I have been the more induced to give the letters of Mr. Douglass and Dr.
Wilson in favor of Mr. Campbell, because some of my friends were
disposed to think that I "went out of the way to make choice of an
entire stranger, unknown to us, instead of old and tried acquaintances,"
as they were pleased to express it. I had but one object in view--the
Moral, Social, and Political Elevation of Ourselves, and the
Regeneration of Africa, for which I desired, as a _preference_, and
indeed the only _adequate_ and _essential_ means by which it is to be
accomplished, men of African descent, properly qualified and of pure and
fixed principles. These I endeavored to select by corresponding only
with such of my acquaintances.
At the Council which appointed me Commissioner to Africa, having
presented the names of Messrs. Douglass and Campbell, asking that they
also might be chosen; at a subsequent meeting the following action took
place:
Whereas, Dr. Martin R. Delany, Commissioner to Africa, having presented
the names of Messrs. Robert Douglas and Robert Campbell of
Philadelphia, Pa., U.S., requesting that they be appointed
Commissioners, the Board having made him Chief Commissioner with full
power to appoint his own Assistants, do hereby sanction the appointment
of these gentlemen as Assistant Commissioners.
A paper was then laid before the Council, presenting the name and scheme
of the party, which was received and adopted.
Dr. Amos Aray, surgeon, a highly intelligent gentleman, and Mr. James W.
Purnell, also an intelligent young gentleman, bred to mercantile
pursuits, having subsequently sent in their names and received
appointments by the Chief Commissioner, the following document was made
out:
AFRICAN COMMISSION
The President and Officers of the General Board of Commissioners,
viz: William H. Day, A.M., President; Matison F. Bailey,
Vice-President; George W. Brodie, Secretary; James Madison Bell,
Treasurer; Alfred Whipper, Auditor; Dr. Martin R. Delany, Special
Foreign Secretary; Abram D. Shadd, James Henry Harris, and Isaac D.
Shadd, the Executive Council in behalf of the organization for the
promotion of the political and other interests of the Colored
Inhabitants of North America, particularly the United States and
Canada.
To all, unto whom these letters may come, greeting: The said
General Board of Commissioners, in Executive Council assembled,
have this day chosen, and by these presents do hereby appoint and
authorize Dr. Martin Robison Delany, of Chatham, County of Kent,
Province of Canada, Chief Commissioner; and Robert Douglass, Esq.,
Artist, and Prof. Robert Campbell, Naturalist, both of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, to
be Assistant Commissioners; Amos Aray, Surgeon; and James W
Purnell, Secretary and Commercial Reporter, both of Kent County,
Canada West, of a Scientific Corps, to be known by the name of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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