RESOLUTIONS. The Board of Managers having had an interview with Joseph Jones, who was sent by them to Liberia for the purpose of making a personal the present condition and prospects of the colony, and to make a report to ter receiving from him a full and accurate account of his mission, unanim following resolutions: Resolved, That the Board of Managers are fully satisfied with the m Joseph Jones has performed the services which were expected from him, tled to the thanks of the society for the great amount of useful information with much toil and labor, acquired for the benefit of the free people of co and that the Board recommend him to the kind and respectful consideratio friendly disposed to African colonization, as a man of excellent characte vigorous understanding, and possessed of those qualities which make society. Resolved, That Mr. Jones be requested to accompany our agent to the in this State, for the purpose of giving information with regard to the col GOV. PINNEY'S LETTER. M SIR: The bearer, Mr. Jones, having, as I fully believe, faithfully execu of the mission on which he was sent, is about to return to the United State ner Edgar. If the section of country from which he came can afford us or possessing the spirit of enterprise, and patience, and perseverance which so far, they will bless the colony by their presence. Mr. Jones' conduct whilst here, has been blameless, and a pattern for ot he will find favor before God and man. The vessel is to sail in a few hou an apology for brevity. With great respect. EXAMINATION. At what time did you leave this country? I left Louisville on the 23d of March, 1833, and New Orleans on the 20th ing, and reached Liberia on the 11th of July. How long did you remain in the colony? Nine months and twenty-nine days. Did you travel extensively, and what places did you visit? I travelled fifty-nine days, and visited all the settlements. How many settlements are there? Describe each one. There are five. 1. Monrovia, the seat of colonial government, a seaport, town, that stands on Cape Mesurado at the Mouth of Mesurado river. size of Winchester, Ky. The soil on the Cape is rocky and gravelly, an ductive. 2. New Georgia, the settlement of recaptured Africans, five m rovia on Stockton Creek, between Monrovia and Caldwell. Parts of Eboes and Congoes, live in the town, but on different sides of the street. termarried with the colonists. They live partly by getting out lumber, a riculture. Their houses are built some in the native style, and some afte the colonists. I suppose there are more than one hundred houses in the t is rich but sandy. 3. Caldwell, ten miles from Monrovia on the St. Pau the largest settlement, and extends seven miles up the river. It is more Monrovia. Farming is carried on more extensively here than in any of t ments. The soil is excellent. 4. Millsburg, situated at the Falls of the 20 miles from Monrovia. The settlement extends about three quarters the river. The land is very productive. There is a sawmill now building The soil is very fertile. There are about one hundred houses here. The St. John's river is navigable for small vessels. There is another settlement about to be made at the mouth of the Junk river. This river is larger than the Kentucky, and is navigable. Describe the face of the country. It is generally level, with a few small rises, but no high hills. How far is it back from the coast to the mountains? It is said to be upwards of thirty miles. The ridge of Junk mountains can be seen from Edina, and the Junk settlement. Is the land well timbered? Yes; it produces several kinds of wood, that are called oak, poplar, hickory and hackberry, though they do not resemble our trees, called by the same names, except some slight resemblances in the grain of the wood-the bark and leaves are different; and also mangrove, brimstone tree, redwood, baywood, mahogany and cotton wood. Coffee plants grow wild in the woods, also pine apples, limes, guavas and plantains. Is the country well watered? It has springs, branches, wells, and one of the rivers affords good drinking water. Are the rivers well supplied with fish? They have an abundance of pike, mackerel, cavalla, and tarpaun, and several other kinds, to which no name has yet been given, and oysters and clams. What productions are raised on their farms? Rice, cassada, plantains, bananas, soursups, guavas, Indian corn, arrow root, peanuts, coffee, and sugar cane. How does the cassada grow and how is it used? It grows like the sweet potato. It is a root sometimes two or three feet long, and three or four inches in diameter. The top of it resembles the Sumach bush. It is planted like the sugar cane, three or four slips in a hill. One hill will produce from a peck to half a bushel. When ripe it is boiled or roasted or dried and beaten into flour, and answers all the purposes of flour in this country? How is the coffee raised! It is raised from trees or bushes. A tree will bear in from four to six years after it has been planted. One tree will bear from two and a half to three bushels in the hulls, or more than one bushel of clean coffee. Mr. Waring has 1500 trees planted that do not yet bear. Can cotton be raised? It can be cultivated almost to any extent. It will grow from three to eight years without replanting. I have been in Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina, and I think the cotton raised in Liberia is superior. The tree grows from eight to ten feet high, and is topped in order to make it branch out and become productive. Can more than one crop be raised during the season? There are two planting seasons, and two crops can be raised on the same ground. The state of morals is much like it is in the United States. There are in Monrovia two Baptist and two Methodist Churches, and one Presbyterian Church, well supplied with Ministers. At Caldwell, there is a Baptist and a Methodist Church. At New Georgia, there is a Baptist Church, and a Methodist society that has no meeting house. At Millsburg there is a Baptist and a Methodist Church. At Edina, there is a Methodist Church. How is the Colony supplied with schools? There are in all, seven schools-a male and a female school at Monrovia; a male and a female school at Caldwell. A school at New Georgia, Millsburg, and Bassa. The teachers are all colored persons, and are considered competent. The schools are tolerably well attended-not as well as might be, but as well as could be expected in present circumstances. There are Sunday schools at all the settlements, except New Georgia, and about that I am uncertain. What are the chief articles of commerce? Camwood, palmwood, palm oil, ivory, gold dust, tortois shell, pepper, beeswax, and hides. Vessels often call, and the harbor is seldom clear of them. Many of the colonists own small vessels. There are nine in the coasting trade, and two more were building when I left. Most of these vessels were built in Monrovia. What is the Government of the Colony? The people elect their own officers, except the Governor. I was at an election, and it was conducted as elections are in this country. The laws are well executed. The Gover nor is a very worthy and capable man, and is active, and attentive to the wants of the people. Lesser crimes are punished by imprisonment, and stripes, and labor on the public works. No capital offence has yet been committed. Are temperance societies encouraged? Yes; the Methodist Church Conference formed themselves into a temperance society early in January last. In April last, I was at Caldwell at the formation of a temperance ociety-33 members joined the first night; and there are other societies at other places. How are emigrants provided for on their arrival? They are sent to a large building prepared by the Government, and are furnished with provisions from the public store for six months. Their rooms are convenient. After the It needs men-strong, virtuous, enterprising, and intelligent. They should have a mattress and bed clothes, and a full supply of cotton and woollen clothing. With what kinds of tools should they be provided? An axe, hammer, drawing knife, hoe, spade, auger, gimlet, saw, and file. How many natives, do you suppose, are in the settlements? About half as many as the Colonists. They are well disposed, and anxious to learn the habits of the Colonists. Some of them have adopted our dress, and can read, and have learned trades. Many come in from great distances in the interior. Do the colonists appear satisfied? I was particular in iny inquiries, and I found the large majority well satisfied, and would not return to this country, if they could. What is the military force? It is strong enough for all necessary purposes. The natives are entirely friendly. The wild are deer of several kinds, hogs, cattle, and goats, and the tame are cattle, hogs, poultry, and a few horses and jacks. How do you like the climate? 1 The climate is more regular and healthy than in this country. After the Colonists become seasoned, they enjoy excellent health. The natives are stout and healthy. What do you mean by seasoning? Emigrants, in a short time after reaching the Colony, are attacked with a fever, and their indisposition is different in duration; some recover in a short time, while others have not entirely gotten over it in two years. A few have entirely escaped. From the Western Luminary, July 30, 1834. CONVERSATION ABOUT LIBERIA. On Monday last we enjoyed the pleasure of an interview with JOSEPH JONES, a colored man who went out as an emigrant to Liberia, with the expedition which left this state in the spring of 1833. Jones is an intelligent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, over forty years of age. He had been free for several years previous to his departure to Liberia, and resided in Winchester, Kentucky, where he pursued the vocation of a barber. He returned to the United States in June last, for the purpose of endeavoring to take to Liberia his wife and child, whom he left in bondage here. We should have been highly gratified if every individual unfriendly to the Liberian colony, and the plan of African Colonization projected by the American Colonization Society, could have heard the plain, unvarnished, common-sense statement of this colored man. We think it could not have failed to banish many of their prejudices, and constrained them to acknowledge that the Liberian colony is at least doing something towards meliorating the condition of the black man, both here and in Africa. Our conversation with Jones was free and unrestrained; and altogether informal. He had no set speeches to make or connected narrative to give, but spoke about the country he had visited and which he had deliberately chosen as his future home, like an observing man of honesty and integrity of character. We learned in the course of conversation, that he received no compensation from any one for the testimony he was bearing about Liberia, and he remarked, that he would be unwilling to receive any for such service, if offered.-His statements respecting the face of the country at the Colony, the soil and productions, the state of religion, schools, &c. were in the main such as we have frequently laid before our readers, from the most authentic sources. Monrovia he represents as being in size and general appearance, about such a town as Winchester, Kentucky, with the exception of there being more brick buildings in Winchester. Millsburg, Caldwell, and New Georgia, he describes as such villages, as are every where to be found in this region. The soil he describes as somewhat sandy but very productive. He had seen as good Indian corn growing there as we commonly see in Kentucky. Rice is abundant, and very fine; buckwheat and barley also produce well; besides an abundance of vegetables and fruits which we do not have in this country. Fish were in great abundance. On being interrogated as to the climate, he stated, that he had never experienced any weather there near so hot as it now is here. That there was always a sea breeze which rendered it pleasant. There are five churches in Monrovia-2 Methodist, two Baptist, and one Presbyterian, he believed all under the care of colored men. There was a male and female school in Monrovia, also two schools in Caldwell, and one in Millsburg. He knew of the existence of three Temperance Societies. He represented the people as being generally contented and apparently happy. They entertained sentiments of great respect for the United States, and copied them very close ddressed to William Tucker, a free colored man, a merchant of who was liberated by the Rev. W. L. Breckinridge, and went om this state in the spring of 1833. The letter was brought by it entire, with the correction of a few verbal inaccuracies. March, 1834. I embrace the opportunity of writing to you, hoping these lines o myself and my family, we are in good health at this time; and the St. Paul's river. We have settled on a farm of ten acres, manner and custom of the place,-raising of corn, potatoes, nanas, which is very good food, and which I am very well pleas well pleased with so far as I have seen. I also believe that we ng here if we use industry. But if any person should be disposI would advise them to bring every thing necessary, such as mocloth,—knowing that in every new country these things are compliments to Mr. Blue and his family; also give my love to of them. I am yours sincerely, DAVID RICHARDSON. From the New York Spectator, June 12.] LIBERIA. previous communication, that the Colony, at the time that had been on the coast some time, was at anchor am certain terrupt yo you concil member o for twenty and operat cieties sho weakening it appears American position; t want of fu Colony rec to go to 2 examining the country at some distance from the coast; but as the colony increases, what might we not expect from the remarks and researches of intelligent blacks? A resident of Liberia, as the influence of the colony becomes more extended, will probably give us information of the interior which may become valuable in every sense. Of the two hundred recaptured Africans sent out by government, four only have died; this of course might have been expected, as it is their native land; but that they are do ing well and thriving, is no small item as we view it, to the credit of the colony. Its results, too, are to be taken into consideration. In concluding, we may observe, we have no disposition to paint en beau, the appearance and prospects of the colony, or by becoming a party writer, to use language describing an African elysium. The facts mentioned are but few, but the appeal is to the judgment. Those who would wish us to take no interest in the colony, because it interferes with their own plans of exceeding philanthropy and patriotism, should visit it themselves, and we should be much deceived should they not hesitate before they would yet abandon it. D. COLONIZATION SOCIETY. Address to the Managers and leading members of the Anti-Slavery and Abolition Societies of the Northern and Eastern States, and to all who are opposed to the Colonization of the Colored People of the United States, in Africa. DEEP RIVER, GUILFORD Co., N. C. Esteemed Friends,-Having observed in the African Repository, and other periodicals, that you have taken a very decided stand in opposition to the constitution and operations of the Colonization Society, I regret much, that you have not kept steadily and firmly to your main purposes of universal emancipation, and the education and general improvement of the people of color; these are great and noble works for Christian philanthropists to be engaged in. Your Society has no doubt been instrumental in conciliating public opinion in favor of a general emancipation of slaves in the northern and eastern States; but remember it was gradual; and if you would let the American Colonization Society prosecute its plans without interruption, and still pursue your own proper business, you may yet be instrumental in extending gradual and universal emancipation from the north to the south, until it reaches from Maryland to New Orleans; and I am certain that the American Colonization Society will not oppose or interrupt you in any shape or form, but will be the better pleased the more you conciliate public opinion in favor of universal emancipation. I am a member of that Society, and have been a member of an auxiliary of yours for twenty years; and have generally been much pleased with the views and operations of both, until of late I have been truly sorry that the two societies should come so in contact with each other as to be in danger of weakening both. However, from the best information that I can obtain it appears to me that you are the aggressors; and instead of weakening the American Colonization Society, it has gained strength and numbers by opposition; though it is in rather a depressed situation at present for the want of funds; on account of so large a number of emigrants going to the Colony recently, (about one thousand within one year;) too large a number to go to a colony that contained but about two thousand inhabitants: the proportion of emigrants to the inhabitants of the United States, to be landed along our eastern shores, would be embarrassing even to our Gov. ernment and numerous community. same |