Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/264

Rh the system of popular education to the children of the blacks—even if they were in separate schools—and would fearlessly concede other consecutive means of moral and intellectual development, we might then confidently predict for the Southern States of America a great future. It would have accomplished a work which would entitle it to the gratitude of two hemispheres, and demand the admiration of the whole world,—a work which evidently seems to lie in the plan of God's schemes, and which already the best and noblest citizens of the Slave States speak of as American concession.

The Colonisation and Christianisation of Africa by means of the liberated negro slaves of America is this work, already commenced in the infant colony of Liberia, on the coast of Africa, and which annually increases by means of emigrants sent out by the Southern, as well as the Northern Free States, and through the generosity of private citizens.

Some of the Slave States, and foremost among them the oldest, Virginia and Maryland, have appropriated a considerable amount of revenue to the colonisation of the negroes in Africa, and two steamers annually proceed from Baltimore in Maryland, and from Savannah in Georgia, with black emigrants to Liberia, provided, both from public and private sources, with all that is requisite for their establishment in old-new-country, each religious community providing separately for the members of their own body.

In the proposition and extension of this colony, the Northern and the Southern States have shown themselves to be a noble Union, with one heart and one soul. In this they extend their hands to each other, for reconciliation in the great quarrel between them on the subject of slavery.

I must, however, confess that this work seems to me merely as a part of that which the Southern States ought