Letter from James Forten to William Lloyd Garrison – February 23, 1831

In the first page of his 1831 letter to William Lloyd Garrison, James Forten expressed disappointment that Mrs. Stansbury of Trenton, a white woman, gave a large amount of money to the American Colonization Society. Instead, Forten suggested the money could be better used by Master Mechanics to take on Black American children as apprentices, "so that they would become useful to themselves and others." To view the whole three-page letter, click on the document images below.

Courtesy of the Boston Public Library.

Title: Letter from James Forten to William Lloyd Garrison – February 23, 1831
Date: 1831
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Object Information: paper document, 3 pages
Repository: Boston Public Library, Anti-Slavery (Collection of Distinction), Digital Commonwealth: Massachusetts Collections Online, https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z10zf424 (accessed December 04, 2024).

Description:
This is a letter James Forten wrote to William Lloyd Garrison on February 23, 1831 where he recounted seeing Black Revolutionary War soldiers in his youth, linking that to his views on colonization and apprenticeships for children. On his 15th birthday, September 2, 1781, James Forten witnessed the Continental Army and French Allies march through Philadelphia on their way to eventual victory at Yorktown. Their march took them down the street in front of the State House, now called Independence Hall. In this 1831 letter to fellow abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, he wrote: “I well remember that when the New England Regiment passed through this city on their way to attack the English Army under the command of Lord Cornwallis, there was several Companies of Coloured People, as brave Men as ever fought.” Forten argued against the removal of “Freemen of color to Africa” but that they should be given opportunity to succeed in America based on their contributions to the cause of independence and birthright.

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Pages of the 1831 Letter

Click on the images below to see full-size versions. Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Digital Commonwealth: Massachusetts Collections Online.

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TRANSCRIPT
[written in pencil] Printed in Lib. i. 41

Philad^elphia February 23^rd: 1831

My Esteemed Friend,

My attention was forcibly attracted by a communication in Mr. Poulson's Daily Advertiser of the 16^th inst. which states, that Mrs Stansbury, of Trenton, N. J. has presented 1,000 dollars to the Colonization Society.- now I think it is greatly to be regretted, that this highly generous and benevolent Lady has been induced to make this donation for the purpose of conveying some of the superannuated Slaves to Africa, when objects of much greater importance could be obtained by offering a Premium to Master Mechanics to take Colored Children as Apprentices, so that they would become useful to themselves and others. It is an inquiry becoming of the utmost importance, what is to become of those children who are arriving at the age of manhood?

I am greatly astonished, that the Ministers of the gospel should take so active a part, in endeavoring to convey the Freemen of Color to Africa. Even in Boston and New-York, they have taken the lead in support of this object. They cannot be aware of the great injury they will be the means of inflicting on us: instead of doing this, they should endeavor to remove prejudice, to ameliorate and improve the condition of the Colored People by Education, and by having their children placed in a situation to learn a Trade. I hope, through the assistance of Divine Providence, that the Liberator may be the means (especially in Boston, the Cradle of Liberty and Independence) of guiding the People of this country in the Path, which equal Justice and the Public Good so evidently indicate.

I have never conversed with an intelligent Man of Color, (not swayed by interested and sinister motives,) who was not decidedly opposed to leaving his home for the fatal clime of Africa.

Page 2
I am well acquainted with all the Masters of vessels, belonging to this Port, who have been to the coast of Africa; and they all agree in representing it as one of the most unhealthy countries in the Latitude of 40. In the months of June and July, the thermometer is at from 88 to 90 degrees. What must it be, then, in the latitude of 6 or 7, under a vertical sun, and where after the Rainy Season, the effluvium which arises from the putrefaction of vegetables is productive of the most fatal effects? Sir James L. Yeo agrees with their account, in his statement laid before the Admiralty of Great Britain.

Has any one, in either of our southern States, given any thing like a thousand dollars to promote Emigration to Africa? Not one has shown so much compassion for the oppressed Slave. General Mercer, who is, I believe, the President of the Colonization Society, -promised to emancipate his slaves, and to sell his large possessions in Virginia, and to remove with them to Africa - (my friends inform me, and I believe him to be one of the most humane and best of Masters.) Mr Key, the great advocate, and the late Judge Washington, promised to liberate their slaves: I believe that neither of them has performed his promise.

According to a statement made by Mr Key, they e have removed in 14 years about as many hundred emigrants. I will venture to say, that at least a half million have been born during the same period. We ask not their compassion and aid, in assisting us to emigrate to Africa: we are contented in the land that gave us birth, and for which many of us fought, and many of our Fathers fought and died, during the war which established our Independence. I well remember, that when the New England regiment marched through this city on their way to attack the English army under the command of Lord Cornwallis,

Page 3
there were several companies of Colored People, as brave Men as ever fought; and I saw those brave soldiers who fought at the Battle of Red Bank, under Col. Green, where Count Donop the Commander was killed, and the Hessians defeated. All this appears to be forgotten now; and the descendants of these men, to whom we are indebted for the part they took in the struggle for Independence, 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, and to enjoy the Blessings of both civil and Religious liberty, equally with those who are entitled to it by Birth Right.

I think the Ministers of the Gospel might do much towards destroying the Domestic Slave Trade, which breaks asunder the sacred Ties of Husband, Wife and Children. Not a voice is raised by them against this most cruel injustice. In the British Colonies, this is not permitted; yet it exists in the only true Republic on earth.

I am much pleased with your Paper, particularly with the 7^th Number, and it is very popular here: the People of Color contemplate having a Meeting for the purpose of making the Paper more generally known, this I think will have the desired effect.

I find you have anticipated me, in writing to our friend W. Cassey, he is very zealous in the cause.

You are at liberty to publish this if you judge proper, and to make such corrections or abstracts as in your better judgement, you may think expedient.

As you are not acquainted with the author of “Ada” and of “A”, I have discovered by accident that these pieces were written by one of my Daughters. – You will have to give an anonymous signature for instance “Cato” to each of my communications as you think proper to publish.


With great Respect

Yours,

James Forten


Note: This letter was published in The Liberator. on Saturday, March 12, 1831, Vol. 1, No. 11, titled "The Colonization Crusade." It is featured on the first page, second column, under the sub-section, "Communications."