AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY. PRESENTED JANUARY 15, 1861.

Among the distinguished friends of this Society, who, since the last general meeting, have finished their course on earth, we record with profound respect and sorrow the name of JOSEPH GALES, Esq., senior editor of the National Intelligencer, a member for several years of the Board of Managers, and since, for a longer period, a Vice President of the Society. The services cheerfully rendered by Mr. Gales to this Institution were of inestimable value. His commanding intellect, and heart warm with sentiments of philanthropy, enabled him to appreciate the grandeur of its object, and disposed him, through the columns of his most able journal, to exhibit it in its various multiplied relations, and strengthen public confidence in its wisdom and benevolence.

To him was the cause of the Society indebted, in a season of great peril, for the defence and support of Mr. ASHMUN, who, through his influence and earnest recommendation, was appointed first colonial agent in Liberia, and thus enabled to give vigor and permanency to that then feeble and disturbed community, and nobly to vindicate his own character and fame.

In the decease of the Rev. CORTLANDT VAN RENNSALAER, D. D., of Burlington, N. J., a Vice President of the Society; of the Rev. ROBERT S. FINLEY, of Talladega, Ala., (though a native and long a

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resident of New Jersey; of the Rev. J. W. ELLINGWOOD, D. D., of Bath, Me.; and of Rev. HUGH MCMILLAN, D. D., of Cedarville, Ohio, this Society is deprived of friends to whose decision of purpose, earnest and persevering labors, and ever ardent benevolence, the cause of African Colonization is largely indebted.

Mr. Finley, animated by the spirit of his venerable father, the principal founder of the Society, devoted several years of his life to its interests in the Western and Southwestern States, and by his impressive addresses, persuasive conversation, his arguments, and appeals through the press, induced thousands to consider the reasonableness and magnificent promise of the scheme. Others may have been as decided in their attachment as he, but few so realized the Divine agency in the enterprise, or the inestimable good which Providence would confer by it upon two quarters of the world.

It was stated in the last Report that the Ship of the Society left Baltimore on the 2d of November. On the 14th of December, she arrived at Cape Mount, and on the 16th at Monrovia. Of her sixtythree emigrants, thirty-two proceeded to Careysburg, five to St. Paul's River, and twenty-six to Sinou. On the 21st of April, the Society's Agent, Mr. Dennis, wrote:

The last emigrants to Careysburg are doing well, none of them have died, and nearly all are now in their own houses."

On the e 5th of March, the Stevens returned to Baltimore, and on the 21 of April, with 147 emigrants, proceeded to the mouth of the Savannah River, Georgia, at which point, (having arrived on the 30th, and all things being arranged for despatch by the Financial Secretary,) she received on board a company of 81 persons from that State, and on the 2d of May spread her sails for Liberia. Of this entire expedition, 186 were slaves emancipated, and 92 born free. Upon seventythree of these the great gift of freedom was bestowed by a single individual, A. Cuthbert, Esq., of Jasper County, Ga., son of an eloquent member (now deceased) of the U. S. Senate from that State. Mr. Cuthbert cheerfully and liberally supplied his people with such articles for housekeeping, tools and implements of husbandry, as must enable them to enter upon their life in Liberia with fair prospects of success. The Rt. Rev. Bishop Payne and family, with health improved by their visit of a few months to the United States, returned by this opportunity to Cape Palmas. Several returning Liberians were also among the passengers. Of the emigrants, 173 landed at Monrovia and proceeded immediately to the interior settlement of Carcysburg.

The Stevens returned to Baltimore on the 20th of September, with a full cargo of palm oil, coffee, sugar, and molasses, but without passen, gers, owing to her ill condition, which compelled the captain to employ several Kroomen for the pumps, and to hasten home for repairs.

On the 1st of November, this fine ship took her departure on her ninth voyage with 80 emigrants, three recaptured Africans, and several cabin passengers. Among these last were Dr. James Hall and daughter, with her friend Miss Sumner, hoping for renewed health from the voyage; and the Rev. C. C. Hoffman and family, returning to their missionary home at Cape Palmas.

Of these emigrants, all, with three exceptions, were born free. They were a respectable body of people, mostly accustomed to agriculture, and selecting for their home the flourishing interior settlement of Careysburg. The annexed tables show the States from which the emigrants of the last year came, and the names of those to whom many were indebted for their freedom.

friends of humanity and the The proposal long since made

The recent revival of the African Slave Trade has excited the regrets and indignation of all the special attention of our Government. by the United States to mark this inhuman trade as a capital offence against the common law of Nations, has not yet received the sanction of all the Christian Governments, nor has Great Britain enforced her treaties with Spain on the subject, which (since the introduction of African slaves is almost exclusively confined to her dominions) would go far towards its entire suppression. Our Government has recently acquired great advantages against this traffic, from the substitution of small, swift, armed steamers, in place of large sailing ships, on the coasts both of Africa and Cuba; and more Africans have been recaptured within the last six months than in any former equal period. In April and May last, Lieut. Craven, of the steamer Mohawk, captured the bark Wildfire; Lieut. Com. Stanley, of the Wyandotte, the brig William; and Capt. Maffit, of the Crusader, the bark Bogota: from which three vessels were landed at Key West 1,432 Africans. The President of the United States, on the 19th of May, in a special message to Congress, brought the condition of those landed from the Wildfire, to its consideration, and declaring it probable, "judging from the increased activity of the slave trade, and the vigilance of our cruisers, that several similar captures may be made before the end of the year," recommended "that an appropriation should be granted, large enough to cover such contingencies."

"The period," (he adds,) "has arrived, when it is indispensable to provide some specific legislation for the guidance of the Executive on the subject. With this view I would suggest that Congress might authorize the President to enter into a general agreement with the Colonization Society, binding them to receive, on the coast of Africa, from our Agent there, all the captured Africans which may be delivered to him, and to maintain them for a limited period, upon such terms and conditions as may combine humanity towards these unfortunates with a just economy. This would obviate the necessity of making a new bargain with every new capture, and would prevent delay and avoid expense in the disposition of the captured. The law might then provide that in all cases, where this may be practicable, the captor should carry the negroes directly to Africa, and deliver them to the American Agent there, afterwards bringing the captured vessel to the United States for adjudication."

In pursuance of these recommendations of the President, the following amendatory Act was passed, and is on this subject the present law:

AN ACT to amend an act entitled "An act in addition to the acts prohibiting the slave trade."

Be it enacted, &c., That it shall and may be lawful for the President of the United States to enter into contract with any person or persons, society or societies, or body corporate, for a term not exceeding five years, to receive from the United States, through their duly constituted agent or agents, upon the coast of Africa, all negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, delivered from on board vessels seized in the prosecution of the slave-trade by commanders of the United States' armed vessels, and to provide the said negroes, mulattoes, and persons of color with comfortable clothing, shelter, and provisions, for a period not exceeding one year from the date of their being landed on the coast of Africa, at a price in no case to exceed one hundred dollars for each person so clothed, sheltered, and provided with food: Provided, That any contract so made as aforesaid may be renewed by the President from time to time as found necessary, for periods not to exceed five years on each renewal.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be and he is hereby authorized to issue instructions to the commanders of the armed vessels of the United States, directing them, whenever it shall be practicable, and under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe, to proceed directly to the coast of Africa, and there deliver to the agent or agents of the United States all negroes, mulattoes, and persons of color, delivered from on board vessels seized in the prosecution of the slave-trade, afterwards bringing the captured vessels and persons engaged in prosecuting the slavetrade to the United States for trial and adjudication.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be and he is hereby authorized to take immediate