The Camden Weekly Journal

The British Government Engaged in the Slave Trade.—The last number of the Liberia Herald received in this country, contains a proclamation from President Roberts of Liberia, indirectly implicating the British Government in the slave trade. It is stated in the proclamation that Messrs. Hyde, Hodge & Co. of London, contracted with Her Britannic Majesty's Government, to furnish laborers from the coast of Africa for the Indies, have sent some of their ships to the coast of the Republic, offering an advance of ten dollars for every person who may be induced to emigrate; that the extinction of the slave trade has left large numbers of predial and other laborers in the possession of the chiefs and principal men of the country; that the offer of ten dollars each, is nearly equivalent to the amount formerly paid for slaves during the prevalence of the slave trade, and which operated mainly in producing and sustaining the wars by which the country was distracted; that certain refractory chiefs are reported to have engaged with the agents of said company, to furnish a number of laborers, and are further known to have in concealment near Grand Cape Mount, a number of the unhappy victims of their predatory excursion and finally complaint has been made to the government that persons are held to be sent off without their voluntary consent, or the consent of their natural guardians. To prevent these abuses President Roberts declares that the law regulating passports must be strictly observed; and that vessels carrying, or intending to carry away emigrants, must come to Monrovia with their emigrants on board, to obtain passports—in order that an opportunity may be presented the Government to ascertain whether the emigration be free or constrained.—Boston Journal.