On 7/6/03 9:24 AM, "Bob Wilson" <rhjwwjd@btc-bci.com> wrote: > I would like to know how to get information from Liberia. My direct ancestor > from St. Croix, Rev. John SEYS, Hi Bob Rev. Syes is credited (or blamed -- depending you ones views of political parties) with starting the first political party in Liberia. Prior to his organized effort, political aspirants ran on their individual merits. The stories reads like the script for a movie. Here's some background to what would evolve into a major struggle that involved every sector of the young African state. Facing dwindling financial support from the US, the American Colonization Society (ACS) got the Liberian legislature (in 1840) to pass a law requiring that the ACS and all missionary societies pay duty on all imported goods that they used in trading. Rev. Seys, as head of the Methodist church, was later that year presented with a bill for $80.30 which he refused to pay. Seys argument was that imported goods used as payment for labor provided was not subject to duty and wrote the ACS in the US for clarification. The ACS decided unanimously that mission societies were only titled to duty free privileges for imported goods used for their own consumption. Seys then informed the (ACS appointed) governor that he had forwarded the matter to the managers of the Methodist Missionary Society in the US and that they would be taking up the matter with the ACS Head Office in Washington DC. Some settlers (and interestingly, the white ACS assigned governor) saw this as an affront to their efforts at establishing law and order. The governor even labeled Seys' action as disrespectful and seditious. Others saw this as an ongoing encouraging rebellion against the ACS that would speed up the establishment of a "free and independent state for people of color". As the tension built around this issue (with churches and citizens taking sides) the collector of customs sued the Methodist church and Rev. Seys for the unpaid duty. The trial was held on September 4th 1840. Serving as chief of the judiciary was the governor who would have also presided over the case had it gone to the Supreme Court. While asking the governor to recluse himself, Seys also went after the ACS by appealing to the "patriotism" of the 12 jurors who were all first generation settlers. Here is a portion of Seys' defense taken from Burrowes' book referred to earlier: ³Why this court? Why this jury? Why is the matter referred to 12 free citizens of the commonwealth of Liberia, if any other society, or body of men, could decide this case why appeal it to a jury of Liberians? No, gentlemen; you are supreme in this case. The Colonization Society may give or grant you a constitution; you may accept it; you make laws; they may revoke them; but they cannot interpret your laws, (when made or already approved of by themselves), they cannot interpret them to suit their own conveniences² (Africa's Luminary, Oct. 2, 1840). The jury deliberated for a day before advising the court that they were hopelessly divided (10 to 2) and unable to reach a unanimous decision. This was to begin Seys¹ historical journey into the arena of Liberian politics ‹ more to follow. Earl -- "Birds of a feather flock together." If you're an eagle, don't hang around chickens: Chickens Can't Fly!