“Trade is the chosen employment of the great mass of the Liberians, and some of them have been decidedly successful in this vocation.  It consists in the exchange of articles of American or European manufacture for the natural products of the country; of which palm oil, cam-wood, and ivory are the principal articles.  Cam-wood is a rich dye-wood, and is brought to Monrovia on the shoulders of the natives from a great distance.  It is worth in the European and American markets from sixty to eighty dollars per ton.  The ivory of this region does not form an important item of commerce.  Palm-oil is the main article of export, and is procured along the seacoast between Monrovia and Cape Palmas.  The Liberian merchants own a number of small vessels, built by themselves, and varying in size from ten or fifteen to forty or fifty tons.  These are navigated by the Liberian sailors, and are constantly engaged in bringing palm-oil to Monrovia, from whence it is again shipped in foreign vessels for Liverpool or New York.  I made inquiry, during a short sojourn at this place in 1852 on my way to this country, about the amount of property owned by the wealthiest merchants of Monrovia, and learned that there were four or five who were worth from fifteen thousand to twenty thousand dollars, a large number who owned property to the amount of ten thousand dollars, and perhaps twelve or fifteen who were worth as much as five thousand dollars.  The property of some of these may have increased materiallv since that time.

“The settlers along the banks of the St. Paul have given more attention to the cultivation of the soil.  They raise sweet-potatoes, cassava, and plantains, for their own use, and also supply the Monrovia market with the same.  Ground-nuts and arrow-root are also cultivated, but to a very limited extent.  A few individuals have cultivated the sugar cane with success, and have manufactured a considerable quantity of excellent sugar and molasses.  Some attention has been given to the cultivation of the coffee tree.  It grows luxuriantly, and bears most abundantly.  The flavor of the coffee is as fine as any in the world; and, if the Liberians would give the attention to it they ought, it would probably be as highly esteemed as any other in the world.  It is easily cultivated, and requires little or no outlay of capital; and we are surprised that it has not already become an article of export.  The want of disposition to cultivate the soil is, perhaps, the most discouraging feature in the prospects of Liberia.  Mercantile pursuits are followed with zeal and energy, but comparatively few are willing to till the ground for the means of subsistence.”

Liberia had its first constitution in 1825.  It was drawn at the instance of the Colonization Society in the United States.  It set forth the objects of the colony, defined citizenship, and declared the objects of the government.  It remained in force until 1836.  In 1839 a “Legislative Council” was created, and the constitution amended to meet the growing wants of the government.  In 1847 Liberia declared herself an independent republic.  The first article of the constitution of 1847 reads as follows:—­