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The colored men of Washington, D.C. make plea to President Lincoln...



Item # 704159

November 03, 1862

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, Nov. 3, 1862 

* The African American Delegation to Abraham Lincoln
* Free Negroes - black colonization in Washington D.C. ?


The most noteworthy article is found on page 4 headed: "Free Colored Emigrants" which is a letter from free Washington, D.C. blacks to President Abraham Lincoln in which they plead that he follow-through on his promise to provide, upon his own recommendation made in August, a new homeland in South America.
The letter includes in part: "Many of us, acting upon your promise to send us so soon as one hundred families were ready, having sold our furniture, have given up our little homes to go in the first voyage; and now more than five times that number have made preparation, we find that there is uncertainty and delay, which is embarrassing to us and reducing our scanty means...  We have seen it stated in newspapers that you do not intend to let us depart... Congress has placed the power and the means solely in the hands of your Excellency to aid in moving us." the article concludes with: "The President [said] that he had placed everything in the hands of Senator Pomeroy... and that he could not see them but would do so in the course of a few days."
Among the front page one column heads on the Civil War are: "Cannonading Heard At Winchester" "Rebels in the Neighborhood of Harper's Ferry" "Startling News From Corinth" "Reported Capture of Mobile" "The Rebel Ram at Savannah" "Another Skirmish Near Aldie, Va." "Rebel Retreat from Philimont & Union" "Occupation of Union and Snicker's Gap" and more.
Eight pages, never round nor trimmed, some wear at margins with minor margins tears, generally good condition.

Category: Yankee