Government of Liberia. Spirit of power-pass on! Thy homeward wing is free; Toil might not bow thee down, CONVERSATION XXIV. We must enWe must raise "We must plead the cause of Africa on her own shores. lighten the Africans themselves on the nature of this evil. in their minds a fixed abhorrence of its enormities. There will be no ships with human cargoes if we cut off the supply. We must by our settlements point the African kidnapper to a more profitable commerce than that in the blood and heart-strings of his fellow-men."-Frelinghuysen. WE should like to know this evening, Pa, something more of Liberia. What is the government of the colonies?' The government is in a great measure republican; and is designed expressly to prepare the colonists ably and successfully to govern themselves. For the first, or parent colony, at Monrovia, a form of government was, in August 1824, submitted to the assembled colonists, and by them unanimously adopted. The colonial agent of the original colony receives his appointment from the Board of Managers of the Colonization Society, and it is generally expected that he will be a white man. All the other officers are men of color, the most important of whom are elected annually by the people. Besides other officers, Boards of Agriculture, of Public Works, of Health, &c. are chosen, and the whole business of the colony is conducted with spirit and with Literary advantages. much wisdom. A Court of justice is established, which consists of the agent, and two judges chosen by the people, and exercises jurisdiction over the whole colony, meeting monthly at Monrovia. It is a highly honorable fact that no capital crime has ever been committed in the colony. The crimes usually brought before the court are thefts committed by natives within the colonial jurisdiction. 'The government of the colonies at Cape Palmas and Bassa Cove, is similar to that of the old colony. The respective societies which planted these last, appoint the Governor of each. A Constitution has recently been proposed, designed for the General Government of Liberia, rendered necessary by the multiplication of colonies. This constitution proposing a durable foundation for the future union, freedom, and independence of the colonies, provides that the several colonial settlements planted in Liberia, on the principles of the American Colonization Society, shall be united under one government. The old colony is to be known as the colony of Monrovia; the colonies at Cape Palmas and Bassa Cove are to retain their present denomination, or to receive such other, together with other colonies which may be planted, as the societies planting them may respectively bestow. The constitution also provides for a legislature to be entitled the Congress of Liberia, an executive, a supreme judiciary, &c. &c.' 'Do the colonists pay proper attention to education, and have they any considerable literary advantages?' The subject of education has ever been one of primary importance with the Board of Colonization, and the interests of literature are promoted as far as circumstances permit. In 1830, the Board established permanent schools in the towns of Monrovia, Caldwell, and Millsburgh. They adopted a thorough system of instruction, which is now in successful T Testimony of Dr. Shane. operation. There are two female schools conducted on liberal principles, one of which was established by a lady in Philadelphia, who sent out the necessary books and teachers. It is said that there is not a child or youth in the colony but is provided with an appropriate school. Some of these schools have valuable libraries. There is a public library at Monrovia which contains between 1200 and 2000 volumes. A printing press is in operation there, issuing a weekly and well conducted gazette, the "Liberia Herald." It is interesting to look over this sheet and see the various advertisements, notices of auctions, parades, marriages, &c., together with its marine list, and items of news, as if the print were issued from the midst of an old and long established community.' 'I do not see but they have in Liberia already the elements of wealth and greatness. They are beginning to be a commercial community; and, with an agricultural interior in prospect, and they a civilized and Christian people, what is there to prevent their ultimate prosperity?' 66 Their prospects are bright, Henry, very bright. Their progress, hitherto, has certainly been rapid and truly wonderful. Dr. Shane, of Cincinnati, went with a company of emigrants to Liberia in 1832, sailing from New-Orleans; and, among other things, writes, I see not in Liberia as fine and splendid mansions as in the United States; nor as extensive and richly stocked farms as the well tilled lands of Ohio; but I see a fine and very fertile country, inviting its poor and oppressed sons to thrust in their sickles and gather up its fullness. I here see many who left the United States in straightened circumstances, living with all the comforts of life around them; enjoying a respectable and useful station in society, and wondering that their brethren in the United States, who have it in their power, do not flee to this asylum Testimony of Captains Kennedy, Nicholson and Abels. of happiness and liberty, where they can enjoy all the unalienable rights of man. * I do not think an unprejudiced person can visit here without becoming an ardent and sincere friend of colonization. I can attribute the apathy and indifference on which it is looked by many, as arising from ignorance on the subject alone, and would that every free colored man in the United States could get a glimpse of his brethren, their situation and prospects. * Let but the colored man come and see for himself, and the tear of gratitude will beam in his eye, as he looks forward to the not far distant day, when Liberia shall take her stand among the nations of the world, and proclaim abroad an empire founded by benevolence, offering a home to the poor, oppressed, and weary. Nothing but a want of knowledge of Liberia, prevents thousands of honest, industrious free blacks from rushing to this heaven-blessed land, where liberty and religion, with all their blessings, are enjoyed."' Are the colonists generally contented and happy in their situation?' * 'Captain Kennedy, who visited Liberia in 1831, says, "with impressions unfavorable to the scheme of the Colonization Society, I commenced my inquiries." The colonists "considered that they had started into a new existence. They felt themselves proud in their attitude." He further says, "many of the settlers appear to be rapidly acquiring property; and I have no doubt they are doing better for themselves and for their children, in Liberia, than they could do in any other part of the world." Captain Nicholson, of the United States' Navy, gave as favorable a report. Captain Abels says, "My expectations were more than realized. I saw no intemperance, nor did I hear a profane word uttered by any one. I know of no place where the Sabbath seems to be more respected than in Monrovia." Testimony of a British officer, Governor Mechlin and Captain Sherman. A distinguished British naval officer, who passed three years on the African coast, published a favorable notice of the colony, in the Amulet for 1832, in which he bears this testimony: The complete success of this colony is a proof that the negroes are, by proper care and attention, as susceptible of the habits of industry, and the improvements of social life, as any other race of human beings; and that the amelioration of the condition of the black people on the coast of Africa, by means of such colonies, is not chimerical. Wherever the influence of the colony extends, the slavetrade has been abandoned by the natives, and the peaceable pursuits of legitimate commerce established in its place. They not only live on terms of harmony and good will together, but the colonists are looked upon with a certain degree of respect by those of their own color; and the force of their example is likely to have a strong effect in inducing the people about them to adopt it. A few colonies of this kind, scattered along the coast, would be of infinite value in improving the natives." 'Governor Mechlin has said, "As to the morals of the colonists, I consider them much better than those of the people of the United States; i. e. you may take an equal number of the inhabitants from any section of the Union, and you will find more drunkenness, more profane swearers and Sabbathbreakers, than in Liberia. You rarely hear an oath, and as to riots and breaches of the peace, I recollect but one instance, and that of a trifling nature, that has come under my notice since I assumed the government of the colony." Captain Sherman has said, "There is a greater proportion of moral and religious characters in Monrovia than in the city of Philadelphia." The Rev. Beverly R. Wilson, (an intelligent colored minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church,) spent fourteen months in Liberia, which he visited at his own expense, to |