Liberia <^ 



devoted, and capable public servant, the Hon. H. J. Moore, 

 Secretary of the Interior. His father, G. Moore, Esq., a prominent 

 merchant largely interested in the interior trade, for many years 

 before the formation of the Interior Department was recognised 

 as the Agent of the Government of Liberia among the tribes of 

 the hinterland of Montserrado, among whom he was widely known. 

 His tactful management maintained the peace of a great part of 

 the province for many years, especially of the districts contiguous 

 to the Americo-Liberian townships. It was through neglect of the 

 advice given by him toward the end of his life that the country 

 between the Little Cape Mount and the St. Paul's Rivers has been 

 for over twenty years in a disturbed condition. Secretary Moore 

 received from his father much useful information and sound advice 

 as to the manner in which the native population ought to be 

 controlled and governed. 



Dr. Moore was appointed Secretary of the Interior by President 

 Cheeseman in 1892, and directed that department for about twelve 

 years. His attitude toward the native population was sympathetic 

 and his policy conciliatory. It is to be regretted that his ideas were 

 not always popular, especially among the less thoughtful section 

 of our civilised population. But Secretary Moore made a lasting 

 contribution to the country's prosperity and progress when he 

 succeeded eventually in convincing the community that the policy 

 he advocated and invariably followed was and is the correct one. 



No bill, as far as I have been able to ascertain, has since the 

 Declaration of Independence passed the Legislature providing for 

 the local organisation and government of the territory. The necessity 

 for such a measure has now become urgently necessary. It may 

 be said we have townships — our smallest political units — and these 

 townships are grouped into counties. So much was done before 

 1848. Since that time as regard townships, and their boundaries, 

 every man has done what was right in his own eyes. The public 

 statutes accord to the township a territory of eight miles square. In 

 Montserrado County the township of Virginia claims that the town- 

 ship of Brewerville is in its territory. No one knows where the 

 township of Brewerville begins and ends. There is also an un- 

 pleasant boundary dispute between the townships of Arthington 

 and Millsburg in the same county. Misunderstandings and difficulties 

 pf a like nature exist elsewhere in the territory of the republic. 



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