencement? give an impulse to public feeling, aud imprest a suitable character upon the colony, afterward said in the promotion of all its benevolent de signs towards Africa; and lastly, that there would be societies formed throughout every state, and that in dividuals of piety and benevolence would, from ail parts of the Union, contribute to its useful design; Huch are the reasons for preventing those who are auxious and desireu* of its success, from contributing more large ly, as though the success depended upon the liberality of a few. If 1 am asked by, the board to wliat extent the subset iptions now going on at the south will probably oe carried. 1 am utterly unable to answer. It will depend upon the uumber and active zeal of those who mauage it; upon the diligence with which personal applications are made to the citizens throughout the stater* ?But w e may be permitted to hope, that as this is a cause of the iirst magnitude, so it will excite an uu* usual diligence in those who under take it. The report which 1 fyave deliver ed to you, gentlemen, is an oncolot* ed statement of facts which occqred, and candid narrative of conversa tions held with a number of our most intelligent citizens to the south. 1 have endeavored to inform myself, as correctly as possible, of the general feeling and opinion in regard to our society, and the result has been a conviction that, unless a great altera tion takes place, or I have keen mic* informed, it will meet with a liberal support Our efforts should, in my opinion, l>e principally directed to (he south, and our first colonists should be chosen from thence; because their mode of life, their constitution, and othef circumstances in regard to them, will better suit a first establishment on the coast of Africa. With such hopes and opinions do I return from the mission you were pleased, to entrust into my bands; and 1 am now ready to serve you in any other way which shall seem most conducive to the welfare of the no ciety. fteaolved, That the Board thank fully acknowledge the late service* |of their Agent, the llev. Mr. Meaiie -thereby declare their approbation oi' his proceedings, and order his report, made to the Board, to be pub lished.