Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-11-25

York Alta meeting OF the Boaru VI MahaseIs
held September 18th, 1835-on motion, IL was
Pe,oived, That a committee be appointed 10
PROFOUND questions on the state OF Liberia u MT.
Williams. Vice Governor, and Mr.. Roberts, High
Sheriff of the colony, for the purpose OF obtaining
Messrs. G. r. Disoway, Thomas Bell. and
H. " Garretson, we're appointed to constltu'e
that Committee. Extracted from the minutes.
Ira B. UNDERHILs,
Recording Secretary"
Pursuant to the foregoing authority. the under
stoned met in the city OF New.York on the 17th
of September, 1883, and on request, Messrs
Williams and Roberts were in attendance, with
view 10 the object expressed in the above reso-
luton. ~. a.
The Committee now present to the puo'ic the
following as the result of the examination:-
MIR. Williams stated that he had resided al
Liberia. with the exception Of one visit to Amer
lea before the present, ever since the year 1925;
and Mr.. Roberts, that he had been there ever
since 1928, until his recent departure tor th's
country. They were both natives OF Petersburg
in Virginia.
The first question propounded was IN relation
10 the sale and consumption OF ardent spirits IN
the colony, and. It was inquired whether me re,
mort was true that 400 bbs. OF ardentspirits nau
been annually sold there, or in any one year!
.Ans,perNit is not true-there has never been
any thing like that quantity sold there IN any one
year since il was settled. There are not more
than three stores in the colony that retail ana
thew cannot sell BY less quantity than a gallon
on penalty Of $50 Tor the first offence, and doa'
Bile that SUN for every subsequent offence
Ouestioa-Are there any grogshops in LiberIas
.4aswer-There is not one in the Colony.
Ouesiion-How many confirmed drunkards
does il contain! :
. .8nsuer-I know Of only ia o in the colony, IN
pooulation of between three and four thousand.
II il rar. to see any man there the worse Tor IL
ouor: and there are comparatively little ardent
shirts drank in the colony. 1t is rather place
of deposit, where it is held, until 1t is disposed OF
in trade to the natives and others. lIcence TO
sell ardent spirits. at less quantity than ga''
Ion is $500, which amounts to prohibition, Tor
the sales would not warrant the expense
Ouestion-Is it Tact that MIR. WarIns'
Missionary, deals in ardent spiritsT
.4aswer-Mr. Warng is not missionary
He is large commission merchant aud Prooao'y
receives consigIments of that article. Her also
lay preacher and useful magistrate anu 'a'ua'
BILE citizen.
Ouesiion-What is the general state OF morals
in the Colony?
.Answe,-It is good. There has not been a
cap,tai offence committed there from the hrst.-
There is very little profanity. gambling. or other
vires. The Sabbath is much more respected
there. than here. -,
Ouestion-to Mr.. Roberts. What are the
oficia, duties that devolve upon you as High She
riff of tie Colony!
.answer-Prlncrpally to arrest Tor debt, and
ret,y ,hefts, and keep order in the Courts.
Questionable YOU find difficulty in the dis
charge IT those duties!
.Ans,cer-None. There has been no riot II
ttbe Colony for the last three years. nor any resist
ance 10 lawful arrest. | might say, not cross
word. There is nightwatch established lo
greater security.
Question TO Mr. Williams. )-IIave you :
trader
| .9nsuer-I am a shoemaker.
Ouesiion-Have you been successful at Libe
rial
.ansuer-I have made more there in three
Years. than should probably have made here 10
all my life
Question-What are the facilities afforded Ii
lemigrants! =.
.6nsoer-If the emigrant settles in Monrovia
he has a building lot assigned him, and also
Ties in the country, he has fifty acres of land
aud is entitled to deed Of it, as soon as he shall
have built permanent house upon it, and 60
two acres under cultivation. Lands may be pur
chased at the distance of three miles from Mon
rovia at fifty cents per acre. aud within that dis
lance they are generally worth dollar per acre
I 0uesiion-Do the inhabitants turn their at
tentlon to agricultures
yansver-Less than could be wished. They
are more fond OF trading; but when they do tarn
it they are successful. | knew OF one tar"
fromwhich between forty and fifty dollars worth o
produce was sold. besides supporting the family
and another which sold between too and thre
hundred dollars surplus.
Quesiion-What is the character Of the Crane
Bassa?
.a,,srer-It is an agricultural settlement.
J Ouesfion-What are their productions?
.4nswer-Thev raise rice, corn, yams panta
ton. cassada. bananas. squashes, melons. Gu
cumbers aud potatces-both Irish and sweet
the latter of which grow particularly we'll
Questionable you mean that they raise III