Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-01-16
From TIE National Intelligence.

or the annual Meeting of this Society, held
on Monday last, and its proceedings, an account
has already been presented 10 our readers, ma
nv of whom probably, may take an interest In
the following further notice Of the Proceedings
on that occasion.
The Annual Report, read 10 the Society, was
Of the most cheering nature, and calculated to
afford great satisfaction to the friends oil the 90
ciet, The new system Of Government organ
lied in the Colony, on the return OF Mr.. Ash
nun from the Cape Verd Islands, has resulted
in most beneficial effects, and will, at least tor
a considerable time, further all the purposes OF
its institution. The progress Of improvement
in the Colony, has answered the most sanguine
expectations. The schools which have been
established have been Of great utility, and one
on the Lancasterian plan is about TO besput In
operation. There is striking improvement
in the religious character of the Colony The
labors of the Rev. Lot Carey, missionary, Ia
descendant Of Africans have been very eftica-
cious, and religion has received deeper and
more general attention. The territory has
been Increased BY the purchase of tract OF
country between Mon,serado and st. Pauls,
which is under the jurisdiction Of the Society.
The deed of sale has been transmitted to the
Managers, and the transaction has been con-
Quoted on both sides with perfect good faith
The region thus acquired is OF most fertile
nature, elevated twenty feet above the river =
Specimens of Afric an produce have been receiv-
ed from the Colony. Coffee and cotton grow
spontaneously; indigo and the sugar cane have
succeeded, and camwood and mahogany grow
there, probably teak wood also. The death OF
our late fellow citizen, +. B. Caldwell, was no.
ticed, and fine eulogium passed on his cha
racter.
The Managers propose, it appears, no devi-
alton from the original purposes OF the Society.
The amount of money received for subscrip-
tions and donations, since the 10th of March
last, is about 8 10, ooo-more than double what
was received during the preceding year, and
three times the amount of that which was re-
ceivcd in the year before that.
One Of our Reporters, who was present at the
meeting, has furnished US with the following
sketches of the substance of the remarks with
which Mr.. Filzhugh accompanied his mo-
ton.
The motion of Mr.. F. it will be recolected,
was 10 appoint Committee to apply to the
General Government for aid towards the object
Of tie Society, &c.
Mr.. Wm. H. Fitzhugh, of Virginia, then
rose, and said he should submit to the conside-
ration Of the meeting series OF resolutions
which were designed TO explain, as far as reso-
buttons could do, the real character and designs
of that institution whose anniversary they were
now assembled to celebrate. An explanation
like this was at all times desirable, but much
more SO at the present moment, when they had
succeeded at length in drawing the atten-
ton of considerable portion of the public
TO their operations Their scheme had become
the subject of Legislative consideration in up
wards of three-fourths Of the States composing
the Union, and very general expectation was
prevailing throu ghout the country, which was
NOT to be disappointed, that they were now
about TO take step, which, from the beginning
they had announced it was. their intention to
take; to ask the assistance Of the government OF
the country to this great enterprise. On such
an occasion, he thought 1T was tit they should
appear i'm their real character; II was due to
themselves 10 remove the imputations which
had been cast on them by ignorance and preju-
dice, and il was due to the country to make
full, fair, and candid exposition of the real OBJ
iects at which they aimed, and the means ne
cessary to carry those objects into execution
He should have felt very happy II the duty OF
making this exposition OF the views OF the So
ciety had fallen on some more able member;
but circumstances had thrown it on him, and
he could nor feel justified in shrinking from
the discharge Of this duty, FROM any personal
considerations; but he considered himself only
as pioneer to open the way for others, and to
lead to a discussion which would strengthen,
and increase the exertions Of its friends, whilst
it would, at the same time, allay the opposition
which it had sometimes experienced even from
the liberal and candid.
The Society certainly had reason to congra-
tulate itself in the progress it had made in pub
lie opinion; they could not be insensible to the
fact, that, whilst making this progress, which
had far exceeded his anticipalions. they had en-
countered in almost every section Of the country
opposition and objections. Whilst in the South,
they had been denounced as mischievous as
sociation, designing to violate those rights and
obligations which slavery has created, imputa-
tons equally ungenerous aud unfounded had
been thrown out in the North; and it was almost
impossible for the Society, Notwithstanding
every exertion which the Society had made, aid
ded by the regular annual meetings, by the re-
ports, anc by the valuable paper which vases
tablished last year, to make their way to every
corner and recess Of this country. These OBJ