Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-02-22
VOL. XIII, NO. 15.---wHOLE NO. 221o.

tives, and it is estimated that no less than
2 1000, 900 ofpersons in the interior now OBJ
tain their supply of European goods from
the Republic and from the kindred colony
of Cape Pamas. Last year 81 foreign vcs-
sells visited Liberia, and exchanged merch-
andise for articles of African production to
the amount of 100000.
The population is upon the whole we'll
disposed to work, and the rate Of wages per
day is about Is. sterling. 1t is an extraor-
binary feature Of this part of the coast, that
horses and other draught animals will not
live, and hence every kind of transport ex-
cept that upon the rivers, is performed by
manual labor. Much of the camwood which
is exported from Liberia is brought dis
lance of 300 miles on mems backs. 1t is
seen, however, that this difficulty, which
appears great one at first, may have the
effect not only of inuring the people to la
Dor, but of stimulating them to every kind
of mechanical contrivance by which it may
be overcome. The climate of Liberia, al
though more healthy than Sierra Leone, is
still deadly to the European; but the inn
provement it has undergone during the last
ten years from the effect of clearing, drain
] ing, &c, is stated to have been remarkable
| The colored immigrants from America who
used invariably to suffer from fever on their
arrival, are now able to 60 to work at once.
The duration of life amongst the colonists
| is considered to be about the same as in
| England.
AT Monrova, the port and capital, the
population amounts to about 9000 A large
portion of the territory has been accurately
surveyed, and is sold in sections by the
government, at from SOC. to 81 per acre.
The government of the country is precisely
on the American model, consisting of a
President, Vice President, Senate, and
House of Representatives, the number of
members in the former being six, and the
latter %. The possession of real estate to
the value of $50 is the electoral quallica-
ton. The revenue, which last year was
about $40, 900 is derived from an ad calo-
rem duty of six per cent. on imports, and
the produce of land sales. Ardent spirits,
the use of which it is sought to discourage,
form an exception, and are taxed at % cents
per gallon. The principal trade is carried
on by barter, but there is small paper cir
culation of about 5000 redeemable on de-
mand.
The organization of the Republic as an
independent State took place in July, last
year, hen Mr.. Roberts. who had formerly
acted as Governor under the Colonization
Society, was elected President. Speaking
of his qualifications, Commodore Perry OF
the United States Navy, says in report
to the American Government, dated in
IS44 -
"Goveri,er, Roberts, of Liberia, and
Russworm, OF Cape Palmas, are intelligent
and estmable men, executing their respon-
sible functions with wisdom and dignity ;
and we have in the example of these two
gentlemen irreiragable proof of the capabil-
ity of colored gentlemen to govern them
selves"
While, with regard to the advantages OF
the Colonization Society, he adds -
$50 far as the influence of the colonists
has extended, it has been exerted to sup
press the slave trade. Their endeavors
have been eminently successful, and it is by
planting these settlements, whether Ameri-
can or European, along the whole extent OF
coast from Cape Verd to Benguela, that the
expectation of slaves will be most elfectually
prevented.