Liberia ^ 



the American Colonisation societies which sprang up in nearly 

 all the organised southern states was not so much the 

 abolition of slavery as an attempt to deport free Negroes. 

 The position of the slave in American society was then clearly 

 defined, and it was thought even by good men and women 

 that slavery as an institution was so necessary to the planting 

 interests of the Southern States that its abolition was a very far- 

 off event. But the society of the South felt there was no place 

 in its midst for the free Negro, for the black or coloured man 

 who demanded the same rights as his white fellow-citizens. 

 These men were considered to be a growing danger to society, 

 and in the efforts made by the association which directed this 

 emigration may be traced not only pure philanthropy but even 

 a certain anxious fear. 



In 1838 fresh attention was given to the government of 

 Liberia. A new constitution was drawn up for the country, 

 probably by Professor Greenlof, of Harvard College. By this 

 the Colony of Maryland which had been built up round 

 Cape Palmas was left out of consideration, as an independent 

 state. The rest of what we now know as Liberia was divided 

 into the two counties of Montserrado and Grand Basa, and 

 stretched from somewhere about Cape Mount on the west to 

 beyond the Sino River on the east. It was placed under a 

 Governor and a Vice-Governor. To these was added a Council 

 of Liberians, who under the direction of the Governor were 

 constituted as a legislative body. The Governor and Vice- 

 Governor were practically appointed by the Committee of the 

 American Colonisation Society, which also retained the right 

 of veto on any laws promulgated by the Governor and Council. 

 The members of this Council were to be elected by the people. 

 The suffrage was granted to every male citizen of twenty-one 

 years and upwards, without property qualification. The Council 



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