Maryland State Archives
Maryland Colonization Journal Collection
MSA SC 4303

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Maryland State Archives
Maryland Colonization Journal Collection
MSA SC 4303

msa_sc4303_scm11070-0006

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MARYLAND COLONIZATION JOURNAL, grants with the necessary clothing or articles of furniture, or tools of their various trades, or implements of agriculture, 8ic.—the establish- ment and support of schools and supplying with books those who cannot affurd to buy them;—local improvements in the Colony, such as the encouragement of agriculture by premiums, model farms, &c. the opening of roads, the improvement of water courses, the establishment of mills and other machinery too expensive for individual emigrants, &c.— and occasionally the purchase of some meritorious individual now in slavery, upon whose free- dom and removal to Africa may depend the freedom or removal of many others, &c. &.c. Sic. The two hundred thousand dollars ap- propriated by the state, will suffice for the transportation and protection of all who may wish to remove, for many years; but those collateral purposes, some of which only are enumerated, will afford an inexhaustible held lor the enlightened liberality of the friends of the cause throughout our country, and must indeed depend in a great measure upon their aid. The Board propose to despatch at least two expeditions during this year—one in the present month, and the other in October. To accomplish this work, much assistance will be required, and the Board reiterate their calls upon their friends in this state and throughout the country, for prompt and efficient aid and co-operation. Donations may be forwarded to "Robert Mickle, Esq. Treasurer of the Maryland State Colonization Society; Office. Md. State Col. Society, Baltimore." The Society is author- ized to receive bequpstsof property, real or personal—and any made to it, by its corporate name, "The Maryland Stale Colonization So- ciety," will be vaiid. COLONIZATION JOURNAL. SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1835. TO EDITORS OF PERIODICALS. The committee on publications will send •hi' Journal to the editors of all the religious, literary, political and miscellaneous periodicals in this state, with whose existence they are acquainted. They are instructed to take this course by the board of managers of the State Society; the board regarding it as highly im- portant to ask for this cause, the co-operation of all who have it in their power to diffuse ge- neral information. It is evident that a correct knowledge of the real nature and merits of colonization on the Maryland plan, may be soon made familiar to the people of every county in our stale, if extracts from this be copied by other papers and illustrated with editorial comments. As the doctrines to bn advocated in this journal on colonization, are not of a cast to give just cause of dissatisfac- tion to any, the board do believe that all sen- sible men in Maryland, will ho gratified with the principles and fuels which will from time to time appear in its columns. We hope, therefore, for a wide circulation of those facts and principles, by our collaborators of the press;—and that we may know to whom phi- lanthropy will be indebted for this valuable service, we respectfully request editors to for- ward to the Maryland Colonization Journal, such numbers of their papers as shall contain extracts from our columns, or original editorial remarks on colonization. We have obtained the following list of periodicals in Maryland, but are not sure that it includes all. If any be omitted we shall be thankful to be informed of their names, and places of publication. A list of Papers published in this Stale. CiTr or Baltimore.—American, Chroni- cle, Republican, Gazette, Patriot, Young Men's Paper, Saturday Morning Visiter, Methodist Protestant, Maryland Temperance Herald, Religious Magazine, Lutheran Observer, Southern Pioneer. W.8.—Harford Cointv.—Bel Air Citizen. Republican, Del Air. Fredekick Co.—Ex- aminer, Tunes, Citizen, Herald, Frederick; Carrolltonian, Westminster. Washikqton Co. —Torchlight, Mail, Herald. Jlngerstown; Banner, tVilliamspnrt. Ai lf.giiam Co.— Advocate, Civilian, Cumberland. Asm: Arun- del Co—Maryland Republican, (Jazette, Carrolltonian,.lnnapotis. Prime Qmmb'i Co —Bulletin, Marlboro''. Montgomery Co. —Maryland Journal, Roikville. E. S.—Cecil Co.—Republican. Gazette, Elkton. Kent Co. —Bugle, Chestertown. Queen Akm's Co.—Times, Centreviite. Ca- roline Co—Advocate, Dentun. Talbot Co. — Gazette, Eastern Shore Whig, Enston. Dorchester Co.—Borderer, Snow Hill; Chro- nicle, Cambridge manner, to their respective limits, and forming colonization aid societies within them, appro- priate their funds to assist such institutions among the slave-holding states, as may apply therefor, and avow and prosecute the plan of colonization for purposes in accordance with the views entertained by the donors. The advantages of this system are manifest. The greatest difficulty, heretofore experienced by the American Colonization Society, has been to conciliate the antagonist views of the two great divisions of its friends, the North and the South. The former required a clear and emphatic avowal, that the extirpation of slavery was the society's legitimate and imme- diate object,—an avowal, which could nut be made, without at once estranging the whole body of southern friends, and destroying the society's influence, where it was most wanted, in the midst of the slave-holder and the slave. At first, and while the society was in its in- fancy, and its colony unknown, little incon- venience was found to arise from this state of things;—but when Libena grew into im- portance, when political questions, more or iess connected with slavery, were discussed with violence, the American ColonizationiKo- ciety became an object of suspicion—and its enemies, both at the North and South, found, in the speeches of its friends, grounds of charge against it, either as an abolition society, or else, one whose tendencies are all in favor of the slave-holder. Its annual meetings threat- ened to become theatres of political discus- sion, until its very existence might be made the pivot upon which the question of the union or disunion of the states might turn. Under these circumstances the Maryland State Colonization Society adopted the system already indicated, as one, which, if it became universal, would free the slave-holding states from tho dread of extraneous interference upon one of the most delicate questions involved in their political existence, and leave the non- slave-holding states the amplest field for be- nevolence, in aiding such of the slave-holding states as were desirous to get rid of slavery, and adopted the plan of colonization as a means of doing so. Even, if this plan were not the best, in the opinion of every one of the friends of colonization, still all would con- cede, that no advantages offered by any other could compensate for the mischief it might do, if liable to be used as a pretext for political agitation. But the Maryland State Society believes its system to be the best that has yet been sug- gested, not only for the reasons of a political character just stated, but in reference to the scheme of colonization itself. The American Colonization Society has demonstrated the practicability of establishing colonies of colour- ed people, from the United States, on the coatt of Africa; and in doing so, it is thought, hts fulfilled the most important object of its exis- tence. It now remains to be demonstrated that the slave-holding states can, by means of these colonies, become non-slave-holding states. While the friends of freedom arc- most deeply interested in this untried experi- ment, yet it must depend upon the slave-hold- ing states, of their own accord, to make it. In several of the slave-holding states it is generally admitted that slavery is against their interests. These states are ready to make the experiment; Maryland has commenced it. If they are goaded, however, with the con- stant apprehension of fanatical interference in their domestic concerns, colonization, viewed as the pretext for this, will share the fate that abolition has long since experienced, and be viewed with disgust and bitter enmity. Estab- lish, however, throughout the states, the sys- tem adopted by Maryland, of independent state action—let Maryland succeed in becom- ing a noii-slave-holding state by means of co- lonization, and the influence, of her example, not weakened by the jealously of extraneous interference and the high-toned pride of her southern neighbours, will become all powerful for good. In obtaining success, the most powerful means is the concentration of effort. The true friends of colonization throughout the land, should therefore unite in assisting Vie Maryland State Society in accomplishing its end, and proving that by means of colonies on the coast of Africa, a slave-holding state may get rid of slavery. If colonization stood sull even in all other quarters, and this great object could be accomplished, there would be no delay that would not be more than compen- sated by the illustration that would then be afforded of the benefit of the scheme. L. THE. MARYLAND PLAN. The Maryland State Colonization Society has adopted the principle of state action, in- dependent of the American Colonization So- ciety. The system that it prefers, und hopes, one day, to see universal, gives to each alave- Aolding state the exclusive control of the sub- ject of colonization within its own limits, re- pudiating, alike, the unsolicited interference of the general government, and of societies and miliv duals from other states, either slave- holding, or non-slave-holding. The latter, under this system, confine themselves, in like PUBLIC MEETING. A public meeting of the Maryland State Colonization Society was held in the Lig*it street Church, during the anniversary week, on Tuesday evening, the 5th instant. Owing to the unfavourable state of the weather, the it- tendance was not as large as had been anti:i- pated, but still the house was pretty well (ill, J. We were glad to see, so lorge a proportion »f gentlemen who were very attentive, and ap- peared to be deeply interested by the proceed- ings. And well they might be, for certainly t was a most delightful meeting. The chair was taken at 8 o'clock, by Na- thaniel Williams, Esq. one of the vice-presi- dent. After a hymn sung by the choir, tkf meeting was opened with prayer by the Re . R. J. Breckinridge. Mr, Latrohe, the corres- ponding secretary, then read the address if the colonists to their colored brethren in Mar - land, which will be found in one of our column., and several extracts from the despatches rt- cently received from the colony at Cape Pal- mas, which were listened to with deep interesi. The following resolution was then offered by A.W. Bradford Esq. of Harford county, whoad- dressed the meeting in a powerfu) and masterly manner:— Resolved, That the system of slate action, adopted and pursued by the Maryland State Colonization So- ciety, la nut only admirably calculated to advance the beat intereets ol the cause, but :o obviate all difficul- ties growing out of the conflicting views and opinions entertained by different portions of the Union on the subject. The speech of Mr. Bradford was argumen- tative and lorcible, and at the 6aino time un- commonly brilliant and eloquent. The mat- ter, style and manner were all excellent, and elicited, we believe, universal applause. He was followed by the Rev. Mr. Bonrdman of Philadelphia, who offered the following resolu- tion and delivered a very able and eloquent address. Resolved, That Africaa Colonization presents to the christian, the patriot, and philanthropist, the noblest incitements to ezertion, in a cause which imparts civilization and the Gospel to one continent, with the Ireed, willing, and regenerated emigrants from another. Mr B. exposed in a strong light the futility of the objections ta colonization; and demon- strated with great force and clearness the superiority of lhis to any other plan yet sug- gested, for improving the condition, mid pro- moting the besi interests of the coloured race- We regret that more were not present to lis- ten to the powerful appeals addressed to the understanding and the heart in favor of this most important cause. We trust that some hearts were touched that evening, and some valuable friends won to the cause; and that an interest has been awakened that will soon be manifested by liberal contributions to the funds of the society. A. nourishing and happy Colony I suppose Mr. Latrobe is absent. I have not forgotten my promise to send him some shells. Kind re- gards to all friends, especially the members of your Board. Yours with esteem, J. I.KKillTON WlLSOrJ- Mb. Mosis Shepi-ard, Baltimore. That part of Dr. Hall's despatch dated Oct 15, 1854, which alludes to missionaries, ren- demit propci to publish a lesolutlon passed by the managers of the State Society, April 29th, 1834, viz:— Resolved, that litis Board offer to the mem- bers of all religious denominations, every fa- cility in their power to establish schools and enter upon the field of missionary labour, within tlie jurisdiction of Maryland in Liberia, so that colonization may be wiry recognized, not only as the means of restoring the des- cendants of Africa to the only land where they can be really free,but as the most efficient agent of civilization and the gospel. Besides recent despatches from Governor Hall of Cape Palmas, and an address from the Colonists there—communications from Rev. Mr. Wilson and Rev. Mr. Gould, were re- ceived via New York by the brig Bourne. A short time before the departure of the Bourne for Cape Palma.., the Rev. Mr. Wil- son, sailed thither, with his wife and several teachers. The brig Ann had taken out the frame of a house for the missionary establish- ment. Few men could be better qualified for his situation than Mr. Wilson. To profound piety he joins firmness of character and sound judgment and discretion, together with man- ners admirably calculated >o win his way to the hearts of the rude people to whom he has devoted his existence. The teachers who accompanied him went out to superintend the schools, which the kings require to be established as part of the consideration for the purchase of the territory. The Amencun Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, have nssumed this part of the duties of the Board of Managers, and in so doing have relieved the Board from considerable expense-, and rendered their relations with the natives far less complicated. The Managers highly appreciate the kindness of the American Board, in this respect, and have already ten- dered to them the thanks of the society. i CArt Palmas, Jan. 27, 1835. Mv Dear Sin,— I write to mill my pro- mise—I have neither time nor strength to add more than a few lines. I am just recovering from the effects of the fever—it did not prove very severe in my case, nor that of any of my family. It certainly assumes a much milder form here than at Messuriido. 1 om happy to say that the prospects of your Colony here, in my opinion, are quite flattor- injr; and I think you have abundant reason to prosecute the cause with increased zeal. The location has proved a very fortunate one, both as to a pleasant climate and a fertile soil. Any coloured person from the UniL,"d States, of industrious habits, can do well here—and none but the indolent would be dissatisfied. Dr. Hall has prosecuted the interests of the Colony with the utmost zeal and judgment— and he deserves, I think, your most decided con- fidence. The course he is pursuing with the natives, I think, will ultimately incorporate them into the Colony, and this will be of infi- nite service to both parties. Allow me to add one or two suggestions, which may be of service to the cause. In the first place, it is very desirable that the emigrants that Rre to be sent out during the infancy of the Colony, should be select men—men of mo- ral and industrious habits, and do not let their expectations be raised too high with regard to what the Society will do for them. This is u source of endless trouble and perplexity for your agent. In the second place, you must expect to incur heavy expenses in the outset. There are a thousand unavoidable expenses here, which you cannot know unless you were present. But if you will meet these and go on with zeal, I hare no doubt if your agent lives and has health, you will be rewarded by having a It will be recollected by most of our readers, that the Rev. Mr. Gould, whose untiring de- votion to the moral and religious culture of the coloured people of tins state, had caused a large number of them, in Calvert and Anno Arundel counties, to look upon him in the light of a disinterested and judicious friend, was despatched by the Managers of the Maryland State Colonization Society, in December last, to Cape Palmas, having in charge u select number of emigrants, mostly from the coun- ties named above. The following letter will doubtless be re- ceived with much joy and gratitude by such of the coloured people as have heretofore regarded linn as one among llieir best friends, and we cannot but indulge the hope that uiuny of them will make speedy preparations to follow their friends to the Maryland Colony. Cape PAt mas, ArmcA, Jan. 28, 1835. Dear Sir,—It affords me much pleasure to inform you and the Board of our sate arrival at this place on the 84ttl inst. after ¦ pleasant voyage of forty-one days from Baltimore, in- cluding the two occupied at Monrovin. Myself and emigrants have landed in pos- session of improved health and high spirits, realizing all that could be expected. The information that I have boon able to obtain from three days' observation and other- wise, enables me to state with freedom and great satisfaction, that the prosperity of the Colony exceeds all my calculation*. The Governor I find to be a man of business, and well calculated to conduct the nilitirs of the Colony, and I have every promise of passino- a very agreeable visit at this place. The state of affairs in the Colony is fairlv represented in the report you will receive. Therefore, I shall decline all specifications, only, by request of the Governor, will stato that the difficulty anticipated by yourself mid the Board on account of the death of Charles,* has been settled without the htnt difficulty. So far as three days' observation have en- abled me to judge, I freely and honest Iv say, that the location of our town is one of the most beautiful I ever saw. The lands are as good, or better than those of America. It is abun- dant in the production of timber and of fruit trees. The staple commodity of the country is not positively known, bul so far as observation will bear lis out, I thin)- we mBy place it upon cotton and rice, which can without doubt be raised in the greatest alundance. We have oysters and fob m •traadMaa, ami we must make some arrangements to procure a seine of filly fathom lentil, and from six to eight feet depth. This w.ll supply our Colony with mackerel and other Sne fish. In the bush or woods, tl.ere is plenty of cat- tle, hogs,sheep, goats, ant-lopes and a species of the deer, all very fine Wc have fowls, guineas, ducks, &.c. and many other good tilings that Americans know nothing about. When you commence ;our operations to collect emigrants—say—;ud say no more, that this is the coloured nan's homo—one that offers him more comfort;! than America. This you are authorized to gay in my name, where I am, and where 1 aninot known. With much respect, yur friend. Ricimi>d B. F. Gould. Rev. V\'m. McKknnev, Baltimore. P. S. Our emigrants had a meeting and drew up upne resolutions oppressing tln-ir satisfaction, but I have not tin.i to put theio in proper order, and also thii.k it will have u better effect to send them her -after. Wo are indebted to Mr. Sheipard for the following pleasing couiniunicati.n. Ono re- mark of the correspondent is inotninthly im- portant to ull who design to emiTrate. We refer to his emphatic caution ngaioat the use of ardent spirits. A.' the older colminl settle- ments in Liberia were made before the com- mencement of the temperance reformation the salutary regulation of a tmiperance' pledge was not, as it is with the Maryland Colony, an original element of the colonial code of civil government. We are however gratified to learn that the first settlers have begun to form temperance societies. Tho February number of the Liberia Mould, con- tains the notice of one lately organized at Monrovia. The American Colonization Society, is now also unalterably determined to send to their Colony none but such as are willing to pledn-o themselves to tutal abstinence from ardelit spirits. The rules on this subject at Cape Palmas may be learned from the sectnd and IM article of the Constitution of Maryland in Liberia, as follows:— Art. S. Every emigrant of fill age, before ho or she shall be received in Maryland in Liberia, shall read or have rend to him or her this Constitution, and sign a declaration to support the same, and they shall, in so doing, bind themselves to refrain from the use of ar- denl spirits, except in case of sickness. Akt. 3. No person shall hold any office in the said territory, who either uses ardent • Chsrles waa the son of King Wer.h Bolec— and had been sent to the Maryland Slate Colonization Society hy his father, to receive a chriattan educa lion. 2