Description:

RALPH R. GURLEY
(1797 – 1872) American clergyman, an advocate of the separation of the races, and a major force for 50 years in the American Colonization Society. Because of his influence in fundraising and education for the society, Gurley is considered one of the founders of Liberia, which he named. A.L.S., 3pp. 8vo., New York, May 11, 1834, to DANIEL WEBSTER (1782-1852) American lawyer and statesman who verbally jousted with Calhoun in the Senate and later supported Clay's compromise measures on slavery. In part ‘…This gentleman, Mr. Baker of the Theological Seminary, Andover, wishes to converse with you in regard to the interest of the Colonization Society [in] the North. There is now in this city a great excitement produced by the description of the anti-slavery question & there is reason to apprehend that it will soon agitate the whole northern Country. It has seemed to us that you might deem it proper so to express your views in relation to the efforts of the anti-slavery securities as to allay a fever of excitement which I apprehend is more alarming to the subtle welfare than any-thing that has occurred since the Revolution…' Within the other two pages of the letter is a letter written in Alijah Baker's hand of the Colonization Society of Andover expressing similar sentiments to Gurley's. One year after this letter was written, students at the Andover Theological Seminary decided to rally their support behind an idea to purchase 100 slaves from Kentucky and send them to Liberia. The American Colonization Society (in full: The Society for the Colonization of Free People of Color of America) was an organization that helped in founding Liberia, a colony on the coast of West Africa in 1821. During the next 20 years the colony continued to grow and establish economic stability. In 1847, the legislature of Liberia declared itself an independent state. A small hole from the removal of a seal, otherwise very good.

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April 2, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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