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McLain, W. (William) (1806-1873) to George A. Baltimore

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04981 Author/Creator: McLain, W. (William) (1806-1873) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 June 1848 Pagination: 1 p. : address ; 25 x 19 cm.

Summary of Content: McLain writes to Baltimore in Whitehall, New York. Describes the difficulty of a free black man traveling to Washington: "I shall be glad to see you here. But there will be some difficulty in your getting through Baltimore. At the R. Road Depot you will have to get some white man to sign a bond of $5,000 that you are free. And when you leave here the same thing will have to be done." Offers to sign Baltimore's bond in Washington, D.C. Predicts that James Hall, agent of the Maryland Colonization Society, will sign the bond in Baltimore.

Background Information: McLain was a financial agent for the American Colonization Society. Baltimore was an African American spokesman for that Society.

People: M’Lain, W. (William)., 1806-1873
Baltimore, George A., fl. 1848
Hall, James, fl. 1848

Historical Era: National Expansion and Reform, 1815-1860

Subjects: Enslaved peopleFreemenAfrican American HistorySlaveryRailroadTransportationLawColonizationTravel

Sub Era: Age of Jackson

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