Another History
I happened across "The African Repository" in my genealogy research and found it quite interesting. I did a Google book search for my Great Great Great Great grandfather, Simon Cronise of Frederick Maryland and happened upon it.
The book appears to be a collection on newsletters from an Christian organization intending on sending freed slaves to colonize Liberia. I remember mention of this in a few of my history classes in High school and college, but those mentions where really just facts, without any substance. Reading through these letters, you really get a feel for the heart of the abolitionists, and more importantly the motivation behind their heart.
They seem to recognize the inherent worth of the "free colored" Americans, and would like to restore their dignity. They hope that by allowing these men to recolonize in Africa, they will help make Africa more civilized through the spread of the Gospel, and will help to end the slave trade by establishing a military force to discourage Slave traders.
I have certainly not read the whole thing, but so far, it has provided some very interesting reading. I am quite impressed by the greater literacy of writings back in those days. I think that our general education and literacy has gone way downhill over the last 200 years.
