The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-07-13

At Athens. Georgia, the subioined letter from
the Secretary Of the Treasury. II was in re-
ply to an appeal from the Hon. james Jackson,
Of that city
WAsHISGToN GTY, june 6, 1853.
Dear Sir ! regret tolearn from your letter
that the opposition continue to misrepresent
the ACTS ID connection with the contract
made BY the President with the Colonization
society. repeat what / before stated to
jon that not one dollar was paid for the edu-
cs1olf or schooling of the Africans sent back
to Africa.
D prsrens any zafszsp Eshsazian Or n1is;zl
statement IN he future, eheerfully comply
with your request, and present the facts of the
case. -
When thsse Africans were captured and
brought into the port Of Charleston, the ques-
ton was presented to the Presidents wimt was
his duty under the law
Icannot place the case more fully and sat
isfaetorily before you than by quoting the
language Of ne President IN his usual message
To Congress at the commencement Of the last
session sszss=.z =
Here follows an. extract from that message
Mr. Cobb then adds
From this statement You viii observe that
the law under which Mr. Buchanan acted had
received apracticaI construction during Mr..
Monroe's administration, which was the duty
Of the President to provide for sending captured
Africans back to Their country, and by the APP
pointment q An agent there to make provis-
ION fbr them there until they should be able to
fl1ariie for themselves The subject being
brought 70 the attention Of Congress by Mr..
Monroe, Congress acquiesced IN the correct
ness OF his construction and allowed the law
to remain on the statute book without alter
alton. prefer to leave the construction of
the law with the high authority of Mr. Mon
roe, thought Il would be an easy task 10 show
that any other construction would have made
q mockery Of the law. The idea that it was
the duty Of the Presidentto appoint an agent,
who should go TO Africa merely to receive
the negroes fom the captain Of the vessel
and forWith turn them loose upon a strange
coast TO starse, Is TOO ridiculous for serious
refatation. The captain Of the vessel could
have done the same thing with out the inter-
vention Of an agent. It must be borne in
mind that these miserble sasagss would be
landed at points distant from their former
homes and being an ignorant and improvident
race, would require temporary protection and
support until I'm the language of Mr. Monroc)
they should Be able to provide for themselves
Hence It IS that law contemplates and provides,
first for their return to Africa, and secondly,
for their support for limited period
It was under these circumstances that Mr.
Buchanan proceeded to employ an agent to
take care Of these Africans after their return
until they could provide for themselves Mr.
McIAin, in behalf Of the Colonization Society,
offered to undertake the duties Of such agent
The President required that the Africans
should be taken care Of, and provisions made |
or their support for one year. This was all that
he required. The Colonization Society, for q /
sum, agreed to do this, and more.
The Society desired By their proposition to |
how that they would not only do all that the |
President under the law was authorized to /
contract and pay for, but that they would put I
hese Africans upon the same iooting with all |
,ther negros committed to their charge; and |
was for this reason that they incorporated |
INTO their proposition their offer 70 educate or
choo1 the children. For this additional ser-.
= - one d5ll1fe Nas elll1 - ma tfs--,-
Is,oaslb 6lIaaz Il the President would hare
cen precisely the same, thoa 10 such pfD-
Iision had been contained in the offer to the
society. If you viii remark the language of
he Presidents message, YOU viii find that It
5 in substance . repetition Of his letter to Mr.
sfcIIain: and you read the letter of Mr.
HcIain; You viii observe that he is repeating
he proposition Of the Colonization Society
Without the explanation which have now
.iyen. It IS perhaps not strange that an improp-
# construction should have been put upon
he language of the President; but when all I
he facts are known, there certainly can be no
lifficulty on the part OF any man who wants
o know the truth and do justice in seeing the
orreckness Of the statement, which again
epcat IN the most emphatic terms, that not
me dollar war paid to the Colonization So
,ietT ii consideration Of the education or
chooling Of the Africans which were COM
nitted 70 their charge By the President.
Il IS certainly most remarkable state of
hines that President should be censured I
er an act which, when properly understood,
ntities him to the communication Of every eiti-
EN- in the land Whether the law is right
r wrong, was not question for him to con-
ider. He i5und the law on the statue book
s.l1see1 elebyUt1l Fstsietc fathers.
8 was s;mply his duty 10 execute { NJ good
nth. and with the least possible expense.
That duty be has performed. The law re-
Iuired him to return these negros to Africa,
nd TO make provision ibr them until they
serc able TO provide for themselves He
las returned die negros, and provided for
heir protection and support there for one
rear, at an expense Of one hundred and fifty
IoIIars for each African Every one can
udge Of the economy with which the Presi-
lent has discharged this duty, when informed
hat during Mr. Monroess administration
imilar case occurred, and Il cost the govern
nenf more than one thousand dollars for
aeh Affican.5 -
Let those who are 50 busy In the abuse Of
dr. Buchanan make their record consistent by
including in their dennneialion Mr.. Monroe
nd the wise and good men Of that day, who
lof only enacted the law, executed it in the
anne spirit IN which L has been eafrfied out
D the present administration.
vii only add that - : member Of Nj i
3uchanan's administrator, gave to his
Measure my full and cordial approval and if
nd been memhef Of Congress, should have
voted of tie appropriation re-
Iuired 20 carry It out.
am, very truly, yours. &c,
g. - HOWELL COBB
E - r. 4 u -. 2