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Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0093 Enlarge and print image (5M) |
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Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0093 Enlarge and print image (5M) |
| MARYLAND COLONIZATION JOURNAL. CONDUCTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS OF THE MARYLAND STATE COLONIZATION SOCIETY, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE MANAGERS OF THE STATE FUND. Vol. I. Baltimore, January, 1839. No. 24. When gratuitous please circulate. COLONIZATION MEETINGS. (From the Christian Statesman.) Annual Meeting of the American Coloniza- tion Society. The annual meeting of this society was held on Tuesday evening, the llth instant, in the hall of the House of Representatives. The over- flowing and intelligent audience that filled this magnificent hall, testified to the deep and general interest felt hy the country in the great and be- nevolent object of this society. In the absence of the president (Mr. Clay) the Hon. C. F. Mercer, one of the vice-presidents, took the chair. The Rev. Dr. Laurie offered up prayer. Delegates were present from several states, and other auxiliary societies. The report of the board of managers, read by the secretary, represented the cause in this country as rising in public estimation; its friends, as resolved to im- part new vigor and extent to its proceedings, and the communities in Liberia, as advancing in knowledge and prosperity, and as already anima- ted with zeal and entetprise for their own im- provement, and the elevation of their race. It is not in our power, to five even a sketch, t'ni-i week, of the various speeches: but it may be said that at no anniversary of the society has the cause received a nobler impulse. On motion of Z. C. Lee, Esq. it was Resolved, That the report of the managers be accepted and published in the African Repository, and that fifteen hundred copies be printed in separate pamphlet form. On motion of Dr. Reese, Resolved, That the experience of another year has shown satisfactorily to this society, that as, in every great scheme of good to mankind, so in that of African colonization, designed to confer large and lasting good upon a whole race of men, and upon one quarter of the globe, occasional misfor- tunes should but inflame the zeal and increase the devotion of its friends, and give new energy to all their exertions. The Hon. Henry A. Wise submitted the fol- lowing resolution : Resolved, That the cause of colonization should be hereafter, as heretofore, (in contrast to the ex- ample of abolition, the declared antagonist and enemy of colonization,) guarded jealously from all union, association, or contact with the party politics of the country; and that such union,asso- ciation or contact, in any form, or to any extent, wVuld be pollution to its character and death to its hopes of doing good as the cause of humanity, civilization, philanthropy and patriotism. [An interesting debate arose on this resolution, in which the Hon. mover and Rev. Drs. Bctliune ami Spring, and Col. Stone participated. It was adopted.] On motion of the Rev. George Cnokman. Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to the clergy who have taken tip collections on or about the 4th of July ; and that they be re- spectfully invited, with their congregations, to continue to patronize the cause ol African coloni- zation. On motion of Col. Wm, Stone, Resolved, That since a union of the northern, southern and middle states in the colonization of our free coloured population, is most important to success, and especially so in its influence upon the destiny of the coloured race, both in the United States and in Africa, such a nn'ion should be cherished bv every friend of Ibis society. On notion of the Hon. Mr. Garland, seconded by the Rev. R. R. Gurley. Resolved. That while this society is an object of violent attack from opposite portions of the Union, and by men of the most opposite and hos- tile sentiments, it is the duty of those who regard it as safe for the Union, benevolent towards our whole coloured population, and fraught with bless- ings inestimable to Africa, to unite their coun- sel,—their devotions and their prayers, to give to its operations ten-fold energy and success. On Wednesday and Thursday, the society met and took into consideration certain amendments to the constitution, which it had been agreed by certain committees of conference of the Parent Pennsylvania, and New York societies, should be submitted to the general meeting. The whole subject was ieferrcd to a committee, who modified these amendments and reported them ; when, after considerable discussion, they were, with some few alterations, adopted, and the following there- upon became the constitution of the society. Constitution. Article 1st, This Society shall be called 'The American Society for Colonizing the Free People of Colour of the United States.' 2d. The object to which its attention is to be exclusively directed is to promote and execute a plan for (colonizing with their own consent) the free people of colour residing in our country, in Africa, or such other place as Congress shall deem expedient. And the society shall act to effect this object, in co-operation with the general gov- ernment, and such of the states as may adopt regulations on the subject. 3d. Every citizen of the United States, who shall have paid to the funds of the society a sum of one dollar shall be a member of this society. 4th. There shall be a board of directors, com- posed of delegates from the several state societies, and societies for the District of Columbia, and territories of the United States. Each society contributing not less than one thousand dollars annually into the common treasury, shall be enti- tled to two delegates, each society having under ita care a colony shall be entitled to three dele- gates ; and any two or more societies uniting in the support ol a colony composing at least three hundred souls, to three delegates each. Any in- dividual contributing one thousand dollars to the society shall be a director for life. 5th. The society and the board of directors shall meet annually at Washington on the third Tues- day in January, and at such other times and places as they shall direct. They shall have power to organize and administer a general government for the several colonies in Liberia; to provide a uni- form code of laws for such colonies, and manage the general alfairs of colonization throughout the United States, except within the states which planted colonies. Tliey shall also appoint annu- ally the executive committee of five, with such officers as they may deem necessary, who shall be the ex-officio members of the executive com- mittee and board of directors, but in the latter case shall have a right to speak but not to vote. The said board of directors shall designate the salaries of these officers, to adopt such plans as they may deem expedient for the promotion of the colonization cause. It shall be their duty to pro- vide for the fulfilment of all existing obligations of the American Colonization Society, and nothing in the following article of these amendments shall limit or restrain their power to make such provi- sion by an equitable assessment upon the several societies. 6th The expenses of general government in Africa, shall be borne by the several associated societies, according to the ratio to be fixed by the board of directors. 7th. Every such society which has under its care a colony, associated under the general gov- ernment, shall have the right to appropriate its own funds in the colonization and care of its emi- grants. 8th. The board of directors, shall have the exclusive right to acquire territory in Africa, to negociate treaties with the native African tribes, anil to appropriate the territory and define the limits of the colonies. 9th. The president and vice-presidents of the society shall be elected annually by the society. 10th. It shall be the duty of the president, (or in his absence the vice-presidents, according to seniority) to preside at meetings of the society, and to call meetings when he thinks necessary. 11th, The board of directors and the executive committee shall have power to fill up all vacancies Occurring in their respective numbers during the year, and to make such by-laws for their govern- ment, as they may deem necessary, provided the same are not repugnant to this constitution. 12th. This constitution may be modified or altered, upon a proposition to that effect, by any of the said societies, transmitted to each of the societies, three months before the annual meetings of the board of directors ; Provided, such proposi- tion receive the sanction of two-thirds of the board at their next annual meeting. 13th.. The representatives of the societies pre sent, at the annual meetings, adopting this consti- tution, shall have the power to elect delegates to serve in the board of directors until others are appointed by their societies. The delegates shall meet immediately after their election, organize and enter upon their duties as a board. (From the New York Mercury ) New York Colonization Meeting. The friends of colonization held a meeting No- vember 14th at the Tabernacle. The Rev. Doctor Milnor presided. The Rev. Spencer Cone opened the meeting by reading the til!th chapter of Isaiah, after which the Rev. Dr. De Witt made a prayer. The Rev. John Seyes, missionary to Africa, then addressed the meeting, and said that a resolution had been given him. with a request to prupose and say something in support it. He then read the following resolution. 'Resolved, That it is our opinion that a ship sent to Africa, manned and navigated by coloured men, would tend to elevate the coloured man, and give additional confidence to the friends of benevo- lence.' He had this object in view long before the pre- sent moment. And he would now point out the beneficial objects likely to arise from it. It would tend to cause respectable coloured men to go to Africa. Many of this description had already gone there, but they were obliged to sutler many incon- venience's and indignities on the voyage. But a ship navigated and manned by coloured men, would enable respectable coloured men to go to Africa and sec the country and judge for them- selves. A vessel of this kind would also greatly benefit the commerce of the colony. A respecta- ble merchant of this city had this day reminded him, that some time back, he received from a coloured merchant of Monrovia, a consignment of cam-wood to the amount of $7,000. This was a pretty good proof that trade was not extinct in Libei ia, or that the people were deteriorating into poverty or scoundielisin, as some persons would nave it believed. He appealed to those who traded on that coast if they were not obliged to employ Africans to work their vessels while on the coast, as the climate was so deleterious to white men that it prevented them from exercising Iheir physical energies, and hence he considered that a vessel navigated by coloured men could be worked cheaper and more efficiently than a vessel navigated by white men. There were also many of the colonists who understood navigation, and were often employed to pilot vessels tioin one part of the coast to another. If this enterprise was once set afloat, he anticipated that instead of a single ship, there would bye-and-bye he a fleet navigated by Africans, and that such a fleet would be employed in carrying hundreds and hundreds of Africans to the land of their forefathers, and bring back the produce of the rich soil of Africa in return. The resolution had well said, that this enterprise would tend to elevate the coloured man in the estimation of the white man, and he had no doubt of it, for it would give coloured men an opportunity to develope tiieir talents, and show their white brethren that they were not formed only for the lowest and most debased offices of life, but were capable of filling the very highest, if they had the same opportunities and facilities as the white man. This enterprise would undoubtedly tend to elevate the coloured man, and what effect would it have on the native African? When he saw a ship navigated and brought across the waters by black men, it would give him ideas of his own capabilities, which would have the happiest effect, and be a powerful incentive to make hint endea- vour to break through the yoke of ignorance which now bound down his energies. No man was more susceptible of education or civilization than the native African, and he would mention an incident in illustration of it. A few months before he left Africa, there was a marriage of a native African who bad been reared by a coloured emigrant, and this young man, instead of being the same savage as his forefathers was as civilized as any of the American coloured people in this country, and could read and write. The young woman whom he married was also a native African, who had been educated and instructed in Christianity. Thus a little leaven would leaven the whole lump. One of the greatest matters to be achieved was to give the native African a more elevated opinion of his own capability, and impress him with the convic- tion that if he applied himself he could learn all that was known to the white man, and he thought no means were more likely to effect such an object than the enterprise in question. Some persons feared that the effect of colonizing Africa with coloured men from America would have the same effect as the colonization of Europe had on this continent, namely, the destruction of the aborigines ; but there was no analogy between the two cases. In the one instance the two peo- ple differed in colour, and in every other particular so widely that it was impossible they could ever unite or amalgamate. But the coloured colonists who went to Africa, would there meet people of their own race, and there, and there only could or should amalgamation take place. To show how far example incited the African, he would mention what had lately occurred there. Baphro, a powerful African king, said he could not live any longer in a thatched house, but must have a house like the American man. and he came up to Cape Palmas and got mechanics to build one for him, and he also erected a school- house. This enterprise would also constrain men to take away the bandage which they had so long worn over their eyes; for when they saw this ship going to Liberia, and coming back freighted with its produce, they must acknowledge that there was such a place as Liberia, and that every one that went there did not die the moment they reached it, which some people were led to believe, while others thought that there was no such place. In relation to the disbelief that there was such a place as Liberia he would relate an anecdote. A captain who some time back sailed with emi- grants for Liberia, determined to abandon the usual track of going there, and sail straight to Liberia, and after being out two months they were glad to put into Barbadoes on their way to Liberia. Here they were kindly treated, and the captain again put to sea, and again sailed straight for Liberia. Two months more, however, passed be- fore he got there, and his coloured passengers, finding themselves so long on the voyage, said, 'the fact is there is no such place as Liberia, and it will he very well lor M if every two months we meet such a grand port as Barbadoes.' And thus it was with the enemies of colonization. Because the whole of Africa had not been already colonized and christianized, they say the fact is, there is no such place as Liberia. After some further remarks he proposed the resolution. Judge Wilkinson seconded the resolution, and said that it was in- tended to purchase the vessel and sell her to some American blacks, and give them ample time to pay for her. Colonel Stone (of the Commercial) said that the society was in immediate want of $5,000 to meet the present emergency, and he had been authorized to say that three gentlemen would give $500 each, so that the sum requisite for the pre- sent week was thus reduced to $'3,500. But as they had not the faculty of getting 8 or $10,000 at a time, or if they had, they had too much honesty to procure it, in the way some of their abolition friends did lately, they must trust for it to their friends, and he relied upon not being disappointed. He did not intend to inflict a speech upon them, and would merely remark that he had always up- held and supported the colonization cause to trie very best of his ability, and had long thought that the measure which was now proposed would be a most effectual one for promoting it, and that when, by means of it, our deceived coloured brethren were convinced that there was really such a place as Liberia, they would spontaneously rush to the shore and embark for that better country which was ready to receive them. Colonizaiion, he knew, was bitterly opposed by some, but so also were other attempts at colonization. When Moses proposed his mighty scheme of colonization, the magicians of Pharaoh laughed him to scorn, and said they could work mightier miracles than lie did. And so also, have some magicians started up here, and promised that the chains of every slave should snap asunder, and all the coloured people of this country become free. But the result lias been with them as it was with the magicians of Egypt, when the rod of Aaron swallowed up their ierpents. All their efforts to impede and discourage colonization have proved abortive, and we may see by the glorious account we have heard to-night, that we have only to make the cause of colonization a national one—and national we will make it—and force our legislature to take it up, and the African will regain his borne and heritage, and return to that country and kindred, to which God intended he should return. The resolution was then adopted, a collection made, and the meeting adjourned. (From the Boston Recorder.) Massachusetts Colonization Society. A meeting of this society was held in the Marl- boro' Chapel, on Wednesday evening last, William J. Hubbard, Esq. in the chair, and Charles At- wood, Esq. Secretary. Rev. Mr. Malcom otlered prayer, confessing, in a tender and humble spirit, our liability to err even in our attempts to do good, and imploring divine direction. Rev. Mr. Gurley secretary and general agent of the Parent Society, said he felt that it was un- necessary for him to go as much into detail as he otherwise should, had he not recently had an op- portunity of addressing a meeting in this city— and having repeatedly, on other occcasions, pre- sented the claims of the society in Boston. It would be folly for him to imagine or represent that he had found that warm and devoted attach- ment to the object contemplated by this society, to which its claims, in his views entitled it. But he felt no disposition to enter into apologies. It had been intimated by a friend that this occasion could not be better improved than by answering the objections and difficulties which were enter- tained against the scheme, in the minds ol many sincere and upright men. He had no disposition to do so, because he did not regard them as enter- ing into the essential principles of this enterprise. lie wished, if possible, to detach it from these ob- jections and difficulties, and place it upon its broad principles. One of the fundamental errors of the age, was, he said, an attempt at pcrfectability, and an at- tempt to found society and carry it forward on those principles of justice, which would exist in such a state of society, without regard to provi- dential arrangements. He might attempt to prove that it would be better to have but one climate, one race of men, and one form of government. Hut we must look at the general course of Provi- dence—we must look not exactly at what things ought to be, but what they are; and in all our efforts to improve them, we must be guided by christian prudence and discretion. After recapitulating some of the arguments and facts mentioned at the last meeting, he said the Colonization Society was founded in the desire to extend the greatest possible blessings to the great- est number of the coloured people. It was believed that they would find the means of elevating them- selves, by being placed in a wider field, in their native land, which would be denied thein in all other lands. Is there not reason in this I He did not stop to inquire whether there was a cruel prejudice against the coloured man, nor whether much more might not and ought not to be done for the elevation of those of them who choose to re- main in this land. All this, be admitted. But, he did say that their prospect of success in this country was much less, and their field of enter- prise less inviting. Allusion has been made of the various difficul- ties and discouragements which had been expe- rienced in the progress of these colonies; but these were no greater than the nature of the en- terprise renders inevitable ; and they were far less than those encountered in the early settlement of this country ; and there could not be produced any colony of the same age, sustained by the same means, which has advanced so rapidly, and which can furnish as good an example of a sober and in- dustrious population. The society had been held up to reproach, as having involved itself in various embarrassments. The truth was, that, from a desire to increase the number of emigrants, it did advance beyond its means; but from an intimate knowledge of the affairs of the society from the beginning, he must he permitted to express the belief, that no human sagacity could have prevent- ed this result. The debt is now greatly dimin- ished; and the remainder is in stocks redeemable in twelve years. The society thus involved itself by its earnest desire to advance the object for which it was formed. Much was said, some years ago, with regard to the introduction of ardent spirits into the colonies, as an objection against the society ; but there was not a piace in the world, of equal population, which was more sober, and where a less amount of ardent spirit was used. Rev. Dr. Skinner says that, during a residence of twenty-eight months in those colonies, he had seen but two persons in- toxicated, and they were intemperate before they left this country. Much had been said of the little advance that had been made in agriculture; but it must be re- collected that the cultivation of cotton, rice, and coffee, which were the productions best fitted to the soil, required more capital than could readily be commanded by poor emigrants; and it was not to be expected that they could, in so short a time, make much progress. It has been said that the influence of the colony is to destroy the slave trade; and this assertion has been called in question, because it is said the slave trade still exists. Yet, the statements which have been made are strictly true. Dr. Skinner and Dr. McDowel and other persons who have resided at the colony, agree in testifying that, in all parts of the coast which is occupied by the colonists, the slave trade is broken up. It may be true that it has taken a different channel, and that it has not on the whole been diminished, to the extent to which it lias been driven away froln particular points along the coast. Hints have been given, that these colonies tolerate and con- nive at this trade. But nothing can be more false than that the government of these colonies has done any thing to countenance it. I will not say that vessels of doubtful character have not entered into these ports. But in a country where the slave traffic is the chief business of commerce, it is impossible that there should not be occasionally some indirect connection between the native trallic and these colonies—as impossible as for a man in Virginia to refuse to receive any article that has passed through the bands of a slaveholder. But that the individuals who compose these colo- nies are sincerely and firmly set against this traffic, and that they have induced many of the naliie tribes to pledge themselves to abandon it, was a fact known to the world. In regard to the moral and religious character of the colonies, he could bring forward the testi- mony of unimpeachable witnesses to show that it stands high. And, as to the feelings of the colonists. Dr. Skinner had stated in a public meeting in Connecticut that he did not believe if a ship was fitted out on purpose to bring back all who wished to return, that more than 10 or 15 could be found in all the colonies, who could be induced to return; and those were such as could not be contented any where. Is it possible that these statements can be without foundation? Why then do they not return ? A very respecta- ble man of colour had stated to him that day, that he understood that they were not permitted to return. It was not so; they were free to go any where they please—they could return it they wished, in the first ship. Believing that this scheme was founded in pure benevolence, and that it was entitled to the sup- port of all classes in this community, particularly the free coloured people, he could not cease to urge it upon the favour of the whole American people. He had admitted that there was a cruel prejudice against the people of colour; but the Colonization society did not foster this prejudice; and should this society succeed, as he was confi- dent they should, they would have the confidence and support of the coloured people; and when this is given all others may oppose it in vain. |