IA Ashe to Woodrow Wilson
Title
IA Ashe to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Ashe, I. A.
Identifier
CS16
Date
1914 November 13
Description
Letter writer calls Wilson’s treatment of African-Americans better than Lincoln’s.
Source
Library of Congress
Wilson Papers, Series 4, 152A Reel 231, Manuscript Division
Wilson Papers, Series 4, 152A Reel 231, Manuscript Division
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Trotter, William Monroe, 1872-1934
African-Americans--segregation
Contributor
Althea Cupo
Maria Matlock
Language
English
Provenance
Digital copy acquired from federal archives by previous WWPL Archivist, Heidi Hackford.
Text
Raleigh N.C.
Dr. Woodrow Wilson
The White House
My Dear President Wilson
May I take the liberty of mentioning a matter that occurred to me on reading an account of the interview, yesterday, in which the American Citizen of African descent- Trotter- sought to draw a parallel between you and President Lincoln?
When in September 1862 Mr. Lincoln sent his proclamation from [unclear] to emancipate the slaves in the Southern States if they could not return to the Union and on the 2nd of January, a large number of negroes called at the White House and Mr. Lincoln addressed them.
He said that they should not rejoice too much about it, for it was a war measure and not in their interest. That is was uncertain whether the two races could live together in this country, both in a condition of freedom; that this was the white man’s country, and perhaps the negro population would have to be deported.
This incident is referred to in some of the biographies of Mr. Lincoln, but the newspaper accounts were as I have stated it- a little stranger than in the biographies.
I mention the incident- as it indicates that your attitude towards the colored race is much more kindly than Mr. Lincoln’s was; and perhaps, [for] some reason, it might be interest to you so say so.
Please find in my interest in all that concerns you an excuse for this intrusion.
Very Sincerely Yours,
IA Ashe
Dr. Woodrow Wilson
The White House
My Dear President Wilson
May I take the liberty of mentioning a matter that occurred to me on reading an account of the interview, yesterday, in which the American Citizen of African descent- Trotter- sought to draw a parallel between you and President Lincoln?
When in September 1862 Mr. Lincoln sent his proclamation from [unclear] to emancipate the slaves in the Southern States if they could not return to the Union and on the 2nd of January, a large number of negroes called at the White House and Mr. Lincoln addressed them.
He said that they should not rejoice too much about it, for it was a war measure and not in their interest. That is was uncertain whether the two races could live together in this country, both in a condition of freedom; that this was the white man’s country, and perhaps the negro population would have to be deported.
This incident is referred to in some of the biographies of Mr. Lincoln, but the newspaper accounts were as I have stated it- a little stranger than in the biographies.
I mention the incident- as it indicates that your attitude towards the colored race is much more kindly than Mr. Lincoln’s was; and perhaps, [for] some reason, it might be interest to you so say so.
Please find in my interest in all that concerns you an excuse for this intrusion.
Very Sincerely Yours,
IA Ashe
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
Ashe, I. A., “IA Ashe to Woodrow Wilson,” 1914 November 13, CS16, Race and Segregation Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.