with delightful weather. I pursued that course with the Java, contrary to all the tracks on the charts and sailing directory. The authors, I think, know very little what they have written about. The Java made from the Cape, (notwithstanding we were becalmed near the coast six days) a remarkably quick passage to St. Thomas. SIR: Captain Weaver's Letter. Ε. Ρ. Κ. WASHINGTON, JAN. 1, 1832. Nature seems to have ordained, that on a removal from a temperate clime to the torrid zone of Africa, in order to become acclimated, it is necessary, in most cases, to pass through the ordeal of fever. The friends of the Colony must not flinch from the question. Investigation will render that ordeal lighter. It is, I believe, a true assertion, that the natives of that part of the coast are uncommonly healthy-so are the acclimated emigrants! In future, when emigrants are sent there from the interior of this country, I would earnestly recommend, that the detention on the seaboard, and at the mouth of the St. Paul's and Montserado rivers, should be as short as possible. By transferring them measurably beyond the atmosphere of the Mangrove swamps at the mouths of those rivers, I have no doubt their health will be protected in the ratio that the change of situation is diminished. It must be regarded as a strong fact in defence of the position I have assumed, that of the emigrants by the Volador, nearly cotemporaneous with the Carolinian, only two patients were lost. If such was the different success in the recited cases, it appears to me more just to attribute the misfortune of the Carolinian's people to other causes than to the fault of the climate of Liberia With equal justice, might the climate of Virginia be assailed, from the first settlement, Jamestown, having proved an unhealthy location. The charge of unhealthiness against Liberia, for the colored races cannot be supported-it is the birthplace of the black man, to which his constitution is peculiarly adapted; and though estranged for a time from his native clime, nature will undoubtedly triumphantly resume her sway, whenever he returns to the land of his fathers-Africa is the black man's home physically. Morally he should aspire for a residence within her boundaries. He is there the Lord of the soil-all mankind are there his equals the distinction of color is there against the white man; for in Africa he is a sort of "lusus naturæ," an object to be pointed at by the finger of curiosity, an object of dread for his power and of hatred for his avarice. Sir, I have faith in the success of the Colony of Liberia-you have many difficulties to encounter, but they are not insurmountable. If our government will deign to foster that Colony, a very short time will suffice, to render it of great importance in a commercial point of view, independent of home considerations. In the tobacco trade we can have no rivals. The North and the South are deeply interested in the pros. perity of our sable Colony. The North will find a vent for her surplus manufactures, and the South a home and a refuge for a portion of its population, which every good citizen must wish to see speedily transferred thither-I mean the free colored population of the United States. The cost of transportation is by many persons of intelligence deemed an insurmountable barrier. Avarice brought them here! Shall we make the painful admission, that that vice, so far exceeds the combined virtues of a Christian community as to render its deeds irrevocable? No, Sir; it is in the power of the American people, with a due understanding of the case, and of the magnitude of the object, to effect much by a simultaneous movement. The abolition of slavery is not supposed. I am fully aware of its present impracticability-but allow me to make a rough calculation as to the feasibility o removing the free colored people of the twenty-four States, from this country to Liberia-that population I will assume at 300,000 souls, requiring 600 ships to transport them, men, women and children-$6000 is a sum for which a ship competent to the voyage can be chartered. Thus we have a sum of $3,600,000, an amount of money requisite to disburden ourselves and found a Christian empire in Africa. After the payment of the National debt, to what more hallowed purpose, and more to the glory of the United States, could a surplus revenue be applied? Could that object be effected, gradual emancipation would probably follow, in the States of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, upon condition of transplantation in Africa. The corn-growing States, relieved from that system which has brought their prosperity to so low an ebb, we would again see them rivalling with their superior climate, the industry and productiveness of the North. Each individual State, I have shown, is interested in the successful colonization of Liberia. If their combined energies could be brought to operate with the General Government, how much longer would the difficulty under which we labor, be deemed insurmountable? That liberal and enlightened views on this question are now being indulged I am gratified to find, and I sincerely hope the warmest expeotations of the friends of your Society may be fully realized. I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, &c. &c. Captain Abels' Letter. WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1932. Dear Sir: Having just arrived in the United States from the Colony of Liberia, to which place I wentas master of the Schooner Margaret Mercer, and where I remained thirteen days, during which time I was daily on shore, and carefully ob served the state of affairs, and inquired into the condition of the people, I venture to state some facts in regard to the circumstances and prospects of the Colony. On the 14th December I arrived, and on the 15th went on shore, and was received in the most polite and friendly manner by the Governor, Dr. Mechlin, who introduced me to the ministers and principal inhabitants. All the Colonists appeared to be in good health. All my expectations in regard to the aspect of things, the health, harmony, order, contentment, industry, and general prosperity of the settlers, were more than realized. There are about two hundred buildings in the town of Monrovia, extending along the Cape Montserado, not far from a mile and a quarter.Most of these are good substantial houses and stores, (the first story of many of them being of stone,) and some of them handsome, spacious, painted, and with Venitian blinds. Nothing struck me as more remarkable than the great superiority, in intelligence, manners, conversation, dress, aud general appearance in every respect, of the people over their colored brethren in America. So much was I pleased with what I saw, that I observed to the people, should I make a true report, it would hardly be credited in the United States. Among all that I conversed with, I did not find a discontented person, or hear one express a desire to return to America. I saw no intemperance, nor did I hear a profane word uttered by any one. Being a Minister of the Gospel, on Christmas day I preached both in the Methodist and Baptist Church, to full and attentive congregations of from three to four hundred persons in each. I know of no place where the Sabbath appears to be more respected than in Monrovia. I was glad to see that the Colonial Agent or Governor is a constant attendant on Divine service, and appears desirous of promoting the moral and religious welfare of the people. Most of the settlers appear to be rapidly acquiring property; and I have no doubt they are doing better for themselves and their children in Liberia, than they could do in any other part of the world. Could the free people of color in this country but see the real condition of their brethren who have settled in Africa, I am persuaded they would require no other motive to induce them to emigrate. This is my decided and deliberate judgment. Very respectfully, sir, your friend and servant, WILLIAM ABELS. P. S. I have several times dined with the Colonists, and I think no better tables could be set in any part of the world. We had every thing that heart could desire, of meats, and fish, and fowls, and vegetables, and wines, &c. &c. ( B.) Office of the American Colonization Society, At a special meeting of the Board of Managers of the American Colonization Society, the digest of the laws and the plan of civil government for Liberia, as adopted by the agents of this Society, having been read and considered, it was, on motion, Resolved, That the Board of Managers, considering the satisfactory information afforded by recent accounts from the Colony, of the successful operation of the plan of the civil government thereof, as established by their Agents in August last, and seeing therein reason to re-consider their instructions to the Agent of the 29th of December, 1824, now approve of the principles in that form of government, and give their sanction to the same. Resolved, That the digest of the laws be referred to a Committee to examine the same, and compare them with the Constitution and laws of 1820, and report to the next stated meeting. 1 WASHINGTON, MAY 23, 1825. At a meeting of the Board of Managers, this day, the Committee appointed at the last meeting, presented the following resolutions, which were adopted: Resolved, That the Board, having considered the digest of the laws now in force in the Colony of Liberia, dated August 19, 1824, as prepared by the Agent, do approve the same, and declare the same to be, under the Constitution, the law of the Colony, adding thereto the following: In case of failure to find recognizance for good behaviour, when required, the person so failing shall be subjected to such labor on the public works, or other penalty as the Agent shall prescribe, until he shall find recognizance, or the object for which it was required of him shall have beer answered. In all cases of banishment, where the banished person has no heir in the Colony, the land held by him shall revert to the Colony. Resolved, That this declaration of the law of the Colony, shall not be construed to annul or impair any regulations which the Agent, under his constitutional authority, may have seen fit to establish subsequent to the above date of August 19, 1824. Resolved, That the Resident Agent cause to be printed two thousand copies of the Constitution, government, and laws, of the Colony of Liberia, as established by this Board at Washington, 23d May, 1825. R. R. GURLEY, Resident Agent. JAMES LAURIE, Acting President.. CONSTITUTION For the government of the African Colony at Liberia. ARTICLE I. All persons born within the limits of the Territory held by the American Colonization Society, in Liberia, in Africa, or removing there to reside, shall be free, and entitled to all such rights and privileges as are enjoyed by the citizens of the United States. ARTICLE II. The Colonization Society shall, from time to time, make such rules as they may think fit for the government of the settlement, until they shall withdraw their Agents and leave the settlers to the government of themselves. ARTICLE III. The Society's Agents shall compose a Board, to determine all questions relative to the government of the settlement, shall decide all disputes between individuals, and shall exercise all judicial powers, except such as they shall delegate to Justices of the Peace. ARTICLE IV. The Agents shall appoint all officers not appointed by the Managers, necessary for the good order and government for the settle ment. ARTICLE V. There shall be no slavery in the settlement. ARTICLE VI. The common law, as in force and modified in the United States, and applicable to the situation of the People, shall be in force in the settlement. ARTICLE VII. Every settler coming to the age of twenty-one years, and those now of age, shall take an oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution. ARTICLE VIII. In cases of necessity, where no rule has been made by the Board of Managers, the Agents are authorized to make the necessary rules and regulations, of which they shall, by the first opportunity, in form the Board or their approbation; and they shall continue in force, auntil the Board shall send out their decision upon them. ARTICLE IX. This constitution is not to interfere with the jurisdiction, rights, and claims, of the Agents of the United States, over the captured Africans and others, under their care and control, so long as they shall reside within the limits of the settlement. ARTICLE X. No alteration shall be made in this Constitution, except by an unanimous consent of all present, at a regular meeting of the Board of Managers, or by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at two successive meetings of the Board of Managers. The Board received from the Colonial Agent, Mr. Ashman, early in last year, a plan of Government, exhibiting several deviations from the form sketched in 1824, but in its principles the same. These deviations Mr. Ashmun remarks, "have grown gradually out of the altered and improving state of the Colony, and are neither the offspring of a rash spirit of experiment, nor have they been made without evident necessity." At a meeting of the Board of Managers, October 22d, 1828, it was determined to consider the revised Constitution or form of Government, submitted by Mr. Ashmun, and after due deliberation, it was Resolved, That the Constitution as modified by the Colonial Agent, Mr. Ashmun, and as now in operation, be hereby adopted. PLAN OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT FOR THE COLONY OF LIBERIA. The necessity of a mild, just, and efficient civil Government, for the preservation of individual and political rights among any people, and the advancement of true prosperity, induces the Board of Managers of the American Colonization Society to adopt, after mature consideration, the following system of Government, for the proper regulation of public affairs in the Colony of Liberia. ARTICLE I. The Agent of the American Colonization Society, resident in the Colony, possesses within the same, sovereign power, subject only to the Constitution, the chartered rights of the citizens, and the decisions of the Board. ARTICLE II. All male colored people, who have subscribed the oath to support the Constitution, and drawn, and not forfeited lands in the Colony, shall be entitled to vote for, and be eligible to the civil offices of the Colony. ARTICLE III. The Civil Officers of the Colony shall be appointed annually: and the polls for the general annual election of the Colony, shall be opened on the last Tuesday in August, and continue open not more than three, nor less than two successive days, in the different Settlements. Elections shall be organized by the Sheriff, by the appointment in each Settlement, of a President, two Judges, and two Clerks. |