Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-13

| The following letter from President RoBERTs to
the Rev VIM McLAIN, Secretary Of the American
Colonization Society, furnishes the latest intelli-
gence from the Republic of Liberia, and will doubt
less be interesting to many of our readers
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,,
MoSRovIA, JANUARY 26, 1852.
| DEAR SIN: have just returned from exceedingly
fatguing campaign of twenty-five days in the Grand
Bassa Tobacconee New Cess, and Tradetown countries
where we have been chastse the perpetrators Of the
cruel massacre of number of citizens November
last at the new settlement Fshtown; and who
the 10Th of the month"; made desperate attack
the township of Bassa Cove, now Buchanan the part-
culars of which have already communicated to you.
/ find the barque Morgan Dix here, on the eve Of
sailing for the United Sates and, as you viii
be anxious hear from us and learn something Of
operations hasten to drop you line two say that
the campaign has beea emnenty successful, though we
have had contend against the combined forces Of the
districts above mentioned numbering at the lowest est
mate not less than FIVE thousand effective men. Our
force consisted of five hundred and fifty Americans and
about the same number of native troops. During
frequently attacked by small parties Of the
insurgents which, however, readily driven back and
dispersed On the 9th instant marched upon Grandos
barricaded town had made every warlike pre-
paration to receive and which place he and his de-
luded followers believed impregnable Within aboIffwo
miles Of the town, at most difficult swamp had to
he had constructed substantial breastwork which
was defended by large force Of about three times
number There Grando expected certainly to defeat u.s.
but behaved WELL and after action hour
and hirtyfye minutes, drove them out to
another strong position on the line of march and
the head of column cleared the heavy forst inter-
vening, they opened upon heavy fire. Thy were,
div and To
town, two miles distant, which they fired Immediately,
and dispersed with instructions, afterwards lerned
join Boyer Of Tradetown, who strongly posed
the southeast bank Of the New Cess river to dipub
passage Before reached the river however theNew
Cess chiefs, who had maintained their allegiance t the
Government had compelled Boyer to retire into hisgwn
district which he did very reluctantly committing nny
depredations he retired upon the inhabitants ofthe
New Cess country
/ In the two attacks above mentioned we had SIXTEEN
wounded five badly mortally From Grandos plsce
we proceeded through the Tobacconee and New Csss
countries without material nterrupton-now and then
few shots to remind Of what lay before u.s. had f
quen interviews with the principal chiefs Of the New Cess
country, all of whom are greatly incensed against
rando and Boyer and they rendered every assstancen
their power to punish them for their base conduct
Being joined the morning of the 10Th instant by
the I'd regiment which had been operating separay in
| the upper part of the Bassa country, we commnced
our march from Joe Vests town. in the New Cess oun
try, upon Boyers principal town. Between two and hree
o'clock in the afternoon of the day attacked
in front, when within about mile of the town. W snail
party, which fed into the town and sooner
advanced guard cleared the woods and lighted the
barricade than they opened upon tremendous file of
musketry and big guns The fire promptly returned
and for hour and the conflict was les
W. L.J 4
hand of Divine Providence on our sde and we go-
riously triumphed The loss of the enemy WIS very TON
siderable. Boyer had two brothers killed and himself
badly wounded We had four killed. and twenty seven
wounded two since dead the others will sll doubtless
recover.
exceedingly regretted the necessity of this campaign
but it could not be avoided. The effect will be
most sautary 1t viii convince the aboriginal inhabit
Of every part Of the Republic of the ability of the
Government to maintain the majesty of the laws, and
punish crime wherever committed within its Jurisdiction
And the result of this campaign will not only convince
the natives of the power of the Government maintain
its authority but also certain foreign traders toho haze open
y ncaeated feeling Of opposition among some Of our neigh
| boring tribes.
Will you believe it. sir that have obtained incontro-
vertbe testimony thata certain foreign trader has nst
gated the natives to the whole of these outrages He
personally solicited certain New Cess chiefs join Boyer
in his attack upon assuring them that if they would
unite their forces the Government could not maintain its
jurisdiction in which he would be relieved from the
Opefauon OF the commerce., revenue
Of the Republic, and in future would pafeem, in the
shape of presents, what he is requiN to pay the
Government for duties He also proposed to supply them
with all the ammunition they might require. With the
principal of the New Cess chieshe did succeedtwo
only pledged themselves him. To Boyer he gave every
assistance in munitions Of and directions to his
plans and preparations and of attack We may
yet get hands upon the gentleman and If so, will
4 teach him better manners
These difficulties have placed under great pecuniary
endorsements scarcely know which way to turn for
relief The soldiers that composed the expedition must
be paid They mostly men, and need every cent
for the immediate Of their families Can you not do
something for us in this time Of need !?
have further of Importance except the arrival
of Brazilian Charge Aaires who is to be formally pre-
| scented tomorrow
have written in great haste, and with frequent inter-
ruptons
am, dear sir mOstrespectfuly your obedient servant
| Rev. WM. McLAM. j. j. ROBERTS
| In the Liberia Herald of the 31st December we
have the Annual Message of President ROBERTS to
the Congress Of that Republic; from which we ex-
tract so much refers to its relations with other
countries, as follows:
feel particular satisfaction in remarkinp that nothing
has occurred during the past year disturb our amty
with foreign Powers In the United States the cause Of
colonization seems to be gaining favor and growing in
erest in that country in favor Of Liberia is everywhere
manifest We have cause, however, still to regret that
the United States Government has not yet seen fit to nc
not nsensble Of the cause Of this DELAY stl we
had every to hope and expect notwithstanding the
peculiar institution Of that country would have been
among the first extend friendly hand tn wei