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shall be without constraint on any one, and never shall we offer any argu ment or invitation to humanity divorced from patriotism. To this truly quiet, unofficious spirit do I trust for bringing about the time when we shall be one homogeneous nation of freemen; when those great principles now true of us only in part, shall be true in the whole; and when the clear light now in our upper sky only, shall brighten the whole expanse of the American character. Mr. Harrison then moved the following resolution:

Resolved, That, after an experience of eleven years, this Society are this day more than ever convinced of the practicability of their plan, and assured that patriotism and humanity alike urge them on to renewed applications for contribution from the public and private wealth of the country.

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The following is the very interesting and valuable Report, lately submitted to the House of Delegates in the Virginia Legislature, by the Committee to whom was referred the memorials and petitions of the Societies auxiliary to the American Colonization Society. We believe that it has not yet received the consideration of that body. But we know too much of Virginia, to believe that she will finally refuse her aid to a design which so early received her sanction, which is now favoured by so many of her distinguished citizens, and which in its execution must no less promote her interests, than gratify her high and liberal spirit.

Report of the Committee to whom were referred the Memorials and Petitions of the Societies auxiliary to the American Colonization Society.

The committee to whom were referred the several memorials and petitions from the Societies auxiliary to the American Colonization Society, have, according to order, had the same under consideration, and having given to the subject that attentive reflection which its importance, and connection with the best interests of the Commonwealth demand, have come to the following report and resolutions thereupon:

The evils resulting from the condition of the free coloured population amongst us, early aroused the anxiety, and attracted the attention of our predecessors in the administration of this government. Resolutions at sundry times passed both branches of the Legislature, in secret session, to which your committee cannot more particularly allude, as the injunction of secrecy has never been removed. In pursuance of these resolutions, however, Mr. Monroe in 1801, being then Governor of Virginia, entered into a correspondence with Mr. Jefferson, the President of the United States, consulting him on the means of procuring an asylum beyond the limits of the United States, to which that description of our population could be sent. In consequence of this correspondence, and the approval by the Legislature, at its subsequent session, of the plan suggested by Mr. Jefferson, instructions were given to our Minister in London, to endeavour to make some arrangement with the Sierra Leone Company, by which they should receive such of our free coloured population as might be colonized there. All of this was in accordance with the secret resolutions of the Legislature, at its session of 1800, as is ascertained by a letter from Mr. Jefferson, giving an account of these transactions, annexed to a report made in the House of Representatives of the United States, March 3, 1827. Difficulties arising in the negotiation, and our own political relations assuming a threatening character, the subject was dropped for a time, but was again resumed by the Legislature, at its session of 1816-17, when peace was restored to the world, and a resolution passed almost unanimously, in the following words: "Whereas the General Assembly of Virginia, have repeatedly sought to obtain an asylum, beyond the limits of the United States, for such persons of colour as had been, or might be emancipated, under the laws of this Commonwealth, but have hitherto found all their efforts frustrated, either by the disturbed state of other nations, or domestic causes equally unpropitious to its

success:

"They now avail themselves of a period when peace has healed the wounds of humanity, and the principal nations of Europe have concurred with the Government of the United States, in abolishing the African Slave Trade, (a traffic which this Commonwealth, both before and since the revolution, zealously

sought to terminate) to renew this effort, and do therefore resolve, that the Executive be requested to correspond with the President of the United States, for the purpose of obtaining a territory on the coast of Africa, or some other place, not within any of the States, or Territorial Governments of the United States, to serve as an asylum for such persons of colour as are now free, and may desire the same, and for those who may be hereafter emancipated within this Commonwealth; and that the Senators and Representatives of this State in the Congress of the United States be requested to exert their best efforts, to aid the President of the United States in the attainment of the above object: provided that no contract or arrangement respecting such territory shall be obligatory on this Commonwealth, until ratified by the Legislature."

This resolution indicated, in the opinion of your committee, a fixed determination on the part of Virginia to undertake, and carry into effect this great scheme, even with her own unassisted means; and they think it probable, a reliance, not only on the great moral influence of a Commonwealth so deeply interested in this question, but also on her pecuniary aid, may have had considerable influence in founding the American Colonization Society. At all events, the formation of this Society, soon after the passage of the above resolution, having precisely the objects indicated by the Legislature, viz: the colonizing, with their own consent, the free people of colour on the coast of Africa; your committee cannot but consider, an event highly propitious to the views of the Legislature. Many difficulties must necessarily have occurred in any attempt to execute this design by Virginia alone. In the first place, if left to her public means, without any organized plan for eliciting private benevolence, pecuniary embarrassments might have enfeebled our exertions and frustrated the design, by withdrawing the necessary means in times of public difficulty. Secondly, had she been successful, each State might have had its Colony, which would necessarily have resulted in the extreme weakness of some, and probably in an unhappy jealousy and rivalry, which would have endangered all. Thirdly, had the Colony been undertaken by the State in her sovereign character, it must have been treated as her possession, supported and defended by her, and subjected to

all her relations of peace and war: such a dependency upon one only of twenty-four associated sovereignties, possessing individually no power to hold diplomatic relations with any power, no right of maintaining any separate naval or military force, in fine having no national existence as it regards foreign nations, would not only have presented a curious anomaly in our political system, but probably have met with insuperable difficulties in the execution.

The formation of the Society, by concentrating the exertions of the humane throughout the Union, to which may be added at pleasure, the munificence of the States, and by directing emigration to a single point, has obviated the two first objections.As to the third, the Colony not being subjected to the sovereignty either of a State, or of the Union, ought not to be subjected to our relations of peace and war; and it is confidently believed, that nothing is wanting to secure its entire neutrality in any conflict we may hereafter have with a foreign power, but an understanding of its true condition It is believed, that nothing but effectual aid on the part of this Government is wanting, to enable the Society to fulfil all the humane, as well as political views of Virginia, on this interesting subject.

Convinced of a coincidence in views between the Legislature and the Society, your committee next turned their attention, with much anxiety, towards its operations, its present condition, and its future prospects, to discover in these the evidences of its capacity to fulfil its designs.

They find, that but eleven years have elapsed since its formation; that a want of acquaintance with the actual condition of Africa, was then almost universal; that the Society had to commence its operations by obtaining accurate information of the country to be colonized; at a time when the anxious, impatient expectations of its friends, compelled it to do something towards the attainment of its objects, even before the knowledge necessary to prevent misfortune could be acquired. It is not surprising, therefore, that untoward events threw a temporary cloud over its commencement. Since then, a better knowledge of the country has enabled them to procure a territory healthful, fertile, and sufficiently extensive for all the purposes of such an asylum as has been contemplated by Virginia. Fortifications

have been erected, a town actually built, plantations opened, many public works completed, and such a number of Colonists seated there, as in the opinion of your committee dissipates all speculation as to the practicability of their plans. They are also convinced, that the Society have conducted their operations with so much prudence, as to give no cause of alarm to the holders of slaves, for the security of this property.

Your committee have next turned their attention to the internal condition of the Colony, to discover what hope it affords of improving the condition of that part of our population, proverbially degraded at home, upon whom it is intended to operate, could they be induced to embrace the humane views of the Society, and the Legislature. The first object of their inquiry, as most interesting to human enjoyment, was the health of the Colonists, and although from the mortality which has prevailed amongst the whites employed in this great undertaking, they are convinced the climate is peculiarly inimical to them, yet, since their removal to the present situation, the health of the blacks is believed to have been as good as is usually enjoyed by other Colonists. Persons removing from a cold, or temperate, to a tropical climate, must expect some sickness before they become acclimated, but your committee find here, the most humane and salutary arrangements, to lessen the danger and suffering incident to this change. Large and comfortable receptacles for new Colonists have been provided, where the constant attendance of a person skilled by long experience in the treatment of this disease, with all the medicines and comforts necessary to their condition, are furnished the Colonists upon their arrival, until they pass this period; such has been the success of this treatment, that amongst the last Colonists from Virginia, a mortality not exceeding three per cent. has occurred, and that falling exclusively upon very young children or very aged persons.When this season of trial has passed, the health enjoyed by the Colonists is believed, from the reports of the agent and from other sources of information, not to be surpassed by the same population any where. When your committee compare the sufferings of the Colonists at Liberia, with those encountered in the first attempts to plant this great nation, they see abundant cause of gratitude to Divine Providence, rather than desponden

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