INDEPENDENCE OF LIBERIA PROCLAIMED AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY GREAT
BRITAIN, FRANCE, BELGIUM, PRUSSIA AND BRAZIL--TREATIES WITH ENGLAND
AND FRANCE--EXPEDITION AGAINST NEW CESTERS--U. S. SLOOP-OF-WAR
“YORKTOWN”--ENGLISH AND FRENCH CRUISERS--DISTURBANCES AMONG THE
NATIVE CHIEFS--FINANCIAL TROUBLES--RECURRING DIFFICULTY WITH ENGLISH
TRADERS--BOOMBO, WILL BUCKLE, GRANDO, KING BOYER.
For the main evils with which Liberia was oppressed, independence was
the only remedy. We have seen the nature and extent of these evils,
in her equivocal position in the view of several European powers, and
especially in that of the English nation. The measures necessary to
carry out this great purpose were received with universal sympathy.
Individuals from all sections of our own country, bearing on them
the imperial character of their nation, had transmitted it by the
dark-skinned race, to vivify with liberty and self-government, the
great slave-land of the world. This was perhaps an honor higher than
they aimed at. The few judicious leading men of Liberia saw the
necessity of making the experiment. The outlines of a constitution, as
far as that already existing needed modification, were borrowed from
that of the United States. A declaration of independence was drawn up
and proclaimed; and on the 24th day of August, 1847, the flag of the
Republic of Liberia was displayed.
Roberts, whose state of pupilage had been passed under the master
mind of Buchanan, was, as might be expected, elected President of
the Republic. England, France, Prussia, Belgium and Brazil have
successively acknowledged the independence of Liberia. A liberal
treaty of amity and commerce, based upon the equality of rights of
the two nations, was entered into between England and Liberia. The
ministry were probably led to the conclusion by the president’s visit,
that trade, regulated by the laws of a compact nation, was likely to
become far more advantageous than the bribing, cheating and plundering
that had occurred, with kings and half kings, and some European
subjects; and had in view the increased power of the government for the
suppression of the slave-trade.
The president arrived in Liberia on the 1st of February, 1849, in her
majesty’s steam frigate Amazon, and was saluted by her with 21 guns
on landing. Other appropriate ceremonies were observed; soon after
this, England presented the republic with a man-of-war schooner, with
armament and stores complete.
France entered afterwards into a commercial treaty with Liberia, and
furnished a large quantity of arms. Subsequent assurances from the
European powers, indicate their interest in the prosperity of the
African republic.
On the 22d of February, 1849, the French flag steam frigate Penelope,
accompanied by another cruiser, arrived at Monrovia. On the following
day, the commander, with the officers and two hundred men, landed for
the purpose of saluting the flag of the republic. They were received
by three uniform companies of Monrovia, in front of Colonel Yates’s
residence; where three field-pieces from the French frigate had been
placed. The procession was then formed and moved up Broad-street to
the president’s house, where the flag-staff, bearing the Liberian
colors, was standing. A salute of twenty-one guns was fired from the
field-pieces, which was repeated by the French cruisers, and returned
by the Liberian guns. Refreshments were provided for the men, and the
officers dined with the president.
In the month of March following, several English and French cruisers
placed themselves at the disposal of President Roberts, for an
expedition against the slavers who had established themselves at
New Cesters. Arrangements had previously been made with some of the
chiefs in that quarter, for the surrender of their lands and for the
incorporation of their people, on the usual terms, with the Liberian
republic. But a portion of the chiefs and people had been allured to
the support of the slavers, and force was required to dislodge them.
Roberts embarked four hundred men in the cruisers, and, accompanied by
the U. S. sloop-of-war “Yorktown,” proceeded to the scene of action.
Here were foreign cruisers, transporting the troops of an African
republic to make a descent upon a European slave establishment; such
establishments as Europe had for centuries sustained on the African
coast. A novel sight, certainly, to the leader of the enemy, who was a
Spaniard!
The landing was covered by the cruisers, and a well-directed shell from
the French steamer, bursting over the heads of the natives, cleared
the way for the troops to form and march upon the barracoon, with now
and then a harmless shot from the jungle. Foreseeing the result of a
conflict, the Spaniard fired his buildings, mounted his horse, sought
safety in flight, and his rabble dispersed. The establishment was
strengthened by a thick clay-wall, capable of offering a respectable
resistance. Thirty slaves were liberated. The fort was destroyed. New
Cesters was _annexed_, and the troops returned to Monrovia.
An infectious impulse to disturbance, seems to have come from a
fruitful source in the northern interior. For about thirty years, a war
had been prevailing between revolted slaves and the chiefs, along the
Gallinas River. These lingering hostilities afforded facilities for
securing a good supply of slaves for exportation, which was probably
the cause why the slave-trade held on so pertinaciously at the mouth of
this river. Treachery, for a time, enforced quiet. The chiefs of the
oppressors inveigled the leaders of the insurgents to a conference, and
massacred them. Manna, who seems to have had a long familiarity with
crime, directed this exploit.
President Roberts, when in England (1848), dining on one occasion
with the Prussian Ambassador, the subject of purchasing the Gallinas
territory was discussed. Lord Ashley and Mr. Gurney being present,
pledged one thousand pounds, half the amount required to secure
the territory. Benevolent individuals in the United States, also
contributed for the same purpose. Possession was afterwards obtained
of the Gallinas for the sum of nine thousand dollars. The price
demanded was large, as the chiefs were aware that annexation to Liberia
would forever cut off the lucrative slave-trade. Commissioners were
appointed to settle the difficulties in the interior, open the trade
in camwood, palm-oil and ivory, and furnish the people with the means
of instruction in the art of agriculture. It is, however, doubtful
whether the influence of the republic is sufficient to control the wars
which have been so long raging in the interior. By the annexation
of this territory, and in May, 1852, of the Cassa territory, Liberia
practically extends its dominion, exterminating the slave-trade from
Cape Lahou, eastward of Cape Palmas, to Sierra Leone, a distance of
about six hundred miles of sea-coast.
The financial burdens of the government were a matter of no little
anxiety. The money for the purchase of the Gallinas had been
munificently contributed by Mr. Gurney and other individuals from
abroad, but still there was that “national blessing--a national debt.”
The expedition against New Cesters was, doubtless, a great event in the
history of Liberia. There was glory, which is not without its practical
use; and there was gratification in the honor of having been aided, or
accompanied in such an effort, by the naval forces of great nations.
But glory and gratification have their disadvantages also. Very keenly
did the leading men of Liberia look to the fact that there were heavy
bills to be paid. The payment of a few thousand dollars was a serious
affair. They wisely concluded, however, that they were following the
ways of Providence in incorporating New Cesters and the Gallinas into
their family. And the results have justified their proceedings.
On the 15th of February, 1850, the Secretary of State, in compliance
with a resolution of the Senate of the United States, transmitted a
report of the Rev. R. R. Gurley, who had a short time previously been
sent out by the government to obtain information in respect to Liberia.
This report contains a full account of the people, the government and
the territory.
The long-standing difficulty with the British traders was brought
to a crisis, by a prosecution in the Liberian courts. An appeal was
made to the British commodore. Mr. Hansen, the British consul, a
native African, who had been liberally educated in the United States,
warmly espoused the cause of the traders. These circumstances induced
the president, in May, 1852, to revisit England, where matters were
satisfactorily arranged. He extended his visit to France, and was there
received with attentions due to his station.
The elements of society in Liberia were not all elements of peace.
Native tribes, long hostile, had submitted to union. They had promised
to be very friendly, and met very lovingly together, which they no
doubt considered very strange, and perhaps, for a time, found very
pleasant. We should have been inclined to think this very strange,
if it had continued. When old nature, old habits and old enmities
recovered their strength, it required a firm hand, and one pretty well
armed, too, to keep order among them. Nor did the means available
always attain this end. Dissension could not be overcome without force
and punishment.
In 1850, the Veys, Deys, and Golahs had roused up their perennial
quarrel about their rights and territories. A portion of them were wise
enough to apply to the government to appoint a commission to settle the
difficulties among them. Others took the larger liberty of attempting
to settle matters in their own way. The excitement prevailed during the
president’s absence. In March, 1853, he proceeded, with two hundred
troops, to the northward of Little Cape Mount, and, after a suitable
demonstration, brought the chief offender, having the appropriate name
of Boombo, to await trial at Monrovia; he was convicted, fined and
sentenced to imprisonment for two years.
In November, 1850, the people of Timbo brought in a complaint against
“Will Buckle,” who was at the head of a gang of rogues, murdering and
robbing with impunity. They asked the protection of the government, and
to be received within its jurisdiction, and that Will Buckle might feel
the strong arm of the law.
But an outbreak at Bassa Cove, under a chief named Grando, threatened
to be the grand affair of the time. He was a shrewd, cunning
subject. The president gave him a lecture. To all of it “he listened
attentively, and with seeming penitence readily admitted the error of
his course and the wrongs he had been guilty of, and promised never
again,” &c., &c. The president, however, found, as is usual in such
cases, that Grando was much the same after the lecture as before. “I
had scarcely left the country,” says the president, “before his evil
genius got the better of him.” And the fact turned out to be, that his
“evil genius” very nearly got the better of everybody else.
He established himself, with his people, beside a new settlement near
Bassa Cove. This was exposing his penitence to too strong a temptation.
He cultivated the most friendly terms with the settlers; and when he
had sufficiently disarmed suspicion, he rose upon the settlement, on
the 15th of November, 1851, murdered nine of the inhabitants, carried
off what he could get, and took to the “bush.”
Grando had taken measures to excite a considerable insurrection of
confederated tribes in that region, and returned to the attack with
rather a serious force, estimated at one thousand men. The assailants
fought with unreflecting fierceness, as the negro does when excited,
paying no attention to the artillery which opened upon them. But they
made no impression on the place. Roberts proceeded to Bassa Cove in
the U. S. sloop-of-war “Dale,” accompanied by a reinforcement in the
Liberian schooner “Lark,” and prevented a third attack.
In March, 1852, Grando and his confederate, Boyer, were again arranging
combinations among the tribes in the “bush.” The “evil genius”
complained of had contrived to bring the traders again on the stage,
with their perplexing complaints about imposts and monopolies. One of
these traders seems to have been instigating the disturbance.
These circumstances brought on the most extensive and most trying
military campaign in which the Liberian forces have yet been engaged.
It was estimated that the confederates had in the field about five
thousand men. They were well supplied with ammunition, and had some
artillery, and were employing their time in constructing formidable
defences. To meet them, Roberts had about five hundred colonists, and
the same number of natives. With these, on the 6th of January, 1852, he
marched upon the enemy. A breastwork, terminating the passage through
a swamp, was occupied by three times the number of its assailants.
After an action of an hour and a half, this position was forced, and
the enemy driven through a piece of difficult forest ground. After some
resistance here, they were dislodged and chased to Grando’s palisaded
town. This they set on fire, and then retreated to Boyer, occupying the
left bank of the New Cess river, to dispute the passage.
From this position Boyer was dislodged by the hostility of the chiefs
around him, who did not join in the revolt. He retreated within the
barricades of his own town. Here he had some artillery. On the 15th,
Roberts came with his whole force upon this place. A fierce fight of
nearly two hours took place, which resulted in the capture of the town.
The loss of the enemy was considerable. The Liberians had six killed
and twenty-five wounded.
Grando’s allies soon discovered that they were in the wrong. Boyer
fell into the same train of repentance. Grando’s authority altogether
expired in 1853. His own people held a council, whether they should
not deliver him up to the president. This was opposed by the old men
as contrary to custom. They made him prisoner, however. Boyer would,
by no persuasion, be induced to put himself within the grasp of the
president. He was also playing his tricks upon other people. Having
in July, 1853, induced a Spanish slaver to advance him a considerable
sum in doubloons, and a quantity of goods, he suddenly became strongly
_anti-slavery_ in his views, and sent a request to the president, and
to the British steam cruiser “Pluto,” to look out for the slaver, which
vessel had cleared for the Gallinas, grounded in the river, and was
afterwards destroyed.
Boyer himself and another worthy by the name of Cain, who joined
Grando in these disturbances, keep the Liberians on the alert, but seem
gradually spreading a net for themselves, and it is to be anticipated
that ere long they may be found as companions with Boombo in his
captivity.