History of Liberia | Page 5

scheme
from public knowledge.
In the meantime a new private movement toward colonization was
started at the North. Samuel J. Mills organized at Williams College, in
1808, for missionary work, an undergraduate society, which was soon
transferred to Andover, and resulted in the establishment of the
American Bible Society and Board of Foreign Missions. But the topic
which engrossed Mills' most enthusiastic attention was the Negro. The
desire was to better his condition by founding a colony between the
Ohio and the Lakes; or later, when this was seen to be unwise, in Africa.
On going to New Jersey to continue his theological studies, Mills
succeeded in interesting the Presbyterian clergy of that State in his
project. Of this body one of the most prominent members was Dr.
Robert Finley. Dr. Finley succeeded in assembling at Princeton the first
meeting ever called to consider the project of sending Negro colonists
to Africa. Although supported by few save members of the seminary,
Dr. Finley felt encouraged to set out for Washington in December,
1816, to attempt the formation of a colonization society.
Earlier in this same year there had been a sudden awakening of
Southern interest in colonization. Toward the end of February, Gen.
Charles Fenton Mercer accidentally had his attention called to the
Secret Journals of the Legislature for the years 1801-5.[5] He had been
for six years a member of the House of Delegates, in total ignorance of
their existence. He at once investigated and was rewarded with a full
knowledge of the Resolutions and ensuing correspondence between
Monroe and Jefferson. Mercer's enthusiasm was at once aroused, and
he determined to revive the Resolutions at the next meeting of the
Legislature. In the meantime, imputing their previous failure to the
secrecy which had screened them from public view, he brought the
whole project conspicuously into notice. At the next session of the
Legislature, in December, resolutions embodying the substance of the
secret enactments were passed almost unanimously in both houses.
Public attention had been in this way already brought to bear upon the
advantages of Colonization when Finley set on foot the formation of a

society in Washington. The interest already awakened and the
indefatigable efforts of Finley and his friend Col. Charles Marsh, at
length succeeded in convening the assembly to which the Colonization
Society owes its existence. It was a notable gathering. Henry Clay, in
the absence of Bushrod Washington, presided, setting forth in glowing
terms the object and aspirations of the meeting. Finley's brother-in-law,
Elias B. Caldwell was Secretary, and supplied the leading argument, an
elaborate plea, setting forth the expediency of the project and its
practicability in regard to territory, expense, and the abundance of
willing colonists. The wide benevolent objects to be attained were
emphasized. John Randolph of Roanoke, and Robert Wright of
Maryland, dwelt upon the desirability of removing the turbulent
free-negro element and enhancing the value of property in slaves.[6]
Resolutions organizing the Society passed, and committees appointed
to draft a Constitution and present a memorial to Congress. At an
adjourned meeting a week later the constitution was adopted, and on
January 1, 1817, officers were elected.

III.
THE COLONIZATION MOVEMENT.
With commendable energy the newly organized Society set about the
accomplishment of the task before it. Plans were discussed during the
summer, and in November two agents, Samuel J. Mills and Ebenezer
Burgess, sailed for Africa to explore the western coast and select a
suitable spot. They were cordially received in England by the officers
of the African Institution, and by Earl Bathurst, Secretary of State for
the Colonies, who provided them with letters to Sierra Leone. Here
they arrived in March, 1818, and were hospitably received, every
facility being afforded them to prosecute their inquiries, though marked
unwillingness to have a foreign colony established in the vicinity was
not concealed. Their inspection was carried as far south as Sherbro
Island, where they obtained promises from the natives to sell land to
the colonists on their arrival with goods to pay for it. In May they
embarked on the return voyage. Mills died before reaching home. His
colleague made a most favorable report of the locality selected, though,
as the event proved, it was a most unfortunate one.
After defraying the expenses of this exploration the Society's treasury

was practically empty. It would have been most difficult to raise the
large sum necessary to equip and send out a body of emigrants; and the
whole enterprise would have languished and perhaps died but for a new
impelling force. Monroe, who ever since his correspondence with
Jefferson in 1800, had pondered over "the vast and interesting objects"
which colonization might accomplish, was now by an interesting chain
of circumstances enabled to render essential aid.
Though the importation of slaves had been strictly prohibited