Letter from James Forten, Philad[elphi]a, [Pennsylvania], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1831 February 23d

Item Information

Title:
Letter from James Forten, Philad[elphi]a, [Pennsylvania], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1831 February 23d
Description:
James Forten writes to William Lloyd Garrison regretting that "Mrs. Stansbury of Trenton, N[ew] Jersey has presented 1,000 dollars to the Colonization Society" when the funds could be better used to encourage "Master Mechanics to ... take coloured children as Apprentices". He then says he is "greatly astonished" that Christian ministers are encouraging efforts "to convey Freemen of Colour to Africa; even in Boston and New York" and thinks instead "they should endeavor to remove prejudice, [and] to ameliorate and improve the condition of the Colored People by Education." Forten argues that African-Americans are against colonization in Africa and cites the coast of Africa "as one of the most unhealthy countries." He adds that "we are contented in the land that gave us birth, and which many of us have fought for" and recalls that during the American Revolutionary War, "there was several companies of Coloured People" in the "New England Regiment". Forten reflects that "all this appears to be forgotten now and the descendants of these Men ... are intended to be removed to a distant and inhospitable country, while the Emigrants from every other country are permitted to seek an asylum here from oppression". He shares his hope that American clergy will act more "towards destroying the Domestic Slave Trade" and praises the Liberator, telling of its popularity in Philadelphia. He also mentions that contributions to the Liberator signed "Ada " and "A" were written by his daughter [Sarah Forten], and asks for his published communications to be signed "Cato".
Author:
Forten, James, 1766-1842
Addressee:
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Date:
February 23, 1831
Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Manuscripts
Location:
Boston Public Library
Rare Books Department
Collection (local):
Anti-Slavery Collection
Subjects:
Abolitionists--United States--19th century--Correspondence
African American abolitionists--History--19th century
African Americans--Education--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century
Social reformers--United States--History--19th century
Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
African American abolitionists
African Americans--Colonization--Africa
African Americans--Education--History
Antislavery movements--United States
Slavery and the church--United States
Social reformers--United States
American Colonization Society
Forten, James, 1766-1842
Purvis, Sarah Forten, 1814-1883
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Liberator (Boston, Mass. : 1831)
Extent:
1 leaf (4 p.) ; 25 cm.
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z10zf424
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Place of origin:
Philad[elphi]a, [Pennsylvania]
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
Most of this letter is printed in the Liberator of March 12, 1831 (Vol. 1, no. 11) under the title, "The Colonization Crusade" and is signed "Cato."
On verso, the letter is addressed to "Mr. William Lloyd Garrison Editor No. 11 Merchant Hall Boston."
Identifier:
5142547
Call #:
MS A.1.2 v.1, p.16
Barcode:
39999085506010