OF LIBERIA

"The undersigned, having been appointed agent of the American
Colonization Society, for the State of Ohio, to solicit funds to aid its
operations, begs leave to call attention to the statistical facts, in
reference to the position which this State occupies, in relation to the
free colored population of the United States, and the interest which she
has in sustaining the Republic of Liberia.

"From 1790 to 1810, the increase of the free colored population of the
United States, was at the average rate of near 6 per cent. per annum.
The average increase of the slaves has been a little over 21/2 per
cent. per annum, or exactly two and sixty-hundredths. The census tables
for the whole period up to 1840, indicates that the natural increase of
the free colored population is somewhat less than that of the slave. I
shall suppose it to be 21/2 per cent. per annum. The excess of increase
over 21/2 will, therefore, represent the emancipations. In applying
this rule, it appears that the work of emancipation must have been
actively prosecuted from 1790 to 1810.

"From 1810 to 1820 the rate of increase was _reduced_ to a little less
than 21/2, or exactly two and forty-seven hundredths per cent. per
annum. This indicates that emancipation had ceased to swell, in any
appreciable degree, the number of free colored persons, unless we are
forced to admit that there is _greater mortality amongst freedmen than
slaves_. This cessation of emancipation was _before the organization of
the Colonization Society_. It is supposed to have been caused by the
conviction that emancipation upon the soil had wrought but little change
in the colored man's condition. The sympathies of good men were
therefore awakened in behalf of the colored man, and colonization
proposed and adopted, as the best means of securing to him the social
and political privileges of which he was deprived. The establishment of
an independent republic, including a population of 80,000 souls, with
foreign exports to the value of $100,000 a year, and the introduction of
civilization and Christianity in Africa, with all their attendant
blessings, furnishes an answer to the question of the success of the
scheme.

"The period of the greatest popularity of the Colonization Society, was
from 1820 to 1830. During this time, the increase of the free colored
population re