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Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0097 Enlarge and print image (5M) |
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Maryland State Archives Maryland Colonization Journal Collection MSA SC 4303 msa_sc4303_scm11070-0097 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, February, 1839. No. 25. When gratuitous please circulate. SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE .MARY- LAND STATE COLONIZATION SOCIETY. Since the last annual report the Hoard of Mana- gers have dispatched two expeditions to Maryland in Liberia. The Columbia sailed from Baltimore with thirty-six emigrants on the 17th of May last, tod tin- Oberon sailed with fifty-three on the Ud November following. Both expeditions were well provided with every thing necessary to the com- fort of the emigrants on their voyage ; and the fall expedition took out the usual supplies of goods to furnish means for making preparations for the re- cepliiui of fresh emigrants. The emigrants were well provided with tools and implements of la- bour suited to their age, sex, and previous occupa- tions; and they were all told before sailing, ttiat idleness and worthlessness found no exemption from their usual fate in Africa, and that there, as in America, wealth and prosperity could only be obtained by industry and good conduct. Among the emigrants by the Oberon, were some valuable servants manumitted by Thomas Oliver, Esq. Mr. Oliver offered freedom to all his ser- vants, on condition that they would emigrate, and Offered to purchase the wives and children of such as had married slaves, to prevent families from being divided. The greater part of Mr. Oliver's servants preferred remaining in Maryland, how- ever, to wait the report of those who sailed in the Oberon. The Hoard have great pleasure in notic- ing, on this occasion, the noble generosity of Mr. Oliver. Doct Robert McDowell and Doct. Samuel F. McGill sailed in the fall expedition. Doct. Mc- Dowell is a physician who has had much expe- rience already in the diseases of the African coast, and goes to the colony as colonial physician for one year. Doct. Samuel F. McGill is a young coloured man who has received an excellent medi- cal education at a college to the nerth, which gave him a diploma in October last. He is the eldest son of the present vice-agent of the colony, and has. with the exception of the last three years, resided from infancy in Africa. He considers Africa, therefore, as his home; and the board be- lievinsr that with Doct. McDowell's aid, he will have obtained sullieient practical knowledge in the coming year, propose, when the term of Doct. McDowell's appointment expires, to appoint him colonial physician in bis place. Doct. McGill took with him an excellent medical library, and lias been instructed to select one or more young men of suitable capacity and commence their in- struction in medicine, with a view, at a proper time, to being sent to this country to attend the necessary lectures, as Doct. McGill has himself just done. The Board trust that they have secured in this way the immediate and future and perma- nent supply nf efficient medical skill in the colony. The situation of aliairs at the colony at the latest dates was, generally speaking, very satisfac- tory. The last season had been one of unusual scarcity on the coast, and the colonists had been induced thereby to turn their attention to agricul- ture more steadily than they had yet done. Pre- sent inconvenience may in this way result in ulti- mate good. The policy of the Board with respect to trade had not been changed, and still remained in the hands of the agent; but the colonists, with- out a coin as a medium of exchange, had been ob- liged to become traders, in some fashion, in their intercourse with the natives for provisions. The recent scarcity had thoroughly admonished the colonists to raise their own provisions, and the lesson they have received in this respect, will not, it is hoped, be soon forgotten. In the last annual report it was stated, that with a view of obviating the necessity of trade and barter among the colonists, and between them and the natives, the Board had sent out a paper currency, so designed and engraved as to be intel- ligible as representatives of value to the illiterate natives, as well as the colonists. The accounts received from Governor Russwurm, state that the plan has fully answered the purpose intended, and is popular wilh none more than the natives them- selves. While the system of barter was in vogue, a native scarcely ever sold an article to a colonist, and received merchandise in exchange, that he was not obliged to divide a portion of it among such friend- as happened to be by when the bar- gain was struck ; now, when be is paid a piece of paper, this partnership of profits cannot take place, and the paper is turned into goods at the public store, when the holder can secure the en- tire proceeds to his own use. This is perfectly understood by the natives, and hence the popu- larity, with tliem, of the paper currency. Another gooii elicit of it is,that it enables the colonists to lay by what they can spare of their earnings, and is a plan on foot, in consequence, of a sav there ings' institution. Above all, the petty traffic w hicb obliged the colonists to keep assortments to ileal with the natives is well nigh broken up. The Maryland avenue has been gradually ex- tended liiuii Harper to the interior, in the direc- tion of Denah, and is graded and bridged, and pas- sable for carriages for a distance of" upwards of four miles from the Cape. The farms of the colo- nists are laid out on either side of it. The land along the road improves in quality as the sea-shore is b It. Donah is a large native town on the Ca- vally rivtr, about twenty miles from Harper, and within the territory of the society. Its situation is very eligible, and when a free communication is opened between Denah and Harper, it will be easy to extend it by water to the cataracts at Faye, at the foot of the mountain range, and in an ele- v.itrd and salubrious region. The Cavally, from Denah to the cataracts, has an average depth of ten feet of water at all seasons, and the distance by the river is about forty miles. The relations of the colonists with the natives are generally satisfactory. Theft, the common vice of barbarous tribes, is still a fruitful source of disputes ; but the numerical strength of the colony, is now such as place it beyond all appre- hension from native violence. The efforts of the agent arc unremitting, how- ever, to preserve a constant and friendly inter- course with the surrounding tribes. The. native magistrates and constables, noticed in a former report, still continue to perform their appropriate duties, and the etlorts of the latter are generally effectual, when the It is committed, to detect the offender. Cotton is found to succeed at the colony, though delay and difficulty have occurred in producing it in quantity, for want of experience as to the pro- per time to plant it. Some Cuba tobacco seed was sent out two years ago, and tobacco raised from it was brought to Baltimore on the return of the Columbia. It was of an excellent quality, but milder than the Cuba tobacco. The leaf was fine and silky, and scgars made from it were pro- nounced by judges to have the recommendations of mildness and flavour. The Ladies' Society in Baltimore for the pro- motion of education in Africa, have been able and efficient auxiliaries of the Board. Mr. Alleyne, their teacher, was at the last dates actively engaged in his duties and had a large number ol scholars. His wife, also, was making herself very useful in aiding her husband, and in instructing the female scholars in sewing, 8tc. The affairs of the Ladies' Society have been managed with judgment and much prudence, and there is every reason to anti- cipate usefulness from their labours. The Board wish much, that other parts of the state would emulate the example set by Baltimore in this matter of education, and that the ladies in the different counties would form auxiliary socie- ties. It would not cost a great deal to establish and maintain a high school at the colony?which, hereafter, might become a collegiate institution: and which even now might be the means of dis- seminating a higher degree of learning than can be anticipated from the common school': at present existing. The subject is commended to the fa- vourable attention of the ladies of Maryland. It has been heretofore stated that a code of laws for the redress of injuries, had been prepared by Hugh D. Evans, Esq. which, together with the constitution and declaration of rights, and the or- dinance for the temporary government of Mary- land in Liberia, formed a system for the use of the colonists. Copies of these laws having been printed and sent to the colony, were, by the agent, distributed among the officers of the colony and the most intelligent citizens, and after suffirii'iit time had been allowed for their examination, they were formally proclaimed by the sherilf, with ap- propriate ceremonies, and at once took the place of the heterogeneous compound of law and cus- toms, which had been previously in use. Expe- rience has since shown their adaptation to the wants of the colony. The population of the colony is at this time about five hundred, exclusive of the natives. There are two uniform volunteer companies: One of infantry, the other of artillery, which are represented to be well drilled, and to take great interest in their duties. Those who are liable to military duty, but do not belong to the volun- teers, are formed into a company of un-uniformed militia. Since the last annual report, the Episcopal Board of Missions have increased their establish ment at Cape Palmas, until it is now the largest white missionary body in Africa. It consists of the Rev. Doct. Savage and lady, Rev. Mr. Payne and lady, Hev. Launcelot Minor, Mr. and Mrs. Parker, Mr. Byron, Miss------, and Mr.------, in all ten white persons. The mission of the A. B. C. F. M. consisting of the Rev. J. L. Wilson and lady, with a coloured printer and assistant teach- ers, is still maintained. Mr. Burns and lady (coloured) are the missionaries of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The attention of the latter is I devoted to the colonists : the care of the two for- mer establishments is limited, almost exclusively, to the heathen. Fair Hope and Mount Vaughan, their respective places of residence, have already the appearance of handsome and permanent set- tlements; while Mount Emory, the seat of the Methodist Episcopal Mission, may be expected soon to take rank with the other esiablishnicnts. The health of the colony has long ceased to be a subject of anxiety to the Board, they being satisfied that all that is wanting to make it as healthy to the coloured people as any other spot to which they could emigrate, is care, during the first few months of their residence. The health of the white missionaries is of itself a proof that nothing need be apprehended by emigrants on the score of climate. The Board are much gratified in being able to announce that the difficulties which it was appre- hended would grow out of the appointment of a coloured governor, J. H. Russwurm, Esq. have either not been realized, or have been satisfacto- rily overcome. The colonists, are now, generally, satisfied with the measure, and hold it to be, what in truth it is, an admission of their ability to fill all the offices of the colony, the highest as well as the lowest. Soon after bis appointment, it is un- derstood that certain of the colonists took it into their heads that law was inoperative, when not administered by a white man, and they expiii- mentet! upon the efficiency of the laws in the hands ofa coloured executive, very much to their cost and dissatisfaction, as it turned out. After a few such experiments they satisfied themselves, that the law was independent of the colour of its ministers, and the result of their measures was, in the end, beneficial and salutary. At this time the respect that is paid to the governor by the colo- nists, differs in no wise from that which Doct. Hall and Mr. Holmes received from them. As respects the natives, no difference has been ob- served intheirtrcatment of the coloured governor, which at all creates a doubt as to the propriety of appointing one. They apply the term 'white man' to civilized men generally, and they are shrewd enough to judge of the power, sense, and skill of the agent by his acts, without much reference to the colour of his skin. In the interior a white man is a curiosity?on the coast he is not: for here, the white man, of the worst species of the race, has been known as a trader for more than three hundred years. The situation of Mr. Russwurm has, on more than one occasion, been one of great delicacy: and he has been called upon to act in cases which required prudence, firmness, and dignity. He has acquitted himself well: and his conduct has met with the sanction of the Board. Should he perse- vere in his present course, his name will rank very high as a friend to Africa, and as one who has illustrated in hu own person the capacity of her children. The colony may be considered now in a situa- tion to receive all the emigrants that may be sent to it from the state without injury to it, and as fast as they may in all probability oiler: and the Hoard have determined to make every exertion to procure a vessel of their own, to sail as a regular packet, between Baltimore and Cape Palmas. With this object in view, the agent of the society has been soliciting contributions during the past year, and his ellbrts will be renewed, until the design is accomplished. During the last year, the labours of the agents have been unremitting in disseminating informa- tion in respect to colonization. Mr. Roberts com- menced the canvass of the entire state, proposing to call at the dwelling of every citizen; and he has gone through St. Mary's, Charles, and Prince George's counties, in this manner. Besides dis- semination information, Mr. Roberts procures contributions to (he cause, and subscribers to the Colonization Journal. The subscription to this last, is now sufficient to pay the expenses of printing, and add to the funds of the society. The subscription list is gradually and steadily increas- ing. Mr. Kennard, the agent for procuring emigrants, has been diligently engaged in the duties of his appointment, and has met during the year, with the same difficulties growing out of the opposition of abolition that were mentioned in the last annual report. The steps of the agent are tracked from door to door of the coloured people. Wherever he has made a favourable impression, every thing is done to elface it. Deliberate misrepresentation and the grossest calumnies are unscrupulously utterid, and often with unfortunate elfect. It would have been supposed, that Maryland, one of the slave-holding states, would have been free from abolition. So it is from any open and public proclamation of the doctrines of the sect; but covertly and insidiously, so far as colonization is concerned, abolition works its mischiefs in Mary- land as well as elsewhere. The agent reports to the Board facts, which fully support these asser- tions, and he states, the longer before the sailing of an expedition, an individual declares his inten- tion to emigrate, the more uncertainty there is about his going, because the abolitionists, marking the movements of the agent, have a longer time to labour to counteract them. The difficulties in the way of the Hoard, are thus increased considerably : for instance, in preparing the fall expedition, the agent had on his book the names of one hundred emigrants, as many as it was desirable to send out, every one of whom was considered certain to go:?and the quota being lull, applications from Dorchester county were discouraged and put off until the spring. When the agent, however, went round to collect the emigrants and bring them to Baltimore, but fifty-three were firm in their pur- pose,?the others had changed their minds under the intluence of abolition doctrines. The agent reports instances, where persons have sold their property and prepared to emigrate, and have yet been prevented by the false statements made to them in the absence of the agent. The Board are advised and believe, that this state of things is changing for the better. The only way in which the mischiefs now complained of can be wholly and permanently abated, is by the friends of colonization throughout the state taking the matter in hand, and with their eyes open to what is going forward, the very know- ledge that the abolitionists will have that they are watched, will paralyze their efforts. It is now easy for them to render useless the labours of a single individual?the agent of the society?their best ellbrts will be powerless to defeat the united and energetic action of the friends of the cause in Maryland. The doctrine which the abolitionists spread among the coloured people is, that by remaining in the state they will ultimately get what is termed 'their rights,' by which is meant, perfect, social and political equality; and those who emi- grate are stigmatized as recreants to the cause of their race. They are told that their right to the land they cultivate, is better than the owner's, for they have earned it by their labour on it. These, and the like, are opinions current among numbers of the coloured population, and may be traced to their source iu the great touutain of abolitionism. The elfect of this state of things must be the direct opposite of that intended by those to whom it is to be attnliuted. It will increase more and more, the conviction, (hat the two races of men cannot live in the same country, enjoying as free men, equal rights; and the lecling, which has already produced in New York and Pennsylvania the riots that have been witnessed in the chief cities of those states, will be excited far and wide, until the free coloured people of the United States will come to look lo colonization as the greatest boon, and their last refuge. That this day will arrive, those who have considered the subject, in lull view of all the circumstances and unbiassed by the fanatic doctrines already referred to, enter- tain no doubt. Against its advent, colonization is intended to provide. To this end it is fully adequate : and while the scheme is a wild chimera, so far as it aims at (he removal of the entire co- loured population of the United States by indivi- dual contributions, it is perfectly practicable, wise and benevolent as a means of establishing on the coast of Africa, colonics, capable of self-support, self-government, and sell-defence, virtuous, pros- perous and happy ; capable of receiving and wel- coming those whom the pressure of an increasing white population contending with them for all means of livelihood, and the force of other circum- stances, may compel to emigrate. The emigra- tion thus brought about, will be like that which now takes place from Europe to America. It will, like that, be the result of a desire to better the condition of the emigrants themselves. To prepare lor this, (he Board of Managers are doing all in their power to make their colony as attrac- tive to the free coloured man of Maryland, as America is to the European, and to spread correct views and a full knowledge of all the facts among this class of the population. During the last year, a form of general govern- ment for all the colonies on the coast of Africa, was suggested by a convention of the state socie- ties of New York and Pennsylvania and the Ame- rican Colonization Society, which has, with some modifications, been adopted by the latter, as its future constitution. To thin convention, delegates from the Maryland Society were invited, and a committee was appointed to proceed to Philadel- phia to attend it. The committee declined, when in convention, taking part in any proceedings looking to the establishment of a general head in the United States?because, on mature reflection, the Maryland Society had seceded from the Ame- rican Colonization Society, and had adopted the plan of independent state action?or to the estab- lishment of a general government in Africa, because they thought that, in the present scat- tered positions of the colonies,?their scant popu- lation, and the difficulties of communicating be- tween them?it was wholly premature, and could afford no possible advantages, so far, certainly, as the Maryland colony was concerned, that would compensate for the additional drain upon means already sufficiently limited, and the complication it would introduce into aliairs, which, on all accounts, it was desirable to keep simple. The Maryland Society, too, had made a coloured man their agent in Africa. For two years he had per- formed all his duties with satisfaction to the Board: and, however limited might be the power of the governor-general, the fact, that he was a white man, and had in any particular a controlling power, would detract from the moral influence, which the placing of government in the hands of one of their own colour, and its tendencies to elevate their appreciation of their own ability and capacity, were producing among the colonists of Maryland in Liberia. With these reasons, the Maryland delegation could not join in the proceedings of the conven- tion, further (ban to agree to the adoption oC a plan, (o be prepared, regulating the intercourse of the colonies themselves ; providing for a uniform currency,?for the authentication of public re- cords,?for a common flag,?for the delivery up of fugitives from justice,?and for the rights of citi- zenship of the residents of one settlement in the other settlements ;?matters mainly of an interna- tional character, and requiring the action of the state societies only, independent, wholly, of any general head in this country or on the coast of Africa. To prepare such a plan, a committee was appointed, which was to report to the different societies, having colonies on the coast, who were then to send delegates to a convention, with authority to adopt it as reported, or as the conven- tion might modify it. The resolutions on this subject, proposed by the Maryland delegation, will be found in the appendix, together with the proceedings of the convention. There will be found, also, in the appendix, an extract from a former annual report, expressing the views of the Board of Managers on this subject, and which is now referred to, because the plan of the conven- tion that has now been agreed upon is there stated to be one of the objects at which the Board of Managers then aimed. The appendix contains, also, the plan of a confederation, which will pro- bably be recommended to the societies, having colonies on the west coast of Africa. This statement is made in this place, not only as a part of the events of the year, which it is the duty of the managers to report, but to inform the Society, why the Board have declined becoming parties to the American Colonization Society, under the new organization, which was made at the last annual meeting of that body. A part of that organization, creates the Board of Managers of delegates from the state societies, having colo- nies on the coast, from state societies contributing two thousand dollars annually, and makes indivi- duals who contribute one thousand dollars to the cause, life members of the Board. To this plan, there are objections, certainly, which have weight with the people of the slave-holding states. It is its connection with the subject of slavery, that makes colonization at all interesting to them. It is this very connection which has induced the society in Maryland to adopt the principle of independent state action, which repudiates all extraneous and unsolicited interference, with the subject of slave- ry, in any mode or shape : and the plan above men- tioned, is one, which sets up for sale, the control of this very colonization scheme?and may place it in (he hands of those, at any instant, whose fancied connection with it, has always been one of the greatest objections which the south have urged against it. Upon any occasion which they may deem important enough to require the outlay of a sufficient sum, the north may under the new con- stitution of the American Colonization Society, acquire the control of it by creating enough life members; and should the south multiply members to outvote the northern increase, the result would be an unwieldly body too much torn with dissen- sions on the most exciting of all subjects, to deal properly or prudently with the funds which the contest lor a majority would place under their control. It is no answer to the objection thus made to northern influence, that the south can buy influence too. The south can by the aid of the system of independent state action, use die money that would be necessary, far more profitably than in fitting out combatants for the arena that a ge- neral society would present, when the representa- tives of diametrical opinions on the subject of sla- very would meet (ogether in its halls. Nor is what is thus said premature, or the result of too treat anxiety. The daily thickening events of the time, show that the subject of slavery is fast becoming one of deep and fearful importance; and that the safety of the slave-holding states will be found, to use the language of a former report of this Board, in repudiating 'all extraneous and un- solicited interference with the subject of slavery, whether by the general government, societies, or individuals.' In conclusion of this part of their report, the Board of Managers express again their confidence in the plan of independent state action, that they have adopted, and their intention, unless otherwise directed by the Society, to persevere in its prose- ciftion. During the last year, two emigrants returned from Cape Palmas on a visit to their friends. Both were persons of high respectability in the colony, and the Board had an opportunity of making numerous and minute inquiries into its condition. They returned in the Oberon. It ii believed that thefr visit aided materially in dissemi- nating correct information and views among the free coloured people with whom they conversed. In terminating their report, the Board of Mana- gers would express their grateful sense ol" tho |