The President took the chair at the hour appointed, and opened the meeting with prayer.

The annual report of the Board of Managers, and the Treasurer's report, were then read by the Secretary, and adopted.

The annual report is a well-written paper, presenting a brief but comprehensive view of the benefits of the colonizing system. It would gratify us to transfer to our columns the whole of this report; but the want of room obliges us to rest content with the following extracts:

"To the plan of colonization, as proposed by the society, no valid objection can be raised. It is a scheme of extensive benevolence, designed to exert a salutary influence upon that class of population for whose benefit it was originated. It proposes to settle upon the coast of Africa the free people of color resident in the United States, with their own consent. None are forcednone driven there by the strong arm of power. It is altogether a free-will offering. It recognises, in the fullest extent, the supremacy of the constitution of the United States, and explicitly concedes the right of property in the slave. The single object it seeks to effect, is the elevation of human character, and the increase of human happiness and usefulness. It aims at the exaltation of a race of beings, who have no just ground of encouragement to virtuous action; no sufficient incentive to honorable ambition-a race occupying a relation to the governments of every State in the Union, which precludes the possibility of an increase of privileges. They continue, in the non-slaveholding as well as in the slaveholding States, what they have ever been-subjects of government, disfranchised of the privileges of freemen. In but few of the States do they enjoy the right of suffrage, and in none are they eligible to a civil office. Whatever moral worth they may possess, it can only be brought to operate upon the contracted sphere in which they revolve. Whatever patriotism glows in their hearts, it is a useless impulse, and must be concealed in the bosom which gives it birth. With whatever talents they may be endowed, and however sublime their genius, it is lost to their country. The doors of her councils are every where closed against them. Distinct in color, distinct in character, and separate in privileges, they are in effect expatriated, while inhabitants of the country.

The benefits to be derived from the Colonization Society are indeed two-fold, operating not only upon the free people of color in the United States, but likewise upon the rude and untutored African. By a partial view of the extended region of country inhabited by the barbarous tribes of Africa, it will at once be clearly perceived what a tremendous amount of moral influence would be exerted over them, by a neighboring colony of intelligent freemen. A wellgrounded hope may be safely cherished, that, through this medium, the blessings of civilization and Christianity will, at no distant period, be disseminated and enjoyed throughout that wide region of moral darkness and desolation.

Nor is this the only light (full as it is of unfeigned pleasure to the philanthropist) in which this subject should be viewed. In a political aspect, it is pregnant with the deepest interest, and involves considerations which imperatively claim the most deliberate attention of every American citizen who properly estimates the value of a republican form of government.'

"It becomes a proper subject of inquiry, if the Colonization Society is designed to accomplish these grand and important results, why its prospect of support is not more flattering? We must seek a solution of this inquiry in a combination of circumstances. The political excitement which has prevailed for some time, has tended greatly to retard the exhibition of the just claims of the society to the regard and support of the public. All enterprises of a benevolent character have in a measure been overlooked, in consequence of the deep interest felt in the all-absorbing political relations and condition of the country. Contending parties, in their eagerness to advance their respective opinions and wishes, have brought into action all their talents and influence, and no time has been found to devote to any thing else. A spirit, likewise, of selfish aggrandizement and speculation has prevailed to such an extent as

almost to preclude the possibility of a successful appeal in favor of any scheme of benevolence, however excellent.

"Among the greatest, and we apprehend the most serious as well as ruinous causes, which operate to weaken the claims of African colonization, is the infatuated and misguided efforts of a portion of American citizens, in the nonslaveholding States, styling themselves abolitionists. They have formed regularly organized anti-slavery societies, the professed and avowed object of which is to effect immediate emancipation. They have waged an implacable war against involuntary servitude, and, by a formal bill of rights, (in which they have denounced all slaveholders as wicked men,) they have pledged their sacred honor, fortunes, and lives, never to relax their exertions until they shall have accomplished their purposes. The means by which they seek to effect their wishes have been well calculated to create distrust in the minds of the people of the South towards the North. The publishing and circulating in their periodicals, and by tracts, highly-wrought pictures of southern cruelty and oppression towards the slaves, and eloquent appeals to the friends of emancipation, urging them to stand forth and avenge the wrongs of the captive, have given rise to a state of excited feeling_unfriendly to colonization, the ulterior result of which no one can foresee. Zealous alone for the happiness and freedom of the slave, they seem to forget entirely the peace and safety of their white brethren. Anxious for an amalgamation of the family of mankind, they are totally opposed to the removal of the free people of color, and are consequently enemies to colonization. They act upon the broad ground that slavery is morally wrong, and, with more zeal than prudence, they have resolved to carry their designs into immediate execution, regardless of consequences."

Professing to be influenced by the most enlarged philanthropy, and 'discarding all carnal weapons,' but relying solely upon the power of truth,' they indulge the most hostile and bitter feelings towards the slaveholder, and defame and slander his character in a manner utterly opposed to the principles of common justice, much less of that charity which suffers long, and endures all things; and with an unchristian spirit seeking to scatter among them fire-brands and the arrows of death, by instigating the slaves to insubordination. "The abettors of abolition, both in a political and philanthropic view of the subject, have every thing to lose, and nothing to gain. Could their most enlarged desires be immediately obtained, and the whole slave population throughout this extended country proclaimed to be free, we should have a state of things which every lover of mankind would deeply deprecate. If virtue and intelligence constitute the only foundation upon which a free representative government is secure, what a melancholy prospect would be exhibited for the continuance of our happy institutions? In every slaveholding State the laws, however wise and salutary they may now be, for the suppression of crime and the maintenance of good order, would be insufficient for their purposes, when brought to operate upon the unbridled indulgences of these rude and ignorant subjects of freedom. The laws would be continually desecrated, and no influence which the moral and intelligent part of the community could exert would be sufficient to control their licentiousness or operate as a safeguard to the peace and security of the country. It requires no vision of prophecy to foretell what would be the lamentable result. The law of physical force would take the place of law and justice, and the now happy South would be converted into a theatre of discord and violence, over which even misguided fanatics, filled with the fruition of their achievements, might weep."

"To the friends of colonization we would say, discharge faithfully your duty, and let us not be deterred from contributing our influence and our money towards the furtherance of the noble and beautiful design of our society, in attempting to plant the sons of Africa upon her own fruitful but uncultivated soil. A great and glorious triumph awaits our patient and continued efforts in the experiment to diffuse light and knowledge throughout that dark moral wilderness."

ROBERT WHITEHEAD, Esq. submitted the following resolution, which he supported in a long and able address, and was unanimously adopted:

"Resolved, That, in the opinion of this society, there is now, more than ever, a necessity for renewed exertions in behalf of African colonization."

The REV. R. R. GURLEY (the Secretary of the Parent Society, who had arrived in town a day or two previously,) submitted the following resolution, and supported it by a deeply interesting and impressive argument:

"Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be presented to the President and Board of Managers of the Society, for their early, able, and persevering exertions in behalf of the scheme of African colonization; a scheme founded in benevolence, sanctioned by patriotism, demonstrated to be practicable, and destined to embrace ultimately within the compass of its benefits, vast multitudes of the human family in two quarters of the world." Adopted.

The following resolution was then offered by the Rev. JOHN EARLY, and enforced by a pertinent address:

"Resolved, In view of the prospect of establishing a new plantation on the coast of Africa, to be called New Virginia, of the renewed efforts necessary to compass that important object, and of the funds wanted by the Parent Society, that we now receive the report of the purses."

Which was responded to by the subscription of two hundred and seventy-five dollars, exclusive of the annual payments of the members.

After the collection had been taken up, the following resolution was offered by M. H. GARLAND, Esq. sustained by a few remarks, and agreed to:

Resolved, That a memorial be presented to the Legislature, now in session, praying for an increase of the appropriation made by the act of the 4th of March, 1833, and such amendments thereto as may be deemed necessary to prolong the time and give to the fund such a direction as will best promote the interest of this Society."

Whereupon, a memorial, draughted for the occasion, was read, and ordered to be transmitted to our delegate in the Legislature, to be presented to that body.

On motion of JOHN VICTOR, Esq. it was ordered that the 7th article of the constitution of this Society, directing the Board of Managers to secure some suitable person to deliver an address at its anniversary meetings," be erased, so as to leave the arrangements for those occasions discretionary with the Board.

Dr. WM. I. HOLCOMBE moved that a committee of ten be appointed, to solicit donations and subscriptions from persons not present on this occasion, in aid of the funds of this Society; which being agreed to, the following gentlemen were appointed said committee: Dr. Wм. I. HOLCOMBE, ALEXANDER TOMPKINS, JOHN VICTOR, ROBERT WHITEHEAD, WM. S. REID, JR., JOHN M. GORDON, Gen. DAVID RODES, Dr. H. LATHAM, SAMUEL AYRES, and JUNIUS A. CLAY.

The Society then elected the following officers for the ensuing year: Rev. JOHN EARLY, President; REV. WM. S. REID, 1st Vice President; Rev. F. G. SMITH, 2d Vice President; ELIJAH FLETCHER, Treasurer; RICHARD H. TOLER, Secretary; and Dr. WM. I. HOLCOMBE, THоMAS A. HOLCOMBE, JOHN THURMAN, ALEXANDER TOMPKINS, JOHN VICTOR, ROBERT WHITEHEAD, DAVID RODES, MAURICE H. GarLAND, JEHU WILLIAMS, JOHN M. GORDON, Rev. JOSIAH COLE, and GEORGE W. TURNER, Managers.

On motion of Mr. GARLAND,

"Resolved, That this society is gratified at the visit of the Rev. R. R. GunLEY, and that its thanks be tendered to him and to Mr. ROBERT WHITEHEAD, for their able and interesting addresses this evening.

Messrs. GARLAND and TOLER were, on motion of Mr. JOHN THURMAN, appointed a committee to solicit a copy of Mr. WHITEHEAD'S address for publication.

Ordered, That the editors of this place be requested to publish the proceedings of this meeting.

And then the Society adjourned:

R. H. TOLER, Secretary.

JOHN EARLY, President.

NEW AUXILIARY SOCIETY IN OHIO.

The parent society has recently been furnished with an account of the organization of an auxiliary society in Fredericksburg, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 26th of November last. Its title is "The Fredericksburg Colonization Society, auxiliary to the American Colonization Society;" and its officers are as follows: Rev. S. Irvine, President; J. FREDERICK, J. RIDDLE, M. D., and ELI B. SMITH, Vice Presidents; WM. F. SWAN, Treasurer, and Rev. ARCHIBALD Hanna, Secretary.

"Although," says the Secretary in his letter communicating the proceedings, "our village is but small, and our people generally struggling for the comforts of life, I have felt that we ought to be doing something in the great and benevolent work of African colonization. Our colonization society now numbers 43 members, and their subscriptions $38. I hope we will yet make $50. The abolition agents are frequently visiting us, and are pouring out their lectures and periodicals. Our country is deluged with them. I have made it my business to attend their lectures, and when they were through, permission being granted, I have also given my opinion. In this way I have removed many false impressions, which otherwise would have been made.

"We have lately had a public discussion in our village, between the Rev. J. Monteith, an abolition agent, and the Rev. S. Ferguson, of Wooster. The cause of African colonization was ably and successfully defended. Although the abolitionists have formed a society in our village, yet the prevailing sentiment is in favor of colonization. It would greatly promote the cause, if you would send a well-qualified agent through our country. We have petitioned Congress to extend its patronage to the American Colonization Society, and grant it pecuniary aid."

[From the Mississippi Christian Herald, (Natchez,) January 21, 1837.] MISSISSIPPI STATE COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

At a meeting of the executive committee of the State Colonization Society, held at Natchez, on the 16th of January, 1837: Present,

Stephen Duncan, President; John Ker, F. Beaumont, Thomas Henderson.

The following preamble and resolutions were offered, and unanimously adopted:

WHEREAS, at the last annual meeting of the Mississippi State Colonization Society, it was declared to be the purpose of the society to obtain a suitable territory in Africa, on which to plant a colony of emigrants from this State; and whereas, by the authority of the committee to whom the business of said society has been intrusted, such a territory has been purchased on the river Sinoe; and whereas delay in taking possession of said territory may probably involve the loss of it; and whereas the strongest reasons of expediency, including the expectations already held out to and approved by the public, call for prompt and energetic action on the part of the committee, they have unanimously decided to go onward, notwithstanding the empty condition of the treasury, and to rely on the prompt liberality of the friends of, the measure, and of the cause of African colonization, for the necessary funds; be it therefore Resolved,

1. That the committee will go forward in the enterprise, which they consider as having been committed to their hands, of establishing a colony for emigrants from this State, in Africa, on the territory purchased for that purpose.

2. Resolved, That the said territory be called "Mississippi in Africa," and that, in conformity with a former resolution of this board, a town be laid out in the most eligible site, to be called "Greenville," in respect to the memory of the late James Green, of Adams county, and as a memorial of his munificent bequest to the cause of African colonization.

3. Resolved, That an expedition shall be prepared as early as possible, to sail from New Orleans, for " Mississippi in Africa," with such suitable emigrants as may be offered, and an agent or governor to superintend the colony. 4. Resolved, That the Rev. R. S. Finley be, and he is hereby, appointed an agent of this society, for the purpose of obtaining subscriptions and donations to the society; of receiving applications for emigrants, and of preparing and fitting out expeditions for our colony, &c.

5. Resolved, That the Rev. R. S. Finley be authorized and requested immediately to contract for the frame and other building materials, for one or more houses, as he may deem necessary, to be sent out with the first expedition, for the accommodation of the governor of the colony, and the preservation of our necessary stores; and also to provide, for said expedition, a surveyor's compass and chain, and other necessary implements, and also all requisite supplies of provisions and other stores; and that he be requested, without delay, to furnish this board with a detailed estimate of all necessary expenditures for the colony for one year.

6. Resolved, That until a definitive arrangement between the "American Colonization Society" and the “ Mississippi State Society," of their respective spheres of action and authority, the parent society shall be requested to exercise a general supervision and authority over the colony; and that it shall be incumbent on our governor to consult with and obey the instructions of the American Colonization Society's governor of Liberia.

7. Resolved, That Mr. Beaumont be a sub-committee to confer or correspond with such persons as he may deem expedient, in order to obtain the services of a suitable person for the office of governor of our colony.

8. Resolved, That a copy of the above proceedings be transmitted to the American Colonization Society, and another to the Rev. R. S. Finley.

9. Resolved, That the printers of this city, and of the State, friendly to the cause of colonization, be respectfully invited to publish the above.

THOMAS HENDERSON, Secretary.

S. DUNCAN, President.