got the use of them, and now in this State the
new constitution did not recognize them at all. (A voice--"Yes, as
chattels.") The minister of Hayti to this country was not recognized by
the President, and had to go home again. Liberia, on the west coast of
Africa, had as fine, or better, climate, as regards atmosphere, than the
West Indies. He wished to go where they would be free, for their moral
culture here he considered out of the question.

James A. Handy, of Baltimore, remarked that they lived in an interesting
age of the world--that it was the glory of our day that assistance is
offered to the immortal principles of man, and it struggles to free
itself from the trammels and superstitions of the past, and of the
oppressions and burthens of the present. We live in an age of physical,
moral and intellectual wonders; and that man is truly fortunate who
lives at the present, and has the privilege of aiding in carrying
forward the great enterprise of redeeming, disenthralling and restoring
back in all their primitive glory three millions of down trodden people
to the land of their forefathers. On the western shore of Africa there
was the infant republic of Liberia attracting the attention of all the
enlightened nations of the earth. For four years she had maintained her
position as an independent State, and today she was prosperous, happy
and free, acknowledged by England, France, Russia and Prussia--four of
the greatest powers of the earth; and before this year is out the United
States will be willing, ready and anxious to cultivate friendly
relations with that garden spot--that heritage which a kind and
overruling Providence has prepared for us, and not only for us, but for
all the sable sons and daughters of Ham.

One word in relation to the inducements held out by Liberia--Asia could
not exceed the variety of the productions of Africa--Europe with her
numerous manufactories and internal resources, could not cope with her
in physical greatness--America with her noble institutions, elements of
power, facilities of improvement, promises of greatness and high hopes
of immortality, was this day far, very far behind her in natural
resources. Nothing can excel the value of her productions--sugar-cane
grows rapidly, cotton is a native plant, corn and hemp flourish in great
perfection; oranges, coffee, wild honey, lemons, l