Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-10-26
A Black Mans Opinion of Black Mans
Capacity for Self Government.

III. w. johnson, Ir., acolored man OF
Canandiagua, n. l. who was educated as
lawyer and after his admission to the bar
emigrated TO Liberia, is writing home Sc
Ties of letters for publication, from the sec
ond Of which we make the following
extract
"The Government Of Liberia is founded
very much on the plan Of the Government
of the United States OF America. It's Con
stitution is very much ike the United States
aud other American Constitutions. Its
laws are similar to the English common
law and the general system Of laws in the
the United States, so far as they are suita
bic to the condition Of the people, and
adapted to their circumstances. There are
two very important exceptions First, the
people vote directly for President and Vice
President. Secondly, the terrltoy Is dlvi-
ded into counties instead OF States The
jurisdiction Of the Government extends be-
tween SIX aud seven hundred miles along
tho coast, and to underlined limits in the
interior. The population consists OF about
30, 600 civilized people, and 200, 600 natives
who acknowledge the jurisdiction OF the
Government, aud many Of whom daily seek
to have their wrongs redressed in its courts
Of justice. Many Of these are friends IN
peace, and allies in war
The government is divided into three de-
partments Executive, Le2islatiyeaud judi
cial. The Executive department consists Of
President, Vice President and Cabinet
The Legislative Of a Senate ana House Of
REPRESENTATIVES. 1t is called The Legisla-
ture The Judicial department consists
Of Il Supreme Court which is composed OF
Chief Justice and two judges Of the
| Court af Quarterly Sessions and Common
| Pleas, who sit with the Chief Justice al
| ternately. This Court Is held once a year
lt meets in January 1t has original juris-
dietion in only few cases, and appellate
| jurisdiction in all cases brought up on ap-
peal from the next highest court below. A
| court Of monthly sessions, composed Of one
| Chairman aud two Justices Of the Peace of
| the county who sit alternately. This court
sits every month and is very much ike the
country courts in your State. There are,
! also, justices and police courts, similar to
those in New York The judges hold Office
| during good behavior They are not elect
| cd, but appointed By the Executive. for
! got TO sag that the President, Vice President
and members Of the House are elected every
two years, and the Senators every louryears.
As the great problem-whether the black
man has capacity for el-gOyernment 10
now being solved on the soil OF Africa, /
suppose you and your readers are anxious tc
know how aud with what ability these differ
ent departments Of government are filed BY
oolored men. will proceed to state the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but The
truth, founded upon facts witnessed and
seen with my own eyes. This | will dc
with candor, and without fear or favor
In lhe first place, they act Ike white men,
and iill their various Offices with as much
ability as white men do, when placed IN sim
liar circumstances-when founding new
government in the midst of an unbrokon
| wilderness, surrounded With Wild and hos
tie trigy,, and vilh iimited means at theil
disposal 10 administer the affairs Of gov
| ornmeut