Lott Cary was none the less interested and active in the welfare of
the government. From the first settlement in Cape Montserado, he was
appointed Government Inspector at the same time he was selected Health
Officer[180] and consequently he knew something of the working of the
government. In September, 1826, he was unanimously elected vice-agent
of the colony. The colonial agent had great confidence in his
judgments, decisions and loyalty[181] and left the affairs of the
colony in Cary's charge when he was advised in 1828 to return to
America for his health.[182]
"I was able," Mr. Ashmun wrote to the board,[183] "to arrange the
concerns of the Colony with Mr. Cary, even to the minutest
particulars, and I have the greatest confidence that his
administration will prove satisfactory, in a high degree, to the Board
and advantageous to the Colony."
During the first six months, Cary's task was to see to it that every
man and working family were self-supporting. "To effect this object,
they must be furnished with a few simple tools--to pay for them if
they can--if not, to receive them gratuitously. Their allowance must
be withheld if they neglect or negligently follow the improvement of
their lands, and the building of their houses. Much may be done by
visiting the people separately, getting at their intentions and
circumstances and spurring, advising or reproving as they may require.
I am persuaded it will be useful, and in most instances possible to
get at least all the men out of the public receptacles and on their
lands before the rains set in." Respecting the buildings of the United
States, those of the colony, the arms, forts, printing establishment,
farms, Millsburg settlement, finances, etc., other particular
regulations were suggested.[184] Lott Cary kept Ashmun and the
American Colonization Society informed about the condition of the
colony.[185] On his death bed, Ashmun again expressed his confidence
in Cary and urged that he should be permanently appointed to conduct
the affairs of the colony[186] which now contained upwards of 1,200
settlers.[187]
The only trouble that Cary had while he was vice-agent was with the
natives.[188] The factory belonging to the colony at Digby, a
settlement just north of Monrovia, was robbed by them and general
hostilities threatened when satisfaction was demanded and refused. A
letter of protest to a slave dealer who had stored his goods in the
house where stores of the colony had been deposited was intercepted
and destroyed by the natives. Immediately, Cary prepared to defend the
rights and property of the colony. He called out the militia and began
with others, in the evening of November 8, to make cartridges in the
old agency house. In some manner, a candle was accidentally upset and
almost instantly the entire ammunition exploded, entirely destroying
the house. Eight people died; six of the number survived until the
next day; Lott Cary and one other until November 10, 1828.[189]
The unbelievable news of the death of Lott Cary spread like a mighty
conflagration to the organizations which he represented. The following
is the resolution read and adopted at the annual meeting of the
Richmond African Baptist Missionary Society in 1829:[190]
The loss which has been sustained, cannot in our estimation, be
easily repaired. This excellent man seems to have been raised up
by divine providence, for the special purpose of taking an active
part in the management of the infant settlement. His
discriminating judgment, his honesty of heart, and decision of
character, qualified him eminently, for this service. But,
especially, in relation to your society is his death to be
sincerely lamented. It will be recollected, that he was a
principal instrument in the origin of this society, and for
several years acted as its recording secretary. A little more
than eight years ago, he received his appointment, and sailed, as
missionary, in company with brother Teage, for the land of their
forefathers. His exertions as a minister in that land have been
of the most devoted and untiring kind. In the communications
which have been received by the Board, he seemed to possess the
most anxious concern for the salvation of the perishing
multitudes around him. Through his instrumentality a considerable
church has been collected together which seems to be in a
prosperous and growing condition. Sabbath and week day schools
have been instituted for the instruction of native children and
the children of the colony, which have proved eminently useful.
We were looking forward with confidence to the more perfect
consummation of our wishes, when that moral desert should rejoice
and blossom as the rose; but God has seen fit to cross our
expectations, in calling from his station this laborious
missionary. It becomes us to bow with submission to the stroke,
and to realize the saying of the apostle, "how unsearchable are
his judgments, and his ways past finding out." Although we were
not permitted to receive his dying testimony to the trust, we
have the fullest assurance that our loss is his unspeakable and
eternal gain.
At the sixth triennial meeting of the General Missionary Convention,
1829, the committee on the African Mission made this report[191] which
in some particulars was paradoxical:
This excellent man (it began) went to Africa, under the patronage
of the American Colonization Society, as well as of this
convention.... Could he have devoted his whole time to our
service much good might have been expected to have resulted from
his labors. But he was under necessity to assist in its
government and defense, as well as to act as its physician.
It is a source of consolation to the friends of Mr. Cary that
though his life was terminated in an unexpected moment and in a
most distressing manner, the unwearied diligence and fidelity
with which he discharged the important trust confided to his
care--his zeal for the honor of religion, and the purity and
piety of his general conduct have gained him a reputation which
must live in grateful remembrance, as long as the interesting
colony exists, in whose service he lived and died.
Your committee cannot help expressing their regret that so small
a portion of benevolent feeling has been exercised towards this
mission, and that so little has been accomplished during the
eight years of its existence.
The next item of this report is an appeal for "some brethren of
competent talents" to go and labor there.
There surely was ground for regret that so small a portion of
benevolent feeling was exercised towards this mission. Some
individuals did contribute now and then; "A Georgia Planter" sent a
part of $10;[192] a "poor woman" of the Rev. H. Malcom's congregation
sent $3 for the African mission;[193] "a friend to Africa avails of
jewelry for mission to Liberia, per Mr. E. Lincoln, $6";[194] the
Negroes connected with the First Baptist Church, Washington, sent
$15[195] and, no doubt, some others contributed.
It is not quite clear, however, why William Crane, still representing
the Richmond African Baptist Missionary Society in the Convention and
the Rev. James B. Taylor, a delegate from Virginia and later the
biographer of Lott Cary, did not challenge the statement that so
little had been accomplished during the eight years of the existence
of the African mission.
The Convention then adopted the following recommendation of the
Committee:
_Resolved_, That this convention cherish a grateful recollection
of the self-denying labors of our late lamented missionary to
Africa, Rev. Lott Cary, and that we sympathize with his family,
the American Colonization Society, and the church at Monrovia, in
the loss they have sustained in his death.
_Resolved_, That it be recommended to the Board to take measures
for supplying the vacancy occasioned by the death of Bro. Cary as
soon as possible by an able white missionary, and that they
endeavor to the utmost of their power to promote the success of
this mission, as one in which the convention feel a special
interest.
S. CORNELIUS, Chairman.
It was not until 1832 that the Convention saw the error of its
conclusion and declared that it must depend "principally on _colored
persons_, as missionaries and school teachers, in Africa."[196]
Despite this color-phobia of the Baptists, nothing can explain away
the fact that Lott Cary had lived helpfully and died honorably.
Gurley[197] and Hervey[198] would make him a man of genius who, had he
possessed educational advantages, would have won a worldwide
reputation as preacher, as general or as chief magistrate. This
square-faced, keen-eyed, reserved, cautious black held nothing back.
From Charles City County to Richmond, from slave to freedman, from
profligate to prophet, from sinner to saint, is a record that might
have gone unnoticed; but from America to Africa, from governed to
governor, from missionary to martyr is Lott Cary.
For over a score of years the little village of Carytown was the only
memento of the man. But in 1850, the Rev. Eli Ball, an agent of the
Southern Baptist Convention, while visiting all the Liberian Baptist
Mission stations, found with difficulty the final resting place of
Lott Cary. The next year a marble monument was sent out and placed
over his grave.[199]