They enjoyed. in those days. just as the situation is here today. few of the advantages of freedom. It was thought by the American Colonization Society that if a colony for the 200.000 freed Negroes of the United States could be established in the land of their race. they might. in time. with the proper care and attention given by the Federal Government. become a selfsupporting community and thus prepare a way and a home for the eventual colonization of the remaining millions of slaves who. at some future time. would most certainly be given their freedom. Following the first shipment of 88 Negroes to the African coast. the very next year the ship Nautilus. chartered by the United States Government. voyaged to Africa with two Government agents on board. named Winn and Bacon. who were accompanied by two officials of the Colonization Society and a further group of Negro emigrants. In the autumn of 1821 Dr. Eli Ayres was appointed chief agent of the Colonization Society. He went to Cape Montserrado. the site of the present city of Monrovia. and succeeded in acquiring the whole of the Montserrado promontory. and. as a result. all emigrants were transferred to this new acquisition and there made good their final occupancy. On Ayres return to Washington the American Colonization Society selected Jehudi Ashmum. a Negro. for service with the Negro emigrants in Africa. It is said that the life of this man was one continuous sacrifice of self on the altar of duty. He proceeded to Africa In the brig Strong. in charge of another group of emigrants. He was instructed to take full control of the settlement. His departure from the United States was on June 20. 1822. and early in August he reached his destination. and assumed the direction and administration of the colony.
Keywords matched
emigrants