Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-08-03
NUMBER FIVE
FOR the Free Press.
The American Colonization Society.

ihe American Colonization Society.
In my article Of wednesday, spoke Of Mr.
Ashman as the leader of the colony Of colorsd
persons who made the first permanent settle
ment in what is now the Republic Of Liberia
But there are some other interesting facts. pre-
cedent, in the order of time, connected with the
formation Of the American Colonization Society.
Some of these I propose to notice in this ar-
ticle
About the year 177i, a distinguished Cou-
gregahonal clergyman, the Rev Dr. Hopkins, Of
Newport, Rhode Island, established school in
that city for the education Of pious colorsd
youth in the hope that they might become mis-
sionaries to Africa. lie was greatly interested
in this object, anil gave to it freely Of his time
and means. Several Of the wealthy merchants
Of his congregation, we're, at this time. actively
employing their ships AMI their capital in the
African slave trade These merchants. probably
to settle matters more comfortably in the court
Of conscience, contributed freely for the support
Of the Doctors school, and the plan worked well
until interrupted By the war Of 76-S3. when
the school was discontinued. But We shall hear
from It again ere long.
After the war, Mr.. Jefferson advocated euiau-
cipation, and while Governor Of Virginia. rec
ommenlel the Legislature Of his State to peti-
ton to Congress for the purchase of 4 territory,
IN which emancipated slaves might be colonized
Another movement to the same end was made
by the Society Of Friends in Pennsylvania The
plan WAS earnestly seconded by many good men
both in the South and in the North.
In 1914, If I remember rightly, (for have
not my statistics aud dates AT hand, } Paul Cut
fee,--a colorel cabin boy, who by Industry ard
merit, rose TO be the master and then the owner
Of a ship, carried out about forty colored per-
sons from Boston and from New Bedford, his
native place. But finding the western coast ia
Tested with pirates AMI slave traders, he landed
his company in the British Colony Of Sierra
Leone, lying north Of Liberia. lie returned
home, and while preparing to carry cut re-
enforcement to his company, he sickened and
del He was a noble specimen ofhs race
In January, 1916, the American Colonization
Society was formed at Washington. Its foun-
ders were Christian and philanthropic men, who
felt deep sympathy for the slaves and an in
telligent concern for the conseq queuces that must
result to the country from the system Of African
slavery. They saw, even then. that the States
;ould not live in permanent and lasting peace
part slave and part free Rev. Dr. Finley, of
New Jersey, is generally regarded as the prime
mover in the organization of the Society. He
oOk counsel Of good men; corresponied with
'Ir. Madison, then President Of the United
states, who warmly seconded his plans, and
that our Government should send
vessel, with agents, to explore the coast Of AZ
lea, and select a proper place for the settlement
f a colony.
In accordance with this Recommendation,
aptain Richard F. Stockton, of Princeton, New
ersey, was commissioned for this service, and
lev. pr. Burgess, of Massachusetts, ani the
lmeuteI Samue, J. Mills, sailed with him as
gents. to examine tn. coast and select and pur-
iase a site from the native chiefs This CON-
ission secured BY honorable purchase, part
that territory now embraced within the Re-
lbic of Liberia. Mr. Mills del on his home
ard passage, and was buried in the deep,
| remember rightly. Short as vas his life,
E lived long enough to illustrate his own con-
ption Of what should be the aim and influence
the Christian scholar. While in Williams
.llege holding prayer-meeting with some Of
) classmates by hay-stacs in the field, he
Il then 1--WE ought to place our mark high
Z resolve 50 to live as to cause our influence
be felt around the globe"
In 1921, the first company Of emigrants sent
, by the American Colonization Society, sailed
Africa in the ship Elizabeth On board
s vessel. before they sailed, ,wss formed Con-
.gational church, and Mr.. Bingham, who,
le forty years before, had been pupil in
Hopkins school at Newport, was ordained
its deacon This company attempted a settle
Ut on the territory purchased by Messrs
ckton, Burgess and Mills, but on account
the hostility Of the natives and slave traders,
Y were compelled to return to Sierra Leone,
subsequently, they joined the company set
by Mr.. Ashman on the main land.
rom 1S2I to 1850, some 10000 colored men
women have been sent to Liberia in l48
.rate vessels, who. with their children born
educated there, now make Liberia Amerl-
opuiation Of about 20 600 to 5000.