These indications of a friendly disposition, on the part of the Legislature, to promote Colonization, together with some movements among the colored people favorable to the proposed enterprise, led to the appointment of a Committee of Correspondence, in 1850, to coöperate with the Agent in carrying out the enterprise so happily set on foot by Mr. McMicken. The committee was directed to give its counsel to the Agent, and adopt such measures as it might deem necessary to promote the cause of Colonization in the State; but, more especially, to aim at enlisting the churches in the work. This it has done in various ways, as may be seen by reference to the public prints. By its direction, the Agent renewed his efforts for an appropriation from the Legislature, but as a new Constitution was then in the course of preparation, that body declined all further action, until the future policy of the State should be settled. The Constitutional Convention was then approached, and it was proposed to introduce a special clause into the new Constitution, giving the Legislature power to appropriate money for African Colonization. This measure was resisted by those who were striving to secure the privileges of citizenship, in the State, for colored men; and by those who desired to prevent the surrounding States from driving their free colored people into Ohio. This last party being much the strongest in the Convention, the friends of Colonization had either to abandon their proposition, or couple it with a provision excluding any further immigration of colored people into the State. This policy being repugnant to their feelings, and the general powers conferred on the Legislature being considered amply sufficient to warrant it in fostering Colonization, the friends of the proposition declined to press its passage, and it was abandoned.
About this period, the project of encouraging Colonization, by establishing a line of “Steam-Ships,” to run between this country and Liberia, was agitated; and it so far received the advocacy of the public press, as to lead to the hope that the General Government would adopt the measure.
This important movement was succeeded by “Stanley’s Bill,” to devote the last instalment of the “Surplus Revenue,” to the several States, for Colonization purposes, in the proportions required by the law of 1836. As the success of this Bill, in Congress, would have given to the State of Ohio, annually, thereafter, the sum of $33,454, to build up our “Ohio in Africa,” it was considered of vital importance to secure its passage. Instead, therefore, of approaching our Legislature, to ask an appropriation, the Agent was directed to secure its influence with the General Government, in behalf of “Stanley’s Bill;” but before recommendatory resolutions could be carried through the Legislature, that important measure received its deathblow in Congress.
Public attention having been very fully directed, by these movements, to the State and National Legislatures, as the proper patrons of Colonization, the Agent found less disposition, among private individuals, longer to sustain the enterprise, and consequently the amount collected in the State has somewhat diminished.
For want of funds to make the necessary improvements for the protection of colonists, at the time the purchase of Mr. McMicken was effected, and because but few emigrants were then in our offer, to begin a settlement, no definite arrangement was made, with the authorities of Liberia, for the allotment of lands for our colored people. The region purchased embraces Grand Cape Mount and Gallinas, and includes a greater extent of country than was covered by the donation of Mr. M. The whole of this territory has been annexed to Liberia, and her laws extended over it. This arrangement will secure to our emigrants the protection of the Republic, and all the privileges enjoyed by any of its citizens. These advantages will be more than an equivalent to the extra fifty or one hundred acres of land, which Mr. McMicken originally proposed to give to each family; inasmuch as this bonus may still be secured to our emigrants, along with the protection of the Republic, by an arrangement with its government.
The recent disturbances at Grand Cape Mount, noticed in the accompanying Lecture of our Agent, will create a necessity for its speedy settlement; and, if we do not secure it for the colored people of Ohio, it must be given to others, to prevent the native population from being shipped off to the West Indies or Brazil.
The Committee feels assured, that, with a few thousand dollars, it can prevent this transfer to other parties, and secure the settlement of Grand Cape Mount as an Ohio Colony. This it considers very important, as a means of encouraging emigration. Believing that the funds would ultimately be secured for this object, such measures have been adopted, from time to time, as would promote that end. In March, 1850, sixteen emigrants, with the Rev. W. W. Findlay at their head, went to Liberia, to stand prepared to coöperate in founding our Colony. Mr. Findlay is still urgent for the commencement of the settlement; and, though comfortably situated on a farm, he offers to remove to Grand Cape Mount, at any time his services are needed. Himself and family are now fully acclimated, and are thus in a position to render efficient aid in superintending improvements for us.
About a year since, the colored people of Circleville, Ohio, appointed one of their own number, Mr. T. J. Merrett, a delegate to Liberia, to report on the condition and prospects of the Republic. Our Agent was present at the meeting; the subject of an Ohio Colony was fully explained, and the vote to commission the delegate was nearly unanimous. He sailed for Liberia in April, 1853, remained there about six months, and then returned to the United States. The vessel in which he embarked was stripped of its masts and rigging, in a hurricane, during the passage, its pumps rendered useless, and its hull only kept afloat by constant bailing, until it was landed at St. Thomas for repairs. The over-exertion and exposure incident to this disaster, induced ship-fever on the vessel, to which Mr. Merrett fell a victim two days after landing at Portland. While in Liberia, he had written an encouraging letter to his friends in Circleville, but made no formal report, as he did not live to reach home. Mr. Merrett was a man of good judgment, and highly esteemed by his neighbors. His death is a serious loss to us, and has somewhat interrupted our plans for commencing operations in Africa.
The advantages lost in the death of Mr. Merrett, may be regained by inviting Mr. Findlay to visit this country, to confer with the colored people of our State. The committee will adopt this course, if the funds to meet his expenses and make the necessary improvements at Grand Cape Mount, are placed at its disposal. The employment of such agencies, in other States, has tended to arouse a spirit of emigration, and should not be overlooked by our own.
The Rev. John McKay, a colored man, of Madison, Indiana, was employed in that State last year, and succeeded in raising a company of twenty-five emigrants, with whom he sailed to Liberia, in November. He touched at Sierra Leone and Grand Cape Mount, and remained eighty-three days in Liberia, to examine its condition. He returned to Indiana about the first of May, and speaks in the most favorable terms of the civil, social, and religious prosperity of the Republic. It is his intention to return to Liberia with his family, after laboring awhile for the Indiana State Board of Colonization.