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formerly held in bondage to labor. Over two-thirds of these are able-bodied men, and they are just being turned to some account by the Government, which employs them at every species of mechanical labor. The negroes are divided up into gangs of about fifty each, under the superintendence of a white overseer.

The aggregate pay of the contraband is ten dollars per month, two dollars of which is paid to him (when he attends to his work) in cash, in four weekly installments of a half dollar each Eight dollars a month is reserved by the Government as a contingent fund for various purposes, one of which, being cardinal, we may mention-namely, keeping himself and family comfortable, clean, happy, well fed and well clothed.

RECEIPTS OF AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY, From the 20th of January to the 20th of February, 1862.

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

By Rev. F. Butler

Amhert-Congregational Church and
Society, $19, Doctor Matthias
Spaulding, 93 years of age and a
friend from the beginning, $3.

VERMONT.

By Rev. F. Butler, ($28.)

Chelsea-Cong. Church and Society,

$14 50, which aud previous dona tions, constitute Rev. J. C. Haughton a Life Member Hartland-Cong. Church and Society Vermont-A Friend

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14 50

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Chamberlain, late of Peachem, Vt., $500, less discount $7.50, and premium on draft $1.50.

CONNECTICUT.

By Rev. Jno Orcutt, ($411.)
Hartford-Rev. W. W. Turner, Jas.
B. Hosmer, each $50, Rev. N. S.
Wheaton, D. D., $30, Roland
Mather, $20, Lucius Barbour,
$15, D. P. Crosby, Hungerford
and Cone, Ebenezer Flower, Mrs.
C. F. Pond S. S. Ward, Cash,
Austin Dunham, H. Huntington,
Woodruff and Beach, each $10,
Leonard Church, Joseph Church,
1. W. Beach, E. N. Kellogg, C.
H. Northam, Elisha T. Smith, E.
B. Watkinson, Cash, Daniel Phil-
lips, C. H. Brainard, Charles Hos
mer, Cash, James Goodwin, Mrs.
Thomas Day, Mrs. C. Parsons,
each $5. J. C. Walkley, E. Bolles,
R. S. Seyms, H. L. Porter, O.
Allen, H. H. Barbour, Charles
Benton, S. D. Sperry, Samuel J.
Tuttle, J. A. Butler, each $3, G.
W. Corning, P. Jewell, H. W.
Taylor, each $t
Windsor Mrs. Nancy Pierson, H. S.

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Hayden, Mrs. S. A. Tuttle, each
$5, Dea. Morgan, Miss E. Drake,
James Loomis, each $2, Miss
Olivia Pierson, A. McCall, each
$1
Rocky Hill-General Pratt, $5, Miss
Hannah Merriam. $1
Cheshire-Rev. E. Bull, $5, A. E.

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By Rev. O. B. Plimpton, ($88 27.)
Perrysburg-A. E. Graves, $5, Rus-
sell B. Dowley, $5

Smith's Mills-S. M. Ball
Leon-Austin L. Kellogg, $10, Aman-

da Caston, $5, Moses and Emma-
line Mills, $5, Anthony Day, $10,
Harriet Buel and Pricilla Day,
$10, Lydia M. Parks, $5, Ansel
A. Nash, $5, Eliza M. Evarts, $5,
Miles Mallary, $2, Edward Kirk-
land, and mother, $1.50, Egbert
Ostrader, $3, Jas. North, $2, Nor
man B Hill, $2.50, Erastus Went-
worth, $1.

Dayton-Louisa M. Parks, $5, An-
sel A. Nash, $5

State City.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Miscellaneous,

OHIO.

By Rev. O. B. Plimpton, ($23.) Braceville-Moses L. Ovenett. Poland--Philip Stambough Youngstown-David Hymrod, $5, Augustus and Mary Hyne, $1 each, $2, J. F. Barker, $1.

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INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT BENSON.
January 6th, 1862.

FELLOW CITIZENS:

Though there are occasions in the history of individuals and nations, which, from the frequency of their occurrence, impart to each successive one an increased monotonous aspect, yet I must confess that on me as an individual, this occasion of my fourth inauguration to the Presidency of this Republic produces quite a contrary effect.

In reviewing the past, commencing six years ago, when I was first inaugurated, and assumed the responsible duties of the Executive Chair, and tracing the historic events of the country from that time up to the present, we find much to bemoan, but more still to rejoice in, and take courage from. Many of the veteran patriots who assisted in laying the foundation of this State, have fallen. As we have nationally increased in age and importance, so have our national difficulties from abroad, as a consequence, proportionably increased in number and magnitude, at times shaking the very foundation of our national existence. At home, we have had (as in all republican governments) our political dissensions, more or less fierce. And yet, taking all these to their fullest extent into consideration, I doubt if there is one to be found in this vast concourse, in this entire Republic, possessing even ordinary observant intelligence, who will deny that our national career has been commensurately progressive with our

age.

And to-day, on this auspicious occasion, whether we survey the various industrial departments, or the gradual increase and diffusion of intelligence, patriotism, and manly independence, we shall discover abundant cause to rejoice, and encourage our hearts. Nor is it the

rative of the information previously given this government by Prince Mannah, of the vessel being a slaver, and that she had distributed cash and goods for the purpose of accumulating a number of slaves within a given time, seized the vessel, which had entered the river, and whose name on the stern had been effaced with paint, as a prize, intending to bring her to this port for adjudication.

The bar and surf having meantime become unusually rough, and continued so for nearly a week, rendering communication with the shore extremely hazard. ous, so much so as to have resulted in the loss of Capt. Monger and a seaman, who were drowned in attempting to cross Gallinas bar, and all the Quail's boats having been so far wrecked and injured by landing or attempting to land, as to measurably unfit them for use, a prize-crew of thirteen men under an officer was left in charge of the prize, and the Quail proceeded down to this port for boats and facilities for getting the prize out of the bar; but wind and current being strongly adverse, she did not arrive here until the 10th of June (seven days.) On the 12th of June she was despatched with the necessary facilities, and arrived at Gallinas, via Robertsport, on the afternoon of the 13th.

H. B. M. S. Torch, Capt. Smith, Senior Officer of this division, having, as I learn, received intelligence of a slaver being there, had arrived on the morning of the 13th; and, as he asserts, not having seen the Liberian flag flying on board the prize, and not being cognizant of her being in possession of a Liberian prize-crew, the Captain had sent in boats in command of his Lieutenant before the Quail had reached port and anchored. The British lieutenant and crew, after boarding the prize, communicated with Capt. Smith of the Torch, who ordered her to be burned, and she was thus destroyed on the 14th of June, which gave rise to the correspondence between Captains Smith and Benedict, copies of which I herewith present, by which it will be seen that the commander of the Torch expressed his disapproval of the act of his lieutenant in taking possession of the prize after ascertaining that she was a prize to the Liberian government schooner Quail. Though the act was, as he stated, done without his knowledge and approval, yet it having been committed, he concluded to direct her to be destroyed, as aforesaid. The motive by which he was to an extent actuated in deciding upon the latter course he hoped the gov ernment of Liberia would appreciate, as it was intended thereby to relieve the government of Liberia from any unpleasant misunderstanding with the Spanish government, he in the name of his government assuming the responsibility in

the matter.

The officers and crew of the slaver having been attacked by the African fever, disabling them to travel by land to Monrovia, and rendering it imprudent to risk their lives by embarcation, it was thought advisable by Lieutenant Carney, as most accordant with humanity, to allow them about a week previously, at their own urgent request, to go to Sierra Leone by inland water route, so as to secure medical attention, &c. &c., under the supervision of the Spanish consul at that place. On the return of the Quail from Gallinas and my receipt of Commander Benedict's report, I immediately transmitted to H. B. M. Government, through our Consul General at London, a dispatch, a copy of which I herewith present.

This bold attempt on the part of the Spaniards to revive the slave-trade at Gallinas in November, 1860, and May, 1861, and, as I will soon bring to your notice, the attack made on the Quail in this harbor on the 11th of September by a Spanish vessel-of-war, all of which spread with greatest rapidity among the aborigines within the entire jurisdiction of this Republic, revived the hope, almost amounting to a certainty, in the old slave-dealing chiefs who still survive, that the slave-trade would be forcibly revived by foreigners in our jurisdiction, and they were strengthened in their belief by misjudging the policy of H. B. M. Government, misconstruing the action of Capt. Smith of H. M. ship Torch in this harbor last December, and his subsequent action with the Liberian prize at Gallinas in June, as amounting in effect to . M. Government positively denying the right and authority of this government to suppress the slave-trade at Gallinas and other points claimed as within the jurisdiction of Liberia; and

hose old slave-dealers, who have been checked for years by this government com prosecuting the slave-trade, concluded that they could revive and proseute it with impunity.

These untoward circumstances have led, during the year, to the revival of the Id predatory wars among the tribes and clans, commencing from above Gallias and extending down beyond the S. E. bank of the St. Paul's river, a disance of over a hundred miles, and extending a considerable distance interiorvard. That extent of country has been in a state of war for the last four months, creating an almost incessant scene of excitement in all our settlements. Hundreds of aboriginal refugees in this county have within the last four months fled from their homes, abandoned plantations and other property, and ought in our settlements protection from captivity for the slave market. Our citizens residing in the rural districts of the St. Paul's and at Careysburg, and up the Mesurado river, have been taxed during the year with the shelter, support, and protection of hundreds of men, women and children, from the interior, who had thus to make their escape from the accursed slave-dealer. Chief's and ribes who had been for many years previously loyal, among whom the missionaries of the Cross had commenced operating encouragingly-tribes which had to a great extent lost hope of seeing the slave-trade revived again, and were praiseworthily devoting themselves to legitimate avocations, have been thus tempted to resume, within the last four months, their old practice of man-stealing, spreading devastation among the weaker tribes almost in contiguity to our most interior settlements. Such have been a few of the results within the year, of the attempts to forcibly revive the slave-trade within the jurisdiction of this Republic; and they are facts so well known throughout this county in particular, and Liberia in general, as that I need not further describe them.

Immediately on Commander Benedict's return from Gallinas in June, and report of what had transpired, knowing well the effect it would have on the natives, I gave directions for suitable carriages to be made, and for every cannon at Fort Norris and within the corporation of Monrovia that could be used to advantage, to be mounted. This and other defensive preparations were vigorously prosecuted to temporary completion within two and a half months from the date of issuing the order. It is proper that I should here acknowledge the efficient services of Capt. Reid Cooper, who superintended the works, and of Henry Cooper, for the very satisfactory manner in which he performed the mechanical labor.

that a

On the return of the Quail from Harper, Maryland county, in the month of August with the mail, I received intelligence in the shape of rumor, Spanish steam vessel-of-war was fitting up at Fernando Po, to be sent up by the Spanish authorities of that place, for the purpose of sinking or capturing the Quail, and of demanding satisfaction of the Liberian authorities at Monrovia for capturing and confiscating the cargo f a Spanish store-ship that was bound to Fernando Po, and had from stress of weather put into the port of Monrovia. On the evening of the 27th of August, three days after the former, I received intelligence kindly afforded unofficially by a United States naval vessel direct from Fernando Po, that the report was current there, that a Spanish warsteamer was taking in coal, and was to have left the day succeeding the departure of the American vessel from that port, under instructions from the Governor of Fernando Po to sink or capture the Quail. Though few, it any, men of intelligence in Liberia, could persuade themselves at the time, that such a highly disreputable and anti-civilized course would be adopted in this enlightened age, at least until the aggrieved had adopted the proper course for obtaining correct information respecting the supposed cause of grievance, and being fully satisfied of the existence of a just cause of complaint, had, in the proper manner, asked of this government the proper redress, which this government will always take the greatest pleasure in respectfully tendering to any government or people, whenever a clear case of aggression or wrong is made out against it; yet I thought it not amiss, upon the receipt of corroborative intelligence, to prosecute with increasing vigor the directions I had given, and the efforts that had actually commenced a couple of months previously, to place ourselves in a better condition, to protect and defend, to the utmost of our

least evidence of our progressive national career, that as a nation we are gradually advancing into notice abroad; that the nations of the earth are beginning to regard Liberia not only as a permanent reality, but as a Negro Republic, having certain fixed principles, enunciated in her fundamental law, for the maintenance and perpetuity of which her sons and daughters regard no sacrifice too great that they may be required to make; principles based upon the great law of nature's God, and sacredly engraven upon the tablets of our hearts, and interwoven in our very nature; establishing those inalienable rights and privileges, without the enjoyment of which, life itself would be no longer desirable.

It has been no less frequently than truly remarked, that there is no people to be found any where on earth, of equal number, charged with a more important mission by Providence, and consequently upon whom devolve more weighty political and religious obligations and responsibilities, than the people of Liberia, individually as well as collectively.

The leading motive that influenced our fathers, in the incipiency of the formation of the Colony of Liberia, and for years afterward, to emigrate to this country, was not restricted to the amelioration of their own individual condition. While this was had in view, it only formed a part, and a very small part, of the nobly liberal, grand, and patriotic impulses, that influenced their action. For it is within the compass of my own memory at this moment, of having heard many of them declare, upon this sacred hill, nearly forty years ago, (some of whom had exceeded the ripe old age of fourscore years, that their career on earth had well-nigh ended; that so far as they were concerned individually, it made very little difference where and when their mortal remains were deposited. But that they felt it to be their solemn, yet pleasant, duty, to encourage by their example during their few remaining days on earth, the efforts that were being employed by the philanthropists of the United States-the American Colonization Society-to which institution Liberians will always feel grateful, by assisting to lay the foundation of a great and glorious negro nationality in this our fatherland.

There was an inward monitor, powerfully operating upon their hearts, whose influences they rightly adjudged to be superhuman, solemnly impressing them with the fact, that the enterprise was ordained of God, and was at once grand, noble and good; destined to confer priceless benefits, of a civil and religious nature, upon millions of the aboriginal inhabitants of this vast continent, as well as upon all other negroes in foreign lands, who should seek an asylum here. They saw by faith much of what is now being developed, as also much of what Liberia's future will develope.

That our fathers were not mistaken in their impressions-that they were correct in their hopes, in their desires, and in their belief, is not and cannot be questioned by any intelligent citizen of this Republic. In fact, the agreement this day of our own impressions and belief, hope and desire, with the noble passions, emotions and convictions, that inspired and animated the bosoms of our fathers, which convic

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