Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-01-20

audience being present
Hon. Elisha whittlesey, occupied the chair,
as the oldest Vice President, In the absence of
the President who IN now In Europe and
called the meeting to order. The Proceedings
Were opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Cum
minis.
Portions of the annual report were then read
by the corresponding Secretary, Rev. DR.. Cur
ley. Among other facts stated to the meeting nv
the report was one that the receipts to the Socie
", during the past year, had been Sg7 3S7 o.
and their outstanding debts had all been paid
IL concluded with the reInark that miSSio ns were
rapidly on the increase and the labors of the
missionaries bringing forth fruits in abundance
ne report was accepted and referred to the
directors The Chair then introduced to the So
ciety the Rev. DR.. Slaughter, of Virginia. who
offered the following resolution as basis to his
remarks:
Resolved, That, in our Judgment, America in
africa is solution TO the problem Of Africa in
He spoke Of the manifest destiny of the African
race; that while the people of all nations were
permitted to come to this country and be on an
the unfortunate black men of Africa were forced
mere, 10 DE USED after proper course of discip-
line, as means OF civilizing and christianiznq
their countrymen Of benighed Africa. He
sp ke oil the achievement of the American Colo
nlzatlon society TO this end, and of the fact that
its Influence had exterminated the slave trade
from more than five hundred miles of African
sea coast. He spoke most ably and elO4uently
Tor half an hour.
The Chair then introduced the Rev Ttos J
Bowen to the meeting. The speaker had spent
several years in Africa, in explorations Of it's sur
face and its convenient openings for colonization
Africa was a home for the oppressed and an asy-
lum for those who had been taught to appreciate
the benefits of civilization by discipline in this
county IL was evident; from the course of
events, that God designed, by placing Africa in
America, to transplant and form American senti-
ments and institutions i'm Africa
In regard to the civilization Of the African
Il ~
slave trade was the most disastrous influence
against which the Society had to contend
The speaker had seen as many as eighteen pop
NOUS African towns on the slave coast depopu-
lated entirely, In short space of time by this
traffic. But the influence of the missionaries
was beginning to be felt far back n the interior
OF the country; the minds Of the whole nation
was beginning to be changed and those benipht-
ed were beginning to feel the benefits Of civilza-
ton There was great hope of success in giving
them the blessing Of the Christian Gospel. In
the English settlement of Freetown, there was
?lready twenty-three Christian churches estab.
lishcd and in hourishing condition
IL the mind of Africa was improved and
strengthened by education and religion it's COM
merce and its influence would he great indeed in
course of time.
He was anxious to have a colony planted i'm
in furobo, for If that portion of the country were
ever TO became civilized, the advantages to trade
between that and Liberia would be immense
The gold fields Of Central Africa were five hun
dred miles in extent, and the wealth Of these
mines, which was immense, would, were that
portion of Africa to become civilized, be scat
tered, and lend its aid In the es establishment of
the future empire of that great country
On concluding, he was followed by Rev Dr.
SeyS, the Societys agent m Africa for several
years past. His brief remarks were de pctive Of
the progress and success Of the Society in Liberia
and other portions of the country. He had planted
the colony at CaIeysville, some miles hack in the
interior from Liberia. He had explored the hill
country, and brought home specimens Of the iron
cotton N xUh oh ba
had explored. He gave most encouraging and
hopeful accounts Of the success of the new colony
of Carcysville; church had been erected there
In less than three months from the time the col
ony was first planted; all of which was carving
out the great scheme Of transferring Africa back to
her own home, to the glory of society and of the
great Creator The colony did not starve: on the
contrary, they were fed snmptuously three times
day, on venison (for the forests abounded in
beautiful deer of various varieties) and sheep
meat and beef. and on every kind of fruit and
vegetable indigenous TO tropical cline
Resolutions of thanks were passed to Rev DR.
Seys for his eminent services in planting perma-
nently the settlement at Careysville, and for his
useful labors In the cause Of African colonial
ton.
49, resolution Of thanks was passed to David
Hunt, Esq, of Mississippi, for generous dona-
ton Of si5, OG0 to the Society last year.
The Society then ad journed to meet at the CITY
Hall at IL O'Clock m. to-day.
THE PUBLIC ScHooLs-The subjoined memo
rial is now circulating in the city for signatures
To the Honorable the Senate and House of
Representatives. Of the United States in Congress
assembled: The Undersigned. citizens of w ash
ington, beg leave most respectfully to call the at
tention Of your honorable bodies to the present
condition and future prospects of the public
schools in our city.
That the cause Of public education demands
the serious consideration of Congress the follow
ing facts wi show:
First-The Present System
The existing system Of public schools was es-
tablished in 1916, and has done all that could be
expected from 1t.
There are now four school districts embracing
thirty-two schools, employing forty teac hers, and
children
Five school houses are owned by the city,
the remaining schools occupying easements Of
churches and such other places the trustees
with their limited means can procure.
SsoORd-Tbs Statistics of tn, Census of 1871
census Of the children between the ages of
five and eighteen, has been recently taken by
the authority of the city, and the following facts
are obtained therefrom:
!. The number of children between the ages
o. 1--WE and eighteen, Is ten thousand six hundred
and ninety seven.
>. Three thousand three hundred and twenty
eight of this number are in Private Schools
,. Two thousand four hundred are i'm Public
Schools
4. Five thousand and sixty nine are In no school
at all.
D. lne fuDllc SCHOOLS cannot accommodate
twenty five per cent Of the number of children
of the CITY
The simple statement OF the above facts care
fully asceTtained, sends its warning voice through
all ranks of society, foretelling with unerriny
certainty the black catalogue Of crime which ip.
norancc will surely bring this city the thou
sands Of uneducated youth develop into man.
hood.
Third-Means
From our peculiar position and relation to the
National Government we are curtailed in our
means.
L. we have no commercial or manufacturing
relations More than three-fourths Of the citizens
are directly or Indirectly dependent on Govern
ment, and with the change Of every adminstra-
ton there Is change Of large class Of citizens,
thereby destroying any permanent interest in our
Public Schools.
But far greater difficulty lies in the fact that
not one-third OF the property in the city is tax
able.
,. Again, large class Of citizens are not resi-.
dents, and are consequently exempt from taxa
ton.
g. To secure proper accommodations for Public
Schools by tax on citizens and on all taxable
property Of every description, would make a tax
many times larger than that levied for similar
purposes in any other city or town in the United
States.
a: The security Of persons and property, public
and private. absolutelv m At inn,