Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-13
20 tile Honorable tie General assembly of Virginia
TIE MEMORIAL OF THE COLONIZATIOT
SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA

Il i NDlJONtZAilON
SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA.
Your ucI.oridiist,, having found their e NOR
applications received with favour by other Icgis-
atures, your own predecessors, have been encou-
ragged 10 solicit the attention of your honorable
body to this their representation, and such aid as
that representation shall seem fairly to establish
their claims to, IN the opinion of your honor able
body.
1t cannot be unknown 10 any member of this
Legislature that the American Colonization Socic
ty sprung originally from certain resolutions almost
unanimously passed by the Virginia Legislature in
the year 1916; those resolutions promising the ur
gent eXpcdIcney of getting rid in some way of the
free colUured population Of the Union, proposed
the plan OF forming Colony the African
Coast: thu: plan was adopted by the parent So
clcty and has been steadily pursued since their or
ganlzation Immediately after the plan was propo-
sed) up to The present time. Auxiliary societies
were formed In many parts Of the United States,
and CO operating earnestly with the first, have pro-
secuted he original design with unprece-
dented, your mcmorialsts believe, in the annals of
Colonization. After encounier,ng, although in
lighter degree, the usual difficulties and hardships
OF new settlements, that OF Liberia contains now,
two thousand coIonists more, and may alrea-
dy be regarded placed beyond the reach of acct
dent.
Could ii be at all necessary for the information
OF your honorable body your mcGnorialists might
say much upon the Furnishing STATE and more
upon the brilliant prospects OF this extraordinary
settlement. Some facts detailed in the last annual
report of the American Colonization Society, may
be sufficient to give general idea of the prospcrj-
ty OF the Colony. In illustration of the compare
lively great, and rapidly growing commerce of
Liberia the fact is mentioned that during the last
summer, live square rugged vessels at ono
time in Monrovia harbour. Several small vessels
are owned by the colonists, and constantly engaged
in traffic along the coast. Many of tha cmigrants
nave already, in the course of few years, rem
dered their circumstan ces easy and independent.
schools have been established, and educa lion is now
IN met I'm al
morcial nature, is maintained with many neighbor-
ing tribes; and the peculiar relation of the colony
to one tribe in particular, goes far TO prove that
the most sanguine hopes of the projectors were at
least not Extravaganza consequence of esta-
hiishng this settlement, Ii consequence important
indeed to the cause Of outraged humanity but sup
posed to be far removed in the distance was, its
expected influence IN suppTcssiuE the slave trade
Proscrlbedb by all civilized nations, but openly prose-
cUicd under every flag. The tribe referred to-
harassed increasingly by those engaged i'm this
dotcstabIo business, did at last actually place it's
sell under the pro- sction of The Colony thin its
limits, and under its government Miucling with
the people OF Liberia, adopting their mode Of lif.
and destined soon to be completely asyinilatcd if
not identified with them, this barbarous com
nunity may even now bc looked on rs an import
ant accession 10 the strength Of tho Colony.
Many other tribes have shcwn a disposition
to follow the example thus SGT them. But while
these details shew the improved condition Of
those coiouTcd persons who have been AREA
dy removed, they do not present the view on
Which your mcmOrillists wU1ld mainly -cly for
the success Of their application. However
gratifying to the members Of your honorable
body the contemplation may bo OF this Colony
considered as the trophy of humanity, TO the ewes
OF the Delegates, in their legislative character The
cmigrants must still appear but as two thousand
free blacks wi lrawn from the station in which
they annoyed the white irecmen Of our country
Laying apart all appeals to your natural feelings,
as mem all considerations Of what possible or pro-
bable benefit may result to the African savares or
to the emigrants what gain to the cause of civil
cation, or triumph to the kinder aspirations of hui