New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-01-20
The Colonization Aaniver.ary-Iienry Clay in
the Chair-His speech.
Editorial C0fTosponlence.


side at the Annual Meeting Of the American Col
onizsiion Society this evening hes doubtless con
tribated " swell considerably the number OF stran
gers in the City and it was early evident that the
Representatives Hall and its spacious galleries
would be crowded. / accordingly was at the en-
trance considerably before o'clock, but found the
open approaches and stsircases crowded; and
when the doors were opened at halfpast six the
crush was tremendous. There had been some faint
ing already among the ladies' in waiting: afterward
the pressure and movement left no fair opportunity
but number backed cat Of the struggle and went
home We who persevcred, however, were gene
rally borne at last into the Hall, which was crowded
10 its utmost capacity and those who attempted
to enter 1t after the FIRST rush found no place for the
soles Of their feet, and were compelled to join the
long and melancholy procession Of the dsappoint-
ed who were going away. have rarely seen 50
brilliant and compact an auditory.
Precisely at Mr.. CLAY entered the Hall among
the officers Of the Society and was enthusiastically
greeted, both in entering and on taking the Chair
Prayer was offered then the Secretary, Rev. MIR.
Mclean read the Annual Report sketching the
history and achievements Of the Society and the
progress Of its Colony Of Liberia, which has re-
Gently become an Independent Republic The
Report seemed good one, though rather long, and
was excellenty read but the disquiet and impa-
tience Of the crowded auditory forbade an intelli
gen. hearing.
Hon. WIN. L. DAYToS, Senator from New.Jer-
soy, followed in brief strong sensible Speech, in
which the objects and effects Of Colonization were
very forcbIy commended. 1t would have been
rlora buf fbsan na
siness of the crowded assembage did not permit
it to be well heard. trust fair though necessa
ry condensed report of it will reach you with this
Mr. CLAY next rose, and was received with rap
turous acclamatons | shall not attempt TO follow
his argument. which | trust 10 fairly reported Tor
The Tribune and will be forwarded herewith; but
/ will allude TO some of its main points. Pre-
missing that tho manifestations Of friendship had
allowed him no moment for preparation since he
lefl Kentucky, he remarked that the Colonization
cause had been assailea from two exactly opposite
srounds-as the ally and as the enemy OF Slavery.
These opposite dcnunciatons Indicated the fact
that Colonization did not propose TO interfere IN
any manner with Slavery, but simply to improve
the condition Of Colored Frcemen. 1t had no re-
spect To abstract views Of the rights or wrongs Of
n very large class OF Free Blacks existed among
us in a state OF degradation and that in no
part of our country were they admitted to n
real Social and Political equality with the
Whites The consequences OF this degradation
on their morals and happiness were obvious and
deplorabe, What was to be donel Colonization
replies, Restore them to the land OF their fore
fathers, where they can certainly enjoy the bles-
sings denied them here" II neither contends nor
Interieres with any who propose, by other means,
to better the condition of these people. II 1t be
an object TO prove the fitness of the Blacks FOR the
exercise and enjoyment OF Political rights, 1t would
seem that the establishment of en- Independent Re
public OF Africans would be hailed with accama-
tons by all who feel an interest in their welfare.
Vet the Colonization cause has been constantly sub
iected to a fire in front aud another in the
ssssiled as seeking to abolish and as seeking per.
petuate Slavery when In truth its object was Who'll
ly apart from either individuals have indeed IA
vored it ON grounds connecting it with Abolition,
aud again with the perpetuRtion OF Slavery bat is
/, fair to Judge such cause by single motive of
some OF its advocates There is in truth no incom-
patibility between Colonization and either of the
objects alluded to, neither is there any identity.
Mr.. Clay referred to the argument that this Is
the native country OF the Blacks, aud that they
ought not to be exiled from it, But so was Egypt
the native land Of the lsraetes whom Moses led
out of captivity was the wilderness that OF their
immediate descendants but the Promised Land
was their real home. So Of the Blacks But we
have nothing to do with their removal to Liberia
except by their own choice.
The Liberians have carried with them the bes.
sings Of Christianity and Civilization They are
now Missionaries Of both in a region where they
are greatly needed They are probably more ell
Gent than il they had been sent there expressly
Missionaries. With less than 5000 people, they
have already twenty five places of Divine worship
which arc attended not by themselves only. but by
many original Africans also. Their humanizing
and Christanizing influence appears TO be steadily
on the increase, and they already in possession
OF moro than 800 miles " the sea.coast
The facilities OF emigration 10 Liberia are very
great-probabiy greater than to any other point at
which such colony could have been established.
For fifty dollars emigrsnt may be sent thither
and supported for six months. This aud the neces
sity Of doing something for benighted Africa had
originally determined his voice in favor Of planting
the colony there rather than on our own continent.
II is said that the growth of Liberia has been
slow and its present condition is feeble But com
pare it with others commenced under like circum-
stances which have been deemed successful.
jamestown, Virginia, the earliest British settle
ment within our borders, when seventeen years
old had cost tl5o 900 sterling had had 900 i'm
migrants. and yet its entire population was bat
1000 Plymouth Colony. the cradle of Msssschu.
sets lost half its inhabitants during the first six
months Of its existence, and lspgushed for wears
bat now where is the community which exhibits
greater enterprise thrift than that FIRST planted
on Plymouth Rock
But il is said that the Blacks will never 20 10
Africa in considerable numbcrs-that they are in
hexibly averso to it. Bat why is /, that such
rnynais Of European emgrants are hocking to
our shores Is it not 10 obedience to tho law Of
their na,ure-in tho pursai: of Political and Social
sqsty-in the hope Of bet.ering their condition as
4 sincerely trust they may aud 90 Aud why