PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY, AT THEIR ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. THE Eleventh Annual Meeting of the American Society for Colonizing the Free People of Colour on the Coast of Africa, was held on Saturday evening, the 19th inst. in the Hall of the House of Representatives. The assemblage, including a large proportion of Ladies, was uncommonly numerous, and not only filled all the seats and standing room on the floor of the House, but comprised a large number of individuals, who were seated in the Gallery-at once bearing testimony to the interest felt in the objects of the Society, and the expectations entertained of the evening's proceedings. At seven o'clock, the Chair was taken by the Hon. HENRY CLAY, one of the Vice Presidents of the Society, and, after a Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Laurie, the following list of Delegates from Auxiliary Societies, was read by the Secretary. From the State Society of New Hampshire. The Hon. SAMUEL BELL. From the State Society of Maine. The Hon. ALBION K. PARRIS. From the State Society of Vermont. The Hon. Mr. SEYMOUR, The Hon. DANIEL A. BUCK, From the State Society of Ohio. The Hon. ELISHA WHITTLESEY-President of the Auxiliary Society, Canfield, Trumble County, Ohio. The Hon. PHILEMON BEECHER, The Hon. JOHN DAVENPORT, The Hon. WILLIAM M'LEAN, The Hon. JOHN WOODS. From Washington County Society, Pennsylvania. The Hon. JOSEPH LAWRENCE. From the Society of Petersburg, Virginia The Hon. Mr. ARCHER, THOMAS ATKINSON, Esq. From the Richmond Society, Virginia. Chief Justice MARSHALL, The Hon. Joнn Tyler, ROBERT G. SCOTT, Esq. From the Society in Alexandria, D. C. Rev. J. CORNelius, GEORGE JOHNSON, Esq. From the Society of Piqua County, Ohio. The Hon. WM. M'LEAN. From the Society at Cleaveland, Ohio. The Hon. MORDECAI BARTLEY. From the Wilmington Union Colonization Society, Delaware. The Hon. KENSEY JOHNS, Jun. From the Society of Lexington, Ky. The Hon. JAMES CLARK. From the Wheeling Society, Virginia. The Hon. ISAAC LEFFLER. From the Talbot County Society, Maryland. Hon. JOHN LEEDS KERR. From the State Society of Maryland. C. C. HARPER, Esq. J. H. B. LATROBE, Esq. From the Society at Lynchburg, Virginia. J. B. HARRISON, Esq. A letter was received by the Secretary, apologizing for his non-attendance, from WILLIAM H. DILLINGHAM, Esq. appointed as a Delegate by the Chester County Society, Pennsylvania. The Secretary, the Rev. R. R. GURLEY, then read the Report of the Board of Managers, detailing the progress of the Society within the last year, in improving and extending the settlements of Liberia, in the acquisition of new Territory by pur chase and negotiation, from the native Chiefs; the rapid advance that had been made in the obliteration of prejudices formerly entertained against the Society by citizens of various portions of the country; an important increase of funds, raised from the munificent contributions of philanthropic individuals; and the increased and increasing desire among those, for whose benefit the Society was organized, to embrace an opportunity of joining the Colony. Mr. C. C. HARPER of Baltimore, then rose, and offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Report be printed, and that the thanks of the Society be presented to the Board of Managers. At no former meeting of the Society, Mr. Harper said, had we so much reason, as the Report justly affirms, to be gratified with the result of our labours, or could look forward at so cheering a prospect for the future.— Indeed, Mr. Chairman, through the zealous and able exertions of the Board of Managers, the practicability of founding, on the coast of Africa, Colonies that shall maintain a hold and flourish, has ceased to be a matter of discussion. It has been demonstrated. At least it has been demonstrated to our satisfaction: and we are justified in persevering. If any one still deny the possibility or likelihood of such an establishment, we must no longer reason with him on abstract principles or from ancient examples, but answer his theories with facts. In our career of success we have, indeed, outstript the most sanguine anticipations; we have disappointed the most confident predictions of evil. A prosperous, and, compared with the surrounding nations, a powerful community, created by the hands of this Society, does exist on the coast of Africa. I have seen several of its citizens: I have heard its voice across the Atlantic. However difficult and doubtful the accomplishment of such an enterprise may have seemed to many, it was, to my apprehension, the most easy in our whole design. It was merely a physical exertion. But, Sir, what must have at first repressed your hopes and risen like an insuperable obstacle in your path, was the uncertainty whether you could prevail upon any coloured persons to be the objects of so novel and dangerous an experiment, and From the State Society of Ohio. The Hon. ELISHA WHITTLESEY-President of the Auxiliary Society, Canfield, Trumble County, Ohio. The Hon. PHILEMON BEECHER, The Hon. JOHN DAVENPORT, The Hon. WILLIAM M LEAN, The Hon. JOHN WOODS. From Washington County Society, Pennsylvania. The Hon. JOSEPH LAWREnce. From the Society of Petersburg, Virginia The Hon. Mr. ARCHER, THOMAS ATKINSON, Esq. From the Richmond Society, Virginia. Chief Justice MARSHALL, The Hon. JOHN TYLER, ROBERT G. SCOTT, Esq. From the Society in Alexandria, D. C. Rev. J. CORNELIUS, GEORGE JOHNSON, Esq. From the Society of Piqua County, Ohio. The Hon. WM. M'LEAN. From the Society at Cleaveland, Ohio. The Hon. MORDECAI BARTLEY. From the Wilmington Union Colonization Society, Delaware. The Hon. KENSEY JOHNS, Jun. From the Society of Lexington, Ky. The Hon. JAMES CLARK. From the Wheeling Society, Virginia. The Hon. ISAAC LEFFLER. From the Talbot County Society, Maryland. Hon. JOHN LEEDS KERR. From the State Society of Maryland. C. C. HARPER, Esq. J. H. B. LATROBE, Esq. From the Society at Lynchburg, Virginia. J. B. HARRISON, Esq. |