FREDERICK DOUGLASS, ESQ.: DEAR SIR:—
Your paper of the 24th ult, contains a letter
from Benj. CoatesCoates, Benjamin

Benjamin Coates (c. 1808-87) mostly likely formed his opinions on slavery and abolition under the influence of his devout Pennsylvania Quaker parents. A successful wool merchant and a publisher, Coates was active in many antislavery organizations in Philadelphia, such as the Pennsylvania Abolition Society. Despite his abolitionist connections, Coates argued that colonization was the best way to end slavery. From the 1840s until his death, Coates actively sought financial support from wealthy donors for colonization efforts in western Africa and started a correspondence with Joseph Jenkins Roberts, a successful immigrant to Liberia. In 1858 Coates published Cotton Cultivation in Africa: Suggestions on the Importance of the Cultivation of Cotton in Africa, in Reference to the Abolition of Slavery in the United States, through the Organization of an African Civilization Society, which advocated an increase in international cotton production in order to diminish the world’s dependence on cotton from the American South. Coates believed that with a decrease in profits, Southern slave owners would be compelled to free most, and perhaps all, of their slaves. Coates’s endorsement of colonization hurt his standing in the abolitionist movement, yet Douglass defended Coates, stating that he was a “humane and benevolent man” and “no more a negro hater than we.” , ser. 3, 1:538n; Ripley, 4:322. , Esq., accompanied by one
from the Rev. Alex. Crummell, both of which
have been read with much satisfaction. The
editorial, however, by which the communications
were introduced, is less acceptable, and
furnishes another specimen of those contracted
views so often advanced by certain writers, who
seem to imagine that the welfare of the colored
people in this country, is to be promoted just
in proportion as they are thought to disown the
claims of Africa.

In the absence of Mr. Douglass, the assistant
editor discourses thus—"America, not Africa
is the proper field for the labors of . All this talk about duty to our
race, and the special call which colored men
have to aid in the evangelization of Africa, is
fallacious. Colored men of this country owe
no more to the heathen of African than to the
heathen of the South sea." "We feel that the
[meed?] of praise is for him who nobly resolves to
battle for rights on his native soil. To remove
the prejudices of the whites of this nation, compelling
them to acknowledge the brotherhood
of man, is a far nobler work, than the dubious
founding of a Republic of ignorant slaves and
savage heathens in Africa."

We do not dispute the right of colored
Americans to remain on their native soil and to
"battle for rights" of which they are deprived;
but we cannot perceive that in so doing they
are worthy of more praise than are those who,
after years of privation and toil, have founded a
promising Republic on the shores of Africa.

Without detracting from the merits and labors
of colored politicians in this country, we
feel that Roberts, Benson, Crummell, and their
compeers in Liberia, have done quite as much
to elevate the colored race in the esteem of
men and of nations as has been done by the
same number of colored Americans at home.—
Yet their labors are depreciated, and even by those who, of all others, should feel a
common sympathy with them in their enterprise.
Would it not be a more just and manly
policy to advocate every measure that contributes
to the improvement of the colored people,
wherever found?

If the welfare of four millions deserves our
serious efforts, surely the claims of one hundred
millions cannot remain unheeded.

There is a lesson which some persons have
yet to learn, viz.: The indifference, therefore, shown to
wards the various projects for redeeming Africa,
and especially the opposition to having it colonized
by persons from this land, who will take
with them the blessings of civilization and christianity
—this opposition coming as it does, mainly
from colored Americans, is doing more than
any other one thing to inspire feelings of disgust
among white philanthropists, against our
colored citizens, whom they are tempted to regard
as a selfish class of persons, careful only
to have their own condition improved, while
they would sacrifice all that is dear in a young

Republic, which is now regarded, one of the
best helps to rescue from heathen darkness,
poor benighted Africa.

We trust the day is not far distant when all
the friends of the African race will see "eye to
eye," and that in laboring to promote the happiness
of one portion of it, there will be no disposition
to undervalue efforts made to benefit
the other.

Very Respectfully, yours truly, C. B.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 6th, 1856.