No. 443.
Mr. Smyth
to Mr. Evarts.
Monrovia, Liberia, January 21, 1880. (Received February 26.)
Sir: The President, a few days before the adjournment of the legislature, which occurred on Tuesday, January 20, 1880, sent to the Senate for confirmation the names of the gentlemen who composed his former cabinet, together with the name of Dr. E. W. Blyden as secretary of the interior, and M. W. Davis as attorney-general, All were confirmed.
The importance of the appointment of a secretary of the interior can only be properly appreciated by a recollection of the systematic neglect of the aboriginal people in the past.
In the selection of a gentleman of so large a knowledge of his race in Africa and his known devotion to their interests, and of so good and ripe scholarship, foreshadows great promise for Liberia for the aboriginal man, and is a display by the President of wisdom and zeal in the public service.
The members of the Senate, who, by virtue of their offices are trustees of Liberia College, met immediately after adjournment, and proceeded to elect a president for Liberia College, and the choice was Dr. Blyden.
A resolution was passed creating a professorship of Arabic and of the Mandingo or Vay language.
A resolution or act passed the legislature removing the college from Monrovia to a port near the headwaters of the St. Paul’s River. This will make the college easy of access to aboriginal students.
The fame of the accomplished President will influence the sending to Liberia College of many students from the northern and southern portions of the coast, who would otherwise be sent to England, America, or France to complete their training, and the fame of his Oriental learning, which extends to Bornu, Kana, Falaba, Sego, and Timba, will no doubt bring many persons as students from these portions of Central Africa.
I have, &c.,