Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-29
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
COMMUNICATION WITH LIBERIA.

can Colonization Society held In the First Pres
byterian Church, Washington, on Friday evening,
April 2l, 1854, to receive the report of commit
tee on the subject of establishing regular line of
communication by steam or otherwise between this
country and the Republic of Liberia, Hon. Judge
WAYNE, of the United States Supreme Court, in the
chair.
The proceedings Of the evening introduced with
prayer by the Rev. Mr.. BUDDMaTos of Charlestown,
Massachusetts.
The Presiding Officer remarked that the purpose for
which the present meeting had been called gene
rally known and well understood that it scarcely
necessary to say any thing by way of explanation He
would however, take leave to observe that the proposed
plan for establishing permanent mode Of intercourse
between this country and Africa by of steam
sells or other ships sa at regular stated times was one
which had been SO much approved by many gentlemen
well able TO form correct opinion the subject that he
could not but hope would not only receive the unan
support OF the present meeting, but would COM
mend itself to the patronage Of the friends Of colonization
throughout the Union. When we remembered the many
disceuragng circumstances under which the society had
commenced and against which it had still, in de-
gree to struggle he thought every was worthy
of careful consideration which have the tendency
of giving it larger Of the public sympathy 1t
had done great deal it could do much more and he
doubted not that the time would when its estab-
ishment would be acknowledged one of the greatest
events of the present century But the noble results to
fully accomplished without the means of frequent
tsin and regular communication with the African con
nent: communication which should be accomplished by
means of steam vessels other ships, to form perma
nent ne with stated times Of sailing, publicly known on
both sides Of the ocean
But he would not 60 into the merits of the proposed
plan because he understood that series of
had been prepared to be by several
who had consented to address the meeting and who 1t
was to be presumed fully prepared to explain and
to advocate them.
Mr.. SEAToS, from the committee appointed to draft
resolutions for the consideration at the meeting after
brief explanation Of certain notifications made by the
committee to the original draft to the last meet
ing, reported the following:
esoue That in the view of this meeting the American
Colonization Society merits tho gener support au
good people of these United Staes and that the establish
ment of the Republic of Liberia prospecvey i'm
ense benefits TO thr country and to the African
2 Resotsed, That the establishment of regular munca
ton by steam rwse under the direction of the Ame
rican Colon z.ton Society between this country and Liberia
is an Of and vast importance worthy Of the
prompt, united, and liberal aid of oil its friends
g. Re.olod That, while his meeting would regard il
emreny wise and udcious for Cor gress and the State Le
gatues make appropriations in aid of this object its
most confident reliance for at the bene
vaence of the country and animated by many
of noble munfcence by Individuals and by the
clctiol Of what done in few months by country
for the relief of Ireland they appeal to the people of the
United States at period of eyamped prosperity
vigorously unite their exerors and raise hundred
thousand dollars for the accomplish of this great
work Of humanity.
L. Resolced That it be recommended to the friends of the
object sister cities throughout the Union adopt the
ost feaa measures (by the appointment of committees
oherwise for securing donations for its accomplishment
s. Resored, That committee of five be appointed by the
chairman Of this meeting to obtain such aid generous
and gentlemen now in this city from different
sections the Union may be pleased besow in order that
the work be commenced in worthy of the cha
and immortal Of city and of the capital of
the couny and that the committee be authorized
take for obtaining contributions for the object
IN other sections of the Union.
The resolutions having been read
Mr. SEAros said that with the explanation he had
offered Of the views of the committee he should give
place Of the eloquent gentlemen who had kindly
consented speak in support Of the object of the meet
ing; but before doing so begged to add few words
1t happens (said Mr.. s. that am, with the excep-
ton Of hut gentleman, who is by i'll health regret
cay prevented from being present the sole survivor Of
the few persona who assembled in hotel in this city in
December 1876 to adopt measures for forming Colo
nzaton Society which now exists At that meeting the
great statesman of the West HENRY CLAY, presided
the West should say, for he was truly
American statesman in the most enlarged of the
term whose affections and aims oomprehendcd every
cn of his country aud every interest connected with its
honor and welfare.
That meeting formed the nucleus Of the American Colo
n2atlon Society. 1t was composed Of few gentlemen
conspicuous among whom besides the illustrous chair
man, was, remember Mr. Randolph of Virginia Elias
b Caldwell, of Washington and the Rev Dr. Findey of
New Jersey Sir every individual who composed that
eesns with one eNception besides myself has been long
since called 10 another world Clay is gone Randolph Is
gone Caldwell Is gone and but two remain now to wit
ness after the expiration Of nearly forty years the sue
Of the great scheme the foundations of which were nj
that time laid. The patriotic aud philanhropc object
which they had in view most Of them indeed lived to see
advancing prosperously The small seed which was then
planted nourshed and watered until it veeetated
and, though its growth long mpeded by difficulties
1t struggled until it has become majestic tree far
exceeding in staeness and grandeur the authorizations
its founders.
Simply and distinctly its original purpose was
announced, the association suffered opposition and
obstruction from misconcepton of its nature and OBJ
ec, In the South encountered prejudice from an idea
that it was designed directly indirectly to operate on
the institution OF slavery in the North it encountered
the enmy OF fanatics because it dsavowed any inter-
ference with slavery and refused any abolition purposes
they conceived that philanthropy towards the negro
race consisted solely in emancipation Thus the assoca-
ton long had TO make head against these pfu-
ences But the support Of the enlightened the
liberal, not the humane fostered the scheme in
its infancy, led it on in its youth, until reaching the
vgor of manhood it able to stand alone and the colony
OF Liberia IS now taking its place among independent
civilized States regular government has long been
established there and their form Of government is natu-
rally republican They, matter Of course copied
the institutions which they had seen in operation among
their masters this continent and they have their Pre-
edent their Legislature their judiciary their militia
organization, their annual elections and all the ee-
ents Of advanced civilization in full and orderly ac-
tion 1t is indeed remarkable Mr. President to observe
how nteligeny and faithfully these untutored descen-
dants of Africa have carried with them to their distant
home the political forms of country and while
of the oldest communities of Europe and America have
attempted in vain the adoption of republican principles
of government the untutored manumited blacks of the
United States have successfully and firmly ransplanted
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