Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-02-29
COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

hIueFlCail quietly lOl COlOnlZUlS TIC nCC
people of color of the United States,
was held at Dir. Laurie's church, in this
city, on Saturday, January 9Th, 1890.
The meeting was opened by the fol-
lowing address by the Hon. BUsHRoD
WASHINGTON, President of the Society ::
81 meet you, gentlemen, at this the
third anniversary OF the Colonization So
ciety, penetrated with gratitude to gra-
cious Providence for the success with
which he has been pleased, thus far, to
crown our efforts, to realize the humane
views of It's founders.
Ifmuch yet remains to be done, we
NAV, nevertheless, look back with salts
faction upon the work which has been
accomplished and may, trust, without
presumption, indulge the hope, that the
time is not far distant when, by means of
those for whose happiness we are labor
ing, Africa will participate in the ines
Unable blessings which result from civ
ilization, a knowledge of the arts, and,
above all, of the pure doctrines of the
Christian religion.
IL w ao IlOt W NC CAPSCtCd tiial XII NC
cisive measures could be taken for Civ
ing effect to the great designs which
were contemplated, until such necessary
Information had been obtained, as would
enable the Society to mature its plans
with wisdom, and to execute them with
effect.
1t was to be discovered, whether a
suitable district for the establishment of
the proposed colony, could be obtained
in that country to which all eyes were
directed. The sentiments and wishes
of those who were the objects of our
solicitude, were to be ascertained-the
public mind was to be enlightened; and
the cooperation of our fellow-citiz
secured, by satisfying them that the plan
OF the Society was both wise and prac-
ticable; and the power, the aid, and the
patronage of the national government,
were to be sought for and obtained
The report made TO the last meeting
of this Society, by the surviving agent
who had been commissioned to visit AT
RIGA for the purpose first mentioned,
must have satisfied every impartial mind,
that territory of country upon the west
coast, sufficient in extent, and unexcep-
tionable as to the fertility of its soil, the
healthiness of its climate, and the album
dance OF its present products, to supply
the first wants of the colonists, may be
obtained upon the most reasonable terms.
The report of the Board of Managers
made to the same meeting, confirmed,
as it now is, by particular and extensive
inquiries since prosecuted by the re-
spectacle agents employed for that pur-
pose, and by Information received from
other authentic sources, afford the moot
satisfactory assurances that men of i'm
proved minds, and estimable for their
moral and religious principles, may be
selected from the free people of color
in the United States, who are not only
willing, but anxious, to become the
founders of the proposed colony. The
difficulty will not be to obtain emigrants,
but to make, from among the applicants,
judicious choice of persons worthy OF
becoming the first settlers, and the best
fitted to conciliate the friendship of the
natives, and to make the necessary pre-
parations for the reception of their future
fellow citizens.
The solemn declarations of the Le-
gislatures of four respectable states of
the Union, that it would be expedient for
the general government to procure a
territory on the coast of Africa, for the
establishment of such colony-the nu-
merous Auxiliary Societies already
planted throughout the different states
the warm expressions of appreciation of
the plan and of the views of the Society,
addressed to it by the heads of the
churches of different denominations as
well as the sentiments of many of the
best of our fellow citizens, which have
at different times been communicated
indicate common feeling, favorable to
the scheme, and honorable to the views
of the Society, and afford a. pleasing ear
nest OF the willing cooperation of our
fellow citizens, whenever the same may
become necessary.
To the judicious measures which have
been adopted and pursued by the Board
of Managers, and to the jealous exer-
tions of some respectable members OF
the Society, is to be attributed, under
Providence, much of the success which
has hitherto attended us. These gen.
tlemen have justly entitled themselves
% the thanks of the Society, and to the
gratitude of those for whose happiness
thcy have generously devoted their tai
ents. and M inconsiderable norton o]