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(From the Ne'w York Observer)
American Colonization Society.
ANNUAL MEETING.
MARYLAND COLONIZATION JOURNAL.
Gentlemen :—I send you some account of the
anniversary of the Parent Colonization Society;
for so it may surely with great propriety he called.
It has, indeed, several grown up children, who
have set up for themselves, and live in their own
llouscs; but she is nevertheless their mother still,
and is entitled to he treated with all tenderness
and reverend consideration, as the venerable an-
cestor of all, be they so many as they will—God
multiply them an hundred fold—who hear the
colonization name.
The meeting was well attended. In the absence
of the president, the Hon. Henry Clay, the
chair was taken by the Hon. C. F. Mercer, of
Virginia. The exercises of Ihe evening having
been opened with prayer, by Dr. Laurie, extracts
from the annual report were read by Mr. Gurley,
the secretary.
It commenced by noticing the decreased re-
sources of the society, and the necessity of renew-
ed cllorts, and incieased zeal in the cause. It
then noticed the becpiest of Capt. Ross, cd'Missis-
sippi, the demise of his excellent daughter, Mrs.
Head, and her liberation of one hundred and twenty
slaves on condition of their removal to the colony,
anil the contingent bequest by her of a valuable
estate to the society. Another estate, that of the
late Mr. Pomeroy, of Ms., which was hit to three
societies, has realized them five thousand dollars
each, of which the American Colonization Socie-
ty has received its quota. The sum of one thou-
sand dollars has al>o been left to it by the late
Walter Heron, of Va. These are solid and cheer-
ing evidences of the hold this institution has taken
on the confidence, esteem, anil atlection of the
good in different quarters of our hind.
After touching on the safe arrival of emigrants
at the colony, who went out in the ship Emperor;
the address to the people of the United States put
forth last winter; the designation id' agents, anil
the appointment of Judge Wilkeson, of Unfl'ahi,
general agent of the society ; the report proceeded
to notice with commendation his new plan, of
purchasing a vessel, to be navigated entirely by
people of colour, to he regularly employed in the
deportation of new settlers to the colony; the
liberal pationago the plan had received ; and the
final purchase of the ship Saluda for the purpose
proposed.
It then referred to the exertions made in the
general cause in New York, New Jersey, Mary-
and, Virginia, Ohio, Mississippi, and Alabama,
and especially the founding of a colony by the
State Society of Mississippi, at the mouth of the
river Sinoe, and the measures taken in Louisiana
toward a similar enterprise.
Of the state of the colony in Africa, a cheering
account was given. It appears that Monrovia
now numbers 1,200 inhabitants; New Georgia,
300; Caldwell, 600; Millsbtirgh, 500; Marshall,
130, and Edina, 300. The too great fondness for
trade and commerce, to the neglect of agriculture,
an evil which has greatly retarded the solid pros-
perity of the colonies, begins now to yield to the
lights of reason and experience, and the settlers
are devoting themselves in a greater degree to the
cultivation of the soil. It appears that the terri-
tory of Little Bassu, which was hypothecated as a
security for the debts of individuals there to the
society, having been, according to the terms of the
agreement, forfeited, the government of Liberia
had appointed commissioners to take possession of
it in the society's name. A full report is ordered
by the board of this transaction, its causes, and
consequences
The slave-trade, having been rendered more
hazardous, and if possible more infamous, by its
being declared piracy, has also become more fero-
cious ; and new and yet more cruel devices have
been resorted to, to evade Ihe laws and cany it on
with aggravated intensity, ihe treaties entered
into by European nations to repress it, have been
very imperfectly enforced, and the trade is, on
the whole, reviving; hut the youthful Queen of
England, with an earnest humanity which does
her honour, has announced her intention to enter
into new treaties for the sinning of this great
good, and is, by her ministers abroad, urging the
fulfilment of those already existing. The report
States, M a proof o( her sincerity and zeal, that
half a million sterling has been applied to pur-
chase the concurrence of one of the continental
states.
It was then, on motion of Mr. Z C. Lee, sup-
ported by a short and able address,
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.
Dr. Reese, of your city, followed, and offered
the following resolution.
Resolved, That the experience of another year
has shown satisfactorily to this society, that, M in
every great scheme of good to mankind, so in that
of African colonization, designed to confer large
and lasting good upon a whole rare of neii, and
Upon one quarter of the globe, occasional misfor-
tunes should but inflame the zeal ami increase the
devotion of its friends, and give new energy to all
their exertions.
He congratulated the directors on the success
which had crowned their elforts, and confidently
appealed to all past history to show a parallel.
When, before, in the history of the world, hail a
colony, in twenty years tiom its first feeble begin-
ning, exhibited the spectacle of a happy popula-
tion of 4,000 souls ; of 9 flourishing villages ; con-
taining 18 christian churches; 20 day schools; 1
manual labour school; a literary lyccnm ; 17 Sab-
bath schools and bible classes; all existing to-
gether, under the regular establishment of civil
and military government, with courts where jus-
tice was openly and speedily administered by
judges, lawyers, and jurymen, all taken from
among the colonists themselves? And all this
without governmental patronage, but by mere
volunteer, individual benevolence? Had the re-
sources of the whole nation etfected this, we
might, as Americans, point to it with pride. But
it had been done, not by a nation, but by a few
feeble associations, with very hunted means, in
the midst of evil report, and under the most un-
compromising, malignant, and ferocious opposi-
tion and persecution. In the face of all this, they
had held the even tenor of their way, and every
year witnessed new triumphs, and added fresh
evidence of the fulfilment of the most sanguine
predictions of the friends of the cause. He then
adverted to the vituperation which had been di-
rected against the aociety for having done too
little ; but contended tluit events had rather shown
that it had done too much. Had it attempted to
do more, the cause would have been in extreme
danger. It had done enough, at least, to demon-
strate that the black man was abundantly capable
of self-government, and had sufficient capacity ibr
all the purposes of happy social existence. Dr.
Jt. dwelt with enthusiasm on the future prospects
of colonization, and especially as subservient to
the higher and nobler ends of Christianity. Jf the
question had been asked twenty years ago, where
shall we find an open door for the introduction of
the forms of civilisation and the lights of Chris-
tianity into the dark continent of Africa,—there
would have been no response. Now the door was
opened—opened wide; and already lorty chris-
tian clergymen were preaching on Afric's heathen
shores the unsearchable riches ef Christ; and
soon, very soon, from the Atlantic to the Indian
Ocean, and from the Mediterranean to the Cape
of Good Hope, entire Africa bids fair to become
one great enduring monument of American pa-
triotism and American Christianity, personified as
they were, in the American Colonization Society.
Mr. Wise, of Va. said, that as a delegate from
the State Colonization Society
were exposed, his ftlllnHI would have been very I
dillercnt. He was sure he spoke the feelings of
the whole north, when he said, that they stood,
and should continue to stand, on the grounds of
the constitution, and were utterly opposed to the
proceedings and designs ol" the Abolition Society.
In evidence of this, he stated, that the unhappy
divisions in the I'resbyterian church had grown
out ol this opposition ; and painful U it was, they
were obliged to rend the church to avoid being
engulfed in the sentiments, feelings and schemes
of the abolitionists ! (Many heard this declara-
tion with astonishment; having understood that
the ground of division in the church was declared
by this gentleman and his friends, to be the dread
of Pelagian heresy and congregational church
government.) He closed by adverting to the
missionary prospects in Africa.
Mr. Key, (district attorney for the District of
Columbia,) suggested an amendment, to include
the middle as well as the northern and southern
states; since there was a distinct feeling in the
middle section of the Union from either. He
adverted to what had lately been done in Mary-
land, as evidence of this. She had placed the line
which separates the slave-holding from the non-
slave-holding states, to the south, instead of to the
north of her.
Col. Stone readily modified his resolution accor-
dingly. The more could be united in the cause
the better. He adverted to a common error of
southern gentlemen, in overrating the number of
abolitionists at the north. Empty barrels always
emitted the loudest sound. A great part of their
vaunted numbers consisted of females and of chil-
dren in Sunday schools. The hydra bad much
fewer heads than was generally believed.
Mr. Garland, of Virginia, delivered an able and
eloquent speech, urging a more practical support
of the society and its designs, by pecuniary con-
tribution to its funds. He appealed to the report,
as demonstrating the practicability of successful
colonization ; to the Constant process of voluntary
emancipation going on at the south; and the
necessity of some remedial measure.
The meeting was closed by a stream of most
fervid and eloquent language from Mr. Gnrley,
who, it was generally observed, never spoke with
greater unction. He had recently returned from
a tour in New England, and very exciting meet-
ings in Beaton, and the glow seemed yet to remain
upon his mind. I can notice otdy two points of
ins remarks. The one was, that the only remedy
against abolitionism was colonization: and the
other had reference to the character and purposes
of Mr. Garrison, whom he considers as the true
head, heart and soul of the abolition cause, and as
cherishing purposes of wide extent and far-reach-
ing duration, reaching to no less than a subversion
and radical change of the existing state of society,
as well in the church as the state. Un his motion
it was—
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 sale for the Union, benevolent towards our
whole coloured population, and fraught with
blessings inestimable to Africa, to unite their
counsels—their devotions and their prayers, to
give its operations tenfold energy and success.
But I have detained you too long. The meet-
ing broke up at near 11 o'clock, the society
having adjourned for a meeting of business the
next morning.
New Opposition Line.
We cut from the Baltimore Chronicle of the
20th December, the following editorial paragraph,
which shows that the Abolitionists are about to
send out a vessel to Liberia to bring home discon-
tented colonists! ! This is fanaticism 'stereo-
typed,' and If carried into execution will no doubt
prove of signal advantage to colonization.
The more violent and relentless the opposition
of this sect to the measures of colonization, the
greater and more certain its success.
'Fanaticism is often reduced to the necessity of
hunting up subjects on which to fasten itself, but
from the last move of the abolitionists it would
really seem that the raw materials of the fanatics
is pretty nearly all used up. Having done all the
mischief they can by their intemperate zeal in a
bad cause and impudent interference with the do-
mestic concerns of others, they are now about to
set on foot an expedition to the colonies in Africa,
with a view to induce the emigrants there to re-
turn to this country! Their first effort hail the
merit of being founded on a false philanthropy--
the last is entitled to the credit of being the
extreme of folly.
Newspapers vs. Drink.—'I positively never
knew a man in the country who was too poor to
take a newspaper. Yet two out of three, even
respectable people, read no papers, hut what they
borrow. As I speak generally, I hope 1 otfend
none. If I do, (he gieater necessity to speak out.
Every man is able conveniently to take a news-
paper. How many who think themselves too poor
to take a newspaper, pay four times as much daily
tor drink ! Miserable man, thou art poor indeed!'
[Ben. Franklin.
It is gratifying to learn that a large majority of
the students at the theological seminary at Ando-
ver, have expressed themselves boldly in favour of
African colonization. Feeling convinced, as we
do. that the only way of procuring a proper appre-
ciation of this great scheme lor the amelioration of
the condition of the coloured race, is to a/lbrd
ample opportunities lor investigation in regard to
it, we hail every occasion on Which its merits are
freely and fairly discussed, as productive of good.
As facts in regard fo the African colonies become
extensively known, the erroneous impressions
that have heretofore existed in some quarters, are
gradually yielding to the influence of sober practi-
cal reason. It is time for the friends of the sys-
tem throughout the country to unite in a conceited
elfort in its behalf. If they will do so, their
utmost anticipations will be gratified.—Ball, ,2m.
Colonization.—An arrangement has been
made by the Mississippi Colonisation Society and
some individuals in New Orleans, for the purchase
of a vessel to run as a regular packet, between the
United States and the various American colonies
on the coast of Africa. The brig Mail, of one
hundred and eighty tons burthen, has been pur-
chased for this purpose. She is admirably con-
structed for the business.
Mr. John Anketel, of Claiborne county, Missis-
sippi, has emancipated twenty-seven slaves; and
is expending upwards of five thousand dollars in
their outfit, and in securing their comfortable and
prosperous settlement in the colony. He has
taken much pains to prepare them for usefulness,
and has attended to their instruction in the prin-
ciples of the christian religion. Other emigrants
are ready to take their departure.
The prejudices of the negroes against coloniza-
tion are giving way before the success of the
enterprise. Confidence is taking the place of
suspicion, and alarm is yielding to the atfectionate
gratitude toward their benefactors. Their own
interest attracts them to the colony.
The Mississippi Colonization Society is furnish-
ing its colony with a large supply of agricultural
and mechanics' tools ; and making a provision for
opening a large public farm, for the cultivation of
colfee, sugar, cinnamon, pepper, gum elastic, etc.
articles valuable to its commerce, and every facility
is granted to the introduction and settlement in the
colony of competent teachers and ministers.
In the present excited state of public feeling on
the subject of slavery, it is truly gratifying to meet
with temperate and judicious advocstes of coloniza-
tion. Such an one is Elliott Cresson, of Philadel-
t:ui-.i Advancing.
Colonization—It has been a measure In the
policy of the state of Maryland, to encourage the
purposes of the Colonization Society, and with
good reason. Other states are not less zealous in
the cause, and many of their most wealthy and
distinguished citizens have bequeathed large sums
in aid of the pioject. Among others, it is well
known that the late Captain Ross, of Mississippi,
bequeathed a large estate to the Mississippi Colo-
nization Society, and it was rumoured that eflbrts
were being made in some quarters, to break his
will, but it is stated in the Washington Statesman,
that one of the executors of the will has declared
that no attempt would be made to frustate the
intentions of the testator. His daughter, Mrs.
Reed, at her death, bequeathed the whole of her
patiimony to the same object. In the Eastern
States a similar feeling prevails among all but the
mad incendiaries, calling themselves abolitionists.
A gentleman in Boston, has recently sent to Mr.
Cresson, of that city, a donation of one thousand
dollars, in aid of the cause.—Balt. Sun.
The Colony on the Western Coast of Africa.
It is now about twenty years since the Ameri-
can colonization commenced its operation on the
coast of Africa, and as a mere matter of intelli-
gence, we wish to inform our readers of the pre-
sent state of the colony. It now exhibits the
spectacle of a happy population of four thousand
souls, of nine flourishing villages, containing
eighteen christian churches, twenty day schools,
one manual labour school, a literary lyceum, seven-
teen sabbath schools and bible classes, all exist-
ing together, under the regular establishment of
civil and military government, with courts where
justice is openly and speedily administered by
judges, lawyers and jurymen, all taken from
among the colonists themselves. And all this
without governmental patronage, but by mero
voluntary, individual benevolence ! Had the re-
sources of the whole nation effected this, Ameri-
cans might point to it with pride. But it has
been done, not by a nation, but by a few feeble
associaations, with very limited means, in the
midst of evil report and under the most uncom-
promising opposition.— Lutheran Observer.
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