By Sainey Faye
JULY 26TH, 1847 …..On this date Liberia becomes Independent, the second only to Ethiopia to have political Independence. It was settled by African slaves returning home from chattel slavery from the U.S.A., with help from the American Colonization Society (ACS).This society advocated the return or repatriation of Africans who were free, back to their homeland-Africa.
They saw the need as anti-slavery advocates, to pressure the government to establish in 1821-1822 a location for ex-slaves & freed men. Like Sierra Leone which was established in 1787, many who left England where sent to Liberia as a reward for escaping from their masters, and fighting with the British in their war against America.
When they were rewarded as so-called free citizens, many of them opted or forced, large numbers were sent home to both Liberia and Sierra Leone, they were both annexed. But the British would not recognize the ACS as having authority or sovereign power for the simple reason that they were ‘private persons’ and thus could not levy or collect taxes. As colonialist, they settled with the help of the American government, with a few selected elites of Africans and Americans; and then modeled the government like the U.S.
They named the capital Monrovia, after the 5th U.S. president James Monroe. The rest is history, what some would call the Americo-Liberia elites rule ensued; until all hell broke in 1980 during Tolbert rule. A coup ensued, and then a civil war and the civil war continued for years causing endless lives and suffering created by despots like Sergeant Samuel Doe -later killed, and Charles Taylor (warlord) now in custody at the Hague.
Liberia today is amongst the 50 African countries invited to the U.S. – Africa Summit meeting in August 5-8, 2014 in Washington D.C. The president who has extended an invitation to this summit, also happens to be the son of an African from Kenya. Interesting times indeed….what ever happened to “Marshall Plan” for Liberia and/or Africa as minimal pay back at least for what she did to the motherland?
Read below these unforgettable date and time, when Africans from all over the world were herded; and let loose to return to where the ancestors were captured from their motherland, and asked to settle and build a state/country of their own with few; if any, tools to work with. They left with little more than the clothes on their backs, but kept and never forget what transpired in their contributions to what is now called the U.S.A.
They had no amnesia of what was done to them and their brethren.., which makes many wonder, what would America be without the Africans contribution?
Read on:- Below is a brief synopsis of the historic constitution, which was revised many times through a century and a half
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1847
” We the people of the Republic of Liberia were originally the inhabitants of the United States of North America.
In some parts of that country, we were debarred by law from all the rights and privileges of men–in other parts, public sentiment, more powerful than law, frown us down.
We were everywhere shut out from all civil office.
We were excluded from all participation in the government.
We were taxed without our consent.
We were compelled to contribute to the resources of a country, which gave
us no protection.
We were made a separate and distinct class, and against us every avenue to
improvement was effectually closed. Strangers from all lands of a color
different from ours, were preferred before us.
We uttered our complaints, but they were unattended to, or only met by
alleging the peculiar institutions of the country.
All hope of a favorable change in our country was thus wholly extinguished in our bosoms, and we looked with anxiety abroad for some asylum from the deep degradation. The Western coast of Africa was the place selected by American benevolence and philanthropy, for our future home. Removed beyond those influences which depressed us in our native land, it was hoped we would be enabled to enjoy those rights and privileges, and exercise and improve those faculties, which the God of nature has given us in common with the
rest of mankind.
Under the auspices of the American Colonization Society, we established ourselves here, on land acquired by purchase from the Lords of the soil. In an original compact with this society, we, for important reasons delegated to it certain political powers; while this institution stipulated that whenever the people should become capable of conducting the government, or whenever the people should desire it, this institution would resign the delegated power, peaceably withdraw its supervision, and leave the people to the government of themselves.
Under the auspices and guidance of this institution, which has nobly and in perfect faith redeemed its pledges to the people, we have grown and prospered. From time to time, our number has been increased by migration from America and by accessions from native tribes; and from time to time, as circumstances required it, we have extended our borders by acquisition of land by honorable purchase from the natives of the country.
As our territory has extended and our population increased, our commerce has also increased. The flags of most of the civilized nations of the earth float in our harbors, and their merchants are opening an honorable and profitable trade. Until recently, these visits have been of a uniformly harmonious character, but as they have become more frequent, and to more numerous points of our extending coast, questions have arisen, which it is supposed can be adjusted only by agreement between sovereign powers.
For years past, the American Colonization Society has virtually withdrawn from all direct and active part in the administration of the government, except in the appointment of the Governor, who is also a colonist, for the apparent purpose of testing the ability of the people to conduct the affairs of government, and no complaint of crude legislation, nor of mismanagement, nor of mal-administration has yet been heard.
In view of these facts, this institution, the American Colonization Society, with that good faith which has uniformly marked all its dealings with us, by a set of resolutions in January, in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty-Six, dissolve all political connection with the people of this Republic, return the power with which it was delegated, and left the people to the government of themselves.
The people of the Republic of Liberia then, are of right, and in fact, a free, sovereign and independent State; possessed of all the rights, powers, and functions of government. In assuming the momentous responsibilities of the position they have taken, the people of this Republic, feel justified by the necessities of the case, and with this conviction they throw themselves with confidence upon the candid consideration of the civilized world.
Liberia is not the offspring of grasping ambition, nor the tool of avaricious speculation. No desire for territorial aggrandizement brought us to these shores; nor do we believe so sordid a motive entered into the high considerations of those who aided us in providing this asylum.
Liberia is an asylum from the most grinding oppression. In coming to the shores of Africa, we indulged the pleasing hope that we would be permitted to exercise and improve those faculties, which impart to man his dignity–to nourish in our hearts the flame of honorable ambition, to cherish and indulge those aspirations, which a beneficent Creator and implanted in every human heart, and to evince to all who despise, ridicule and oppress our race, that we possess with them a common nature, are with them susceptible of equal refinement, and capable of equal advancement in all that adorns and dignifies man.
We were animated with the hope, that here we should be at liberty to train up our children in the way they should go–to inspire them with the love of an honorable fame, to kindle within them, the flame of a lofty philanthropy, and to form strong within them, the principles of humanity, virtue and religion.
Among the strongest motives to leave our native land–to abandon forever the scenes of our childhood, and to sever the most endeared connections, was the desire for a retreat where, free from the agitations of fear and molestation, we could, in composure and security approach in worship, the God of our fathers.
Thus far our highest hopes have been realized. Liberia is already the happy home of thousands, who were once the doomed victims of oppression, and if left unmolested to go on with her natural and spontaneous growth; if her movements be left free from the paralyzing intrigues of jealous, ambitious, and unscrupulous avarice, she will throw open a wider and yet a wider door for thousands, who are now looking with an anxious eye for some land of rest.
Our courts of justice are open equally to the stranger and the citizen for the redress of grievances, for the remedy of injuries, and for the punishment of crime. Our numerous and well attended schools attest our efforts, and our desire for the improvement of our children.
Our churches for the worship of our Creator, everywhere to be seen, bear testimony to our piety, and to our acknowledgment of His Providence. The native African bowing down with us before the altar of the …. while upon that curse of curses, the slave trade, a deadly blight has fallen as far as our influence extend–in the name of the Great God, our common Creator, and our common Judge, we appeal to the nations of Christendom, and earnestly and respectfully ask of them, that they will regard us with the sympathy and friendly consideration, to which the peculiarities of our condition entitle us, and to extend to us, that comity which marks the friendly intercourse of civilized and independent communities.
Done in convention, at Monrovia, in the County of Montserado, by the unanimous consent of the people of the Commonwealth of Liberia, this twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord, One thousand, eight hundred and forty-seven”
In witness whereof we have hereto set our names: Montserrado County
S. Benedict, President, H. Teage Elijah Johnson, J. N. Lewis, Beverly R.
Wilson, J. B. Gripon Grand Bassa County John Day , Amos Herring, A. W. Gardiner, Ephraim Titler Sinoe County E. E. Murray, Jacob W. Prout, Secretary to the Convention