New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-01-20
Meeting Of the Colonization Society.
By Magnetic Telegraph 70 the Philadelphia y. AIncTic


wAsHIScToS, Jan. $50 O'Clock.
The annual n Getting of the Colonization Society
attracted all the world Of w ashiDgton the Capt.
tol this evening. Al . o'clock every avenue to the
building was thropged and at O'Clock many
thousand persons had assembled exceeding any
previous crowd witnessed here Soon aiterward
the lower door was opened TOR the admission OF
ladies, and p few squeezed their way through the
mass and entered.
when the doors were opened for the crowd the
rush was tremendous and several ladies' tainted
from alright. A voice from the ladies' gallery,
calling order created much merrlmsnt At half
past six O'Clock the whole interior OF the ball was
one mass-the crowd vas so great that 4 number
Of the windows were broken by the pressure.
At quarter Of o'clock Mr. CLAY entered ard
took his seat amid the general acclamatOns OF the
multitude At O'Clock the meeting was called 70
order and listened to prayer from Rev. Mr.. Nc
CLAM. The Secretary then proceeded TO read the
annual report. II expressed gratitude for the Di
vine favors which had contributed 10 increase the
benefits resulting from the Association. After al
ludng TO the early members Of the Society, many
Of whom had gone. it was remarked that the most
distinguished were nov present when the reader
was interrupted BY renewed applause
Mr.. DAYTON spoke at considerable length in an
address to Mr. CLAY, on introducing him 10 the
meeting.
Mr.. CLAY rose and spoke for nearly an hour
He was received with tremendous cheers aud IRE.
quently interrupted by applause throughout. He
commenced by a reference 10 bis long journey and
said that those who had come with the expectation
OF hearing an elaborate and prepared address
might have saved themselves the trouble OF coming.
He said il was thirty one years since he had At
tended the first meeting OF the Society, and pro-
ceeded 10 point out its objects. aud the success
which had attended its efforts.
They designed merely the establishment OF a
colony TO which free persons of color could 90 AZ
their own free volition. Ii was not intended to In
teffero at all with the rights of the STAKEHOLDER
They act upon the fact that whites aud blacks could
live together ia state of sqnelity Thar "tect
WA to send them wherethey could enjoy the social
and political privileges which We enjoy.
Those who choose TO avail themselves Of the OPP
portunity. might, at their own pleasure colonze M
Africa and demonstrate 10 the world the practical
bility Of emancpatng the whole black population
OF this country, without interfering with the inst
tuition of Slavery-to demonstrate the practicabi
ity Of colonization that il might be taken hold Of Ia
the respective States ia the constitutional manner
so far as the authorities OF the States the dspo
stion OF individuals might dictate. 1t had been
said that this was the country Of these colored per
sons and they should not be sent to Africa.
The same might be said Of the lsrselites IN
4 gypt aud in the wilderness; and as Canaan was
their promised land. so was Liberia now to the
coored population of the United States. Those
who had established the Society foresaw that good
was 70 result, aud had not been disappointed.
The advantages of religion, the arts Sc. were
pointed out in their progress in Liberia. The prsc
tcability Of transporting all the black population
OF this country 20 Liberia asserted, and Africa
presents to them the most inviting home. The i'm
migration into New-York OF foreigners annually IS
equal the increase Of the black population in this
country. All great enterprises have small begin
nngs.
The progress Of the Colony in Liberia during the
last quarter Of q century was described in glowing
terms, and the speaker closed with eloquent I'D.
dress to the Society. he said be had come at their
solicitation and had thrown out these hasty remarks
to crafty wishes that Seemed almost irresistible
The present officers Of the Society were reelected,
and the meeting adjourned.