FootNote
The new kid on the block, FootNote is known for digitizing historical
documents... many of which are genealogical gems. With naturalizations,
city directories, war records, newspapers, town records, etc... this new
kid is quickly being recognized as an alternative to Ancestry.
While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
The widespread interest awakened by the
actual establishment of a permanent colony at Monrovia led
to the formation of a number of State Colonization
Societies, at first purely auxiliary to the central body,
but later in some cases independent. The foundation of
independent settlements at Bassa Cove and Sinou by the New
York, Pennsylvania and Mississippi Societies, and their
union in 1837 into the Commonwealth, has been considered. A
much more important colony was founded by Maryland at Cape
Palmas, which for years maintained its independence.
In 1831, the Maryland State Colonization Society was formed.
Active interest in the movement had long been felt in the
State, and it scarcely needed the eloquence of Robert
Finley, son of the old champion of colonization, who visited
Baltimore in that year, to awaken enthusiasm. The Society
had hardly been formed when ample funds were provided in an
unexpected way. In August, 1831, a tragic Negro uprising
took place in Virginia, in which some sixty-five white men,
women and children were murdered. The Southampton Massacres
were attributed largely to the instigation of the
troublesome free Negro element, and the growing sentiment in
favor of emancipation was abruptly checked. The Maryland
Legislature, sharing the general excitement, passed in
December a resolution which became law in March, and proved
to the State Society what the Act of March 3, 1819, was to
the main organization. The connection was more explicit.
Three members of the Society were to be appointed
Commissioners to remove all free Negroes to Liberia. The sum
of $20,000 in the current year, and of $10,000 in each
succeeding year, for a period of twenty years, was devoted
to the purpose. Any free Negro refusing to emigrate was to
be summarily ejected from the State by the sheriff. The wave
of feeling which dictated this monstrous piece of
legislation passed away before any of its harsh provisions
were carried out. But the beneficent portion remained in
force. The Society was left in the enjoyment of the liberal
annuity of $10,000.
In October, 1831, and December, 1832, expeditions were sent
out which landed emigrants at Monrovia. The difficulty of
arriving at an agreement with the parent Society regarding
the rights and status of these people, together with other
considerations, led to the adoption of the idea of founding
a separate colony. The plan was adopted largely through the
support of Mr. John H. B. Latrobe, throughout his life one
of the most active and efficient friends of colonization.
The motives of the undertaking were distinctly announced to
be the gradual extirpation of slavery in Maryland, and the
spread of civilization and Christianity in Africa. Cape
Palmas, a bold promontory marking the point where the coast
makes a sharp bend toward the east, was selected as the new
site. Its conspicuous position makes it one of the best
known points on the coast, and some identify it with the
"West Horn" reached by Hanno, the Carthaginian explorer,
twenty-nine days out from Gades. Dr. James Hall, who had
gained experience as physician in Monrovia, was placed in
charge of the expedition, and the brig Ann, with a small
number of emigrants, sailed from Baltimore November 28,
1833. A firm legal basis was projected for the new
establishment in a Constitution to which all emigrants were
to subscribe. The experience gained by the older colony was
put to good use. Regular courts, militia, and public schools
were provided for from the first.
The vessel touched at Monrovia, gathered as many recruits as
possible from those sent out on the two previous
expeditions, and finally anchored at Cape Palmas on February
11, 1834. After the usual tedious "palaver" and bargaining,
the natives formally sold the required land. The cape is a
promontory some seventy-five feet in height, separated from
the mainland, except for a narrow, sandy isthmus. A river,
navigable for some miles to small boats, opens opposite it,
and forms a safe harbor. A long, salt water lake extends to
the east, parallel to the coast. The land is very fertile
and well adapted to farming. Several native villages lie
near the cape. From a well founded fear of native treachery
the colonists laid out their town on the promontory, upon
the summit of which a brass six pounder was mounted. Farm
lands were laid out on the mainland, and in a short time the
little community was in a thriving condition. None of the
distressing misfortunes encountered by the colony at
Monrovia marred the early history of "Maryland in Liberia."
In 1836 the health of Dr. Hall, whose services to the infant
colony had been invaluable, became so much impaired that he
was obliged to resign. He returned to the United States, and
long rendered the Society efficient service in another
capacity. John B. Russwurm, a citizen of Monrovia, and once
editor of the Liberia Herald, was appointed Governor, and
served ably and faithfully until his death in 1851. Early in
his administration a convenient form of paper currency,
receivable at the Society's store, was introduced, and
proved most useful in trade with the natives. In 1841 some
slight difficulties with employees of missions led the
Society, while still retaining control of affairs, to assert
by resolution that the colony was a sovereign State. A
revenue law introduced in 1846 soon produced an income of
about $1,200. In this year began the trips of the "Liberia
Packet," a vessel maintained by a company formed to trade
between Baltimore and Harper, as the town of the colony was
named, in honor of Robert Goodloe Harper. A certain amount
of trade was guaranteed and other aid given by the Society.
In 1847 the judiciary was separated from the executive; a
chief justice and a system of courts were provided for.
The year 1852 ended the period during which the Society drew
its annual stipend from the State treasury; but the General
Assembly was induced to extend the provisions of the Act of
1831 for a further period of six years. It may be as well to
note here that in 1858 a further extension was made for five
years, the amount at the same time being reduced to $5,000
per annum. For twenty years the colony had flourished under
the care and good management of the Society. Prosperity now
seemed secure, and a spirit of discontent, a desire to throw
off the yoke and assume autonomy began to prevail. The great
success following the assumption of Independence by Liberia
in 1847, and the recognition at once obtained from the
leading nations of Europe, naturally strengthened the
feeling. A committee of leading citizens petitioned the
Society to relinquish its authority, at the same time
demanding or begging almost everything else in its power to
bestow. The Society was further asked by its spoiled
fosterling to continue to support schools, provide
physicians and medicine, remit debts, and finally, to grant
a "loan" of money to meet the expenses of government.
The Board of Managers, though deeming the colony still
unripe for independence, generously determined to grant the
request, as made advisable by force of circumstances. Among
other things it was feared that the better class of
colonists might be attracted toward the independent State of
Liberia. A sort of federal union with that State was
suggested, but found impracticable. A convention met and
drafted a Constitution, which was submitted to the Board. An
agreement was reached as to the conditions of the transfer
of the Society's lands, etc. Both were ratified by the
people, and in May, 1854, Wm. A. Prout was elected Governor.
Other officials, senators and representatives, were chosen
at the same time.
The prosperity of the colony continued under the careful
management of Gov. Prout. On his death the
Lieutenant-Governor, Wm. S. Drayton, succeeded to his
office. It was not long before the "rash and imprudent"
conduct of this official precipitated a serious conflict
with the natives. An expedition against them resulted in a
demoralizing defeat, with loss of artillery and twenty-six
valuable lives. In consternation an urgent appeal was sent
to Monrovia. The treasury of the Republic was exhausted from
the effects of the uprising of the Sinou River tribes; but
Dr. Hall was fortunately present, and supplied the
Government with a loan from the funds of the Maryland
Society. One hundred and fifteen Liberian troops, under
command of ex-President Roberts, were soon embarked for Cape
Palmas, and easily overawed the native chiefs, who agreed to
a fair adjustment of their grievances by treaty, February
26, 1857.
The war was not without important results. The Maryland
colonists were thoroughly aroused to the weakness of their
isolated position, and determined to have union with Liberia
at any price. It was known that the Republic was willing to
admit Maryland only as a county, on precisely the same terms
as the other three Montserado, Sinou, and Bassa. State pride
and the views of the Society had hitherto kept them from
such a union; but now, in the reaction from their recent
terror, a vote of the people called for by Act of the
Legislature was unanimous in favor of "County Annexation;"
and a committee was appointed to arrange matters at once
with Roberts. When he declined to assume any such
responsibility, they actually proceeded to dissolve the
Government, and cede all public property forthwith to the
Republic of Liberia. The interesting document entitled the
"Act or Petition of Annexation," shows the number of
colonists to have been at this time 900 and the aboriginal
population about 60,000. The tax on imports produced $1,800
a year. The State's liabilities were $3,000, with assets
estimated at $10,000.
The Liberian Legislature by an Act of April, 1857, formally
received the colony into the Republic as "Maryland County."
The advantages gained by this change undoubtedly more than
counterbalanced any loss of independence. Though the total
dissolution of the government and surrender of all rights
and property before any negotiation with Liberian
authorities had taken place, seems inconceivably rash states
craft, the wisdom of the colonists in desiring the union is
unquestionable.
At the time of annexation the Maryland Colonization Society
had on hand some $6,000, which was invested, and the
interest devoted to a school at Cape Palmas; in connection
with this trust its existence is prolonged. Up to the end of
its period of activity it had received and expended nearly
half a million dollars; the balance sheet of December 31,
1857, may be of interest.
