CHAPTER VII.A LIBERIAN VISITS AMERICA. He that bears himself like a gentleman, is worth to have been born a gentleman.—CHAPMAN. AFTER the first few years of trial, the accounts from Liberia were so encouraging, that Nathan yielded to the earnest entreaties of Junius, and emigrated to Africa with his family. At Mr. Peyton's request, Junius continued to write to him frequently, and keep him informed of all that happened of interest in the community, and more especially in the two households that had once been members of Mr. Peyton's family. Hardly a letter came without bringing some confirmation of the increasing stability and prosperity of the colonists. Every step they took was a step upward and onward. He became convinced that the great problem which had occupied so much of his thoughts was at last solved, and that in Africa the African might be allowed to grow to his full stature—to become a man. When, in 1847, Liberia proclaimed itself a free
and independent nation, no one welcomed it more
warmly into its new rank as a republic than did Mr. Peyton. Not long after this important event, he passed a few weeks in Philadelphia. He had heard nothing of Ben or Clara for two or three years, and had supposed them prosperously employed all that time. He was troubled at the condition in which he found them, though it was so superior to the one from which Mr. Lyndsay had rescued them. Wishing to excite in them a desire to share the privileges which Nathan was enjoying, he sent them the letters he had received from Junius, most of which were filled with accounts of the happiness and comfort in which his father's family were living. He succeeded so far as to awaken an interest in them as to all the concerns of Liberia, but he could not arouse in Ben enough energy to induce him to leave even the poor home which was all he could hope to call his own in America. The influence of Americus was a great obstacle
to Mr. Peyton's wishes. He had returned from
France quite a finished gentleman in manners and
appearance, and with his ideas of his own consequence greatly exalted, and he scouted at the
thought of leaving "the comforts of civilized life,"
to use his own words, "to live in cabins and fight
with savages. The United States was his native
land; he had as much right to all the advantages
he could derive from living in it as any other of its citizens; and he was not going basely to give up his rights, but rather to nail his flag to the mast and demand them. There was a better time coming; the hour would surely arrive, however long delayed it might be, when the distinctions of white and black would be unknown, and man would be estimated by his own intrinsic worth." Speeches like these had a great effect on Ben. Clara, like most women, looking to the immediate and practical, rather than far into the dim future, asked what good that time would do to them, if, as Americus observed, "generations must pass away before that state of things could be looked for." "While you are talking about it, and waiting for it here," said she, "Nathan and Polydore are helping it forward in Africa; for in Liberia whites and blacks do meet in terms of equality, or, rather, the colored people are the most important persons there, and that is the only Christian place I ever heard of where that is the case." Americus had heard of several others, but he seemed willing to make a trial of none of them. "He was determined," he said, "to live and die in America, and no colonizationist should force him to leave it." "I am sure you are welcome to stay here if you
like," said Clara; "the white folks are too glad to
have somebody they can order about and make do their hard work, to compel us to leave; but for my part, I would like to go where I can be as good as any body else. I know Nathan and Keziah very well. They have too much sense not to know whether it is better for them to be there than here, and they wouldn't speak so well of it if they did not like it." "Have you never heard of the fox that lost his tail in the trap, and tried to persuade his companions to cut off theirs too?" asked Americus. "Yes," said Clara; "but I've knowed Nathan more than thirty years, and I never knowed him to tell a lie in all my life, and it isn't likely that he would begin now." Ben confirmed Clara's assertion, and Americus himself was too well aware of its truth to deny it. While this conversation was going on in Clara's room, Mr. Peyton was sitting with his wife in a private parlor of one of the principal hotels in Philadelphia, reading partly to himself, and occasionally aloud to her, such passages from different periodicals that were lying on the table around him as particularly struck him. From one of the foreign reviews he read the following: "What a wonderful continent is this, rounded,
smooth-shored Africa, known from the earliest dawn
of time, yet so unknown; the granary of nations,
yet sterile and fruitless as the sea; swarming with life, yet dazzling the eyes with its vast tract of glittering sand! North America, first seen but the other day, has been probed from end to end; its Philips, Tecumsehs, and Montezumas have been bridled and broken by the white man; but Africa has seen no Cortez, or even a De Soto or La Salle, "wringing favor from fate." Some solitary Mungo Park, or faithful Lander, or persevering Burckhardt, alone has tried to read the secret of the mother of civilization—the gray-haired Africa. "If we seek a land of romance and mystery, what quarter of the globe compares with that which holds the Pyramids; the giant Theban temples, under one roof of which clusters a modern village; the solemn, hewn mountain cliff of a Sphinx; the ruins of Carthage; the Nile, with its hidden sources; the Niger, with its unknown outlet; the heaven-bearing Atlas; the dimly-seen Mountains of the Moon! "There the slave rose, romantically, to be the ruler of millions; there Moses, floating in his cradle, is saved by the king's daughter, and like the hero of some earlier chivalry, breaks the bonds of his people and founds a new and mighty nation. There was the home of Dido, of Hannibal, the scene of Scipio's triumphs, and Jugurtha's crimes; there lived Tertullian, Athanasius, and Augustine: the last breath of Louis of France was drawn there. "Africa is the home of the leviathan, the behemoth, the unicorn, the giraffe, the antelope, the elephant, the lion, the buffalo. It is the home, too, of the mysterious negro races yet lying dormant in the germ, destined, perhaps, to rule this earth when our proud Anglo-Saxon blood is as corrupt as that of the descendants of Homer or Pericles. "The past, present, and future of Africa are alike wrapt in mystery. Who can tell us of the childhood of dark-browed Egypt, square-shouldered and energetic? Carthage, the England of the old world's rulers, has not even a romancing Livy, still less an unwearied Niebuhr, to explain her rise and untangle the mysteries of her constitution. Of all the vast interior, what do we know more than tie Punic merchants, who, like us, dealt there, taking slaves, ivory, and gold? "And what can we hope hereafter to see in those
immense, unknown lands? God has enabled the
European to drive out the North American, and
given a great continent the full development and
trial of whatever permanent power the Caucasian
race possesses; but Africa he has preserved—for
what? For future contest? For an imported foreign civilization, to be entered through Liberia and
the Cape Colonies? France and Britain are watching each other now along those burning sands, as
they once watched by the icy rocks of Canada and
Acadia: is it to end in the same subjection of the aboriginal owners to one or both of these? Or does the dark race, in all its varieties, possess a capacity for understanding and living out the deep laws of the world's ruler, Christianity, as the offspring of the followers of Odin never did, and never can, understand and act it? "If the old Egyptian Sesostris had paused to contemplate the illiterate wanderers of Greece, to whom Cadmus was just striving to make known the letters of Phoenicia, would not Plato and Aristotle have seemed as impossible to him as the existence in Africa of a higher Christianity than has yet been seen seems to us? Would not the present position of the Teutonic race have appeared equally incredible to the founder of the Parthenon, the loungers in the gardens of the Academy?" Here he was interrupted by the entrance of a lady who came to call upon his wife. She was a Mrs. Vaughan, who belonged to the Society of Friends, as was easy to see by the grave simplicity of her dress, which accorded so well with the calm, unworldly expression of her face, that the impression of its oddity was lost in its suitability. "I have called to see thee," said she, after the
usual words of greeting had passed, "to tell thee of
a very interesting visit I have been making this
morning. Thee knows that Joseph Roberts, the
President of Liberia, is here on business connected with his adopted country. I heard a little while ago that his wife was with him, and I have been to see her. She is a pretty, intelligent young woman. I was very much pleased with her indeed. I knew that thee was interested in all that concerns that country, and as I had an opportunity to ask a great deal about it, I thought that thee might like to hear what she said." "Is Mr. Johnson a white man?" asked Virginia. "Oh no, my dear," replied Mr. Peyton; "he is the President of the Republic of Liberia, and no white person is allowed to hold
any political office whatever there. He was once a slave in Virginia,
but was emancipated and sent to Liberia when he
was quite a lad. He has raised himself by his own exertions to the station he now occupies,
after having filled with credit and honor the important position of general of the forces of
Liberia, at a time when they were engaged in a serious contest with one of the most powerful
of the neighboring tribes. The quarrel was occasioned by a demand for slaves, and this tribe,
which had long carried on their commerce with the Europeans almost exclusively by means of
the slaves they obtained in their forays, attacked Millsberg and Hedington within a short
time, in order to get possession of several of the natives who had taken refuge under the
protection of
Liberia. Do you not remember, my dear, the account I read to you from one of the letters I received from Junius, of the attack on the latter place by three or four hundred savages, and of the brave defense the inhabitants made, though so taken by surprise. At last, Zion Harris, a citizen of Liberia, who emigrated from Tennessee, put the whole band to rout by a fortunate shot, which struck down their lead man. They rallied, and by another shot he killed the second chief.This made them hesitate for a moment, and, taking advantage or the pause, Harris blew a large bugle. Supposing this to be the signal of a re-enforcement approaching, the savages fled in all directions." "Yes," replied Virginia, "I do remember it. It was on that occasion, I believe, that the barbarians brought a kettle to cook the missionary in." "They were sure of victory," said Mr. Peyton,
"and were amazed at being defeated by such a
handful. They thought the settlers had greegrees
or charms to protect them. Fortunately, Buchanan
was then Governor of Liberia, a man of great ability and energy; and he determined 'to settle the
matter at once and forever,' as he said. Therefore
he, with General Roberts, the same man who is
now President of Liberia, went with three hundred
men twenty-five miles into the interior, to attack
the tribe in their own fortress. He gained so com-
plete a victory, that the settlers have not since been disturbed by the natives. On the contrary, most of the kings around them, and some who live far in the interior, have sent to beg an alliance with the Liberians. I have been glad to see that one stipulation which has always been made before receiving them as allies is, that they should never be in any way engaged in the slave-trade." "Does it not seem a pity to thee," asked Mrs. Vaughan, "that this bloodshed could not have been avoided—that the Liberians did not make a treaty with the natives, as Penn did with the Indians?" "Under the circumstances, that was impossible," replied Mr. Peyton. "There were no slave-traders in Pennsylvania to excite the natives to war by telling them that their commerce was about to be destroyed by the unwelcome intruders. If the selfish passions of the Indians had been awakened by interested and designing men, there might have been a very different account to give of Penn's colony." "I would like to have seen it fairly tried," said Mrs. Vaughan. "It was tried more than ten years ago," replied Mr. Peyton. "Quite a large number of
emigrants went out under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Young Men's Colonization Society,
and established themselves at Bassa Cove, a beautiful and fertile spot on
the St. John's River.They named the settlement Port Cresson, in honor of Mr. Elliott Cresson, who, you know, has been such an efficient and liberal patron of this enterprise. In fact, he was the founder of the society which sent out these emigrants. They bound themselves before they left to refrain from ardent spirits and the arts of war, and to act as missionaries as far as they could. A letter I received from Liberia, a few months after they landed, was filled with accounts of the satisfaction of the settlers with their new home. One of the pleasantest and finest portions of Liberia had been selected for them, and they were improving it very fast. There were but two guns in the whole colony, but yet, trusting in the influence of their Christian principles, they did not feel the least alarm, although they were surrounded by savages. They were told several times of what might be the consequence of their defenseless situation; but they paid no heed to the warnings, and therefore were taken completely by surprise when one evening the savages rushed upon them from the thickets around, killed several, and compelled the rest to take refuge in the swamps and woods. Only two houses were left unmolested, and they belonged to the two settlers who had provided themselves with fire-arms." "Perhaps the colonists had not treated the natives kindly," suggested Mrs. Vaughan. "No; the savages had no cause of complaint against the settlers, except that they had established themselves on land which had been bought for that purpose. It seems that there was a barracoon much used by the slave-traders quite near Port Cresson, and when they discovered that there was to be a Liberian settlement at the Cove, they told the king of that part of the country that they could not think of buying slaves so near to the Americans, and should remove their factory immediately. This aroused the king's cupidity, and he promised to drive the emigrants away." "Did he succeed?" asked Mrs. Vaughan. "He did, at first; and was so pleased with his good fortune, that he refused to listen to the messengers the Liberians sent to him, and was preparing for an attack on some of the other towns, when they marched a force against him, which completely destroyed his towns and defenses, and returned without the loss of a single man. After that, finding that the Liberians were not the weak, defenseless people he thought them, he became their firm friend and ally, and entreated the settlers to return to Port Cresson, offering to repay them as far as he could for all the injury he had done them, and promising them any part of his country to settle in, if they would only give him 'God's book and 'Merica trade' again." "I hope the settlers accepted his offer," said Mrs. Vaughan. "Yes, they did. But their new settlement was made about two miles above its former location, and is now called Bassa Cove. There are, however, a few houses still at Port Cresson, and I have no doubt but that it will be a flourishing town before many years. You see I am well informed concerning Liberian affairs," continued Mr. Peyton, smiling. "There are few subjects in which I take so great an interest." A note was just then handed to him. After reading it, he turned to Mrs. Vaughan, saying, "This is from your brother-in-law, Mr. Elias Vaughan. He says that several gentlemen are to spend the evening with him to meet Governor Roberts, and to learn from him more particularly the condition of Liberia. He is kind enough to ask me to join them, and I shall be very glad to have an opportunity to talk with a responsible person from that country. We can learn a great deal more about the real state of affairs in that way than in any other." Mr. Peyton was detained by some visitors, and
it was quite late in the evening before he reached
Mr. Vaughan's. When he entered the room, the
guests were conversing in little groups around it,
while Mr. Roberts was standing by himself. As
each person entered, the host had introduced them to the President of Liberia; but after speaking a few words to him, so intolerable a feeling of awkwardness and constraint stole over them at the unusual position in which they found themselves thus placed toward a colored man, that each, unwilling to make himself conspicuous by any long conversation with him, turned to those with whom they felt themselves on common ground. Mr. Vaughan did all that he could to prevent Mr. Roberts from perceiving any want of courtesy, but he was too much occupied by receiving his guests to allow him to devote much of his time to him. Mr. Peyton perceived the state of things at a
glance, and could hardly repress a smile at the
inconsistency between the principles and conduct
of the assembly. There was not a gentleman
present who did not profess to be an ardent friend
to the colored race. Many of them supported
vehemently the most liberal and ultra views with
regard to their rights and capabilities. Yet here
was one whose appearance and manners showed
him to be a gentleman—a man of tried bravery,
fidelity, and uprightness—intelligent, unassuming,
and self-possessed—whom they had assembled for
the purpose of meeting; and each one of them was
trying to appear unconscious of his presence. Yet
uneasy glances were cast toward him from time to time, that showed that it was not the desire to be courteous that was wanting; but a "decent respect for the opinions" of others. There is something in the human race that has a striking similarity to the docility of the sheep. Any lead taken with confidence will be sure to find followers. And the innate dignity, the lofty presence, and perfect good-breeding of Mr. Peyton well fitted him for a leader. People felt instinctively that, following him, they could not go wrong. He had come for the express purpose of meeting and talking with Mr. Roberts, and was soon engaged in an animated conversation with him. This could not fail to be an interesting one, both from the nature of the subject discussed, and from the clear, straightforward, and satisfactory manner in which Mr. Roberts gave this account. Soon, one by one the guests drew near to listen, until at last Mr. Peyton and his companion found themselves the centre of an audience composed of all the persons in the room; while Mr. Roberts, apparently as unconscious of the marked attention now paid him as of the neglect he had experienced a short time before, went on quietly but earnestly explaining the condition, the wishes, and the claims of Liberia. His inaugural address, when he entered upon his
duties as the first president of the little republic,
had impressed Mr. Peyton very favorably, and this interview elevated him still higher in his opinion. The clear good sense, the calm judgment, and the piety that appeared in all that he said, could not fail to inspire confidence in his listeners. Mr. Peyton returned to his wife with renewed zeal in favor of colonization. "Besides the advantages it offers to the colored race," said he, "and if Mr. Roberts is a fair specimen of a Liberian, they are well worth all that has been done for it, its efficiency in suppressing the slave-trade ought alone to induce us to support it. We have spent millions of dollars in maintaining fleets there, yet they have done but little for us in comparison with Liberia. Nearly five hundred miles on the western coast are now entirely free from that curse; and I hope and confidently expect that the time will come when from that little spot the laws and principles will go forth that will control all Africa." "I wish we could induce Ben to go," said Mrs. Peyton. "Americus is so well adapted to his position, that it would be a pity to persuade him to leave it; but I think if Ben could only get his ambition aroused once more, he would make a valuable citizen of that new country." "I have spoken to Mr. Lyndsay about it," replied
Mr. Peyton, "and he has promised me that he will
not lose sight of them, and will do all that he can to excite in Ben a desire to emigrate. I think he will succeed. I am sure if Beh had seen Mr. Roberts last night, he would have been convinced that he could become something more than 'a nigger,' as he calls himself." Mr. Peyton was disappointed that President Roberts was obliged to leave the United States without having obtained a formal recognition of the independence of his adopted country. Great Britain and France were more ready to welcome the nation that had thus sprung into existence than its own foster-mother; and in both these countries the president was received with the honor befitting his rank. The following extracts from a letter from him will show, more forcibly than any account can do, how little effect the color has, when the position and character is such as to inspire respect. Mr. Lyndsay sent it to Americus, asking him how many generations he supposed must pass away before a colored man from the United States would be so received by the governments of Europe. "London, October 25, 1852. "MY DEAR SIR,—A week or two since I wrote
you, giving a somewhat detailed statement of my
proceedings here and in Paris up to that time; and
now I have nothing very special to communicate,
except that there is a decidedly increasing interest in England and France in favor of Liberia. By the government and people of both these countries I have been received in the most kind and flattering manner. I mentioned to you that, in consequence of the departure of the prince president for a tour in the south of France just about the time I reached Paris, I had promised to make another visit in the course of a month. Accordingly, I returned on the 15th instant, to be present and witness the entry of the president on the 16th. "The minister for foreign affairs, M. Druyn de Lhuys, had heard of my arrival, and Sunday morning, the 17th, I received an invitation from him and madame to dine with them the following day; and, as you may suppose, I did not fail to avail myself of the occasion to state fully my wishes, and to press upon his excellency the importance of dispatch in my case. The party at the table consisted of ten or a dozen, and all, except one, spoke English pretty well, and in compliment evidently to me, the conversation of the evening was carried on in my own language, notwithstanding the subject of discussion. All appeared deeply interested in favor of Liberia. "About nine o'clock the minister was sent for to
meet the president at Saint Cloud. Before leaving,
however, he said to me that he had spoken with the
prince the morning before respecting Liberia, and had informed his highness that I was in Paris, and that my stay would be, very short. The prince had therefore, notwithstanding the fatigue of his journey, consented to give me an audience the next day, Tuesday, at twelve o'clock. The next day at ten, I received a note from the minister, to say he would call for me at eleven to accompany me to Saint Cloud. He was punctual, and appeared in full court dress, and off we posted in his carriage. I, indeed, had a very pleasant interview, and found the president quite as well informed in regard to Liberian matters as I expected. He said he felt greatly interested in the effort that was being made in Liberia to test the capacity of the African race for self-government, and that he was well pleased at the progress that had been made; and that Liberia would be supported by the French government, not only to that view, but also as the best means for suppressing the slave-trade, and introducing civilization and Christianity into Western Africa. In proof of his good wishes—upon my application for a few hundred stand of arms, uniforms, &c., for our militia, and a small ten-gun brig—the prince readily consented to supply the uniforms, &c., and said he would speak with the minister of marine respecting the vessel. On returning to Paris, the minister for foreign affairs remarked to me, I might feel assured that all I asked for would be granted. The minister of marine was absent, to return in a few days, and as soon as he can be consulted, I shall know definitely through the French embassy here. "With respect to my visit to London, I have continued to receive every attention from her majesty's government. I have had frequent conversations with Lord Malmsbury and Mr. Addington; and have had a long and tedious correspondence with them respecting Liberian affairs, and I think I have succeeded in convincing them thoroughly of the justice of the course pursued by the Liberian government toward British merchants trading upon that coast, and that the complaints which have been made from time to time by said traders are without just cause. "Liberia stands to day upon a better footing than ever before in regard to her foreign relations. I have accomplished much, and shall not regret my visit to Europe. The government have kindly placed at my disposal a vessel to take me to Liberia, and I shall probably leave about the 1st proximo. "October 20th. I have just received a communication from the foreign office, in which all my matters have been arranged quite
to my satisfaction, and upon the basis as stated above. Her majesty's government recognize the sovereignty of Liberia over
the points of coast which have been disputed by
British traders, and thereby relieve us from future difficulty on that score, and the greatest source of annoyance we have had to contend against for years past. "Very truly your obedient. servant, "J. J. ROBERTS." Some months before the date of this letter, Ben had decided, to Clara's great joy, on seeking the land where so many advantages awaited him. A letter he received from Junius, written at Mr. Peyton's request, and giving a plain statement of his father's situation, his own feelings and opinions about Liberia, and ending with a cordial invitation from both Nathan and Polydore, for Ben and Clara to make them a visit, and decide, after seeing the country, whether to return or remain, was the circumstance that had the greatest effect in bringing about this decision. Americus exerted all his influence against it; but when he found that it was unavailing, he generously offered to supply them with the means of returning whenever they wished to come. "I care more just now," said Ben, "about getting the money to take me there. I have not ten dollars in the world." "The Colonization Society will send us at its own expense," said Clara. "But what shall we do after we arrive? I suppose we must expect to go through the acclimating fever, and of course we can be earning nothing then." "The society will provide a house for us, and food, and medical attendance for the first six months, if we need help so long," replied Clara. "I would rather have something of my own to depend upon," said Ben; "how long do you suppose it will take us to save two hundred dollars. I would not like to start with less." "If you had as good a place," said Clara, "as you had when we first came here, we could do it without much trouble, but as it is, I don't see how we can lay by any thing." "Let us try," said Ben, "we may find it easier than it seems." Mr. Lyndsay knew the motive that had awakened Ben's long dormant energy, and encouraged him in his new course. After nearly a year had passed in constant efforts toward the attainment of his purpose, Ben confessed to Mr. Lyndsay that he was almost discouraged. Several things had been very much against him. One of his children had been ill, and his wife had been out of work part of the time. "He was afraid," he said, "he must be contented to live here all his life, making only enough to keep his family from suffering." "When Mr. Peyton returned to Virginia," said Mr. Lyndsay, "he told me that whenever you wished to go to Liberia, I mnight obtain the needful funds from him. But, in accordance with his wishes, I did not tell you of this until I had seen that you were so far in earnest in your intention that you were willing to practice exertion and self-denial in order to obtain it." This was cheering news to Ben, and he with his wife and children were soon prepared to take advantage of Mr. Peyton's liberality. "Mr. Peyton has sent through me three hundred dollars;" said Mr. Lyndsay to them the day before they sailed, "sixty dollars is considered a fair average by the society for the expenses of the voyage, and of the first six months in Liberia; so, as there are but four of you, there is more than you really need; but take good care of it, you will find it useful." Ben promised to act with the greatest prudence, and, with hearts full of hope, the family embarked for their new home. |