Weekly national intelligencer., 1853-03-26


association society for the purpose Of giving aid
and assisting the colonization Of people Of color in
Resolved That an association or society be formed
purpose Of collecting information and 10 assist in the forma
ton and execution Of plan for the colonization Of the free
people Of color with their consent in Africa elsewhere as
be thought most advisable by the constituted authorities
Of the country
Four days after, at adjourned meeting, the first
constitution Of the American Colonization Society was
adopted and New Years day, 1917, the following Off
GERS Of the society elected: gal
President: Bushrod Washington Vice Presidents
William H. Crawford ofGeorgia Henry Clay Of Kentucky
William Phillips Of Massachusetts, Henry Rutgers of New
York. John f. Howard, Samuel Smith, John 9. Herbert
of Maryland, John Taylor Of Caroline Of Virginia, An
drew Jackson of Tennessee, Robert Ralston, Richard
Rush of Pennsylvania John Mason OF the District OF Co
lumbia, and Rev. Robert Findley Of New Jersey.
Immediately after the organization of the society," the
following resolution adopted
esoped That the President and Board of Managers be
they hereby instructed and required present me-
mortal Congress the subject of colonzng with their con-
the free people of color of the United States Africa or
elsewhere"
The memorial here referred to was signed by Bushrod
Washington president Of the society and was on the
14th of January 1877 presented to Congress will read
two extracts from this memorial in order to show TO the
Senate that the great who originated the plan OF
African colonization were influenced by high national
and that the final and grand object OF their
patriotic enterprise the establishment OF Tree natona
in Africa the successful result OF which, ater
forty years of labor my resolution intended to acknow
ledge and proclaim to the world The memorial says
Your memoriass delegated by and highly
respectable association Of their feowcizens recently orga
nzsd the Of Government to solicit Congress to aid
with its power the patronage and the the country
great and beneficial object Of their insttuonan object
worthy Of the attention. and Of the strenuous
and perseverng exertions well of patriot in what
condition Of life of every enlightened phanthropc
Your memoralists beg leave with al deference sug-
gest that the faires and inviting opportunities
presented the General Government for repairing great
evil in social and political institutions, and at the same
for elcvatD low and hopeless condition. numer
and rapidly increasing Of mem who wantnothng but
proper theatre enter upon the pursuit of happiness and
Independence in the ordinary paths which benign Prov
dence has left the human Those great ends
conceived, be accomplished by making adequate pro-
vision planting, in salubrious and fertile region,
colony be composed Of such of the above description OF
may choose to cmigate and for extending to it
the authority and protection of the United States, until 1t
shall have attained sufficient strength and consistency to be
| left in state Of Independence
/ In the month of February, 1820 the ship Elizabeth
sailed from the United States with eighty six passengers
they free people of color, voluntarily emgrating
from this country to the western coast Of Africa to make
permanent settlement there. The good ship carried
them safely to their destination From this small plan
taton of legally manumitted slaves there has grown up
in the Of thirty years. nation containing, of cm
grants and natives two hundred thousand inhabitants
governed by republican form of government with writ
ten constitution like own, and exercising undis-
puted dominion over seven hundred miles of coast,
with extent of inland territory yet underlined and COM
mandng by tspoton the trade and commerce of West
| Africa.
Il
the most remarkable events in this most eyentful age
History furnishes pareel either to its origin, the
motives which induced it, the used to bring
about the grand result 1t commenced private enter
prise, not of gain but of beneyoence The inducing
humanity; the used, christian chari-
t Its great Objects the relief of two continents from
the evils Of slavery and barbarism its grand result
civil and religious liberty to whole race of men. But
what is still remarkable all these great objects have
been accomplished, legally justly and peacefully, with
out aggression wrong: interfering with no mans
rights intervening upon nations prerogatyes and by
its quiet and lawful progress exciting neither the passions
the preudices of any Liberia is the first Republic
established without revolution war; bloodshed
The patrons of African colonization were neither fana
tics agitators They occupied an unappropriated
field of usefulness, and noby have they cultivated it.
The objects of their benefcence outcasts from
Government and country They took up the slave after
law and constitution and master had released their ob
cations him. They found him outside sx soeil and
political relations, isolated, degraded and forsaken
They pursued him when the lac was Jugice from the
slave, and not he fugitive from the law. And when
neither master State Government would own him
or protect him. this benefceHt enterprise took the out
law under its guardian care and has given him name,
7 a character, and q country.
During the time this great work was in progress 1T
ceved the and appreciation Of the wise and good
from all sections of the country President Monroe was
of its earliest and warmest frends and there IS
Monroe doctrine to colonization in Africa as well as
colonization in America equally orthodox, although not
quite popular. 1t also received some collateral aid
from the Government itself So national the object
the srces construconst expressed the regret that
there clear power in the Constitution to enable
the Government to adopt the enterprise its and
extend to it national aid and protection 1t perhaps
well that the Government did interfere for the work
has been done without the exercise of any doubtful
powers That which politicians hestated to do that
which Constitution, with all its liberty had not the
power accomplish that which armies and nayies could
force into existence has been peacefully accomplished
by private enterprise nsgated and supported by chris
tian charity And now, sir, the work being done, and
the grand result made manifest to the world the question
is whether shall acknowledge the event and stamp 1t
with the official appreciation Of the nation In my opinion
both national honor and national policy demand that we
should do No doubt power, and the ques
ton is Of expedency merely Is it nexpedient for
the United States to acknowledge the nationality of
Liberia? In treating that question intend on this oc
cason to confne myself mainly to commercial view Of
/ the subject.
For years past the European commercial nations
have with view to settlement and trade turned their
attention Africa For these objects England has
tabshed and maintains with much energy her colo
nies Sierra Leone upon the Cape and a other points
on the France also has her possessions at Algeria
No one, think, at this day mistake the policy Of
England with regard to unappropriated fields of com
merce We have most striking illustration Of this in
that mighty POLITICAL and commercial dominion which she
has secured in the East Indies and in her attempts
South and Central America. No country is too remote
island too distant for her ship tribe class too
savage Insignificant for her barter Bushmen and Hot
entots negroes and Mosquito Indians, all objects Of
her commercial attention; wherever human beings are
found requiring food and raimen and have something
to give in exchange for them England ready to admin
lister TO their wants To such policy Africa opens up
rich and wide field Of operation, and IT mistake not the