, 1859-01-14


trade" Under the second section Of this
act the President is authorized to make
such arrangements as he may deem expe-
dent for the safe keeping, support, and re-
moyal beyond the limits of the United
States, of all negroes, muattos or persons
of color" captured by vessels of the United
States, as may be delivered to the marshal
of the district into which they are brought;
"and to appoint a.proper person or persons
residing upon the coast of Africa, as agent
or agents for receiving the negroes, mulat-
tos, or persons of color, delivered from on
board vessels seized in the prosecution OF
the slave trade by commanders Of the Uni
ted States armed vessels"
A doubt Immediately arose as to the trnc
construction Of this act. 1t is quite clear
| from its terms that the President was au-
thorized 10 provide for the safe-keeping,
support and removal" of these negroes up
till the time of their delivery to the agents
on the coast of Africa; but no express pro-
vision was made for their protection and
support after they had reached the place of
their destination. Still, an agent was ap-
pointed to receive them in Africa; and it
could not have been supposed that Con-
Igress intended he should desert them at the
moment they were received, and turn them
loose on that inhospitablO coast to perish
for want Of food, or to become again the
victims Of the slave trade, Had this been
the intention of Congress, Unemployment
of an agent to receive them, who is required
to reside on the coast, was unnecessary, and
thoy might have been landed by our vcs-
sells anywhere in Africa, and left exposed
TO the sulierings and the fate which would
certainly await them.
Mr.. Monroe, in his special message Of
l7th December, 1919, at the first session
after the act was passed, announced to Con-
gress what, in his opinion, was its true con-
struction. He believed it to be his duty
under it to follow these unfortunates into
Africa, and make provision for them there,
until they should be able to provide for
themselves. In communicating this inter
probation Of the act of Congress, he stated
that some doubt had been entertained as to
its true intent and meaning, and he sub
mitte4 the question to them, so that they
might, should it be deemed advisable,
amend the same before further proceedings
are had under it," Nothing was done by
Congress to explain the act, and Mr. Mon
roe proceeded to carry it into execution ac
cording to his own Interpretation. This,
then, became the practical construction
When the Africans from on board the Echo
were delivered to the Marshal at Charles
ton, it became my duty to consider what
disposition ought to he made of them under
the law.
For many reasons it was expedent to re-
move them from that locality as speedily as
possible. Although the conduct of the
authorities aud citizens of Charleston, in
giving countenance to the execution of the
law, was just what might have been eX-
pected from their high character, yet pro-
longed continuance Of three hundred Afri-
cans in the immediate vicinity of that city,
could not have failed to become source of
Inconvenience and anxiety to its inhabitants.
Where to send them was the question:
There was no portion Of the coast of Afri-
ca, to which they could be removed with
any regard to humanity, except to Liberia.
Under these circumstances an agreement
was entered into with the Colonization So.
: ciety on the 7th Of September last, a copy
of which is herewith transmitted, under
which the Society engaged, for the consid-
GRAFTON Of forty-tive thousand dollars, to
receive these Africans in Liberia from the
agent of the United States, and furnish
them during the period of one year there
after, with comfortable shelter, clothing,
provisions and medical attendance, causing
the children to receive schooling; and all,
whether children or adults, to be instructed
in the arts Of civilized life, suitable to their
condition. This aggregate of forty-fve
thousand dollars was based upon an allow
ance of one hundred and fifty dollars for
each individual, aud as there has been con-
siderable mortality among them, and may
be more before they reach Afrca, the So
cety have agreed, in an equitable spirit, to
make such deduction from the amount, as
under the circumstances may appear Just
aud reasonable. This cannot be fixed until
we shall ascertain the actual number which
may become charge to the society.
1t was also distinctly agreed that, under
no circumstances, shall this government be
called upon for any additional expenses.
The agents Of the society manifested q
audabe desire to conform to the wishes of
the government, throughout the transac.
tion. They assured me that, after care
full calculation, they would be required to
expend the sum of one hundred and fifty
dollars on each individual in complying
with the agreement and they would have
nothing left to remunsrate them for their
care, trouble and responsibility At all
events, l could make no better arrange
ment, and there was no other alternative
During the period when the government
itself, through its own agents, undertook
the task of providing for captured negroes
in Africa, the cost per head was very much
greater.
There having been no outstanding ap-
preparation applicable to this purpose,
could not advance any money on the agree
Il q Al.