was for compulsory deportation. The Negro would not,"
he said, "go voluntary." "He had great local attachment but no
enterprise or persistency. The President objected unequivocally to
compulsion. The emigration must be voluntary and without expense to
themselves. Great Britain, Denmark and perhaps other powers would take
them. I remarked there was no necessity for a treaty which had been
suggested. Any person who desired to leave the country could do so
now, whether white or black, and it was best to have it so--a
voluntary system; the emigrant who chose to leave our shores could and
would go where there were the best inducements." _Diary of Gideon
Wells_, I, p. 152.

[22] Cf. Account by Charles K. Tuckerman, _Magazine of American
History_, October, 1886.

[23] Joseph Henry said to Assistant Secretary of State, September 5,
1862: "I hope the government will not make any contracts in regard to
the purchase of the Chiriqui District until it has been thoroughly
examined by persons of known capacity and integrity. A critical
examination of all that has been reported on the existence of valuable
beds of coal in that region has failed to convince me of the fact."
Chiriqui is described in report Number 148, House of Representatives,
37th Congress, Second Session, July 16, 1862, by John Evans,
geologist.

[24] "There was an indisposition to press the subject of Negro
Emigration to Chiriqui at the meeting of the Cabinet against the
wishes and remonstrances of the states of Central America." _Diary of
Gideon Wells_, I, p. 162.

[25] Manuscript Archives of the Department of the Interior.

[26] Nicolay and Hay, _A History_, VI, p. 361.

[27] Richardson, _Message and Papers of the President_, I, p. 167.

[28] Nicolay and Hay, _A History_, VI, p. 362.

[29] Complete records to substantiate this statement have not been
discovered.

[30] Lincoln addressed thus the Secretary of War, February 1, 1864:
"Sir; You are directed to have a transport ... sent to the colored
colony of San Domingo to bring back to this country such of the
colonists there as desire to return. You will have a transport
furnished with suitable supplies for that purpose and detail an
officer of the quartermaster department, who under special
instructions to be given shall have charge of the business. The
colonists will be brought to Washington unless otherwise hereafter
directed to be employed and provided for at the camps for colored
persons around tha