The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-16

delphia,) both upon the District society, anu u'e
undersigned, which, but Tor the zea' 'l'ahnes'eu
If the editor be It's author, he has departed farther
than we could have expected doubtless without
reHec,ion) from the principles thai govern vlrtu-
ons men. Publications OF this kind not only re-
fleet discredt upon their authors but lnfiict deep
wounds upon any cause which they are ostensbly
designed TO defend. They weapons that be-
tray those who handle them, and seldom used
bur by those who have no better. Of the motives
and reasons that induced the gentlemen who
compose The society of this District to adopt their
presen, constitution, add nothing to what has |
been already said; theyneed no defence OF nine,
as they are entirely competent and prepared to
answer for themselves. In the article alluded to-
they are charged with "usurpation of power"
while in fact they have power, that of truth
and reason excepted, aud merely exercise The
perfect right of the humbest CITIZEN IN the eX-
preston of their opinions, and IN extending to
others who may think with them, an invitation
to co operate in their work of Philanthropy. The
writer of this article, after denying that the
" circumstances assigned" by the District Socie- |
ty were such as to create necessity for the reSig
nation Of the undersigned states, in effect, that
the Board of Directors of the A. c. Society was
induced Qor reasons which he conjectures) to
conform to general usage at the election of It's
officers in 1874. Accordingly, I've quote his
words,) while making Mr.. Gurley Corresponding
Secretary as heretofore, it left his name and that
of the Treasurer out Of the Executive Committee,
in which, but most irregularlg, it had been per-
mitted to figure" 1t is unfortunate for the edi-
tor OF the Herald that the truth happens to be ex-
aCt!y the reverse of these assertions, and that in
the exclusion of the Secretary from the Execu-
tive Committee, the Directors conformed not to
general usage, and that the name of that officer
had mol at any time been I" most irregularly'' or
"irregulary' at all on that Committee. Ii the
nom IF ovc1ap Acoo 10
tended, it is shown on pages 24O and PAT of the
Mission to England-that of twenty six distin-
gushed societies of the kind in the United States
and England-in twenty-five, by constitutional
provision, the Secretaries and other officers are
er-o6iciO members of the Committee of Direction;
that In one instance they are elected every year
to that position, and that in the three others,
(poss!bly with one exception in which case these
officers have both the right to speak and vote in
the Board Of Drectors) the practice is probably
the same. II by general usage be meant that of
the American Colonization Society, then say.
that, up to February, 1889, the Secretary of that
Society was from its foundation by the constitu-
ton ex-Officlo member of that committee; that
change effected at that time, on this point in
the constitution, and in the position Of the under
signed, compelled him to tender his resignation,
but that since his reelection on his return from
Great Britain, the usage of the society to 1874
concerned to the provisions of its original consti-
tuition. Unless then, to place the name of the
Secretary where the constitution of the society
has placed it, or the vote of the Directors has
placed it, be irregular, this name has not rregu-
Iarly at any time, figured on the committee .
In regard to the character of the paper guilty of
these misrepresentation, venture to quote the
words OF one OF the purest and most eminent phi
1anthropIsfs OF the age Under date of Decem-
Der 4th, 1913, he remarks " But | observe in
the Columns OF the Colonization Herald, cufren-
cy given 10 statements SO inhuman, such papable
perveison of reasoning from statistics, that /
have felt doubtful whether could CONSCIENTIOUS
ly retain an ostensibie connexloD with body OF
whchsthat paper is The organ. observe more
over such reiterated manifestations of captious |
hostility to England, that, although am by no
means blind to her many faults, ! must enter my |
protest against any such articles, or withdraw |
from society which, protesting good will to
men, does not refuse to SOW the seeds of discord
between nations. allude to articles having
titles to the following effect: "Aggressions of
England, and containing, not the proposal of
any remedy tor the evils, if they really exist, but
the kindling of hostile feelings, or the tanning of
the flame, If it already burns
may, IN conclusion, be permitted to saw that
my confidence IN the plan of African Colonial
tion in It's wisdom, its praclica bleness lis vast
ness and moral grandeur, and its final success
for the relief OF two races and two continents is
unshaken..~< tendency is to unite the people of
the whole Union In efforts for the highest good
of the African race. Its great nstrumentalIty is
the establishment OF fee, independent State of
colored men on the African coast. May its friends
derive encouragement from the past, and consi-
der the special reasons that now urge them TO
renewed and higher exertions | am by no means
of the opinion that the American Colonization
Society has fulfilled its destiny, and that by State
action alone should its enterprise in future be
conducted. We are welded to no theory on the
subject, but will it not be time enough los esii-
mate the relative advantages of National or State
action, when popular sentiment towards the
scheme, in any particular State, shall make it
clearly evident, that, in such State, separate, in
dependent action will be sustained.
Iha, time is not yet Gn Maryland excepted)
but all may unite to render prevalent right OPT
nlon to build up and extend the free Christian |
institutions OF Liberia, to secure from the Gene
raj Government due measure of aid and protec-