time kept a trading establishment at Solyma contrary to the laws of the Republic, arrogantly sent, a few weeks ago, his vessel into the little Cape Mount River to prosecute a trade with the aborigines of that place, as if to see how far and with how much impunity he could contravene the laws of the Republic. It will be remembered that this vessel is one of the two that were brought into this port from Solyma by the gunboat "Quail,” in 1860, to be tried for trading at that place contrary to our revenue laws, but were forcibly taken out of our harbor by Her Britannic Majesty's cruiser "Torch." The vessel, having been seized by order of the Government, has been brought to this port, and now lies in the river awaiting the investigation of her case by the proper authorities.

PROPOSAL FOR A BANK. In connection with the subject of finance, I have further to inform you that the plan proposed by Messrs. McFarlan & Co., of London, for transacting financial business for this Government, and which was adopted by you at your last session, has not been acted upon by that firm; they preferring to operate on a totally different basis, merging their proposal into the plan of a bank, of which the details will be duly laid before you. CODIFICATION OF THE LAWS. The revision and compilation of our statute laws, which are at present in such inconvenient publications, require your authorization. I have to solicit an appropriation for this object.

EDUCATION. — During the year, Liberia College has continued in operation. The Preparatory Department, under the care of Mr. H. R. W. Johnson, has given the greatest satisfaction in the training of its scholars.

In connection with this I am happy to inform you, that we have intelligence from the United States of a growing and active spirit of emigration to Africa among the blacks. In a week or two, some five or six hundred will probably be landed on our shores. The Attorney General of this Republic, now on his way home, made an interesting tour, during the last summer, over a portion

of the Western States; and he assures us, that, from what he has witnessed among the blacks with whom he came into contact, a steady stream of emigration has just begun. We are doubtless all glad to receive such intelligence. But the question that occurs to every thoughtful mind is, Can Liberia, with her feeble institutions, take up and absorb safely this influx of our down-trodden brethren, unaccustomed as they are to the duties and responsibilities of building up new States? I answer, without hesitation, that we can. But it becomes us, as legislators, and executors of law, to make provisions to guard and perpetuate more effectually the liberties of our country. And, among the provisions necessary, a most important, and, indeed, indispensable one, is the establishment of an efficient common-school system. We have in our statute books many laws referring to common schools, but they need revision and consolidation. Depend upon it, unless this matter is attended to, our free institutions will be in danger. Let knowledge be generally diffused, and we need not fear the debates and discussions which periodically take place among us as to our political affairs.

But the diffusion of education among us will, for some time, be dependent chiefly upon legislative action in the establishment and maintenance, throughout the country, of common schools. The Government must here, as in other countries, take this subject into its hands, a subject which, to my mind, involves the whole matter of what is generally termed popular education, comprising not only schools established by the Government, but also mission schools in our townships or within our jurisdiction.

SYSTEM OF COMMON SCHOOLS. By having the education of the people under some system-I mean something like the following so as always to keep the subject of education prominently before the people:

1. Let the different counties be divided into school districts, and let the people in those districts be taxed to provide schoolhouses and help to support the schools, the Government furnishing a certain amount.

2. Let a Secretary of Education be appointed, to regulate the educational interests of the country, in connection, if thought advisible, with a committee of Council. All appointments of instructors to common schools to be made by the Secretary, with the advice of the Council; and no teacher to be appointed with out a certificate of capability from recognized examiners, i.e., any of the professors in Liberia College, or any other well-known instructor.

3. School teachers to be examined twice a year by the Secretary of Education or his deputy.

4. Provision to be made for schools for girls, in which, besides mere book learning, they may be taught domestic economy and general habits of industry. This is a sore and pressing need of Liberia.

5. Children of the aborigines in our settlements and their neighborhood to have the same rights to education as emigrants; and the Government to have the right to establish schools in purely heathen districts.

Our brethren who flee from the United States to this country for freedom, find, on arriving here, a large and superabundant freedom; but they lose the advantages of enlarged education afforded them in their native country, -advantages which, since the war, have been increasing in various parts of the United States. It is therefore meet and proper that in a system of common schools, such as I have just referred to, efficiently established, they should find some compensation for the sacrifices they have voluntarily made.

PENSION RECOMMENDED. Before closing this statement, I would request for Jonas Carey a stated pension during his lifetime. He is one of the only three male pioneers of Liberia surviving, and connecting the present with the past. He took part in the memorable battle of Dec. 1, 1822, on the issue of which depended the question whether Christian civilization should be established on this coast by black colonists from America, or not. He

is now aged and feeble, and deserves whatever aid or patronage the government can render him.

CONCLUSION. And now, in conclusion, I beg to assure you of the cordiality and cheerfulness with which I will co-operate with you in any measure for the promotion of the public weal. In all your deliberations, fail not to keep steadily before your mind the great object we should all have in view, viz — the vindication, upbuilding, and honor of the negro race, and the opening up of this great continent to civilization and religion. Keeping this elevated and glorious aim always before you, your labors will be considerably lightened, and harmony, peace, and fraternal feelings will mark your whole intercourse during the session.

MONROVIA, Dec. 6, 1866.

D. B. WARNER.

CHIEF MAGISTRATES OF LIBERIA.

THIS table is believed to include the names of all persons who were ever authorized to act as chief magistrates of Liberia. The original plan was, that an agent appointed by the Colonization Society should be the chief magistrate, and an agent appointed by the Government of the United States should have the care of the recaptured Africans: but the same person often held both offices; and there seems to have been an understanding, that, when either agent was absent, his duties should devolve on the other. After the adoption of the constitution proposed by Mr. Gurley, August, 1824, the duties of the Society's agent, in his absence, devolved on a vice-agent, elected by the people. After July, 1836, the Society's agent was styled governor, and the vice-agent, lieutenant gov ernor. Since the Declaration of Independence, in 1847, presidents have been elected by the people. The names of all who are known to have acted as chief magistrates by authority from the Society or by popular election are placed in SMALL CAPITALS. The names of agents of the United States Government, who may have sometimes acted in that capacity, are placed in other type. The dates are given with as much completeness as has been practicable. Two agents of the Society and two of the Government died before the removal from Sierra Leone to Cape Mesurado; but their names none the less deserve to be retained. The names of physicians appointed by the Government or the Society, who may have acted as agents in case of necessity, are also given.