The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-07

short time ago amendment was offered in
the Senate by Mr.. HUNTER, as Chairman of the
Committee on Finance, reducing the amount ap-
propriated by the House for coonizing re-captured
Africans, from 5000 600 to $3.50, 0GO By an an
rangement which was made between the Govern
ment and the American Colonization Society, all
Africans that were found on board Of s!avers cap
tured by our cruisers on the high seas, were to be
transferred 10 Liberia, and committed to the care
and guardianship of the authorities of that Repub
lie. To meet the expense Of maintaining these
liberated captives, for period Of one year after
their Decentralization at Monrovia, our Govern"
ment agreed to pay to the American Colonization
Society," for the use of the Liberian authorities,
the sum of one hundred dollars per capita, without
regard to age or sex. Upon these terms
some FIVE thousand re-captves have been al
ready sent there, and liberal appropriations
made towards their support. The Bill
which recently passed the House, and to
which Mr.. HUNTER offered amendment,
reducing By one-half the sum set apart for the
particular purpose to which we allude was-if
our memory serves us-desgned to make up def
ciences in the previous appropriations, and to pro-
vide fspd wherewth to meet the contingencies
of the present year. Now it is perfectly right
and proper, So long as it continues to be the poll
cy Of our Government to colonize in Liberia the
Africans intercepted by our cruisers in the Gulf
and off the coast of Guinea, that measures should
be taken beforehand to meet the charge of their
support in their new home for definite period
To this therefore, no reasonable objection can be
made, and so long as the contract with the Colon
izatOn Society remains in force, it should be car
ried out in good faith. As, however, the cost of
the plan which has been heretofore adopted,
threatens to become in the near future serious
burthen upon the Federal Treasury, it is matter
ofsome importance oascertain whether the amount
of one hundred dollars head, which is paid to
Liberia for the support of the capves sent there,
does not greatly exceed the actual cost of keeping
an African for one year, and fit does, whether a
different and much more economical arrangement
might not be urade. Here are some facts which
have direct bearing upon the question
A acorEinq negro-native-who gets the largest
allowance ever made, has daily quart, or, in
other words, two pounds of rce--in paddy-from
his employer. This rice is purchased Of the ma
tives for three cents quart or fifty cents llroo,
or half bushel Vessels, however, have frequently
to pay seventy-fve cents kroo. These vessels
sometimes give to each negro, in addition to his
daily quart of rice, herring, or the like, and
little rum whiskey, either as part Of their wages,
or to stimulate them TO push their work. The
natives can hardly be said TO wear much apparel,
for their usual dress consists only Of a breech
cloth, made out of the cheapest kind of Madras
handkerchief. If the Liberians who have charge
of the rescued blacks undertake to dress them in
less primitive and rather more civilized fashion,
as it is to be presumed they do-four yards of
muslin, or blue drill are sufficient in that climate for
such purpose where native is concerned; but if
the re-captives indicted into q jacket and
trowsers the cost would be somewhat more. Many,
however of the latter are children, and would not
need the quantity named, either as regards mate
rails for dress, with respect to provisions
With these explanations it will be seen that the
following estimate of the actual cost of maintain
ing an African for one year after reaching Monro-
via is by no means an illiberal one. He will re-
quire then
s65 quarts Ct rice cents per quartz. $3.50
Allowance of other things, certainly more than
these savages have been accustomed to, and as
iacEets and fowsers, Of blue drills per year. II
yards, at IL cents per yard, and making 23l
Shantes holding so persons, can be put up for 500;
which per head, would be...... lOo
Total cost of clothing and food for year 81
The sbauties to which we have referred are SIM
liar to those which are used by the natives in the
employ of the Liberians. One other item might
be added to the account, which embraces no charge
for medicine or attention during sickness; but
making every possible allowance, the entire cost
need not exceed twenty-five dollars per capita.
All this, m recover is on the suppostion that the
liberated Africans earn nothing, and do no work
beyond cooking their own food. If it be objected
that the allowance for food is insufficient both in
quantity and variety we only say that 1t is
in all probability, very nearly what they would
get from the contractors Living, to native
African, is very cheap affair Ten dollars worth
of rice and cotton goods will keep him fed, and
clad-as he prefers to go-for an entire year. If
this statement be correct one, and we have en-
deavored to make it as accurate as possible, it is
evident that tie contract with the Liberians af-
fords to the latter something more than reasona-
BILE margin for profit; while we seriously doubt
whether it is accompanied by any corresponding
moral advantage Many good friends OF the Co.
ohization cause are decidedly averse to the intro
duction of this barbarian element into the little
Republic they have SO sedulousy sought 10