New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-04-29
LIBERIA.

I'll, Inst annual message Of President Benson,
10 the Legislature of Liberia, now before us, Is
document very creditable to the author. Though
not born in the Colony, President Benson was car
red thiher BY his parents at an early age, and IN
the first DAYS of the settlement, and may therefore
b. fairly taken ~ a specimen of what 1t can pro-
dnr.. He obtained his education in the common
schools of Liberia. and at the age OF fifteen was ap
pointed a clerk in the Government store. From
that be rose Ia be trader on his own account, be-
coming an owner of vessels, II large conee-grower,
and leading merchant. Having served IN mo
LEGISLATURE he WIS. HheE the Colony became sell
governing. elected President in which Office he
gave 50 much satisfaction az To be- reelected without
opposition. In point of phraseology, good taste
and good sense, his message is quite up to the cur
rent standard of Governors, and, for that matter
Of Presidents. messages, on this side of the Al
lantic.
The condition of Liberia, rs represented in this
message appears To be decidedly prosperous and
progressive. The crops have been unusually large
aud diversified The camwOod and palm-o trade
have prospered and, though Liberia has felt the
commercial depression, il has had, at least the good
effect of turning attention to the Development Of
her internal resources. The Presldent strongly
urges the establishment of interior settlements
and the future employment OF immigrant labor
in agriculture The Liberian National Fair
Of ls57 produced an excellent effect in that
yay. and the President recommends that such
sn annual fair be- made permanent instltu-
ton. Some contributions toward prizes have
been made from the United States, and the Man
chester Cotton Supply Association has appropriated
$40 per annum for four years, for the four most
satisfactory samples Of cotton raised in Liberia
each year beside four medals second-class prizes.
4 supply of cottonseed, represented a. OF supe-
rior kind has also been sent out BY the British
Government.
The President urges the duty Of the Legisls-
tnre 10 take steps for eleyating and improy-
ing the native tribes within the Liberisn terri
tory-a subject, il appears, which has, Tor two
wears past, attracted much attention. and IN which
the leading nstiye chiefs profess n readiness to
cooperate President Benson is well satisfied OF
the feasibility of gradually assimilating the man-
ncrs and customs of the aboriginal population to
thos. Of civilized liir end he is confirmed in this
view BY the progress in that direction actually
made in past years He is opposed, however, to
the establishment of any distinct or separate sys-
tenn of training or education for this class-not
only as calculated 10 keep up line OF demarhstlon
between immigrants and sborigines, which, on the
other hand il is desirable 10 abolish, but because
in hi. opinion this training and instruction are just
Is much NEEDED for the immigrants coming from
America, and their children, as blythe aborlglnes
themselves He refers TO II as a weu-known and
undeniable fact that there thousands OF natives
within the jurisdiction of Liberia who are intellect
uay in advance Of at least half the immigrants who
arrive annually from the United States; from which
state Of facts it would seem that the ciyiixng in.
fuences of Slavery-slmost all these immigrants
being emancipated slayes-are not quite 80 great
a. they have sometimes been represented.
A liberal postal convention has been made with