The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-21
Liberia and slavery.
R.futation Of The charge If Lieutenant Forbes,
of The British Napg.


Of said society, on the LIST of May, 1851, the at
tention Of the committee was called to publ
cation in the newspapers, from work recently
published by Lieutenant Forbes, of the British
navy, entitled .Dahomey and the Dahomans,"
| in which he states that domestic slavery" ex-
lists in the republic of Liberia, that the citizens
of that republic are largely engaged in the "buy-
ing and selling" of slaves, and that the republic
of Liberia is in reality a new name and form
for slavery in ensaved Africa" Whereupon,
the Rev J. 8, Bacon, D. d., of the executive
committee, and Dr. J. w. Lugenbeel, recording
secreti ~ of the American Colonization Society,
were appointed committee to investigate the
subject, and to report at the next meeting of the
committee.
AT meeting of the executive committee,
held on the 18th of May, 1851, the Rev. DIR.
Bacon presented the following report, which
was unanimously adopted, and ordered to be
published under the signatures Of the executive
committee:
The committee to whom was referred the
consideration Of certain statements which have
recently appeared in the public prints, respect
ing the existence of slavery in the republic Of
Lberia-said statements purporting to be from
4 book lately written by Lieutenant Forbes, of
the British navy--have attended TO the duty as.
signed them, and beg leave to offer the follow
ing report:
That from all the evidence which they have
been able to gather, from the abundant sources
within their reach from public and private doc
uments--from the statements, both We, bal and
written Of persons of the highest standing for
intelligence, honor, and truthfulness, who have
visited or resided in Liberia; and from the per-
sonal observations of one the committee, CDR.
Lugenbeel,) who spent nearly six years in that
country, in an official capacity, prior to 1850;
during which time, he had the ampest oppor-
tunities for becoming fully acquainted with The
condition of that republic, and with the charac-
ter and conduct Of its citizens; they feel entire
confidence in saying that the assertion OF Lieut..
Forbes that slavery, or the buying and selling
of slaves, exists in Liberia, is utterly groundiess.
Whether the statements which he has made
on this subject originated in ignorance, or pre-
iudice, or in willingness, from interested mo-
tiyes. to depreciate the government and people
of Liberia in the estimation ofthc British public,
it is not for the committee to determine: it il
enough for them to be able to say-as they do
from the fullest and most authentic information
on the subject-that they are without the least
foundation in truth.
If any formal refutatien of this unjust and
illiberal charge were needed, the committee
night refer to the fact that all the slave facto-
ries or establishments which were formerly in
full and successful operation within the terrific
nv now occupied by Liberia, have been broken
up, and DESTROYED Previous 10 the settle-
ment Of the colony at Cape Mesurado, the slave
! trade was extensively carried on in the immedi-
ate vicinity of the cape, and at numerous other
points along the coast now embraced within the
limits of the republic. AT all Of these places il
| has been utterly abolished: not a vestige of it
remains This has been done through the agen-
cy, and by the efforts of the Liberians-in some
| instances by the force Of arms, at the hazard
and expense of life-in others by the moral and
/ social influence of the Liberian settlements IN
the neighborhood of the factories. II is true,
that in some few cases, they have received im-
portant aid from the armed vessels on the coast,
but the work has been mainly done BY TIE Lii
berians themselves.
| Ono Of the fundamental principles Of their
constitution as colony--afterwards as CON-
monweath, and subsequently as republic
was, and now is, uncompromising hostility to
the slave trade, both domestic and foreign. This
they have always openly avowed and the CON-
mittee feel authorized to say, there is abundant
evidence TO show that they have, at all times,
and everywhere, carried out this rincpe TO
| the fullest extent Of their moral and physical
power. Indeed, all the wars ana skirmshes
which they have ha6'with the native tribes, have
arisen from their determination 10 maintain this
policy, at all hazards, and to extermnate the
traffic in slaves from every part Of the territory
over which they conld claim jurisdiction. And
in carving out this determination, several Of the
citizens of Liberia have fallen, MORALLY wounded,
i'm their contests with the natives: thus sealing
with their blood their fidelity TO this principle
Of their constitution.
! The committee would here remark, that, in
| breaking up these factoris, many instances oc
CURED in which considerable numbers of the
| miserable victims who had been destined for the
slave ship, and the horrors Of 'the middle pas
sage" were rescued By the Liberian Authorities,
| and placed under the protection ofthe government
| Of Liberia They were treated with great kind.
ness and hospitality by the people-were sup
ped with provisions, and received every atten-
ZION which their necessities required. Those OF
4 adult age were Immediately admitted to the
| rights of citizens, so far rs they were capable
of exercising them; and the children were con-
mitted to the care of respectable persons, under
the customary legal forms Of apprenticeship.
until they should arrive at suitable age for
cnoyinr all the privileges Of citizenship. With
in. four years from the time the colouy was es-
tablished, lin 1929 more than two hundred Of
these captives were forclbly taken by the Lber
4 ians from the barracoos, rear Monrovia; all Of
whom were liberated, and placed where they
could enjoy the, blessings Of freedom. Some of
these are still living, and with Others of the same
class, are occupying respectable positions in the
republic Dr. Lugenbeel, while residing in
Liberia, had personal Knowledge Of numbers of
this class Of persons; all Of whom were emf ying
the same privileges with emigrants from the
! United States--a large proportion Of them MEM
hers of Christian churches. or scholars in the
Sabbath or day schools. During his residence
there, about sixty captives were taken from slave
factories at different places within recently pur-
chased territory One Of these places was the
| famous New Cess, which had long been noted
as one Of the principal slave marts on the wind.
ward coast With the aid generously afforded
by the French war steamer Esped on, this estab-
! lishment was taken by the Liberian forces, and
entirely broken up All the property belonging
TO the traders, who had prepared for the most
determined resistance. was destroyed, and forty
slaves recaptured and set at liberty
In. farming treaties with the n1tive tribes the