Here is some more from Wlat's very loyal, capable Union man and true patriot
James Mitchell to Abraham Lincoln, July 1, 1862
-- it will require time to enable them to realize that they are near the summit now -- education must refine their sensibility, and a purer morality than has yet obtained amongst the free people of Color, must actuate them, before they will feel that an escape from their present relation to the American people is a duty and a privilege --
Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. Transcribed and Annotated by the Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College. Galesburg, Illinois.
From James Mitchell to Abraham Lincoln1, July 1, 1862
[Note 1 James Mitchell, an Indiana minister, was appointed the agent of emigration in 1862.]
Washington July 1st 1862
Permit me to place a copy of the letter of the 18th May,2 before you; I will send up a few copies to Mr Nickolie's room, for future use should they be needed.
[Note 2 Mitchell's pamphlet on colonization, dated May 18, 1862, is in this collection.]
Senator Harland,3 who has kindly agreed to aid the more active Colonizationists of the Senate, suggested last week in a conversation had with him on the subject, that it would be well for Secretary Smith, to send in a communication to Congress, saying that an appropriation for more general Colonization was required. I named the matter to Mr Smith, who suggested in return that I should bring the matter to Your notice.
The appropriation already made is confined the in its benefits to this District; the great number of persons of Color thrown on the Country for care and support by the advance of our armies, costing the Country a large sum to support and direct, without much permanent good to them or Community, suggests that measures and means of relief should be asked of the Legislative Department, such as will comprehend the greatest lasting good in return for the outlay.
[Note 3 Senator James Harlan of Iowa]
In our opinion the Government should be so supplied with means that it can aid others besides the Colored people of this District, who for the most part are less inclined to remove therefrom than the Contrabands; nor do we expect a great emigration from the ranks of the Colored residents of the District, as they are to a great extent satisfied with their new liberties and franchises, with hopes of further enlargement -- it will require time to enable them to realize that they are near the summit now -- education must refine their sensibility, and a purer morality than has yet obtained amongst the free people of Color, must actuate them, before they will feel that an escape from their present relation to the American people is a duty and a privilege -- but in these respects they are improving with wonderful rapidity; and when the principles of their separation from us, and their nationality, become fixed policy with us; and they have had time to comprehend the necessity thereof, the work of emigration will take care of it-self to a great extent
But the case of the slaves just freed from the control of their Masters by the war, differs from the above -- the feeling of insecurity, the dread of being returned to the control of the slave holder -- their confidence in the benevolence of the Government, their condition as wanderers and strangers, all prompt them to accept removal to a secure home where freedom will be undisturbed by any future revolution or change in the Administration of this Country adverce to them.
In starting the work of emigration, we should foster each and all the agencies of emigration, and invite others-- Liberia, the creature of your own benevolence -- Hayti the favorit of New England -- Centeral America where we need to sustain our Commercial interests an Anglo-african people, independent yet auxiliary -- Mexico the home of the mixed races -- the Danish proposition -- and even England might be invited to draw a supply of free labor from the South for her West Indian possessions -- possibly this proposition would be agreeable to the British Government, might change their views about Colonization, and enable them to see the unfortunate necessity that rests on this Republic to thus Colonize -- at any rate it would enable you to reason the matter with them, and through them with our own people who are opposed or careless to future danger -- and if pressed too hard in the threatened intervention, (for I still cling to what you may call a Mystical theory) such a correspondence could be made the means of indoctrinating the British people with republican views and theories-- May god avert the necessity of intervening in the business of other Nations, but especially England, it is far more desirable to make her our true and lasting friend-- May such be the will of Heaven.
I have done what I could to aid and direct legislation in this matter of Colonization but I have come to a point where I need support, and hope it will be agreeable to you to grant us that aid-- The Confiscation bill will pass this week or next, with a section therein authorizing you to Colonize, so soon as that bill becomes a law -- will be a proper time to recommend an appropriation of a sum sufficient to give respectability to the movement -- say not less than $100,000 and one million would not be extravagant in such a case.
The appropriation when made need not be used in an extravagant manner -- of this I will be careful so long as I am permited to suggest or direct the work -- we need not now stimulate expensive emigration -- but when mercy to the Negro and economy to the Government demand our action as in the case of dependent Counterbands our action -- then we should act, but so as to be equitable in the distribution of the Government patronage, amongst the above agencies of emigration, prefering those which cost the least -- except that we might wisely discriminate in favor of our own Colonies -- or rather Colonies of our own foundation -- no one could object to this -- however it will be an object with me to regard all with equal favor
On the return of peace when the draft on the Treasury for war purposes subsides, then may we stimulate more expensive and extended emigration then may our ships of war, be used as transports and surplus arms used to give respectability to Anglo-african civilization -- nor would it be wrong in my judgement to arm and drill a few thousand slaves -- who would promise to emigrate at the end of the war -- nor would the Country murmur much if such an experiment should be tried in Sout Carolina, provided the above understanding was distinct in the public mind -- indeed the self reliance of the Negro, his ability to defend himself is a necessary conviction to general and succesfull emigration, or independent Colonization.
Respectfully submited
Jas Mitchell
Agent of Emigration
P. S. I had a conversation this afternoon with Genl J B Rodgers, of Ten, in regard to the doctrines of the letter of May 18th, and of this point, arming a few thousand negroes -- to be subsequently removed, he agrees with the whole, and agrees with the declaration we uniformly affirm to all our border friends that to hold the Country together in the future there must be a party in the South with emancipation proclivities and measures--
A few more quotes like that one, here and there, and you'll have proved that the whole point of the Freemen's Bureau was not to emancipate and enfranchise the Negro, but to shackle the South politically.