In the United States in the 1800’s, it was largely impossible in the South, and in many parts of the North, for someone to desire or move to end slavery without some kind of public ritualistic demand to remove the freed slaves to some other area, so that they presumably would not want to take vengeance on their masters (which was one of the main fears of the slave-owning class and their network of clients). The most conspicuous result of that particular phenomenon of American 19th century politics is the nation of Liberia, which in the late 1800’s was one of three states not directly under colonial rule (the other ones were Ethiopia, which defeated an attempted takeover by the Italians at Adowa in 1896 and eventually and temporarily succumbed to Mussolini in 1935, and the Boer Republics of what is now South Africa, which temporarily were conquered by the English in the Boer War at the beginning of the 20th century).

In light of this history, it is no surprise that the descendents of Liberia’s colonists, which have long been a privileged class within Liberian society, have a great deal of honor and respect for their American-inspired Declaration of Independence. It may also be less of a surprise that those 97% of Liberians that do not come from freed slaves may not feel as thrilled about how those sentiments were expressed in actions throughout history [1]. There is, aver all, an ironic aspect in that freed American slaves brought to Liberia behaved much as American and other imperialists did when given the chance. That is, they monopolized power, sought to profit from natural resources, and generally behaved in the fashion where they believed themselves to be superior by virtue of civilization to the natives of the land they ruled over. For 130 years or so, a small minority class of American-descended Liberians ruled over a much larger population of native tribes, and the aftermath of that period was a period of deep division and civil war that has not ended.

There are those who despise the elite class of Liberia, which has been remarkably successful in ensuring themselves a great deal of wealth and prosperity despite the immense poverty of Liberia as a whole, and who have made some very emotional, but not particularly logical, arguments about why the Liberian declaration is such a big lie. We ought to properly understand the role of the NGO that purchased the land and settled the freed slaves as simply an agent of the American government doing what its political elite wished to do to gradually remove the scourge of slavery from our shores and move the problem elsewhere. Sadly, the freed slaves who went to Liberia and their descendents gradually showed themselves to be just as imperialistic and exploitative as the plantation slaveowners they left behind, showing that slavery and domination and exploitation are not issues specific to a supposed race (or gender or social class) but are rather problems that we all have to wrestle with in our human hearts.

Nevertheless, there are some practical questions as far as Liberia’s independence. Who did Liberia declare independence from, actually? It was well-understood in the age of imperialism that little Liberia was off limits to other imperial nations because it had the backing of the United States. Instead of being an imperial territory of any nation, it was understood to be a protectorate of the United States, much like Cuba in the period after its independence and before Castro. Other imperialistic nations recognized this fact and not wishing to war with the United States over a small patch of Africa when there was so much to fight over, granted the American protectorate its relief from their own predatory efforts. It ought to be understood as well that the British too sought to create a territory for freed slaves to go, the nation now known as Sierra Leone, and that nation too has had a checkered history of its own. It should also be noted that it was only the American colonists who considered themselves initially to be citizens of Liberia, ironically perpetuating the same injustices that had been forced on them in the United States, where they (along with the indigenous inhabitants of the territories of the United States) were considered by some barbarians there to be so far beneath the status of citizens that they had no rights of their own that others were bound to accept and respect. Then, in turn, these colonists took those attitudes and applied them to the native inhabitants of their own republic. Clearly, this has led to a great deal of evil in the history of Liberia from that time to our own.

So, what would be necessary for Liberia to have a well-functioning republic? For one, Liberian society must provide the opportunity for dignity and advancement for its entire citizenry rather than being the domain of a small and rapacious elite. Legitimacy is gained by broadening the base of those who are able to gain rewards, those who are able to become educated and successful and prosperous. A generally broad and egalitarian society would be vastly more stable than the narrowly-based elite. There must be a coming to terms with history, but likewise a forgiveness of the wrongs of the past and a broad-based decision to set a clean slate and to work towards making the best possible future without bitterness and recrimination and vengeance. It is only through forgiveness that we all free ourselves of the shackles that keep us enslaved to hatred and fear and are able to make a better world for ourselves out of the wreckage of the one we have inherited. Justice and mercy would go along way to creating a Liberia that is capable of meeting the noble principles of its own founding [2] and setting an example for other African nations with similar problems and similar longings for legitimacy and prosperity, with the help of God and with our own best efforts towards that end.

[1] http://thenewdispensation.com/2013/07/26/liberia-declaration-of-independence-the-biggest-lie-ever-told/

[2] THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE OF LIBERIA.

A Declaration of Independence by the Representatives of the People of the Commonwealth of Liberia in Convention Assembled. July 16, 1847 . We, the representatives of the people of the commonwealth of Liberia, in convention assembled, invested with the authority of forming a new government, relying upon the aid and protection of the Great Arbiter of human events, do hereby in the name and on behalf of the people of this commonwealth, publish and declare the said commonwealth a free, sovereign, and independent state, by the name and title of the Republic of Liberia.

While announcing to the nations of the world the new position which the people of this Republic have felt themselves called upon to assume, courtesy to their opinion seems to demand a brief accompanying statement of the causes which induced them, first to expatriate themselves from the land of their nativity and to form settlements on this barbarous coast, and now to organize their government by the assumption of a sovereign and independent character. Therefore, we respectfully ask their attention to the following facts:

We recognize in all men certain inalienable rights; among these are life, liberty, and the right to acquire, possess, enjoy, and defend property. By the practice and consent of men in all ages, some system or form of government is proved to be necessary to exercise, enjoy, and secure their rights, and every people have a right to institute a government, and to choose and adopt that system, or form of it, which in their opinion will most effectively accomplish these objects, and secure their happiness, which does not interfere with the just rights of others. The right, therefore, to institute government and powers necessary to conduct it is an inalienable right and cannot be resisted without the grossest injustice.

We, the people of the Republic of Liberia , were originally inhabitants of the United States of North America.

In some parts of that country we were debarred by law from all rights and privileges of man – in other parts, public sentiment, more powerful than law, frowned us down.

We were excluded from all participation in the government.

We were taxed without our consent.

We were compelled to contribute to the resources of a country which gave us no protection.

We were made a separate and distinct class, and against us every avenue of improvement was effectively closed. Strangers from other lands, of a color different from ours, were preferred before us.

We uttered our complaints, but they were unattended to, or only met by alleging the peculiar institutions of the country.

All hope of a favorable change in our country was thus wholly extinguished in our bosoms, and we looked with anxiety for some asylum from the deep degradation.

The western coast of Africa was the place selected by American benevolence and philanthropy for our future home. Removed beyond those influences which oppressed us in our native land, it was hoped we would be enabled to enjoy those rights and privileges and exercise and improve those faculties which the God of nature has given us in common with the rest of mankind.

Under the auspices of the American Colonization Society, we established ourselves here, on land, acquired by purchase from the lords of the soil.

In an original compact with this society, we, for important reasons, delegated to it certain political powers; while this institution stipulated that whenever the people should become capable of conducting the government, or whenever the people should desire it, this institution would resign the delegated power, peacefully withdraw its supervision, and leave the people to the government of themselves.

Under the auspices and guidance of this institution which has nobly and in perfect faith redeemed its pledge to the people, we have grown and prospered.

From time to time our number has been increased by immigration from America , and by accession from native tribes; and from time to time, as circumstances required it, we have extended our borders by the acquisition of land by honorable purchase from the natives of the country.

As our territory has extended and our population increased our commerce has also increased. The flags of most civilized nations of the earth float in our harbors, and their merchants are opening an honorable and profitable trade. Until recently, these visits have been of a uniformly harmonious character; but as they have become more frequent and to more numerous points of our extended coast, questions have arisen which, it is supposed, can be adjusted only by agreement between sovereign powers.

For years past, the American Colonization Society has virtually withdrawn from all direct and active part in the administration of the government, except in the appointment of the governor, who is also a colonist, for the apparent purpose of testing the ability of the people to conduct the affairs of government, and no complaint of crude legislation, nor of mismanagement, nor of mal-administration has yet been heard.

In view of these facts, this institution, the American Colonization Society, with that good faith which has uniformly marked all its dealings with us did by a set of resolutions in January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-six, dissolve all political connections with the people of this Republic, returned the power with which it was delegated, and left the people to the government of themselves.

The people of the Republic of Liberia , they, are of right, and in fact, a free, sovereign, and independent state, possessed of all the rights, powers, and functions of government.

In assuming the momentous responsibilities of the position they have taken, the people of this republic feel justified by the necessities of the case, and with this conviction they throw themselves with confidence upon the candid consideration of the civilization of the world.

Liberia is not the offspring of ambition, nor the tool of avaricious speculation.

No desire for territorial aggrandizement brought us to these shores; nor do we believe so sordid a motive entered into the high consideration of those who aided us in providing this asylum. Liberia is an asylum from the most grinding oppression.

In coming to the shores of Africa, we indulged the pleasing hope that we would be permitted to exercise and improve those faculties which impart to man his dignity; to nourish in our hearts the flame of honorable ambition; to cherish and indulge these aspirations which a beneficent Creator had implanted in every human heart, and to evince to all who despise, ridicule, and oppress our race that we possess with them a common nature; are with them susceptible of equal refinement, and capable to equal advancement in all that adorns and dignifies man. We were animated by the hope that here we should be at liberty to train up our children in the way that they should go; to inspire them with the love of an honorable fame; to kindle within them the flame of a lofty philanthropy, and to form strongly within them the principles of humanity, virtue, and religion.

Amongst the strongest motives to leave our native land – to abandon forever the scenes of our childhood and to sever the most endeared connections – was the desire for a retreat where, free from the agitation of fear and molestation, we could approach in worship the God of our fathers.

Thus far our highest hopes have been realized. Liberia is already the happy home of thousands who were once the doomed victims of oppressions; and, if left unmolested to go on with her natural and spontaneous growth, if her movements be left free from the paralyzing intrigues of jealous ambition and unscrupulous avarice, she will throw open wider and yet a wider door for thousands who are now looking with an anxious eye for some land of rest.

Our courts of justices are open equally to the stranger and the citizen for the redress of grievances, for the remedy of injuries, and for the punishment of crime.

Our numerous and well-attended schools attest our efforts and our desire for the improvement of our children. Our churches for the worship of our Creator, everywhere to be seen, bear testimony to our acknowledgment of His providence.

The native African bowing down with us before the altar of the living God, declares that from us, feeble as we are, the light of Christianity has gone forth, while upon that curse of curses, the slave trade, a deadly blight has fallen, as far as our influence extends.

Therefore, in the name of humanity, virtue, and religion, in the name of the great God, our common Creator, we appeal to the nations of Christendom, and earnestly and respectfully ask of them that they will regard us with the sympathy and friendly considerations to which the peculiarities of our condition entitles us, and to that comity which marks the friendly intercourse of civilized and independent communities.

Written by Hilary Teage,

The signers of the Declaration of Independence were twelve representatives to the Constitutional Convention which convened in Monrovia on July 5, 1847:

Samuel Benedict, Hilary Teage, Elijah Johnson, John Naustehlau Lewis, Beverly R. Wilson and J.B. Gripon (Montserrado County); John Day, Amos Herring, Anthony William Gardiner and Ephriam Titler (Grand Bassa County); and Jacob W. Prout and Richard E. Murray (Sinoe County).