Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Clay, Henry (1777-1852) to Thomas Hazard re: suppression of the slave trade & colonization efforts

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05495.01 Author/Creator: Clay, Henry (1777-1852) Place Written: Washington Type: Letter signed Date: 1850/04/27 Pagination: 2 p. + FF + env. 25 x 20 cm Order a Copy

Accompanied by FF envelope. Clay writes that that the subjects Hazard wrote about will receive little attention until the slave trade question is settled. Clay argues that the best way to stop the slave trade is by creating strong colonies on the African coast: "I believe that they [the colonies] may be instrumental not only to abolish the slave trade, but ultimately, after the lapse of a great length of time, to separate the two races of the United States."

Washington, April 27. 1850
My Dear Sir:
I owe you many apologies for not having earlier acknowledged the receipt of the letter which you did me the favor to address me several months ago. In the first place, I must say to you that I have been so entirely absorbed, and so constantly engaged, with the agitating subjects of slavery before Congress, that I have had but little leisure for any correspondence, a great part of which I have been obliged to neglect. In the next place I have to say, that until those slavery questions are settled I am perfectly sure that the interesting subjects of which your letter treats, would command very little attention in Congress. You cannot feel a more lively and deep interest in the suppression of the slave trade, and in African Colonization, than I do. I believe we may regard as an entire failure the attempts which have been made to suppress the slave trade, by the employment [2] of a naval force on the coast of Africa. More effective means must be employed, and none more likely to succeed has occurred to me than that of extending and strengthening our colonies on that coast. Wherever they are now firmly established, they have succeeded in destroying and completely breaking up the slave trade within their jurisdiction. I believe, myself, that our African Colonies are intended by Providence, to effect much good. I believe they may be made instrumental not only to abolish the slave trade, but ultimately, after the lapse of a great length of time, to separate the two races in the United States.
I shall be most happy to present your memorial to the Senate of the United States, and should be very happy to see you here if you should come on for that purpose: but I must repeat that I think you need hardly come till the slavery questions are amicably settled.

I am, your friend and obt. servt.
H. Clay
Thomas R. Hazard, Esq.

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources