The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-17

Amerioan CoIonixetton.


London, designed to promote the emigration of
free persons Of color from the United States 10 Ii
beria-also 10 increase the steam navy and 81 ex!
tend the commerce of the United States"
The objections Of the N. Y. Eosning Post are az
follows:
|. That the contractors will make profit of
200 900 on building the ships, they propose TO
charge the government 100000 each for them,
being SOC, 900 more than Collins's ships for the
New York and Liverpool trade have cost.
2. That the contractors ask for 'revenue priyi-
eges not enjoyed by any other shippers on the
globe" as they require to be permitted to dis,
charge the products OF both countries Liberia and
the United staes in their respective ports, free OF
duty"
s. That the only advantages to be derived by go
vernment from the contract are the right "to take
any Of these ships for public purposes, on paying
their cost and ten per cent commission" the
transportation of few letters TO and from Liberia,
and cheap and rapid communication with that
country.
L. "That no provision whatever is made for the
transportation Of mails, and that contract
will have TO be made hereafter with the company
for that service, upon such terms as may then be
agreed upon"
g. That there will not be sufficient number of
emigrants to Liberia to warrant the establishment
OF a line of steamers TO touch Mt that republic.
As 20 the first four objections. they all found
cd upon misapprehenslons OF the iacte. Most OF
the errors are TO be accounted for by the circun-
stance that the Erening Post thought fit to assume
that the report of the committee echo of the
memorial of Judge Bryan and others, and 80 pro-
cecdcd to criticise the report and the bill without
seeing either, or Icing apprized OF their contents
Unfortunately for the accuracy OF the Post the
port of the committee and the memorial differ
from each other in the most essential particulars
for whereas, the latter spoke only of line of
steamers TO run to and from Liberia, the naval
committee recommend n line TO ran to the mouth
of the Mediterranean, and thence To the principal
ports of Spain, Portugal and France, returning to
the United States via London and bringing the
Hence
remarks OF the Post about the Libcrian mail bags
fall to the ground
With respect to the first objection, the u.s.
that the contractors cannot make any profit what
ever out of the Government in the building Of the
zhips, for the simple reason that they to build
them at their own expense, and repay the Govern
nent with interest whatever advances may be
made to enable them To complete the contract.
Az to the presumed cost Of the ships Icing
third higher than that of Collins's il is to be oh
served that the proposed ships are TO be at least
one third larger than those employed on the New
York and Liverpool line.
AS to the second objection, the committee ex-
preasly report against the privilege demanded on
these terms
"The committee do not recommend the accept
ance of the proposition of the momorialists that
they shall be permitted to import the produce Of
Liberia into this country free Of duty; on the con
trary, II Ia believed 10 be better, for obvious
cons, to enter into ouch stipulations, but TO
fine the remuneration, whatever il may be, to di
rect payment of money"
The reply to the third objection is that it i'd in
correct in point of fact. But the principle adyan-
tage to be derived by the Government Is the trans
portation of the mails from southern Europe,
France, and England, which the Post altogether
overlooked. Nor is il correct to say that the Gov
eminent, upon taking any of the chips, is to pay
their cost and ten per cent. commission. On the
contrary, the committee recommend that the Sec.
rotary of the Navy shall have the right to take
them con paying the value thereof, such value not
exceeding the cost to be ascerained by appraisers
,l,C a h..
tors"
The fourth objection is also incorrect in point of
fact The report expressly mentions the carrying
OF the mails and Government agents.
Not only has the Ecening Post Numbered and
misrcprcscnted the whole affair." but il bas actually
experimental so far upon the gullibillty of its
readers, as TO try TO make them believe that the
promoters Of the project controlled the election OF
Speaker of the House OF Representatives. packed
the Naval Committee. and caused Mr. Webster to
make his celebrated specch in the Senate on the
1th of March last, IN which he expressed hls vii.
ingness to support scheme of colon zation, to be
carried on by Government, and TO incur almost
any degree of expense to accomplish that object.
As to the fifth and last objection, have been
specially called upon by the Euening Post TO an
swer il, and do by quotation from the report
Of the committee, which the Post would have done
well to study before venturing its attack.
[" That the free negroes of the United States will
be induced TO go in large numbers TO Liberia, II
quick and pleasant passage by steam yessels be
provided, and suitable preparation be made for
them on their arrival by the Colonization Society,
cannot admit of any doubt.
"The funds of that society, augmented probably
twenty.iold, will then be available, almost cxciu-
sively, for tho comfortable establishment of the
emigrants in their new homes, the expense Of
transportation chargeablc 20 the society being
merely nominal
at is estimated that there are not less than
100000 free colored people in the several States,
and that the annual increase therein of tho black
race is 10000 per annum. With respect 10 slaves
who may hereafter be manumitted, doubt such
nianumission Will almost in every instance be up
on the condition that the parties shall avail them
selves OF the opportunity OF cmgrating to Liberia.
Tho committee do not propose that tho emil
grants should be landed in Liberia and then left 10
their own resources Liberia is at present incspa-
BILE OF receiving and providing shelter subsistence
and employment for any great number of emf
grants who may land there in a state OF restitution
IL has been the practice, heretofore, for the Cooni
cation Society provide for the coonists whom they
have sent out, for six months after their arrival,
and the cost of such provision has averaged 30pcr
head, in addition TO the cost Of transportation.
"a large amount OF money will he required To
settle the coonists, in tho fret instance comfort
ably in their new homes Dut there is doubt
that II the Government establish the proposed line
OF steamships, the people of the different States and
the State legislature will at once turn their attcn
ton TO the subject of colonization and that large
appropria tons will he voted and liberal collections
nlnde, in aid Of that object The State Of Mary
land has already appropriated and laid out 1000
lately appropriated ) 10000 per year for the same
purpose. But these sums are magnificent in com
parison To what may be expected If the Govern
mcnt shall give its high sanction TO the colonial
ton of Africa, and provide the means of transpor
tation by line Of Steamship In that event, the
whole mass of tho people, North and South, who for
the most part do not appreciate the rapid progress
and the high capabilities Of Liberia, viii quickly
discover the vast importance Of colonization, and
will urge their representatives to adopt measures
adequate 70 the exiceHcy OF the case ard the mag
nitude OF the enterprise.
'There is good reason 10 anticipate that import
ant assistance will be rendered TO the cmgrants
not only 10y the missionary societies Of Europe but
also by those governments which have taken an
interest in the suppression Of the slave trade, and
which dosrous Of opening channels for their
commerce and marts for their manufactures on the
western coast Of Africa.
II is estimated that by the time when the fret
two ships 10 be finished and ready for there
will be large body Of cmigrants ready 70 take
passage in them, and that for the next two years
each ship will take from 900 20 500 passengers
each voyage, or from 5000 to - 900 in each Of
those years. To furnish each family intending 20
devote themselves 90 agricultural pursuits with a
dwelling house suitably furnished, and piece Of
land Of sufficient extent cleared and planted, to-
gcthcr with tho necessary agricultural implements
and stock Of provisions, WILL II Is calculated cost
the society shm equal to $40 or s. 30 per head for