The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-08-05
ODD AMERICAN INCIDENTS
Negro Colonization.


proclamation emancipating negroes
in 1868, he did not expect his task
would be inished by giving them
their freedom, but he recognized
that there was still another thing
he must do for them, find them
congenial surrounding in which they
could develop and become citizens.
Lincoln strongly recommended COZ ano
oni1ation. and Congress voted SoOV,VVV
~ he employed by hi,n for this pur-
nose. The government invited plo-
nosals and experiments were maue,
ore in Central America and announcer
a. the island of AVache, within inc
ranublic of Haiti. Lincoln partieu-
Iarly favored the latter. and a con-
tract was accordingly drawn up ana
tha contractor went to New York TO
form a company and obtain the ne
.cessarv capital. 1t was proposed TO
chin five thousand freed men ana
their families under white, superin
tendents for the cultivation of cot
ton and cereals.
phe affair had advanced to the
charter of the first vessel. its fitting
out and supplies for five hundred
segroes then gathered at Fortress
Monroe. under the supervision OF
Major General Dix, when an unior-
tunate difficulty interviewed. ra-
NOR. presumed to have originated
with a party opposed to negro col
onizatiol, reached the government ana
greatly disturbed the President. II
was to the eject that the contractor
was in League with Sofnes! the no
torious Confederate priyateer, to
hand over the negroes to him on the
high reas as runaway captured
slaves. Absurd AID absolutely with
out foundation in fact. as was this
mischievous story, Lincoln and his
cabinet withdrew the contract on
the ground that no scheme Of the kind
should be undertaken which in case
Of failure from any cause, might sub
ject TIE government to the after charge
4 having neglected proper precau-
tons.
Finally Lincoln became convinced
that the story was fallacy and the
negroes at Fortress Molroa were ac-
cordingly shipped for the Island OF
A'Vache. the poor refugees fioeh-
ing on board, shouting hallelujahs,
and in some instances falling upon
knees in thanksgiving. Smallpox
broke out on board the vessel and
in spite Of mec,cal care and the Sc
paration of the sick, verify greatly
decimated their number. No sooner
were the suryiers landed and the ne
,essity for manual labor on their
part apparent, many of the emigrants
revolted. NIistaking liberty for IL
license, they refused to work, and
raised preposterous demands for lux
uries to which they were not accus-
toned during the servitude.
Besides the virgin and entangled
soil of the island proved to be, in
most parts, incapable Of cultivation
except by unusual processes of pa
tent labor. Even potatoes and corr
! failed, which gave those who were
willing to work plea for accusing
the white overseers of Eaving de
ceived them by bringing them to a de
sert island instead of to a land Of
lplenty.
McduWulle the pIcSSi NdtiON " en'
imperative duty. Shiploads OF pro
lfreemer became the Government
visions and other necessities were
forwarded and Instructions of th'
most concise and liberal nature wer'
given sor maintenance and supper
Of the families until they could b
returned to the United States undel
proper protection. All this involves
great delay, and 1t was not unit
} eight months of anxiety and expens
on our part that the reduced colon,
Of freedom were relanded by a Go
yerfent vessel on our shores.
4 The experiment at Hayti, and tn
experiments elsewhere, having ut
terly failed. negro colonization, muc
to the chargin Of its supporters an
to the delight Of its opDosents. re
ceived its death blew. No one fel
the failure OF these enterprises NOR
than President Lincoln. The promo
ters Of the project sustained a los
of nearly ninety thousand dollar
not dollar Of which was ever re
lyAhursed by the government or rattle
from any othar qOurca