Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-12-08

COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

COLONIZATION SOCIETY
The twenty.fourth Anniversary of the Yer.
mont Colonization Society was held in the Brick
Church, in this village, on Thursday evening,
October 10Th. The Hon. Israel p Dana, Pres
dent of the Society, took the chair, at 7 o'clock
The meeting was opened with appropriate mu.
sic from the choir. Daniel Baldwin. Esq,
Treasurer, presented his report, from which,
and the accompanying statements, it appeared
that about $3.50 have been raised in Vermont
during the last year for the American Coloni-
cation Society, and this without the employment
of an agent. The Secretary, the Rev. J. X.
Converse, of Burlington, then read an abstract
from the Annual Report, showing what has
been done by the Society the last year with
brief sketch of the doings Of the Parent Board
in sending our emigrants, purchasing territory,
&c. The report contained an array of incon.
testbe facts from Gov. Roberts, from colonsts,
from missionaries and naval officers, illustrating
the generally good condition and progress of the
colonists.
The Rev. George W. Campbell, of Newbu.
nv, then led in prayer, after which, the Rev. w.
Mitchell addressed the audance in an appropri.
ate discourse on the history of slavery and its
remedy. 1t is expected that the discourse will
be published
At the close of Mr.. Mtchell's address, not.
withstadding the lateness of the hour, Mr..
Constantine, lately Baptist missionary at Edi-
ma, in Africa. was called OH to make some re-.
marks. 1t was known that Mr.. Constantine
was not friendly to Colonization, that he was a
jealous abolitonist, in the technical sense, both
before he went to Africa, and since his return,
and that he had been acting, during the day,
with the Liberty Party Convention, in the Free
Church Still, we all wished to hear what
Brother Constantine had 10 say having no fears
that the principles OH which the scheme OF
Colonization is based, or the facts by which it is
made TO commend itself to every candid and in.
teigent mind, could be shaken In compliance
with the special request of Mr. Constantine s
friends, he was called TO the platform. Mr.. c.
appears to be pous man, and to feel deeply
for the injuries Of the colored race. Yet it was
obvious to all that his views had received their
shade and cooring from the strong enlistment
of his feelings in Society which has seen fit
to oppose the Colonization Society. We took
brief notes, and shall present the substance of
his volunteer remarks and of his answers when
oss.examined. On the whole, his statements
commend Colonization to our warmest conf.
dence.
The substance Of his volunteer remarks, is
as follows -
LIST. Mr.. Constantine said when he first ar.
TNeu III <1ITICd, lie NISlteu NOHTOSld that tHc
colonies were then under Gov. Buchanan, that
the Governor called with him upon number o
families, that he found them living in affluence
and was very favorably impressed, but that he
afterwards learned that there was good deal Of
poverty and idleness, that he saw some of the
emigrants that were ragged and dissatisfied, ant
wished to return to this country, to the service
of their old masters. When cross. examined il
appeared that Liberia has some lazy and shift
less persons, such as are TO be found in every
community.
3D. Mr.. Constantine said, that Gov. Bucha
nan told him, that when he succeeded to the
government, he found some of the colonsts en-
gagged in making shackles for the slave ships
Had this statement and his remarks npon i,
passed without questioning, it would have lef
the impression that this ,oas done openly,and with
the appreciation of public sentiment and of the
colonial authorities.
Cross examined. do you say that the colo
nsts openly assist the slavers, and make shack
les for them!
Mr.. c. mo-
DO you say that backsmiths in the colon
make shackles with the appreciation Of the col
onial government or Of the public sentmen
of the colonies =
| Mr.. &. mo, l do not
Did not the persons referred 10 make shack
les in defiance of public sentiment, and fc
large gains, just as some persons in this countr
keen tipping ship for gain !
Mr.. c. Il suppose they did,
Do not the colonial authorities do what the
can to hinder and break up the slave trade !
Mr. C. They profess to do SO, and | do nj
know but they do
Mr.. c. went on to state that there is still on
slave factory on the 300 miles of coast to whc
the name Liberia is applied But on bein
questioned, he stated that this one factory
not on the soil Of The colony, nor within its j.
rSdlction; but upon territory still owned by
, native chief-which the Colonization Society
now striving to obtain the means of purcha
ing. Thus from the testimony, it appears III
there is but one slave factory now, where the
were perhaps twenty before our colonies we
planted there.
3D. As it has been said by the opposers
Colonization, that the colonisfs reduce the n
! tives to slavery, Mr.. c. was requested TO spc
! on that point.
;, He said the young natives, from ID to
;. years old, generally do the work of the col
r nists; that they are treated with great deal
9 distance; and their religious instruction is ne
. lec,ed that while most of the adult colon
y are members of the church, and attend chur
s. very constantly on the Sabbath,the native you
I. people are not brought to the house Of G'
is nor instructed in the families in which tn
IT live.
,e Cross examined. But does slavery exist
., the colonies
~ Mr.. c. mo, not exactly. The native you
~ people do most all the work and are not trea
s. as they ought to be-
nc DO they not receive wages!'
MrC. 'Yes.'
How much do they receiver
Mr.. C. "They receive their chop, q.
tr their rice,) their cloth (cIo,hing) and in az
10 ton to this, what costs the colonlsts perhaps
= dollars, Il. c. for yearC
~ But do not these natives enter and lie
10, 10, the services of the colonists just when t
.m pleaser
ess Mr.C. yes they do
e., Thus endeih the lesson on colonial slav
VI The sum of the whole is, that the colon
''o hold slaves in Liberia just as we hold slave
-. Vermont; l. e. we and they hold-hired hel
,oi who come ana 60 when they please. -.
ieu 4. What is the influence of the colonist
Use Use respect to cvizing the natives and facilta
w" the work of missions
iii In answer, Mr.. C. went on to state tina
arc did not receive all that support and aid from
colonists in his missionary work which he