Report of Naval committee on Establishing a Line of Mail Steamships to the Western Coast of Africa. And thence via the Mediterranean to London: With An Appendix Added by the American Colonization Society

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The Society for the Colonization of Free People of Color of America, or American Colonization Society (ACS) supported the migration of free African Americans to Africa, helping to found a colony in West Africa. The group was a coalition made up mostly of evangelicals, Quakers, abolitionists, and some slaveholders. The latter saw repatriation as a way to remove free blacks who might assist in slave rebellions. Many blacks perceived this as a racist strategy to purge the US of black citizens and preferred to fight for equal rights at home. Presidents Jefferson, Monroe and Madison, however, were among the organization's supporters. The migration led to the founding of Liberia which became an independent state in 1847. This booklet advocates a line of steamers between the US and Africa, designed to promote the colonization of African Americans, to suppress the African slave trade, to carry mail, and extend the commerce of the US. Pages 31 onwards are an appendix added by the ACS. P. 77 states Henry Clay has been elected president of ACS in 1850 and lists 66 vice presidents including Daniel Webster of Massachusetts. Show more