New-York daily tribune., 1858-10-29
Statement If Pr,,,derf Benson. 60

Rry. AND DEAR SIR: have bat a moments time
10 pen yon a few lines via England. woui re'riln
from sending h. hurried sheet II Il were not tha'
think may be amss to correct some OF the errors
which have found their way into the newspapers,
either honestly for the want of better information, or
Indignantly Intentional respecting affairs N Liberia
ard especially the policy Of the Government m refer
erce to the French emigration system and very espe-
chilly as relative to the Regina Cr!i
You are at liberty to pahi-h a. false, as downright
untrrths and that upon the authority and resppnsi-
ty If the Government of Liberia. the following state
meuts, which have appeared in European and other
paper;
Capt. Simon to Monrovia 20 arrange Tor the procure
ment OF emigrants.
Second. That the President Of Liberia nrged Capt.
SIM To- procure bis emgants within the jurisdiction
of this Republic.
Third. That the President or the Government of
emgTants whatever.
Fourth. That - 56i had been received by this
Government passport money.
Fth: That the emigrants were procured under the
immediste superintendence by the agency of this
Government.
Sirfh That any Of the emigrants were Anerico-
Lberaus, persons Of cOcr from the United states,
or their descendants.
Sir there is not particle Of truth in any Of those
assertions. | can prove them all to be downright
falsehoods by more than hundred living witnesses,
and abundant documentary evidencr. Capt. Simon
Of theiRegna Crli paid nothing t. his Government
but the al tunnage duties of TIE vessel, and the
I'D rai0rem duties such merchandise ns he expected
to land within the jurisdiction Of this Republic, all of
which, comprising every cert ever pail 70 this Gov
ernment, amounted To only $b9 as the books of the
Custom.House viii show. Not the first penny was
ever paid by him 10 this Government for passports
ard well he knew II. How cOud this Government
receive passport money from him before had
tanned how many. if any, voluntary emigrants could
be procured by him; for before he permitted TO
enr HE vessel and allowed to enlist emigrants within
our jurisdiction he and the French naval officer were
told by me, IN presence of unimpeachable Witnesses
of whom was foreign otcia-thdt he was
To- call in here and clear his vessel at the Custom
House according to law, when each emgrant
would be examined thoroughly by the Secretary
OF State, as 10 whether his emigration was
constrained free and that the declaration OF each
grant would guide the Secretary TO the cases IN
which he would grant passports, and All who might
thcn declsre their emigration involuntary would be
taken shore aud dscharged and that in the event
of any cases occurring in which it manifest that
force or fraud used to get them on board, he
would be punished according to the laws of this Repub-
lie: ard told him and the French Government Naval
Officer aud there, in the presence OF witnesses,
that in he did not wish intend to enlist them
such conditions, to leave our jurisdiction ana 90
elsewhere. lie then and there pledged himself, IN
presence of witnesses, among whom were ii. Ii. VI.
and II. ]. NJ. Consuls, that he would faithfully comply
with tie terms, and every other law o the Republic
having n beaing upon him. He spoke fairly said
his object to act honestly and upon principe; 1t
lie could not procure free and voluntary men he would
have other; that he had been particularly instruct
condemned Chevaliers course; said that Chevalicr
was an old acquaintance Of his; that he man OF
no principle aud he did not wonder that the govern
ment of Liberia had trouble with him: and that he
Capt. Simon regarded him a contemplate man.
This was spoken IN presence of witnesses.
As to any of the socaed emgrants on board the
Regina Coli being Americp-Liberians, the idea is pre-
pOrterous not one Of ttem was an AnericO-Lberian,
nor of their descendants Sir French or any other
emigrant ship might try for five consecutive years to
enlist AmericoLb"rian eugrants within the jurlsdic-
tion Of this Republic and am bold t. say, that
if tne terms are doubly favorable AS are usually
offered such vessel would not succeed in enisng five
America. .Liberan eInigrants in five years nor, in my
opinion could twenty of aborgines be i1dnced by
years effort TO Voluntarily enigrate under the sys
TEN.
80 far from my urging Capt. Simon in November
last t. procure his elgrahts within the jurisdiction o
this Republic, have now copy of letter authentic
copies ot which send You, which addressed hun on
the iih If December IN answer 10 received from
lin Ia copy Of which | also send youl, in which adj
yisod him leave jurisdiction after he had spent
four days at ench of [ c points, Gallnas, Solima,
Mamma and Sugaree oi course calling IN here to clear
for | informed him tnat from my knowledge OF the
native character ! certain lie would get within
that time all the voluntary emgraDts he could AT all
succeed ia gettng that there was no use for him To
wait for the to reach the people of the INTERIOR
they never voluntarily emgrated; end that, from
my know ledge OF the native character, feared that
all emgrants he might procure after spending about
days at each OF the above named places would be
constrained which would certainly make trouble as our
law, MI ~ certainly be enforced This lettrI showed
to ,anDr M S oUyi nv I ds f. H. l. NJ cCpso and after
Hon. a. ID. Williams, Superintendent I, Cape Mount.
to be forwarded by him to Capt. Simon; and l, the
time sent copy of the said letter to the Super
nten6ent TO be retained by him. directing him at the
time by letter TO make frequent inquiries, and to
ascertain, far possible, from time to time during
5 nous stay between Cape Mount and North
Western boundry, a. To whether he SlmOnl was con-
travening our laws in the prosecution of bis enter
prise, and to give me the earliest information that
olglt reach him. The Hon. a. ID. Williams il gen.
tlsmGn extensively known in the United States rs
Christian gentleman of unimpeachabls integrity Tor
the last - years in Liberia and he will bear testimony
To what have stated above also 10 the fact that
many ot er eforis employed by this Government
to at least prevent abuses Of the system, if could
not put it entirely down.
And whea was mp at Cape Mount last March, only
month before the mutiny on board, sent dispatch
several miles mp the coast, To Capt. Simon and tae
French Government Naval Officer to call on at
Robertsrort, 50 | might again warn them against
using force or fraud 10 procuring emgrants within
our jurisdiction. told them that, so long Rs they
observed invloate the laws of this Republic, they
would be entitled the protection Of this Government
md would receive such facilities as are usually
afforded TO all fore gners engaged in legitimate busi-
less; but told them that my object tor desiring that
int .rview TO remind them of their obligations 10
operate in conformity to laws aud 10 reapprise
them Of the consequences, 1t should be- proved that
they had been prosecuting an Legitimate business;
that the laws would be strictly enforced on him. did
this because my suspicion had become awakened by
one or two rumors tnat had indirectly reached me-
which / ,irUye in vain to ferret out.
In two or three days after this interview, the con-
mlnder Of IL Lark and about dozen America
Liberiaps accompanied me to Sngaree, Of the
points at which Simon wac operating where met and
had another interview with him and the French Cow
eminent ,thcer; and repeated agan 10 them, III pres
sence Of a number Of native Chief, the warning
and threatened the native Chiefs With severe punish
ment it should be proved IN future that any of