Under these circumstances, what is the duty of the Government to do? To sit still and lose the golden opportunity? No, this is not, this cannot be, the wisest policy! Motives of honor, of benevolence, of justice, of patriotism, demand a different policy.
Let it be remembered that the legislation of our country touching the extinction of the slave trade, conferred upon her a glory as imperishable as the Constitution herself. A just regard to our national character calls for a perseverance in that policy, until its wisdom and benignity shall be vindicated in the full accomplishment of its ends; the giving to Africa civilization and the arts, and a lawful commerce!
Extracts from the July No. of the African Repository.
In all parts of the country we perceive that the friends of Liberia look upon this four-steamships scheme as fraught with immense promise. The public sentiment of the country is decidedly in favor of colonization, and of national and State appropriations for carrying it on.
We think there are indications that the State Legislatures will render assistance to an almost unlimited extent. When it is made manifest that colonization can and will be prosecuted on a scale of grandeur and magnificence equal to its merits, the whole country will unite in favor and liberality.
We have the control of the number of emigrants who may be sent in these steamships. We are not bound to send any specific number. They are bound to take as many as we want to send. But we shall take good care not to send more than the Republic can safely receive; nor more than we have the means of paying the passage of, and comfortably settling in Liberia? This is our safe-guard.
Let it be remembered, that it will be some two or three years before the steamships will be ready for operation. This will give time for consideration, for preparation, and for gathering up the resources for a grand demonstration of what can be done. The work is worthy of a nation’s energy! Why may we not hope that it will receive it?
Does any one say, “the time has not yet come?” Are you sure of it? Is not this the day of great things? How rapid has been the march of improvement during the last few years! Who can predict what is next to come? Is it not a fact that the Government of Liberia is now firmly established? Do they not want more citizens of education and influence? Are there not thousands of acres of the richest land there, waiting for cultivation? Have we not all been for years looking to the time when the work of colonization should be carried on with means and resources adequate to the greatness of the work? How much longer, then, shall we wait before we make the attempt to summon these means, and enter on these enlarged operations? Has not the time fully come? We are persuaded it has.
At the annual meeting of the American Colonization Society, on January 16th, 1850, the Hon. Henry Clay was elected President of the Society, and the following gentlemen were elected Vice Presidents:
- 1. General John H. Cocke, of Virginia.
- 2. Daniel Webster, of Massachusetts.
- 3. Charles F. Mercer, of Florida.
- 4. Rev. Jeremiah Day, D.D., of Connecticut.
- 5. Theodore Frelinghuysen, of New York.
- 6. Louis McLane, of Baltimore.
- 7. Moses Allen, of New York.
- 8. General W. Jones, of Washington.
- 9. Joseph Gales, of Washington.
- 10. Right Rev. Wm. Meade, D. D., Bishop of Virginia.
- 11. John McDonogh, of Louisiana.
- 12. Rev. James O. Andrews, Bishop of the M. E. Church
- 13. William Maxwell, of Virginia.
- 14. Elisha Whittlesey, of Ohio.
- 15. Walter Lowrie, of New York.
- 16. Jacob Burnet, of Ohio.
- 17. Dr. Stephen Duncan, of Mississippi.
- 18. William C. Rives, of Virginia.
- 19. Rev. J. Laurie, D. D., of Washington.
- 20. Rev. Wm. Winans, of Mississippi.
- 21. James Boorman, of New York.
- 22. Henry A. Foster, of New York.
- 23. Dr. John Ker, of Mississippi.
- 24. Robert Campbell, of Georgia.
- 25. Peter D. Vroom, of New Jersey.
- 26. James Garland, of Virginia.
- 27. Right Hon. Lord Bexley, of London.
- 28. Willard Hall, of Delaware.
- 29. Right Rev. Bishop Otey, of Tennessee.
- 30. Gerard Ralston, of London.
- 31. Rev. Courtland Van Rensselaer, of New Jersey.
- 32. Dr. Hodgkin, of London.
- 33. Rev. E. Burgess, D. D., of Massachusetts.
- 34. Thos. R. Hazard, of Rhode Island.
- 35. Dr. Thomas Massie, of Virginia.
- 36. Major General Winfield Scott, of Washington.
- 37. Rev. A. Alexander, D. D., of New Jersey.
- 38. L. Q. C. Elmer, of New Jersey.
- 39. James Railey, of Mississippi.
- 40. Rev. Geo. W. Bethune, D. D., of Philadelphia.
- 41. Rev. C. C. Cuyler, D. D., of Philadelphia.
- 42. Elliot Cresson, of Philadelphia.
- 43. Anson G. Phelps, of New York.
- 44. Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D., of Massachusetts.
- 45. Jonathan Hide, of Maine.
- 46. Rev. Beverly Waugh, Bishop M. E. Church, Baltimore.
- 47. Rev. Dr. W. B. Johnson, of South Carolina.
- 48. Moses Sheppard, Baltimore.
- 49. Bishop McIlvain, of Ohio.
- 50. Rev. Dr. Edgar, Nashville, Tennessee.
- 51. Rev. P. Lindsley, D. D., of Tennessee.
- 52. Hon. J. R. Underwood, of Kentucky.
- 53. Rev. J. J. Janeway, D. D., of New Jersey.
- 54. H. L. Lumpkin, Esq., Athens, Georgia.
- 55. James Lenox, of New York.
- 56. Bishop Soule, D. D., of Tennessee.
- 57. Professor T. C. Upham, of Maine.
- 58. Hon. Thomas Corwin, of Ohio.
- 59. Hon. Thos. W. Williams, of Connecticut.
- 60. Hon. Simon Greenleaf, of Massachusetts.
- 61. Rev. John Early, D. D., of Virginia.
- 62. Rev. Lovick Pierce, of Georgia.
- 63. Hon. R. J. Walker, of Mississippi.
- 64. Samuel Gurney, England.
- 65. Charles McMicken, Esq., Cincinnati, Ohio.
- 66. John Bell, M. D. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.