Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-08-26


nation as the events of more than
two-score years ago were recalled, de-
tailed the circumstances as clearly as II
they had been the happenings OF Yester-
day.
my first acquaintance with Mr.. Liu-
coln," he said, "began early in July,
1853, when l visited Springfield, TO pro-
mote the cause or colonization and TO
organize the State of Illinois in its in
terest, as / had already organized H.
diana. first called on the Rev. Mr..
Dodge, then pastor OF the SecoAd Pres
byterian church, aud asked him IL they
had any one there who could aid me in
my work in Illinois, as Joseph A.
Wright had aided me in his State.
"Mr. Dodge replied: Yes, l think we
have-an attorney named Abraham Lin
coln.'
81 requested that he take me to him
at once. We proceeded TO the public
square of the town, and as we leisurely
walked forward along its best built side,
Mr.. Dodge pointed out gentleman
seated on dry goods box. five or six
doors ahead OF US, saying as he did so:
There sits Mr.. Lincoln
"My friend had previously eulogized
the attorney very highly, yet when l
saw his great, gaunt and angular figure,
loosely If not carelessly dressed, l was
not favorably impressed, and said to
myself: IF that is Illinois great man,
Illinois is not much Blu: when l had
been introduced and subjected TO his
close searching inquiries about the pol
icy of our society, and our action In
Indiana, quickly changed my opinion
of the man, and from that hour We were
friends.
''On the following Sabbath, July 5th,
preached in MIR. Dodge'S church, where
the Lincoln family sometimes wor-
shipped. Mr.. Lincoln was present on
that occasion. At the conclusion OF the
services took collection to make the
Rev. Mr.. Smith, Of the First Presbyter-
ian Church, a life member OF the
Colonization Society, and Mr.. Lincoln
contributed five dollars, DR.. SIN it'll
being his regular pastor"
LINCoLN's COLONIZATION POLICY.
MIR. Lincoln earnestly believed in and
advocated colonization as means OF
solving 1.-THE race problem" and early
in his administration appointed DR..
Mitchell Commissioner Of Emigration
"to aid in the execution OF laws relat-
ing to the colonization OF freedmen who
desired TO migrate to any tropical coun-
try" This position ne held till after
the Presidents death. In view of the
fact that many leaders among the col
ored people, as well as many whites, are
now advocating the return Of the black
man 10 Africa, the sentiments held by
Mr. Lincoln on the subject, and the
policy of colonization advocated by him,
naturally acquire fresh and increasing
interest.
DR., Mitchell, being asked to give his
recolectioHs OF these, had this to say:
Mr.. Lincoln very quickly took hold
Of the scheme of gradual emancipation
and colonization by state aid, and
made that plan his own, as the public
transactions Of his administration sub
sequeutly and abundantly show. But
he was constantly resisted therein by
members OF his own political house
hold As matter OF prudence and
policy, he had taken into his first cabi-
net the heads of all the Republican
factions, some OF whom loved him not
bit before his election, and carried
their jealousy into the cabinet. Yet
his wonderful patience and power over
men enabled him to hold most Of them
to their assigned positions until the ex-
piration Of his first term.
But that intestine struggle etfectu-
ally crushed the scheme OF colonization
and suspended the policy of State aid
thereto indefinitely, il not forever.
"This scheme is as old as the time OF
jefferson, who favored emancipation
and deportation by slow degrees. 1t
is still in our power, said he, TO direct
the process Of emancipation and depor-
tation peaceably aud in slow degrees, so
that the evil will wear off gradually.
and their places be, pari possu, filled
up by free white labOrers; II, on the
contrary, 1t is suffered TO force itself
on, human nature must shudder at the
prospect
"Mr. Lincoln" continued DR.. Mitch
ell, Opened his administration with
recommendations to COLOMBO the already
emancipated negroes. On the 9th of
March, 1862, he sent in his message re-
commencing gradual emancipation, and
on the 10Th of the same month held his
first conversation with the statesmen OF
the border states on this subject; on the
10th of April be approved the bill
aboliShing slavery in the District OF
Columbia, ana appropriating 100000
for colonization purposes, and on the
18th of May following, ] published, by
his order, an open letter 10 him on the
doctrines and theories of gradual eman-
cipation and colonization. On the 18th
OF July, the president again called the
border statesmen together TO plead with
them in behalf OF the same objects, and
by reference to the public journals OF
that period. twill be foundthat he was in
favor of separate and distinct subsis-
teuce for the African race, and wished
To see the lands Of the tropical belt
made their refuge and the qqiet home
of the Afro-Americans.
"Mr. Lincoln made my suggestion, TO
combine with England on this subject,
his own. He regarded her as the next
best friend OF the negro race, and be-
lieVed that there was power and ability
enough in the two nations 10 enable
them to bring into being In the trOplcal
belt third power for the benefit of our
colored people. IN conversation with
me on this subject, he remarked that
If England wants some OF our negroes,
and will do better by them than we can,
| say, let her have than and God bless
her.
A COLONIZATION DOCUMENT.
Pointing 10 the wall OF his study,
where hung an engraved copy OF Car
penter's painting of the cabinet meeting
and the signing of the preliminary
emancipation proclamation, Septem Der
%, 1862, Issued after every effort TO
bring the border states to agree to any
terms involving tne abolition OF slavery,
had failed, the doctor said:
THAT is strictly colonization docu-