August 17, 1862
J. R. S. Van Vleet, associate editor of National Republican, writes President Lincoln regarding Edward M. Thomas, president of the Anglo African Institute for the Encouragement of Industry and Art : “The bearer of this note…was Chairman of the delegation of colored men who waited upon your Excellency, a few days ago. Mr. Thomas is an intelligent & highly respectable man, and as a mark of the estimation in which he is held by the men of color in all parts of the country, you will see that he has been selected as President of an important Institution recently established.
Mr. Thomas believes he can be of great service in forwarding your great scheme of colonization, by confering with the leading men of his color in the Northern cities, and for that purpose he desires to go, together with one of t he other members of the delegation.
The previous day, Thomas himself had written President Lincoln seeking an interview.
Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War 
Leave a Reply