The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-11-08


portance in relation to the movements of the republic
OF Liberia" The following are extracts:
Extract Of letter from Lieut. Commanding Bell TO Com
Read dated U. s. brig Boxer, Porto Praya, Oct. g.
ION my arrival at Monrovia the 10th ut., found
that the colony of Liberia had proclaimed itself indie
pendent nation, under the of the Republic of Liberia
enclose copy OF letter which Gov Roberts addressed
to me, to apprise of the dignity of his
enclosing printed copy of the declaration of their indie
pendence"
In letter from the same same date and port, Lieuten
ant Commanding Bell gives account of his cruise
He had overhauled an American brig (the j. w. Hun
tngton) the night of the 3st August owned in New
York, from Rio Janero, with the usual assorted slave
cargo board, and lumber enough for slave deck He
was informed ALSO that the Malaga had precisely such
cargo, except the lumber. The American brig "Sena-
tori boarded in March last, out from Rio with such
a cargo, and similarly chartered The master of the
w Huntington reports that she he SenatoT now lies scut
tied in Rio Having safely landed 500 slaves at Cape Fro
she proceeded into Rio under Brazilian coos where her
owners suffered to strip her of all her furniture,
and then the government seized her a no-document
vessel-the American having left her at Loargo,
where the slaves taken on board
"In these transactions (says Lieutenant Commanding
Belly you perceive the mode in which the American flag
covers and promotes trade which other flag can, and
the base uses to which applied by foreigners who have
not the manliness to vndcate the freedom of their
"The American factory at this place is the principal
ding establishment under the American flag on the south
coast there being branches of it, Ambzetto and
at Loango owned by Messrs. Boorhows IL Hunt Salem
Massachusetts, who said be doing fair business in
ivory, "copper" and ebony that house sends out from
six to eight vessels annually"
From the same source | understand that upwards of
thirty American vessels annually feghed from Bra
I'll by Brazians to the south of Them as is
well known, taking return cargo of slaves under Brazilian
coors, their American first leaving them But the
of them believed leave the carrying white
passengers only"
This is shameful traffic, and ought if possible to be
arrested Will not the republic of Liberia be one of the
most important agents for efecng this object at some fu
ture, though it may be distant time May not furnish
only harbor, but facilities for supplying any vessels
that may be employed for REFRESHING the trade, and
of her own, for this purposes AS she strengthens
and improves her lown resources, she will furnish more
inviting habitation and resting place for the free men Of
color who will be emancipated in the United States and
she may come to exert greater degree of moral
force the continent of Africa to restrain the ali
ments of the slave trade and give the African mind and
manners wiser and liberal direction The pres.
en position of Liberia will lessen the idle eaousies
which England has entertained of our relations to that
country and lead her to treat them with more confidence
and more kindness
We understand that Governor Roberts, to whom Lieu
tenant Commanding Bell refers, was born in Norfolk and
lived afterwards in Petersburg, Virginia He is described
10 us as intelligent and well-behaved man, who has
exchanged many civilites at Monrova with our squad
ron.
We have the constitution Of this new republic before
u.s. 1t fills more than columns of printed sheet
1t opens with rapid historical sketch of the establish
ment and the prosperity of the colony, which concludes
with the following appeal
Therefore in the name ofhumanity, and vrie and
and Judge, appeal to nations Of Chris
tendom and earnestly and respectfully ask of them that
Grafton Which the peculiarites Of our condition ente
and to extend to- US that comfy which marks the friend
Next follows the declaration Of rights-many of them
copied from the State constitutions of the United
States 1t is well to copy few of them for the edica-
ton OF the American reader:
"Au power is inherent in the people; all free govern
men are instituted BY their authority and for their bene
their safety and happiness require it.
AN men have a natural and unalienable right
without obstruction moesaton from ohers all persons
demeanlng Peaceab and not obsucng others
law in the free exercise OF their religion, and
Of Christians shall have exclusive privileges preference
religious test whatever shall be required qualification
for .. civil office or the . exercise of any civil right
|
three distinct departments the Legislative executives and ju-
dical and belonging of these departments
shall exercise any of the powers belonging either
others This section is not to be construed include JUS
tees OF the peace.
The liberty of the press essential to the security of
freedom in State ought not, therefore, be restrained
In this republic The printing press shall be free to every
person who undertakes examine the proceedings the
Legislature any branch of government and law shall
ever be made Equestrian the rights thereof. The
muncaon Of thoughts and opinions is of the invaua
BILE rights OF man; and citizen may freely speak,
wrte and print any subject being responsible for the
abuse of that liberty.
In prosecutions for the publication of papers invest
eating the official conduct Of officers in n public
capacity or where the matter published is proper pub
lie nfomaton the truth thereof may be given in evidence
And in all indictments for bes the shall have
determine the law and the facts under the direction Of
the court as In other cases.
Article ed regulates the Legislative powers" The
legislature is to consist of two branchesa house of rep
resenatives and senate:
"The representatives shall be elected by and for the in
habans OF the several of Liberia shall be
apportioned among the counties Of Liberia as fol-
ows the county OF Montserrado shall
tves the county of Grand Bassa shall have three and the
county oil since shall have and all hereafter
that shall be admitted into the republic shall rep
resenve, and for every thousand inhabitants rep
resenative shall be added No shall be represent
alive who has resided in the county whole years
immediately previous to his election and who shall not,
when elected be nhabant of the county, and
real estate of not less value than hundred and fifty
dollars in the county in which he resides who shall not
have attained the age of years
tves shall be elected benniay and shall serve two wears
from the time of their election"
"The senate shall consist of two members from Mont
serodo county, two from Bassa county, from Since
county, and from each county which NAV be
shall a senator who shall not have resided three
whole years Immediately previous to his election in