Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-02-16
Far M enquirer.
LAGOON, NO VII.
LhOUOO.NI ANC VIZ
To The Honorable The Members Of fke House Fl l
and nf fha SANTA nj YirnInin.


To Tie Honorable The Members Of tke House Fl Dsegates
and Of thu Senate # Y,rg,Hid.
The PUBLIC SENTIMENT OF Virginia, on The sub
Iect Of African Colonization has long been une-
quivocaI and we'll defined Her Legislature IN
Dec. 1900, adopted resolution in secret session,
requesting The Governor, James Monroe, 10 cor
respond with The President Of me United States,
Thomas Jefferson, 10 procure lands in Africa or
some other foreign country ior this purpose. The
first resolution on record is daird Dec 81 1900.
A second more definite and foil, ofthe same inn
poft was passed on January l6h, I-02 An
uner, sill, Feb 3, ls04-iullowed up by sill an
other Jan. D, 1905; in whica lasI, the Scna ors
and Representatives If Virginia, in Congress, are
instructed 10 USE their efforts 10 obain from The
General Government "a competent portion Of
Territory in the country Of Louisiana" for COLO
Ming oar ice people Of color.
In Dec, lSl6, again The Legislature Of Vir-
sinia passed The following resolution viii .ui
nine discerning voices in the House Of De,caa,es
ana one in he Senate:
"Resolved, That he Executive h. requested 70
correspond Guh tho Presidtn ofIhe United States,
for he purpose ui ob,aiHine a territory on The
coast OF Africa, or a, some other place, not with.
IN any q. the States 81 Territorial Government
~ he United Safes Ia serve tor An asylum lof
such persons OF color as ale now free, and may
iesire me same; and for those who may be eman-
tipafl. within his Commonwealth; and that inc
senators and Representatives Of tins State in tn
Congress ol the United SAFES, b. requested TO
exert heir best efforts 4 aid lie PTesi oi The
Unitei S'alcs in The attainment OF the above ID.
I,cls."
C1lemrofaneousiy viii these measures in The
Virginia Legislature bnl lew weeks aller III
foregoing res ~:on, The Amerkan Colonization
-y,I in fhp nj .shi
though the agency 81 Gen. Chas +. Mercer
who Wa The mover o! ihc Virginia resolution, J
and other noble Vlrsinlans before mentioned
Through he personal -Seriions oi;ne same gen.
I.mhn, aided BY F. S Key ot Georgetown, Rot
Ell Puv,ance 81 Baltimore, aud Bishop Meade
VI Virginia, a subscription o! S5U00 was Obtained
to detFay the expenses ct Me>.rs Mills and Bur
cess who were EMPLOYED 10 explore the coast "
Africa in order 10 select q suitable place for The
proposed colony.
The Colonization Society was formed in the
city Of Washing on, December u, 1876, ant
Bu>hIfi Washington was appointed President
with thirteen Vice Presldrnls-eishi Of whom
we're Shareholders, including h. Clay VI Ken
tucsy, VIA. Fl Crawford OF Georgia, John Toy
ior OF Virginia, Andrew Jackson ot Tennessee
and Gen Mason OF Georociown, ID. G, and a
board OF twelve managers, all Of tic District u
Columbia
| Al he msering which effected his orcaniza-
ton, The speakers were Henry Clay John RAN
doIph, Z. B. Caldwell, AM Robl. Wright III Ma
rylaId. The Board OF Managers were insiruc-
lcd 10 pfescu; memorial 10 Congress on The
subject OF coionizins, with their own Consent
the free people Of colo. Of the U. States in Africa
or clsewher"." This duty was ally and faithful.
| " executed by he Board, and The memorial wa:
\ presented py Mr. Randolph, referred to com.
miltee who reported iayorably, concluding with
joint resolution for immediate action. While
! peieci unanmiIy seemed 10 prevail other press
ing Business pteyeniei he resolution from being
called up'rt ina session On The 18th OF De.
/ cember, 1921, Capt Richard F. Stockton and DR.
:; Ayres, under authority Ct the U. S. government
and The Society, effected purchase OF a tract q
land for the colony on which Monrova now
stands, and thus commenced The african Colony
| in fact, which was contemplated in all the fore
going resolutions Of the Virginia Legislature
and which vas the germ OF what, 10 its flower anc
ruit, is the republic OF Liberia, and which now
invites 10 all the privileges and protection Of q
Tree and well constituted government, The free CO.
lored people of Virginia aud her sister States o
This Union.
Again in 1923, The Legislature of virsi
mia had the subject OF African Colonization before
them, and appropriated $4,000 to aid in peopins
Liberia with our own Tree coored population
The law making This appropriation has never
been repealed, and may, therefore, be regarded
perhaps, as wanting nothing but another action
o. Inc Legislature providing The ways and mean:
10 make il available; and 10 equity with an add.
ton OF interest now equallins the principal. All
these several resolutions and enactmenls have