The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-16
Message Of President Roberts to the Senate
and HOux Of Representatives.
Condition and Prospects OF the
New Republic,
Mc Arc A.

Gennemen0 The Senate and House Of Representatives.
1t is with the greatest pleasure that again meet
you in this session of the Legislature The great
purposes Tor which you have assembled are-hrst
the redress of public grievances; and secondly for
making such laws the general good may require
Therefore, the lsbors in which you about to
gage are of the most important nature and lie at the
very foundation Of the future welfare and happiness
OF the people OF this republic.
In the various and constantly changing avocstions
OF an INDUSTRIOUS and intelligent PEG pie IL may often
become expeaient either TO make laws modify
or repeal old ones-and for this the constant recur
renee OF our elecesns provides by bringing from all
parts OF the republic legislators, who have learned
from the people themselves the practical operations Of
old laws, and the necessity ct enactins new ones.
affords me unspeaksbie satisfaction TO be able to
inform you that during the past year our beloved
country has been greatly favored and blessed An
unusual degree Of health has been dispensed to its
Inhabitants In no previous year has greater atten-
tion been paid to agriculture and the earth has re-
warded the labors the husband an with abundant
harvests; the commercial operations of our msr-
chants have been greatly extended Indeed the pro-
gress OF general improvement, throughout the
public, was encouraging than at the pre-
rent time. Nothing Of a very serious character has
home the friendly relations subsstng between this
government and foreign powers or the nati1 Tribes
In the midst of these blessings hovsvers the govern
me mt have not been altogethsr exempted from per-
picking dificulties and embsrrassmsnts.
Gentle rcen-I have the honor TO inform You that
since your last meeting the territorial limits Of the
government have been considerably extended. On
the northwest pting about ten miles Of sescoa
the political jurisdiction Of the republic extends to
the entrance OF the river She Bar This jurisdicton
com prehe nding the notorious Gslnas-has been
regularly and formally ceded to this government
by the native proprstors. The native title to the
soil OF several OF there tracts has been extinguhed
the dee de for which will be laid before
gotiations are pending for the extinction OF the
spprshend great difficulty In bsing1abls soon, to
bring these negotiations to favorable tel nination.
The principal dcuiy hitherto, has been tbs want Of
FUNDS TO meet The large advances demanded by the
chiefs am happy to sta e that this EN- Embarrassment
has been partially removed By the Liberia packet In
last the Secretary of the Treasury received
from Rev VIM. McLain Secretary and Treasurer Of
the American Colonization Society an invoice Of mer-
amounting to three thousand eight hundred
and thirty four dollars to aid this in the
purchase OF territory This assistance lie very oppor-
tune and Places US under ,enswsd obg.t.n to the
No time shall be lost applying this amount to the
purpose for which it was granted beg, also to state
Eco ure London for $500 Of his which bill
he writes me, will be honored
The acquisition Of the political jurisdiction
those territories is exceedingly important nasmuch
as 1t ehectualy atolshes the slave trade from this
part OF the African coast and psbes the government
TO extend wholesome and benehcial inhusncs over
the tribes inhabitiug them And am happy In being
bic 10 inform the Legislature that tho influence Of
among the aborsines Of this district And not only
these; there evidently great and Important
luton commenced In the condition OF whole ma
tive population which is now rapidly going for ward
and only needs the part of the prompt
and encouraging measures tor promoting their civi-
zstion TO raise them sPs, Oily to respectAbilty and
usefulness
more rapidly at present than at any previous time.
There are more instances Of industry among
sn,n every + ss,d to be said ssa; natives eau
sbundsntiy disproved this opinion. There are now
numerous instances among them, Of very lsborious
industry. Some Of them not only provide Sbua-
dant pply of food for their by the labor OF
their own hands, but have surplus Of several hun
dred bashes of rice with which and sundry articles
Of commerce they In the habit Of collecting they
procure their supply Of foreign manufactures And
there can be no question that the current is setting
more strongly In favor OF agriculture and other labo
rous pursuits now than any pre- vious period Not
ding these encouraging appearances however
pie generally can reach the proper standard Of rational
and immortal beings
according to the Law Of nations this, government
holds jurisdiction over territory 3rfsing at the
lowest computation, over two hundred thou.and Of
the aboriginal inhAoit nts who almost In total
ignorance Of God his law and the plan OF salvation,
and whs also to be taught nearly all the useful
branches of human knowledge.
In this view OF the subject, may not ask
selves, gentlemen, what do owe them, and what
are our duties In reference to them In civil aud
hsieos light! This government has assumed the
guardianship OF these pershing thousands and they
have claims upon ofhigh them and to
our own character ghtened ustand Christian
they undoubtedly entitled TO expect that We viii
DO s in our porer TO impart to them the blessings OF
eivilizston and religion. They are entitled As oiti
Iens Of this government for such they TO Justice
In all dealings wth them TO education In the use
full arts and sciences and in the principles aud duties
Of the Christian religion. In word they have right
expect, and to receive from our civil and religious
communities combined that sort OF educ alton and
training which will raise them ultimately to the en-
JOY menf OF all the ble sings OF civnato rights
and privileges OF reemen make the useful citi-
zens OF THE republic THIS conceive 20 be the pre-
else object OF the government. And II we fulnl not
these duties which groS naturally out OF our oonn co.
ton with, and relation to them cannot avoid the
imputxtons-which, by the way, have already been
falsely charged against u,-of IL justice unkindne a
and upfaithfulness to them.
The chiefs Of several tribes within our jur,sdotion
have sntly expressed to wish to have
mssionar ies and school, established pso-
pie Who, they anxisus to receive nstructton
And there Is nothing TO prevent tbs sending Of
missionaries aud the esablishm OF sohoos exoepf
what results from the want OF pscunisry m.sns I
Guilty viii be removed and that the present generation
may have lights kudles In all their borders and that
generations TO come may be saved from the dark
and wrttcksdness OF their fathers.
You are not ignorant, gentlemen, OF the attempts
which have recently been made By some Designing,
bad men, to create discori and jealousy amons the
natives, and to incite them TO insubordinstioa And
regret to say that, In I've instanc-. they sue
zee led too we'll and at one time created little
eern for the preservation OF the authority and influence
In reference TO the natives th. government unaues
tonabiy should be, In it, nature, kud and mild but
rrm and absolute Laws and r.susii ms must be-
formed TO meet their advancing state and which
,hould rsrove the perpleIing aud provokisg differ
enees which 30 extensively exist bet.ssa various
vii hinder for many years, the progress OF every
effort which may be made for their bep.at
Another evil, perhaps equally destructive To the
natives and equally necessary to be provided against
by proper laws and regulations L. their intercourse
With unprincipled civilized II MAJ employ the term,
men sho WRIT them for the purposes Of trade. Many
Of the natives complain, and justly toe that the
morsl OF their youth corrupted By bal Foreigners
= Of which have cad proofs veil also. by some
of our own people Who trade With them, This is veil
known iact and the cause Of incalcusbls injury 20
the natives and seroufly retsrds their civilization
Az would hope 10 promote their welfare this evil
mut In way BY the -i-don Of the Legislature be
removed II can be zone sfI.ctuslIy in way, and
In vsy only; and that IT, a. recon ndea to the
Legisla:ure q former occsion, that the govern
m, nj rpo.e and regulate the manner Of
ing trade with the natives"
J. therefore earnestly recon mend that In future all
trading estsblisknents connected With the natives
thall be made In reference 20 the innusnoe which
there sablirhmsnts are expected TO exert over the
natives, and that they be sde 10 bear "a Don every
nsasure which may be put In operation Tor the civil
moral and Intellectual I'm Of the natives