The Washington union., 1857-06-06
ANNEXATION IN LIBERIA

We published in our issue of May 30, under the
above heading, some interesting statistics relative 10
the late military operations, population, resources,
and future prospects of the State of Maryland in Lii
beria and we also presented to our readers in the
same article, synopsis of the message Of President
Benson of April TO the extra session of the legsla
ture of Liberia, convened chiefly TO consider the APP
pication of this State to be admitted into the repub
lie the county of Cape Palmas The following ex-
tracts from interesting letter recently received by
gentleman of this city from his son, an officer on
board the United States ship st. Louis, under date
of March ls, which we are kindly permitted to
publish, contain additional information the same
subject which, apart from the valuable commercial
statistics which accompany them, will be read with
interest:
% MoSRovIA, March Is, 1857.
We arrived here from Cape Palnias ON the 18th inst
where had been ordered to lend presence and if
necessary assistance in the settlement of the be-
tween the Cape Palmas people and the natives On
arrival found Governor (ex-Presden Roberts with
force of hundred and twenty five under his COM
mand who had been ordered to Cape Pamas by the Pres
dent Of Liberia Immediately the intelligence reaching
him of the In the mean time the Cape Pamas peo-
pie had driven the natives on their town and destroyed
it, and were In turn, threatened with the destruction of
the succor which had proyidentialy arrived and
seeing the impossiby of coping with well armed and
organized force thought that discretion the better
part of valor and sent flag of truce with the PROPOSE
ton to have paLape which agreed TO the part of
the coonists. The following day King Yellow WILL ac
companed by the chief men of his tribe into town,
and they met by company of Lberan troops, who
escorted them to the Episcopal Missionary Asylum where
the paapT to be held. The paaver lasted several
days and finally settled by treaty to the satisfaction
of all parties.
sCape Palmas or the State OF Maryland in LIBERIA
is settlement of colored people principally from the State
of Maryland who have since the establishment of the
colony been supported by the Maryland Colonization So
ciety They entirely independent of Liberia until
the recent difficulty when seeing their inability to pro-
tcct themselves from the attacks of unrendy tribes
around them asked to be received into the republic of
Liberia as n county. commission accordingly ap-
pointed for the purpose of receiving her.
81 Before the embarkation of the troops board H.
B. NJ steamer 'Hecla which had been sent from ST.
Leone for the purpose of transporting them to Mon
rova, Gov Drayon resigned into the hands of the
mission the authority vested in him. The troops
formed into square, having the flag staff in the centre
and, the ensign of the republic of Liberia unur
ed, the troops presented arms gave three huzzas and
the State of Maryland in Liberia ceased TO be inde
pendent State After the ceremony, the troops, who
were dressed in the Zouave uniform by the government Of
France went through the battalion drill quite well
sderng the short time they had been in service Each
volunteer receives for his services independent of his
pay and rations, town lot and 100 Of farm land
'Monrova has wonderfully improved within the last
year. and presents of activity which would aston
ish those who have not visited here during that time
For fear of being accused Of romacng, will mention two
important improvements advertised in the Liberan Her
ald--one, steam sugar-mill the other eating
house. (sgn of the knife and fork where fresh oysters
hot pies, ginger beer &C., &c. be had at all
bic hours and at quite moderate prices Her commerce.
too is increasing quite rapidly and what surprises is
that our government has treaty of commerce with Lii
IBERIA. 1t has been proposed, the dit goes by Eng
land to give f20000 $00,000) to Liberia for the right
of free trade for the term of ten years If this be true
though hardly believe it be- it will have the effect
Of throwing the entire trade In the hands of the English
as merchants will not be able to compete with them
while they have no duties to pay
81 enclose statistical statement of the imports and
exports of this port for the year 1885, and it is the least
important of all the ports of entry The modification in
the tariff will tend greatly to increase her On
the article of spirits alone the duty has been reduced
from 81 per gallon to 25 per cent. ad valorem
'tThe people begin to the Importance of turning
their attention to agriculture, and it is believed that in
four or five the production of sugar Coffee and rice
will be much greater than the consumption, and they
will thus be added to her list of exports The coffee,
which is very superior can, with little labor be made to
yield abundantly and with great profit to the growers
The emgrants who arrived by the Caroline Stevens,
last January, Immediately carried up the ST. Paul
river to Clay Ashland Not one has died, nor
do think any suffering from the acclimating fever
of which very large proportion of the emigants who
have previously come to this country have died"
Tubular Statements Exhibiting the Character and Values Of In
ports and Exports into and from Aonroaa in the year
1856.