American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-03-31

w. ". Tiffany, 40 90
March IS, 1916.
STATE COLoNIzATIoN SoC1ETY.-FO Fourteenth
annual Report We have received the l4th
annual report of the Board of Managers ofthe
Maryland State Colonization Society. ltgves
a gratifying account of the increase and pros
perty Of the Maryland Colony in Liberia, and
affords conclusive proofof the final success Of
the great scheme of colonization, by which
Africa is to be civilized, and made Il happy,
prosperous and vrtuous nation. The exped
tion of the Society, which went out in No
vember last, carried but ii emigrants. This
was owing to the death Of the travelling agent,
which took place during the summer. His
place was supplied as soon as practicable, but
with no hope Of getting up the usual expedl-
ton. The Society procured from the Messrs.
Gardiner, ship builders of Baltimore, a COM
plete set of models and despatched them to the
colony, where the first vessel built in Africa
an elegant Baltimore Clipper" is probably
now progressing to completion under the d.
recton of Major Bolon, colored carpenter Of
FelI's Point, who, with his family, has deter
mined to take up his residence in the colony
The uncertain state of the relations between
Great Britain and the United States, has indu-
ced the Society to suspend, for the present, the
project of establishing a packet TO trade be-
tween Cape Palmas and the Chesapeake. The
tariff of the colony has gone into effect, and
accompanied by the warehousing system, has
given general satisfaction. The revenue de-
rived from it, for the seven months, ending
the LIST September last, was $500, making an
the State Society come to be included, of a.
bout 81, 100. The light house dues also form
an important part Of the revenue. The COM
merce of the colony it is believed must one
day become large and most important. Va
rious other matters of interest are contained in
this report, but we have not room now TO no.
tce them at large. We make the following
extract, however:
The military Of the colony consists of two
uniformed companies, one of infantry, and one
of artillery, we'll drilled and disciplined, and
an un-unformed militia which meets weekly
for the purpose of inspection.
The local government of the colony consists
of all agent and assistant agent, appointed by
the society, who hold their offices for two years,
"a secretary appointed by the agent, annual
ly, and a vlce-agent-tWo counsellors, regis
ter, sheriff, a treasurer, and committee on
new emigrants, elected by the people. There
are minor officers appointed by the agent. The
judiciary consists of the agent and two justices
of the peace, the latter Of whom are taken in
rotation from the body of justices, so that each
justice is made familiar with the performance
of judicial duties. A single justice of the
peace has jurisdiction, crminally, over minor
offences, and in all civil cases, where tie claim
does not exceed twenty dollars.
Male colored people are entitled to vote if
they hold land in their own right, or pay tax
of one dollar for the support of education No
one can sit on jury who does not know how
to read and write.
One of the fundamental laws of the colony
prohibits the use of ardent spirits. The emf
grants who founded it, signed the constitution
containing this provision before they left Anne
RIGA, and those who afterwards came under the
government which they established, were ne
cessarily bound by the law.
On the arrival of an emgrant in the col ony,
he receives five acres of land, and is allowed
to purchase as much more as he wants for the
purpose of improving it, at one dollar per acre.
Five acres may seem small quantity; but IN
the tropical climate and fruitful soil of Cape
Palmas, it is found to be abundant for the sup
port of the colonist and his family. Houses
are, in many instances, erected by the agent,
in anticipation of new emigrants, who receive
them at fixed price, which is appropriated to
the preparation of similar accommodations for
their SUCCESSORS.
In conclusion, it is proper to say, that all the
officers in the colony are filled by people of
color. This was step early determined on by
the Board, and which, results have most salts
factorily justified 1t has followed, at a later
day, and with the same success, by the Anne
rican Colonization Society, at Monrovia.