The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-17

Liberia and slavery.
RrrurArIoH OF THE CHARGE OF LIEUTENANT
FORBES, OF THE BRITISH NAVY.

REruTATIOH THE CHARGE OF LIEUTENANT
FORBES, OF THE DRITfsH navy.
Ara meeting of the Executive Committee of
the American Colonization Society, at the rooms
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
exists in the Republic of Liberia, that the cit-
zens of that republic are largely engaged in the
:. buying and selling" of slaves, and that the
Republic of Liberia 90 is in reality new name
and form for slavery in enslaved Africa. ("
Whereupon, the Rev. J. S. BACON, ID. d., OF
the Executive Committee, and DIR. j. w. LU-
GrNBEEL, Recording Secretary Of the American
Colonization Society, were appointed COM
mittee to investigate the subject, and 10 report
a. the next meeting of the committee.
AT meeting Of the Executive Committee
held ON the 18th of May, 1851, the Rev. DR..
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 con-
sideration of certain statements which have re-
Gently appeared in the public prints respecting the
existence Of slavery in the republic OF
statements purporting to be from book lately
written by Lieutenant Forbes, of the British navy
have attended TO the duty assigned them, and beg
leave 10 offer the following report:
That from all the evidence which they have been
able to gather from the abundant sources within
their vesch-from public and private documents-
from the statements, both verbal and written, OF
persons Of the highest standing tor intelligence
sided in Liberia, and from the personal observa-
tons of one of the committee, Or. Lugenbeel)
who spent nearly six years ~ that country In an
official capacity prior to 1850, during which time
ne had the ampfest opportunities for becoming
fully acquainted with the condition OF that repub
lc and with tbs character and conduct OF its citi
zens they feel entire confidence in saying that the
assertion Of Lieutenant Forbes that slavery, the
buying and selling OF slaves, exists In Liberia, 10
utterly groundless.
Whether the statements which he has made on
this subject originated in ignorance, or prejudice,
or in Willingness, from interested motives, to de-
preciate thu government and people Of Liberia in
the estimation Of the British public, it is not for the
committee to detezsaine: it il enough for them to
be able to say-as they do from the fullest and
most authentic information on the subject-that
thsy are without the least foundation ip truth.
1t any formal refutation Of this unjust and IL
liberal charge were needed, the committee might
refer to the fact, that all the slave factories
tablishments which were formerly in full and sue
cessfuI operation within the territory now occu-
pied by Liberia, have been broken mp and de-
stroyed. Previous TO the settlement of the colony
Mt Cape Mesurado, the slave trade wns extensively
carried on in the immediate vicinity Of the Cape,
and II numerous other points along the coast roy
embraced within the limits of the republic. At all
Of these places il has been utterly aboliahed-not
yestigc Of it remains. This has been done through
the agency, and by this efforts of the Liberans in
some instances by the force of arms at the hazard
and expeose 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 important aid
from the armed vessels on the coast, but the work
has been mainly done by the Libcrians themselves.
One of the fundamental principles OF their con-
stitution as coony-afterwards 60 common,
n and lh.enu prflu nj n I'M
now is, Incorporating hostility to the slave |
trade, both domestic and foreign. This they have
always openly avowed; and the committee feel au-
thorized to say there is abundant evidence to show
that they have, at all tines and everywhere, car
ried out this principle to the fullest extent Of their
moral and physical power. Indeed, all the wars |
and skirmishes which they have had with the ma
tive tribes have arisen from their determination to
maintain this policy, at all hazards, and to exter-
inmate the traffic in slaves from every part of the
territory over which they could claim Jurisdiction.
And, in carrying out this determination, several
of the citizens Of Liberia have fallen, mortally l
wounded, in their contests with the natives thus
sealing with their blood their fidelity to this prin
ciple of their constitution.
The committee would here remark that, in break |
ing up these factories, many instances occurred in
which considerable numbers OF the miserable VIC |
Tins, who had been destined for the slave ship and
the horrors of "the middle passage" were rescued
by the Lberian authorities, and placed under the |
protection OF the government OF Liberia, They |
were treated with great kindness and hospitality |
received every attention which their necessities
CURED Those Of adult age were Immediately ad- |
mitted to the rights of citizens far they
capable Of exercising them; and the children were
committed to the care of respectable persons under
the customary legal forms of apprenticeship. until |
ehey should arrive at suitable age for enjoying
all the privileges of citizenship. Within four yeaTA
from the time the colony established lin is22)
more than two hundred of these captves were for
chilly taken by the Liberians from the barracoons
near Monrovia. all Of whom were liberated. and |
Vh thnv ~nr1ld
dom. Some of these still living, and, with 9TH
ers Of the same class, 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
enjoying the same privileges with emigrants from |
the United States-a large proportion of them mem
bers OF Christian churches, or scholars in the Sab
bath or day schools During his residence there,
about sixty captwea we're taken from slave fac |
tories at different places within recently purchased
territory One of these places was the famous New
Cess. which had long been noted of the prin-
cipal slave marts on the windward coast. With I
the aid generously afforded by the French war
steamer Espedon, this establishment was taken by |
ahe Liberian forces. and entirely broken up. All
the property belonging to the traders, who had pre-
pared for the most determined resistance, was de-
stroyed, and forty Slaves recapured and set at lib
erty.
In forming treaties with the native tribes, the
Liberian authorities have uniformly required a
solemn written stipulation, prohibiting the parties
dsom engaging in the slave trade, in any form, or
ouuer any circumstances whatever. More than |
forty such treaties have been made; and in this
way many Of the tribes in the interior who were
formerly engaged in it have been induced to aban-
don the trade altogether.
The groundlessness, as well as the reckless char
.acter of the charge made by Lieutenant Forbes,
will tc apparent from reference to the existing
constitution and Laws Of the republic of Liberia.
The foerh section Of the first article Of the cope
tuition reA,s thus: There shall be slavery within
this republic. Nor shall any citizen of this repub-
lie, any person resident therein deal in slaves,
either within or without this republic, directly or
indirectly" And, at the first session of the Legis
aturc, after the adoption Of the constitution,
was passed declaring the slave trade equivalent TO
p'rocy. and providing that any person who shall
engage in building, fitting out, equipping, load
lng, or otherwise preparing sending away any
vessel, knowing or intending that she shall be en-
pioyed In such trade, or any way aiding or abet-
ting therein shall be deemed guilty Of piracy, and