Earlier in this same year there had been a sudden awakening of Southern interest in colonization.  Toward the end of February, Gen. Charles Fenton Mercer accidentally had his attention called to the Secret Journals of the Legislature for the years 1801-5.[5] He had been for six years a member of the House of Delegates, in total ignorance of their existence.  He at once investigated and was rewarded with a full knowledge of the Resolutions and ensuing correspondence between Monroe and Jefferson.  Mercer’s enthusiasm was at once aroused, and he determined to revive the Resolutions at the next meeting of the Legislature.  In the meantime, imputing their previous failure to the secrecy which had screened them from public view, he brought the whole project conspicuously into notice.  At the next session of the Legislature, in December, resolutions embodying the substance of the secret enactments were passed almost unanimously in both houses.  Public attention had been in this way already brought to bear upon the advantages of Colonization when Finley set on foot the formation of a society in Washington.  The interest already awakened and the indefatigable efforts of Finley and his friend Col.  Charles Marsh, at length succeeded in convening the assembly to which the Colonization Society owes its existence.  It was a notable gathering.  Henry Clay, in the absence of Bushrod Washington, presided, setting forth in glowing terms the object and aspirations of the meeting.  Finley’s brother-in-law, Elias B. Caldwell was Secretary, and supplied the leading argument, an elaborate plea, setting forth the expediency of the project and its practicability in regard to territory, expense, and the abundance of willing colonists.  The wide benevolent objects to be attained were emphasized.  John Randolph of Roanoke, and Robert Wright of Maryland, dwelt upon the desirability of removing the turbulent free-negro element and enhancing the value of property in slaves.[6] Resolutions organizing the Society passed, and committees appointed to draft a Constitution and present a memorial to Congress.  At an adjourned meeting a week later the constitution was adopted, and on January 1, 1817, officers were elected.

III.

The colonization movement.

With commendable energy the newly organized Society set about the accomplishment of the task before it.  Plans were discussed during the summer, and in November two agents, Samuel J. Mills and Ebenezer Burgess, sailed for Africa to explore the western coast and select a suitable spot.  They were cordially received in England by the officers of the African Institution, and by Earl Bathurst, Secretary of State for the Colonies, who provided them with letters to Sierra Leone.  Here they arrived in March, 1818, and were hospitably received, every facility being afforded them to prosecute their inquiries, though marked unwillingness to have