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New book sheds new light on Lincoln’s racial views Roswell Daily Record

McLEAN, Va. (AP) — Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address has inspired Americans for generations, but consider his jarring remarks in 1862 to a White House audience of free blacks, urging them to leave the U.S. and settle in Central America.

“For the sake of your race, you should sacrifice something of your present comfort for the purpose of being as grand in that respect as the white people,” Lincoln said, promoting his idea of colonization: resettling blacks in foreign countries on the belief that whites and blacks could not coexist in the same nation.

Lincoln went on to say that free blacks who envisioned a permanent life in the United States were being “selfish” and he promoted Central America as an ideal location “especially because of the similarity of climate with your native land — thus being suited to your physical condition.”

As the nation marked the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s first inauguration, Friday, a new book by a researcher at George Mason University in Fairfax makes the case that Lincoln was even more committed to colonizing blacks than previously known. The book, Colonization After Emancipation, is based in part on newly uncovered documents that authors Philip Magness and Sebastian Page found at the British National Archives outside London and in the U.S. National Archives.

In an interview, Magness said he thinks the documents he uncovered reveal Lincoln’s complexity.

“It makes his life more interesting, his racial legacy more controversial,” said Magness, who is also an adjunct professor at American University.

Lincoln’s views about colonization are well known

AP Photo

Abraham Lincoln, October 1858.

among historians, even if they don’t make it into most schoolbooks. Lincoln even referred to colonization in the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, his September 1862 warning to the South that he would free all slaves in Southern territory if the rebellion continued. Unlike some others, Lincoln always promoted a voluntary colonization, rather than forcing blacks to leave.

But historians differ on whether Lincoln moved away from colonization after he issued the official Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, or whether he continued to support it.

Magness and Page’s book offers evidence that Lincoln continued to support colonization, engaging in secret diplomacy with the British to establish a colony in British Honduras, now Belize.

Among the records found at the British archives is an 1863 order from Lincoln granting a British agent permission to recruit volunteers for a Belize colony.

“He didn’t let colonization die of f. He became very active in promoting it in the private sphere, through diplomatic channels,” Magness said. He surmises that Lincoln grew weary of the controversy that surrounded colonization ef forts, had become which enmeshed in scandal and were criticized by many abolitionists.

As late as 1864, Magness found a notation that Lincoln asked the attor ney general whether he could continue to receive counsel from James Mitchell, his colonization commissioner, even after Congress had eliminated funding for Mitchell’s office.

Illinois’ state historian, Tom Schwartz, who is also a research director at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Ill., said that while historians differ, there is ample evidence that Lincoln’s

Sunday, March 6, 2011

AP Photo

President Abraham Lincoln stands under cover at center of Capitol steps during his inauguration in Washington, March 4, 1861. views evolved away from colonization in the final two years of the Civil War. Lincoln gave several speeches referring to the rights blacks had earned as they enlisted in the Union Ar my, for instance. And presidential secretary John Hay wrote in July 1864 that Lincoln had “sloughed off” colonization.

“Most of the evidence points to the idea that Lincoln is looking at other ways” to resolve the transition from slavery besides colonization at the end of his presidency, Schwartz said.

Lincoln is not the only president whose views on race relations and slavery

were more complex and less idealistic than children’s storybook histories suggest. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were both slaveholders despite misgivings. Washington freed his slaves when he died.

“Washington, because he wanted to keep the union, knew he had to ignore the slavery problem because it would have torn the country apart, said James Rees, director of Washington’s Mount Vernon estate.

“It’s tempting to wish he had tried. The nation had more chance of dealing with slavery with Washington than with anyone else,” Rees said, noting the

esteem in which Washington was held in both the North and the South.

Magness said views on Lincoln can be strongly held and often divergent.

He noted that people have sought to use Lincoln’s legacy to support all manner of political policy agendas since the day he was assassinated. And nobody can claim definitive knowledge of Lincoln’s own views, especially on a topic as complex as race relations.

“He never had a chance to complete his vision. Lincoln’s racial views were evolving at the time of his death,” Magness said.

Space robot R2’s debut being moved up after clamor CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The 220-mile-high unveiling of R2, the first humanoid robot in space, is being moved up at the urging of the president of the United States.

Astronaut Catherine Coleman said Friday that she and the 11 other humans aboard the shuttle-station complex want to get R2 out of its packing material as soon as possible.

“In fact, we’re all pretty sure that we hear AP Photo scratching from the inside there,” she said during a Astronaut Steve Bowen participates in the mission's second crew news conference. spacewalk, Wednesday, as construction and maintenance Robonaut 2, better continue on the International Space Station. known as R2, flew to the International Space Sta- me,” the robot said in a ery leaves. For sure, the tion aboard Discovery and Twitter update posted Fri- space station astronauts will stay behind when the day by a human colleague. will get to it by late March, NASA managers initially the lead flight director said shuttle leaves Monday. In a phone call to the two wanted to wait a couple of later Friday.

“We don’t want to rush crews Thursday, President months before getting R2 Barack Obama teased the out. But now Discovery is things,” cautioned Rob astronauts for waiting to spending two extra days at Ambrose, chief of Johnson unpack the robot, urging the orbiting outpost so its Space Center’s automathem to “let him stretch crew can help unpack a tion, robotics and simulanew storage unit. tion division in Houston. his legs pretty soon.”

Coleman said she’s not “The robot’s really, really R2 seemed to like the idea. “I think he gave them sure if they will be able to patient. It’s just us some great advice about unwrap R2 before Discov- humans who are anxious.”

Project manager Ron Diftler noted that Robonaut hasn’t seen the outside world for quite a while. It was boxed up for six months aboard Discovery, awaiting liftoff. The flight was delayed four months.

Diftler isn’t surprised by “the fervor” surrounding R2.

“Humanoid robots are something that a lot of people can identify with, and having the first humanoid robot in space, especially when so many people have seen things like this in science fiction, it’s getting a lot of people’s excitement up,” Diftler told The Associated Press on Friday. “We’re excited about it, too.”

Regardless of when the packing foam comes off, R2 won’t be tested until May. That’s when flight controllers will send up the operating software.

Coleman, both a scientist and engineer, said she can’t wait to test Robonaut during the remainder of her space station stay. As

robots travel into space, it’s important to learn how they operate in weightlessness, she said. Better to learn those lessons inside the space station, before a robot ventures out on a spacewalk or roams other planets, she added.

It will take both humans and robots “to get us further out into the universe, and Robonaut is a good first step,” Coleman said.

R2 — built from the waist up — will undergo a series of tests before tackling simple space station chores at its permanent home. It will get a pair of legs and other upgrades next year.

This is Discovery’s final voyage. It’s being retired once it returns to Earth on Wednesday, 13 days after blasting off, and will be sent to the Smithsonian Institution for display.

Only two shuttle missions remain before the fleet is retired this summer.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden will announce the final resting

places for the two other space shuttles on April 12, the 30th anniversary of the first shuttle flight.

More than 20 museums and educational institutions across the country, including the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, are vying for display rights. Enterprise, a test vehicle that never made it to space, is also up for dibs.

As for Discovery — NASA’s oldest and most traveled shuttle — commander Steven Lindsey said he and his crew have been too busy to focus on the historic aspect. But every so often, he reflects on the fact that Discovery will never fly again.

“What a great vehicle it’s been, 39 missions, nearly one year on orbit,” Lindsey said. “It’s just really inspiring to me and kind of bittersweet and quite frankly sad, knowing that when we land, that will be it for this vehicle.”

What’s this spring’s hot color for homes? Honeysuckle

Bright red-pink and bursting with energy, honeysuckle is dominating home decor trends in 2011 as a playful and vibrant alternative to the serene turquoise of 2010.

Love it or hate it, the hue is everywhere this spring.

And design experts say there are many easy ways to incorporate it into your home without breaking the bank.

“Add a lively flair to interior spaces with honeysuckle patterned pillows, bedspreads, small appliances and tabletop accessories,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

Honeysuckle is the official color of 2011 as chosen by the institute, the research arm of the Carlstadt, N.J.-based Pantone Inc., which largely sets color standards for the fashion and home industries. This year’s reddish pink shade lights a fire to

your senses and revs you up, says Eiseman.

“The color says we need to be hopeful and think of things that satisfy as many senses as we can,” she says.

A striking, eye-catching shade, honeysuckle works well for day and night, and complements a variety of blues, greens and oranges, Eiseman says.

“I can’t think of a pink combination that doesn’t work,” says Carey Vizzi Jacobs, an interior and wallpaper designer in Maryland and Pennsylvania. “Pink and red. Pink and navy. Pink and turquoise. Even pink and orange. Honeysuckle pairs nicely with so many colors.”

Paint/Wallpaper One easy and inexpensive way to brighten up your home and stay on top of design trends is by painting an accent wall in

honeysuckle.

If pink walls seem a bit daunting, try a wall in the bedroom first — whether it’s paint or a luxurious wallpaper, Vizzi Jacobs says.

“Wallpaper does wonders to warm up the bedroom,” she adds. “I like that feeling of pink surrounding you and giving you a nice warm hug.”

A new wallpaper collection by New Jersey-based Thibaut Designs features honeysuckle in a variety of vibrant lattices, damasks and florals on frothy pastel and rich velvety backgrounds.

Bold wall choices like honeysuckle are a good balance to neutral furniture, particularly white, cream and tan, says Thibaut’s Molly McDermott Walsh.

Throw Pillows Bright and lively throw pillows are another cheap

and easy way to pepper your home with this warm hue.

Bed, Bath and Beyond is carrying several pillows with bold honeysuckle stripes and other prints for under $50, as is World Market, says Morgan Cullen of Austin, Texas, who created the home decor blog Casa Cullen.

She also suggests heading to the fabric store and making your own pillows or chair cushions.

“Honeysuckle chair covers on all chairs or just the head of the table would be quite the statement maker in the dining room,” Cullen says.

Textiles If pillows aren’t your thing, try drapes or linens in a honeysuckle print for an instant update in the kitchen or bedroom, says Vizzi Jacobs.

“In the bath, honeysuckle embroidered or appliqued

monograms on white towels are a pleasant surprise,” she says.

Another easy way to brighten up your bathroom is with a pink rug or shower curtain, such as Pottery Barn Teen’s white cotton percale shower curtain ($49) edged with a honeysuckle ribbon, Cullen says.

Table runners, napkins and sheets are also showing up in shades of honeysuckle this spring.

Accents Honeysuckle can be popped into small accent pieces throughout your home for a more understated, yet updated, look.

Cullen suggests painting three wall frames with honeysuckle-colored spray paint and placing them around black-and-white photos as easy do-it-yourself wall art for any room.

She also suggests painting the back wall of builtins, media or bookshelves

in honeysuckle for a burst of color, as well as real honeysuckle flowers in a vase on the dining room table or next to your bed.

Even a strip of grosgrain pink ribbon can instantly change a lamp shade or give extra flair to curtains, says Vizzi Jacobs.

Anthropologie of fers whimsical touches of honeysuckle this spring in a pink poppy ceramic door knob ($8) and a melon-colored ceramic and brass drawer pull ($6), Cullen says.

And don’t forget artwork, even in unexpected places.

“All bathrooms deserve great art, so invest in a cheery honeysuckle-colored piece that will make you smile year round,” Cullen says.

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