Lafayette's views of the Colonization Society. mind of a man of enlarged views and philanthropic soul, who was in a situation to see it as it is, and to judge without prejudice. I should think now, that the opinion of such a man as LAFAYETTE, would be worthy of regard; if he approved of colonization, or disapproved of it, I should think that his unprejudiced opinion would have influence.' 6 Lafayette was a Vice-President of the Colonization Society, Henry,' said Caroline. 6 'Ono, Caroline,' said H.; are you not mistaken?' Yes,' said Mr. L., Lafayette was an honorary VicePresident of the Colonization Society. And we have his opinion, expressly, on the subject of colonization. In a letter, dated at " Paris, Oct. 29, 1831,” he says, "The progressing state of our Liberia establishment, is to me a source of enjoyment and the most lively interest. PROUD AS I AM OF THE HONOUR of being one of the Vice-Presidents of the Society, I only regret that I cannot make myself more useful. * * When the Society meet, be pleased to present my wishes, gratitude, and respect."' Who are some of the other officers of the Society; many of our most distinguished public men?' It has enjoyed both the entire confidence of our most distinguished men, and the high honor of their influence and services as its members and officers. Some of these "are not, for God has taken them;" others are with us, and long may they be spared to help forward the cause of colonization, and as ornaments and blessings to the world.The Hon. Bushrod Washington, Thave already named, as its first President. Charles Carroll was President of the Society after the death of Judge Washington. James Madison was its late President. Henry Clay is its President at the present time. The late Chief-Justice Marshall and the Other distinguished men. venerable and lamented Bishop White, have been among its Vice-Presidents; also, Hon. Wm. H. Crawford, Bishop McKendree, and Robert Ralston. Among its present officers, besides Mr. Clay, are John C. Herbert of Maryland, Gen. Mason of Va., Samuel Bayard of New-Jersey, Daniel Web. ster of Boston, Gen. Mercer of Va., President Day of Yale College, John Cotton Smith of Conn., Theo. Frelinghuysen of New-Jersey, Bishop Meade of Va., Samuel Southard of N. Jersey, Geo. W. Lafayette of France, Nicholas Brown of R. I., Pres. Fisk of the Wesleyan Seminary in Conn., and-I will not undertake to enumerate more, although I might recollect and mention many others of distinguished eminence in different parts of the Union. Its Secretary is the Rev. Ralph R. Gurley, and its Treasurer, Joseph Gales, Sen. Esq., both residents in Washington. The Colonization Society has, indeed, become an object of admiration in different parts of the globe.' I recollect,' said Henry, among those whose approbation it received, the name of Wilberforce.' In respect to Wilberforce, your apprehension is correct that it received his approbation,' said Mr. L., "Troja fuit!' It may be considered a mooted point, however, as relates to the final decision of the mind of the philanthropic and lamented Wilberforce. It is asserted that he withdrew confidence from the cause, although he had been the unhesitat ing friend and advocate of colonization. In regard to this matter, Dr. Hodgkin, of London, says that "Wilberforce continued to avow his approbation of the Society until near the period of his lamented death, when the exparte statements of those who knew the importance of his authority, obtained a triumph, the achievement of which confers no honor." The Society has not been without many and distinguish Auxiliaries. ed friends abroad. Lord Althorp, the late learned Chancellor of the Exchequer, and one of the most enlightened and distinguished noblemen of England, has publicly pronounced the foundation of the colony of Liberia to be "one of the greatest events of modern times." The immortal Clarkson, whose labors in the cause of African freedom have been greater than those of almost any other man living, is "strongly attached to the society;" the Duke of Sussex, Lord Bexley, the Duke of Bedford, the Archbishop of Dublin, and others of the highest standing in society, are officers of a Society denominated THE BRITISH AFRICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY, which has been formed in Great Britain in aid of the colonization enterprise. They consider the plan of the American Colonization Society as "admirably adapted to introduce Christianity and civilization among the natives of Africa, and to extirpate the slave-trade, which the moral efforts of Great Britain and other powers, have been unable to suppress." I might mention many eminent foreigners who have expressed their decided approbation of the Society.' 'Auxiliaries are found, I presume, in almost every State of the Union; are they not, Pa?' 'I am not able to specify the number, but I recollect there are State and other auxiliaries in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Delaware; and resolutions approving of the Society, have been passed by the Legislatures of most of these and other States, and by most of these also the American Colonization Society has been recommended to the patronage of the General Government. Some of the States have made conditional appropriations from their respective treasuries. Maryland has set a Funds. noble example to her sister States by granting $200,000 from her treasury—that is, the sum of $20,000 annually for ten years to enable the free blacks of Maryland, if they feel disposed, to remove to Liberia. The Society has also received the approbation of all prominent denominations, by the acts of their ecclesiastical judicatories, whether assemblies, general associations, synods, classes, meetings, or conventions. Episcopalians, Presbyterians, the Dutch Reformed, Methodists, Congregationalists, Baptists, Lutherans, Moravians, and Friends, have thought proper, in their larger ecclesiastical bodies, to commend the objects of the Society to the patronage and good wishes of the community.' Has the Society considerable funds by which to sustain its operations?' 'It has almost none, aside from voluntary contributions, which are made from week to week. Its income, however, from these sources, has been considerable, and gradually increasing from its commencement. From 1821 to 1828 inclusive, the amount of donations was nearly $83,000. In 1829, it was upwards of $20,000. In 1830, more than $27,000. In 1831, rising $32,000. In 1832, more than $32,000. In 1833, $49,000. In 1834-5, nearly $52,000. A heavy debt which had accumulated upon it, and had like, for a time, to have disheartened its friends and suspended its operations, has, by a better arrangement in respect to its fiscal operations, been nearly extinguished, and its prospects are again brightening. In our next conversation, we will turn our attention to LIBERIA.' Liberia. CONVERSATION XXI. "Yes! thy proud lords, unpitying band, shall see Her name, her nature, wither'd from the world."-Campbell. You promised, in our last conversation,' said Caroline, ' that we should this morning hear something of the history of LIBERIA; and I assure you, Pa, that Henry and I have a great deal of curiosity to satisfy on this subject, so that you may expect to be troubled with a great many questions. Why, Sir, was the country in which the colonies are located, called Liberia ?' I am much gratified to find that you both take so deep an interest in the subject; and shall be pleased to hear and to reply to as many inquiries as you may feel inclined to make. The name 66 'Liberia," was given to the district of country in which the colonies are found, because it is the land of the free'd; the name being coined from the Latin adjective "liber," or "libera," free it. The central point of the old colony of Liberia, proper, now called the colony of Monrovia, is Cape Mesurado, or Montserado, which is represented as a most beautiful and commanding site. Liberia, embracing all the distinct colonies which are or may be planted, is situated about 5 degrees N. of the equator, and 250 miles S. of Sierra Leone, the English colony. It extends along the coast to the length of 150 or 300 miles; and reaches into the interior indefinitely. |